505: Um Did- we did hear this the other day that they used to be at our grandmother's farm Interviewer: Mm-hmm {NS} 505: And we was born and raised there cross the road uh, on that farm {X} the Mr uh, Mr Roy Boyder owns it now {C: name} but Robinson at the time. My daddy used to rent from that highway back to this highway here. Used to have sharecroppers. Interviewer: Alright. 505: And we uh {X} But then uh thirteen {X} twelve years and my dad became ill. Interviewer: Mm-hmm. 505: And my grandmother passed and we moved back here in nineteen thirty. Interviewer: Mm-hmm. 505: And my daddy passed in thirty in April. And so I- I married then I {X} And then I lured away my mother and and Bill {NS} lived at the home still living at the home place. So he was married {X} and thirteen. and says I lived up there about thirty some years. And um then my husband passed {X} we had been married about twenty years. First husband. We owned the farm up there {X} {X} near cotton lake. {X}, we owned that farm had a street come across there through the farm because uh {X}. So {X} {D: and be there I lived there}, uh, thirty so- I been there thirty some years before I moved away. Interviewer: Is that right? 505: Uh-huh. And after I moved away I, I married again {X} And then I stayed there until my husband passed and then I bought this house and move here. Interviewer: Mm-hmm. 505: So I been I move here in sixty-nine, I been here ever since sixty-nine. Interviewer: Mm-hmm. 505: My husband passed in sixty-eight and I And I {X} in sixty-eight Thirteen in November. And I moved down here on the thirteen of March in nineteen sixty-nine. And this used to be a, oh a a real subdivision around here and peoples just children and {X} when I was a kid. And thats a real good settlement. And that church there now that's a small church now the storm ripped it and tore it down but it's not When it's sunny you can hardly gets to seated because we had a large attendance. Interviewer: Mm. 505: And then this used to be a real- a real- a real thick, uh community. And they had uh I don't know, {D: school a large} and it was just. Now down round that church there used to stand {X}. But then we had the {X} there, they had the school, and it was just a nice Sunday. {X} I came to this school at that time and they have schools {X} like they have now. {X} {X} {NS} And just one school {X} and, and while we're here and that was about there and then the other one was up in {X}, all the schools about five to six miles apart some like four and five miles. And I have known the chairman {X} the school. And {X} time at {X}. The school the {X} {D: named} {X}. {D: Some of them}. So I think children has a good opportunity now. Most certainly did {D: when we's came in} {D: When we's} {X}- when we was growing up, we had to work part time, didn't go to school. But children don't have that to do no more. Interviewer: Yeah that's true. 505: {X}{NS} {X} And then when we {X} we had to stop and chop cotton and pick peas and things like that. Children don't have that to do now. I think that we are blessed- God had blessed us so much until, I think we have a lots to be thankful for. Interviewer: That's true. 505: But a heap of people don't realize God done ble- blessed us {X} and we still crying. So I think we should turn around and and thank God more, because he had done so much for us, and without him I don't think we can do nothing. So I think we should be proud and {X} people's places getting more close together {X} fall apart. Interviewer: {NS} Mm. 505: There's one thing about it when when- when you thank God for what he do for us. Do you know when, my father- I don't know how what year you quite young I know that- your father no doubt and my father {X} or your grandfather. They didn't know nobody giving no checks to nothing no social security nothing, they had to make it the best way they could. And here we are now {X} ain't got the sense enough to say thank you Lord. Ain't nobody get to you but God. He's the one that open the way and make a way for you. We wonder sometimes how we gonna make it, but if you just turn around look to God you ain't got nothing to worry about. {NS} Cuz everything {D: is in his hands} and he can do all things. Interviewer: True. 505: Mm-hmm. So I think we should be thankful. And be more, um, and be more loving towards each other. That's what we need. The world need more love. Interviewer: That sounds {NS}{X} now a days. 505: Yeah, I- I know it. The world need more love. I- I was telling the girl the other day she's telling me about she had lost her husband. I said yes uh, I said you haven't realized nothing yet. I said lived at home be thinking, and about a month now I said you going to feel like you threw it away. Interviewer: Mm. 505: So the day she was telling me she said, {X} {X} I said you got kids and the kids I- I lost all my kids when they young, but I raise up both sets of kids. But they grow and {X} gone. So after all I say yeah you can be alone, but you got- you got a good {X} if you just lean on him She said who and I said God {X} I say every time I get alone I can turn around and he got something to cheer me up. I said you gonna have some {X} {D: feel that}. I said now when you stay close to God won't nothing happen to you. He's here to keep you arm around you. Interviewer: That can be a very reassuring feeling. 505: Yeah. You- you know {X} you used to being around somebody? And you just take a little kid you used to being around that kid you take that kid out of the home. There's a vacant spot there. And um, what you gonna do now the one person that you mentor you know is gonna to be a big vacant spot {D: The years} {X} Don't ever give up. Always look to the hills. All your help come from {X} from the Lord. So while you going around doing this work I hope you have good success in it. And I hope you know- you somehow know you learning me some- some my neighborhood ever before. So may God bless you in your work. Interviewer: Well thank you. 505: Mm-hmm. Are you married? Interviewer: No I'm not. Still single. 505: Well I see you're nothing but a kid. Interviewer: {NW}Well I'm not that young I'm twenty-seven. 505: Yes I know you {X} a kid. I got a boy at thirty-two, uh, last boy-b-boy I raised. I ain't {X} tell you about your age now. I been here quite a while. And I hoping that traveling you'd be careful because sometime you meet nice people and sometime you don't. Interviewer: Ya that's true {NS}. {NS}{X} {NS} most of the people though that I've talked to who helped me with this project have been real nice folks though. Uh, real cooperative and- 505: That God blessing you. You know we should be nice to anybody don't care who come. One day I were here alone, well I live here alone my older boy stays here with me but then he {X} about two months ago. He come here {X}. And he was ready to because he come out of Memphis and come out there and stay with me a portion but he pay his share. Went to Memphis and came back with his clothes, and he passed about uh twenty minutes after he got in my house. Interviewer: {NS} Mm-hmm. 505: And uh he was talking about, why don't you travel. So you get {X} and I said to him I know {X}, how do you go, make up your mind and get up in the airplane and travel? I said you know you know when you won't take your medicine. He said God is up there just like he is down here so he'll take care of you up there as good as will down here, so all you gotta do is trust him. To me you ain't got enough faith girl {NW} {NW} I said {D: I saw them} {X} He said- I said to him I just, now just through a joke I said, {X} He said I ain't worried about it. And then, and I'm gonna tell you too but I never seen a person that die, as quick as you did and easy you did in my life not seen nothing quite compares Interviewer: Hmm. 505: But I was fixing to say I {X}, he had his fix because he {D: shouldn't do a thing} but just {X} Interviewer: And what was the matter with him exactly, do you know? 505: Yes, he had heart trouble. Interviewer: Oh I see. 505: Doctor uh {NS} {D: them overwork}. a qu- a quite a while, he kept, he had some nice, he got some nice kids. All his kids, he worked hard, him and his wife separated and get his kids, education {X}. They didn't go to no work and, two of them work and one, one in uh, in a, {X}, {X} one works in Memphis, Tennessee. And all the {X} do good in the work, and one the boys work at the post office, they got good education but, he was just he hadn't work hard and I said just {X}, work yourself down I try to bring the kids up. But all them have their education and they was really nice to their dad. I think he died the {X}. He be dead two months, {D: tomorrow}. And so he was just uh is just {X} Memphis. He was only {X} his mother said he grew up here about a mile from here. I went to his {X}. He just went and, {D: taking secretly our} {X} and walked on our side and fell dead. Interviewer: Mm. 505: So it's something we all gotta get used to. {X} {D: better get rid of it} cuz uh it's something you never get used to. You belong to church? Interviewer: Yes ma'am. Methodist. 505: Methodist? Nice Memphis {X}. That's my little church there now. Interviewer: What denomination is it? 505: Baptist. Interviewer: You said Baptist? 505: Mm-hmm. Interviewer: What's the name of that church? 505: Willow grove Covenant. Interviewer: Willow grove? 505: Mm-hmm. Interviewer: You've got uh, you've got a member- 505: All my life. Interviewer: All your life? 505: Mm I joined it when I was twelve years old, and I, if I, if I live a see twenty-ninth of August I'll be sixty-six. Interviewer: You're sixty-six years old? 505: I'll be sixty six {X} {D: I'm sixty-five now.} Interviewer: Sixty-five now. 505: Mm-hmm. Interviewer: Where, where do you say uh, what is your address? Is this part of Covington? {B} {B} {B}. 505: uh {B} {B}. Mm-hmm. Interviewer: Mm. Well it's real pleasant out here. 505: Yes it's real pleasant. But you know this is about the coolest day we had in quite a while? Interviewer: Is that right? 505: Yes it is. And uh, we got the biggest rain now, {NS} Monday night we has here in quite a while. I don't know we got {X}. First day of the week got that big rain we hadn't had rain so it was dry, cross that little {X}. Interviewer: It sure is dry. 505: Yeah, it's dry. Now we got a, we got a rain, it stormed here Monday night. Interviewer: I think I think I was in Tupelo {NS} when they had a, had a real bad storm, lot of lighting you know 505: Yeah. Interviewer: and wind blowing hard. 505: Yeah And I heard about some parts that never {X} trees blowing down {X}. Interviewer: Right. 505: And uh I saw it on the T-V. That's why I saw it here. But I tell you what, my house raised up and {X} I thought once mine was gone. And we had a lots of {X} but it really did rain. Now last week they had {X} where I used to live, the lady told me it had rained down there, and had hail bigger than your thumb. Interviewer: Mm. 505: And she caught barrels of water. {X} {X} she catch water you know, to wash with and all like that she said, I said you got what? She said I'm gonna I said I {X} down here. She said uh-uh, I said {X} there's water standing in the middle down here {X} get ready. I said that's one thing I had to learn not to worry about things like that, things you {X}. You don't have no {X} do you? You just have to have faith and trust in God. She said, {D: dear Lord it's raining down now}. That's my neighbor when I live down there. Interviewer: Well what, what did uh {NS}, what did your husband do for a living? 505: Farm. Interviewer: He was a farmer? 505: I farmed all my life. {D: I work, public work}, uh uh, seventy-three and seventy-four the only time I ever did public work in my life. I farmed all my life. {NS} live here {X}. {X} {D: I'd applied there} was working at uh, Walmart's at that time, and my cousin did my applying. Interviewer: Mm-hmm. 505: I had five acres of cotton, three acres of corn and I had cows and {X}, {NS}. The beef they had uh all us, w-we, uh, three just sharing the place and working, know paying taxes. {NS} That's the way we do it. Interviewer: Alright. 505: Uh-huh. {X} he has {X} {D: for him but my brother had to plant because he} {X}. {D: He can't take that sun} {X} he just, {NS} {X} {NS} For months at the time {D: they ain't ever reached this} {X}. Interviewer: Mm. 505: And then some time in there I seen uh I seen a {X}, and {X} if he was the- I don't know he was used to {X} the other day he started peeling Interviewer: Hmm. 505: And then he'd break out and then he'd, he used to break out in those clothes on his head {X}, since it's {D: clear out the sun it don't do him quite as bad}. He gonna {D: look} {X} he get up in the morning, {X} And that's the way he is. That's part of his {D: truck, thats truck} {X} {D: he could drive} {X} home, {X} but he had to get it before the sun get hot {X} {X} {NW} Uh-huh {X} his cap, nice shaded face, and then sometimes nothing. When they don't do {X}, {D: corn field when that corn is uh} beginning to grow up you know getting on in here Mm-mm just like sometimes he go to garden it was raining, get vegetables, sometimes he can pick them sometimes he can't. Interviewer: I see. 505: There some that he allergic to. The doctor said that he had, he had hadn't been able to find {X} something he allergic to. But I don't believe it I just believe he got some kind of {X} when he {X}. Interviewer: Mm. 505: That's what I believe about it. Course he, first when he came home {X}, {X} the doctor {X}. {D: that had been} {X}. {X}, he inherited {X}. He can go ahead, go {X} {D: come through right here} {X}, some {X} last night. {X} see his eyes, just, swell up and {D: welped up}. And then little blisters come on his hand and water running out of them, so we took him in the hospital And then he stayed over there for long time, then he come back home {D: on May and told him} something to use I don't know what it was, but he used it, and it done him more good than it did in the hospital. So I just don't know {D: cause it funny that way} {X}. He work he don't {X}, I told him I say you got {X} {NS} I say you just get old {X}. {NW} He {X}. He said don't you {D: say that much as you} {X} I can't even {X} as much as you can. Now I got this {X}. {D: Let's be honest} it would've been good if we had {X}. And I picked snap beans {X} so there's more than I, I got a dish pan just about full of snap beans {X}. Interviewer: Is that right? 505: {X} dishpan English peas sure So I think this rain gonna get plants that looks a lot better, I know they been looking better. Interviewer: It hadn't rained for about six weeks when I went home ground was just dried up everywhere. 505: I know it. Interviewer: It's bad on farmers. 505: Yes, yes Lord. But you know? We have heard tell of places being just {X}, and I, and I'm sixty five I never know {X} now I know there been bad years here, {X} {D: banks} is in thirty-two. People didn't make enough, {X} {X} {D: taking care now don't argue with me about it}. We make much of nothing. But uh, {D: I haven't heard a ton of people} {X} that the crops are just {X} you know like that. I told them we got a lots to thank God for. We ain't never had just a {X} {D: dropped down on our head} {X}. {X}, and in time we get cows and thing but you can {X} {D: kill your horses have your meat} {D: your milk and butter} that's better than we doing now. Course since I got like I have I sold my {X} {D: I sold my} {X} and, and {X}. That {X} and {X} but I don't have it. After I had my eyes worked {X}, cause the doctor {X} got rid of. But I got in that big old hole {X} baby peas. We raised the, I raise the {X}. I don't, I don't work no crop I got, {X} patches of these peas, all kinds of snap beans and, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes {X}. Try to raise some of the {X}. {D: Good things}. {D: They is just so high}. {X} and greens, and I got greens in the garden. Everything in that garden that {X} I got them {D: tomatoes}. Interviewer: Alright. 505: Yeah {X}. Interviewer: So you got tomatoes? 505: Yeah. I got young tomatoes so if somebody, {X}. Interviewer: {NS} Do you ever raise those little kind of tomatoes? 505: Little plum tomatoes? Interviewer: Plum tomatoes? 505: No I haven't raised any of them {X} come up in my lawn every year. And I haven't raised any since then, you like those though plum tomatoes? Interviewer: they're, I like them. They're good, in salads you know? 505: Yeah Interviewer: Something like that. 505: Yeah No I haven't raised them since the {X}. Interviewer: You mentioned sweet potatoes- 505: Yes. Interviewer: Is that the same thing as yams? 505: Uh, {D: are regular yams} sweet potatoes? Interviewer: {D: Ya}. 505: Yeah They're just different kind, different names you know. Interviewer: {D: Mm-hmm}. 505: Yeah I got Irish potatoes and sweet potatoes too. I don't, I don't plant {D: them three or four year in row}. Now last year, that {X}, I had a pasture bigger than this here room, wider than this room. {NS} And and the and the and winter last winter so bad and you don't have a {NS} a {X} house that I {X} you don't, you lose some of them. {NW} So I, I could definitely {D: some in}, in my pressure cooker and peel them {X} and you getting ready to make your pies, you got nothing to do but go ahead and get them {X} make your pie {X} you wanna fix some young yams you got nothing to it. {D: Grow them up} and fix them like you want to. Interviewer: Alright. 505: Mm-hmm. Interviewer: Well that's good. 505: It is. I cooked a tater pie, for the little young minister. That I- he just started preaching this year he really good I have to say. I do believe from with all my heart that I, {D: God} {X} to do with him cuz he got too much power. He, he was still a preacher, think he been preaching, ten or twelve years. Interviewer: Hmm. 505: That's real. And he just been a now I, I had raised him up too. He just been a peculiar kid all his life. {X} that little kid would be out jumping and playing around I mean he play a little but, {X} {NS}. But he's never won. I have tell you I'm not saying it because, he used to stay with me {X}, but he just, he's about as good as an old preacher {X}. {NS} He's in school now. He uh, came out a, nice {D: boy}. One day last week {X}, {D: we call him} but uh he's gone to, {NS} {D: Florida} Yes. He has a job there now he work there last year so, he- I think he's doing number one, and I think he's doing a wonderful job. {NS} And he's a nice young man, {D: just has twins}, and I think he doing a wonderful job. Interviewer: I'm sure he does, and you say he preaches, at this church down here? 505: Uh uh yeah, he uh, um {NS}{X} he um, you know. That was his home church all his life. Interviewer: Oh I see. 505: And he, he have a {D: rotates any other one} {NS} preach. Interviewer: Mm-hmm. 505: {X} {NS}. Interviewer: Well that's interesting to find somebody who really has a gift for it like that. 505: Yeah {NS}. I have to say, he been a, he been a number one kid ever since he- he was quite small. Well he has uh double the family. His grandmother {X} and, and she {X}, his grandmother raise his, raised his mother because uh, her daughter pass when they were young and she raised them up. So the brought up in the church all their life but {NS}, they don't care for the church very much. Interviewer: Oh is that right? 505: {X}. {X} you can't get them to church. {NS}. Interviewer: I wonder why that is. 505: Well, there's something in the world of things for me to take sight of I guess I just don't get what. You know it's, it's like you got kids you can send kids to school but you, you can't make them learn can you? Interviewer: Well that's true. 505: No you can't all you can do, do your part. So that the way it is with the church you can, teach 'em and tell 'em but, you can't make 'em take a {X} {D: to get grown}. {NS} {X}, {X} to do a few things right, or they gonna tell you what to do. And that way I feel it is about church. {D: If you} bring a child up in the church and he get grown, he get out there you know the rule, {NS} {D: the role leads to} helping us now. You know some people like a wide rule, that's most the way they do it now. So that way {D: they a good peoples}. As they grew up as they get- I done get with the {X} things they like them things And they just keep going too far I say, before they decide to turn around. So that's the way I see it. What you think about it? Interviewer: That sounds, like it makes perfectly good sense to me. 505: Mm. Yeah the people young and lots of people around here talking about their children smoking dope. I got {D: trouble} but I can't make 'em mine. That's sad do you know? Interviewer: Sure is. 505: Yeah that's sad. I know a friend of mine's got a girl who just fourteen. She go to school, and her mother have to go to work cuz her and her husband separated. There's {X} that she'll come home, when she come home, her momma tell her not to leave {X}. Interviewer: Mm. 505: And that's them in there and then you know she is and then, just done got on the wrong road. And that's the {X}. Has you ever thought about your little Bible is {X} too? The past {D: begins true and true} {X}? Interviewer: Mm. 505: Has you ever read any the Bible? Interviewer: Oh yes. 505: Well the Bible- you know the Bible ain't no lie. They said God dead but I know he ain't {X} and maybe he's standing here now. {NW} Ain't nobody gonna never make me believe that. Do you believe it? Interviewer: What's that? 505: Do you believe God dead? Interviewer: Are you talking about the Bible? 505: Yeah, I'm asking you if he's dead {X} Interviewer: Oh! You said God is dead. 505: Yeah, I said {X}- Interviewer: Oh. 505: I said if he were dead me and you wouldn't be sitting here now. Interviewer: That's true. 505: I ain't never believe that. Someone was going around said uh, do you believe God dead? I said no! I says who let uh, uh who letting you breathe? I say well who woke you up this morning? Who brought you to sleep? I said uh-uh. I said who uh letting the sun shine and the stars and moon? I said who let the {D: cool breeze breathe on you}? I say you sit up here talk about God dead? I just tell you what I said I {X} telling right. I said whoever print, whoever put that out on there, I say I believe with all my heart he's alive. And I do. But don't you? Interviewer: Sure do. 505: Yes I do. Ain't nobody gonna make me believe God dead. Who woke me up this morning? Who give me air? Who give me knowledge and wisdom to do things I do? The life for trying to make a living. And you talk about God do you? No. Ain't no way. You wouldn't be able to drive your car up and down the road and go from one territory to another. And God dead {D: who- then who can}? You ain't got nothing to carry yourself on. You don't have no power, {D: the more} {X} give it. If he take away from you right now you can't even move. {NS}. Do you believe that? Interviewer: Sure do. 505: Yeah I do too. Interviewer: Well tell me about, tell me about your- your parents. Where- are they from- were they raised here in uh, {NW} county too? 505: Yes. Definitely- now I can't tell you definitely {X} and tell him about how, how my grand- now they used to live up when I told you we live up in thirteen? My grand dad, my um, my grandmother's brother, he had a home place up there, that she used to {X} clean to the highway. My grandmother did. And a {X} he lived up in that, {D: number one}, number thirteen district though this was number one at the time. And uh, Interviewer: Not that far away from Covington by the way. 505: It about six miles from Cov- Interviewer: Six miles, and what direction is that? 505: Uh if you go back to, h- how you come in, the {X} way? Interviewer: Right. 505: Come from the, uh, {X}? Interviewer: Right. 505: It just about six miles either way you take it. Interviewer: Is that- was that east or west of Covington or what? 505: Be east of Covington. Interviewer: East. 505: Mm-hmm. Interviewer: So you were all- So, did you t- I can't remember if I asked you or not but, were you were born right out here in this area then? 505: Mm-hmm. And my grandmother, and my grandmother. Interviewer: Was that on your mother's side or your father's. 505: My father's side. She was um, she knew about {D: little as a slave}. And she used to sit down and tell me about- she used to tell us that {D: we won't}, her husband was born, {D: she know you like just like you sell holes and thing now people you sell holes and things} folks back then. Like you see old {X} he used to sell them and that's where he used {X} to tell me. Interviewer: Hmm. 505: My grandmother told me I tell you how I got mine. And she said um, just like {X}, her mother {X}. And she's young but they didn't get that {X} to come back she gotta hook it. And they had to work and push, and tow logs just like men. And {D: bun burst} sometime that had, {D: get beaten and get beat} {X}. You wanted to {X}. Ya th-th-they told her that she told me that she said uh, her her great aunt told her that she uh, {X} a snake, {D: that it called was a} {X}. And she stay so long {D: that its cold} {X} when it got {X}, that snake was here done wrapped around her so tight. But she got over it somehow {X} {D: call a- call a snake a} {X}. You done heard talk of those- Interviewer: I've heard of those. 505: {X}. they told me that's what it was in, in the zoo. And uh, the {X}, {D: said you had to go through} {X} {D: things right there.} That they tell you, you won't get no supper you ain't getting none And you had to take whatever they give. You know I looked at, routes {X} {D: why I had a many different mind}. Did you know we got {D: I'm gonna still tell you} do you know we got lots to be thankful for? Your race was in it just like mine. All the poor peoples had to suffer and do just what they get, but do you know? Do you know, I was thinking one day when a man he was preaching he said uh, who was done in the dark, will come to the light. That's true ain't it? That's what the Bible said. Interviewer: {D: How} we have to account for everything? 505: Yeah. And that's good. Do you know, if I do you what to you do you know I'm gonna have to pay for it if you do you what to me you gotta pay for it? And that's a good thing you know? Everybody gotta stand all by themselves. But I mean {X} still don't know about. Don't you think that's a good thing? I know it, I want {X} what you do and you want {X} what I do. Because the {X} knows just how much we can bear And he ain't gonna put no more than you can bear. So I think that's one. My grandmother said uh, my mother, mother, she was part Indian. And I never did know nothing about my mother's people. {X} one, one sister, {X} was dead when I was a bit larger enough to realize, you know, {D: one from the other}. But on my dad's side, it was a- it's a big- it was a big family. But they all about died out now but, {X} we don't even have an uncle on the dad's side {X} {D: living now}. They all done died. They used to be in California, {D: then my uncle Ben's} kid, they are- they is born and raised in California. They's in California, some is in uh, Oakland Oakland California {D: some in Santa Monica California}. Uh, some of 'em are in Chicago some in now I got {X} lot of peoples in St. Louis. on my daddy's side. It was the large family, on my daddy {X} but I don't know too much of. We was {D: witless}. And I don't know too much about my mother's side because uh they was old. Most passed off before I was large enough to know. But anyway we all was raised right here in Tipton County Interviewer: Yeah. 505: And my granddaddy-I'm gonna tell you this then I'll be through- Interviewer: {NW}{X}. 505: My granddaddy, {X}. Interviewer: Now is this your daddy's daddy or- 505: My daddy's daddy. And a man came through here and told me he was in trouble. {NW} {NW} {X} you know a cigar box that used to be larger than they are now. So he had that box sealed up and {X} money, and he's trying to get away from some {X} {X}. {X} take nobody like {X}- {D: and here um}, he uh, {D: at the time} my granddaddy some kind of way to put this money in his will, I never woulda did that. {X} {X}, without looking at it. And he live here {X} try to get back to {X} {D: on his shotgun}. And then the man {X} some kind of, {X}, when he got it out the way I thought well nothing. And he died away from home trying to find a new {X} shotgun. Interviewer: Hmm. 505: Mm-hmm. Yeah so that um, I said, this things is so much different because now people didn't realize {D: thing they had to do now} but it's so much going in. You had to look out and think for yourself. Interviewer: That's true 505: So yeah my daddy, my daddy's side the people at {X}, was a large family. Interviewer: Now, do you think your, your daddy's daddy was a- was he a farmer too? 505: Mm-hmm. Yes he {X}. So grandmother told me. Interviewer: And they're all from this area. 505: Mm-hmm. Uh, um uh, {D: they was uh}, I don't know where the grandmother married him and I just remember {D: a son that can tell you that but I can't}. But {X} {D: she raised up} {X}, Tipton County. She had a large- she had a large {X}. Interviewer: Did they have a- do you think they had a chance to go to school any? 505: No grandmother couldn't read. I don't know how about grandaddy. Grandmother couldn't read. But uh, you- she couldn't- you couldn't be the {X} but she- she- she couldn't read. Interviewer: Is that right? 505: Mm. I don't know how- how about my granddaddy but I know my grandmas couldn't read. Interviewer: And you say, you just don't know about- 505: My daddy couldn't read too much. Interviewer: Mm. 505: He could sign his name or something like that, he couldn't read too much. Because {X} he was- he was the oldest one when they was bringing him up, the {X}, a big family you know just like they, {D: so just} {X} he didn't have time to go to school. Interviewer: You don't think he got too far in school? 505: No he had barely- barely could sign his name and, now he could {X} but he weren't too much on, reading like that. Interviewer: I see. Was there- Was there a little school house or something around here that, they might have gone to, part of the year? 505: Yes, somewhere around here they call it um, well they call it {D: garden} {X}. Somewhere down, down uh, {D: down the side of someone's house} {D: they know somebody on the other side that close the garden} {X} school. Interviewer: Hmm. 505: Yeah thats what I heard 'em {X} school {X}, I just hear them talk of it. Interviewer: Right. 505: Uh-huh. Interviewer: You think he might have gotten to third, fourth grade or something like- 505: I really- I really don't know, I don't think he got that high. It may be somewhere about the first or second grade- you know first and second grade they had been {X} now. Interviewer: What is that? 505: When you's {X}, {D: I is} {X}, the first and third had been the fifth and sixth now. Interviewer: Right, I see what you mean. 505: {NW} {X} {D: There's this kid now} in the sixth grade or something, cause {X} {D: I been out of school for forty something year} and asked me how to spell, {D: blueberry}. {NW} I {D: I said you need to be back in your primer} Interviewer: Mm. 505: Yeah some of you kids can't spell nothing man you'd be surprised {X} with some of these kids. {D: I got} out of school forty about forty-six year. {D: And some of them here} {X}. But I used to work, {X} had my eyes worked on but I don't no more. But I- I- I {X}- I- {X} a problem I can tell you write it, while you learning {X}. {D: Now you calling on them boys I said}, you go back to the {D: primer} cuz you don't know nothing. {NW} Interviewer: Wonder what- I wonder what, could be done about that to make it any better. I know exactly what you're talking about I visited, I just happened to uh, uh, sit in on a- it was just a P-E class you know, physical education class at the high school that I graduated from about, nine years ago, and I just couldn't believe it. It had changed so much, even from the time that, I was going to school. There was just no discipline anymore, and the- the teacher couldn't handle the students they did what they wanted to. 505: And that's um, Interviewer: It is, it's just you know, gone straight downhill. 505: What school did you uh, graduate from? Interviewer: I went to high school at {X} high school in Troy. 505: In Troy. And what part of Mississippi did you say you from? Interviewer: I'm from Alabama. 505: I meant Alabama. Interviewer: South Alabama. 505: {X}. Do you uh, do you- do you know about Vicksburg, Mississippi? Interviewer: Uh yes I do. 505: Do. I {X}. Interviewer: Is that right? 505: Uh-huh. Yeah Vicksburg, Mississippi. Interviewer: I ju- I came to Covington from Tupelo, Mississippi as a matter of fact. 505: How far is Tupelo from um, Vicksburg? Interviewer: Oh let's see I guess it's about, what, a hundred and fifty miles something like that. 505: I don't know. I'm- I'm um- I'm trying to make up my mind to go {D: back to} Vicksburg. That's what I was trying to do next month, I {D: be there} {X} never mentioned, but I thought you maybe- Interviewer: You gonna go there for a visit? 505: Yeah she been a- she been- well I have to tell you when my husband was sick there was {X}. She {D: moved} over for me. And {X} she is. And she move from Chicago to Vicksburg and bought a home- buying a home there. Interviewer: Right. 505: And she want me be as there now I'm trying to make up my mind to go. Interviewer: Oh that might- you might be good {D: to go} out there, for a visit. 505: And uh she been to see me here when my husband was sick she uh, {X} my mailbox I could get {X} just like she's my daughter, she {X}. So she got her {X} since she got down there. And she wrote to us and say mama- she call me mama- say mama I don't {X}. I say girl {X}. I said don't worry about it. I said darling you are too young I sat down wrote her a letter and put on that {X} {D: chicken and} {D: he said} {X}. {NW} {X} {D: and says when she get here}, when she come home, she said mama I never {D: gonna be leaving}, {X} when we come home {X} boxes of {X} back home. Said {X} {D: all the one}. {X} {D: Lord help me, Lord is proved} {X}, Said I need to be {X} I'm sending you a {X}. She said {X} what, {X} I send you. I said well {D: we ever knew each other?} I said I got what I need to eat out here. My husband {D: didn't} {X}. I said well you can't {X} I said you had to pack So when she come home sometime the maid asked her one day, hey, what in this box} {X}? You ain't give a {X}. {NW} {X} she put it on her {X}. But yeah I tell she been a real nice- she been a real nice sweet girl to me. And there ain't nothing I is- I got in my pile I can do for her that I won't do. It's {X} think that's the way people should be. Interviewer: {X} Gotta help each other. 505: Yeah. So now, all these peoples over here work, the ladies at home today. Now they {X}. Now her husband was raised around here like I was but I'm older than he is. Interviewer: Is that right? 505: Uh-huh, now that's still her home place over there, and they been staying here ever since I been {D: beating on them with a} {X}. But his mother dead, and he's one of the youngest one. {D: And then uh}, the {X} he died he {X}, in the {X} house {NS}. So his brother stay there now but she ain't there now {X} thought she come home today, she stayed back forth with her kids. I almost tell {X} come home about you. I wish he had been here {D: bet you got time in that tape}. {NW} Interviewer: {D: Wait} would your father farm? 505: {X} Yeah. He raised them, he had sharecroppers cause {X} is all up and down {X} over to the next road back here. {X}, three or four sharecroppers. And I weren't big enough to do nothing then. {D: but run around eat up everything I could get} {NS} {NS} And when he move down there and yeah I think I was five years old when he moved to thirteen. Interviewer: Mm. 505: And uh he stayed up there until, on {X} farm until he came and, till he got a, they said what's what's the year that papa got sick I believe it was {D: seventy-nine} I believe it's in twenty-seven. {D: he got down sick} And he never did. Got so he couldn't work what I mean. He'd go bob a little bit and bring in something like that but he uh, he didn't do no work. And he stayed sick until we moved down here in- in thirty. Yeah. Grandmother passed in twenty-nine he passed in thirty. And uh, there weren't nobody on the home {X} at the home place and so, he give up the place {X} renting and- and move back home, after she passed. Interviewer: Hmm. 505: Yeah my daddy {D: fall in love with his life} and, don't fool yourself we had to work. Now I won't tell you what I ain't never eat no better and I think I {X}. When my daddy fed us, he worked us while we- we- we {X} kids you ever seen and {X} but we had to work. And you know I'm glad of that. I'm glad they brought me up like that. To do that thing come to {X}. Because if you can get a {X} education you don't know how to do nothing you in a bad fix {X}. Interviewer: Yeah that's true. {D: Well} there's plenty of people who have just, uh, you know, all the education in the world, who {D: gotta} start, ya just out in the streets not doing much of anything. 505: That's what I know. Cuz he don't know nothing to do. And I think that's bad {D: to go to school cuz} {D: they left in school} Interviewer: Is that right? 505: Mm-hmm. Interviewer: Today {D: even}? 505: Mm-hmm. Interviewer: June the first? 505: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Uh, it's um- {D: trying} like I's tell the boys that stayed here with me this kids that brought 'em up at school. And {X} the mother separated to got good education. And they came out here {X} and come out here, {NW} {X} {D: green}. I said what? {NW} How you pick greens? I said with your hand. {NW} {X} and I said boy, you know that greens are about like that just tall you know I said no no, I said, pick that leaf over there I said oh, don't pick- don't pick the greens there {X} I said that won't be so good {X}. I said {X}. {D: Will}! And I {X} picked about a bushel. And I come back he say you wanna go pick some more I say I ain't thinking about it. I said now I'm not your {X} {D: if you gain nothing that} time I'm sorry. Interviewer: Mm. 505: {X} right there when he come back that boy ain't move {X} um, {X} boy? {X} you be dead. {NW} {X} {D: I told you I didn't know how to do nothing}, and I said well because you been doing the summer school. I said you work hard and get money to go to {X} come back and go to school? {X} And then uh, that just hit the boy {X}, and the boys know how to work pretty good, but them girls don't know nothing. Interviewer: Mm. 505: Ask me how do you put up peaches Interviewer: How you do what? 505: How you can peaches. Interviewer: Oh. 505: I told him, I said you peel 'em and I said you going- got good ripe ones and I said you gonna put them in a container and, put sugar on them, put um- put some other layer then put in sugar then put it on top I said put in {X}, {D: even better than a}, {X}. {D: Do}! I said ya. {X} freezer. He said well how do you put the peas in there? I said {X} you get- you- you going p- you going put your peas and wash them good. Put them in a container and put them on the stove I said if you want to pre- precook them. I said then take them out and let them cool, and put them in your container {D: and I said but I don't know}, {D: a container} I said girl you know what? {D: She said what}? I said been having to {X} since {D: make up your mind}. I said when you put up {X} {D: that boy}, that's gonna take some of your {X} {D: right there}. I said you'd best {X} then put them in your container put it in freezer. And when you put in there I saw your {D: body} still back in that {X}. I told my homemaker that. She looked at me and miss {B}, why is it that you- I was a {X}- why is that you don't, pre-cook your food? I said Ms {B}, She says yeah I said may I ask you a question? She says yeah. I said when you put your peas in that water, and let them come to a boil, and take them out and put them in your container, and put them in your freezer, I said you still let 'em get cool. I said don't you know that water that your peas is cooked in I said do you know that's your {D: body}? She turn around like this and looked at me like this she said, yeah That's the way she said to me little lower yeah I said well if you washed that pea, just like you gonna cook it when you get out of {X} {D: your shirt}, and put them in your container, as soon as put them in that freezer I said as though {X} pea. She said uh-huh. I said that's why I don't pre-cook mine, that's the way I {X}. She said you gotta {X}, I said dear you don't know {X} that book is {X} just like the other day. I said you had to learn some things for yourself. And so, I asked I said Ms uh Ms {B} she's at the home demonstration. children was going to school {X} had them meeting different home demonstrating different things at home. That's where I learn how to strip down furniture, home demonstration meeting. She said uh, yes ma'am. I said we be uh- we been demonstrating {X}. Is it natural that you can uh, take a sweet potato, and cook it, take it off and let it cool, and peel it {X} and pack it in a container? I put the {X} freezer and it be just as good. I ain't never get it but I was {X}. She said yes Ms uh- uh Ms {X}. Said you can. I said well I was asking for information cause I was gonna try it {X}. {NW} She said- she said how do you how do you make {X} pie? I says I guess just like most others she said, may I ask you how much sugar you put in {X}, {X} than it is now? I says I adds one cup of sugar, three eggs, I said about, three-fourth cup of butter, I said and vanilla flavor, and another teaspoon- uh- flour. I said and uh a cup of milk {X} pie. She said that won't get me a {D: pan}. {X} I said I been cooking it ever- ever since I was twelve. {NW} She said you cook it a while. I says it just enough. {NW}- {X} {D: custard pans}. So one day they had them {D: string beans}, she said to my {D: mama}, I- says {X} she say yeah {D: So what makes you think} {X} cooking that pie? Says yes {D: I wanna cook a pie} {X} that's quickest thing you ever seen, but she don't like it. She say I hate that accent. He said- she said your accent {X} I said yeah {X}. So she went to the kitchen, she say who cooked this cake? So she do want to bake it. She said my God she gonna cook me a cake {D: came home with me I'm gonna eat that pie whole}. Interviewer: {NW} 505: {D: Naw}, she could {X}- I was- I had {D: been out in the field picking some blackberries} I said {NS}. She said {NS} house so clean this morning, fresh air and said I gotta ask you a question first. I said yeah? What would you charge me to cook me a uh- a cake or a {X} pie? I said Ms {X} you been nice to me I said I wouldn't charge you nothing, and I said but, {X} making that {X}. {NS} I said {X}. She said no I wanna see you cook it. I done change {X} when I went- when I went and got some detergent, clean my hands, and mother had a fire in the stove, we had wood stove at the time because we didn't have gas and nothing electric like that. {X} my crust, rolled it out- She said, you make your own crust? I said yeah. She said I wanna sit here and make 'em I said come on. And we {D: added} straight flour I put that, put a little piece of, {D: Crisco over there} {X} like that and, {X} sugar, she said you putting sugar in? I said I'm gonna make it crisp {X} put them in the pan when I made a pie {X}. She said I can't believe my eyes. Interviewer: Hmm. 505: I said what happened? She said I've tried this and every time my crust built up, the pie {X} bottom, I said {X} you had you {X}. {NW} And so {X} she meet me on the street {X}. And I said that. She said you don't mind? You say- and I said no I says my {X} I don't mind. She said, I'm coming out to your house I know you got some {X} I bet you got that freezer food. I said I don't work like I used to {X}. She said I know what I {X}. She said but my daughter come out to your house she told me you had a freezer. She said mama said that thing is {X} {D: from here}. {X}, cause that's my husband's freezer. And then uh, it's old but, I'm gonna keep it long as I can because {X}, my- my- my son and- that two sons I had that's- they don't last too long. I said {X} {D: the pastors} {X} ten years ago keep it ya I'm going to keep it. And so she came on out there she looked at it and she said, if you {X}. {NW} I told her the kids coming home {X}. So it's good to kinda put your- try to raise some for yourself. Look out for yourself. When God give you five cents he give them to you, you would say yeah trying to look out for yourself. They tell me I worked too hard {X} ain't nobody but myself but- I got no kids {D: well who else going to work}? I kept working. I {X}. So I looks after myself. Interviewer: It's good to keep working, I like to keep busy. I- I- I like to be doing something, you know all the time, this summer I just can't stand to Sit around the, motel room or something like that I gotta read or- 505: Bless your heart. Interviewer: -doing something like that. 505: You don't hear many men say that your age child, keep that in your mind yeah. You know what? When you get up in age if you sit down there, some {X} {D: people need checks}, they sit right down there, I ain't gonna do nothing when I get my social security. That's the worst thing in the world you've had in your mind. Work until the day's done. Until you ain't able to work, you done then. You feel so much better. Do you know what my son tell me when I raise him when he thirty-three years old? Said mama you can get that {X}. I said I work, I said you get down here and get- bring your whiskey I said that {X} that's not gonna kill you. Interviewer: Mm. 505: That's a bad habit. {X} bad habit {X}. {X} try to break it. Interviewer: I never had any of that stuff. 505: Well uh I hope you don't get none. And that dope you got I hope you never look back at it. Interviewer: No no I'm not gonna fool with that. 505: Boy do you know what I got to tell you? Excuse me for calling you boy. I looked at a man, on the street one day, I know him. Uh, {X} {D: meeting like that}, and he done got grown and, gone to Chicago and come back. Honest to God I'm not lying I thought he was talking to somebody. And I'm looking for the people he talking to he stand there talking like me and you talking now. Interviewer: Hmm. 505: And may I tell you yeah I was scared. Yeah I was scared of him. And they put him in, some kind of home. Interviewer: Mm. 505: But right now they say you {D: can scarce come on him}, and I know a girl, taking them {X} like she's in some {D: news} {X} Nuh-uh I don't {X}- I don't- {X} I said what is this I'm smelling making me feel sick. And that boy said {X} smoking that dope. I said no it ain't {D: said yes it is} Say if you get {X} I bet you got a {X} I said what's that? I said but I smell it, and i- it smell awful to me. I don't see how they can stand it. Interviewer: I'm the same way even about smoking cigarettes uh, I just never saw the appeal there. 505: Well that's good. That's good. Interviewer: I meant to ask you about your mother. Did- I guess she helped out on the farm too? 505: Yeah Yeah you know what I'm- I'm gonna tell you, and tell you {X} the truth of my heart. I uh- I'm just praying to God that I can be the m- woman that I thought my mother was. I had a sweet mother. {X} {D: Our daddy} belongs to that church and he was a deacon in the church, and everybody {X} preaching Sunday, first and third but {X} preaching {X}. Our house {D: a big} {X} and she just stayed in that kitchen and {D: cook}, and set table after table. And I- I- I don't care what you do you know it's some peoples {D: in your life} but, but not everybody love my mama now. I thinks about this so much. And- and I ain't- I ain't never heard my mother and daddy cuss in my life. I hear papa call their horses a bastard or something like that, but just {X}, {X} mother and father {X} I never hear anything. I don't know nothing about no cuss word {X}. Cuss word I heard I got it from somebody else {X} my parents. I told them make sure you keep me pushing the truck do the best I can cause, my mom and dad were strict on us. Then- then my mama hooked me just as quick after I managed {X} she didn't care. And don't give her no back talk baby no no. If she tell you- I come home with my husband {X} spend the nigh one night me and him, my brother in-law was going in town {X} and I want to go. He- he just playing with me he- he, did {X} mama's crazed by it. He- he, he was just- he was a nice guy. He said aw you ain't going nowhere. I said that's what you said. He know I just had got two person {X} I fixing to {X}. He said you're gonna wait until {X}. {X} mama looked at me said what you doing? I said I'm fixing to go to town with him she said no you ain't. Now I was mad she say you say {X}, I said mama he {X} he told me he won't go {X}. I better not act like I was mad ya. No no I'm not playing with you I mean that. I went on back there I said you said I'm gonna go to town so now mama don't want me to go I said now you ain't going. He said I'll stay here with you. I said no you go ahead I won't. He said mama I was just playing with you {X}. I didn't never go in that kitchen making {X} bake that cake, cause she done told me no. And I was mad. And I'm sorry I {X}, {NW} {X}. And she, she- she was- she large. {X} she large and have darker hair, she stay sick a lot, {X}. Until {X} tomboy says so I a bit of tomboy {X} one girl {X}. {X}, what my brother did I can do it. I did everything a working man do {X}. Anything my brother did, I did it. And what they did- what I do in the house, they come right back they hit me back. That's the way we raised up. That they couldn't just like I can't. They can sew just like I can {X} piece {X} together. Interviewer: Is that right? 505: Uh-huh. Yes sir. Interviewer: You don't find many people- 505: {X}. {NW} Until we got a plan. I said whoop him {X}, whoop him {X}. I said don't hurt him {X}. He's got that {X}{NW}. We had to {X} the rest of the class then {X}. {X} he made it through {X} that house that blast I had kicked him {D: to the floor}. {NW}. And she got him and he {D: book} {X}, {X} she threw that helmet like a {D: player}. And he come back {X} when did he slap her? that old lady got that book and tore him up. Interviewer: Mm. 505: Mm-hmm. Ya we- we had a good mom and dad but you had to mind. And that's what you need to do, you know it? Interviewer: Ya that's true. 505: Mm-hmm. I didn't know {X} where they was, that's why the waiting for 'em {D: them habits}. We didn't have everything we wanted all the time {X} nothing but from one year to another. When we came home sometime we have two and three hands. My daddy {X}- I'd be so mad {X}, {NS} {X}. Interviewer: Oh boy. 505: Ya. Interviewer: That's something. 505: Ya. I get tired being- aw you ain't tall enough I said I ain't gonna {X} you {X}. Mama y'all better get {X}{NS}. Didn't care what we eat, and {X} {D: such as these} {X}. And that's when I say I had, ya that's probably my mother and dad. {NS}{X} I hope they rest in their dead but I hope they're resting {X} God. Ya I had a w- {NS}{X} Ya I say uh, he work in Memphis. {NS}{X} I was proud of my mother and daddy, and {X} my grandmother. I had- I had- I had a wonderful family I got {X}. We didn't have nothing. We work hard as anybody. We never did own nothing {X} but we work hard. {D: A lot a lot}. {NS} Said no lie I'd tell you I just- I just pray to God they resting in his care, because they were good to me. And look like to me everybody, everybody {NS}{X}. {X} like to buy daddy's {X}. You know, just like, I wonder about that now sometime, and I thinks about it. Just like that {NS}{X}, and you really have, sufficient some {X}. You come to my daddy house he gonna share with you. And if he {D: remember} he gonna {X}. But {D: here he had a} {X} {D: to buy them}. We started get- where you going with that bucket. Longest thing we had in Miss- {X}{NS} get it. I hate to see anybody travel now {X} {D: work} but he tell us that time after time do you know? That put me in my- that put a- that put something in my mind. To always try to have some of your own. That what he was trying to learn us there. Work and try to have some of your own. And go when you ahead going no just a little bit because I, go to store and get it. And they growed up in me you know I did. And they tell me I give away everything I got, but you know what I would have? God always got some- {NS}{X}. That's why- I guess I got that from my mother and my daddy because he's just like that. Interviewer: Did your mother have a chance to go to school like your daddy? 505: No. but ma- my mama could read good. Mama- mama- my- my ma- mama {X}{NS}, and she could read about, words we couldn't spell {X} go to school. If she could take that Bible and read just like you- ya you, she ain't dumb like my daddy Interviewer: And, you said both your parents were born and raised right here {NS}{X}. 505: Well I about done talked out for ya today {NW} Interviewer: I hope not. You getting tired? {NW} 505: I talk- {NW} {NW} I talk more than I ever talked {D: before}{NW}. Interviewer: {NW}. What about uh, can I ask you what your fir- first husband did for a living? 505: farmed. Interviewer: He farmed? 505: Mm-hmm. He worked some public work too. He knows {X} {D: archive}, {D: river} {X} {D: old} {X}. My husband could build {X}. You know those bridges going to {X} going across that bay. That's the last public work he did he had worked on that bridge. He take it a year on that same year. And he never did was able to the more public work. Mm-hmm. Interviewer: He was born in Tipton county? 505: Mm-hmm. Interviewer: What about his education? 505: He had a pretty good education. Interviewer: About how far along? 505: He's somewhere about people's sixth grade. Interviewer: Did I ask you what- uh how much you went to school? 505: Who me? I went to uh- I finished the uh- I start- stop in the eighth grade. Interviewer: Stopped in the eighth grade? 505: Mm-hmm. Interviewer: {NS}Your first husband, his last name and {X}, 505: {B} that's his last name {B} that's his first name. Interviewer: And what about your second husband? 505: He had a pretty good education he wanted he could read and write and, but he didn't have the s- somehow that {X}, about third or fourth grade {NS} his name was, uh, {B}. Interviewer: And he's from Tipton county too? 505: Ya he's from Tipton county too district number nine. {X} in Tipton county. Interviewer: Did he farm too? 505: Mm-hmm. That's all he ever did. {NW} Interviewer: {X}. I guess, do most the people in Tipton county still farm? 505: Ya, uh, some of them do now lots of them work public work. That boy there that be- that's {X}, {D: Jordan}, {D: Jordan} {X}, {X}. But they got that farm {X} they work daily. {NS}{X} he'd be in a big home he used to live in Chicago. And his brother down below him in that- that- that old- that house, they're from that house there. There they uh {X} their sister there {X}. She had never been married. She's uh, kind of handicapped. And uh, his brother live on the other side of her. His {X} {D: sardines}. His {X} wife {X} {D: are dead}.