Interview with Josephine Rigsby Hepburn, April 18, 1990

Partial Transcript: Today is Wednesday April the eighteenth, 1990. I am Jean Becker from Second Presbyterian Church and this is an unrehearsed interview with Josephine R. Hepburn.

Segment Synopsis: Hepburn tells about her family and the death of her son Jonathan. She shares about attending Western Kentucky University. She describes her involvement at Second Presbyterian Church.

Keywords: Church involvement; Church life; Church work; Dr. Jesse Herman; Education history; Family history; Lexington (Ky.); Second Presbyterian Church; Sunday school; Western Kentucky University

Subjects: Church; Education, Higher--Kentucky; Family--history; Presbyterian Church--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: I know since the, the death of your son Jonathan that you have been involved in some different things.

Segment Synopsis: Hepburn describes the founding of the Lexington Compassionate Friends chapter. She shares her own experience with the group and why she founded the Lexington chapter.

Keywords: Child loss; Children; Compassionate Friends; Counseling; Death; Encouragement from parents; Grief; Lexington (Ky.); Loss; Louisville (Ky.); Louisville Compassionate Friends; Parents; Support; Support groups

Subjects: Children--Kentucky; Counseling.; Grief.

Partial Transcript: I don't still go because I have to have the meeting, I still go because the group means so much to me. And I want it to keep going like I want it to go.

Segment Synopsis: Hepburn describes her long-term involvement with Compassionate Friends. She talks about the founding of other Kentucky chapters.

Keywords: Child loss; Children; Compassionate Friends; Counseling; Death; Encouragement from parents; Grief; Lexington (Ky.); Loss; Parents; Support; Support groups

Subjects: Children--Kentucky; Counseling.; Grief.

Partial Transcript: Well I know, um--course I knew Jonathan and he was such a happy kid.

Segment Synopsis: Hepburn shares the story of the memorial boat that was purchased in honor of her son.

Keywords: Burnamwood Camp; Child loss; Christian camps; Jon Boat; Presbyterian camps; Second Presbyterian Church

Subjects: Children.; Memorials.

Partial Transcript: Well, um, going to another thing that you've been involved in I know mission work where one summer you went to Alaska.

Segment Synopsis: Hepburn talks about her mission work at the American Youth Hostel. She shares her experiences with the residents at the hostel and with other volunteers.

Keywords: Alaska; American Youth Hostel; Global Ministry Unit; Hostels; Mission work; Missions; Sheldon Jackson College; Volunteer in mission; Volunteers; Women volunteers

Subjects: Church work.; Presbyterian Church

Partial Transcript: And then you have been, um, involved with the mission group in Eastern Kentucky.

Segment Synopsis: Hepburn describes going to New York and Eastern Kentucky for mission work. She explains how the craft center works in Morris Fork and how it benefits the area.

Keywords: Appalachian Craft Center; Crafts; Craftsmanship; Eastern Kentucky; Lands End; Morris Fork; New York; Volunteers in Mission; Women volunteers

Subjects: Crafts & decorating; Volunteer workers in community development; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Since you've been helping them they had that terrible fire.

Segment Synopsis: Hepburn describes the disasters that the craft center has faced. She highlights the Presbyterian history of Morris Fork.

Keywords: Church founding; Craft center; Crafts; Craftsmanship; Eastern Kentucky; Fires; Flooding; Natural disasters; Outreach; Presbyterian Church; Rural churches; Rural outreach; Sam VanderMeer

Subjects: Crafts & decorating; Natural disasters.; Presbyterian Church--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So I'll go back this summer and live there and, uh, operate the craft center.

Segment Synopsis: Hepburn and the interviewer share their stories about the VanderMeers. Hepburn also reflects on her son Jon's influence on her mission work.

Keywords: "The Tired Country Smiles"; Books; Compassionate Friends; Craft center; Crafts-fairs; Eastern Kentucky; Jonathan Hepburn; Nola VanderMeer; Sam VanderMeer; Second Presbyterian Church; Volunteers in Mission

Subjects: Presbyterian Church--Kentucky; Volunteers

Partial Transcript: Now aren't you doing a little bit of different work in your teaching?

Segment Synopsis: Hepburn closes by sharing about being a substitute teacher in special education. She tells about her relationships with the students.

Keywords: Behavioral disabilities; Children; Learning disabilities; Mental health; Relationship with children; Special education; Substituting

Subjects: Education--Kentucky