Always Someone's Son!

I grew up in the Ohio River valley known as "Billy" Butterfield, the younger son of Tom and Martha Butterfield. When I began preaching, I was always introduced as "Tom Butterfield's son, Bill." It was like I had no personal identity and it seemed that I would always be known as someone else's son, brother, friend or whatever. I must admit when I became a teen, I resented that a bit...no, a lot! It was never: president of his senior class; student body president at Ohio Valley College (University, now); member of OVC chorus, etc...I was always attached to someone else!


Now, fifty years later, it still happens, but not nearly as much. I have had the unique privilege of preaching in (Colonial) Williamsburg, Virginia for the past fifteen years. It is unique for a lot of reasons, but one is that we have tons of tourists every year. We always have a few folk at every Sunday service from somewhere else. Among those who visit our area are families from Ohio and West Virginia who know the "Butterfield" name.


I still have folk who tell me, "Your Dad baptized me up in Monroe County, Ohio back in the 1950s," or, "Are you related to Tom W. Butterfield?" After such comments and questions, I know that I am in for a ten minute conversation about something that happened decades ago. But, something is different now! I enjoy all of those stories!


It is so refreshing to hear folk speak so kindly of Dad and Mom. To hear them share with me stories about the work that my parents did in various locations within a hundred miles of "the Valley." Baptisms. Marriages. Funerals. Revivals. The list goes on and on! All of those stories are a part of the heritage from my parents and each of them brings joy to my heart.


I can only pray that my sons will have similar experiences in their lifetime. Maybe they will hear about their Grandpa Butterfield's preaching or Grandma Butterfield's sweetness. I hope so! I guess there would be no greater joy than for them to complain about hearing stories about their Dad and Mom's efforts, too!


Yes, I was raised as a "preacher's kid" and have no regrets sharing my identity with those who loved me!



Bill Butterfield
Williamsburg, Virginia
December 30, 2011