My mother was a very religious person. There were six of us at one time, and I remember her taking us all to nine o'clock Sunday school. She even won a prize regular attendance.

Mother would also teach us to do work at home. We all had regular tasks besides our schoolwork. My mother was a strict disciplinarian. She was tougher on us than many of the mothers who had a better educational advantage than she had.

I remember her telling us how hard the times were during slavery. She would tell us how slave owners often beat her. But I can only recall one incident of slavery times that my father talked about.