The Complete Story — Anita Ballard-Jones

The Complete Story: Rehoboth Road through The Dancing Willow Tree is the entire story of the 36 year saga between the Turner and Oliver families. It was May 1950, when 15 year old Elizabeth Turner was raped by Reverend Oliver, the assistant pastor of her father's church. After a hidden pregnancy she gave birth to her son, Johnny. Reverend Turner, Elizabeth's father refused to believe her story of being raped and disowned her and her baby. He forced Elizabeth and his wife, Loretha to hide the identity of the baby's father, and live the next thirty six years with lies and secrets. In 1986, Reverend Oliver was forced to confess to his family as well as the Turner family, but before he could leave Rehoboth he became seriously ill. The ripple effects of his confession touched everyone causing them to experience an array of physical and emotional reactions. Thea, Reverend Oliver's wife, could not escape the guilt and shame she was feeling. She watched painfully as her son, Malcolm tried to forge a relationship with his brother, Johnny, and Malcolm struggled to come to terms with his sexuality. Thea's most plaguing dilemma had to do with her husband. Her only consolation was an old weeping willow tree in her front yard where she would watch its graceful branches dance on the mild summer breezes. Thea called it her ‘dancing willow tree', and she would sit under it daily to pray and receive guidance from the Lord. She knew if her husband was to be saved she had to give him a life threatening ultimatum