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"For thereby some have entertained angels unawares" -- Hebrews 13:2 KJV
The Story of The Farm's Name A Story I will never forget. . .
There are people who's remembrance gives light in this world, long after they have passed away. This light shines in our darkest nights on the road we must follow.” - The Talmud
 Everything I have is because of them, and I'd happily give it all away to have them once again. Every single time I say our farm's name, I remember them. . . . On January 13th, 2007, I stood on the street and watch an apartment building where My two brothers, Benjamin Aaron (age 19), Quentin Davis Lucas (age 14), and my best friend/sister, Angel "Jellie" Lucas (age 17), were trapped, burn down in Huntington, WV. A reporter shoved a mic in my face and asked what I thought. . . The next morning, I woke up my 83 year old father on my knees and choked trying to tell him the children of his old age, his 3 babies, some of the loves of my life, were dead. Only two short years later and after enduring more heartache than I ever wanted him to, Their father and my own, Donald "Tiny" David Lucas, died at the age of 85 on June 5th, 2009. I use the term DIED; however, I believe with assurance that they are only absent from the body and present with the Lord.  My sister and father in 2006 in his store that he'd ran for over 50 years I named my second son, Jack W. "Lucas" Creamer, when he was born in October of 2008, and Gave my third son my father and brother Quentin's middle name "Davis," but I wanted to name our farm in honor of my siblings and my father, so I felt Lucas Farm was the best choice. Let all those who visit this page leave it with their lives in mind, if only for a little while: They were here and so worthy of knowing, and everything I do, I hope, reflects back on their story, their lives. Thank you to my mother, Marcia Lucas, as well, because her kind generosity after the tragedy has made the farm we own possible, as well. "For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" -- 2 Corinthians 4:16-15:8 KJV Created by me for the end of my father's slideshow at his funeral depicting the reunion I imagine must have taken place.
"We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord"
- 2 Corinthians 4:16-15:8 k.j.v.
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| Ben, Angel and Quentin Lucas
(from the obituarties I wrote for the Herald Dispatch) Benjamin Aaron Lucas (Born November 25, 1987) age 19 Angel Ruth Lucas (Born March 18, 1989) age 17 & Quentin Davis Lucas (Born November 15, 1992) age 14 All three went to Heaven on January 13, 2007 in Huntington, WV Benjamin grew up in Harts, WV. He attended Harts High School until the age of 16, and at that time he was admitted to Marshall University. Ben studied Graphic Design and was involved in many different computer related studies. Ben managed a very popular and progressive website, www.Utaks.net. Ben spent much of his time reading the Bible and writing Christian Rap. Ben recorded many different songs, and was exceptionally talented. Ben enjoyed attending Christ Temple Church, and some of his happiest moments were spent there recently. Ben admired Pastor Chuck Lawrence, and enjoyed hearing him speak more than any other minister. Ben wrote the following on his online biography, which can be found on his website, “I’ve devoted my life to Jesus Christ, and in him shall I rely upon until the day I die. There is so much more to say, until then, every night I pray, that everyone might be saved. Let there be no hate. Remember - only God saves”. Ben would want to be remembered for loving God, for wanting mercy and love shown to everyone he knew and for being a true intellectual. One of his closest friends was his uncle, Tony Dingess; another close friend was Grant, of Huntington. Angel also grew up in Harts, WV. She attended Harts High School, but had recently moved to Huntington to work at a Christian Night Club, The House of David. She enjoyed being able to work in a place with a Christian atmosphere. Angel was a remarkably talented singer and writer. She won many awards at school for her writing abilities. She had an incredible wit when writing, and a goofy sense of humor. She talked often about joining the air force, getting her degree and then going into the Peace Corps. She has a very personalized page with pictures that can be found at www.myspace.com/anjellie, and she recently wrote there: “I love art along with writing, singing, and TRAVELING! I haven't yet traveled the world, but it's there waiting on me”. A verse and quote important to her are expressed on her online page when she included, “For we walk by faith, not by sight" from 2 Corinthians 5:7, and "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Her closest friends were Jade Thompson, also Hannah Adkins, Joe Shelton, all three of Harts, and Nathan, of Huntington.
Quentin grew up in Harts as well. He attended Harts Middle School. He was very muck like his brother when the subject was on computers. He loved playing his Nintendo Wii that his brother, Ben, and he had waited all night to buy right before Christmas. He had an astonishing mind, and was very proud of his I.Q. of 158. He was the most unique boy one could ever hope to meet. He was fond of calling his baby sister, Alana, “Pickle,” and often would announce the most random things to his family and friends. He spent last summer working at his father’s store, Lucas Grocery, when many boys couldn’t imagine using their free time in such a way. Quentin enjoyed riding four wheelers, listening to music and helping his Mom work on building to restore an antique cabin at their home. His favorite foods were “Hot Wings” and “Macaroni and Cheese”. Quentin hoped to be an Inventor of all sorts of things someday, and his entire family felt he would be responsible for inventing something grand in the future. He was a protective caretaker of his little sister, Alana. He talked often of how he wrote very creative stories, and his teachers often bragged on him for them. Quentin’s best friends were Ramon Carter, Thomas Kirk, Joe Paris and Ryan Carter, his neighbor in Harts. ----------------------------------------------------------- Some of Angel's Poems Many miles There are two paths You make to choice Emptiness inside Someday you’ll see Once you’ve had you’re Ride Eternal Life Trapped in darkness When will I depart from This Take this walk alone Have a companion One you know will never Abandon I’ve had fun I’ve had a blast While learning from The past What is the future? __________________ Beg to not shed another tear Aches and pains Wrong thoughts swarming through My brain Does this hurt How ‘bout that Piece by piece I’m breaking while in The meantime faking Covering up with sin here Another sin there That pretty fake smile comes And goes still Another act, another lie [is it too soon to die] ^ wrong to live a lie Who’s wrong, you or I ______________________ Come to me when you’re lonely Come to me when you’re scared Come to me when you look around and There’s no one else there The pain can’t be erased nor Should you want it to be
Life throws you things They can cut deep They can cut sharp But what’s life without A mark The question is simple We’ve all be there When time goes by You need wisdom to share Mistakes have been made Pain here and there But that’s life until you Get there Learn from mistakes Share your suffering What is this world you're Stuck in
I hate it today I love it tomorrow No time to waste in Sorrow You’re going to hurt You’re going to smile Once you’re gone these Many miles There are two paths You make to choice Emptiness inside Someday you’ll see Once you’ve had you’re Ride Eternal Life Trapped in darkness When will I depart from This? Take this walk alone - Have a companion One you know will never Abandon I’ve had fun I’ve had a blast While learning from The past What is the future? _____________________________ Things that make me happy 9-5-06 (she died a bit over 4 months after writing this) 1. Rain all the time, thunderstorms, downpours, sprinkles 2. Halloween 3. The Pumpkin festival 4. Fall feeling | | My Dad, Me and my Middle son (The follow is from the eulogy I gave at my father's funeral)
Two pieces of Scripture that stand out to me when I think about my Dad, Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. Proverbs 19:1-9 My children, listen when your father corrects you.
Pay attention and learn good judgment,
2 for I am giving you good guidance.
Don’t turn away from my instructions.
3 For I, too, was once my father’s son,
tenderly loved as my mother’s only child. 4 My father taught me,
“Take my words to heart.
Follow my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
Love her, and she will guard you.
7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
she will present you with a beautiful crown.” I wish I could tell everyone here about my Dad's life, tell you all of the fascinating things I know have taken place, things he did for so many people, about his life as a child in this rural area, the tough times he lived through, but honestly, I came along pretty late in his life, and I feel like many of you could tell about those stories, many I've never heard, but when a man lives 85 years, it is hard to hear all about his life from any single person. I realize how little I knew when I was talking to his Nephew, Mark, the day before yesterday, and he told me Daddy was Commissioned by the Governor of Kentucky in 1973 as a Kentucky Colonel. This was something I did not know, and it reminded how little I do know, despite asking all the questions I have over my 27 years. So I looked into that honor he was given, and I learned this Commission is only granted by the Governor of Kentucky, and only he knows the reason why, but usually the reasons are for being dedicated to the welfare of others and for overall strength of character. Well, those are things everyone who knew Daddy understood very well about him. I cannot count the times people have told me that they would not have made it if he had not been there to help them. I feel very confident when I say there could be no person around that did nearly so much for the people of his area for year after year after year. Imagine being told that by people that they would have went hungry as children had your dad not been there month after month, and this is a story I've heard from people since I was a child. And there in the store, hundreds, Thousands of unpaid bills and bad checks stacked box on top of box. Daddy always said the amount of money owed, well, it was so much he really could not imagine trying to tally it all, and it was given to help people, money he was never repaid, but Money he kept on giving. I know this area will never see someone else like him, no one else to impact an entire Generation, Never Again. The Bible says to "Give honor to whom honor is due", and I feel inferior to the task. . . when he is due so much. And I have spent most all of my life thinking that Daddy, being nearly 60 when I came along, would not be with me very long, so you would all think that I was prepared for this, but I cannot tell you how unprepared I really was, really am. I believed as years went on he would have to live forever, certainly, he would live forever. Then I told myself that after we lost Ben, Angel and Quentin that if - and I stress IF - Daddy died, then I would feel it was for the best because of how hard it was on him to go on without his little kids, but selfishly, I will stand and tell you today, I cannot fathom him never calling me saying, "This is your Papa, How are You." I cannot imagine that. Still, I know he was never the same after that happened, and I have reminded myself of that fact daily, and I will continue to do so for a long time yet. He told me recently, talking about my Baby, "Jack," who is almost 8 months old, "Maybe I'll live long enough for him to remember me," and I think about how I must remember to teach the Baby about his papaw Tiny. . . and remind his older Brother to tell him about him, and I think about how I can never really Show him how his papaw was, and I think about what he will have missed. Constantly on my Dad's mind was doing what was right in the sight of God. He really worried about those he knew and hoped they would walk in the right direction. He was as much a Man of Honor and Integrity as I've ever known. My husband often said how he was basically the only person of his age he had ever met that still had such strong convictions. He talked so often of what a strong man he had been, and I think of how he must be now, I imagine, he is that young man again, and he is with his babies, and I think that I really will be okay without him, but I also think of how I must remind myself of that every day from now to be able to accept him being gone. I know this might just seem true to me because he was Mine, but I believe in Ernest that never was a Father more loved for just the person he was than mine. I know that anyone who ever really knew him will never have him far from their thoughts, and I think not a day will pass that I do something Daddy would see as extravagant that I will not hear him say to me, "My, My. . ."
The eulogy given by Me at my Siblings' funeral about my sister. What I have to Say: I had to type it, else I’d get up - starting crying and then what would we have? So, I’ve sat the last few days and typed it - up till this morning: I will talk most about Angel, believe me when I say - I could stand here until the end of time and talk on nothing but my brothers alone: Ben His was a FAITH I will likely only spend my life searching for - his was as perfect a faith as I’ve ever known. Quentin As my Husband, John, wrote on your memory board - “I’m sure heaven has more than pickles, mayonnaise and more Wal-Marts than we do here - so we know you’re loving it” . . . But I will talk about Angel most because she was the greatest friend of my life, and as her friend Hannah wrote on Angel’s myspace, also “The Love of My Life”. . . The Following is something she wrote, I am reading it because I want you all to know her heart: November, 21st 2006 - 3:19am “Jesus, I love you so Much! To Start off FOREVER and Always! You’ve given me so much that I’m just beginning to realize. Today I just sat in thought while my beautiful little sister played [. . .] she begged me to play with her and just wanted me to be with her [. . .] All this time I could bring such happiness to God’s most beautiful creation - A CHILD, an innocent, pure hearted child - who sees the world so BIG and everything just seems so Magical! OH! How I long for those feelings [. . .] The smallest things make the World seem so bright and wonderful - The Heart of a Child. That is what I am praying for, to restore {the} innocence to my soul, {for} my heart and MIND to be pure as snow. I see so many people everyday and wish I could find the words to bring them to God’s Grace! How to tell those who are struggling and think they have no where to go, I want to tell them how God just wants to hold {you}, he just wants to loved {you}. Can I hold You? He is saying {it}. {GOD} is going to give me Just the Right Words to give each PERSON I reach for. Each One. . .whatever their circumstances - {. . .} so MANY!!!” And God did give her EXACTLY the right words to give each person she wanted to reach and a way to reach each and every one of those people - She just reached you ALL today. . . She was my beautiful little 'Chicken' . . . but you’d have to know her very well to understand that part (her crazy walk!) - I found, after this happened, some of her notebook papers. In them she had written when I moved away in 2005, what hurt most about that was she had lost her best friend, she wrote no one made her feel like I did {I hope that was a good thing!}, and she talked about how much silly fun we had. . . the thing is, not a word of that is news to me because she told me these things often, and although I felt the same way, me - being basically thoughtless and prideful - I suppose - never told her I felt the same way. She was the greatest friend to me I’ve ever known. I hope someone can learn from my irreversible mistake here today. . . When I got up this morning, the above was all I had to say so far. I realized I given a thought to anything God what he’d have me say - and then I did. After a few minutes I began to think on how I, my husband and basically a majority of people I’ve spoken to have talked about how they would have gotten out of the apartment that night. We’ve said things like, “I’d have busted the window out, JUMPED!” “I’d have tied something together and climbed out,” - “I would have run down the stairs through the fire. . .” Now we do not really know how we might have acted, and my Angel was even afraid the stand up to people when they were cruel to her or to sing in front of crowds, and I know how many times I’ve thought or even said to her, “Be Bold, Be Brave!” - But You see, when they could not get out, realized there was no way out, Angel found her Two Bibles, A New Living Translation, and KVJ - which she loved best, and the Three were found together, under a blanket. I say “COURAGE” is what caused her to take hold of her Bible and lay down with her Brothers, knowing God is in control and “Fearing Not” in the last moments. That is the Courage of a Lamb - a Lion, from fear might do all sorts of harm to himself and others in the name of self preservation, but a lamb goes – in the last moments - goes with peace - I say that is true “Courage” John 13:15 says “No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.” And John 3:16 says “And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” Let me tell you today - Ben, Angel and Quentin did not get out of there - but because of their Courage in the last moments, they took hold of their Bibles, Laid down together and from this act, I believe their Brothers, Sisters, Family and Friends - those they prayed diligently for each day - will be saved because of the sheer bravery and faith they have shown, I’ve seen is no greater Love or greater bravery in my entire life.
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