In 1962, at eight years of age, I was taken from my family home in Los Angeles, and delivered to Father Divine at Woodmont, his 74 acre estate in Gladwyne, an affluent suburb of Philadelphia. 

Father Divine, an African American spiritual leader, although controversial, was known to have great foresight. 

I lived with Father, as his son and heir apparent, at Woodmont, until he died September 11, 1965.  My guardian was gone.

I was then sent to boarding school in Paoli, Pennsylvania by Mother Divine, Father's virgin wife, a Caucasian woman who was 40+ yrs his junior.  My banishment was interpreted as a means of defying Father’s wishes for my future.  After two long years, feeling imprisoned and all alone, I jumped on a freight train and ran away. 

I have traveled a long road to heal from the brainwashing, physical, sexual and emotional abuse I endured.

But the greatest lesson I learned from Father Divine was to recognize the humanity in each person, and to treat them with dignity and respect.  This kept me safe on the journey to define myself.

  

Tomas "Pop" Guillermo Garcia 
My biological father, a hard drinking individual. His father fought in the Mexican Revolution under Emiliano Zapata.

Georgia "Mom" Costa Garcia 
My biological mother.  An attractive, intelligent, high-spirited woman of Greek descent, and a talented photographer.

Suzanne "Susy" Garcia Shapiro 
My beautiful, artistic and graceful sister born in 1958.  Susy lived at one of Father Divine’s privately owned hotels until 1974.  She was murdered in Los Angeles in 1993.

Father Divine 
A charismatic preacher, early champion of civil rights, and founder of The International Peace Mission Movement.  His worldwide empire’s success provided employment, food and shelter, making him a millionaire at the height of the Great Depression. He traveled in a custom made Duesenberg throne car, accompanied by a fleet of limousines.  He was visited by Eisenhower, seeking Divine's support, as Ike prepared to run for President.  William Randolph Hearst was a powerful critic.

For those who believed, Divine was God.

The Peace Mission Movement mandates racial integration.   Colored & Caucasian same sex roommates share a bedroom.  Publicly, sex is strictly forbidden. 

Father Divine’s Code: "No Smoking. No Drinking. No Obscenity.  No Vulgarity. No Profanity.  No Undue Mixing of Sexes. No Receiving of Gifts, Presents, Tips or Bribes."

  

Thank you for your interest .  More to come. 

Tommy