Cedar Rapids native’s memoir, music aim to inspire

When Koretta Sykes was just 14, her father TJ Mayfield was murdered in Cedar Rapids.

On January 13, 1981, her mother suddenly became the single caretaker of six teenagers. With a phone call from the city coroner, their lives were turned upside down.

That was 34 years ago, but the memory of that night still is sharp in Sykes's memory. It forms the first chapter of her newly published memoir, 'The Journal of a Denied Worshipper From the Inside Out.”

Written under her maiden name Koretta Mayfield, the book documents not only the hardships in Sykes's life, but the ways faith and music helped her overcome them.

She collected years worth of journal entries into the book, which is self-published and available for sale on Amazon.

'The book is a compilation of my journal entries from really vulnerable life lessons that I wanted to leave behind as a legacy to people I mentor, to my grandkids, to anyone else who can benefit from them,” she said.

Along with her father's death, she documents an unplanned pregnancy that led to dropping out of college and ostracization at her church, the suicide of her first daughter's father, the breakdown of a later marriage and her mother's death from cancer.

But throughout the book winds a common thread - not giving up, or giving in, to the temptation to despair.

'I want people to know there is hope,” she said. 'They don't have to give up or let life overtake them. They can take over their situation by having faith.”

The end of each chapter has space for the reader to write their own thoughts and includes questions for study groups or individuals.

Sykes, 47, now lives in Quincy, Illinois, where she is working to make ministry a central part of her life. Along with the book, she is releasing a CD of Christian songs, mostly original music written by her, her pastor and her producer.

She'll be in Cedar Rapids Sunday for a CD launch concert at Living Waters Kingdom Church, 5101 16th Ave. SW.

She said she wants to convey, 'The healing, restorative power of music to heal.”

Her book is filled with stories of how music and worshipping through song helped her during the hardest times of her life.

'I've always sung, since I was 9-years-old. Even when I didn't understand what I was singing about, I was singing songs that were healing to my spirit,” she said.

Journaling has also helped her heal after every hardship.

'It helped me process it, reflect upon it, embrace what I was learning from it,” she said.

Whether through song or word, she hopes people can take something positive from the things she's shared.

'It's not about me at all. It's about people who will be encouraged, inspired by my story,” she said. 'Writing this really made me feel like I bared my soul.”

If you go

What: Koretta Mayfield CD launch concert

Where: Living Waters Kingdom Church, 5101 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids

When: 5:30 p.m. Sunday (11/8)

Cost: $5 and 2 canned goods

Tickets: (573) 231-6431 or (319) 431-0783