Wednesday, May 14, 2003
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Wednesday, May 14, 2003 |
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FCHS project publishes 17th oral history of Fayette folks By CAROLYN CARY
The Fayette Portraits class, Fayette County High School, has just issued its 17th booklet on Fayette Countians. As an oral history project begun by teacher Becky Lewis in 1986, students spend most of their semester choosing a Fayette Countian to write about, do a number of interviews, obtain several of the person's family photos, and put it all together. The articles are then published in a booklet form. Each May those interviewed are treated to a reception and presented with a copy of "Fayette Portraits." Among those selected this year was native Vernon Woods. He was interviewed by Stephanie Minter, who learned that he was born and reared in Brooks, and still lives on the same land. In World War II, Woods served with the Flying Tigers in China for three years. He continued traveling after service and has been in all 50 states and around the world. He served on the Town of Brooks city council for 25 years. He was instrumental in the creation of the Brooks Memorial Cemetery, putting in electric lights, ballparks and a water supply. He still serves the county by being involved with the Fayette County Farm Bureau, and serves as a Soil Conservation Service advisor. Among the other 25 persons honored was Mary Hearn, a school bus driver in Fayette County for 20 years, who watched a whole generation grow up. "I've ridden through just about every subdivision in the county, and I have a lot of sweet memories," she said. She was interviewed by Ashley Britt, who began riding Mary's bus in the first grade. Others who had their life story printed were: Bob Arnold, Ruby Jewell Lindley Baitey, Jim "Bub" Carden, Henry Crews, Henrietta Redwine Dennis, Julius Graves, Betty Green, Travis Hardy, Donald Harp Sr., James Howell, Ruth Ellington Hughes, Doris Ivy, James G. Johnson, Robert Jones, Patricia Kilburn, James Aubrey Lanier, the late Cora Lee Noles, Mary Lena Pridgeon, James O. Sams, Carol Sweatman, Helen Thornton, the late Gene Walker, James Watkins, and Doris Williams. The publication is dedicated to two students who died just a day apart, Marvin Lee Moore Jr. (July 16, 1985 - Dec. 18, 2001) and Darrell McCoy, June 24, 1984 - Dec. 19, 2001). Both sets of parents were present. Also memorialized were Cora Noles and Gene Walker, two of those who died after being interviewed. The cover was painted by Danish Kurani, a senior in the class. It is of Miss Quinnie's cabin, built in 1878 by Felissa Stanley. It sat on New Hope Circle until 1998, when it was donated to the Inman Farm Heritage Days. It was restored in 1999. Copies are $5 each and are available at the administrative office of FCHS in Fayetteville.
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