|
|
LADY MEM'FIS: HUMBLE BEGINNING
|
|
|
|
|
-
THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTED!!!!!
-
Do you remember your very first memory? Some people say they can remember as far back as the crib. Others say they're doing good if they can remember what happened just yesterday. My earliest memory is when my mother was giving birth to my dear sister, Joyce. I was two and a half years old. I remember being pushed outside, onto the back porch, and told to stay there. I couldn't understand why I wasn't allowed in the house. I stood in the middle of the yard, lonely, in a back yard so big it seemed to swallow me up. I looked up at the sky feeling so small and alone. I remember saying to myself, "Sing." I started spinning around and around. I was dancing and singing all over that yard. I danced and sang until I felt happy again. I was singing for life, my life and my new baby sister's life. I am the fourth child of seven and have been singing since forever.
****************************************
****************************************
I was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and started singing in church, Mount Zion First Baptist, at the ripe old age of four. I will never forget an incident that happened when I was in the first grade. An older student came into the classroom and gave a note to my teacher, Mrs. McKinley. She looked at me and said, "Go with her to the principal's office." I was frightened to death. All the kids in the classroom were looking at me and laughing. They were saying things like, "Oooooh, you in trouble. You gon' git a whippin'." I was so scared. I hadn't done anything wrong, (that is, not at school.)
I followed the older student to the principal's office. I walked in the door with my head down and I heard these words. "Look at my little Black Gal. Come here and give me a kiss." I looked up and there was this beautiful woman, Mrs. Simmons. This was the lady who played piano at the church. I didn't know she was a teacher at this school. I went to her and she hugged me and gave me a big kiss on the cheek. She asked me did I remember her and I said yes. She told me that she wanted me to sing and dance in the school's Operetta. I was so happy. I went back to class, with my head up. I was somebody. All the kids looked at me for some telltale sign of tears, fear and pain. I didn't look left or right. I went straight to my desk and sat down with a little smile playing on my face.
| | | |
|
|
|
