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1956. I was six, Jerry Gravley was nine. We lived at the upper end of Furman Hall Rd. and our long sandy driveway ran parallel the full length of Foister St. My Gravley grandparents and Aunt Minnie lived at the end of Foister St. Jo Posey Singleton was our neighbor and Jerry and I wouldContinue reading “Fanta Grape 15 Cents”

This Bible verse from KJV greeted me every day for seven years in very large print as it was painted on the wall across the entrance to our lunchroom at Sans Souci Elementary when I attended from 1956-1963. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Psalm 19:1 Many willContinue reading “Hope and Faith = Hanging On”

Madam Maya Sleep did not ring at my door Yet the cry of that small creature Mr. Mockingbird Singing In the topside of an ancient tree Just close enough Outside my front window. Crying Screaming sweet stories A note? Yes a melodic note But a note of historic writings In the wrapping of that oneContinue reading “MADAM MAYA”

We were overwhelmed to see that over 150 people let us know (via facebook) that they were praying for my family and me yesterday. That was as big of an angel hug you could ever ask for. It is amazing and miraculous to know that God shows his love in such big ways as youContinue reading “Miracles and Mysteries”

I am sure if you are close to my age, you remember the school and neighborhood playgrounds where you played while growing up. There were some valuable lessons shared on those old grounds around the neighborhood schools. Did your school or neighborhood playground have a merry-go-round? I fondly remember the swift, metal ride on theContinue reading “THE PLAYGROUND LESSONS”

I remember the old neighborhood so well. The stretch of barbed-wire that went across the back of our lot was put up by John Thomas to keep his cattle in. Down the hill past the barbwire was a creek and back up on the other side was the neighborhood where the “colored folks” lived. I couldContinue reading “The Dividing Line”

In honor of my war hero on this Memorial Day evening…I post a memory of my dad PFC Arthur Elijah Gravley who landed on the shores of North Africa in WW II and later was captured by the Germans. He spent 26 courageous months as a POW in Stalag 2B. A strong, skinny farm boy from Brevard, NCContinue reading “Dad’s Way”

The 1950’s were called the Nifty Fifties.  I remember the excitement of the 1950’s…the beginning of rock and roll, the flashy cars, the space race between the USA and Russia, the scare of being attacked by Russia, and the dawning of so many new things in technology. The “back room” as we called it wasContinue reading “NIFTY 50’S”

Eugene Cross lived near us on Worley Road. His house was right where the white folks’ houses ended and the colored folks’ houses started. His daddy, I was told, sold illegal whiskey out of his house. Eugene was a fast-talkin’, fast cursing, little spitfire. Many of the kids in the neighborhood didn’t stand in hisContinue reading “BLUE-JEAN CROSS”

I saw someone post a link to a performance of Johnny Cash’s “Were You There?” hymn. I remember a teacher singing that song in a school assembly at Parker High School in  1966. Johnny did a great job on it though…and Elvis could sing “Let There Be Peace in the Valley” until you were wipingContinue reading “That’s What It’s all About”