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Foster, Viney
PERSONAL INTERVIEW WITH AUNT VINEY FOSTER:
One of the most interesting interviews we have had since beginning of the Historical Research work, was that of a few days ago in the home of old "Aunt Viney" Foster, 1213-26th Avenue, Meridian.
This happy little person, alert and intelligent, belies her 77 years. She was so pleased to have visitor that it was with pathetic eagerness she gave us the following "short story", which could easily have become a volume or more, so prolific in her "history", but we will give only a brief outline here:
Viney's grandmother was a pure Creek Indian. (This is evidenced by her high cheek bones and other Indian characteristics). Her grandfather was an African, brought over in what was called "speculation droves" to be sold as slaves. The grandmother was the slave cook for the aristocratic Meehan family who owned a large plantation near Suqualena.
The overseer of this plantation was a white man named Lemuel Lewis. When Viney's mother was a girl of fourteen she was sent to the fields to be trained in farm work. The pretty little mulatto girl became the victim of the overseer, and Viney, in her own words, was the "product of the cotton house." She was born on the Meehan plantation in 1859, and being six years old, remembers when Sherman's Brigade marched to the sea and recalled several incidents of that time.
She never attended school, but was taught to read and write by a negro boy, and has been an omniverous reader ever since. Her speech and choice of words would do credit to many a college graduate.
Her home, comfortably furnished and well kept, contains a valuable library of hundreds of books, including complete works of Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Longfellow, Kipling, O. Henry, Thackerary, Dickens, and Harvard Classics, best modern fiction, also historical and religous works, in fact everthing from Alice in Wonderland to H. G. Well's Outline of History. This, she admitted, she found "just a little dull."
Viney has valuable antique furniture, pictures, rare books, china and wine cups that were given her by the folks in the "big house" all of which she is keeping for her children: her "Magnificent Obsessions". The sketch would not be complete without a list of these children, in whom Aunt Viney believes "must be royal blood somewhere" because they have all made a success of life and are her greatest pride. She has done her job well and deserves great credit. They are all graduates of Meridian High School and hold degrees from Fiske and Howard Universities:
Paul, Special Dietician in Henry Ford's Hospital, Detroit.
Samuel, Fiske University Jubilee Singer in 1916. Now in WPA Office in New York.
Leo, dentist in Washington.
Harris, ex-veteran of World War. Now dentist in Washington.
Anna, widow of a surgeon, now employed in the office of Supreme Court in Washington.
They each contribute to their Mother's support, as she prefers to live among her Southern friends, not, however, as she expressed it "associating with "Quarters Negroes", so many of whom are uncouth and vulgar, having no high ideals nor standards.
Ex-Note: Professor Harris, Weschler High School, states that this family is outstanding among the negroes of Lauderdale County.
Mrs. Ann Edwards, Supervisor.
