Grandma Beard with her children.
Mama in the back

Mama’s, Grace Beard Proffitt, mother was Elsie Beard and her daddy was Benton Buoy Beard. Granddaddy Beard died before I was born as well as mama’s brother, Carl.

We lived with grandma Beard off and on as mama and daddy tried to afford to live on their own. Grandma Beard was a quiet, peaceful person who spent more time in her garden than anywhere else. Gene and Vaughn (mama’s brothers) were both in the Navy and sent grandma big Mexican hats for her garden work.

Grandma Beard with her big Mexican hat.

As we ran around the yard with our friends playing “kick-the-can”, Superman or Dick Tracy, grandma was often in the kitchen making home-made light rolls. Our friends and us were allowed to eat them hot right out of the oven, I think it was a compliment to grandma. Daddy had flattened out an area at grandma’s to build us a tennis court. Never a tennis court, but we made (drew with a stick) houses with Jane but most of all played croquet there. Grandma was always ready to play whenever we wanted to. These activities were planned to keep us at home. We were often jealous because other children were allowed to play all over town; some of them would actually sleigh ride on the streets! I want to refer to other memories of Grandma Beard. She played the guitar - I remember “Black-eyed Susan”. Whenever she would sit relaxed outside, she would move her crossed leg foot back and fourth so much any dog near by would lie under her moving foot. At the bottom of her front yard was a small creek. The shallow, very clear water over tiny pebbles was another play spot. Today, when I think of how clear that water was, I’m amazed. Along the banks of that creek grew many little purple violets. Perhaps that’s why violets have always been one of my favorite flowers - as well as sister, Mildred’s.