1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:12,389 okay good afternoon today is November 2 00:00:07,500 --> 00:00:15,269 the 18th 2017 and today's oral history 3 00:00:12,389 --> 00:00:19,189 interview is a part of a project 4 00:00:15,269 --> 00:00:23,130 organized by chick history and 5 00:00:19,189 --> 00:00:27,119 partnership with humanities Tennessee I 6 00:00:23,130 --> 00:00:31,320 am dr. money friar a member of the 7 00:00:27,119 --> 00:00:34,219 Memphis area branch association for the 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:38,700 study of african-american life in 9 00:00:34,219 --> 00:00:42,450 history with assistance from our host 10 00:00:38,700 --> 00:00:45,410 local site location the National Civil 11 00:00:42,450 --> 00:00:48,989 Rights Museum and Rhodes College 12 00:00:45,410 --> 00:00:52,469 lemoyne-owen College and the University 13 00:00:48,989 --> 00:00:57,449 of Memphis I would like to thank our 14 00:00:52,469 --> 00:01:00,809 participant mrs. Hattie eat ah Monsieur 15 00:00:57,449 --> 00:01:04,309 roll for her contribution on this 16 00:01:00,809 --> 00:01:09,710 project to women's history in Tennessee 17 00:01:04,309 --> 00:01:16,680 and so I would like to start off by 18 00:01:09,710 --> 00:01:19,619 asking mrs. yarrow the name of the 19 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:24,240 neighborhood you grew up in and full 20 00:01:19,619 --> 00:01:28,650 name of your family members I believe my 21 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:31,680 name is Teddy not II had a mate had him 22 00:01:28,650 --> 00:01:37,560 II had a major thank you had in me 23 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:43,530 Thomas Yarborough okay I grew up in 24 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:51,149 rural Hardeman County out of Grand 25 00:01:43,530 --> 00:01:56,549 Junction Tennessee and further grew up 26 00:01:51,149 --> 00:01:59,130 in Paris Tennessee I lived in let me see 27 00:01:56,549 --> 00:02:02,520 Grand Junction rule harem encounter out 28 00:01:59,130 --> 00:02:06,619 of Grand Junction Bolivar Tennessee and 29 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:06,619 past Tennessee okay 30 00:02:07,430 --> 00:02:17,840 and names of your family members my 31 00:02:12,610 --> 00:02:23,030 mother my mother was Isabel low pair of 32 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:31,280 PR 8 a.m. and my father was John Neely 33 00:02:23,030 --> 00:02:37,190 Thomas and I had four brothers my mother 34 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:41,330 had four sons and two girls my sister 35 00:02:37,190 --> 00:02:46,130 and me girls my oldest brother was named 36 00:02:41,330 --> 00:02:49,030 Leroy we called him Jack param my second 37 00:02:46,130 --> 00:02:55,700 brother was Clifton we called him butch 38 00:02:49,030 --> 00:03:00,970 parent my third brother was named Perry 39 00:02:55,700 --> 00:03:06,280 who died in early childhood and my 40 00:03:00,970 --> 00:03:12,489 fourth brother was Garner gr in O in 41 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:23,830 peril and my fifth brother was Eldridge 42 00:03:12,489 --> 00:03:26,600 Thomas my sister was Alma Lee Thomas so 43 00:03:23,830 --> 00:03:29,360 we're just going I have a list here when 44 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:34,250 it asked questions about what about your 45 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:36,709 church and church activities what is 46 00:03:34,250 --> 00:03:38,260 your family church and how many 47 00:03:36,709 --> 00:03:46,060 generations have you been 48 00:03:38,260 --> 00:03:50,909 oh I grew up in Prospect colored 49 00:03:46,060 --> 00:03:54,069 Methodist Episcopal Church where my 50 00:03:50,909 --> 00:03:59,140 paternal and my maternal ancestors were 51 00:03:54,069 --> 00:04:00,940 the founding members and from all of my 52 00:03:59,140 --> 00:04:01,720 life I had been a CEO be we call 53 00:04:00,940 --> 00:04:04,510 ourselves 54 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:07,390 CME's okay and of course you know it 55 00:04:04,510 --> 00:04:11,970 changes the name in the seventies I 56 00:04:07,390 --> 00:04:14,620 think was nineteen we changed our name 57 00:04:11,970 --> 00:04:16,299 to the Christian Methodist Episcopal 58 00:04:14,620 --> 00:04:20,169 Church from the colored Methodist 59 00:04:16,299 --> 00:04:23,800 Episcopal Church so I've been a seeing 60 00:04:20,169 --> 00:04:26,590 me all of my life but presently I'm I'm 61 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:29,169 a member of Collins Chapel seeing me 62 00:04:26,590 --> 00:04:30,970 Church at Covington Tennessee where I 63 00:04:29,169 --> 00:04:33,400 serve as the chairman of the stood 64 00:04:30,970 --> 00:04:37,860 forward the son of school superintendent 65 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:37,860 and part-time teacher 66 00:04:39,450 --> 00:04:42,500 [Music] 67 00:04:49,740 --> 00:04:54,580 well my some of my students thought I 68 00:04:52,389 --> 00:05:03,250 wasn't something thought I was the mean 69 00:04:54,580 --> 00:05:06,400 teacher yes not believed in being firm 70 00:05:03,250 --> 00:05:11,770 and fair as an educator I believe in 71 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:14,770 being firm and fair good you have to and 72 00:05:11,770 --> 00:05:16,750 that's where they're good that's where 73 00:05:14,770 --> 00:05:19,930 they're good do you have any stories 74 00:05:16,750 --> 00:05:27,340 about any family members in a particular 75 00:05:19,930 --> 00:05:28,930 office or leadership in the church while 76 00:05:27,340 --> 00:05:30,669 singing in the choir tip we didn't have 77 00:05:28,930 --> 00:05:35,500 enough members to have a client and 78 00:05:30,669 --> 00:05:37,210 cheering I was a choir member oh I can't 79 00:05:35,500 --> 00:05:40,479 believe all the things that have done in 80 00:05:37,210 --> 00:05:45,510 my future I started one thing that I 81 00:05:40,479 --> 00:05:48,310 have been really very proud of from from 82 00:05:45,510 --> 00:05:53,120 1930 83 00:05:48,310 --> 00:05:56,690 seven up to now I have been an advocate 84 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:59,480 for the contributions of African 85 00:05:56,690 --> 00:06:04,610 Americans to the history of America okay 86 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:06,440 and I have sponsored an African American 87 00:06:04,610 --> 00:06:07,100 history you know we called the Negro 88 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:10,190 History Week 89 00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:13,610 it was then program in the community 90 00:06:10,190 --> 00:06:14,150 where I lived for more years than I can 91 00:06:13,610 --> 00:06:17,330 remember 92 00:06:14,150 --> 00:06:19,970 okay and to this day we still sponsor 93 00:06:17,330 --> 00:06:26,150 the second week and second Sunday in 94 00:06:19,970 --> 00:06:27,980 February and African American month was 95 00:06:26,150 --> 00:06:30,110 Black History Month the African American 96 00:06:27,980 --> 00:06:33,940 History Month program at our church 97 00:06:30,110 --> 00:06:36,830 where I have brought in speakers from 98 00:06:33,940 --> 00:06:42,320 around the country so to speak I've had 99 00:06:36,830 --> 00:06:46,010 a Tuskegee Airmen every year we do this 100 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:48,470 and we still do this okay and I talked 101 00:06:46,010 --> 00:06:52,930 African American history when I came to 102 00:06:48,470 --> 00:06:56,750 Covington as a young teacher in 1945 I 103 00:06:52,930 --> 00:07:00,920 asked my principal if I could bring my 104 00:06:56,750 --> 00:07:07,640 Negro history book with me it was a it 105 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:09,740 was called the child's story of the 106 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:12,140 Negro by James Shackelford still in 107 00:07:09,740 --> 00:07:14,890 print you can still buy that book okay 108 00:07:12,140 --> 00:07:20,180 and from day one that I began teaching I 109 00:07:14,890 --> 00:07:24,650 talked and my kids got a grief for the 110 00:07:20,180 --> 00:07:25,580 Negro history in my claim excellent 111 00:07:24,650 --> 00:07:28,190 excellent 112 00:07:25,580 --> 00:07:32,690 can you tell me anything about the Clay 113 00:07:28,190 --> 00:07:33,320 Street school the Clay Street school the 114 00:07:32,690 --> 00:07:35,090 Clay Street 115 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:37,460 I can change nothing but the name of the 116 00:07:35,090 --> 00:07:39,680 Clay Shirky school my when I have to 117 00:07:37,460 --> 00:07:42,050 finish the 8th grader and harder my kind 118 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:46,100 of really hard my kind my father sent me 119 00:07:42,050 --> 00:07:48,950 to his sister and her husband and their 120 00:07:46,100 --> 00:07:49,930 family in Paris Tennessee to attend high 121 00:07:48,950 --> 00:07:54,699 school 122 00:07:49,930 --> 00:07:57,669 and my aunt when she was I met in a 123 00:07:54,699 --> 00:08:01,210 teenager or something she had a sister 124 00:07:57,669 --> 00:08:05,889 and her sisters family who lived here in 125 00:08:01,210 --> 00:08:08,229 Memphis and she went to a school that 126 00:08:05,889 --> 00:08:10,539 was called Clay Street school this is 127 00:08:08,229 --> 00:08:14,830 what my heart shared with me cray Street 128 00:08:10,539 --> 00:08:17,020 school and it was located where Booker T 129 00:08:14,830 --> 00:08:20,199 Washington High School is located now it 130 00:08:17,020 --> 00:08:23,110 was called Clay Street school okay I bet 131 00:08:20,199 --> 00:08:27,729 all I know about it I know that she came 132 00:08:23,110 --> 00:08:29,530 to Memphis to go to school okay and the 133 00:08:27,729 --> 00:08:32,620 school she attended was called Clay 134 00:08:29,530 --> 00:08:36,459 Street school very good so how long did 135 00:08:32,620 --> 00:08:38,620 she go there I don't know okay so you 136 00:08:36,459 --> 00:08:44,050 just know that from stories that they 137 00:08:38,620 --> 00:08:45,160 know people from her okay okay okay very 138 00:08:44,050 --> 00:08:48,100 good 139 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:51,100 so that is something that we learned 140 00:08:48,100 --> 00:08:53,890 today that Booker T the first name was 141 00:08:51,100 --> 00:08:56,110 Clay Street School you may want to check 142 00:08:53,890 --> 00:08:58,540 on me cuz I don't see I don't know the 143 00:08:56,110 --> 00:09:01,209 story I just know that she told me that 144 00:08:58,540 --> 00:09:04,230 Clay Street School was where Booker T 145 00:09:01,209 --> 00:09:06,520 was in high school is located now okay 146 00:09:04,230 --> 00:09:08,620 so that Street through there must have 147 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:10,390 been named crazy Clay Street or 148 00:09:08,620 --> 00:09:21,910 something because it was called Clay 149 00:09:10,390 --> 00:09:27,790 Street school that might have stories 150 00:09:21,910 --> 00:09:31,240 about associations with community 151 00:09:27,790 --> 00:09:34,810 organizations or female clubs or 152 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:36,459 anything like that we really we're 153 00:09:34,810 --> 00:09:39,580 looking for some things that might 154 00:09:36,459 --> 00:09:42,459 connect to the suffrage movement 155 00:09:39,580 --> 00:09:44,800 and we know that black women had a lot 156 00:09:42,459 --> 00:09:45,810 to do with that in their particular 157 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:51,459 realm 158 00:09:45,810 --> 00:09:55,510 so do you know can you remember any kind 159 00:09:51,459 --> 00:09:58,180 of stories like that oh I feel good 160 00:09:55,510 --> 00:10:02,310 let's go shop okay very good very good 161 00:09:58,180 --> 00:10:08,230 when in the home in Paris Tennessee 162 00:10:02,310 --> 00:10:10,120 my uncle and my aunt were educators okay 163 00:10:08,230 --> 00:10:13,000 my uncle was the principal of Henry 164 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:15,030 County training school and my aunt civil 165 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:18,310 I called her name was Sol anti-civil 166 00:10:15,030 --> 00:10:22,840 Thomas chair suma was a third grade 167 00:10:18,310 --> 00:10:24,550 teacher well when I the teacher kept six 168 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,640 of us in rural Harlan County in the 169 00:10:24,550 --> 00:10:29,970 seventh grade two years guess why 170 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:34,180 because we weren't going to high school 171 00:10:29,970 --> 00:10:36,460 so we repeated seventh grade well the 172 00:10:34,180 --> 00:10:41,380 year that I graduated from the eighth 173 00:10:36,460 --> 00:10:43,960 grade my father asked my aunt civil in 174 00:10:41,380 --> 00:10:47,340 Paris Tennessee if I could come and live 175 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:52,350 with them and entertain high school and 176 00:10:47,340 --> 00:10:55,450 I inherited the room of their two boys 177 00:10:52,350 --> 00:10:57,940 one boy was going off to teach English 178 00:10:55,450 --> 00:11:00,850 at Knoxville College and the other one 179 00:10:57,940 --> 00:11:05,740 was enrolling as a freshman at Knoxville 180 00:11:00,850 --> 00:11:08,740 College I inherited their room that had 181 00:11:05,740 --> 00:11:12,700 a bookcase about three shelves high of 182 00:11:08,740 --> 00:11:15,310 African American books I had never seen 183 00:11:12,700 --> 00:11:17,560 a black newspaper before my Paris 184 00:11:15,310 --> 00:11:20,140 Tennessee experience and then I had 185 00:11:17,560 --> 00:11:22,210 never seen a black magazine the Negro 186 00:11:20,140 --> 00:11:24,610 Digest is no long imprint that's what 187 00:11:22,210 --> 00:11:28,120 they subscribed to and the magazine 188 00:11:24,610 --> 00:11:32,590 called opportunity Nita Nita it of these 189 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:34,630 is in print at this time my younger 190 00:11:32,590 --> 00:11:37,780 brother cousin who graduated from 191 00:11:34,630 --> 00:11:41,020 Knoxville College served in the Navy 192 00:11:37,780 --> 00:11:47,650 during World War two he was the founder 193 00:11:41,020 --> 00:11:49,680 of XO and XO is in a NAACP's you 194 00:11:47,650 --> 00:11:53,220 familiar with that 195 00:11:49,680 --> 00:11:55,529 yeah okay my brother cuz and I called it 196 00:11:53,220 --> 00:12:00,360 my brother cousin he was the founder of 197 00:11:55,529 --> 00:12:06,170 EXO and to this day when the NAACP has 198 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:10,670 its annual meeting the axial branches in 199 00:12:06,170 --> 00:12:16,440 various cities will bring the kids who 200 00:12:10,670 --> 00:12:19,500 compete in academics and my cousin said 201 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:22,950 when he when he initiated this idea that 202 00:12:19,500 --> 00:12:25,890 he was sick of african-american children 203 00:12:22,950 --> 00:12:27,839 being made to feel that the only way you 204 00:12:25,890 --> 00:12:31,500 could make it be equals through football 205 00:12:27,839 --> 00:12:36,149 or basketball and so he said we have 206 00:12:31,500 --> 00:12:39,899 kids in academics so it acts o stands 207 00:12:36,149 --> 00:12:41,670 for academics culture technological 208 00:12:39,899 --> 00:12:44,040 scientific Olympics that's what it's 209 00:12:41,670 --> 00:12:47,700 that's what it stands for right and so 210 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:51,060 these kids and in here in Memphis MP 211 00:12:47,700 --> 00:12:53,730 Carter and John Patterson who belong to 212 00:12:51,060 --> 00:12:57,029 the Memphis branch and ACP they take a 213 00:12:53,730 --> 00:13:00,570 group of kids to the competition every 214 00:12:57,029 --> 00:13:04,920 year mm-hmm so that was the contribution 215 00:13:00,570 --> 00:13:08,430 one and my older brother cousin became 216 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:10,709 the president of Atlanta you okay so 217 00:13:08,430 --> 00:13:14,610 those are some of the contributions that 218 00:13:10,709 --> 00:13:17,010 are my two brother cousins did and I 219 00:13:14,610 --> 00:13:19,650 consider among the things that I have 220 00:13:17,010 --> 00:13:22,200 been blessed to do was to have my World 221 00:13:19,650 --> 00:13:24,089 War Two scrapbook accepted if a 222 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:26,180 Smithsonian National Museum of 223 00:13:24,089 --> 00:13:31,350 african-american history and culture 224 00:13:26,180 --> 00:13:33,959 wonderful and of course I worked at 225 00:13:31,350 --> 00:13:36,870 service Club number two at Camp Tyson 226 00:13:33,959 --> 00:13:40,950 which was an army base that was 13 miles 227 00:13:36,870 --> 00:13:42,930 out of Paris Tennessee epic and what do 228 00:13:40,950 --> 00:13:46,709 at the end of my sophomore year in 229 00:13:42,930 --> 00:13:52,079 college is when I did this okay so from 230 00:13:46,709 --> 00:13:57,380 1942 to 1945 I call those the war years 231 00:13:52,079 --> 00:14:02,390 I compiled a scrapbook made up of 232 00:13:57,380 --> 00:14:06,029 articles and artifacts and pictures and 233 00:14:02,390 --> 00:14:09,060 patches from soldiers where I meet them 234 00:14:06,029 --> 00:14:12,690 on the troop trains on the base where I 235 00:14:09,060 --> 00:14:15,440 worked and at Lane College they would 236 00:14:12,690 --> 00:14:19,079 come to visit or Lane college campus and 237 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:20,940 at home in Paris Tennessee many of them 238 00:14:19,079 --> 00:14:22,529 would come to our churches for worship 239 00:14:20,940 --> 00:14:26,579 service and we would invite them home 240 00:14:22,529 --> 00:14:29,400 with us for dinner on Sundays and so my 241 00:14:26,579 --> 00:14:33,540 scrapbook was made up of these 242 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:37,110 experiences okay and of course last year 243 00:14:33,540 --> 00:14:42,930 they had the dedication of this museum 244 00:14:37,110 --> 00:14:46,050 and John Patterson MP Carter okay 245 00:14:42,930 --> 00:14:49,410 they're my sorority sisters and my 246 00:14:46,050 --> 00:14:52,550 sister and one of her foster sons and 247 00:14:49,410 --> 00:14:55,260 one of my in-laws from Covington 248 00:14:52,550 --> 00:14:59,520 they went to DC with me for the 249 00:14:55,260 --> 00:15:02,670 dedication of the African American 250 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:06,060 Museum at the Smithsonian very very good 251 00:15:02,670 --> 00:15:08,550 so your sorority sisters and the kinds 252 00:15:06,060 --> 00:15:13,620 of things that you were involved in the 253 00:15:08,550 --> 00:15:17,070 sorority that they involve what kinds of 254 00:15:13,620 --> 00:15:20,070 activities that they do in terms of the 255 00:15:17,070 --> 00:15:22,500 rights of women do they what kind of 256 00:15:20,070 --> 00:15:26,490 participant they get into women's rights 257 00:15:22,500 --> 00:15:29,250 or activities that have to do with with 258 00:15:26,490 --> 00:15:30,020 women and their needs and those kinds of 259 00:15:29,250 --> 00:15:35,880 issues 260 00:15:30,020 --> 00:15:39,870 or was it it's a sisterhood in terms of 261 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:43,170 the organization but were there any 262 00:15:39,870 --> 00:15:45,220 other kinds of things that they did the 263 00:15:43,170 --> 00:15:48,970 sorority that you belong to 264 00:15:45,220 --> 00:15:51,790 well Alpha Kappa Alpha is about service 265 00:15:48,970 --> 00:15:54,120 to mankind okay so there are many 266 00:15:51,790 --> 00:15:57,520 projects in in the Memphis community 267 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:59,980 that because I belong to a Memphis 268 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:03,010 chapter okay that there are many 269 00:15:59,980 --> 00:16:04,900 products that the souls who live here in 270 00:16:03,010 --> 00:16:07,710 Memphis are involved in in their 271 00:16:04,900 --> 00:16:12,910 churches and in their communities that 272 00:16:07,710 --> 00:16:14,860 are service to that churches in their 273 00:16:12,910 --> 00:16:21,430 school community and in the community 274 00:16:14,860 --> 00:16:22,090 okay seriously service thing and we have 275 00:16:21,430 --> 00:16:26,770 a problem 276 00:16:22,090 --> 00:16:34,930 that's called shadow blank although 277 00:16:26,770 --> 00:16:42,430 where we take teenagers and under the 278 00:16:34,930 --> 00:16:47,290 umbrella of the chapter they train these 279 00:16:42,430 --> 00:16:49,900 kids and teach them cultural things that 280 00:16:47,290 --> 00:16:51,790 take them on trips they give them 281 00:16:49,900 --> 00:16:54,930 scholarships we give we have a 282 00:16:51,790 --> 00:17:02,110 scholarship project where we give kids 283 00:16:54,930 --> 00:17:04,500 scholarships every year okay and teenage 284 00:17:02,110 --> 00:17:07,569 improvement Club that's what it's called 285 00:17:04,500 --> 00:17:10,319 teenage improvement Club right and they 286 00:17:07,569 --> 00:17:12,670 take these kids on under their wings and 287 00:17:10,319 --> 00:17:15,939 expose them to things that they're 288 00:17:12,670 --> 00:17:17,439 ordinary would not get and we give 289 00:17:15,939 --> 00:17:20,890 thousands of dollars of scholarships 290 00:17:17,439 --> 00:17:23,439 every year that's beta epsilon omegas my 291 00:17:20,890 --> 00:17:24,100 chapter that two chapters file am don't 292 00:17:23,439 --> 00:17:26,250 make it better 293 00:17:24,100 --> 00:17:31,380 epsilon me I'm a memorabilia 294 00:17:26,250 --> 00:17:33,810 me okay so you became interested in 295 00:17:31,380 --> 00:17:36,330 these kinds of things was it somebody in 296 00:17:33,810 --> 00:17:39,840 your family that's sort of influenced 297 00:17:36,330 --> 00:17:43,350 you to go in that direction in terms of 298 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:48,450 helping people so there I'm so glad you 299 00:17:43,350 --> 00:17:53,330 asked me that okay because I grew up 300 00:17:48,450 --> 00:17:57,990 with some relatives who were dentists 301 00:17:53,330 --> 00:18:00,000 okay and I did not know that that was 302 00:17:57,990 --> 00:18:03,630 but once abroad to dentist when I was 303 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:06,930 you know a little girl okay well when I 304 00:18:03,630 --> 00:18:09,690 in my past Tennessee home with my aunts 305 00:18:06,930 --> 00:18:13,260 over at the end of our street lived our 306 00:18:09,690 --> 00:18:17,550 town doctor and his wife and mrs. Howell 307 00:18:13,260 --> 00:18:20,100 was from a national family and she 308 00:18:17,550 --> 00:18:21,840 didn't dare they had services so miss 309 00:18:20,100 --> 00:18:23,100 Howell didn't know how to cook and she 310 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:26,100 didn't know how to do anything much 311 00:18:23,100 --> 00:18:29,010 because they had servants so I would go 312 00:18:26,100 --> 00:18:31,080 up to her house on weekends and bake 313 00:18:29,010 --> 00:18:33,870 cakes her cake for the weekend 314 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:36,180 wash the greens and cook them for her 315 00:18:33,870 --> 00:18:37,950 those kind of things so one day when I 316 00:18:36,180 --> 00:18:40,590 was a senior in high school she said 317 00:18:37,950 --> 00:18:43,260 Hannah me when you go to college you 318 00:18:40,590 --> 00:18:46,320 should join a sorority because you'd 319 00:18:43,260 --> 00:18:49,140 like to do things for people and I start 320 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:52,280 singing they have to Sigma Theta and she 321 00:18:49,140 --> 00:18:57,630 looked at me and she said what and 322 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:59,790 ensued she said no honey Alpha Kappa 323 00:18:57,630 --> 00:19:07,080 Alpha well I've never heard of Africa 324 00:18:59,790 --> 00:19:09,570 that was really funny and she told me 325 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:12,840 who my cousin had married a woman from 326 00:19:09,570 --> 00:19:15,990 Nashville and she told me Annabelle is 327 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:17,610 an aka and SATA Galloway her father was 328 00:19:15,990 --> 00:19:19,560 a principal of pearl high school in 329 00:19:17,610 --> 00:19:22,440 Nashville and she said and Sadie 330 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:24,150 Calloway is an aka and she went on 331 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:29,730 naming off other people that I knew that 332 00:19:24,150 --> 00:19:32,850 I respected okay and so she said and we 333 00:19:29,730 --> 00:19:35,610 are about service in the AKS had the 334 00:19:32,850 --> 00:19:37,950 Mississippi Health Project which was a 335 00:19:35,610 --> 00:19:41,600 big thing at that time 336 00:19:37,950 --> 00:19:44,880 they had gone down to Mississippi and 337 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:48,179 invited doctors and dentists and whatnot 338 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:50,070 to go with him and african-american 339 00:19:48,179 --> 00:19:52,740 people who had never had services of 340 00:19:50,070 --> 00:19:54,660 this kind it was called the Mississippi 341 00:19:52,740 --> 00:20:00,660 Health Project there was an 8k thing 342 00:19:54,660 --> 00:20:05,820 okay and so when I got the LAN ecology 343 00:20:00,660 --> 00:20:10,740 I became an IV in eventually I became an 344 00:20:05,820 --> 00:20:15,870 Alpha Kappa ever and I have I have been 345 00:20:10,740 --> 00:20:18,240 an active ata from 1944 up to now and I 346 00:20:15,870 --> 00:20:20,640 always had to travel a hundred miles 347 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:22,260 round-trip to the Jackson chapter and I 348 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:24,840 find it transferred to the Memphis 349 00:20:22,260 --> 00:20:29,820 chapter and I still live in Covington 350 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:32,730 and commute to the chapter meetings so 351 00:20:29,820 --> 00:20:36,540 you commute to the track yes ma'am okay 352 00:20:32,730 --> 00:20:41,250 and one year I can't remember recently I 353 00:20:36,540 --> 00:20:46,590 was the southeastern regions golden 354 00:20:41,250 --> 00:20:53,010 sorrow because of my aching activities 355 00:20:46,590 --> 00:20:54,440 and involvement and my volunteerism well 356 00:20:53,010 --> 00:20:59,429 it's amazing 357 00:20:54,440 --> 00:21:03,020 do you mind telling people oh no ma'am I 358 00:20:59,429 --> 00:21:06,810 don't cuz when folks don't believe me 359 00:21:03,020 --> 00:21:11,190 nobody believes my age okay 360 00:21:06,810 --> 00:21:16,440 come nineteen I mean not in 1906 and 361 00:21:11,190 --> 00:21:20,340 maybe come 2018 okay 362 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:23,070 I would be 97 wonderful wonderful 363 00:21:20,340 --> 00:21:25,980 wonderful wonderful I wanted to put it 364 00:21:23,070 --> 00:21:27,600 on record I mean the reason I brought it 365 00:21:25,980 --> 00:21:30,750 up it's because when you say you're 366 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:33,500 still active and then you go and with 367 00:21:30,750 --> 00:21:35,520 the AKS and that you go different places 368 00:21:33,500 --> 00:21:38,760 at 90 369 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:42,420 some people find it hard to keep up at 370 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:44,970 maybe 65 so what else wonderful nobody 371 00:21:42,420 --> 00:21:47,490 believes my routine nobody believes me 372 00:21:44,970 --> 00:21:50,400 in fact nobody believes I'm 96 they will 373 00:21:47,490 --> 00:21:53,550 tell me no wait a minute I come on no 374 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:55,740 you're not and one of my church members 375 00:21:53,550 --> 00:21:58,700 told me recently she suddenly before 376 00:21:55,740 --> 00:22:02,460 last they were talking about my age and 377 00:21:58,700 --> 00:22:08,820 she said what had it you don't you don't 378 00:22:02,460 --> 00:22:19,740 look 96 you don't dress 96 and you don't 379 00:22:08,820 --> 00:22:22,290 act 96 but you walk in 96 what happened 380 00:22:19,740 --> 00:22:24,780 was I had an experience with my knee 381 00:22:22,290 --> 00:22:27,179 that should not have been they call 382 00:22:24,780 --> 00:22:30,660 himself doing something to help improve 383 00:22:27,179 --> 00:22:34,140 my walking and I had begun getting but 384 00:22:30,660 --> 00:22:36,480 it messed it up messed up my name oh but 385 00:22:34,140 --> 00:22:39,710 now in my community is my community 386 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:44,330 involvement in other things I help to 387 00:22:39,710 --> 00:22:48,570 organize a habitat affiliate mm-hm in 388 00:22:44,330 --> 00:22:52,050 1990 and we have built 28 Habitat houses 389 00:22:48,570 --> 00:22:53,940 in Covington oh where we have low income 390 00:22:52,050 --> 00:22:56,790 families who don't qualify for a bank 391 00:22:53,940 --> 00:22:59,040 loan right but qualify for a habitat 392 00:22:56,790 --> 00:23:02,070 house there's a web attack for Humanity 393 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:04,559 yes ma'am habitat but you meant and I 394 00:23:02,070 --> 00:23:07,620 still work with Habitat for Humanity in 395 00:23:04,559 --> 00:23:10,800 my community wonderful to church I do 396 00:23:07,620 --> 00:23:17,910 that and I do too many things deal but I 397 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:20,309 enjoy what I do in exercise okay from 398 00:23:17,910 --> 00:23:24,780 1988 when I retired from the school 399 00:23:20,309 --> 00:23:27,940 system and from 1988 up to November the 400 00:23:24,780 --> 00:23:31,059 7th I had a routine 401 00:23:27,940 --> 00:23:33,309 you know a weekly routine at the Senior 402 00:23:31,059 --> 00:23:35,049 Center but we close on the seventh 403 00:23:33,309 --> 00:23:38,620 because we're moving Monday to a new 404 00:23:35,049 --> 00:23:40,539 quarters Oh an exercise class on Monday 405 00:23:38,620 --> 00:23:44,350 Wednesday and Friday with a group and 406 00:23:40,539 --> 00:23:46,509 our lion dance from 201 up to of this 407 00:23:44,350 --> 00:23:49,210 year's and Monday I'm afraid of falling 408 00:23:46,509 --> 00:23:51,940 out with my knee okay so I had to give 409 00:23:49,210 --> 00:23:55,059 up my line dance class okay and I walk 410 00:23:51,940 --> 00:23:57,460 every day even now I walked every day 411 00:23:55,059 --> 00:24:00,009 but Sunday at Walmart around the 412 00:23:57,460 --> 00:24:01,840 perimeter oh just one in three tens 413 00:24:00,009 --> 00:24:03,610 miles I used to do forward but because 414 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:07,029 of my knee they told me to cut back on 415 00:24:03,610 --> 00:24:08,860 my walking so now I walk more than three 416 00:24:07,029 --> 00:24:11,230 tenths miles every day 417 00:24:08,860 --> 00:24:14,799 wonderful wonderful well that's 418 00:24:11,230 --> 00:24:18,340 certainly attest to the way that you 419 00:24:14,799 --> 00:24:23,759 look and can interact so I think that 420 00:24:18,340 --> 00:24:28,659 that is really really wonderful so your 421 00:24:23,759 --> 00:24:32,889 civic and civic activities that have 422 00:24:28,659 --> 00:24:37,720 really expanded many many decades does 423 00:24:32,889 --> 00:24:41,169 it bring to mind any kind of activities 424 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:45,549 that you think has been important over 425 00:24:41,169 --> 00:24:48,190 the years that or any other people that 426 00:24:45,549 --> 00:24:51,490 have influenced you also since you've 427 00:24:48,190 --> 00:24:55,360 lived so long I'm just wondering about I 428 00:24:51,490 --> 00:24:58,360 knew your journey were there people that 429 00:24:55,360 --> 00:25:01,210 really influenced the way that you 430 00:24:58,360 --> 00:25:04,179 conduct yourself and your philosophy on 431 00:25:01,210 --> 00:25:06,100 life and things like that so what do you 432 00:25:04,179 --> 00:25:08,200 think that comes from I think it comes 433 00:25:06,100 --> 00:25:10,419 from my parents okay 434 00:25:08,200 --> 00:25:14,409 my and the folk in my life you know mine 435 00:25:10,419 --> 00:25:18,039 especially my parents and from uncivil 436 00:25:14,409 --> 00:25:21,610 and her family and from my high school 437 00:25:18,039 --> 00:25:25,240 teaches okay and my grandma school 438 00:25:21,610 --> 00:25:27,250 teaches and of course along the way you 439 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:30,639 know people that you meet who influenced 440 00:25:27,250 --> 00:25:32,379 you and Anirban Tom was a librarian at 441 00:25:30,639 --> 00:25:34,640 Fisk that's how I got into library 442 00:25:32,379 --> 00:25:38,390 service wasn't library 443 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:43,100 and I had a class I went to Fisk because 444 00:25:38,390 --> 00:25:45,080 I want I wanted to just have a fist 445 00:25:43,100 --> 00:25:47,360 experience that's I didn't have Fisk 446 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:49,670 money and when I could go to graduate 447 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:52,400 school in Fisk I went in one there's my 448 00:25:49,670 --> 00:25:56,360 second summit fist I had mr. Barnes on 449 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:58,100 for teacher okay and one day you know of 450 00:25:56,360 --> 00:26:00,680 course we called him mr. bee behind his 451 00:25:58,100 --> 00:26:03,620 back and all of us would pretend we were 452 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:05,690 in there with mr. B and one day one of 453 00:26:03,620 --> 00:26:08,420 the librarians too when I went into the 454 00:26:05,690 --> 00:26:10,340 library she said mr. Thomas mr. Bemis 455 00:26:08,420 --> 00:26:12,860 because she knew we were teased about 456 00:26:10,340 --> 00:26:14,630 mr. bee she said mr. bee wants to see 457 00:26:12,860 --> 00:26:15,110 you in his office and I thought she was 458 00:26:14,630 --> 00:26:17,600 kidding 459 00:26:15,110 --> 00:26:20,240 and she said I'm serious today hey you 460 00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:23,870 really have to go up to his office well 461 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:27,680 when I went up to his office his 462 00:26:23,870 --> 00:26:30,950 conversation with me was question number 463 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:33,110 one had I ever considered a career in 464 00:26:30,950 --> 00:26:35,750 life or service that what he called it 465 00:26:33,110 --> 00:26:38,600 which I had not okay and he told me that 466 00:26:35,750 --> 00:26:40,880 he had observed my reading habits and 467 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:42,950 what I read because we had to report to 468 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:45,470 him what we had read and what it was 469 00:26:42,950 --> 00:26:47,570 about in something and at first they 470 00:26:45,470 --> 00:26:50,510 didn't have open stacks you had to have 471 00:26:47,570 --> 00:26:53,660 permission to go to the stacks and so I 472 00:26:50,510 --> 00:26:56,000 lived in the stacks I had a little stoop 473 00:26:53,660 --> 00:26:58,460 that you could use it I used to go to 474 00:26:56,000 --> 00:27:01,010 the stacks and read books you know 475 00:26:58,460 --> 00:27:04,070 children's books especially and so he 476 00:27:01,010 --> 00:27:08,570 influenced me to go into labor service 477 00:27:04,070 --> 00:27:10,730 and that's how I got into that I want to 478 00:27:08,570 --> 00:27:13,580 get a degree in leverages my library 479 00:27:10,730 --> 00:27:17,660 certification I received through my 480 00:27:13,580 --> 00:27:20,960 training and Fisk okay and that was in 481 00:27:17,660 --> 00:27:24,380 the forties from 1948 maybe up to the 482 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:25,790 summer of 1951 or 52 I would go to 483 00:27:24,380 --> 00:27:30,190 summer school in face and I got a 484 00:27:25,790 --> 00:27:33,860 library certification well later on in 485 00:27:30,190 --> 00:27:38,390 1963 the librarian at a high school in 486 00:27:33,860 --> 00:27:41,360 Covington resigned and nobody missed my 487 00:27:38,390 --> 00:27:43,160 principal I was ahead certification he 488 00:27:41,360 --> 00:27:47,840 asked me if I would become the librarian 489 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:51,980 at a Fraser high school so from 1963 up 490 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:56,540 to every time I retired I was a 491 00:27:51,980 --> 00:27:59,540 librarian in 1970 when we integrated our 492 00:27:56,540 --> 00:28:02,330 school system we closed Fraser and Bay 493 00:27:59,540 --> 00:28:05,990 close buyers hall and we formed coven in 494 00:28:02,330 --> 00:28:10,809 high school and then librarian and I 495 00:28:05,990 --> 00:28:15,080 were the librarians up to 1977 and from 496 00:28:10,809 --> 00:28:18,260 1977 to 1980 I was a sole librarian and 497 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:20,419 I told somebody in the school system 498 00:28:18,260 --> 00:28:24,080 that they must have considered me as 499 00:28:20,419 --> 00:28:28,780 super librarian because when my coworker 500 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:33,169 retired in 1977 I didn't get her help 501 00:28:28,780 --> 00:28:35,540 hmm but when I retired in 1988 the 502 00:28:33,169 --> 00:28:39,400 librarian who became Covenant House good 503 00:28:35,540 --> 00:28:41,900 librarian she was hired on helper 504 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:44,120 because you were so good at you know 505 00:28:41,900 --> 00:28:51,710 that wasn't what it was you know what it 506 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:54,260 was they call us it is what it is you're 507 00:28:51,710 --> 00:28:57,590 just that good and everything but you 508 00:28:54,260 --> 00:29:00,850 were doing the work to three people but 509 00:28:57,590 --> 00:29:04,280 I had my library I had a library Club 510 00:29:00,850 --> 00:29:07,460 and I trained my students well so I had 511 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:10,790 good library help us wonderful wonderful 512 00:29:07,460 --> 00:29:18,320 well that's what happens great minds 513 00:29:10,790 --> 00:29:20,960 they make a way out of no way so because 514 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:23,900 I've heard that from my ancestors all of 515 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:26,510 my life when I was growing up and that 516 00:29:23,900 --> 00:29:28,520 they would always be faithful in the in 517 00:29:26,510 --> 00:29:30,620 their testimonies at the church services 518 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:32,360 right they would always say thank you 519 00:29:30,620 --> 00:29:35,540 Laura for making a way I don't know we 520 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:35,840 absolutely absolutely that's part of our 521 00:29:35,540 --> 00:29:38,870 life 522 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:42,380 see a lot about culture it is it really 523 00:29:38,870 --> 00:29:44,929 is so when we think about our culture 524 00:29:42,380 --> 00:29:48,230 and all the things that are the 525 00:29:44,929 --> 00:29:51,080 experiences of african-americans in this 526 00:29:48,230 --> 00:29:55,880 United States of America are there any 527 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:59,360 things that you know in terms of racial 528 00:29:55,880 --> 00:30:04,130 violence that you can think of that may 529 00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:08,690 have affected you between 1920 and 1949 530 00:30:04,130 --> 00:30:15,860 or your family members can you think of 531 00:30:08,690 --> 00:30:17,179 anything like well you know peeps you 532 00:30:15,860 --> 00:30:20,450 know there was a lot of things about 533 00:30:17,179 --> 00:30:25,669 lynching also did you hear anything 534 00:30:20,450 --> 00:30:33,350 about those dimensions ma'am I had an 535 00:30:25,669 --> 00:30:38,090 experience when I was maybe six seven or 536 00:30:33,350 --> 00:30:40,360 eight years old my mother sharecropped 537 00:30:38,090 --> 00:30:45,890 with the family over in Harlan County 538 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:47,750 and I don't know how I knew this but I 539 00:30:45,890 --> 00:30:49,130 told my mother that morning they told me 540 00:30:47,750 --> 00:30:53,059 this lady and this was this year 541 00:30:49,130 --> 00:30:53,840 frightens me that this happened I told 542 00:30:53,059 --> 00:30:57,080 my mother 543 00:30:53,840 --> 00:31:04,860 tell mr. Saur Mara not to go to mr. 544 00:30:57,080 --> 00:31:08,370 Gray's house today and I saw 545 00:31:04,860 --> 00:31:11,309 that the white farmer shoot the black 546 00:31:08,370 --> 00:31:13,860 man in his stomach and his intestines 547 00:31:11,309 --> 00:31:17,570 fall out oh my goodness and nothing 548 00:31:13,860 --> 00:31:22,799 happened about it hmm I must have been 549 00:31:17,570 --> 00:31:25,890 six or seven or eight years old then it 550 00:31:22,799 --> 00:31:28,770 was a long time before I could ever 551 00:31:25,890 --> 00:31:31,799 sleep by myself at night after that I 552 00:31:28,770 --> 00:31:34,290 mean many years before that that's an 553 00:31:31,799 --> 00:31:37,380 experience that I remember and I 554 00:31:34,290 --> 00:31:40,470 remember that a man who lived in our 555 00:31:37,380 --> 00:31:43,020 community Grande Johnson is a small 556 00:31:40,470 --> 00:31:45,780 little town over in Harlan County he 557 00:31:43,020 --> 00:31:47,730 went to town your folks or small town 558 00:31:45,780 --> 00:31:50,580 they went to town on Saturday there was 559 00:31:47,730 --> 00:31:54,059 a gathering place that he turned around 560 00:31:50,580 --> 00:31:56,549 to spit and when by the time he was 561 00:31:54,059 --> 00:31:59,730 spitting a white woman was coming up the 562 00:31:56,549 --> 00:32:03,090 street and his spit hit her shoes hit 563 00:31:59,730 --> 00:32:05,760 her shoot and she screamed and hollered 564 00:32:03,090 --> 00:32:11,790 like he had hit her killed her or 565 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:16,919 something and they beat him up because 566 00:32:11,790 --> 00:32:19,169 she said this in sped on my shoot and I 567 00:32:16,919 --> 00:32:24,150 remember that experience and how that 568 00:32:19,169 --> 00:32:27,000 night how several people in away from 569 00:32:24,150 --> 00:32:32,360 Grand Junction they all gathered at his 570 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:35,460 house with guns including my father yeah 571 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:38,130 that's two experiences that remembered 572 00:32:35,460 --> 00:32:40,799 and I can remember things where we 573 00:32:38,130 --> 00:32:42,390 couldn't go we couldn't eat here and we 574 00:32:40,799 --> 00:32:43,040 couldn't go there and we couldn't do 575 00:32:42,390 --> 00:32:46,130 this 576 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:52,220 those kind of thing hmm some commuters 577 00:32:46,130 --> 00:32:54,230 worst another right and you know some 578 00:32:52,220 --> 00:32:56,900 experience I've had they haven't asked 579 00:32:54,230 --> 00:33:01,040 me she had some of my experiences I 580 00:32:56,900 --> 00:33:03,140 remember going into a store in Covington 581 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:07,670 when I came there to work I wanted to 582 00:33:03,140 --> 00:33:08,450 try on ahead and I asked the woman the 583 00:33:07,670 --> 00:33:11,360 saleswoman 584 00:33:08,450 --> 00:33:13,490 if I could see that hat you know I we 585 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:15,710 used to dress up for Easter right 586 00:33:13,490 --> 00:33:18,080 and she took the head down and she 587 00:33:15,710 --> 00:33:19,880 started putting tissue paper in it and I 588 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:22,430 said oh no my mom no man I don't want to 589 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:25,880 take it without trying it on I need to 590 00:33:22,430 --> 00:33:29,420 try at home and so she said you can't 591 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:30,800 try it on and I asked her why because 592 00:33:29,420 --> 00:33:34,100 you got grease in your hair 593 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:37,580 mmm well I never used grease in my how 594 00:33:34,100 --> 00:33:40,310 much you know so I didn't go back to 595 00:33:37,580 --> 00:33:43,720 that store anymore I've done a lot of 596 00:33:40,310 --> 00:33:50,350 war one person boy accounting I mean oh 597 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:55,010 excuse me a lot of one person boycotting 598 00:33:50,350 --> 00:34:02,720 in the store in the town I've got a lot 599 00:33:55,010 --> 00:34:05,420 of one person boycotts right if I found 600 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:07,910 that I was not welcomed and treated as I 601 00:34:05,420 --> 00:34:10,840 thought people should be treated they 602 00:34:07,910 --> 00:34:14,510 didn't need my business 603 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:16,370 absolutely I went in one store one time 604 00:34:14,510 --> 00:34:18,590 when I was going on my uncle buzz house 605 00:34:16,370 --> 00:34:20,060 and they didn't have children with my 606 00:34:18,590 --> 00:34:21,530 husband I would always take them things 607 00:34:20,060 --> 00:34:22,610 we thought they wouldn't buy for 608 00:34:21,530 --> 00:34:24,860 themselves 609 00:34:22,610 --> 00:34:26,540 I had a basket full of stuff that I was 610 00:34:24,860 --> 00:34:30,550 gonna take with me to my Uncle Billy's 611 00:34:26,540 --> 00:34:34,129 house and I was in line behind one woman 612 00:34:30,550 --> 00:34:36,800 and she had a basket full of gross 613 00:34:34,129 --> 00:34:39,050 business stuff and it's in the sales 614 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:41,720 person asked her where she was park and 615 00:34:39,050 --> 00:34:46,090 she told him where she was parked on the 616 00:34:41,720 --> 00:34:46,090 streets and so 617 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:54,060 he told her that he would take her 618 00:34:50,149 --> 00:34:57,119 basket to where she was parked and she 619 00:34:54,060 --> 00:35:02,250 said but check her out and you know and 620 00:34:57,119 --> 00:35:05,270 then get me he said she can wait you 621 00:35:02,250 --> 00:35:08,609 know what I said to hell I will 622 00:35:05,270 --> 00:35:12,810 and I walked out of there and I didn't 623 00:35:08,609 --> 00:35:16,369 go back there anymore so we have had 624 00:35:12,810 --> 00:35:20,010 many I have had many experiences where I 625 00:35:16,369 --> 00:35:23,880 did a one-person boycott after those 626 00:35:20,010 --> 00:35:26,400 kind of experiences absolutely but it 627 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:30,420 did not quench your spirit it just made 628 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:33,930 you stronger made me stronger and of 629 00:35:30,420 --> 00:35:36,569 course I tried to teach to my students 630 00:35:33,930 --> 00:35:40,260 you know principles that they could 631 00:35:36,569 --> 00:35:43,319 follow for a lifetime see that young 632 00:35:40,260 --> 00:35:46,230 lady sitting right there I told her in 633 00:35:43,319 --> 00:35:48,690 the fourth grade she didn't want me in 634 00:35:46,230 --> 00:35:51,630 the fifth grade but the principal 635 00:35:48,690 --> 00:35:57,270 assigned me to teach fifth grade and 636 00:35:51,630 --> 00:35:59,310 guess what they did oh they wanted to 637 00:35:57,270 --> 00:36:04,099 cut up on it and then she got her triple 638 00:35:59,310 --> 00:36:09,810 dose of because I turned around and okay 639 00:36:04,099 --> 00:36:12,780 so that really made it her mother used 640 00:36:09,810 --> 00:36:15,450 to say that whatever whatever minute 641 00:36:12,780 --> 00:36:17,400 boma turn out to be had a Yarbrough gets 642 00:36:15,450 --> 00:36:19,920 the credit out of blame and she turned 643 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:23,190 out really well because she's an all the 644 00:36:19,920 --> 00:36:25,550 woman in our town right this is a second 645 00:36:23,190 --> 00:36:29,339 time being an older woman in our town 646 00:36:25,550 --> 00:36:30,960 wonderful strong and she makes a 647 00:36:29,339 --> 00:36:35,010 difference she makes a real difference 648 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:39,390 in our community good we've heard about 649 00:36:35,010 --> 00:36:41,180 her doing all those great things so we 650 00:36:39,390 --> 00:36:46,099 are really we don't want a whole 651 00:36:41,180 --> 00:36:47,660 too long I I do want to thank you for 652 00:36:46,099 --> 00:36:51,589 your participation 653 00:36:47,660 --> 00:36:54,140 I apologize for mispronouncing your name 654 00:36:51,589 --> 00:36:57,260 and Addie Mae 655 00:36:54,140 --> 00:37:00,589 I remember that and but I'm so glad that 656 00:36:57,260 --> 00:37:03,290 you have taken the time to talk with us 657 00:37:00,589 --> 00:37:05,660 is there anything else that you would 658 00:37:03,290 --> 00:37:09,260 like to add that you think would be 659 00:37:05,660 --> 00:37:12,079 useful one of the questions I have 660 00:37:09,260 --> 00:37:16,520 written down here is about local female 661 00:37:12,079 --> 00:37:20,000 family members World War one and two 662 00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:24,369 military connections that you know 663 00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:27,410 family members are local females that 664 00:37:24,369 --> 00:37:29,990 participated in service or the service 665 00:37:27,410 --> 00:37:33,050 members or veterans you had talked about 666 00:37:29,990 --> 00:37:37,000 your experience and your participation 667 00:37:33,050 --> 00:37:41,180 was there anyone else around that 668 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:45,020 females that really participated and the 669 00:37:41,180 --> 00:37:48,470 military service and help being helpful 670 00:37:45,020 --> 00:37:54,410 to veterans or service members that you 671 00:37:48,470 --> 00:37:57,260 can remember not an organization per se 672 00:37:54,410 --> 00:37:59,920 but I remember many people in the parish 673 00:37:57,260 --> 00:38:02,480 Tennessee community who befriended 674 00:37:59,920 --> 00:38:05,540 military men who was stationed at the 675 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:08,359 base and when they used to come you know 676 00:38:05,540 --> 00:38:11,540 to that churches and whatnot and people 677 00:38:08,359 --> 00:38:13,940 always open their doors to them and they 678 00:38:11,540 --> 00:38:16,940 didn't have places to live in pairs like 679 00:38:13,940 --> 00:38:19,970 a hotel or motel so my folks took in 680 00:38:16,940 --> 00:38:22,069 couples who would live in our house you 681 00:38:19,970 --> 00:38:25,040 know for a month or week when their 682 00:38:22,069 --> 00:38:26,450 family wives would come to visit okay 683 00:38:25,040 --> 00:38:29,869 those are the kind of services that 684 00:38:26,450 --> 00:38:32,510 Greta and then they hadn't had a USO 685 00:38:29,869 --> 00:38:33,079 building on our school campus in Paris 686 00:38:32,510 --> 00:38:36,049 okay 687 00:38:33,079 --> 00:38:38,270 and I worked at the Waynesville Junction 688 00:38:36,049 --> 00:38:41,569 USO which was outside of Fort Leonard 689 00:38:38,270 --> 00:38:43,110 Wood Missouri and there were like Ozzie 690 00:38:41,569 --> 00:38:46,860 Davis was 691 00:38:43,110 --> 00:38:48,450 there and officer Davis used to sit and 692 00:38:46,860 --> 00:38:50,820 talk you know like you do with your 693 00:38:48,450 --> 00:38:54,720 friends he was dating the librarian at 694 00:38:50,820 --> 00:38:56,640 the USO and he used to tell us how big 695 00:38:54,720 --> 00:38:58,950 he was gonna make it one day and he was 696 00:38:56,640 --> 00:39:01,800 gonna do this and we say yeah uh-huh 697 00:38:58,950 --> 00:39:04,530 Sharon love you know but and he wrote 698 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:06,030 his first plate while he was stationed 699 00:39:04,530 --> 00:39:08,280 at Fort Leonard Wood was called 700 00:39:06,030 --> 00:39:11,000 goldbricking okay and there was an 701 00:39:08,280 --> 00:39:13,470 artist in residence in service and 702 00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:16,230 kouchi who was the artist Sammy 703 00:39:13,470 --> 00:39:19,800 accounting from Houston Texas he asked 704 00:39:16,230 --> 00:39:22,950 me to help him do this the backdrop you 705 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:26,310 know paper brown paper we did made it 706 00:39:22,950 --> 00:39:27,860 look like a skyline of New York okay he 707 00:39:26,310 --> 00:39:30,180 doesn't mention that in his 708 00:39:27,860 --> 00:39:33,750 autobiography but he does mention that 709 00:39:30,180 --> 00:39:37,040 he dated Elsie Oh at the USO admits and 710 00:39:33,750 --> 00:39:37,040 that something but he didn't mention 711 00:39:43,220 --> 00:39:57,240 interested so you come in contact with 712 00:39:46,430 --> 00:40:01,320 famous people well I consider that I 713 00:39:57,240 --> 00:40:05,160 have been blessed to have been in 714 00:40:01,320 --> 00:40:07,820 contact with people who inspire you and 715 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:07,820 encourage you 716 00:40:14,990 --> 00:40:26,160 I think Hayes I was born and lived in 717 00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:31,950 Japan counties the first seven years of 718 00:40:26,160 --> 00:40:36,390 his life okay and of course when he 719 00:40:31,950 --> 00:40:39,060 became famous in 1976 I belonged to a 720 00:40:36,390 --> 00:40:43,110 social club and we sponsored the parade 721 00:40:39,060 --> 00:40:46,490 for as a cave around the square and a 722 00:40:43,110 --> 00:40:48,930 little town and so when he when he 723 00:40:46,490 --> 00:40:51,180 opened up his you know Isaac Hayes's 724 00:40:48,930 --> 00:40:53,190 Club didn't write 725 00:40:51,180 --> 00:40:55,770 when I would show up there he would 726 00:40:53,190 --> 00:41:00,750 always say he comes my favorite Tipton 727 00:40:55,770 --> 00:41:04,410 kind of person and recently we had Isaac 728 00:41:00,750 --> 00:41:07,320 Hayes day okay in Covington excuse me 729 00:41:04,410 --> 00:41:09,270 and his daughter's two daughters two of 730 00:41:07,320 --> 00:41:12,360 his daughters came to Covenant for this 731 00:41:09,270 --> 00:41:18,630 and and this time as we speak guess what 732 00:41:12,360 --> 00:41:20,790 our museum has Isaac Hayes display very 733 00:41:18,630 --> 00:41:23,460 good and I don't know how long it's 734 00:41:20,790 --> 00:41:26,250 going to be there it's been there since 735 00:41:23,460 --> 00:41:41,520 they took my exhibit down they put up 736 00:41:26,250 --> 00:41:43,860 Isaac I like to tell people at fist when 737 00:41:41,520 --> 00:41:45,870 I was you know graduate student at fist 738 00:41:43,860 --> 00:41:47,820 they have what they call they had what 739 00:41:45,870 --> 00:41:49,980 they called the race relation Institute 740 00:41:47,820 --> 00:41:52,410 every summer and people would come from 741 00:41:49,980 --> 00:41:55,770 all over the country and I told that I 742 00:41:52,410 --> 00:41:57,750 used to get a special pleasure out of 743 00:41:55,770 --> 00:41:59,910 meeting some of these famous folks and I 744 00:41:57,750 --> 00:42:03,300 used to walk on wrong but they're good 745 00:41:59,910 --> 00:42:05,700 Marsha purposely okay all of us would 746 00:42:03,300 --> 00:42:07,980 water walk within them and with our 747 00:42:05,700 --> 00:42:22,020 manam and some yes and that was funny 748 00:42:07,980 --> 00:42:23,400 that was a joke among in Monica Johnson 749 00:42:22,020 --> 00:42:25,760 was from Paris Tennessee 750 00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:29,940 he was Howard's first black president 751 00:42:25,760 --> 00:42:31,680 okay and when he would come to Paris you 752 00:42:29,940 --> 00:42:32,850 know people use invite people to 753 00:42:31,680 --> 00:42:34,950 breakfast lunch and dinner 754 00:42:32,850 --> 00:42:37,620 if their house is uncivil we're always 755 00:42:34,950 --> 00:42:39,390 invite dr. mark we call dr. Marty behind 756 00:42:37,620 --> 00:42:42,750 his back well she would always invite 757 00:42:39,390 --> 00:42:44,820 dr. Marty to dinner at our house and I'd 758 00:42:42,750 --> 00:42:46,320 get chance to talk to dr. Marty and go 759 00:42:44,820 --> 00:42:52,470 to school the next day guess who ate 760 00:42:46,320 --> 00:42:54,470 dinner died in prison lane from Elaine 761 00:42:52,470 --> 00:42:56,420 Carson you said people who influenced my 762 00:42:54,470 --> 00:42:58,970 present lane for me 763 00:42:56,420 --> 00:42:59,600 College and my own words laying college 764 00:42:58,970 --> 00:43:01,970 together 765 00:42:59,600 --> 00:43:03,800 and so when he would come to Paris for 766 00:43:01,970 --> 00:43:09,470 various activities he would stay at our 767 00:43:03,800 --> 00:43:12,410 house okay and so there were the college 768 00:43:09,470 --> 00:43:14,240 presidents and other folks who would 769 00:43:12,410 --> 00:43:17,300 come to Paris many of them stayed at our 770 00:43:14,240 --> 00:43:20,810 house and I got chance to talk to them 771 00:43:17,300 --> 00:43:23,390 and ask questions and those kind of 772 00:43:20,810 --> 00:43:27,650 wonderful wonder and I consider my two 773 00:43:23,390 --> 00:43:30,020 brother cousins made it they made a real 774 00:43:27,650 --> 00:43:32,000 difference to that I kind of grew up in 775 00:43:30,020 --> 00:43:35,510 their house and they had a great 776 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:40,690 influence on my life wonderful yes ma'am 777 00:43:35,510 --> 00:43:44,480 they did we have really enjoyed 778 00:43:40,690 --> 00:43:49,400 exploring your experiences we thank you 779 00:43:44,480 --> 00:43:51,560 for being such a vibrant participant and 780 00:43:49,400 --> 00:43:54,260 we know that you're gonna continue doing 781 00:43:51,560 --> 00:43:57,020 all the good that you've been doing and 782 00:43:54,260 --> 00:43:59,330 we appreciate this opportunity thank you 783 00:43:57,020 --> 00:44:02,330 very much well thank you for having me 784 00:43:59,330 --> 00:44:11,440 yes we're just blessed to have you thank 785 00:44:02,330 --> 00:44:11,440 you thank our photographer yes