LaGrange Georgia

Slave Narrative of Mrs. Celestia Avery

In an interview conducted on May 8, 1937, 75-year-old Celestia Avery recounts her life as a slave on the Heard plantation in Troupe County, Georgia. She describes the harsh conditions, including cruel treatment from her master, limited food, and the lack of autonomy in naming their children. Avery’s family endured forced labor, with each slave required to contribute to the plantation’s crops. Despite the oppressive environment, they found moments of joy in communal activities. Avery’s narrative emphasizes both the brutality of slavery and the resilience of those who lived through it.

Slave Narrative of Lewis Favor

Lewis Favor, an ex-slave born in 1855 in Merriweather County, Georgia, recounted his experiences under the Widow Favors’ ownership. Favor described a mixed treatment of slaves, detailing their daily labor in fields and household tasks. He shared insights into living conditions, clothing, and food, emphasizing the slaves’ reliance on each other and the mistress’s occasional benevolence. Favor highlighted the harsh realities of punishment and the fear associated with learning to read. After gaining freedom, he and his mother faced economic challenges but maintained resilience in a post-war society.