Washington County GA

Slave Narrative of “Father” Charles Coates

Interviewer: Viola B. Muse Person Interviewed: “Father” Charles Coates Location: Jacksonville, Florida Age: 108 “Father” Charles Coates, as he is called by all who know him, was born a slave, 108 years ago at Richmond, Virginia, on the plantation of a man named L’Angle. His early boyhood days was spent on the L’Angle place filled with duties such as minding hogs, cows, bringing in wood and such light work. His wearing apparel consisted of one garment, a shirt made to reach below the knees and with three-quarter sleeves. He wore no shoes until he was a man past 20 years … Read more

McRee, Susan Kelly Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. Susan Kelly McRee, well known Watkinsville resident, died at her home Thursday afternoon at 4 o’clock. Mrs. McRee was 83 years old and had been ill for several weeks. Services were conducted this afternoon at 2:30 o’clock from Johnson’s Church with the pastor Rev. M. H. Conway, and Rev. Dan ?____, pastor of Watkinsville Christian Church, officiating. Interment followed in Johnsons Cemetery, Bernstein funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers were Roy Crowley, Fred Johnson, Ed White, Albert Elder, Raymond Griffeth and J. B. Simmons, Jr. Surviving Mrs. McRee is a daughter, Miss Lilia McRee, Watkinsville, six sons, G. … Read more

Slave Narrative of Morris Hillyer

Person Interviewed: Morris Hillyer Location: Alderson, Oklahoma Age: 84 My father was Gabe Hillyer and my mother was Clarisay Hillyer, and our home was in Rose, Georgia. Our owner was Judge Hillyer. He was de last United States senator to Washington, D. C., before de war. My mother died when I was only a few days old and the only mother I ever knew was Judge Hillyer’s wife, Miss Jane. Her nine children were all older than I was and when mother died Miss Jane said mother had raised her children and she would raise here. So she took us … Read more