 | When They Were Mine When They Were Mine is the autobiography of Sheila Martin, a member of the Branch Davidian Church at the time of its apocalyptic encounter with the FBI in April, 1993. The assault resulted in a fire that killed 76 Branch Davidians, including 23 children. Sheila's husband and four oldest children died in the fire. Martin told the story of her life, both before and after the attack, to Catherine Wessinger, who then wrote this first-person narrative from the recordings of their sessions together. The result is a haunting account of one life, typical in its ups and downs, made atypical by a collision of faith with history. Sheila Martin is a surviving Branch Davidian. She lost her husband and four oldest children in the fire on April 19, 1993 that ended the standoff between the Branch Davidians and federal agents. She continues to live and work in Waco, Texas. Catherine Wessinger (Ph.D. University of Iowa) is the Rev. H. James Yamauchi, S.J. Professor of the History of Religions, Loyola University, New Orleans. She is the author/editor of six books, including most recently, Memoirs of the Branch Davidians: The Autobiography of David Koresh's Mother (2007), Millenialism, Persecution, and Violence: Historical Cases , Editor (2000), and Religious Institutions and Women's Leadership: New Roles Inside the Mainstream (1996). |
