| In the year of 1927, my grandparents Andrew Jackson and Mary Ann Harper,
as did my parents W. L. (Bill) and Eula Harper, moved to Coleman.
The family moved in covered wagons and buggies from Loraine. My parents
were very hard working people. In the early ‘30’s my dad worked on
W.P.A. and years later in construction work (roads and highways).
My mother was a homemaker, and her family always came first. Our
mother made all of the clothes as there was a large family, namely Dean,
Clifton, Virginia, Barbara, Joyce, Joanne, Darrell, Cecil and Brenda Kay.
Cecil died when he was almost two years old. Joyce passed away December
13, 1973, in Dallas.
My younger sister Joyce, as well as Darrell, Cecil and Brenda Kay were
all born in Coleman. We lived in Quitman, about two years where JoAnne
was born, but returned to Coleman. By this time I was going to school.
I went just a short time to West Ward, and then I started to South Ward.
My first teacher was “Miss Annie,’’ second grade was Miss Bell Patton,
then a Miss Coates and Miss Geneva McCulloch, who was an art teacher.
Miss Eunice Kitchen taught spelling; and Miss Jessie Martin, who was an
English teacher. My principal was W. H. Avinger.
When we lived on West 4th Street. I remember there were two places
that were special for kids growing up; the City Park and the big hill that
was west of 5th Avenue. This was particularly lots of fun in the
summer, when we would go on sunrise breakfasts, hike all over the hill,
and sometimes go over to the old lake. I remember the Dixie Theatre,
Howell and the Gem. That was in the 40’s and the only drive-in I
remember was the Dixie Pig. Sometimes for visiting casual friends,
we would park in front of the drug store and Woolworth and visit on Saturday.
My grandparents had seven sons and two daughters whose families lived
in Coleman at one time: T. E. (Edgar) and Corene Lillie Harper Bryant;
Emma and Ray Kimbrough; Charlie and Susie Harper; John and Tessie Harper;
Joe and Dolly Harper; and Doc and Jack Harper. Edgar and Corene had
four daughters; Emma and Ray had five daughters and one son; Charlie and
Susie had two sons and two daughters; John and Tessie had five sons; Joe
and Dolly had one son; Doc had three sons and Jack had a daughter.
My grandparents lost two sons in a train and truck accident and one in
a fire. With my grandmother’s great faith and strength, she truly
was a fine example to all who knew her. They are all deceased except
Jack Harper and Emma Kimbrough. My brother Clifton and Lida Harper
still make their home in Coleman, as do their two sons - Ronnie and Greg.
Lida’s dad, Henry Stephenson, also lives here (see Hubert A. Stephenson).
Cousins, Patsy Morgan and Margaret Robin live here. I married Cliff
Burns from Kansas City, Missouri and have two sons, Mike and Rodney. |
