NEWLY DISCOVERED PRISON PHOTOS DOCUMENT A LOST ERA

11/06/2014

My friend, Dru Greene, blessed us recently when she sent my wife, Libby, sixteen photos from the 1980’s, taken at Zephyrhills C.I. I had thought these photos were long-lost and never to be found, since I’d sent my copies to a lawyer in Tallahassee in 1997, and she “misplaced” them. Prison was much different during a four-year period, 1983-87, when we were given free rein to implement a variety of successful programs, and the prisoners responded. Many lives were changed.

I am preparing a presentation for the parole commission documenting that period, and some of these photos illustrate the accomplishments far better than words. When Jack Murphy and I began brainstorming and planning “Sonshine Adventure,” three-day religious weekend in 1983, we had no idea that our modest program would result in “The National Prison Invasion,” in 1986, with over 40,000 Christian volunteers going into 400 prisons nationwide over one weekend.

I wanted to share a few of these photos now, with short explanations, followed by more later, to seek your comments and opinions. Many of the men in these photos were freed years ago, and lead successful, law-abiding lives.

The week before Jack Murphy was released on parole in November, 1984, he and I posed for this photo at Zephyrhills C.I. We silk-screen printed the “Sonshine Adventure ‘84” logo on over 900 t-shirts. Over 200 Christian volunteers from churches in Orlando, Lakeland, Dade City, Tampa, and Clearwater attended, as well as divinity students from Trinity College and Southeastern College. That’s me on the left, with a lot more hair. We are standing in front of the horticulture area where I was allowed to raise thousands of flowers.

In his last months in prison, Murf was inspired to work with the flowers, getting his mind right for freedom. As a result of his efforts beautifying some areas around the chapel, the warden reduced Murf’s custody and put him “outside” the fences for the first time. He told Jack to fix up the flower beds around the administration building like he’d done at the chapel.

The above photo was taken around the same time as the one of Murf and me. That’s me at the back, with sunglasses. Murf is on the right. Friends Gary Toth, left, and Juan Acebo, center, along with Jack Murphy have been free for decades. I am the only one left in captivity.

This area was the result of a “Jaycees” beautification effort, a fish pond and stone waterfall, a wood bridge and tropical plants, all built by prisoners. This area became the backdrop for the Jaycee Photo Project on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Sadly, I’ve been told, the Jaycee pond and wooden bridge are gone now, eliminated by some later, less enlightened officials. Prison officials no longer allow group photos of prisoners, like the one below, for fear of “gangs,” I suppose.

That’s me holding the “Hard Labor” sign (a joke for those humorless folks who might assume otherwise). All these men worked very hard at self-improvement and community service in all our programs, Jaycees, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Winners Program, Sonshine Adventure, and others. Almost all of these men have been free for many years, with the exception of Mike Riding (directly behind me with no shirt) and myself. Ricky Batten, at lower left, recently contacted me to say he was living a successful law-abiding life near Tampa. Over the years, I’ve lost touch with close friends Rusty York, Gary Toth, Juan Acebo and Mike Singletary. I wish them well.

This photo of my aunt, Alice Walker, and myself was taken in the Zephyrhills C.I. visiting park in July, 1986.

That’s my youngest brother, Tom, and aunt, Alice Walker, another time at visit. Tom has a long, scruffy beard now. I expect to see him in “Duck Dynasty” any time.

In September, 1986, we’d been taking “selfies” for years, mostly because no one seemed able to properly focus the 35 mm camera the warden entrusted me with.

November 16, 2014, Columbia C.I., Lake City

What a difference thirty years make! This photo with my wife, Libby, shows that I am still hanging on, working hard, maintaining a positive attitude, hoping and praying for release.

Charlie

SAILING THE FLORIDA GULAG — A DAY OF MOURNING

PRISON DIARY: Thursday, October 16, 2014  9:35 AM

Crisscrossing long stretches of rural North Florida in a cramped prison bus, I see parallels with Russian prison camps described by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in The Gulag Archipelago. The Russian prisons were like islands scattered across vast stretches of ocean, yet interconnected as an archipelago of hate, oppression, and violence.

Riding along bumpy backroads past miles of scrubby trees and thick underbrush, the monotony is broken only by occasional cow pastures, swamps, and boarded up buildings. Then a double row of razorwire-topped chain linked fences signals that we are approaching another prison.

They are all the same, yet different, like the other islands in the Florida Archipelago, gulags that operate as semi-independent fiefdoms that are only loosely controlled by the prison officials in Tallahassee, the state capital.

“If Mike Crews don’t like the way I run this yard, I’d like to see him come out here and run it his damned self,” a guard said to me a couple of months ago. That is a common sentiment, characteristic of the scorn they have for their overseers.

This is supposed to be my last day at RMC, “Wild, Wild West,” before going to Columbia C.I. tomorrow, and all the abuses, harassments and indignities the transfer entails. Last night, on the phone with my dear wife, Libby, she sadly informed me that my aunt, Eloise Norman, had passed away. Aunt Eloise was my father’s youngest sister, and the last surviving Norman sibling. My grandparents, Robert Franklin Norman and Berta Lee West Norman, raised five sons and four daughters on a farm near Moultrie, Georgia. They are all gone, leaving behind  sons and daughters scattered across America, virtually out of touch with their cousins. Today, I mourn the passing of an extraordinary woman who I will greatly miss.

The last time I saw Aunt Eloise and her older sister, Frankie Lee Hatchell, was on Sunday, May 5, 1985, after my father, Eugene Norman’s funeral. I was at Zephyrhills C.I., and the warden had given my family permission to come in and visit me, four at a time. Both of them cried when they saw me, hugging and consoling me. They hadn’t seen me since my youth, and Aunt Frankie Lee said, “You’re the spitting image of our father when he was a young man.” I’d never even seen a photograph of my grandfather, who passed away before I was born. That unfortunate time led to a closeness with Aunt Eloise and Aunt Frankie Lee that continued until both their deaths.

When several cards and letters went unanswered, I knew something was wrong. Eloise always typed out her letters on an old typewriter, keeping me abreast of the lives of the few nephews and nieces she remained in touch with. Libby telephoned her a few months ago, and Eloise told her she had inoperable lung cancer. It was just a matter of time. Eloise’s daughter, Marilyn Brandenburg, called yesterday to let Libby know her mother was gone.

The passing of loved ones is especially hard for those of us in prison. We can only rarely attend funeral services, and contacting relatives is difficult. In my thirty-six –plus years in prison, outliving loved ones is a sad fact of life. I see many men older than I am, who are completely alone, having outlived everyone else in their family and awaiting their own lingering deaths. Hopefully, this wrongful imprisonment will end, and I won’t share those old men’s fates.

Meanwhile, I will continue sailing the Florida Gulag, and pray for a safe port free of the oppression and hate I’ve witnessed so many times. I ask that you share in my prayers for the happiness, health, and safety of our loved ones. Thanks.

Charlie

Eloise Norman was born on November 15, 1934 in Moultrie, Georgia. She was the youngest of nine children born to the late Robert Franklin Norman and Berta Lee (West) Norman.

Eloise was a retired bookkeeper dedicating more than 53 years of service. She was an expert seamstress, often making her own clothes. Eloise was a devoted Christian with a deep appreciation of gospel music, especially singing quartets.

Eloise is survived by her sons, Rufus G. Carson of Columbia, Russell Lee (Arlee) Carson of Columbia; and a daughter, Marilyn Jeanette Brandenburg (Steve ) of Casey Il. She also leaves behind six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Nancy Jane Paul Bradley; and eight of her brothers and sisters, Theus Norman, Raymond (Buddy) Norman, Frankie Lee Norman Hatchell, Winifred Norman, James Thomas Norman, Thelma Norman Davis, Eugene Norman, and Rufus Norman. She will be greatly missed.

William Lee Odom

October 19, 2014

When I was growing up in Texas, I played on a Little League baseball team that was coached by my Uncle John. His son, Bill, who was 2 years younger, also played on the team. Bill put all he had into each game, even though baseball turned out not to be his strong suit; however, even as a kid, Bill excelled in other areas. For example, at ten years old, he had memorized what all the state car tags looked like, and could identify them before the rest of us could even make out a letter. He continued developing similar skills as he grew up, recently retiring as court reporter for the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Although retired, Bill was still “young” and physically fit enough to try other directions. He moved to Flagstaff, as it was half-way between his son, John Lee, an actor in Los Angeles, and family in the east, found a nice job in a deli, and a friendly apartment complex to live in. He was excited and happy in his new adventure.

On Saturday, October 18, I received the news that my cousin, Bill Odom, was found dead in his apartment in Flagstaff, Arizona. Friends and family had not received replies to contacts in five days of trying, so the complex staff sent someone to investigate. Bill lived alone. It will be awhile before we know anything else.

Here is a photo of Bill, probably the last one ever taken of him. It was taken at a Walgreen’s store in Flagstaff by the photo technician. Bill had taken some film there for processing on August 23. He had sent this photo and some others of his new place to me in September. Since retiring, Bill had been able to visit me twice in the last year. Bill’s mother, Ruthie Jean,  was a sister of my mother. We exchanged many letters and visited by phone calls often through the years. Bill was my cousin and my friend.

  William Lee Odom Nov. 23, 1951 — October, 2014

ANOTHER ARRIVAL

Charlie has arrived at Columbia C.I. Friday, October 17, 2014.

It is just east of Lake City, Florida, off of Highway 90.

 

Here’s his new address:

 

Charles Norman  881834  G-3

Columbia Correctional Institution

216 S.E. Corrections Way

Lake City, FL  32025

 

Thanks for your prayers!

as always, he appreciates mail.

 

Here we are on our first visit Saturday, Oct. 18