In the year 1947 (at age 14), I met a
young man who was leading the singing in a tent revival in my hometown of
Caroleen, N.C. I attended the services because as a Christian I enjoyed being
where the Bible was preached. But there was another reason. I really liked this
young man and also enjoyed hearing him sing. His hometown was Clifton, S.C. so
other than getting to go to the services in the summer that was it.
Four years later, in February of 1951, I was at a talent program at Tri-High school, where I would graduate in May of that year. I heard someone call my name and when I looked around there was the young man that I had known four years earlier, but had almost forgotten. He asked to take me home and then came back the next day pretending to come to see my brother, Jimmy. He got there in time for Sunday dinner. Boy, Mama was a good cook! Some of the church folks would come to eat and they would rave about how good everything was. Those friends were Martha, Edna, and Lucille Coffey. They loved Mama’s banana and pineapple pudding. To me those didn’t look so good. I had seen her wring the necks of so many chickens, that I couldn’t eat them. Later I saw what I missed and learned to love fried chicken. I liked everything else she cooked. 
Photo from 1952
Gene (left)
Martha (pianist)
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