HARRIET’S STORY OF OLE BEN

About the Book

Dear Reader:

I’m so happy that you are reading this book, because it is a book of history and is a story of a family who struggles to live during a time in our history that is so important to remember.

I am tracing my family roots and one day I was so discouraged because I did not have pictures or documents of my ancestors. But I have an imagination and when I studied the information that I did have, I discovered my family history showed how hard working my ancestors were. Harriet’s Story represents my family and a little of their history and struggles.

Heartfelt thanks to Connie Leake, my prayer partner, who was the fifi rst to pray for the dream. To my sons, Michael Whaley and Joseph Whaley, my trusted advisors, thank you. I will forever be grateful to the Los Angeles Grace United Methodist Church Freedom School class of 2010 who heard an excerpt of Harriet’s Story of Ole Ben. They enjoyed the story so much, that I was encouraged and fifi nished writing the story for publication. As they say, “the rest was history.” Special thanks are extended to Marion Burts, Sally Bates, Sharon Wilson, LaVivian Taylor, Kiri White and Emma Henderson who read, edited and offered critical suggestions. Thanks to Jack Winters, Carl Gilliard, and the Xlibris staff, words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation. My family, love you so much. I am so happy that Kyle Walker, who is 10 years old, wanted to illustrate the book. He has such talent and showed great dedication to completing the task. Special thanks to his parents, Daryl and Tarita Walker who encouraged him to learn about that time in history.

“Harriet’s Story of Ole Ben” is just the beginning of the family’s journey to freedom. I hope you enjoy reading this story and that you will continue to read and learn.

Carolyn Cobb

About the Author

Carolyn Cobb is the mother of four grown children and grandmother to five grandsons and 1 grand daughter. She loves to read and is working on a continuation of Harriet’s Story about the journey to freedom experienced by a slave family. She lives in Lawndale, California.