What is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to you?

When God saved me from sin, and gave me a desire to live for Him.

Tell about your life as the children left home. What you did with the extra time?

Each one was missed of course. 
Ronnie joined the Army so we couldn't visit him.  Really didn't have that much extra time as there were still five at home.  As each one left I suppose I got bored many times.  I sewed for people, did crossword  and jigsaw puzzles.  Kept my grandchildren.  Took care of Moner when she broke her ankle.  Then took care of Daddy.  I've had a full and good life.

Tell about a favorite vacation.

Going to the mountains.  I love them especially when the leaves turn red and gold.
I always looked forward and enjoyed just getting away and seeing new places.  The first time we went to Claifornia, was my first plane ride.  It was beautiful weather, daytime, you could see below.  Looked like a patch-work quilt laid out with the different colors.  It was very enjoyable.  The next time changed my mind about flying.  It was at night and the weather was rough.  I didn't enjoy the trip at all.  I've been to Canada.  Couldn't read the signs to find our way out, stayed just long enoughto find someone who could tell us how.  Saw Niagra Falls from the New York side that's why we went to Canada.  I had always wanted to see the Falls.

Were there any family Christmas traditions?

Not that I remember.  But I remember making peanut butter cookies every year when I was old enough to help. I also remember opening Christmas presents on Christmas Eve and then going riding around together looking at lights and decorations.

Describe a favorite Christmas with your children.

I don't remember the year, before any of you left home.  The boys got a train set, Sylvia a doll, and probably a tea set.  You and Billy were small can't remember too much about it.  We enjoyed the trains and playing with all of you.

What is the most difficult thing a Mother has to do?

Looking into a casket seeing my child in it was very hard.  But knowing that I will see him again makes it easier to bear.

What do you love most about being a Mother?

The grandchildren and great grandchildren.  I've read somewhere "If I had known Grandchildren were this much fun I would have had them first."  Seriously when we all get together ( although all of never have)  as a family.  Visiting each you and just being together.

What is your child-rearing philosophy?

God should be first of all in a person's life.  Spouse next, then the children.  Show them you love them, also tell them you love them.  Praise them when they're good, chastise them when they're bad.  Listen to them.  when they have something to say.  Don't give advice until they ask for it.  Teach them right from wrong.  Take them to church, read the Bible together, and pray with them.  Don't make promises you can't keep.  Apologize if you think you've said or done something you shouldn't.  Teach them that God loves them and that in turn wants to be loved by them and we should love everyone.

Tell about each of your children: birth, characteristics, problems, joys, sorrows, and accomplishments.

Ronnie was born in Panhandle Texas.  We were visiting his Aunt.  I went into labor and the Doctor said if we went back to the city where we lived  to my Doctor it would have to be by ambulance.  It was about 28 miles away so I stayed there.  He delivered him there at her house.  He was born November 19, 1950.  Back then it was required that you stayed in the bed for nine days after giving birth.  She made me stay and do that.  In the meantime our apartment in Amarello where we lived burned.   Ronnie was a cute child, blonde curly hair.  I didn't want to have it cut.  He was probably three when it was cut.
Sylvia was also born in Panhandle, Texas.  We lived in the same house that Ronnie was born in.  His Aunt had moved away.  Sylvia was born in a clinic, the only thinkg there.  There wasn't a hospital.  She and I both were anemicand had to take B-12 shots.  She had dark brown hair and was born on May 1, 1952.  Sylvia was probably nine months old when they wrote me that Moner had been badly burned and may not live.  Louis made arrangements for Ronnie, Sylvia, and I to come back to Georgia.  Not long after he said he wanted a divorce.  That was the last we heard directly from him, several years later we got word he was dead.  He was overseas at the time.
Ronnie and Sylvia were good children.  As we all know Moner lived and we all moved back to Collins.  Ronnie and Sylvia called me Dean and your Grandmother "Moner".  That stayed with her and even now when my children, and grandchildren refer to her it's still Moner.
I remarried had Paul October 16, 1954.  He was PeeWee long before he was born up until he started school.  He was shy and stayed close to me.  He was hard to potty train, took longer than the others.  We lived at Deptford Homes when he started school.  Cried every morning the first week,  until he got use to being away from me for a few hours.  We moved about month after school started had to go to a different school -Port Wentworth.  Cried again for the first week.  After that he was fine, learned and made good grades.  He's a lot like your Dad was serious, but quite.  As far as I know doesn't have any bad habits, unless he bites his nails.  haha  The older he gets the more he looks like your Dad.  Paul was born in Reidsville.
Alan was born June 20, 1956 at Telfair Hospital in Savannah.  We lived at Frances Bartow homes at that time.  The Dad's were only permitted in the patient's rooms during visiting hours.  The way I remember that was a few hours in the morning and a few at night maybe 2-3 hours each time.  There were semi-private rooms then, although it was a womans hospital, not only babies and mothers were there.  But women who had surgery also.  You really had nothing in common with the woman who shared your room or I didn't.  She was older and wan't having a baby.  I just remember she wasn't that friendly.  I was very glad to get home.  Paul was quiet and shy and Alan outgoing and didn't find strangers.  Although Paul is 20 months older than Alan, Alan caught up with him in size.  When they were young I dressed them alike.  People thought they were twins.  Both of them had motorcycles as teenagers until Paul was hurt in an accident with his.  He soon lost interest and got a volkswagon.  Alan had had accidents on his but still ride them.  I waited five years before having another child.  You (Thena) were born on November 19, 1961 on Ronnie's 11th birthday.  You weighed more than any of the others at birth and had no hair.  You wore caps so you look like a girl.  I wouldn't let you get dirty.  Moner and others told me it wasn't healthy to keep you so clean.  I didn't bathe you in water, I used baby oil.  People commented on how soft your skin was.  I don't know if I've ever told you this.  Once when we were at your Daddy's brothers house (Uncle Frank) there were cataba worm trees around their house.  You were crawling or may have been walking.  This worm was crawling on the floor, you put it in your mouth before we could get to you.  I don't remember but it must have not made you sick.  Almost did me though.  You are alot like your Daddy's sisters, your coloring light and blonde hair.  You cried at nights the first week after coming home form the hospital.
Billy was born July 17, 1963.  He was active, and didn't meet strangers.  Thinking back he and Alan was more alike in some ways and you and Paul in some ways.  You and Billy were close as children especially before you started school.  The two of you had an imaginary friend her name was Mitzi.  I would get tickled listening to you two talking to her.  I believe you were the baby when Alan broke his arm.  Ronnie was pulling him on a wooden drink crateand he fell off.  He wasn't one to cry much when he got hurt.  This time he really cried and I knew it must be serious.  We took him to the emergency room and sure enough.  His arm was broken above the elbow.  When he was a few months old he had pneumonia, stayed in the hospital several days.  As far as problems, we had them, but they were nothing compared to families now.  I'm very proud of my children and your families.  My prayer for each of you is to love and live for the Lord.  He gave his all for us and He wants us to give ourselves to Him.

Describe your first home as a married couple.

Your Dad and I lived in Deptford Homes in Savannah.  Ronnie & Sylvia's Dad and I lived in an upstairs apartment near Forsyth Park.

Can you remember what your wedding dress looked like?

The first time was a two-piece light green skirt and top.  To your Dad a skirt, blouse, and coat (gray).  Both times they were hand-me-downs.

What were your fears, expectations, and anticipations about gettting married?

I don't remember having any really.  I was too young the first time to know what I was getting into, I suppose.  When Daddy and I were married wanting to be a good wife and mother and a place of our own to take care of.  I failed many times at both I suppose.

How did you become engaged?

We were at a movie.  It couldn't have been that he was feeling romantic, because he slept through most of it.  He was drinking pretty heavily.  I probably wouldn't have goine with him had I known.  Anyways I didn't give him an answer that night.  He was sober the next time .  I never saw him in that condition again before we were married, and only once after.  He then turned his life over to God, and started living for Him.  Had no desire for the sinful things of this world anymore.  He was a good husband and Dad.  He loved God, and his family.  He didn't say it much but showed it, lived it, and worked hard for us.

What was your most special date with him?

Most people would probably say when he proposed.  But for me, it was the next date.
Read on.

Tell about your's and Daddy's courtship.

I knew him when I was really young.  As you know by now Aunt Jane and her family and ours lived in the same house.  He came to visit them.  As I recall he would sit on the porch and read.  We would aggravate him to play with us.  Being older than us in his teens he didn't want to play.  Years later I saw this convertable (maroon) at the store.  I could see it from the house, it was the same house that Moner lived in behind Charlie's.  I told Moner, Carolyn, Grandmama, and whoever else was there that was my car.  Not knowing who it belonged to could have been anyone passing through.  He was visiting Aunt Jane in the country.  I can't remember exactly how I met him again.  I think he brought Dot to our house and one thing led to another.  We started dating.  Dot and Jack went with us some and we would double date with his cousins.  We went to the drive-in in Metter, the soda shop in Claxton, or visit his Aunt, and Uncle in Metter.  Jack, Dot and others would all go to the river to swim.  Daddy and I couldn't swim and never learned how, but we would go to the river.  He took Dot and me to places they had lived before around here and out from Metter.

Who was your first crush? What was he like?

His name was Jimmy Miness (Uncle Marshall's nephew).  I must have thought he was cute, something attracted me to him.  I don't remember what, I was about 10 or 11.

Tell about a frustrating experience you've had with a car.

One day I was going to Pooler to get a perm.  I was driving on I-95 and had a flat tire.  A trucker stopped and changed it for me.  There's been others also.

Have you had any memorable driving experiences?

I drove through Atlanta one day after Daddy wasn't driving anymore, which surprised even me.  It was during the lunch hour so traffic wasn't that bad.  The first time we went to Grandfather Mountain we were in a truck.  Terry Kirksey was driving and I would close my eyes.  It frightened me so (the drops off the side).  Next time we went to Grandfather Mountain I drove.  I did quite a bit of driving in the mountains and loved it.

How, and where did you learn to drive?

Your Dad let me and Dot take his car on Sundays and drive around the country, before we were married.  I would drive some on our dates.  Once, we were going to Metter to a drive-in.  Something was in the road, and I jerked the wheel to go around it.  He told me that was the wrong thing to do.  It could cause a person to lose control of the car.  That was the only time I remember him saying anything about my driving.  But there was probably other times, I just can't recall.

Tell about your Aunts and Uncles. (Your Daddy's brothers and sisters)

Aunt Bell married Perry Jarriel.  I don't remember him.  They had three girls and one boy.  She lived here in Collins.  She and Moner went fishing quiet a bit.

Uncle Roy married Ruby Andrews.  They had two boys and lived out in the country.

Aunt Lela.  Don't know who she was married to and they had no children.

Uncle Mariel married Geneva Jarriel.  They had two girls, and one boy and lived in Collins.

Uncle Devoe married Lizzie Moody.  They had one daughter.

Aunt Bernice married Needum Collins.  They are Nadine's and Floys parents.  They had two boys, and three girls.    They lived out from Glennville. 

Aunt Audian married Willie Tatum.  They didn't have any children, and I don't know where they lived.

Aunt Amanda married Clifford Rewis.  They had four girls, and two boys.  I don't know where they lived.

Aunt Debbie married Coy Powell.  They had two boys and one girl.  I dont know where they lived.  Their daughter's name was Sue Nell, and she has a daughter that lives here in Collins (Lisa).  Lisa has a daughter, Tara who lives in Cobbtown.  And she has a daughter name Zoey, she's the little girl that I keep, so she's my fourth cousin.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

2 Timothy 1:7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear but the power of love and of a sound mind.

Why?  When I first started having rapid heart beats, I had a great fear of dying, or not being able to take care of myself.  Over the years I have learned that God doesn't have anything to do with that fear.  When things happen now and the fear comes back.  I say Lord I'm in your hands.  The devil has nothing to do with me except try to discourage me and take me from you.  But he can't I belong to you.  We have to rebuke the fear and the things the devil tries to bring to our minds.  Call on God, he comes through everytime.  I love Him and He means everything to me.

Did you have a close relationship with any of your Grandparents?

Grandaddy (Moner's Dad) was the Daddy we didn't have.  He was a very patient and loving man.  He worked hard when he was able.  I don't remember him ever going to church but he may have.  I don't remember if he ever spanked us.  I'm sure we needed it.  He would scold us if we did something we weren't suppose to.  He was sort of quiet.

Where did your Granparents live?

I don't remember we all moved to the two-story house in Collins.  Moner's parents lived with us there.  I don't know about Daddy's parents.

Do you remember your great grandparents?

No, not at all.

Tell about your relationship with your Dad.

We had none.  After your Dad and I was married and lived in Deptford Homes.  His niece also lived there and he came to visit her.  He came by our house for a few minutes.  That was the last time I saw him.

Did you and your Dad share any interests?

Nothing that I know about.

What personality traits did you get from your Dad?

My not knowing him, I don't know if I'm like him in any way.

Tell about your Father's personality, characteristics, talents, and temperament.

I didn't really know him just his face.  As for his role in the home, the night Carolyn was born he was there.  There was another time in the same house may have been before Carolyn was born.  He was sick and Moner gave him some medicine.  I wanted some and she finally gave in and gave me some.  It came back up about as fast as it went down.  I probably didn't want everything someone else had after that.

Tell of some places you went with your Mother.

Church, grocery store, and to visit friends in Collins.  We went to Vidalia to the dentist.  Grandmama and Moner along with several other ladies went to this place.  I don't remember how we got there.  But there were other children there, and we enjoyed playing together.  The women made cotton mattresses.  I don't think it was anything they got paid to do.  But was made for our own use.  I haven't thought of that in a long time.  I wish I had so I could have asked Moner about it.

What personality traits did you get from your Mother? What physical traits?

I'm quiet, Carolyn's the talker.  I don't want attention drawn to myself.   I don't know if it has anything to do with my education, or the lack of it.
People say I look more like her than the others.  I suppose I'm shaped like her and Grandmother Oliver.

Tell about your Mother's personality.

She was quiet, loved everyone, very compassionate and understanding.  She sang specials in church, made clothes, and quilts.  She crocheted scarves, doilies, collars, and bedspreads.  She was a really good cook.  She kept children while parents worked.  Her role in the home was both Mom and Dad to seven children, and even helped to raise grandchildren.

What did your Mother do during the day?

She worked and took care of seven children.  During World War II  she and Grandaddy ran a restaurant.  Soldiers were stationed around Collins in different places.  She stayed quite busy.  Later this lady in town took in laundry and Moner did the ironing.  She also kept a clean house and took care of us.

Who set a good example for you?

I suppose you mean marriage.  I learned as I lived.  The first one was a mistake. Only two good things came from it, Ronnie and Sylvia.
If you mean as a child.  Grandmama Oliver was a good christian lady who loved the Lord first, her husband, and everyone.  She never met a stranger.  She talked about the Lord every opportunity she had and sometimes took the opportunity.  She was a very precious lady.  She had time to talk to kids, and hug them.

What do you know about your parent's wedding?

The only thing I remember hearing is who performed the ceremony.  A judge at Reidsville courthouse by the name of W.H. Bazemore.  The same Judge married your Dad and me, and Carolyn and Aaron.

How did you learn about God?

My life started off in Church.  There was never a time I wasn't conscious of God.  I was saved at a very young age.  Then things, I suppose after Moner quit going although I went with Grandma, I quit going.  I lost interest.  Other things interested me more to my sorrow.  I gave up on Him for awhile but praise His name He never gave up on me.  I love Him so much.  It seems He's better to me than to anyone else.  He blessed me with a wonderful husband, children, grandchildren, and their companions.  As far as I know all in pretty good health, with good jobs, and able to work.  Two of our family members have already gone home and I'm trusting our family circle will not be broken.  That the others will come to know the Lord also.  And we will all be together again one day soon.

How was it decorated?

I described that earlier.  The green trees had balls, lights, tinsel, with an angel on the top.

When did you put it up? When did you take it down?

We put it up not more than two weeks before Christmas, and took it down soon after Christmas.  Just a few days at the most, was ready to put it away.

Describe getting a christmas tree with your family as a child, and as an adult.

We never had one as a child.  After Moner married Earnest and Phil's dad, he cut a tree and brought it in.  It had no decorations that I recall.  We didn't have electricity eith, probably couldn't afford it if we had.  We lived so far out there was none out there.  The first one I remember was after we moved to Pleasant Drive.  We bought a silver tree and had a color wheel run by electricity with three or four colors that shone on the tree.  Then we bought an artificial green tree.  I liked the artificial trees the best because they don't shed.  I think we had a live one once or twice.

Tell about what you believe happens after death.

The ones that are living a clean and holy life according to God's word will go to heaven for a while.  Then come back with Jesus, clean up this place and make way for a new heaven here and live with Him forever.  We must have our sins covered by Christ's blood.  Everyone has sinned and must ask for forgiveness and change their sinful ways and not go back into sin.  The one's living in sin when they die a devil's hell is waiting for them.  And that's where they will go.  People say God doesn't send anyone to hell.   I agree, he doesn't.  We're given a choice.  God's way or satan's way.  I choose God's way.  It isn't hard living for God.  Within our own selves it would be, but with God's help it's a wonderful life.

How do you feel about death?

I suppose everyone fears the unknown, not many want to die, I suppose.  But the ones that know Jesus as their personal Saviour don't look at it as "dying"  but living.  Before your Daddy passed away, one day I noticed he was just sitting there staring into space.  Not really thinking about anything.  I asked him what and if anything was wrong?  He didn't seem to want to tell me, hesitated to answer then said:  a hole six feet deep.  I knew then what he was referring to and didn't know what to say.  But now I would say; you won't be put in that hole, just the empty shell, the part we can see and feel is in there.  Not the important part, the soul.  It lives forever.  Your Daddy went to sleep sitting in that lift chair and woke up in the arms of Jesus.  What a wonderful awakening, no more pain, sorrow, disappointment, sickness, and worry.  Just peace and happiness.  We can't even imagine how glorious it's going to be.

List each one of your Aunts and Uncles. Tell one thing about each of them.

Uncle Ellis (Moner's brother) he died when John was a baby so I don't remember him.  He was married to Aunt Polly.  He was Edna's Daddy.  They had four girls, and lived here in town in the house that Uncle Ellis built or started.  I don't know if he lived to finish it or someone else ded.  She and the girls had the dairy I mentioned before.

Uncle Clark (Moner's brother) and Aunt Naomi.  I really don't know much about them.   Although they lived here in the country with no way to go but walk so we didn't visit much.  They had two girls and a boy.  I don't remember the boy because he was killed in the war.  The oldest girl is now deceased.  I remember visiting them in the nursing home with Moner when I first moved back here until they passed away.  Your Dad fished some with Uncle Clark.

Uncle T (Moner's brother) and Aunt Jane (your dad's sister).  His name was Lee Tally but most everyone called him LT.  We shortened it to just T.  I was closer to them and knew them better than the others.  We all lived in the same house for a while.  They had three girls and five boys.  He had a small car with a rumble seat.  We would sometimes take turns riding.  That was after the war when the rationing of gas was lifted.  He worked at Fort Stewart during the war.  He would give money to Moner to help us.  Aunt Jane was a really good cook.

Uncle Claude (Moner's brother) and Aunt Melbourne lived in Collins for awhile before moving to Savannah.  He was the one that paid for me to ride on the swings I referred to earlier.  She was a very stout woman.  They had six girls and two boys.  The youngest boy was a cab driver in Savannah until someone killed him.

Uncle Ben and Aunt Hilma (Moner's sister).  They lived here for a while until they moved to Savannah.  They had four girls and one boy.  The boy was killed in a car accident when he was a teen-ager.  She's getting pretty feeble now.  Carolyn and I visited her at her daughter's where she now lives.  She talks about the past alot.

Aunt Lucy (Moner's sister)  I never called her Aunt because she wasn't but a few years older than me.  We walked to school together.  They lived in the same two story house we and Uncle T's family lived in.  She died not long after she graduated from high school.  She was very pretty, had long dark hair, always neat.  I was ten when she passed away.

Uncle Marshall and Aunt Gladys (Moner's sister).  They had five girls and two boys.  Two boys and one of the girls have passed away.  They lived here in Collins a while.  Aunt Gladys worked in a dry cleaners.  Then they moved to Savannah and both worked at Bradley Plywood.  They went to the same church as us until she passed away.  Then he remarried a woman from Collins and moved back here until he passed away.

Tell about birthdays as a child, youth, adult.

I can't remember birthdays being any different than any other day.  We may have had cake and ice cream.  We had an ice cream churn (hand cranked).  After the war was over and things weren't rationed, we would make ice cream often.  As an adult before your Dad and I was married, Moner gave me a watch.  After we were married your Dad would always remember it.  I can't think of anything really special he gave me.  There were alot of things but not just for birthdays.

Tell about family reunions.

We didn't call them family reunions.  Grandmama and Granddaddy's(my great-granparents)  birthdays both were in July.  We would celebrate their birthdays.  As I remember, it would always be at Uncle T's(Moner's brother)  and Aunt Jane's(Your Daddy's sister) .  It was really fun for everyone.

Describe your Sundays as a child.

Sunday school.  Then come home, change clothes, eat and go out to play.  No work on Sundays.  Stores didn't open.  Children played, and adults rested.  When Aunt Hilma's family would come during the summer we went to the river.  But that wasn't often.

Tell one thing about your brothers and sisters.

I don't know how old I was.  Carolyn may have been the baby.  We were at the restaurant that Moner worked at.  Moner, John, and I don't remember anyone else.  A cousin of Moner's came in and he knew John had a temper, and liked to get him mad.  John picked up a butcher knife and threw it at him.  His name was Arthur Cowart.  Well it hit me on the leg and I still carry the scar.

Carolyn was always so small, and delicate.  We were very careful of her.  When I had to take care of her I would carry her on my hip.  I've always said that is why my right hip is higher than my left.

Barbara was small, walking.  It was a very windy day, the adult kept a can of lye on a shelf of sorts outside.  The wind blowed it off.  Barbara got to it before Moner could.  She put some in her mouth (it is very poisonous, I don't think they sell it anymore).  Her mouth swelled really bad, she must not have swallowed any, because she is still here.  They kept it for making soap.  Kids weren't suppose to be able to reach it.  They probably didn't think about the wind blowing hard enough to blow it off.

As you know by now, by things I've said before.  These were really tough times.  When Edward was born Aunt Hilma wanted to adopt him to make it easier on Moner.  She said she didn't have one to give up.

Earnest and Phil was born after I married.

Did you wish you had more (less) brothers and sisters? Why?

I suppose I never thought about it.  The more of us there were the more we had to play with.

Describe a trip to town as a child.

We lived in town .  The first trip I remember going out of town.  We went to Vidalia.  I had a tooth pulled that wasn't any fun.

Tell about a teacher or class that had a great influence on you.

Perhaps I've forgotten, but I can't say there were any.

Describe school as a child.

It was something I had to do and I never liked it.  I liked spelling and was good at it, and reading.  Adding, subtraction, and division I liked in arithmetic.  Couldn't understand fractions and other things.

Tell about home cures or wives tales.

If we had a rash over our bodies they called it "the itch" perfect name for it too.  They made a paste of sulphur and lard and rubbed it all over our bodies.  Don't remember how long, but it didn't work.  Went to the drugstore for a liquid, boy did it burn but it worked.  Made a poultice of mustard and I don't remember what else and put it on our chest for colds.  For an earache if anyone around smoked they would blow smoke in the ear.  I doubt it was the smoke but the warm air if it worked.  For a tummy ache eat burnt cornbread.  A cut, to stop the bleeding.  They would place spider web on the cut.  Nosebleed place scissors down the collar.  Don't sweep trash out the door after sundown, a death in the family would occur.   If a person was sitting in a chair, don't sweep under it or their feet.  Or they would never marry.  If you dropped a dish towel while cooking someone would come by hungry.  If your nose itches someone was talking about you.  When your hand itched, you were going to get some money.  It was bad luck for a black cat to cross in front of you.  Such nonsense and probably many more I can't remember.

What was your favorite fairy tale, or bedtime story?

There wasn't anything like that where we lived.  Things were so different when I was a child.  I don't remember books, except the Bible, song books at church, and school books. Oh yes, there were comic books.
We enjoyed listening to the older ones tell about their younger days.  I wish I had had these questions when Moner was here and could remember to ask her them and wrote them down.

What was your favorite toy, or doll?

The only doll I ever remember, I was maybe eight or nine.  A large doll, I took it to a friend's house to show her off I was so proud of it.  I don't remember what happened to it.  I wore it out playing with it I suppose.  I had a small saucer part of a tea set too.  I suppose there was more if there was it was probably broken.  That's all I remember in the line of toys.

Describe how people dressed when you were a child.

If you saw a woman with shorts on she wasn't thought  very highly of.  Just out looking for a man.  Any man, married or single.  Pants was just about as bad.  Dresses, or blouses and skirts way below the knee was the norm.  The men, pants and shirts or overalls and shirt.  That was in our part of the world.

What did you enjoy in the winter?

We had a movie theater, and would go there Saturday mornings.  I remember seeing westerns:  Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Lash Larue, and The Phantom.  There may have been more, I can't remember.  If the weather was sunny, even if it was cold we wanted to be outside playing.  We had no games for inside that I recall, made up games.

What did you do during the summer?

Played mainly.  There were some chores, but not too many that we didn't have time to play.  We didn't want to go in.  We wanted the days to last longer.  We played hide-n-seek, catch, hopscotch, tag, red rover, and ring-around-the rosie.  We would hide an object the others looked for, telling them if they were hot or cold.  Sounds boring doesn't it, but we enjoyed it.  We would go to the depot sometimes and climb on the coal cars.  Wave at the engineer and the man on the caboose.

Do you remember what an ice cream cost when you were a child?

A nickel a dip in a cone.  A nickel for a cup about four ounces.

What does one cost today?

$1.49 at McDonald's.

What kind of car did your family have?

We didn't.  The first car we owned was after your Dad and I was married.

What was your favorite scripture as a child? Why?

I really can't remember.  You know that has been quite a while ago.  I know we learned verses in Bible School and Sunday School.  But I can't remember if I had a favorite.  Probably 23rd Psalms.

What was your favorite television program as a child, youth and an adult.

We were lucky to have a radio, or a Victrola which played 78's.  You had to wind, or crank it up to keep it going.  As for television I was married and had children before we had one.  I don't remember the programs.

Describe your favorite outfit as a child, youth, adult.

I can't ever remember having a favorite outfit as a child.  Flour came in 25 pound print bags.  Moner used them to make some of our clothes.  We also had hand-me-downs.  We were blessed to have clothes to wear.  If our shoes got holes in them before summer, we wore cardboard in them.  When I was in the 7th grade.  We had graduationfrom Grammer School (thats what it was called then).  Eighth through Eleventh was High School.  Moner made me a white dress for graduation.  I really liked it.  As an adult, I don't know.  I made alot of my clothes and could choose patterns I liked.  The dress I wore to yours and Megan's wedding.  I really like it.

Tell how religion was practiced in the home as a child.

There's all kinds of religion.  We were and are pentecostal.  We weren't taught then as now.  Women didn't cut their hair, smoke, wear pants, make-up, jewelry, and no one worked on Sundays.  Stores didn't open on Sundays.  Ministers preached if you did any of those things you were bound for hell.  We weren't taught God's love.  If we were I don't remember.  All I could remember was that God would not love me if I did those things so I was brought up to fear God not love Him.  Through the years I've learned God does love us.  I'm sure Grandmama, and Moner learned it too.  We are going to be judged for our wrongs we do.  We must live without sin if we expect to make it to heaven.  God is all love.

What did you do as a child that got you in the most trouble?

I remember two times especially (I'm sure there were probably more).  A fair came to town near our house.  I wanted to ride the swings really bad.  Uncle Claude (Moner's brother)  paid for me to ride.  It was at night, and I wasn't suppose to be there.  When I got home Moner was there waiting for me.  I was so sick from the ride she may not have gotten me that night, but you can believe she got me.  I wouldn't have done it again anyways because of it making me sick.  The second time, Carolyn, John, and I had come in from school, and were in the kitchen.  Carolyn did something (I don't remember what)  I slapped her.  Moner got me again, she should have I deserved it.  Daddy wasn't around enough to care what we did.
With my teacher it may have been the first day of school, when I was in the First grade.  When the bell rang for us to go home all I could think of was getting out of the building befored they closed and locked the doors.  I was running and got spanked.

What was the advantages/disadvantages of being the oldest

I really don't know how to answer this one, times were so different than they are now.  I married so young.  I helped with the younger ones before then.  We just lived and did the best we could to survive, maybe that isn't the right word but the only one I could come up with.

Tell about any skills you learned from your elders:

I suppose keeping a clean house.  We didn't have much but Moner kept it clean.  Me being the oldest of seven children taught me how to care for them and the house.  Especially when she was working.  We didn't have carpet or linoleum.  You took a broom with soap and water and scrubbed, then rinsed.  I helped Moner and Grandmama stitch a quilt (by hand of course).  I can't say how my stitches looked, they didn't do them over so they must have been okay.  I tried cooking once when Moner was sick.  We all survived so it must have been filling.  As for sewing, after Daddy and I was married I learned by trial and error.  Patterns and sewing guides helped.  Cookbooks helped with cooking.

How were children expected to behave?

The saying then was "Children should be seen and not heard."  I don't think that way and neither did Moner.  Children need to be listened to.  They have ideas, problems, and important things to say.  But when adults are talking children should reverence that and wait their turns.  That's the way we were taught.  You didn't scream or make a scene, if you didn't get your way, if you did you got your bottom spanked.  We had respect, and love for our elders and wanted theirs.  We were brought up that way.  If we were told to do something, we didn't wait two or three hours and then say we forgot.  If we did, we didn't forget or put it off next time.  We were loved so were taught to behave and take care of and respect what belonged to others.  Do it right the first time even if it takes longer.

Were you responsible for any household chores growing up? Favorite and least favorite.

Washing dishes, and putting away folded clothes.  But that was later in the two-story house after the war we had a few more, hand-me-downs from cousins.  Taking care of Carolyn, and Barbara.  After Moner came home from the hospital from having Edward.  I had a real sore finger, the nail came off.  She said I was depending on you to wash diapers.  I was probably glad my finger was sore.  I don't know why I remember that but I do.  I don't know if I had a favorite or not, probably sweeping the floor.  Least favorite having to warch others.  It kept me from doing things I wanted to do.  Going to the grocery store was another chore.  I would always run there and back.  Moner would say you don't have to run.  I didn't mind that though.

Do you remember any addresses or phone numbers?

As a child I suppose it would have been just Collins, Ga.  Later we had a mailbox, it had a combination lock that you had to know the numbers to open it.  It was P.O. Box 313 Collins
After me and your Dad was married at Frances Bartow the number was 251 no zip code.  At Deptford Homes the number was 311.  The first phone we had was at Frances Bartow it was 36448.  Can't remember if it was the same or not at Deptford Homes.  When we moved to Port Wentworth the address was Rt. 1 Box 294-B Savannah Georgia.  We had a party line with the Duckworth's, but soon got a private line.  I don't remember when the numbers changed to seven numbers.  The last phone number was 964-5033. and the address had changed to 101 Pleasant Drive  Port Wentworth GA

Tell about the houses you lived in.

The first house I remember living in was when Aunt Carolyn was born.  Only three rooms as I recall.  John and I shared one, Moner and your Granddaddy in the front room, and the kitchen.  The second one was on the main highway going through town towards Reidsville.  The only thing I remember about it was this was the house we were in when I had the baby chicks.  Third one was the big two story house where Aunt Jane and Uncle T and four children lived with us.  So there was them, Grandma, Granddaddy, Moner and her four children, until Edward was born.  Another family lived upstairs, a grandmother, mother, and daughter.  They weren't related to us just friends.  They stayed until the house caught fire upstairs and they had to find someplace else to live.  Then the house behind Charlie's  until Moner remarried.  Then we moved to Metter, and lived in different houses there.

Tell about your bicycle experience

I remember I wanted one so badly, but I knew I couldn't have one.  I don't remember ever asking.  I knew it was hard for Moner to even put food on the table for us.  She ironed for a lady.  I don't know how much she made but couldn't have been much for a family of 5.  Anyway the little girl down the road had one and I learned to ride it.  Sometimes we would take turns, until I learned well enough to peddle while she rode.  Then we were both riding but I was doing the work, but enjoying it.  The only time I rememeber riding one as a child.

Describe the sights, sounds, and smells of your childhood

Seldom did we see planes or cars.  Growing up we lived closer to the train tracks than we did on Pleasant Drive.  So we were familiar with trains.  You would know they were coming long before they got to the Depot, which was maybe a block away from us.  They ran on coal, which was in cars the train was pulling.  They would put some out near the school which it was used in the heaters.  Some of the homes also used it in their heaters.  It lasted longer than wood and probably cost more.  Some of the trains were troop trains.  They carried soldiers from place to place, also passenger trains.  Grandma, Moner, and I went to Vidalia on one.  I had to have a tooth pulled.  We left early one morning had to wait all day until the train went to Americus Georgia and back.  It ran from Savannah to Americus.  East to west in the morning, and west to east in the afternoon.  If it hadn't have been for having a tooth pulled the trip would have been more enjoyable. 
The air was cleaner then.  I remember the honeysuckles, morning glories, and different wildflowers.  Occasionally when the wind came from the east, you could smell Union Camp (was called Union Bag back then, and now International Paper) and didn't smell so good.  When the daffodills started blooming we knew it would soon be barefoot time.  Something we looked forward to, and blackberry picking.  We enjoyed that, we would eat, and pick.  They made jelly, pudding, cobbler, and other things from the berries if we had enoughsugar.  After the war things were better.

What is your favorite season of the year?

Spring, grass and trees starts turning green.  Everything seems to be coming alive again.  Not too hot or too cold.

What pet did you always want?

I never wanted any that I remember.  Llike I said earlier there were cats around.  If dogs came up to the house, I went inside or chased them away.

What pets have you had?

None as a child, I don't like animals.  I had two baby chicks.  In the house where we lived it had a gate in the back.  I was out there feeding them or just looking at them or whatever.  When I went out the gate one followed.  I closed the gate on it, it died, and I cried. 
They're okay to see them on tv, most of them.  I don't like zoos, they're too smelly.  There were cats but thet stayed outside, probably to keep the rats away.  After marrying your Dad, when we lived on Pleasant Drive we had a parakeet named Perky.

Do you remember any fears you had as a child?

If I had any I can't remember them.  I have always been terrified of dogs and I try to stay away from them.

Note:  I also remember her always saying the only kind of good snake is a dead snake.  She hates them too.

What was your favorite treat?

I suppose ice cream especially homemade, and candy with nuts.

What is your favorite place to hide as an adult?

 My bedroom, or take a walk and pray and read.  Do a crossword puzzle, or put together jigsaw puzzles.

What was your favorite store?

Roy Harris's grocery store here in Collins, or Miss Iris's across the street both were both grocery stores.  The drug store sold ice cream cones.  I liked to go there when I could get one.  Which wasn't often.

What was your hiding place?

Behind the house we lived in, or the chicken house, or a tree.  Our house was several feet off the ground and not closed in like they are today.  We would hide under it.  We always wanted to be outside in the summertime.

What color was your house, your living room, your bedroom, as a child?

There was no color, just natural wood inside and out.  We shared the bedrooms.  As for living rooms, there weren't any.  We didn't know what a couch was unless we saw one in Sears & Roebuck Catalog. 
Until your Dad and I was married I didn't have a living room.  Our houses were small until we moved into the 2-story house after Moner and my Dad separated.  I don't know what we kept our clothes in, the few we had were probably in a box or on a nail behind a door.  I'm not exagerating times were tough.

What is your earliest memories of home?

 This may be the earliest, I'm not sure if it was before or after your Aunt Carolyn was born.  I do remember the night she was born.  Anyways, Moner, John, and I, (and Carolyn if she was born at the time) went to Uncle T and Aunt Jane's.  About two blocks from where we lived, on their porch was a swing.  I don't know why a piece of wire was on the chain.  The wire caught John's arm and made a bad gash, someone went for the Doctor.  He lived in town and they made house calls then.  Moner was so upset she couldn't hold John for the Doctor to sew it up.  Your Aunt Clara (your daddy's sister) was there so she held him.  I don't know if he had anyway of deadening it or not.  John probably still has the scar.  When I see him I want to ask him about it.  Haven't thought of that in a while. 
PS:  He still has it.

Who was the President when you were born?

I had to look in the encyclopedia for the answer to this one.
 Franklin Delano Roosevelt  1933-1945  Democrat

What was happening in the world when you were born?

We were almost at war.  I was born in 1935.  World War II began in 1939-1945.  Soldiers camped near us near the depot.  They had a large search light, very exciting to a child, not realizing the seriousness of the times.  My Mom and Granddaddy had a Cafe, that served many soldiers and civilians as.  Dot(a cousin) and I would walk to church with Grandmama Oliver.  We all lived in a two-story house.  There were no streetlights.  On dark nights when the moon wasn't shining you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.  If you passed anyone you wouldn't know it until you heard footsteps on the road.  In which was unpaved, no sidewalks, no flashlights.  Things like sugar, gas, and many other things were rationed.  We would get stamps (not like food stamps).  It didn't matter how much money we may have had you had have a stamp to buy these things.  (Money was short too).  When stamps ran out you did without until the next month.  We had running water, but no sink in the kitchen.  We used dish pans for washing dishes.  Washed clothes outside on a washboard and in tubs, they were hung on a line to dry.  Clothes were made out of cotton and had to be ironed.  Irons were heated on the stove.  We had no electricity.  We had a toilet outside with two holes.  Had a chamber pot to use at night .  Guess who had to empty it every morning.  A part of being the oldest.  In the winter you had to have enough covers to keep warm.  You could barely turn over.  Houses weren't insulated, or the ones we lived in weren't.

Why was your name chosen for you?

 My Mom had a friend with a child named Willodean, and she liked it.  This is what I was told.  I never liked it but didn't have a choice in the choosing.


NOTE:  Since this is where Megan my daughter got the middle name for her daughter Emily.  In which they named her Emily Willow.