Monthly Archives: June 2011

“Before I started to school Bama would take me in the afternoon down to Big’s house at 115 East Washington Street to play with John, who was four years younger than I and just a baby then. I remember John … Continue reading →

“Mama told us the story many times of her father, Anderson West, who had come from a wealthy family and was at Ole Miss with his private slave when the war broke out and how he left with the University … Continue reading →

“There were many people when we were growing up who were still fighting the Civil War. Many, like Mama, had heard parents and grandparents reliving the terrible times. We were led to believe there were not many good Yankees and … Continue reading →

“One familiar sight in those days was Mrs. Lizzie George Henderson coming down the street in her electric car. It did not have a horn but a bell that she rang to let you know she was coming. It was … Continue reading →

“The ’20s brought about a lot of changes in the way people lived, and this period has been described as ‘era of the First Youth Rebellion.’ The girls started wearing shorter skirts (they had been down to their ankles) and … Continue reading →

“Tents were used for everything from religious revivals to black face minstrels. Nearly every year there would be a big revival with a fiery evangelistic preacher, and many wayward souls got saved. I was taken to at least one but … Continue reading →

“The Nurses Home was on one side of our house. The nurses who were in training stayed there, and a little lady named Mrs. Gleason was in charge of the home. She would come over and visit with Mama and … Continue reading →

“Most of our playmates lived right there in the neighborhood or over on Leflore Avenue, which was one block away. We played a lot in the Gardner’s yard, which was a few doors down and across the street. They had … Continue reading →

“Prior to starting to school most of our friends had been children in the neighborhood or those who attended the First Baptist Church Sunday School. It was fun meeting others, and some of my special ones were a boy named … Continue reading →