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302 S. Miller Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age 83
"I was born in Georgia and I'm 83.
"My white folks was named Abercrombie.
"I don't remember my mother and I hardly remember my father. My white folks raised me up. I 'member my missis
had me bound to her when I was twelve. I know when my grandma come to take me home with her, I run away
from her and went back to my white folks.
"My white folks was rich. I belonged to my young missis. She didn't 'low nobody to hit me. When she went to
school she had me straddle the horse behind her. The first readin' I ever learned was from the white folks.
"I think the Yankees took Columbus, Georgia on a Sunday morning. I know they just come through there and tore
up things and did as they pleased.
"I stayed there a long time after the Yankees went back.
"Old master wasn't too old to go to war but he didn't go. I think he had to dodge around to keep the Yankees from
gettin' him. I think he went to Texas but we didn't go.
"I loved my white folks 'cause I knowed more about them than anybody else.
"I come here to Arkansas with a young white lady just married. She 'suaded me to come with her and I just stayed.
"Biggest thing I have did is washin' and ironin'. But now I am doing missionary work in the Sanctified church.
"I don't know 'bout the younger generation. Looks like 'bout near ever'body lost now. There's some few young
people is saved now but they ain't many."
Interviewer Thomas Elmore Lucy"
