I have been blessed with friends and supporters along the way: Marie Antoon, Michel du Cille, Jennifer Cole, Scott Colwell, Kim Cross, Breanna Edwards, Amy Evans, Tom and Joyce Freeland, Emily Gatlin, David Gibson, Johnny Hayles, Jean Nash Johnson, Myrtle Jordan, Teresa Kamins, Suzie Katz, Syreeta Kee, Lynda Kraxberger, Jeremy Lasky, Bill and Francine Luckett, Homita McDonald, Karen Mitchell, Alan Moore, Bruce Newman, Ted Ownby, Susan Puckett, Tamara Redfern, Ruth Robertson, Lucy Schultze, Joe Starita, James Thomas, Aaron R. Turner, Edward Vaughn, Lucia Vinograd, John Wall, David Wharton, Rhea Williams-Bishop and Marilyn Weston Williams, and Margaret Wrinkle. Thanks to the staffs at The Daily Mississippian and Hottytoddy.com.
To Ole Miss students: Jared Boyd, Alex Edwards, Jhesset Enano, Imani Flowers, Logan Kirkland, Giana Leone, Aniah Lust, Jared Senseman, and Katie Williamson, you keep me young. To Sha’ Simpson, you are my “adopted daughter.” Bobby and I—along with Gigi—love you. Welcome to the family, baby girl.
To anyone I’ve missed, please hold it to my head and not my heart.
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Contents
Cover
Title Page
Welcome
Dedication
Family Tree
Map of Mississippi Delta Region
THE INSPIRATION Mrs. Tennie (Tennessee) S. Self, Clarksdale
Mrs. Albertine T. Reid, Sherard
Mrs. Florida B. Smith, Charleston
Mrs. Katie M. Richardson, Tunica
Mrs. Lillian B. Matthews, Indianola
Mrs. Lillie B. Jackson, Tutwiler
Mrs. Deloris M. Gresham, Drew
Ms. Joyce Dixon Myers, Ruleville
Mrs. Ruby Hooper-White, Ruleville
Mrs. Jean C. Woodley, Dundee
Mrs. Velma T. Moore, Benoit
Mrs. Myrlie Evers, Jackson
HAT. COAT. PURSE. Ms. Curtistene Short Davis, Leland
Mrs. Rosie H. Bynum, Leland
Mrs. Easter W. Summerville, Leland
Mrs. Rachel J. Scurlock, Charleston
Mrs. Maude W. Coleman, Greenville
MY MISSISSIPPI BURNING Mrs. Annyce P. Campbell, Mound Bayou
Mrs. Leola W. Overton, Clarksdale
I FELT LIKE AN ORPHAN Mrs. Juanita W. Turney, Greenville
GRAM, ME, AND RICK JAMES Ms. Rena Butler, Clarksdale
Mrs. Ivey B. Anderson, Mound Bayou
GRAM MARRIED AT 17 Mrs. Mildred W. Lee, Marks
“SAY GOOD NIGHT, LISA.” Mrs. Rebecca “Ma Beck” Hawkins, Indianola
Mrs. Ora D. Jackson, Merigold
Mrs. Viola J. Sisson, Greenwood
Mrs. Ceola L. Causey, Drew
Mrs. Ollie L. Mack, Yazoo City
Dr. Bettie L. Clark, Yazoo City
Mrs. Leola B. Dillard, Yazoo City
Mrs. Alma B. Tucker, Webb
Ms. Bessie M. Thompson, Charleston
GRAM WASN’T SURE I LEARNED ANYTHING Mrs. Margie T. Johnson, Hollandale
Mrs. Mary L. Chatman, Cleveland
POP DIDN’T HAVE TO SAY A WORD Mrs. Delcia R. Davis, Indianola
Mrs. Easter Lee Sharp, Shaw
DECENTLY AND IN ORDER Mrs. Daisy Idleburg, Mound Bayou
I NEVER SKIPPED SCHOOL AGAIN Mrs. Ruby Perry Patton, Shelby
Mrs. Annie McFarland Mister, Grenada
Mrs. Emma Eudora McGee Horton, Charleston
Mrs. Lillie V. Thompson Davis, Marks
FUNNY, I’M JUST LIKE GRAM Mrs. Magolia M. Fox, Grenada
Mrs. Margaret Henry, Mound Bayou
GRAM—SWEATPANTS, A BLAZER, AND HIGH HEELS Mrs. Dorothy A. Kee, Coffeeville
Mrs. Lela J. Bearden, Sumner
A GRAM LEGACY Mrs. Lillie M. Roberts, Coffeeville
Mrs. Beatrice P. Smith, Charleston
Mrs. Larvarah Jones, Ruleville
Mrs. Herma S. Mims Floyd, Sumner
Mrs. Corine Thomas, Lambert
Ms. Irene Thornton, Lambert
Mrs. Mary Ella Young, Ruleville
Mrs. Glennie Mae Houston, Tillatoba
Mrs. Virginia Hower, Clarksdale
Acknowledgments
Newsletters
Copyright
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 by Alysia Burton Steele
Family Tree art courtesy of Seann W. Anderson. Map courtesy of Stan Alost
Cover design by Jon Valk. Cover photography by Alysia Burton Steele
Cover copyright © Hachette Book Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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