Who: Bernadine Krehye of Oakley, office manager at the African-American Chamber of Commerce.

        On display: Her collection ofabout two dozen angels, most of them African-American. Where: Scattered throughout her living room and bedroom and in her office.

        Heavenly collectibles: “I've been collecting angels for almost two years now,” she says. “They include statues, candles, pictures and a few Christmas tree ornaments.”

Bernadine Krehye and some of her angel collection (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        Heaven-sent: Mrs. Krehye's first angel was a porcelain figurine given to her as a Christmas gift by her sister, Malikah Shabazz. “I had been looking at angels,” she recalls, “but I hadn't seen too many African-American ones. I thought, "This is really nice. It reminds me of myself.'

        “That same year,” she continues, “I went to a company party and we were exchanging gifts. The girl who picked my name presented me with an angel pin.”

        Searching for seraphim: “Then, my son gave another African-American angel. After that, I started looking for them myself.

        “When I buy an angel,it is because it reminds me of a person who has been associated with my life in some way, shape or form,” she explains.

        Celestial spirits: “For example,” she says, “I have one that reminds me of my 82-year-old mother and another that reminds me of my brother who passed. It is a choirboy angel, and he used to love choirs.”

        Remember me: Prior to taking her present job, Mrs. Krehye worked with mentally challenged adults.

        “At Christmas, clients would make things and sell them,” she recalls. “One woman made an African-American angel and gave it to me. Another lady gave me two because she said they reminded her of me. She said that they will be reminders of her when she passes away.

        “I don't think that those people were seeing me as an angel,” she reflects, “but as a person they feel comfortable with. Or, they appreciate the things I do.”

        Crumbs in his wings: “One of my particular favorites is a boy angel holding a chocolate chip cookie,” she chuckles. “My son, Joseph, really likes chocolate chip cookies and it looks a lot like he did when he was younger.”

        A good son: “He brought home some homework last week,” she continues. “It was a paper that included different characters. He was asked to identify who they reminded him of. He said that the female with a halo on her head looked like his mom.

        “He's a great kid,” she says with a grin. “And I'm a proud mom.”
       

Calling all collectors


        Are you the ultimate collector in your niche? Do you have the most spoons, the most thimbles, the most snow globes of anyone in the Tristate? Do you have the biggest ball of rubber bands around town?
Perhaps you collect something more unique?
Enquiring minds want to know.
Share your prize possessions with Marsie Hall Newbold by mail: c/o The Cincinnati Enquirer;e-mail: marsolete@aol.com.

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