Humble Beginning and Abundant Life of My Childhood

I was the youngest of three girls born to William Felix and Sallie Lou Glaise. This was a spectacular family with parents who had the welfare of their children as a top priority. Because of their emphasis on education, religion, and politics, I became the individual I am today. Born in 1950, I always was treated with respect, consideration, and love by my family. At the time of my birth, I was not aware of the turmoil and cultural separation that were occurring in Danville and impacting the lives of my family.

I was a nappy-headed, tall, lanky, clumsy girl who was also a tattletale, crybaby and jokester. I had some great experiences as a Girl Scout, attending Sunday school, Bible Training, and family outings. My cousins had pinned the name "Flapsy" on me because I did not know not to step in every mud puddle in the middle of the road. It was my job to step in each puddle, or at least that is what I thought. My grandmother became so angry one day when we were walking to the spring and I stepped into a mud puddle that she called me Flapsy. My cousins and family teased me about that name, and I hate it even to this day. Little did I know that those long legs would earn me a high school and college basketball position and the title "Wilt the Stilt," a reference to famed basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain.

It seems as if I was always skinny when I was younger. I was labeled as "flag pole," "Skinny Minnie," and "Long Tall Sallie." Children were mean and teased me a lot; they are the same way today. Having taught in middle school and counseled in elementary school, I know that kids can be cruel to each other. If there is any flaw in a person (which there always is) they would find it. You were "Redbone" or "Tar Baby," nappy headed or freckled-faced, "pop eyes," or fatty or "Skinny Minnie." I was without shape or form. Guys would say, "You would be all right if you had some meat on your bones." I guess that is why I am so obese today.

Dad brought me a bicycle when I was young and I rode a lot up and down the street on Camp Grove Place. He made me exercise and play with dogs and cats when I was small. He took me swimming a lot in pool in Danville and with the Camp Grove Sunday school when they took the kids to affairs in Greensboro, Virginia Beach, and Roanoke and I always went swimming at the affairs.

Mother made me take a bath or shower every week and made me wash my body every day especially before school at 6 years old. She made me brush my teeth each day and she plated my hair, trimmed and made me go to the beauty shop with Aunt Anna. She made me cut, clean, and paint my finger nails to make them clean and smooth and attractive. She made me polish my shoes and made repairs. She made me dress beautiful. Aunt Nannie had a sewing machine and she would have her and others to provide clothes. She would buy lots of clothes and dress me and my sister Maxine alike. Maxine was only a year and a half older than me. My older sister Jean was ten years older than me. Mother made me write, read, sing, play the piano, talk, pray, and eat all of my food. She made me learn how to play the piano on South Main Street and payed a lady to teach me how to play. I did a good job because she had a Grand Piano at our home. She would make me say the prayer each night and morning and say the grace over my food. I learned all of the Lord prayers she brought books and magazines and Bibles and made me read. I learn the Bible and learn to pray and it has made my safe and alive without pain or grief. I was blessed by the lord for all that my mother had taught me to be faithful and truthful. She also taught me and made me wash dishes, make up my bed, put my clothes in the washer, take out the trash, take out the pot to the toilet. She brought swings, balls and dolls, she made may play with the swings, basketballs and look out for my doll baby. She paid for my many dolls. She made me read my Sunday school chapters and watch television for words when I was a little child. She had music and I would dance and play soccer, play cards, and all kinds of games with my sister and neighbors.

If it had not been for my Great Aunt Helen and her husband who moved in 1947 from New York City into the house beside us at Camp Grove Place, I doubt if I would have spoken a word all my life. Aunt Helen who was my mother's father sister and she kept the street and community entertained with her stories, predictions, fortune telling, tall tales, and Bible stories. She had married Deliveria Therville from Haiti who served on the New York City police force years ago. He later became a neighborhood barber. Most of her jokes were on her husband "Louie" (as she fondly referred to him). He did not speak English well because of his French language background. Aunt Helen kept stories of the family history and acted as the griot (storyteller), as it is called in Africa. As I grew older, I realized how great an influence she had on the family. I was not fond of her growing up because we shared a telephone party line with her, which meant that she could listen in on my private telephone conversations with my boyfriends. I believe that she taught my mother a lot about life because Mom spent a tremendous amount of time at Aunt Helen's house. But so did the rest of the family. Whatever Aunt Helen said was the law in the Glaise house. Aunt Helen was later stricken with tuberculosis and was sent to the sanatorium in Burkeville. Since Uncle Louie did not drive, Mom drove him, my sister Maxine, and me to Burkeville every Sunday until her cousin and Aunt Helen's nephew decided to help with the drive sometimes. Also, Mrs., Gertrude Moore was a neighbor and she really looked out for me as a young kid from 2 years old to 12 years old. I was friends with her two daughters who were much older than me but I made them share their boyfriends and let me ride with them and play with them. They were Dorothy and Jeanette Moore. Although Jeanette beat me, I still became her friend and later took over her Children once I got older and began a teacher. I begin to be friends with all of my community people as a child.

One of my earliest memories was from 1957 (when I was seven years old), and I carried my doll with me to take my sister to college in Greensboro, North Carolina. I felt as if we were the Beverly Hill Billies each Sunday loading up my Dad's 1954 Chevrolet with a straw basket filled with fried chicken, potato salad, and chocolate cake when we went to see my sister in college. I did not realize then...