They said that a white lady named Miss Mary Chrisman in Denver, Colorado and gotten hold of some of it. She was a rural schoolteacher who did dress making after school-hours. She wanted to use the money she earned to help a little Negro girl who needed a chance to further her education.

Miss Wilson and Mr. Simmons came to our farm to tell my mother and father that I was chosen. My parents called me in from the field to ask me if I would like to go to Scotia. I said, "Where is Scotia?" And they told me it was a school in Concord, North Carolina. And that a good woman was going to send me.

I pull down my cotton sack, got down on my knees, clasped my hand, looked up to the heavens and thanked God! I knew that this would be a good chance for me to prepare myself to help my people.