Try God and See

Jo Ann Young was born in Sutherlin, Virginia, on a tobacco farm with her three brothers and three sisters. She attended White Stone Holiness Church where her mother became the pastor.

In 1962, Jo Ann moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where she later became a member of the Faithful Church of Christ, located at 235 Woodrow Ave., Dorchester, MA 02124. There she remained. Because of the preaching and teaching, Jo Ann grew strong in faith and learned to trust God.

In 1966, she married her husband, Allen. They had been married for nineteen years and had six children, ages eight to sixteen years old, when Allen was sent to prison. She was faced with many decisions. First, should she stay in the church, second, should she stay in marriage and third, should she try to raise six children alone?

One of her daughters had earlier been diagnosed with lupus, a chronic disease. She had many complications. During one visit with her daughter, Jo Ann didn't like what she saw. She became worried. When she arrived home, she went into her bedroom and knelt down and said, "Lord, my daughter is dying. I know she is." She then heard in her spirit to go to the hospital. She said, "Lord, I am afraid." Then she heard, "Go and I will go with you and I will tell you what to do." Jo Ann obeyed and did as she was instructed.

It was not easy for Jo Ann but she stayed in the church, she stayed true to the marriage, she went to work, and raised their children.

There were times that she would leave work, go visit her daughter, then go "aboard" what she called the prison bus to visit Allen.

During my husband's hospitalization, I was only allowed to visit for ten minutes, not knowing that would be my last time to talk to him. I was not told the seriousness of his illness, so I felt comfortable in sharing with him the diagnosis that I just received from my doctor; who informed me that I had cancer. I told Allen that I had concerns but I would be alright. Allen passed away four days later in December 2012.