Zemmie’s Rescue: A Story of Hope for 5 Orphans

Zemmie’s Rescue

A Story of Hope for 5 Orphans

By Zemmie Fleck

THANK YOU to all the amazing and wonderful people in communities across Georgia who have served and loved orphaned or abandoned children by adoption, foster care, or by supporting other involved parents.

When I was 13 years old, my Daddy told me this story.

In November of ’64, a little girl became the newest addition to a family in midtown Atlanta. She had two brothers and two sisters – ranging in age from 4 to 14 years. Her oldest brother and sister, invited by school friends, would frequently attend the First Alliance Church. Her father was habitually absent as he struggled with alcohol abuse, periodically demonstrating a violent temper. Her mother, who was quite a bit younger than her father, was cast upon hard times trying to raise a family. None of these children knew what lay ahead for them in the next four months.

Several months prior to the little girl’s birth, her mother suffered an injury to her leg that turned gangrenous. She grew increasingly ill and was unable to afford even one visit to the doctor. The children would often be very hungry and lack ability to concentrate in school due to their inadequate diets. In March 1965, the children’s mother died of tetanus that had turned into lockjaw. Sadly, their father was unable to sufficiently provide and care for the children, and took his leave again.

For two days after her mother’s death, the fourmonth-old girl’s welfare was in the hands of her older siblings and a family friend. They were alone, abandoned, and unable to comprehend what was happening to them. There were some relatives who lived far away, but they didn’t seem to have

the ability to take on five children. None of them could or would step up to the responsibility. What was going to happen to five abandoned children? Hope Comes Through a Young Couple

God’s providence often comes in a form we don’t expect. This time it was a young couple.

He came from middle Georgia; she was from a small southern Alabama town. Their lives converged in Atlanta at the First Alliance Church. At age 32 she was the church secretary. At 37 he was a young men’s leader at the church, and made his living in residential and commercial painting. They were married on July 2, 1964. They began their lives as newlyweds in a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Atlanta. Neither of them could imagine what was in store for them in the next eight months.

In March of 1965, the couple was informed through church members that there were five siblings whose mother had died, and had no one to take care of them. The couple was familiar with the two older teens who came to church with friends. They also knew there were other children at home. Once the husband heard about the mother’s death, he jumped into action.

While working at her church office, the wife received a surprising directive from her husband. “You need to tell them that you won’t be coming to work as of tomorrow.” He went on to tell her that he was bringing a family of five home to live with them! He didn’t wait for someone from the Department of Family and Children Services to come or allow the children to go into foster care. He drove and picked up all five children and brought them to live in the one-bedroom apartment that he and his wife shared. The boys slept in bunk beds on the screened porch, the two older girls slept on the living room sofas, and the baby girl slept in a crib in the hallway outside the bedroom of her new parents.

And so it began…

Top: 1965 – Author, being held by adoptive father, with her four older siblings. Middle: 1967 – Author, held by adoptive mother. Bottom: 1973 – Author with younger sister and baby brother (born to her adoptive parents.)

2012 Family – The author (far left) and her siblings, celebrating their Mother’s 80th Birthday (May 2012)

My Life Changed That Day

As you might have guessed by now, the baby girl was me. From that point forward, my life was very different.

Growing up in Decatur, Georgia, I experienced one of the best childhoods that anyone could desire. I always felt a specialness embedded in my Mother’s sweet smile and my Daddy’s smiling eyes as they regaled me with stories of my very young childhood days.

My memories are full of fun, laughter, hard work, and a priority on church activities, daily prayer, and Bible memorization. I attended the neighborhood public elementary school, where the teachers and principal began each day with Scripture reading or a Bible story.

I had many carefree days, and my parents shielded me from much of the evil that was prevalent then. We didn’t have a television in our home for all the years that I lived there. Looking back, I can say that it didn’t hurt me one bit to miss out on TV. My days were busy with schoolwork. I loved school and always pursued the best grades possible. I began piano lessons at a young age. Chores and work were part of everyone’s life, and were expected to be done well.

We had more than enough food at every meal, and my mother would take hours poring over the store ads to find the best food prices. Grocery shopping was quite the ordeal. My daddy would take trips out to the state farmer’s market and bring home bushels of vegetables in a single visit. We would spend hours prepping and storing the food for canning and freezing.

My mother spent her days cooking, sewing, baking, washing clothes, and performing bookkeeping tasks for my daddy’s business. As I got older, I went to work with my daddy. The Lord blessed him with a skilled mind and hands to provide for his family. He sometimes worked 20- hour days in order to meet the needs of his wife and family.

He taught his children that hard work and “doing what you said you would do” were very important. However, the most important thing that my parents taught us was to trust God in everything and wait on His provision. I could give many stories and examples of what my parents did throughout their lives to exhibit God’s love to other people.

I attended a private Christian high school and graduated in the top of my class. There were times when I didn’t listen to the advice of my parents. I chose my own way, strayed from the Lord, and thought I knew much better; I learned many things the hard way. I cling tightly now to the lessons and truths that my parents taught me years ago. They have greater meaning and value now than they ever did.

As an adult, my life as a mom of three boys has been challenging, but also rewarding. I’m greatly blessed by God’s tremendous love that He has bestowed on me. He expanded my family to include seven beautiful grandchildren. One