How did you choose your Children's Names?

 When my son was born, on my 19th birthday, we had decided to name him (if it was a him) Timothy Alfred. Thomas was Thomas Alfred and that would be a way of naming him after his daddy, the same initials. So, that’s what we did. Timothy was from the Bible. I had always loved Paul’s stories about Timothy accompanying him on missionary journeys.

Sixteen months later, our second child was a girl. We chose a name for a childhood friend, Tanya and made the middle name Lynette using the nette part of my name Janette. I had told Mother when I played with Tanya Vaughn in Amory when I was 10 and 11 years old that when I had a little girl, I would name her Tanya. That is how we came up with her name.It also kept the T & J of her daddy’s name.

Seven years later, our third baby was another little girl. We had decided that should she be a girl, we would name her after my maternal grandmother, Tera Sanderson. We named our baby Tera LaDale. I had read in the paper when my classmate Sonny Housel married that his bride was Tenza LaDale and I thought that was a beautiful name but I did not want to give up the Tera part. We wanted to keep our two girls’ initials TLJ.

So, strange or simple, that is how we chose our children’s names. For the grandchildren’s knowledge, I will tell my paternal grandmother’s reaction when I told her our baby’s name. She said, “Well, you could have named her after me”. I said, “Ma, I wasn’t sure I could handle Vanner”. She replied, “Well, there is nothing wrong with Mary Jane Savannah”. I said “I didn’t know Mary Jane was part of your name”. It grieved me for a long time that I had offended Ma because I loved her dearly. However, my cousin’s daughter named her daughter Savannah and that made me happy. Ma deserved to be honored.

Who is the wisest person you've known? What have you learned from them?

 How do I answer that question? I've known many knowledgeable people in my life but probably a few WISE ones. So how do I determine who was the one who knew to follow God's leadership in life best? Is it the ones who guided me to Christ or those who encouraged me to always be willing to ask God's direction in what I do each day? To me, wisdom is knowledge of God's direction for one's life and following that knowledge. 

Daddy's parents, Pa and Ma Davis (Dave & Vanna), were true followers of Christ. I have known a few people who looked towards what they could do for God and knew HE was always with them as they did. Neither had much formal education. I think Pa went through 3rd grade and Ma was in the field plowing when she was five so she had none. However, both had learned to read and write and had read through the Bible many times. I wish I knew the scriptures as well as they did. They sang the Sacred Harp that is singing the notes. Fa, Sol, La it was called. They sang hymns sitting on the front porch when Pa came in from the field for lunch. It was mighty like we imagine being where you can hear the angels sing. So they were wise in following God and sharing the Gospel. 

My parents, Bill & Myrtle, carried me to church all my life at home.They exemplified the Christian life to my brother and me. Mother helped get Sunbeams and GAs started in our church so as soon as I was old enough, I was a GA, then Screen and Baptist Young Women. They belonged to Christian organizations outside of church until Daddy died and Mother remained a member of one until she was well into her 80s. After Daddy died, Mother remarried and went with her husband to the Methodist church. She was raised a Methodist but had not accepted Christ until she was 21 or 22 years old. After Dock died, she continued as a Methodist until she moved near us and joined the Baptist Church with my husband and me where we were members for 43 years. We moved and she and I continued at two different Baptist churches. So, after my acceptance of Jesus Christ as my savior (at 10 years), I have worshiped in Baptist churches, Churches of Christ, and non-denominational churches. My membership has always been with a fellowship of Baptists believers. 

So we return to the wisest person I have ever known. Was it my parents or grandparents or someone else. I still don't know but I repeat that wisdom is how to use the knowledge you have, not how much schooling you were able to get. 

Were your parents Strict or Relaxed?

 I think Daddy was fairly lenient when Bill & I were young but he had grown up in an extremely strict home and had seen things done in his teens that were not allowed for him and he abhorred those activities. Dancing, card playing of any sort, swimming au natural (which I agree with), and other activities were not allowed - period. Therefore, when Bill & I were teenagers, he did not want us to pursue that type of ‘fun’. He had learned while in the U.S. Army that not ALL card playing was gambling. Therefore, he and Mother played rummy on a regular basis with their friends. Bill & I were allowed to play board games, especially Monopoly, with our friends. When it came to dancing, Daddy was not going to allow it. We explained that a lady from the church was chaperoning at the Youth Center and never let kids leave and stay outside. With Mother’s explaining how important it was for us to fellowship with our friends, even dancing in a chaperoned place and with rules that were kept, it should be allowed. He was even asked to go with us, but he did allow us to go with our friends.

Mother was the disciplinarian for me when I was young, Daddy mostly handled the discipline for Bill. They had rules and both were adamant that those rules were to be obeyed. The one thing Daddy was strict about and he would slap you with whatever he had in his hand if he heard you do it, was that we respect Mother with every breath. We were NOT to argue with her, sass her or in ANY way be rude to her. She was our MOTHER and was to be respected in EVERY instance. He respected his mother in that manner and we respected our Mother the same way.

So whichever way it was – strict or not – is a question for my grandchildren to decide.

Did you ever take any great road trips?

What is one of your earliest childhood memories?

 When Daddy bought a house when I was two years old, I remember taking what was probably a pint of milk up the hill to our new home. I recall thinking how big I was to take that “gallon” of milk all the way up that long hill (it was less than a city block by today’s standards) to help us get moved.

Are you good at crafts? What's something you've made and are proud of?

 WHAT ARE SOME CRAFTS I’VE MADE THAT I’VE ENJOYED MAKING:

WEDDING & BRIDESMAID DRESSES, FORMAL WEAR FOR MY GIRLS:

One of the best things that I truly enjoyed making was both Tanya’s and Tera’s wedding gowns. I also made the bridesmaid gowns for Tanya’s wedding. I made all the table clothes for the extra-large round tables in Aunt Margaret’s house (a ‘heart’ aunt). All tables, whether round or smaller oblong had matching under skirt with topper. I also catered the intimate reception held after the wedding at Aunt Margaret’s. They had a larger reception at the club house of the apartments where Tanya lived until she and Joe married.

Tera and Kenny got married in the living room of their new home. She had lived at home until their wedding. The reception was held that night also in their home. Nan Nan (Ann Lee-Kenny’s mother) and Maw Maw (me) catered that reception and it rained cats and dogs that night.

CLOTHES FOR MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN: I made almost ALL of my children’s clothes when they were growing up. Tanya and Tera’s dresses sometimes had hand embroidery or applique on the skirts and/or bodice and sometimes on the seat of their panties when babies. When they were small, I made matching outfits for Tim and Tanya since they were almost twins. It was less expensive (cheap) to make his a shirt to match her dress and panties. She and Tera had matching panties for all their dresses. There was a time when you could buy fabric by the pound and we bought enough to make many of the girls’ dresses for 25 or 50 cents. Of course, that was mostly when we lived in Georgia and Tanya was 5. Pinson, Alabama, had a store that sold by the pound after we moved back to Alabama.

When they were in high school and college, going to proms or being in beauty pageants, I made every formal they had until after they finished college. Sometimes, I covered their shoes with fabric to match their formal. I continued to cover shoes for a long time. When I was 76, I was in a pageant, Ms. Senior Cullman County, and won. It was said that the shoes that I covered to match my interview attire helped me win ha.

I made and embroidered the bib Tim’s overalls when he was a baby and when he was the “mascot” at Erwin High as a junior and senior, I made him two pair of overalls with a satin stitched eagle on the bib. The red pair of overalls was sometimes worn with a navy blazer and the bib looked like a vest. Uncle S.L. said that was one fine outfit. When Tim was about 17, I made him a white stripped black three piece suit; pants, vest, coat. It didn’t look to good on the inside but it was one hot number when he had it on. We bought him a really nice black shirt and black and red print tie (cost more than the suit) which set it off. In fact, he still had it a few years later and wanted to wear it when he and Rene’ got married. It was suggested he looked too much like AL Capone and his purchased green suit was more appropriate.

When Katie and John were small, I sewed for her, Dianne and Katherine all the time. John wanted to know why I never made him something. I asked him if he wanted a dress and he stoutly said, “You could make me a shirt”. So I did. All the GG boys got flannel shirts one Christmas. Not sure anyone ever wore one but at least they had a Maw Maw shirt. Sam and Davis both got pajama pants at some point. It was such fun to be able to sew for my boys as well as the girls.

But, back to the girls, I taught Tanya and Tera both to sew and am thankful God allowed me to do that. I had learned from my mother beginning at age seven so I began to teach them at age seven. They far surpass me in ability.

At some point I made Thomas and Tim ‘leisure suit coats’ and then made some for others. Thomas decided I might could make his work shirts. I was thrilled when he went shopping with me to Hancock’s or TG&Y for the fabric for his shirts. I would get the buttons to match and it didn’t take long to whip up his shirts.

EMBROIDERY WORK, HAND AND MACHINE, and APPLIQUE: I also began embroidering at a young age. My ability at hand embroidery was fairly good and I enjoyed making special pillow cases as gifts. As a poet, I sometimes wrote poetry to attach to these gift cases to complete the thought behind the work on the cases. If the cases said on one YES and the other NO, the poem was written for that pair of pillowcases. If a pair of briefs was appliqued on one case and a pair of lacy panties on the other, the poem was appropriate for that. There were many different things I put on the cases and wrote a personal poem for the recipients of each pair of cases.

As time passed, a friend with whom I had ‘run around’ and sewed with, Vicky Autry, died. A few years later, her husband asked me if I was interested in buying all of her sewing equipment. I bought two sergers, one sewing machine, one embroider machine and a LOT of fabric – a 10 x 10 room full to the ceiling with a large number of sewing items such as lace, zippers, thread, snaps, really too much to name PLUS many sewing helps. The embroidery machine died recently, Katherine has one of my Berninas and Dianne has the other. I have about worn out everything. I do still have two embroidery machines that work and last year I bought a commercial embroidery machine which Chase will teach me how to use when he and I have mutual ‘free’ time.... My cousin, Leona Davis Nichols embroideries by hand and has finished several pillowcases for the GG girls.

QUILTS: When I found out I was expecting Tim, I hand embroidered an animal quilt for him. I think it’s at his house somewhere. Since Tanya came so soon after Tim, I don’t remember a special quilt for her. She probably used his blue one. It’s been many years since I hand quilted but when my grandchildren were expected, I handmade and hand quilted each of them a quilt. Katie, Dianne & Katherine had chair cushions, curtains, etc. to match and the boys had twin size quilts. Several nieces and nephews had quilts too. Jessica and Seth both had a quilt and Jess never played with hers but Seth about wore his out. Adeline had a quilt with much heavy gauge lace in it. I thought it was pretty.

BAGS & THINGS: SHOE BAGS, APRONS, HAND-UP KITCHEN TOWELS, and PURSES, CARRY ALL BAGS: Oh, the hundreds of embellished bath towel sets I’ve made over 65 years. Some of these had lace trim, some were monogrammed, and some kitchen towels hung on the drawer pull of kitchen cabinets and/or oven doors. Many were machine embroidered,

Aprons were once a special item for me to make. It was fun to mix and match fabrics so that the aprons were not all alike. I’ve made a few aprons for my GG granddaughters and Andrew my GG grandson who enjoys playing in the kitchen.

Shoe bags are a recent item. A friend asked me to make her some before a trip. She bought others to use as BINGO prizes at the Senior Center where she is in charge. She has also gotten hang up towels, bread basket covers and other items to use for this. I used a shoe bag on my last trip.

Scarves were a special item when I first got a serger. I also made napkins and table clothes. FUN.

PLAY CLOTHES FOR MY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: It has been enjoyable to make a few play clothes for the GG girls.

DOLL CLOTHES: What a joy to see the GG girls have fun with their doll clothes. I bought handmade rabbits one year and washed them and their clothes. Some required new clothes and I made those.

JEWELRY: Not a big jewelry maker but have delved into making pins and hair barrettes. I have used mini paper flowers and made a few that were quite pretty. I know I should not compare my crafts with Tera’s talent but I do anyway and come up real short.

WRITING: GENEALOGY BOOK, POETRY, STORIES: For many years, I wrote poetry for any reason I found. There were poems about birds, for birthdays, anniversaries, memories of a deceased loved one upon their death, or other subjects when it was requested. Many of these are published in “Let Me Tell You about MY Grandpa” I had published some years ago. Children’s stories have been written but never submitted to a published. When I was in the Ms. Senior Cullman County and Ms. Senior Alabama pageants, my talent was quoting a poem I had written.

MY FAMILY: Though this is not a ‘craft’, my most treasured thing I’ve done is having my wonderful family. Thomas & I married, had three magnificent children, Tim, Tanya & Tera. With God’s help, we have three marvelous offspring each a responsible adult who works hard and able to provide or help their spouse provide for their families. Without any assistance from me and Thomas, our three children married such perfect mates and have raised good families. If they didn’t want children, that was their decision and it was a good one for them. They are all their own person. This is what I am most proud of.

Each family that chose to have a family has done so honorably and with responsibility. Those who have grandchildren are just the most wonderful grandparents around. Those who wait for this honor do so with patience and just ‘adopt’ others children as I have done throughout my lifetime. What a blessing to have a grandchild of my heart come up to me when they see me to give me a hug and say, “I love you”. My children have done this also. Thomas said he could never love a child that wasn’t his blood. Ha. He did so love Loida and her kids. When I came home from work one day, he bragged and went on and on about that new little ‘girl’ who moved across the street. That new little girl was a married lady and soon had a daughter and a son. She is still a child of my heart. Not quite the same as those of blood but precious nonetheless. I can’t count my children of my heart. Each is loved.

It seems I have once again strayed from the topic of this story but, it is my story and it includes my soul mates story. My life would not be the same with Thomas not in it any more than it would be the same without Christ as my Savior. Anything I can do for HIM is something I am most thankful for.

What was it like learning to Drive?

 WHAT WAS IT LIKE LEARNING TO DRIVE IN 1953?

Well first of all, the only person who owned a car with an automatic shift was my high school library teacher (who became my sister-in-law later). Ruth had polio when she was 15 and her left side as left weak so it was imperative that she have an automatic transmission in her car and with turn signal lights. SO... I learned to drive a stick shift. I still can if necessary.

Secondly, I had no one to ‘teach’ me during the daytime. I would drive Daddy’s 1949 Chevrolet from the front of our house to the back and back around to the front, over and over until I got really good at backing. Eventually, Daddy would let me drive on back roads until I was comfortable (and he was comfortable) with letting me drive. Patsy Johnson, my next door neighbor and a good friend would ride with me up the Fayette highway to Ruth Junkin’s drive where I would pull in and back out into the highway and go back home. I never dreamed at that time that I would someday live in that beautiful white farmhouse. I knew Ruth, Ralph and Clatus lived there but it was a year before I met Thomas.

On my 16th birthday, Patsy rode with me to take the test for my license. I passed the written exam and when I went out to take my driving exam, I had a flat tire. Well, I CERTAINLY did not know how to change at tire at that time (learned many years later) so I don’t remember but I probably got my Aunt Julia who worked in the court house to call someone for me to change the tire. The instructor may have called. Uncle Robert was County Agent in Pickens County and they lived in Carrollton (the county seat) so he may have helped.

A side note: By the way, I later worked in the court house and it’s the one with the man’s face in the window. After graduation, I took a cut in my $5.00 a day pay for the four prior years plus paying Mr. Floyd to ride with him from Gordo to Carrollton.

After I learned to drive, Daddy bought a NEW car. A brown Pontiac and the first time we went to Pa & Ma Davis’ house to ‘show it off’, Daddy let me drive Dorothy, Betty Lou and Irene to the movies. Yes, it was Sunday and yes, we had attended church that morning. Most roads were dirt back in those ancient days and on the way home, someone had driven small stakes up on the right side of the road. And, YES, I ruined a tire (a brand new tire-on Daddy’s first ever brand new car) by running over a spike and breaking it off into the tire. I know he must have been infuriated at it happening but he was not angry with me. He was a good Daddy in that way. He knew I could not help it.

On one of my first long trips, Mother and I went to see her sister in Birmingham. I was driving and a friend was with us. We sang as we drove (no radio) and Mother said, “Quit singing, the faster you sing, the faster you drive”.

One dark, rainy night we headed from Gordo to Winfield to see Ma & Pa. A truck had jack knifed across the road. We were singing, “When We All Get To Heaven” when Daddy hit a farmer’s cornfield which was actually below the road to miss the truck. We had been harmonizing quite well until we realized what we were singing when the accident happened. Fortunately, I don’t remember there being any damage to the car. I think we were able to drive out of the field and continue on our journey.

Other than having a ‘heavy foot’ before cruise control, I don’t think I have had any bad driving habits. I have had one speeding ticket after Thomas died. Mother was in the hospital about a year after he died and I was driving home from the hospital where I had spent the night. I was pulled over in Good Hope, Cullman, Alabama, by a State Trooper for going about 60 in a 45 MPH zone. I hardly ever drive without cruise now. One ticket in my lifetime is sufficient for anyone.

So, for you descendants who don’t know what a ‘car’ is, it was usually an automobile with four wheels that is run on gasoline (more recently also on electricity) and is our private mode of transportation. As you zip or fly around the sky, just think, we could only do that in an airplane, helicopter, or maybe a hot air balloon.

What are your favorite Songs?

 Oh, my. What songs do I like? My favorite songs are the old time gospel songs, those whose words reflect God’s Word. Many of the gospel songs written today are just a bunch of words that do not even sound like they should be sung in a house of worship. There are also those whose accompanying music is offensive to my ears.

Some of my favorite songs were written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. All, or some I haven’t heard, follow the meaning of the scripture and are worshipful. At The Cross, I Know Whom I Have Believed, Precious Memories, One Day at a Time, Stand Up Stand Up For Jesus, How Great Thou Art, Take My Hand Precious Lord, Oh Mary Did You Know (Jason Wix sings this at church and he does a great job), One God, Softly and Tenderly, The Old Rugged Cross, Just As I Am (which was being sung when I joined the church after giving my heart to Jesus), You’ll Never Walk Alone, Come Thou Fount, When We All Get to Heaven, He is The Potter I Am the Clay, In His Hands, People Need The Lord, are just a few of my favorite gospel songs. My former choir director, Asa Couch, could send shivers down your spine with The King is Coming. Tera has written one of the most worshipful hymns I’ve ever heard. It is as yet not published so I won’t give the name of it but when she sang it a’ Capella, it is one of the most beautiful songs I have heard. Tanya and Tera sang In The Garden at Thomas’ and Ma Myrt’s funerals. Tera sang Beulah Land at Ma Myrt’s graveside service a’ Capella. There are so many wonderful worshipful songs that the titles just slip away as soon as the slip into my brain.

For secular songs, one of my very special “favorites” is “Honey”. Of course, country and/or westerns would be what I like second to my gospel songs. Sixteen Tons, Mrs. Otis (by my cousin, Linda Davis), and, again the titles are here and flip away as a moth flies. However, they do not fly back into the light of my memory.

    This would be a longer story if those fly-bys would land and stay. That is not the way of this world of the older folks these days. I never thought God would bless me with longevity but HE has and it is a wonderful life. It is so rewarding to ‘make a joyful noise’ with the talented singers in my church choir. It is also a blessing when I worship with some of my kids and hear the harmony of the A’Capella congregations. What a great God we have and such a One that His Son gave His life for you and me. I pray this world will take notice of the happenings that we have in the world now. Evil has come full force and many have joined into that world rather than coming to Christ. Prayers for their salvation. Prayers for our country and this world.