Lillie Meshell’s Story For the Sabine Index

7/20/15

The life and times of Lillie Meshell   mirrors the lifestyles  of  many of the Choctaw-Apache families of that era.  She was born on December 10, 1920 to Tom Sepulvado and Julie  Craig Ebarb, the seventh  of nine children.   Other siblings were Walter Sepulvado,  Ernest Sepulvado, Clifton Sepulvado, Stevie Sepulvado, Evelyn  Meshell,  Emma Campbell, Irene Pokluda, and Pearl Meshell.  She passed away in May 2015 at the age of ninety-four.

From time to time, Miss Lillie would reflect on her long life which she deemed to be a blessing from God.

She had a very strong (and uncompromising  faith).   A frequent quote all through her life and even in recent days before her death  was “Times may change, but God does not.”  Even when she was in almost constant pain, she would say, “No cross, no crown.” And “I am thankful for all He sends.”  She loved her family and her church.

She believed in “hard work” (except on Sunday).  She and her siblings grew up working on a small farm in Noble, La.  She was proud of working  and picking cotton to help her family make ends meet.  Up until her death, she believed that people were healthier in the old days because they ate “real” food.  In those days, people were self-sufficient.  They grew their own vegetables and raised their own livestock.  Even the livestock subsisted on grain and grass free of pesticides.  Water came from a spring.  Seeds for crops were saved from the year before.  Food sources were natural and pure.  Doctors were rarely needed.  Babies were delivered by mid-wives and family members were seen by faith healers.  The family knew about medicinal remedies that were effective against illnesses.  Everyone in the family worked.

In summarizing her secret  for longevity (with a sharp mind), she often mentioned a strong faith followed by a positive attitude, close  family relationships, hard work, healthy eating, and being independent.

She passed down many of her favorite recipes, some of which have been  featured  in  The Native American Choctaw-Apache Cookbook.    One of my favorite recipes was “hot water cornbread” which was more of a side dish than a  bread.  It was delicious,  crumbled up in a bowl with fresh cow’s milk or eaten with fresh field peas or greens.

As the years pass, we are thankful for our elders who came before us.  We appreciate their way of life which was hard, but filled with wholesome values which we hope will  be heeded by generations to come.  Miss Lillie, like the others who lived in her time, passed down a wonderful legacy of faith and love imbedded in Choctaw-Apache traditions.

Mary Helen Carlin