Delta Jewels

by Alysia Burton Steele

  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 permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

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  First ebook edition: April 2015

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  ISBN 978-1-4555-6283-1

  E3