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OPAL: Spirit of a Woman
A powerful testament to the indomitable human spirit that transforms a painful personal history into a universal story of triumph, grace, and the capacity to create meaning from suffering. Leggere Loft - 5 stars
" Spirit of a Woman" is the story of Mary Opal Fetters/George; a courageous woman who lost her mother to childbirth at the tender age of seven, was sold into bondage by a father who no longer wished to care for her, and forced into child labor in another state for many years. In spite of all the odds stacked against her—she championed a legacy of grace.
Her eyes were set deeply into the granite-like constitution of her gaze. Not a cold-hearted stare, but translucent; like the serene look of a farm pond at dusk. And, although her shoulders were slightly bent from plain old fashioned hard work, it wasn't an arthritic stoop - more like the resolute position she'd assumed throughout her lifetime to guarantee her own survival.
You see, this was still "The Great Depression," and the screen door her family was shivering and sweltering behind was that same old door attached to the same old "Sharecropper Shanty" they'd started out in. But for Opal, the decision to head to California during those difficult days or stay and 'tough things out,' was what we call 'a no-brainer.' Some refer to it as 'frontier spirit,' or 'the will to go on.' Whatever you choose to label it; in her case—those principles were simply the foundation on which she chose to live out her life. Then, after having whisked away all those "Dust Bowl" gales - she began to pay all that survivor's grit forward. Time after time through the years; into decades - she answered the call to serve others. Never mind their beliefs or their station in life, so long as the end result was to benefit those who were suffering the most.
Marcia Wilson /5.0 out of 5 stars
Facing life with courage and abiding faith.
Opal will touch your heart. This is a loving tribute to a woman who grew up in hard scrabble times and faced hardship and tribulations with courage and grace.
" Spirit of a Woman" is the story of Mary Opal Fetters/George; a courageous woman who lost her mother to childbirth at the tender age of seven, was sold into bondage by a father who no longer wished to care for her, and forced into child labor in another state for many years. In spite of all the odds stacked against her—she championed a legacy of grace.
Her eyes were set deeply into the granite-like constitution of her gaze. Not a cold-hearted stare, but translucent; like the serene look of a farm pond at dusk. And, although her shoulders were slightly bent from plain old fashioned hard work, it wasn't an arthritic stoop - more like the resolute position she'd assumed throughout her lifetime to guarantee her own survival.
You see, this was still "The Great Depression," and the screen door her family was shivering and sweltering behind was that same old door attached to the same old "Sharecropper Shanty" they'd started out in. But for Opal, the decision to head to California during those difficult days or stay and 'tough things out,' was what we call 'a no-brainer.' Some refer to it as 'frontier spirit,' or 'the will to go on.' Whatever you choose to label it; in her case—those principles were simply the foundation on which she chose to live out her life. Then, after having whisked away all those "Dust Bowl" gales - she began to pay all that survivor's grit forward. Time after time through the years; into decades - she answered the call to serve others. Never mind their beliefs or their station in life, so long as the end result was to benefit those who were suffering the most.
Marcia Wilson /5.0 out of 5 stars
Facing life with courage and abiding faith.
Opal will touch your heart. This is a loving tribute to a woman who grew up in hard scrabble times and faced hardship and tribulations with courage and grace.
Kindle Edition
Published March 4, 2025
162 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Heaton
16 books7 followersKevin Heaton lives and writes in Wonder Valley, Ca. His work has appeared in dozens of print and online journals including: Guernica, Beloit Poetry Journal, Rattle, The Adroit Journal, and Raleigh Review, (search: Kevin Heaton Poems) and has been selected as Best of the net. He is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee.
In 2019, Kevin became hopelessly lost in the California Hi-Desert and lived to write about it. In 2022, he released his personal memoir of that experience entitled: "Where's Chuckawalla Bill's Cabin?"
More recently, in 2025, he released his second memoir entitled: "OPAL: Spirit of a Woman."
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 29, 2025
Outstanding!
Love this book so much about Opal and Ted! Opal and her siblings were giving to Ma Little as workers for her farm after their mother passes away and a father who just couldn’t keep them. Anyway, this story if Opal and Ted was truly remarkable and I stayed my late a few nights to get to the ending. Amazing work by Kevin Heston!
Love this book so much about Opal and Ted! Opal and her siblings were giving to Ma Little as workers for her farm after their mother passes away and a father who just couldn’t keep them. Anyway, this story if Opal and Ted was truly remarkable and I stayed my late a few nights to get to the ending. Amazing work by Kevin Heston!
May 3, 2025
A homage to a remarkable woman
An interesting biographical story of the life of Opal written by one of her son-in-laws. Faced with abandonment, slave labor, poverty, the Depression, marriage and motherhood, Opal remained hard-working, staunch in her faith, and loving to her family. She took the lemons that life threw at her, added sugar and made lemonade.
An interesting biographical story of the life of Opal written by one of her son-in-laws. Faced with abandonment, slave labor, poverty, the Depression, marriage and motherhood, Opal remained hard-working, staunch in her faith, and loving to her family. She took the lemons that life threw at her, added sugar and made lemonade.
March 9, 2025
Interesting, historical family
Saga. It sheds an honest light on the hardships of growing up and building a family in rural Oklahoma. The religious foundation and hard working ethics of this family demonstrates the power of these traits. Read on and learn
Saga. It sheds an honest light on the hardships of growing up and building a family in rural Oklahoma. The religious foundation and hard working ethics of this family demonstrates the power of these traits. Read on and learn
March 27, 2025
Amazing story!
An inlaw writes Opal’s story. The things she persevered were tremendous. It caused her to grow into the highly regarded person that she was. A truly remarkable story.
An inlaw writes Opal’s story. The things she persevered were tremendous. It caused her to grow into the highly regarded person that she was. A truly remarkable story.
April 5, 2025
Interesting memoir
An interesting read about a fascinating woman. The struggles, trials and calamities she faced, overcame and created a good life for her children is truly amazing. The world is a better place because of people like Opal.
An interesting read about a fascinating woman. The struggles, trials and calamities she faced, overcame and created a good life for her children is truly amazing. The world is a better place because of people like Opal.
March 28, 2025
Amazing book
Such a good read. I am so glad I know this family. What an inspiration it is to read her story. Very good job, Kevin. Thank you. So sorry to hear about Charlotte. 🙏
Such a good read. I am so glad I know this family. What an inspiration it is to read her story. Very good job, Kevin. Thank you. So sorry to hear about Charlotte. 🙏
April 10, 2025
Unexpected
What an interesting and inspiring book. Opal's life of tragedy and heartache turned tenacious grace and love is truly uplifting.
What an interesting and inspiring book. Opal's life of tragedy and heartache turned tenacious grace and love is truly uplifting.
May 27, 2025
Precious story
Although written very simply, the story of Opal's life is an inspiration. She faced challenges head-on while remaining a loving, positive person.
Although written very simply, the story of Opal's life is an inspiration. She faced challenges head-on while remaining a loving, positive person.
July 22, 2025
I came across this book when I saw a reader talking about it on X, so I out of curiosity I thought I would give it a try. It is the memoir of Opal and strong-willed and determined woman, and of the struggles that followed her from her childhood and through her adult life. A well-written and inspiring story.
Although I felt it seemed to plod along at times, I persevered, which I glad I did because by the time I finished it made me look at my own life.
An interesting and thoughtful read.
Although I felt it seemed to plod along at times, I persevered, which I glad I did because by the time I finished it made me look at my own life.
An interesting and thoughtful read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews