Carole Smith interview with Mittie Bell Williams, George Clinton Smith, Willa Mae Smith, and Estelle Fair (part two)

The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Fair. At 00:45, George Smith tells a story about a Confederate Soldier nicknamed Gordons Bull because he hollered like a bull to frighten Yankee soldiers during battle. Next at 3:17, George Smith explains that his mother only used homemade remedies, and their family never saw a doctor. He elaborates that she used whiskey and honey to cure coughs and raw meat to heal snake bites. At 4:19, Fair notes that her mother used soot to stop bleeding, sardine grease for mumps, and cigar ash to clean teeth. She notes that her mother was very superstitious, but she is not. At 9:00, George Smith explains that his mother was superstitious about death. He also recalls how to make syrups, and his personal work history; his wife, Willa Smith, interjects briefly. At 12:17, George Smith and Estelle Fair converse about burial rituals such as the use of cooling boards, a perforated wooden platform on which a dead body was temporarily stored and prepared before a funeral. At 19:06, Fair tells a story about a cat that walked under a corpses sheet, which convinced everyone the woman was still alive. Mittie Bell Williams (1928-2019) was born in Roanoke, Alabama, to Reverend Gus Almon (1868-1961), who owned the land that his father, a freed slave, had worked on. She attended college in Alabama and worked in family and children services in Georgia. With her husband, Charlie Lee Williams, (1920-2008), she had three sons, Stanley Rodney Williams (1952-2008), Eric Bruce Williams (1956- ), and Charles Michael Williams (1960- ). She died in Macon, Georgia. George Clinton Smith (1882-1970) was born in Johnson, Georgia, to John Wesley Smith (1852-1932) and Mattie Smith (1859-1947). He had six siblings. with his first wife, Ophelia Foster Smith (1877-1961), he had five children: Albert M. Smith (1907-1985), Carlyon J. Smith (1909-1966), George R. Smith (1911-1996), John L. Smith (1912-2002), and W. W. Green . Smith fought in World War I, and married his second wife, Willa Mae Ward (1891-1976), in 1962. He died in Adrian, Georgia. Estelle Fair (1909-1978) was born in Buckhead, Georgia. She had a sister, Argin Peoples (1901-1988), and a brother, Elias L. Barnes (1903-1973). With her first husband, Broma L. Johnson (1909-?), she had a son named Broma L. Johnson Jr.. 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Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions. As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information, which places us inaposition to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, andbias isreflected in our descriptions, whichmay not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materialsaccurately.Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment.We often re-use language used by the former owners and creators, which provides context but also includes bias and prejudices of the time it was created.Additionally,our work to use reparative languagewhereLibrary of Congress subject termsareinaccurate and obsolete isongoing. Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or description please let us know by emailingreference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.