Through the Years: Lula Sue Simmons, Childhood through Teen Years

Lula Sue Simmons was born February 13, 1941 in Baxterville, Lamar County, Mississippi.  She was the second child of four children born from the union of Susie Johnson and Woodrow Wilson Simmons.  She is shown in this photo as a youngster, about 2 years old, with her parents and older sibling Alton. The year was about 1943.  The family lived in rural Lamar County, approximately 16 miles from Columbia, Mississippi.  

Lula Sue was about age 7 in this photo, estimated to be taken about 1948.  She spoke often of her early childhood- the struggles the family faced as well as the good times.  Later in life, she wrote down some of those memories.  I published her writings in this blog, which are divided into sections.  See Memoirs of Lula Sue Simmons in the topics section.

This photo was taken in 1952, so Lula Sue would have been about 11 years old.  I remember her telling me that she attended school in Hub, a tiny community located between Columbia and Baxterville, Mississippi.  She didn't talk much about her school days.  Of course, the old schools in the area are now non-existent so I'm unable to get any further information.

1953

The popular hair style trends for young women in the 1950's was short, wavy or curly hair.  Although Mom had naturally wavy hair, she would also "pin curl" her hair, adding more curls.  Pin curls were created by rolling the ends of wet hair up toward the scalp then pinning it to the scalp with bobby pins and allowing it to dry.  When I was a young girl, I can remember Mom putting pin curls in my hair a time or two.  (I couldn't stand having all those bobby pins in my hair!)

The year was 1954 and Mom was a teenager.  At that time, she was attending school in the Columbia district.  She didn't talk much to me about her teen years, which leaves me to wonder now- what was she like as a teen?  What did she enjoy doing?  The 1950's was the era for the birth of rock 'n roll, sock hops, Elvis Presley, movie idols like James Dean and Marilyn Monroe, ponytails and petal pushers.  Was she influenced by the new trends of the 50's?  At this point, I don't have answers to those questions.

1954-55

These are some of my favorite photos of Mom.  She was so lovely in her formal dress.  I believe she said she was dressed for a music recital, perhaps a piano recital.  

Mom was 14 years old when this photo was taken.  Apparently she attended Walker School.  I did a search on the school but yielded nothing.  Where was Walker School located?  Mom's family resided in Lamar and Marion Counties as far as I'm aware.  I didn't realize how little I knew of Mom's teen life until I began posting these photos.  I will plan to possibly find out more from her living siblings, Gertie and Elton.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Mom's Antique Italian Vase

I have an antique porcelain Italian vase which was given to me by my mother several years ago.  She acquired it at a flea market while we were living on the westbank of New Orleans.  For many years, the vase had its place in my parents' formal living room.  There is a story behind this vase, one that I'm sure my brother Tony still remembers.

The year was probably 1974 or 1975.  We were living in Marrero, Louisiana at the time and we were about to make to trip to Mississippi to visit relatives.  My siblings and I sat in the car, waiting for Mom who had gone back into the house to quickly grab something she had forgotten.  We could tell when she exited the house that she was angry.  She stormed toward the car and began interrogating us.  She wanted to know how her vase got broken and who did it.  Of course, every one of us proclaimed our innocence in the crime.  Examining our faces, she sought for clues as to which one of us was lying.  It didn't take long for her to figure out it was my youngest brother Tony (the culprit of many mischievous acts at our house).  

She then flung open the back door of the car and pulled Tony out, demanding an explanation from him.  His story was that he and his friend Trey were playing marbles in the hall and one of the marbles rolled into the living room and while trying to get the marble out from under the chest the vase was on, Trey knocked the vase over and it broke.  He didn't know how to fix the vase so he just propped it back on its base.  

Mom then marched Tony back inside the house.  The rest of us got out of the car and waited on the curb in silence.  Mom rarely spanked us and when she did, it was usually a few taps with her house slipper.  For reasons unknown, she usually left the spanking up to Dad.  When Mom and Tony returned to the car, we loaded up and left for our trip.  We sat in silence most of the way.  We didn't want to push our luck because we knew Mom was already angry.  Tony got his butt whipped that day, not because the vase got broken but because he lied about it.  

This little story has been cause for laughter at some of our family gatherings in the past.  To hear Tony tell the story, Mom didn't even ask any questions.  When she realized her vase was broken, she knew immediately that Tony was the guilty one because he was blamed for everything.  She stormed out of the house, went to the car and  literally pulled him through a 2 inch opening in the car window then beat him nearly to death. One would just have to know my brother's comic expertise in telling such family stories- he can tell them with a dead on serious face while adding a lot of humorous sarcasm, sort of like Larry the Cable Guy.  

In any case, the vase was glued back in place and one would have to look at it very closely to even notice it had once been broken.  I have no clue as to it's material worth, but I wouldn't trade it for anything simply because of its sentimental value ;)

Memoirs of Lula Sue Simmons: Part 11, Grandpa Took Care of It

From Mom's memoirs I gather that her Grandpa "Bob" (Johnson) had zero tolerance when it came to his grandchildren possibly being placed in harm's way.  When others gave the children trouble, he simply took care of it, one way or another.

When our cousins would come over to see their grandparents then we would have someone new to play with.  We would meet them half way up the road.  But Benson May their uncle and Alton would fight, and when they wasn't fighting they would pick on the smaller kids.  This day they was fighting over a big Persimmon tree.  Benson said it was on Mr. Mays land and Alton said it was grandpaw's.  Well Gertie got hit by a flying presimmon [sic] and did she cry   So with her in tow and crying I brought her home and told the grandpa.  Well time he got down there Benson and Alton was gone and our little cousin was gone too.

Well grandpa just happen [sic] to have a real sharp ax with him so guess what happen [sic] to the tree.  Let me just say it was no longer there to be fussed over.

Between the fenced yard and the road was a big oak tree.  This was our play area when Gertie and Elton was with us.  Everyone that drove down that little gravel road knew that kids were out playing.

But there was one who just didn't slow down and that was John    he would drive just as fast as that old truck would go.  Grandpa had asked him    had talked to Uncle Albert about his driving but he just wouldn't listen.  So late one night, knowing John would be comming [sic] down that road early in the morning before anyone else   Grandpa dug a ditch across the road    covered it with paper    put a little sand over it and sat on the porch and waited for John.

The road wented [sic] down the hill across a little creek.  So the ditch was dugged [sic] at the the top of the hill.  Did John have a suprise [sic] comming [sic] to him!

He hit that ditch going full speed     bounced down that hill over the bluff and into the creek.  Grandpa walked out to the road and he could see John crawling out of the truck    so he got his shovel     cover the ditch up and wented [sic] into the house.  John never did ask any question [sic] nor drive fast by our house again.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday: Historical Photo- Turnage Family Gathering

There are several copies of this photo in circulation within the Turnage circles.  Family tradition states that the photo is that of the Robert Daniel Turnage family and they had gathered to honor his birthday.  

Reportedly, Robert Daniel Turnage is the man sitting in the front row with the child sitting on the ground in front of him.  His brother is sitting next to him- the man with the long beard.  This was a huge gathering!  I counted at least 106 people in this photo, and I probably missed a few!  I wish that the people in this photo from the past could each be identified.  

Robert Daniel Turnage was my paternal 3rd great grandfather.  He married Martha Ellen Pigott on 25 January 1848 in Marion County, Mississippi.  They had 8 children that I'm aware of.  Some sources say the couple had 14 children, but I have not investigated the family thoroughly as of yet.  

If anyone can help identify some of these family members, please contact me.  I would love to know more!  

Memoirs of Lula Sue Simmons: Part 10, Memories of a Poor Child's Christmas

I was blessed to have such wonderful memories of Christmas as a child.  Christmas was a big event in my childhood and my parents did their very best to provide us with most of the items on our "wish list".  Besides the gifts, there were big family gatherings and lots of good food.  There was laughter, love and time spent with family.  

Mom was not so blessed in her early childhood.  Because the family was struggling to survive, their gifts were meager.  I remember Mom, and Dad too, talking about those days.  They often received a few pieces of fruit for Christmas, such as apples and oranges, and sometimes a few pieces of candy which really made them happy because those were treats they rarely received.

Mom wrote some of her memories about Christmas as a child:

Christmas, no tree, no gifts    just family and all of the food that we could want.  I can remember the first Christmas tree.  A coffee can full of sand with a little pine tree in it.  We gather [sic] sweet gum balls and covered them with cotton to hang on the tree.

My grandmother put it up for us.  The lonely little pine tree sitting by a fire place with cotton cover [sic] sweet gum balls.  But we thought it was the most beauthful [sic] tree in the county.  We didn't know that there was another kind of life out there.  When we started school and I would sit in the class room after Christmas holidays and listen to all of the things the other children got, then I knew that our life was different.  After I got older I wouldn't go to school that frist [sic] day because I didn't want to stand up in that class room and tell the teacher and classmates what I got for Christmas.  So instead of lieing [sic] to them I would stay home.

Favorite Photos: A "Grand" Event

"I'm a Grandma!"

My husband and I with our first grandchild, 

Damon Tyler Rowley

In the midst of life's chaos, we are sometimes blessed with those "golden" moments that remind us how grand love is.  I had heard other grandparents talk about how wonderful it is to have grandchildren but I would not comprehend their feelings until I had a grandchild of my own.

The experience of holding my grandson brought back a flood of memories when I became a mother for the first time- there was the joy, the love, the awesomeness of that moment when I held that tiny creation of life.  Then there was the panic, fear and wondering if I knew what to do.  Becoming a grandmother for the first time brought back the joy, the love, the awesomeness and the worries, but experience gave me confidence and by then I knew what to do- how to calm a crying baby, how to wipe a nose, change a diaper and give unconditional love.  

Photo from my archives, 1997

Tombstone Tuesday: Edward Ned & Ophelia Magee McCain

Photo credit: Gwen Langley Pittman

E. MCCAIN

JULY 19, 1955

MAY 23, 1935

Photo credit: Gwen Langley Pittman

OPHELIA MAGEE

WIFE OF

E.MCCAIN

JULY 25, 1862

NOV. 26 ,1927

Carson Springs Baptist Church Cemetery

Walthall County, Mississippi

Their memorials are listed on Find A Grave

Maintained by Gwen Langley Pittman

Click here for the link

Edward "Ned" McCain was my great-great grandfather.  Ophelia Magee was his second wife.  He married first Margaret Ann Turnage.  From their union, nine children were born.  Margaret Ann Turnage McCain  is buried in Turnage Chapel Cemetery, Marion County, Mississippi.