Courageous Love: Mildred Chestney

My grandmother, Mildred Chestney, was a young woman then, and along with the times, she was married to a verbally abusive husband who was a womanizer and drinker. She had a daughter who, by default, carried that burden as well.

Back then divorce was not considered an option. But when things became intolerable, my grandmother confided in her church minister who, amazingly, encouraged her to end her marriage. It was a tall order in those days, requiring among other things, the services of a private detective to “catch him in the act”. Not generally one to take a lot of initiative, my grandmother bravely stepped up, following through until she obtained a divorce.

In time, she married Perry Chestney, the man I called my grandfather. Perry loved my grandmother, and he also loved my mother, proudly adopting her legally. She opted to take his last name.

I relate this chapter of family history as one illustration of how courageous love saves those in our lives we care about most.