C. Sanders interview with Mr. Watson, Mrs. Watson, Eugene Theodore Booth, Lucy Cornelia Gibson Booth, and Nellie Wilkins

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.
This recording starts with Mr. and Mrs. Watson discussing the history of Union Hill, Georgia, and how its community developed away from gin mills, cotton mills, and corn mills. The topic of the interview switches to courting. The Watsons then talk about the church they attended when they were younger and its Sunday evening singing events. On the subject of medical care, doctors made home visits, sometimes on horseback, but there were no dentists. 11:18: Next, Sanders asks if they sing Fa-So-La songs at their church; they respond that only the hardshell Baptist church in the Birmingham Community does so. Mrs. Watson explains that they frequent all the local churches because they have sons who are Baptist and Methodist ministers. Mr. Watson then talks about methods of teeth-whitening. Mr. Watson recalls a prank where people took him "snipe hunting" and recalls a rumor that the Liberty Grove church cemetery was haunted. 26:26: Sanders starts interviewing Nellie Wilkins about folk remedies to treat babies with a high temperature. She elaborates on how her grandmother taught her remedies to treat labor pains, thrash, and worms. Next, she talks about her life as an only child raised by her grandparents, specifically how she tended the farm animals. 48:36: Sanders then interviews Eugene Booth, a part time Baptist minister who served at multiple churches. He talks about a University of Georgia chancellor who inspired him with his logical sermon style made for the thinking man. 1:03:51: Sanders asks Eugene Booth about his teaching career. He responds that he taught in Flintstone, Georgia, for 17 years, beginning in 1936. In the 1930s, he served as the superintendent of Cherokee County Schools. On the topic of his own family, one son became a mechanic, while the other two (one who was a Rhodes Scholar and worked on the atomic bomb) and his daughter graduated from college, as did many of his grandchildren. 1:20:20: Sanders interviews the Watsons again and asks about their childhood. Mr. Watson says he played softball using a ball made of twine, raised cotton with his family, and that the students at the Union Hill school he attended used slate instead of paper. He also talks about the first time he saw an automobile and describes how they made candy. 1:32:06: In the final section, Sanders asks about superstitions. Mrs. Booth says she doesn't like to believe in superstitions but still engages in certain practices. Mr. Booth talks about how they preserved food, such as pickling corn and beans. Sanders asks about the effects of the Civil War, and Mrs. Booth says her grandmother told stories about the army coming through her town.
Eugene Theodore Booth (1878-1972) was born to William Absolom (1842-1897) and Caroline Rosina Carrie Booth (1850-1931). He was raised with his eight siblings in Cobb County, Georgia. Booth attended Mercer University and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, taught grades first through seventh, and served as a pastor. He married Lucy Cornelia Gibson, born to Isham Fletcher (1857-1943) and Mattie Fowler Gibson (1859-1908), in 1907. The Booths had four children: William Gibson Booth (1908-2008), Harold Cornelius Booth (1910-1986), Eugene Booth (1912-2004), and Martha Christine Booth Johnston (1918-1956). Nellie Wilkins (1909-1981) was raised in Oglethorpe, Georgia. Additional biographical information has not been determined.
Family history
Oarol ~andcrs Gnp li oh 507 In the f.ll ef 1967 two friends ond I with trusty tope recorder and cemGtB hoeded for Oherol.{ee Oounty to collect cU1doms end Lore from the folke We went first to Woodstock and the 10ce1 country store und blJB station. w~ immediately obtained the n8ttle of 8 1ik-ely informant . j' Mr. Booth WB. rothar difficult to find. He evidently had just left the bus station when we f:irrived on the Beene. His vdfe \IlaB cbarmin[ end celled downtown (one bloc'~ e"ay) several times. He finDlly return" cd from his mornin" outtni'. Before I got the tepe recorder setup we had 8 charming And deli,cbtful viei t choc\< full of lore of old <tiUley W8YS. However when I set up the recorder he went into B long discourse on the accomplishments on his children. 'fhis tape i8 inCluded. Vie steyed unti 1 lunchtime. Then off we heeded on 80d of 8 wi Id iLoose chese, stopping 8t every crossrocds end CQUfltry store. We finnlly CBme ppen ldstson 1 6 Store and M:r. and r,Jrs. ""edson. V,'e spent the rest of the afternoon there. 'The store was thE: most U181'VelouEl old .. timey place. Another Bfternoon i.n November my children and I v/ent bElck.io Ohero" kee county in sSDrch of 8 musicion. Helt waD bitten by a horae on our first stop so back we came to to"m irnmediately. It's f.l ehf3me for I think \'Ie \,Tere on i:h~~ rir-hi: treck for e banjo plBrer. Finally I went to my mother's house to tall{ 10 her moid of soms hlenty years. Nellie told me lots of her intere8ting~ superstitions End proverbs when I was growing up. But she W8B extremely nervous during our intervi::H'I. Included in my report sre picture. of my informants Bnd pictures of en old log cobin I found in North Fulton Oounty', This cBbin Vl08 recorded in s deed in sbout 1780 or 1790 and after loo!<int the plsce over carefully I believe it is at 1088t that old. ~he day we. overcBst 80 my picture. ere not of the bo.t quelity. Another house hed been built around it snd l"t.r torn dOlon. Therefore it i8 difficult to doter~ ine just exactly what the original openin0s, windows, doors were. The cabin is not sguere'flith the fireplocG on the sh~t side. There :::re three doors now end t\110 \,indo\ls on either Eli.de of the fireplace. I r.elly enjoyed puttaring .raund this old csbin end would like to find ut more sbout it. \'iDtson I'e S-tore Union Hill Oommunity N~ o::r 670 Nr Watson, "~verybody .bn tBl~ better if they know they'? not b::: in I 1~~~pc'd~ helin' toped." "1 r lly don't know whet chs c811 it. It's what they ~.ep the twine in., Balle fer th" twine ~U.88 you could cell it. I1 ' i Mr. Watson" "19 end 10 . 19 end 10 I im"gine. Theey >lere put up there. SUFEr come in berrels . Ooffee come in berrels . camel in h8n'(~1f: come in b~lrruls. INI: they 'lms oil put in pokefi In I then t.ied up jut:' I tie thct po~{e up .. n ~I]r. and l,jrs. IIP5per S&Cl{:S.1I Oenoy Nr. "Lived risht up there '13"Ot 200 yerds .,'de liz fDrnJin'~ ... ju8t 8 fBrm ... ~ just 0 fBrm boy.1I "'ilell, most of it was just 'tihet they call no" softbc,ll, but it, when 1,18 ',>188 little. I don't know whst th3Y CHll it now ., 'Jell it V}EE just msde out of t\,,1ine. They m:::Jdc th(..,i l' O\'m balls then.. Vle mode our ovm bslls bsc:c then. !1'8~e tHine In' wr3p it. IH I lot of tim0fJ \,ield find s littli; ruhh",. b"ll 'n' "/lep that hline Bround thut little rubber bell In' thaJ-'d ceUE.e it to bounce. After \'Ie Ic] \\'rEJp it efound it, j6B 18ke up thet rub\h~r boll In' jeR keap II vlinding sround thele In' after fJ f't :') l' T,'1'; 0 after \-.l(') got it done vleld tBk'3 <3 ncodle 'n l SlH'r thai then Inl Bround. Stitch it sbout with 8 neddle to hold that twine to ~tBcplBce~11 ll,lrs~ IlUsuelly lJ.'hc Ie] ravel sox Ii']' mUl~('l t}VJy b'311., . 'ih:;ll, th91: '0 '\',het they did ~ 'They toolc sox In I !rvele:d 'um In' most of tho time the Nr. llrrhl';y \'108 homespun~ 'l'hG threBci '.vDO homespun. Illhey h~)d the Elpinnin I II Mrs~ uNoi: v.1[Jcn ''It; V13E, i:JO\"in' up. Vie didn't ne-ver see it, did you~ I didn't " my EI'Dndmother to spin h,,,;r thrs8d. 'Ihe ... ~11 Mro 1I00 1:1:on, 'the most of her 8jJlnnin i "Ins~ \'lell, thBt \'if,S in 'bout 19 ond 7 end 8 when i W8E dain' that for my grandmother' Icouse 8h~ died in 19 end 10. IHI before she died why, I turnad her wheel, fsisGd the eoiton. Yes mom rnico,' thl'l cotton l'iLD.i' hcreo rive hefd'd my fether 'N' they'd fin:::cr pick 1:hose seed out of thl3 cotton, In' then theyld \vCFVG it Inl nJ(i~{e their clothe::). Ri[ht Hlcrc, yes mom. IIWent to school l"i[ht down here ut Union liillo Only one thinE, uh, you \'.'S8 tl1ede t:) mind then. Ytl8 (kCi .M4f 'liell Borter 2irdlcr. ~) warn with 8 withs. 'Iheyld [it thOS0 l""itheE,< mE',1Jhe three or four in th0 raoUl, Inl if you you. No, just hic'{oyy out tho woode 1\s .1i.iloh, y'38h. And I h8ve I \'Jcnt 10 one RchooliebcheY, she kap1 (cJiY[Jrd8tic~{. , '1" ohe'd \"hip you in ihe hBnd 't1ith "th~t Yi:'ro8~i.ck.. IN 'Thorp th('; parents didn1t BDy noth1n' Ibout it only wh~n you started from hQm~now if you git a whippin~ Df school iodsy ,,hen you tit home you'll git one you'll remember. So tl10t WEif, two In' uh ".'l'l didn'1. \"8n1,00 it \\ltlEm I 1 1twrth it. 'N' if you didn't come up with your tredes, why, then it wee TOUth.,. No we had uh tllree rOOT!!9. U Mrs. lilt wae divided up into three perte, the Behool was. But .e.did h.v. the twelve grad.s." Mr. IILater on. 11 I,Ir .. ll"l!hen I first fJtertoa to school the, it VIEI8 jus l the three rooms. II Mrs. IIW(.'ll thE]"! t'J!38 jis l , I gUG8R up throu~h the ninth grace then. 1I "rs. "But they did add tho other three on lst"r. Bu1 it ",oeD't dovm there/ioa long. I don't kno\'/ hm! Iil,ny ye8rs, but 1i \<188 thore." Mr. IISeverel years three, fOUf or five ycefS. 1hey went through the twedfth iJade. !'iy sister ''lent throu"h the h;31fth grade ritht there. Well, when I first started I used elute. 11 Nrs. "'N""A did have pepcr In' pencils, but we h"d the 818t8 too. I reDlember using the slate. No, we didn1t hsve not3books. 1hen. We didnlt have notebooks or anything like that." 1'.Jr.. tlNo\'1 this one eta:rted off' dOI,m here 8(-) e t..';ethodi8t school. 'I'he llethoc1ists eupporterl this Echool dovm here. They srent the preachl::n 'n l he done thei.r proBchin' Inl their t:':[.J.chin' too. knew. It 1 fl 11 vpTo ~ , oh .! don t for gave rnor. Mrs, "'111ey did th8t for several years but I c81n't remember jus' the yeers thet it went out. 11 Mr. "Well, My AdcoCk, when WB quit school 'bout 17 or 18,. he we. .'tI.:'.-irs. II v.lfHhl, it. won t th. Bton1!:::c: , .! II{no, w. til' Mi'. nYe s mam. Yes mfJrn I shure do. I, As .! st" rted to sey a, whi le ttego. llo[{e Smith drove right over the ya lo y/85 hevint. 8 big ..ally A here end uli, he vlf;S t~onn8. come in end make e big speech. He W8S runnin l liP 'Nit \oJhcn he drove"out there, there 'r18fl Bom~ othGr EUY' l'se smell, but I'll never fBrgit it. Old f01( 'UB sitiln' there lis' senin t' to this mElD nla\{o this speech. IN I when Hoke Smith drove up oui thf1re in~}le rodo, \\l'by, everybody left thf:d men 8 6pe~kinl' 'n l corne to sea thie 8.utomobile. Th~r7'. 'uz lot'- o[ people 'there I lluess fif"ty or sixty years 01,1, BS "Jell DS U8 chilret'\ let'd n~\rf.'r seen E,n automobi.le. IN I they all ~oi around i~ IN I he h<:ld the top laid bElck. It 'uz f..:D all cloth top 'nf:l'it 'uz laid beck. Il~1 8 little horn on the outside ihvt 1hey l d squeezed Inl it V18nt "whon, vlhon, whon. 1I NOH there y,,'e'F thie horn on his Guiomobilo. 'I'hot \ws one of' the g-,,~8nde8t pieces of IN3chinsry I ever seen. No, mam I don't. It 'uz 8 F'ord. I B'lieve it Nas 1908, I b Ilieve . 68rly. 1h8t VIDS more grander then than on oiq)lanl':l is ~1r8. II}io1'e of 8 show. II r d::m1t cere hm'J back I,rJODdsy they 81'0" they see tbose plenee Loin' over. IN' we didnlt e~c thocp cere. No wem. IN I ths fiY8t un I \'Iell You cou 1d trot I nuff buggy. In' it \'l8L [Julled with b cholf) , In' it h8d D motor In' In' ~oeu ua withhii. ll " A 1',j1'8. l10ne of the doctors 'round hero o\'med it. Didn't he', Dr. Cochr&n. II ' 141'. IIDro CocbrerJ over ht';T(; 21' BirnJinLhE.:m owned it, the first motor bU~iY' 1'hEt 'uz \:'Jhat they c811ed 'em IN' then that Automobile come D10Jlf In' thet \'188 en ;l\'.'f'ul thin~:'. You could see hOlt.' tbtlt 1J1oto1' bu, .._y runc~~.1~1?d by 8 chr;in on Mr, "Well, no. 'lie hud uh . " But thet BufomolJile,why.11 Hrs. lIOandy dn-1\'linls i'1,sS ono of t em .1I Mr. lIYee., c8ndy dra1:1in's In' blindfold p8l:,tiee... Yes In' 'things like that.. 01 1 fol~{8 In I yount people Iud 1::1 i into thl3m bli.ndfold pG rtte s.1I 1-1rs. u1'hey 1d 811 join t:Jt~e1.ber Inl. 'lIell they'd -'u;;\{.,o, everything out of one room 'n' blindfold sQ~ebody LnJ Vb 'l Mr. II'They'd ccdch yB then 'n' WhEtl you ceught 'OUl you1d hve to name 'm. By runnin' over ttelr face or th~ir honds. IN' if you nBmed you1d t6kG syrup Inl coole it till it ... 11 It'J:rs. UNo the condy dravrtn', rihink y@u}re thinl{in l of 1.he HfonE. thin'," Mr. "0andy pullin' . Yesh, ,t?sndy ~)ullin ' ." I') r i IICandy pUllin's uhf! t you Ire thin'.<i n' I Lout. 08ndy drs\;'in I. it up 'n l 1131: you put your hr~nd in:it Dnd drs\'! i1 01.1-1. I thini{ a boy In' if thoy ot 8 pieCE 21i:1.': "they (:0'\ to k:eop the cendy, In' meyb9 dance fOLet}ler or Bomethin~. I donlt Y2memb8l' how it "iDS. live never been to lliDny of 'em, but I do rerue'1\b9.Y boin' at Granmothar's yo know B few times when everybody, the older children mfybe, ~Iere doinS that. But I neve~ did join in at 8 pUTty.'1 Mr. l'If you didnlt ~it the 82m2 '{ind W}IY you didn't !.it to dance tOfei-hor Inl you didn1t ,~,.it to I,{eep the cend~1 (:,ithGY." l"lrs. II [\fo , it VIDe bou~'ht e+i..cl{ssf:dic:{ of,ndy. Thb1 \'JGD the only candy W~ ho:l ot thst 1im~. ( ":;lU~F;:rS"(1'"\ 'lODfj ) \'/011, I,donli beU.evC' in 'em, hut 1.0 I nevol' h8ve be,~n eu))erp+i..tlOU(~. 'Thes wolk-in' under 8 ladder, Inl thro hlr::8'{ ceis, Y8 :{DOlfr, In' craBsin"1 ~lour pEd:ll, In' they you'd have b[id ll;c'-{. lilall, I hr:lvcl Un'owed out ~J string D lot of tinJ2's. I don' 1 try 1.'0( I don1t Vi8ni to De f;upc;retitious e.ltl'louf.h I do thinlc about it, Ya :nJOw, when E,omethin lil{e 1hf:t hepDc--!{]S I thin i{ about it. Bu+ I do remember Bom01im~E throwing .u~ 8 Btrin~ or something, you know for ~ood luck. (Wor.dher- rod ky) Y08, I1vG heE,rd of thE>i:. I don't remerrber. MByb(~ i1 '5 jes' the oDpositA. I don't rcra,~mber but there \'1f~8 8ome1hin::' for ,t'.re:-, too. I aon1t HJu.embi51' It!hst it N8S. If the Sl{,\' "'lEiS ~"re~' i1 W3r:; E;ome~h\n,i", In' 1:hen if i1 \'18S r\0d i.t \\'88 ",'ould bi' the oitmer. l.But I 'V8 for~oi1:en just hO\'l it w3n't. But th/%'.y did usc '(1tt~3: 811 those ei~ns f:ind then ~ wc;ni on on uh the tllOon. They hoc to h6VO the moon itl c'icrythinL they did. Well thc;y f: 1\'.']:/8 di.d dtfferon1 thints on the old Inl DS',., 0: 1:tn ':1~0()fl. I do~lt kno'd o.Ki.ll thoir bO[-::,G In' uh J.o- 8nd uh ~E,lo~' of different tbln",s. Bui. it hEd 10 be 8 cori-Hin kind of moon. Iv] r liMy daddy used to ['; r,~u(: Nhen he v,l8 B cut tin ~ 81: ove "load in thE' , sp ri n,~ of the ye8 r j he t uh if you dido t cu~: 1t on 8 11 tJTt ni~ht it 'd just sob u:') In I \'JQuldn I.t be: worth 8.nythint. li.tJlt ni hi vlhy itld jus l dry oui 10 ' be ~GS' 88 lli::.ht ;;:n' burn jeRI li~{(' pin,:, E'lnJos1. (PrCJserv(dion of food) No OJ811!. 'I-hey ptcklad corn. the be ne 1. Mrs, uJest lnft it there till they 81(~ it. Yes. I donlt remember josl how they did cook it. Bot they put 1heir sB8sonlntB in it en l c00~cd it I don't ~now ho\' lont. 11 Mr. 'iMy mother used to ms:cc freat ~tKljsrs, churns, ahe called it, five-gallon chul'ns of kraut, Inl Uh 11 I"irs. "I rememoer my i.JEndmother f"i.llin' bi~ )0 E~cllon birrels ',"lith kr[,ut 'n I pic;cled b:WDS." /:L-D.kt'.At : l.ll'. uSmol{e'BoUBo, cellEIY'8. II IN' wont of 10m had dirt floors. li~1 I'ue heard FOIllE of th<.J old l8..:Hes Iround hr:-)!',,; t81~i{]1 'bout th(". if/bY they ueed to Lii i.heir 6;1"1. 'J.'heylc] ,::.ii:, selt town f8~. I IV~ heard Granny Gri(fin ~p here 1all ebou1 when she l,'lf;R 8- girl th-2i they (t1'1o"1: 1,"12.13 durin' the ctvll 'tJ8r) Would ,::,i~ -their I sur~ (J(). No, sr,.~j I s b\1en >.one f:; lon" +illJ2. ;'-3ui shG I UZ 8 nici~ all (~frGcts oJ: ci.vi 1 Yes, I fueGo so because she lived Do1 too fcr OV,Jf h8)"C. IN' she 101 1 put 8. whi-te 1:o\"c~1, hSrl,#" El white to':.'cl Oll the outside of ihe eJoor. 'ilJl {bey didn1t comi3 ,,"round the house then. Sl'!0, they1d (be conscriPt(~r.hen) (r;-''h(~ +01';0) '.rle11 it n8'rer hS6 been biic~er1hG.n it i nO'd. It 1s bi ~er no~ theD i1 ever hSB been." Mr. l'Why, 1 CBn remGmher Dleself when there W8B jus l VEI'Y few houees. fellr;y O',lIned soy l:jC or 200 Ben,s In' held hove [3 hOUSf) In' ffiEybe one (Bopulation 1(Jd8y) ~rs. III rcclly don'i ~now. I oeV0Y hElve hevrd anyhody S8Y 8nythin~ <-~boui the populetil)n here in..... This is, this i8 t}F~ main port of it l'i.Jd herr..'. or COUYf,\'; it's", 101 thl.c'{er uetilcd 13u1 00\'1 /" He "Y8 t8~. down thor. on tho place whore 0y _rBot rBndf.iher 80til:;d, there \\!fJsn't but h..,ro hOU8(H_~ 1b(~n eo' 1:h{~re \J[-,;sn1t but 1"11.'0 housef;', up till ebouf ei~hi, ten Y8sre 8~O. thirteen hous~e on ths~ plot of' .. youndo ll bU1- see thf':ye:',s this coupLe th3t own' 1'hi.e. house here 'n l ih8y YJon'i se 115.:l:t. 'N' then this nHHl th8~ livEs U~) hr:J[(c he Q1,oJ118 all thi.s over he re 8 nih,,: Non I i 8<: 11 i 1. hc :r1~' from ::. r Oi,fi nE: II He IINo, most cv/:rboc1v L.oes 10 the city.1I She ll~o to fit lonier to wor!{. II be: IlI've co1 oue boy thet C81'penS for the ciiy ther in 1',tlbn1:er, In' 'OC'fl br'c\c'rcp I n l f"on,n~rcls nirht In:' lYlornt~l. P.hou1 )~> l.l!ile::::, about\ Well in othar words 6an- 8St1Se of' ths "101'0, \'le Ir:: cloe(~r thb n \fIe \,rf:: E 30 Yi'':8:r:? [;:~ 0 10 Cein1:on. For it I d tf:Jke ;j U EJ I 'bout 8n houy In' 8 he., 1 f .l(O drive 8 ViE .'_ on or 8/flU Ie to I C8n+oo. in 1:he 1 1s n ,c t h of i i l1J(] .11 S~~e we fniE,ed cottar: ~'ll 8found h~r0 'n l tb(~r':] V.'U7. 'inB 'n l VIG had i:hst much irJc!ustry hero' in the conm:uniiy, bui other- 1.Lan th8~... 11W1" , e .'3boui: tria only 1:hin[c. \16 (;Vel rIEld Gin8 In' cotion mi.lls, LiDo In I He "CoYnmille. 11 She "Yeeh Inl Hd.n'n lil;;:e ihwt. But DO\'.' they hU"1IE the .industry in 0811ton too. Yo !{DO\'i l.bey hsve cotton mills en' e\lerythini'.' 'They jus' Einnod the cotion h,sr? E loog tim-:, 880. l\Jo, we doo l t h8VU !-)ny co1t'Jl1e ll [; liT He ItI boll <1",1'1 (II"! " 'ci' ',l,I,;! I u' '\~~~;J, ",' don't \e [) 0\-/ of 8 p teh of coiton om/here" ground here;. Th' vPv'.;t, J.ro weevilE C8n:e 1.n htlIO Inl [.'te up, t:,nd uh .. U,jt;rric,..:,o 2nd courtint) you .1\ He uNm\' vlhcn I VillE; oin, \\'L1,b bor- sbe hbd -to be in by drr:c. P.nd time,lI In' ibst me~ln1. go home. And nm',' th(~y 1i He "Thev \'I'Gnt to hf;~d BortEl 111.t~h the chic',{GI18 8f-~ th.:) old se.yin:'~ is. IN I ,"lhen it cot!J(; 1:i[~,e for 1h(cill 10 .<,0 10 hed ldhy the YOUD;'. fol~(e hed to She !lV,'e didn It hbve any 8h0v/6. I IVe;. n(~VGr b,,:en to 8 sho\-J but 2 or ") tirllGS in mv life, hblf 8 dozentLmoc 1 111 6lJY 81 lbe moet. IN' \\10 ~~ didnlt IN I \-Je1d y@ durin' r,~~'.'ivalS'in,the 8UUHlJer. \'Ield tet 1.3. big crot"!d taL-ether I D ' go in 8 "w",on, Inl 0 to ihe yt1vivbl." He 1111J1 Gome older couple Id '-0 810ni \1ith us. 1I She ,l'\ ,s9 bloOF, "'lith US. \'18 didn't, ,,.it~ didn1t fli out 8n l do li,~{e Hhen i+ \<188 jus'i us 0i-Q",cr. '/h:'i \'1,0n1. 10 church end bscI(, \'1en1 1:0 i 1i1:- ~~ ile. ao I never \'hlnt to e dEinC(~ in my life. I 1:hinlc llio:vbo he baB e i:ime or ~I'tO, but I n~'ler have-. I never hnve been 1.:0 8 dCDce in my li.fe. rlhey hnd dDncc~e eround her'~' bu'\ I nGIJ~~r did. line older pnoplc \'.Jould dance, run 8-=,1.-8, In' ihirl.:~s 1..i:{G thai:. dut ii \-JBf; clC'8n. It \'luddan.,11 He lilt v-Jen real LntCl'6stinL and it \'iE:S )f'(-;Jti:y. 1\ bunc'fJ. th81 knevJ sn l uh J'iLh1 close to his house he hod B Dei~tibor. I NI he \']l:J f) ,onne hove D (~8nc:~ th81; ni;~ht. IN 1 uh he wouldn1t Fllo\'1 hiB i,il:'le. to d8nCG ?irl "ms older thnn thcd. Gleo '-W6, fWE:in't she'? lin' there "i8E [I doctor, Gh o"iust ha'0d 'ot 0'.1' 1 of .UJ.choo,_"l ',", I he V,l8E 8-!..n1.n' \'ti tb one of' these ;{Lrle. IN' he h2d it understood with this old men. We h8d this sort of 1'ur61 telephone B~ound hure. him ~o come En' 101 him !{n01/1. IN' if enyhody cslled hi.m, why for 'N' he toLd him hE' would. J\nd vb +h~y 'N' the lll<::r:: \-Jho \'HiS cs:llinL 'em, ';:hy he cElled "\.t rod birr/tnl. 81 'om f' little bit. 'N l the:n he mild, 1I1}le,1 I s [i'refll nice little tf:me, n::::'ler beo sesD one. It 'I,'l:8 jnsi E: ni ca Jes clcpn out o/roam li~e we did when we p18y~d hlind~old. INI rDH'CO ud Dick c,henjcr, uii81, 'n' hSVfJ incJir tmsic .. ll Sunday School 0-'1: 10, 'n' ihC'ir F8l'lfic88 cd 11. 2h:>n [)1 niht fhe- hed '1lh<.d they c811 it then: ;\lo, it h3c! cr8me. Ii ldb6. I don1.t L{nm'.' \',ihl::-,t they cilllnd it then. 'tIe csll it 1<Y1" no\'}, but I Tt:811y don't . tl on Sunday 8venin. t. It WOB chllrch WheY2 we went. ~G didn't ... ll She tll'/e (~tdn't ,':.:,0 ~;ny oiber plGce. 1l H'9 I1Y86, m8m. r1:'o ri.:.hi out h:3re. 1'here l fl Ei !"~e+ho':iEt Ohurcb .. first LundAy Ln Jun,:: ~ n b<: 111'1 11 bu~n oirL_ on for ... n :~!: 'l~~:_.:O\'L~~'::,'i.n:_ S}H~ 1I50-c,ji1J(-J"thinL Y1c:or'a. Her(; tit 1ho li,e"tr0oisi Church !Jr:rd. ri~.;;;ll, (Doctor) E'3 \1'(/e he'le to 0 1-0 ~O\n;. 'Ir, e y I y-e:; [' 11,/1 n 1: O'..!il .. ! 'They 81'3 now. 3ut heck then. B[',d{ lhen they jUfd he,d their doc"l;]rf:. in th,'l snt- 11e;ll1en+~ I!rr)und hel;: in the fH3+tlc'ment tLcy1d hev',~ thair h:Jtne~1. IN' IN'I \'JhYj;he 'd brin~. his a;cdicin:3, In' e d'Jll<Jr, c)')llfJY In' half, "i'I'-"'; \IS\) ,c,l.i. jU~' ;r,':d-ici(i:~., you 811 your medicine. 11 She "Hc CuD rt3U1mnb2r the doctor, I c1on l 7 ren:,(:mbE:l '(lin;, but ht:: c~~n rcolember 1he doctor who we~+ 8Yound on hOI'80bac:<, end C8fZ"Y his medicine '~lth him thut wsy.11 " He uNo ihptls '" The doc+orE~ ,~norlv. I hed 1t,,-I.J t:::,,:;1-J', pulled~11 tD ,1 ~ 1. t pul Led. dut I don 11 t]';ln'c "hev hod 11 He I I tiThe;! dldn i. us''; f~i1Y m8oLcin~:l, bui you l:';SI s:d dow:! Inl th'?~1 'os' pulled i1." She tlVlell t'le hev@' tho rc,ulElr convcniion book8~11 She "No\,] th'"rc '8 0 do ii. " (~-Mt-4) church Y)()-I- 100 fe,y- from t:8,(': ,,'})_\~re -l'rey ctill He "1'hfd's vlhBi: -I'hey coll hE~rdshell ~3Bpi.is1: thc1. SirLE' in them fflflols .. Now -they used to, but I 1nlD:{ theylve L.ot 1:0 h8Vii1,i~ instruments in their church. i3u1 uSi,:d -to they di.cn't. A mPD UJ held sound 8 nO l t', ana iheyld ell coil in." She 11 BirmincJwm Community." i up to le8d B 8011;2, In' 6 ~ro';'liD' up, uh, you 1d 1:~~i,{(; these old ':Willen, 'n l it ,.n:lsnli., tbey didn't le:rs, pu+ it on t(;e corne'!', In' 011 i1-(.-; I,{ids pi.led up on tho1 quilt ['In' \'Jcnt to sleep. ;lhey \'I'8n 1t, they didn't mo;{e no I'8C~(ot. , JVI'\, O" 1.3tur b noa'oj( y. 1'~(d) l'('JO!!J "'.'oulen, I' C6n see" J,Ul;;: I 1.2 pLEin. They oidn I j '~'ibsn theyld come tn, they'd 1:8;(e iheir bOI:](]"3t off Inl pitch ii over. }]O\'" they \,,'t1nt ~p OH'-1'o church. I 'I'hay didn t 0 ~o Gee nor to be ficon. ThGY ltJ'G'fnt hUf'lnc8. The old men, th~ same \'1G~V. 'lhey dro~.) their h6~ ol/or on -fre , , OlGO, Inl set dO'll1l l n l shout :n l sing. 000 it1d jus l rDe:c:; the heir ri.se on yeo Yes H1Em, tihcy shure did. 1JhV,r1ve f.H;t1tTJ SO:YlfJ of' thOH:': old lediws .,:..ii. bE;ppy Inl eh:)ui for BtJ howl' et a time, just 8f] j;ri<)l1: ~lE thGY could be. rid ~ilTC aDy~hi.n~ to drop b8C~. v,le beve shou1:lll' dot.JrJ here t~~ our- church." iielLbver once in 0 v/hile / She II i\l 0 , \\'C hsve pYl--:Ecchln I t '.Ii ce :;: (:'.onth nON .. 'lhe Ti:; IS 1\,w chu r cbc E' on j1hi 8 circuit. Thc" ra hiO c11ur che ~ on our cbo rt Vh:{~'_ 0 io flU 1r.c church',~f:, cll'ound in 1:his 'Tlcini+y. l,j\; ,:.0 to Vie hf,I'!(; ()D~ son that ia 8. ;)~;ptic1: ll,i{rLsiJ;r, Bnd '..Ie hsve tViu 1:h~d 81e l-":cthodi.stE, 'n I \\'G 81cTord OUT duty to support them. I ' He "Our [ewily'8 1c, v: l: ': h/:., ~ I i' !jCI P -j i f' ~ F. 1\\'18 +bflt'~'8 :3sptisfs, d- Bll mixed up that way. I have Gome d8u~ht8r-in- ~ 'N' vie Ive :_,o-l- on'S that rrLs ':,I1.(f'e 's oSl Bsp+lst 1 0 1 he's al:e+hodist. church. IN'I -'their son-in-1r;,,.. 's the Scltlle Vf8y. He's 8. B.9ptist In' thnl.r dGucht6r l S (J J.:e1Loai.st. Tht::y've ,'0-1 1.";0 _~irls i.:hL'i.'E .l'O'vln In' they're both Mefhodi8+f:.~. IJ:heYGo \'1i1b 1h8tr dsddy to his church, 'n l -lhc;n avery o1hsr Sund8Y he cOlnes to 1heir church. 11 She IIWc h8ve f: children, fll1 e'capt 3. TheT9 1 s 5 I s 1. lives in Decc1ur. R:fjt of I:;;W liv,j arounc i"!fjr,:;, Doi too fer. 1I He "SI jes l filmost li{f; 8 ceulp u18etiD"". \'le"/I'l ~ot 8 cr:ildrcn, In' theylre [Ill trl8r:ried leer"': one ~ir1, In' uh' 19 rl'sndcbildren. \le (!iJd 20, tLcy're dm'Hl lJt th~ houf::c, 811 of lOW. Yes, wom"" Vie had on" not bnc, '''co." f~~~) Sh,:, llFourth Sund8V ifl 1["8+ n;on+h5 I, we D.jver did count, but I He 11 DO\'Jn here f:,1 the community clubhouse. Yr:jf,i, mem, \!-JhGT our rehool hous!"! used to be. \'le'I/(O te'((;n 1~-)Bt Eln l I'ix'2d it Up.1I U:'huff) Ihiiell I hed on 8un1 thfd used thr-t RtuLf for I ~UlJ88 she \188 !-')roucld 70, t'!!f:'ybc '1'1 1 sho ~hsd her De,1un,:1 teeth, In' she brushed, IN' sh(; hi:HJ hAT little brush. I C[-in see llt',r til yet. Grele be(":ll deEd for her- 1eeth. She e18imeo ib2t t}wi ~<:ept b::}I' t(;eth~in, viell, she thou::;hi -~-----------~--- small, If" ih'0V 'del'\:' t,Oin'G:~~_22untlnl, Inl they put rtl::- 81" 1h,,: erJd of ihp; di'tcb. 31-; ditch, In' they \\"3re faint up ~]nd drill';; J:h:~ snipLH' IN' of COUlse when they oIL o~-'\rp to ihe upp2r Gnd, n,(:y lei: l(:f1-ptd 'honL] , 'n' lefi l1ll: stitin l there ,IN I I 88t thero for hourfl, 'n l tho::' snipee, lY~Vel did con!c.,.1'here Bub. , Ii/hen I \'118 oui [\ cour~:in" uh, ! [if E{hcun1. ! they used 1.0 iell me ihEd ov,sr h:~rd E:t 1.-12,; church, ce(]j~1.::.'ry, Lihc;r1y down lhl::1G a' the cenleL~y-~,.1 Goy, rf:Y }wo!: jus' riz oluwb up au lI.:y 1~Q8G. Tkr" i.1 "'0'8, LQo'{cd li\{lU ",,,s " setHn' ri t by the fOlde of the monur: 1cn1 jef;' fiE:, ')r':t~'y c'p 'IOU l)V~[\80. \'/-:;11, \'.'6 hf.;d 10 com;,'; hom;,:, In' 1.11'1, ho wen1ed to ~now whet we W8f ~0in do, WDe we ~ i-urn Tound'n'; ~,'O bock. Would'v~ ~~en 8~OUt 7 0]' R ~iles bee'c around to miss tl~e ceruetcl"Y, I SAYS no, I 8~:_Y8 I c;onli b,~1i.cv8 l'hct tht:;:ce's 3~)vthi.n cen CGtCh'_l1'cB if I the ccnJc'ic:ry. 'n l uh, I \'186 hurt UB. And hs scys,l:bhhbh. Ijust donlt won~ to be fOQlint Bround no IN I I 88\'8 I couldn'j 1ell you. I BE,y" I'll 1ell you \'Ihet I'll ,10, l!cDyR, you ,jud ei+ ",h~l'e you1re 81, Inl rill turn my horst] Ground on l :'0 h[;ck 1),') and fee if I ern 8~e it. I S0YS I shurA hsvw. I says I~OW rill pull my tOldllhinl, I I "'h8t? 'N' fJE V8, I found thBt tt\n~. 'N I he 6eys, hQrs'_' on\- dOHn th'3r\; next 10 ~lCU, (:nrl '1 'II vif:~'llc bE;C~ lXp ~_hC1l'f" Inl l~ll stey in line, In! catue ricb1 down. I \'iorlJ i~l "186 0 line they'd ",016 for Y'c:;/;,rf-'~.hf't 1:hoy HEiS somcbod'y i'hE~'- Be1 He, lII1 tot to the nlr:ce \',]herr~ i+ '-_01 fnt:;YastirL'.. It just ot in1.2Y .....;,_ '1'0' -','hen VJhnt it 'dt'f". Hut ih.:y scid it \',If.'8 hriuntcd. It jus \'Jouldn1t do 1:0 :-0 by thcre. II Ne IIi e If you usc 8 r~d onion, you slice de1 onion. You take det onion a~ clice i+ en nut a/ti.ttle clo+b 0'0 th.." \.'ri~;t, \-.',::' dG~. \,t~t;Y you \v&ni itI onions de best en dey p.re I s1ron~Gs. je-c li',{e you :onc &01 it pulse enI you see db+ qrlion will to f'n de pulse bn do1a wllcr dey fever. l\nd dot \-,"ill bring do f\~ver dO~'n,,1 Yes YfJBh, i1dults Cl:HI(I~O it 8lec. r,jy ;1'81jdrnother 1i:l1L:hted me dB,1 an [h~<clhiil!:'LI <: dey 'Wf:8 sic'{ly. And [llso Bhe tE;u~:.hted [(Ie hmll to ~'jl uh td.ll [i IG\r(~r if I couldn't (.--it 10 C1d~0ctor ri.i::hi: don. lInd d2drs \<JDY dE.d I 21 fO lliuch inj~orm;:d ion~bou1 rnie.io,::-; c'hi.lren. b.nf rtlr-, de '(:Jl) of i i Fn diG 811"t i.ned i i an you dr8n:{ dbt eruh toe, it ud Ulfl~B your oruh p::''l.Df' bc~ morn Y(:)"uler, 8n de bDby conK, Booner. Hy nJoih(H V.,JaB 8 intfjrnlst, ~;hc hFHI 11.cense to do thin[s li~e (let. An my -r8noDlofher woiterl on m~ witt 3 of my chilren widou1 8 doci". In 0klo1horpe County wowone den hbd licenso to w8it on clliilr0n to brine chilr~n5to de world on uh if yOll \luddcn in B(lrOUB~ condition. Dc: iDcy doctors could brin- [: b,,:by to de world fin tH:{(; CfJrD of fhi) lsoy 810. Vie 11 1tlh~n t-~ ludy i. s i- on 1 ,'~ r Ull in 11 boy btl 8 ViO[)IEn \,'OU lc1 b,; er ' . , un)V!<:.il t [j 0\-,1 leUililG it couldnlt rl58ch B doctor. i1 ri~.l.-;-t. \,\'hen / Some 1..i OIE,'P oct 0 r did ~~o ou1 80 doctor vlhen \,!')uld b'''in,' F brhy io10 de 'viorl' becL:usl-' she .ev- ~h / 8 't,'om8nj'\1,':~H: gon hri.ni::-, .> chi Ie Ln10 de \-/01'1 En she couldnlt t no doctor tl f' you \'iudden in e"Ho\.Hfv condi tion. If you HUB Gwri hi' d~y would tG~G core of' Jverythin~ +hCcIEclves. She 1~8ched we how to cur~ the thr2sh. I ,0 out S:lmlliOr1E 1(; not in seODon. Yr:.l [{nov,1 day hl;!ve 8immot1s, 11.1 si_nJwon bolls on em t bt,rk, 'yl' boll 1.1-, oen Brier you boll d81 hnrk yo ~;.i-t chL' somE slum. Y6 put e lil hittyelum [l pL3ce of in dey \\;Fd.r to (i,btu; i~ ; lil hti rau~J:. i\nc1 you eli chou I <l.hd ffit lioeh,r:-:nd PI pice':; of [[:Ii" m':~bt c.t'l drip 3 ,r'jGE(~. lIrt~~r you V,I8fJh dId chil~\8 rr10uf in ell; t :i.nH:-wn \\lei,sr :ItlU 1-f,ke d!':,i :_T()88E: en 'IS' g,re8 Be de wouf' iJrI 3 d[~ys time ,&G-y cLJrfJd. DD18 righlt1 I ;,.flC3vBr t-plto cloc- I tor for no chi$ren h8vtn de ihrash. I \'JOr\{s on llJy Lr.:~ndchilren. If dey hevlif de thrf)sh. 1 cur~~d one lE'E/y"::t,r \\lid de thru8h. rtle just eruezln~ how you can eyuh CUlO 8Ultptin w~dQot gain to de 6octors. CBuse docio;.: c '.Jc: you no1hin but jus Borne borups or GUl}1oin, to \lIB,:;}l do I_tOUr v1id. ',\'e11, if drc:y .~ot teef, d81 borups don't hdlp +00 ml1ch, dE t borujJs WE-j,::-,l'. You ha~'1e. UE<; C,lUtTl. \'Ie-;ll, I tell you \l'11;,;t Cr:D el'uh. If 8 cbile IS vwrmy, if 8 c'hil'3's \liormy, vau Cfit1 uh perch 8 (.c. shell <:1ID;'htH.lt it up 10 pO\\'dcr fin Du1 [, ltl SU,'~Dr -tn i.t E!n "lv(" i"l t{l8 cl'lile f;S to \'Jorms Qut. Sec I I'IFS triU,ht in de coun1rv where doctors WBB ~indB 8ceTcc, y8 sne, en den m~ygr8ndmother wae a rloctor atl shA 1ou:ht me loi 0 thih B. W~ll I b'i~ve thetis shout 611 I cen ~ive you ri~h1 tlOW o IV! I (I'e I i j"\/I(' ))
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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 in a position to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, and bias is reflected in our descriptions, which may not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materials accurately. 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 language where Library of Congress subject terms are inaccurate and obsolete is ongoing. 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 emailing reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.