Document text
December 13, 1938
Mariah Jackson (Negro)
181 Lyndon Row
Athens, Georgia
(midwife)
CINDY WRIGHT
Grace McCune, writer
A search for Cindy's abode led up and down Georgia's
steep, red hills that in this paticular section had been con-
vartad into slick red mire by a downpour of rain. 14 frequent
inquiry "Can you direct ma to Cindy Wright's house?" invariably
received the response, "It's just 'round de corner to your
right.' 3ut they faliad to tell me how many corners were to
pa turned before I would finally arrive at the four -room house
occupied by the old granny woman. J;xcept for need of a coat
of paint the dingy little structure seemed to be in good condi-
tion. The small yard space that lad from the street to the
narrow porch ipis clean swept. t one side was a large grassy
plot whore a few late chrysanthemums were bravely trying to
hold up their heads.
Two doors confronted ma as I entered the porch and my
knock on the first one was answered by a tail young la6-ro who
said "Cindy, she Jives next door." .s I axtanded my hand to
rap on the adjoining door it was opened by a tiny boy, black
and shiny, attired in clean blue overalls and a red sweater.
"I haurad you ax for Cindy; she's right hare if you wants to
see 'or." Ji small mulatto woman came to the door. "I'se
Cindy," she said. "Won't you come in and sat down?"
2.
Cindy led the way into a bedroom where a glowing laundry
heater was a welcome sight after the long, cold, and vary wet
tramp in search of nor house. "I hope you will 'souse the
cookin'," said Cindy as she hastened to turn over a pone of
cornbread that was smoking in its pan on the heater. Next to
it a coffee pot was emitting a cloud of steam, and the remainder
of the space Oil tne small stove was occupied by a heavy iron
frying pan COVJraa with a close -fitting lid. "I don't s'pect
you laks uis," she remarked as she removed the lid from the
frying pan. "Dis is chit'lin's. 6ome of my frian's done kilt
hogs and sont 'em -to no, and. if yuu don't mind I'd lak mighty
we to finish cookin' our t'eats, 'cause Itse hongry."
This last remark seemed a good cue for presentation of the
sack of fruit I had brou ht with ma and to urge her to proceed
with her cooking. Cindy was delighted. "Chile," she exclaimed.
"I knows who you is now. You'se dat white chile my Lir. Aaron,
said Was =ALI to see ma. Dat man sho knows now good old
.Gindy loves fruit, and just bet ne put you up to fetchin'
it to me."
While Cindy was busy, I looked around the clean, com-
fortable and home -like room with its simple furnishings. Crin-
kled cotton spreads covered the mattresses on the two iron beds.
There was a beautiful fern on an old-fashioned washstand. Other
furnishings included two trunks, several chairs and a smAll ta-
ble or two. A small dog .and a cat ore sleeping near the stove.
3.
The old style chimney, built out into the room, had a mantel on
which were several tins of wandering jew and a large oil lamp.
One corner of tde room was curtained off with portieres made of
flour sacks. The rough, wide planks that formed the wails were
whitewashed. small girl, apparentli not more than eight years
oid”was ironing on a board placed on two chairs. "6top your
wuk, Honey," Cindy addressed the child. "sit you_ Somepin'
t'eat and eat it and then go outside and play while we talks."
Turning to me, she said, "I tries to lam n 'am how to wuk,
'cause I knows I'se gwine to ba called 'way one of desa days to
coma back hare no more. Yes, Lord, dat I is, dat's a fete',
Honey, sho s ou'sa bornad." When she had placed a piece of
cornbread and a serving of chitterlings on each of their plates,
she opened the sack of fruit and gave each child an apple and
sent both of them to the kitchen to eat. "I ain't gwine give
'am none of my oranges 'cause wid just one tooth in my haid,
I kin eat dam better'n any of de other fruit." When she had
heaped her own platter with chitterlings and cornbread and had
poured a cup of coffee, she sat down by me, near the stove, and
soon was rocking in her chair as she consumed her food with
every indication of satisfaction. I wondered how she could
attain such gusto with only one tooth. A wide -spread checked
apron almost covered her clean, dark print dress, and a little
fringe of gray hair escaped the snowy head rag.
4.
As she ate, she talked; "I'se sho glad Lx. Aaron done
sont you to sea ma," she said, "and I told Lolly just last night
dat Mx. Aaron hadn't never lied to ma before. It had been such a
long time since he nad sunt ma word you was coming, dat I'd done
plum' giva you out." The platter haa been sopped clean with the
last of the cornbread and she reached into the sack for an orange.
"Chile," she said. "I'se mighty proud and thankful you gimme dis
fruit. I was juat a-wishin' dis vary mornin' dat I had some."
The dog woke up and started around the heater to in-
vastiga-6e the presence of a stranger. "Don't 4,aat him tech your
stockin's," said Cindy, "'cause he'll tear 'am sho as youtse
borned. Course he don't aim to; he's just such a friendly little
pup. We don't know who he btlongs to. He
chi:dun wanted 'im so cad, I just couldn't
ri lit smart too. I sho don't never see no
just tuk up here and de
say no. Our cat is
rats 'round hare.
"Now, if you don't mind, I'll put on a put of peas to
cook for the other enilian to at whorl day gits home atter school.
I'se awful sloe 'bout dodn' things, 'cause I'se done got so old and
no 'count dose days." Joon after she had replenished the fire and
the peas had begun to boil, she placed a generous quantity' of snuff
in her mouth and sattlad back in her chair. Than we hoard a knock
at the door. Cindy introduced the aged Nagrass who entered, as
'Miss Jenny. Jenny usad the next few moments to tail Cindy about
her "job of wuk wid some white folksaa, what lives a fur piece off.
De may's a-comin' utter ma in a great big autymobila toiaorrow."
5.
Her story told, Jenny took her ueparture with the final remark,
"I didn't know you all had no comp'ny, hiss Wright, run along
now, and coma back to see you another time." After she was bone,
my hostess chuckled. "he just had to know who it was hare to
sea ma, and when you'se gone avvy blessed 'oman 'round hare will
trupp up some 'souse to coma aim try to find out what you wanted,
but ain't none of 'am gwine to find out nothin' from Old Cindy.
Again Cindy started her story, "I don't 'spacts I can
tell you much 'bout what you wants to Know, 'cause my mind ain't
so good s it used to be. 6omatimas I can 'weiaber things way back
yonder good, and than again my just comes and goes. I
don't recollac' much 'bout de time 'fore de war, 'cause I was too
young Myself den, but I'se gwina to do my bast to tell you de an-
swer to anything you axes ma. You want to know why? Hit's 'cause
my boy, my hr. Aaron, done sont you to see me.
"I was bornad 1.7 years ago last lairch, 'way down in
Alabamy at a place day called ITotasulga. Lly daddy had done been
bornad and raised on Dr. Long's place in 0-latnorpe County,
Gaorgy. Chile,daddy's marster, hr. Long was such a grand,
good man, day named a town in Oglethorpe County for him. His
wife she was Miss Annia hay Long was one good 'oman in dis
here world of sin and sorrow. All dat Long fambly was good
white folksas.
"6am Foster was my daddy, and he coned all de way to
Alabamy to marry my xaaiumy, and he stayed on in Aiabamy 'til long
6.
attar da big war was over. liammy's name was Jue Jha had been
sold off one time in her life, but when she marriad she bflongad
to Liss Grace 3radford. Dare was one child youngerfn ma, born
andurinf de war. hit was a long time attar de war was over 'fore
our unite folks:. -3s woula tell 141Iiiy and daddy dat we was free, and
hit was a loner time yit 'fore we could coma to Georgy.
"My grandaddy sent attar us. Yes, dat he did. He sont
one horse and wain plumb to illabamy to fetch us back. De man he
sont wa sick wid a sweilinf when he got dare; he was just swelled
up all over. I ain't never saed de lak, and it was she a miuhty
long time 'fore he was able to ride back in uat wain. I aon't
know just now many days it tux to coma from Aiabamy to Oglathorpe
County ih oray, but Daddy said hit was 6h0 a lung hard trip.
.oads warn't lak day is now and folkeas :Lived a long piece apa2t.
omapin' tfaut was hard to git on de road and dey was hongry plenty
of times 'fore day uot to de end of dat long ride. Daddy and de
boys rid in :1st wain wid de man what had de swellinf, but EarnLy
and us two uals rid de train. I ain't never gwine to forgit comin'
to Gaorgy, 'cause dat w s my fust train ride, and I was scared
plum' to death. kammy said I screamed and carried on so when dat
train coma puffin' up to de depot, she thought day never would be
able to it ma on it. he said I halt on to her ail de time on
de train, 'til we got hongry and she opened up a big box of somepin
t'eat what she had CiOhJ cooked up 'fore we left Alabamy. 31g as
7.
dat box was, de eats give out on us long 'fora we 03t to grand-
daddy' s house, and we wos hongry sho 'nough all de last part of
dat long riva.
"Granddaddy's house Wus Oil de old Lone, place down on de
'iaorgia hailroad. h10ht dare's de place I growad up in. I stayed
dara 'til I married, wukin' in da fi id wid my daddy, 'cause uat
W6 ail da kind of wuk I knownad how to uo dam days.
"Day nad schools but dare warn't none un our place. But
schoolin' warn't no fur piece off, 'cause dare was a school in
foster Town. Dat was a placa what had so mani Fosters livin' in
it dat day sho inuugh did call it foster Town. Lots of de young
chili -Lin was sont to dot school, but ma, I ain't never went to no
schoolnousa a whole day in all my bornad days. I hear folksas
talk 'bout de m A -B -C's, but I don't know nothin' 'bout ,am. But
just let ma tail you, dare sho can't nobody fool ma when it comas
to countin'. I can silo do dat. Dare don't nobody beat Old Cindy
out of no -thin'. All of daddy's chiilun had to help hiu in de
field. We wukad mighty hard, but wa had a good livin'; dare was
plenty t'aat, a place to stay, and avvything we sho 'nough needed.
”Liy daddy seed to it dat I huu a i-ighty smart weddin,,
when ma and Joe Wright marriad. Hit was just one of dam old
time -country waddin's. Daddy didn't 'vita so powerful many folks,
but it was a nice waduin' right on. I don't even 'member what'
color my dress Wu6. It was made out of thin cloth that had light
dots on it. It may of been dotted SWISS. I don't know.
8.
"Dera vvas de mostas' good things t'eut at our waddint
supper. Jaddy avan laud a whole hog cookad for us, but we wouldn't
'low no dancin' round uare. I minded my goou old daddy, and I
ain't nevar dancJd one of dam sets in ,ry whole life, and at my
Eu'a I don't haver 'spect to. 1;van if I wanted to uo it, ItSe
dona ,.ot too stiff and no 'count. If daddy hadn't minded, I ain't
never hau 110 tiie for uancin' nohow. I wukad nurd and triad to
take care of what us mada. Le and Joe farmed for white folksas for
years and yiurs. I wukaa right 'long wid Tom in da field, 'cause
I'sa u-taliin' you he w -s a good man through all de JO ye- 2.5 ve
lived togather. He hus been gone and left me eight years ago pre-
zackiy, since five o'clock last :friday avanin'.
"I don't 'mambar now coma I uona it, but I got started
in us a granny tomun not long 'fore we moved into town. Datts
been mora'n 3O years ugo. ince dut time Itse been doing dat
kind of wuk all 'long 'til I got too old and quit, 'bout three
years ago. Course you ain't s'posen to know much 'bout my kind
of wuk, out it's shu 'nougn hard wuk. Why, I'se cotchad as many
as three ouoias in one ni.nt. Chile, is you marriad, or is I
a-tallin' you what I hadn't oughta?"
Considerable urging LUS necessary before Cindy was con-
vinced that it was proper for an unalarriad woman to hear her
story. "Attar I coma here to town I wukad wid 1466 Jokford and
Liss ,Dryan. Course, I huu to take den blood tastias den, and. wear
white gowns, awl I wore white caps uat kivvarad up all my hair.
,.ind does you know aay had to sae no do soma of my wuk 'fora dey
would 'low ne to have one of aam 'stificatas. Da funny part of
it all is d t I 'spacts I was cotchin' babies 'fora dam 'omans
was corned aamseivas.
"Liss _ckford, sha was Lood and all riLht, but I just
loved to wuk wid 1,iss bryan, and she still comas to see ma 'bout
one time avvy week. Yas, Lord, I'sa cotchad plenty of babies as
day coldad into dis old world. i)at I has, and A.iiss 13ryan, she al-
ways said she didn't never worry,'bout none of Cindy's cases,
'cause if uara was anythin6 wrong, Cindy would sho say so.
"Plenty of folksas ri at in dis vary town still owes me
for waitin' on 'am. Yas, Lord, dara's plenty owin' to ma aat I
don't never fspact to cit. 6olda folksas would pay if day could;
others just ain't Lot no mind to pay ma nothin'.
"L4uGh? Why, I'se never seed nothin' to make ma want
to lauLh at on none of ,.dy ca
AS;
deli tomuns was always suffarint
too much for dat. Ilse h ared other cranny Tomans laugh 'bout
now dair cases behaved, cut hit warn't lak dat wid me. I always
wadtad to visit wid my cases 'fore day was down in de bed and sho
'nouLh needed ma. Dat was so I could be sho avvytain6 was fixed
up raauy, just so. but, yus, Lord, I'se fussed at 'em plenty of
timas, just to it 'am good and mad, dut I has. Hit was for dair
own L:ood for if I could just it 'am mad 'nou6h, hit was easier
on 'am and was all over quick -or. I'se seed plant' of suffarin'
and sad times wid de rich, de pore, de whita, and de colored
'omuns. Yas, Lord, uat I nas, for I', wukad wid 'em all.
10.
"My job was to botch de babies, and see dat evvything
was all right 'fora Lleft de place, and I always want back
evvy day for aeven days to see at day was gittin' 'long all
right. If day was (c)in well on de seventh day my wuk was
finished. but now I'se ot too nervous and old. You know, dat's
wuk dat can't wait. I had to go right on when dey ballad me, rain
or shine, sleet or snow. at chile what opened de door when you
comed, cat's my great, great grandchile, and he's just about de
last baby I botched. Now, I did go out just dls last week here in
de neighborhood, but hit was just to help Liss bryan out, 'cause
she is so nice and good to ma.
"I'se had fourteen chiilun myself, eight boys and six
gals. Yas, Lord! Praise de Lord: I'se still got eight of my
chiilun left livin'. Most of 'em lives close by in dis neighbor-
hood, Icappint,ona gaLdat.livas_in.;Cinoinnati. :.I'se wuked hard
to raise my chillun and sand 'em to school. LiOligi of my oldest
ones want to de country schools 'fore we moved to town.
"Joe wukad and I wukad, and my white folkses has been
mighty good to ma. I just don't know what I would do if it
warn't for 'am. Let me tell you, I sho did have a good husband.
he made 41540 a week wuking at de Holman building, and evvy
z3adday night he fetched evvy last penny of dat money straight
home and laid it in my lap. When I axed him how much he wanted
out of it, he always said 'fifty cents.' iLnd what do you think
he wanted wid um fifty cen'ses? Not a blessed thing but to buy
II.
my snuff wid. Dat's right.
"I done housewuk and washin' too for some of my good
white folksas, and I tuk good care of what we made, so'se we
would have somapin. Other folksas, day says, 'Liz Wright, how
does you it alone 60 well? How coma you has so much?' Us al-
ways had plenty somapin t'aat, good clothes to wear, and a good
home to live in. Jam other folksas never wuked lak us done, and
what day maaa, (lay nalnr tiak no care of. I made our chiilun wuk
too. Our white folkses said all my fambly was good wukers. Jince
A
Ilse got too old to wuk no more, dam caillun of mine is been
mighty good. j0111J of 'em's always sandin' somapin for me.
"We livad in one place for nigh on to thirty years, but
it warn't here. I'se just been hare 'bout one year. My gal what
lives in Cincinnati, sont for me to come live wid her. I got rid
of 'most all my things and want, but shucks, seven months was long
as I could stay up aar. I was too homesick, so she had to sand
ma back. Cailia got ais place. We has two of de rooms and one
of my gals iiV,J6 in da two rooms on the other side. he wuks
out, and I takes cure of nar chillun whilst she's gone evyy day.
"All iay chillun's been mighty good to me, but my Inirta,
she never would leave me to git married. Yas, Lord, dat chile
has sho stayed wid ii,Jr old mammy. Day was all of 'am mighty
good to ma in Cincinnati, but I was scared I might die 'way off
up dare, and I
ts to be laid in de ground right 'long side of
12.
Joe, and Giese cnillun of ours had sho wetter see to dat. I
b'llavas in in-surance. Dat I does! I'se got a policy dat
will pay for puttin' ma in de ground, when I'se called 'way
from dis world.
"I ain't never been to no doctor for mysalf and I
ain't never had no doctor sont hare. I don't take no medicine
neadar, but I knows a man what kind of fixes ma up somapin when
I feels lik I needs it. Dat's sho 'nough. De last time I had
a bad hurtin', I just want to sae him, and told him I had a
hurtin' in my right side under idy shoulder. "de walked 'round
ma a time or two, and dun he rubbad dat side, and said, 'Hit's
all ri-Jit now.' And nit was. It ain't hurt me no more since.
"I ain't sick now. I'se just no 'count. ItS8 gittin'
old. I fell last week and nurt myself right bad. I couldn't
git up, and if it hadn't a been for uat little great, great
grandson of mine I 'spacts I would have had to stay on de floor
'til Gallia got home, but he called a lady in to help me git up,
My laig 8 been a-hurtin' ma right smart ever since.
"Does you know what tine t'is?" asked Cindy as she
stirred the pot of peas. I told her that according to my
wrist watch it was 2:10. 6he sipped water from a dipper for a
while, gave the restless dog some food, than sat down in her
rocking chair and put it in notion again.
be seamed to be pondering soiaathing as she solemnly
13.
and silently stuaiad my face. Finally sua asked, "Is you kin to
Liz Josie stewurt? You all sho do favor. You/se just a-lak." I
admitted that I an not ralated to iAra. Stawart. 2xpecting to please
her, I audd. that I know Idrs. Stewart and admire her. "I 'spects
she's good," answered Cindy. "I washed for her fambly for years,
and I sho does lak Lir. Gilbert. He is one good Pl[in. Dat he iSI
JiS here's his house. He lets me have aabe two rooms for a dollar
a week, and he somati:11 s says, 'Cindy, don't you worry none if
you don't have de rent right rawly evvy time./ Now (Jut's just
lak jr. Gilbert Stavart."
suddenly sha stopped rocking and asked, "What day is
dis, anyhow?" I told har it was Tuesday. "I means, what day
in de uonth is it?" When I replied that it was the 13th of
i)acemaer, she lau.:had and said, "I knowed I warn't wrong. I
gits lay check on de 17th. Yus, Lord, 'deed I does. 1'80 clone
Lot two of dem five dollar checks for da old age pension. Hit
ain't but five dollars a month but dat sho does help. Joas you
think all de old folkbes will 6it it? I sho hopes so, /cause old
folks as what's done wukad long as dayv can, needs it mighty bad
now. jara's a old nan stuyin' down di s street what ain't got no
folkses, and dat pore old man is blind us a bat, and he don't it
no pension. Not one Jesus thing, CiiD8 he Lit. YaS, Lord, is
dat right? Laybe day. will Lit hit fixed up for him so/se he can
Lit a little help 'fora day has to put him under de ground."
14.
.Jhe resumed hr rocking, and looking up remarked,
"When was de last time you seed 1.1r. Aaron?" Without giving
ma time to reply, she continued, "I wuked for his folkses 'til
his mother and daddy moved 'way from here to go to New York.
Dey was good folkses, if dey was Jews. Dey was 'special good
to us what wuked for just nearly 'bout raised young
I4r. Aaron. Dare was other boys in dat fambly, but Ur. Aaron
was my boy. Yassum, I Ispects he was bad as de rest of 'em, and
I she had to give him a talkin' to sometimes, and I still talks
A
to r. Aaron just lak I wants to,. he don't say nothin, back to
me nuther. he just laughs and says he, 'Now, Gal, what's de
matter wid you?' -.6ut, my Lr. Aaron ain't been to see ma in a
long time now, and just you tell 'in dat Cindy said he'd better
cone, 'cause sna ain't got too ola to it a holt of him yit,
and she's Tspectin' him to sand :anta Claus 'round to sae her.
"see dis soar on my neck? Well, dat was one time I had
to have doctor. Lt na tell you about it. A long time ago,
when I was just as pa rt and hearty as I could be, a little bump
come on my shoulder. or a long time, hit warn't no size a'tall,
den hit started off to growin'. hit grovied 'til hit hung plumb
down over ray shoulder. I warn't sick none, and hit didn't hurt
a'tall, but I was scared it would keep on growin,.
"I want to see iz Lora pant. a colored oman
dat knows things. Attar she had done 'zamined dat thing
15.
growin' on my shoulder, 6i1U run through her cyards and said,
'Liz Wright, you'se been witched, but I'se glad I can tell
you dat you hain't been pizoned. You Was witched by a 'oman
dat lives right nigh whur you stays. he has a grudge Iginst
you 'cuube hit seems lak to her you gits 'long so much ,better
and has 60 much more dun she does, so dat's de grudge she is
beholdint iginst you.
"Liss Lora said for me to come to town and it a certain
kind of 'bacco and sne esplained just how I.was to fix it up.
,bhe said she was gwine to do all she could for me, but I would
be in bad and would have two more of den same kind of places
to start growin' on me. he said dat 'oman what had done
witched me wouldn't come nigh ifie 'til de last of den places
was gone, but den she lx)uid ax and 'quire 'bout me avvy day.
Would you b'iieve it? Jna done dat very thing.. he sho did.
"When dat place started on my neck I got scared and want
to see a man dat knowed how to do things. I didn't tell him
a word 'bout me gwine to see Miss Lora, and dat man told ma
word for word pre-zackly what Miss Lora had done told me,
even 'bout dat 'oman. Dat ha did! Den I knowed for sho dat
I nad done bean witched. Den dat old 'oman uat had witched ma
started comin' to my neighbors evvy day to 'quire 'bout how
Liz Wright was, 'til day axed her why she didn't come see for
herself how I was. I sho was havin' me a time den, 'cause
one of dam things commenced growin' under my arm, and I just
16.
had to lie in bed whilst day growed and growed. I sont for
Liss Lora again, and she said dey was ready to be lanced by a
sho 'noUgh doctor. I warn't real sure so I sont for de old man
I told you 'bout a little while ago. he tzamined ua and said
den places was ready to be lanced, and he 'lowed I would git
well attar dat, and den dat tomRia
would coma evvy day to see
how I Was. When a doctor had cu,t open den places, dat witch
'Oman did start right out comint to see ma, but I didn't care,
for she had done lost her power over ma, and -I got well.
"I'se got to see 'bout dam peas now," Cindy proclaimad
in a tone that implied dismissal, so I began making ready for
my departure. "I wants to tail you somepin dat'll make you
always 'member Uld Cindy," she began, "Hit's what I'se heared
all my born days, and I'se found dat hit's sho de truth. 'Many
things may tangle your foots, but tain't nothin' dat can hold
'em.' Dat's right. Ain't it?"
I thanked Cindy and promised to return but would not set
a data for the next visit, as I did not want her to be disap-
pointed. he laughed. "Dat's 'cause I said you and Mr. Aaron
done lied to ma 'bout you oomints" she said. "Well, I still
says you never coma when you sont me word to 'spect you, and
now you be sho and tell Lr. Aaron I'se a-lookin' for him too."
Cindy and her dog accompanied me to the door, and as I
walked down the steps she, said, "Chile, I'se sho gwine to have
lots of compiny attar you gits out of sight, but none of tem
ain't gwine to git nary a word out of Old Cindy 'bout what
17.
your business wid ma was."
Three days later as I passed the southern lJapartment
6tore, its proprietor, Mr. Aaron stein, hailed me. "What did
you do to my good old nurse?" he demanded. "I let you go
out to see her, and the next thing I hear, she has had a stroke
and is at the point of death. I think it's mighty lucky that
her story was recorded when it was for it's not likely that
she will ever be able to talk again."
The Athens Benner -Harald of December 21, 158, carried
the story of Cindy's death and announced that her funeral
would be held from J.benerhar Baptist Church, Thursday, December
22nd, at two o'clock. It was fortunate that I started out a
little ahead of time to find the church for I soon learned
that there was mura than one Lbenezar Church in, or near,
Athens. Alexander and Freeman, undertakers in charge of he
funeral, gave me directions for finding the place where the
last respects would be paid to Cindy. Finding that I still had
a little time to spare before the funeral I went by her "Ur.
AaroWsftstore to learn from him about her last few days. He
said that her family had tried to prevent her from doing any
hard work because they had known for several years that her
blood pressure was very high, but while they were away at work
18.
her restless energy, tha industrious habits of her lifetime,
often led her to disobey their
had waited for har children to
a big washing," and this undue
admonitions. He said that she
depart for work, and had "done
exertion was followed by a
stroke of paralysis. he never spoke again, and died
three days after she was stricken. In conclusion he said,
"Jha was a good woman, real smart, and juat as honest as she
could ba. We will all miss her."
The funeral party had not arrived whanAI entered
Abenezar Church and took my seat near the rear of the audito-
rium. A woman, apparently a mambar of the choir, approached
me at once and invited me to come up near the altar, where
seats had been reserved for Cindy's white friends. There I
could see and hear everything. The altar was draped in white
and banked with ferns. On it was an open bible of Immense sia
soon tha massaga was carried to the organist that "they"
were approaching. The people who had been standing in groups
on the outside filad in and took their seats at the right and
left of the room, but the entire canter section had been re-
served for the funeral party. The sadly tender notes of the
funeral march came from the piano as the doors were swung open
and two preachers lad the procession down the aisle. hot a
word was spoken on the march to the altar. Immediately after
the preachers were the six flower bearers, all of them elderly
woman, each carrying potted flowers and marcning in couples.
Behind them the casket on its wheeled stand was guided by
an undertaker, and followed by the pallbearers. Then cane
Cindy's family, followed by their friends. :veryone in the
church stood up until the funeral party was seated and than
the remaining seats in the cent -r aisle were quickly filled
y some of the others.
The choir sang ileurer Li God to Thee, and a preacher
read as a text the ninetieth Psalm, beginning with the words,
"Lord, Thou has bean our dwelling place in all generations,"
and in solemn aid reverent tones he continued through its
last verse, "And let the beauty of our Lord, our God be upon
us: establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the
work of our hands, establish Thou it."
The same preacher offered this prayer:
"Let us entreat Thee 0, God!
Lay we come before Thee,
And ask Thee to console us,
And grant us Thy peace,
And help us.
"We know Thou has never done wrong
But everything is for the good of
Thy kingdom.
"Bless these, Thy children,
And give them peace.
And when our time cones
To go, may we find a place
In Heaven."
"We
will now," he announced, "have the obituary of Sister
Writt, read by iiss Bessie Uunnon."
20.
A well -Groomed, slender little mulatto NeGress left
the section occupied by the family, and standing by the cas-
ket she began:
"sister Cindy Wright was borned in tha year of 1861,
and was married to Brother WriGht at the age of twenty years,
6he was converted at the aGe of twenty-five, in Boggs Chapel,
in OGlathorpe County, and when she came to Athens to live,
she moved her membership to Lbenezer Church where she has been
well-known, and loved by all who knew her. her husband died in
1930. he was the mother of fourteen childrcln, eight of whom
survive her. When sickness, death, or trouble came, she was
always ready and willin to do all she could for the ones that
needed her. Always cheerful and ready to help others, she was
very industrious in her coi.munity until her death on December
20th, 1938."
The preacher invited the congregation to be comforted
by a solo, 2ade _Sada, aoh:ilarthiy Joy, sung by :kiss Mahala
Wheeler. A very black NaLruss, of good appearance, in the
choir group arose and sang four stanas of the old hynn. her
voice, apparently almost strangled by emotion at times, in-
dicated that her interpretative efforts stressed the meaning
of the words rather than the tuna and rhythm.
'Until this point the second preacher had not -b.-ken active
part in the exercises.
The presiding minister announced that
brother etunley would now talk. his tribute ended with these
21.
words: "he lived like a child of God, and served Him long
and well. Thou good and raithful servant, well done."
j3rother atanley than stated that he would turn the service
back to irother Aoberts. This was the first time we had hoard
the name of the presiding cleric. he arose and begun the funeral
sermon at the end of which the casket was opened. The undertaker
than invited ne to be the first to view Cindy. The pianist had
starteu pLaylli a funeral march when I arose and went to the
casket. While tne dLnity of death was on her face, as she lay
there in her white robe in a casket of a delicate shade of lav-
ender and white flowers) it seemed as though the old woLlon had
just dropped off to sleep. When I had returned to my place,
the COI/ rogation filed by the casket in solemn procession,
while one of the preachers droned in a low monotone, "The
Lord hath ivan, tha Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name
of the Lord." When all of tnJ congregation had viewed her ex-
cept the family, the unuertukar lowered one side of the casket
and rolled it close by each member of the family so they might
sea her, and even touch n.dr, for the last tLe. i4ow the chant
of taa preacher took on a newer and ada_her note and tone as
he read the ritual of the church, while her children took their
farewell. "Foreasmuch as it 'lath pleased Almighty God, in his
wise Providence to take out of the world the soul of the de-
parted sister he read in ringing tones, and as the bier
was wheeled back toward the altar he read the closing words:
22.
"From henceforth, blessed are ',-he dead who die in the Lord,
evenso suith the pirit, for they rest from their labors."
The casket WC.16 closed. Brother tanley uttered the
benediction. The flower bearers took their places, in couples,
before the casket, and led b the two preachers, Cindy Wriht's
body l'46 followed by her family and friends s it was borne
toward the cemetery.
Just as she had prophesied less than a week before, she
had answered the last call, and had Eone, to return no more..