Cornelious Loggin's Testimony

I was born May 15, 1946 in Chicago, Illinois.

My father's name was Aaron.  My mother-- I don't remember her name.  She died.  I was young.  I have two older sisters--Mary and Ella, and one younger sister, Arolyn.  No brothers-- I am the only boy.

My family tells me -- 8 or 10 months old-- I was very sick.  It is called meningitis.  I had hearing when born.  Now-- nothing,   no hearing.  I am deaf.  Why?  I do not know.  God knows.  He knows me before I am born. 

Many months-- I am in the hospital.. Doctors tell my father and mother --- "Leave Chicago.  Move away.  Many people are sick in Chicago."  We move to El Reno, OK.  My grandmother and grandfather live in El Reno.  My father died -- 1979.  My mother died 1948.  I was 2 years old.  She was sick.  It is called Tuberculosis.  I live in my grandmother's house.  Her name is Mary.  She died 1985.

I was young.  No school for me.  I am deaf.  A speech school in OKC closed down.  Maybe it was destroyed. 

Maybe 11 or 12 years old-- maybe 1956 or 1957.  A school for deaf children is in Sulphur, OK.  I can not go.  I am black.  My family tell me --- no black children in deaf school.  One lady in OKC said, "Yes, I can go to deaf school."

At OSD, I play football, basketball, baseball and run track.  I learn reading.  I learn writing.  I learn many things in school.  I graduate high school in 1967. 

I worked many places.  Sulphur-- I worked in a restaurant and clean, pick up trash and wash dishes.  Ardmore-- I wash dishes and wash clothes.  El Reno-- I worked in a cemetery.  I am living with my sister, Mary.  I need a car or truck for work-- for going places.  I was frustrated.  I have no car or truck.

In Chickasha, Carol Cole helped me get my drivers license.  Carol married and moved away from Chickasha.

I  moved to Chickasha.  I buy a bus ticket to Chickasha.  Bill Hodges helped me in Chickasha. 

I think 1982-- I came to FBC.  Letris Berryhill and Geraldine Hodges interpret for deaf people at FBC.  In 1986, DeAnna Hays is learning sign language.  I tell her she is awkward.  I tease DeAnna.  I go to Marlow, OK in 1986.  Mr. Hays said, "Yes, I can go to Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Mrs. Hays cooks many foods.  She is a good cook.  Delicious food.  I like food.  Many times I go to Marlow, OK.

1989 or 1990 Dan Stamman is preacher at FBC.  He say Jesus died on the cross for me, Cornelious, my mistakes.  Sometimes I am wrong.  I tell God I  am sorry.  John 3:16 says God loves all people much.  God's Son, Jesus, died on the cross.  I believe Jesus.  I trust Jesus.  Now I will live in heaven with Jesus.  It is forever--- always. 

Many people-- my mother, my father, my grandmother, Mrs. Kay Hays all die.  They go in heaven.  I will see them in heaven.  I am happy Jesus died for me.

I am sick.  It is called diabetes.  I don't know why I am sick.  God knows.  He knows me before I am born.

Many friends live in Chickasha.

Brad helped me buy my truck.  It is wrecked-- finished-- I have no truck now.I walk long ways in Chickasha.  I find cans.  I like many cans.  Many people save cans for me.  Many people give cans to me.

Luther-- a man has red truck and dog-- Luther brings food to my house.  He takes me to Wal-Mart.

Mark Jones helps me write letters-- takes me to doctor's office-- Dr. M_____________ ---

I do not remember his name.  Mark Jones interprets at FBC, Chickasha.  He moved to Tennessee.  Then he moved back to Oklahoma.

Clara is secretary.  She helps me many times type letters.  She copies many papers.

Bill Hodges fix many things at my house and my truck.  Very expensive.  Sometimes I can't pay.  I work in Bill's yard. 

He pays me.

Geraldine Hodges interprets sign language many years at FBC.  She brings food to me.  Good food.  I like to eat.  I eat many times with the family-- Brent, Susan, Cheryl.  Geraldine takes me to see doctors.

Dian Parr interprets at FBC sign language many tears.  She is married and moved away.  I don't know where.

Johnny B. cuts my hair many years.  I eat many times with his family.  It is good food.  I like good food.

Bruss and other man  (Jared V.) have long trucks-- big trucks.  I sell my cans with big trucks.  Bruss helps my dog, Letha.  I eat many times at Bruss' house.  Bruss' wife cooks good food.  I like to eat good food.

DeAnna  interprets sign language many years.  DeAnna takes me to doctors office, hospital, church and many places.  When I travel ---  vacation--- she feeds my cats, 3 or 4, and my dog.  I go to deaf conventions.  DeAnna feeds my animals.  I stay at DeAnna's house many times.  I clean her floors and fans.  I help David with trees.  DeAnna helps me move and buy my house. 

Arthur and other lady help me at my bank.  I pay my bills.

Willie Mays is a preacher at Church of Christ.  He is my friend.

Many , many friends in Chickasha.  I love my friends.  I love God.  God loves me.

I like to go many places.  I buy bus tickets.  I like deaf conventions.  Many deaf people are at deaf conventions.  God loves deaf people.  Tell your deaf friends to come to church. 

I am not married.  No wife -----  no children.  Why?  I do not know ---  God knows ---  He knows me before I am born.

I think 1992-2005 I work at Chickasha Workshop.  No more ---  It is finished.  I want to work.  I look every day for job.  All jobs are full. 

The Bible says," Love God in all my heart, my mind and my soul."  I love God.  Bible says future in heaven, blind people see and deaf people hear.  When I die later, I can hear and talk in heaven.

Many people die ---  my mother, my father, grandmother, Kay Hays and many friends.  I will see later in heaven.  First die, then heaven. 

You love God --- You believe Jesus died on the cross for your mistakes.  Say you are sorry.  Trust God. 

I will see you later in heaven too...

Cornelious' Family

If you have ever saved one single can for Cornelious...

then you are a part of his family.

If you have ever taken Cornelious to Wal-Mart, Homeland, Dunn's, Clinic Pharmacy, 

Chickasha Cleaners, the bank, Sonic, church, J&W Grill, the doctor's office, library,

Liberty Drug Store or anywhere else...

then you are a part of Cornelious's family.

If you have ever taken Cornelious to get a newspaper...

then you are a part of Cornelious's family--

(because we all know that he can only buy a newspaper at the Valero Gas Mart--- no

matter which side of town you may happen to be on.)

If you have ever participated in the Cornelious handshake (either successfully or unsuccessfully)...

then you are a part of his family.

If you have ever had your hat flipped off your head by Cornelious...

then you are a part of Cornelious' family.

If you have ever been tapped on one shoulder while Cornelious quickly walked around you on the other side...

then you too, are a part of Cornelious's family.

If you have ever been one of the hundreds who called Geraldine or DeAnna and asked, "Would you please tell

Cornelious to walk on the sidewalk before he gets hit by a car?"...

then you are a part of Cornelious' family.

(Let me assure you, we did tell him each time you asked; however, just because we signed, didn't mean he listened to us any better.)

If you ever had Cornelious in you car, only to have him tell you to STOP, STOP, STOP as you screeched to a halt--

so he could walk over to the sidewalk and pick up one can--- while cars pile up behind you...

then you are a part of Cornelious' family.

If you have ever pulled up behind Cornelious as he walked across the road, only to be ignored as he kept on walking while

watching you out of the corner of his eye...

 then you too, are a part of Cornelious' family.

If you have ever been so mad at Cornelious, you just wanted to kick the seat of his pants...

then you were a part of Cornelious' family.

If you have ever had his finger shaking in your face or been at the wrath end of his stomping feet...

then you are a part of Cornelious' family.

If you have ever had Cornelious walk up to your face and start to utter his moo-moo-moos....and stand there waiting

for a response as if you should know what that meant...

then you were a part of his family.

If you have ever heard his screeching, infectious laughter...

then you are a part of his family.

If you have ever gestured, written a note, tried to fingerspell or sign or just spoken louldly to Cornelious trying to communicate...

then you are a part of his family.

If you or your children have ever changed your attitude from fearful to adoring of Cornelious...

then you too, are a part of his family. 

If Cornelious has ever held your child, played with your child or even scolded your child...

then you are a part of his family.

If you have ever had Cornelious stand in front of you circling his hand over his heart saying, "I'm sorry,"...

then you are a part of his family.

If you were ever at the other end of Cornelious moving his hands from his mouth towards you, expressing his sincere thanks and gratitude...

then you are a part of Cornelious' family.

If you have ever been hugged or pat on the back by Cornelious...

then you too, are a part of his family.

If you have ever whispered Cornelious' name in prayer...

then your are a part of his family.

If you have ever looked into the heart of Cornelious, looked into his eyes or seen the smile on his face, then you have seen the face of God...

and you are a part of Cornelious' family.

If you are here today...

then you are a part of Cornelious Loggins' family.

By chance?  By mistake? By accident  that Cornelious Loggins walked into Chickasha, OK 30 years ago?  Not at all --- But by God's designed plan. 

I'm grateful to have been a small part of that plan. 

If God had told me in 1986 that I would be practically joined at the hips to Cornelious for the next 20-25 years, I would have been like Moses.  "God, I can't do that-- I'll have a family--I'll be working-- I won't have time-- I don't even know how to sign.  Besides, he tells me I'm awkward-- and he even calls me 'pea-brain.'  Why would I want to hang out with someone who calls me 'pea-brain' for the next 25 years?"  But as God did with Moses, he equips us with what we need. 

Many will say, Cornelious was blessed with so much help.  I see it a little differently.  My life is forever changed because of Cornelious Loggins.  God has blessed my children and me beyond measure.  We'll miss him as long as we live, but we'll look forward to the day we can stand next to him and sing with him, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.

DeAnna Cox- Pearson

February 2008