A Kind of Grace

Copyright © 1997 by Jackie Joyner-Kersee

All rights reserved.

Warner Books, Inc., Hachette Book Group, 237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Visit our Web site at
www.HachetteBookGroup.com

A Time Warner Company

First eBook Edition: July 1999

ISBN: 978-0-446-93027-7

The Warner Books name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Book design by Giorgetta Bell McRee

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Preface

Prologue

1: My Roots

2: Momma and Daddy

3: Inspirations

4: One Kind of Grace

5: Seeking an Identity

6: My Guiding Light

7: A Consuming Passion

8: Championship Seasons

9: My Feminine Mystique

10: Painful Realities

11: A Motherless Child

12: Mourning

13: College Life

14: Frustration

15: Bobby

16: Back on Track

17: The Carnival

18: A Silver Lining

19: Baseball, Hot Dogs and a Proposal

20: Mr. and Mrs.

21: World's Best

22: Super Woman

23: Another Kind of Grace

24: Rejuvenation

25: Adored and Ignored

26: Asthma and Other Annoyances

27: Heike

28: Anointed

29: Human Relations

30: At Death's Door

31: The Lesson

32: Dear Momma

I dedicate this book to my mother, Mary Joyner, and my husband, Bobby. You are the two people I consider to be true friends. You both have been my strength when I was weak and a great source of light when times were dark. Because of you, I have developed into the person I am and I am able to do the things I do.

Momma, words cannot describe how much I miss seeing you, having our lengthy phone conversations that to me seemed timeless, and simply knowing that you were there for me. I never realized how much you taught me; and I am grateful that you gave me the gift of life. You told me to challenge myself and to be considerate of others. They are lessons I treasure. I love you and miss you dearly.

Bobby, my blessings and happiness have come from being married to you. Together, we shall move forward in life and face new challenges. You are my rock and my inspiration.

Acknowledgments

From Jackie Joyner-Kersee

There are so many people I want to thank and acknowledge for their support over the years.

To my many sponsors, GlaxoWellcome, Bob Ingram and Tim Tyson; Honda and Kiochi Amemiya; Nike and Phil Knight; Ray-Ban and Norm Sallk; McDonald's, Ken Barun, Jackie Woodward and Teddi Domann; and 7UP, John Albers and Warren Jackson. It was your commitment to me that paved my road to success. Thanks for sticking with me, whether I was healthy or injured.

To Elite Management: Thank you for securing corporate support and making life easier for me during the times I needed it most.

To my dad, Alfred: Thank you for providing us with shelter, food and lots of love.

To my siblings, Angie, Debra and Fret-fret: Our bonds will never be broken.

A special thanks to all of the people who played a significant role in my life as a young girl: George Ward, Tyrone Cavitt, Percy Harris, Puncho Hamilton, Big John and Tommy Dancy, Miss Mary Brown, Miss Wicks, Mr. Riggins, Miss Walker, Miss Theodora Ash Smith, Miss Gillispe, Miss Hopkins, Mr. McDonald, Glover, Miss Stamp, Michelle Farmer, Joyce Farmer McKinney, Betty Young, the Slack family, Calvin Brown, Alan, Art and Brooks Johnson, and all the men on the corner of 15th and Piggott.

To my friends in the sports and entertainment industry who have supported and encouraged me throughout my career: Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Cosby, Louis Gossett, Jr., Michael Jordan, Dawnn Lewis, Ozzie Smith, Dawn Staley, Susan Taylor, Chris Webber and Terrie Williams.

To three very special ladies who inspire me to be a great person: Ruth Owens, Rachel Robinson and Betty Shabazz.

To the members of my foundation who help me in my dream to come back to East St. Louis and give hope to young people: Henry Brown, Bill Boyle, David Dandurand, Anita DeFrantz, Dave Dorr, Herb Douglas, Christopher Edley, Phil and Connee Freeman, Noel Hankin, Jim Koman, Earl Lazerson, Ann Moore, Jim Orso, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Denise Williams, Russ Klein, Judson Pickard, Angela Roberson, Wayman Smith III and Judge Warton.

To Wallace and Debra Anderson: Thanks for allowing my sister and me to stay with you when we had no other place to go.

To Billie Moore, Dr. Judith Holland and Colleen Matsuhara: Thanks for recruiting me and making my dreams become reality.

To Coach Nino Fennoy: Thanks for being a great friend, mentor and dad. You are and always have been a great source of inspiration to me. I will always be in your debt for all of the support given over the years.

To Bob Forster and Dr. Rick Lehman: my career saviors. I owe a great deal of my injury-free years to your commitment and dedication.

To Dave Harris: Thanks for being there for me, and being a friend to the end to me and my husband, Bobby.

To my girlfriend Carmen: Thanks for being a friend, a sister and, sometimes, a mom. Our friendship is very special.

To Valerie Brisco: Thanks for letting me stay with you rent-free so that I could get my first car.

To Jeanette Bolden, Alice Brown, Sandra Farmer-Patrick, Flo-Jo and Gail Devers: I always believed we had a special connection that went beyond collecting medals. We are truly friends.

To Marie Kersee: I will always have a special spot in my heart for you because you always dropped whatever you were doing to help me. Thank you.

To Rhonda Harris: Even though you were only thirteen at the time, it was your and Sandra's encouragement at the 1993 World Championships that helped me stay strong through my illness.

To Joyce, Michelle and Percy: Thank you for helping Sonja and extending your “East St. Louis style” hospitality during her visit.

There isn't enough space to individually acknowledge each of the many contributors to this book. To all of those who assisted: Please know that in my heart I am grateful for your help.

Finally, to WILMA RUDOLPH: my hero, my friend, my idol. I miss you.

From Sonja Steptoe

Heartfelt thanks to:

My agent, Faith Hampton Childs, for her unwavering support and priceless wisdom.

My research assistant, Tracey Reavis, for her gold-medal reporting performance.

Photo editor Maxine Arthur Peacock for lending the picture collection her keen eye.

The
Sports Illustrated
library and computer operations departments for promptly answering my plaintive cries for help.

Nino Fennoy, Della Gray, Al Joyner and Joyce Farmer McKinney for supplying essential details and insights.

Jackie Joyner-Kersee's Athletic Record