This photo is of my paternal grandmother, Minnie Berry Chaffin, taken at my parent’s wedding on December 26, 1958. She was born in 1916, the youngest of 4 children. She married my grandfather, Howard Chaffin, in 1932. If you’ve looked at the records from the time, you know it was common for teenagers to marry back then.
She raised five children and, for a while, ran a store at the northwest corner of Jonesboro and Chambers roads, right across the street from her home. The building was still there, but the store was closed by the time I came along. That bummed me out a little because I thought my near-perfect life would have been made perfect if I could have strolled into my grandmother’s store and raided the candy aisle any time I wanted.
Since we lived within sight of her house, we spent a lot of time with her. I can remember getting off the school bus and heading into her home for a biscuit or maybe two. There were always biscuits. With peanut butter, jelly, or perhaps some sorghum syrup, her biscuits were always a treat.
Even though all the men around here knew about farming, she was the one person who got me interested in gardening. One year, she told me we could plant a pea patch, and if I worked it, she would supply the land, seed, fertilizer, and all I had to do was work – hoeing and then picking peas. Then we would sell them, and I would get half the money. I remember working, but she was out there with me every time and possibly even when I wasn’t. She did sell some peas, and I did get paid. I had no interest in gardening for food, but gardening for money got me motivated.
She also had a love of music. She played the piano at church and at home. She passed on that knowledge and passion to her children and grandchildren. Well, some of them anyway. 😊
The thing I remember most, though, was her resilience. She had some health challenges, but she was a fighter, and she didn’t have any quit in her whatsoever. I’ve heard that family traits sometimes skip a generation, and I doubt that’s true, but I can surely see that toughness in my daughter Jennifer, who has that same fight in her. Certainly, from her example, I learned that we are stronger than we think.
What do you remember about her? Please share in the comments below.