Written by Sam Hooper as part of Roots of American Music’s “Hough is My Home” series, a songwriting collaboration between ROAM teaching artists/musicians and senior adults who regularly attend the Fatima Family Center in Cleveland’s Hough community. Under the leadership of Center Director LaJean Ray, this group is called the Silver Threads. Sam collaborated with 90 year old Julia Cross, who moved from Kentucky to Cleveland in the 1950’s. Mrs. Cross has been active as a leader in the Girl Scouts, The Family Life Education Project with the Cleveland Schools and the Wisdom Council at St. Agnes, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. She was awarded the Sister Thea Bowman Award which honors African American Catholic Women in the community. She’s also very proud of her life as a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Silver Thread
CHORUS:
THERE’S A SILVER THREAD RUNNING THROUGH MY LIFE OF SERVICE I KNOW A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE BEST SERMON
FAMILY, EDUCATION, CHURCH AND COMMUNITY
THEY WEAVE A SILVER THREAD BETWEEN YOU AND ME
VERSE 2
I WAS A GIRL SCOUT LEADER AND A TUTOR AND ALWAYS ACTIVE IN THE PTA ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION IN THE CLEVELAND SCHOOLS WE WENT TO LEAGUE PARK CENTER ON 66TH TO LET THE CHILDREN PLAY ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE FATIMA FAMILY CENTER IS TODAY
CHORUS:
THERE’S A SILVER THREAD RUNNING THROUGH MY LIFE OF SERVICE I KNOW A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE BEST SERMON
FAMILY, EDUCATION, CHURCH AND COMMUNITY
THEY WEAVE A SILVER THREAD BETWEEN YOU AND ME
VERSE 3
AT ST AGNES OUR LADY OF FATIMA CHURCH,
I’M ON THE WISDOM COUNCIL AND WE TRY
TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES AND HAVE A BETTER LIFE
I WAS AWARDED THE SISTER THEA BOWMAN AWARD
FROM THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND
WHERE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN ARE HONORED
FOR SHARING THEIR LIGHT
CHORUS:
BRIDGE:
CHORUS:
THERE’S A SILVER THREAD RUNNING THROUGH MY LIFE OF SERVICE I KNOW A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE BEST SERMON
FAMILY, EDUCATION, CHURCH AND COMMUNITY
THEY WEAVE A SILVER THREAD BETWEEN YOU AND ME
WELL I’M 90 YEARS AND COUNTING
MISS MY LATE HUSBAND OF 54 YEARS, HE WORKED FOR THE RTA
BUT I’M PROUD OF OUR 5 GRANDCHILDREN, 4 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN GUESS I’M DOING OK
THERE’S A SILVER THREAD RUNNING THROUGH MY LIFE OF SERVICE I KNOW A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE BEST SERMON
FAMILY, EDUCATION, CHURCH AND COMMUNITY
THEY WEAVE A SILVER THREAD BETWEEN YOU AND ME