Earlier this week I spent time talking with Rachel Virginia Hicks, better known as Sis or Granny. We had a grand time talking and she shared wonderful tales from days gone by as well as wisdom and warmth.
At one point in our conversation she detailed how she hauled water from the creek to wash clothes. I got tired just listening 🙂 I said that was a lot of work she said “Oh I never minded it. I just always did what needed to be done.”
When Rachel was in 5th grade she quit school to help her mother. She went back for a bit in 6th grade and then left again to work for a family who had two small boys and was expecting a third child. She minded the boys, cooked for the family, and cleaned.
Once the mother recovered from birthing her third child Sis went to work in a boarding house for men who were working on a nearby dam project.
Rachel got up at 3:00 a.m. to fix lunches for the men to take to work while the lady who ran the house fixed breakfast for them.
I asked her if she liked working for the family and the boarding house. She said “Oh I liked it. Both ladies were real nice to me. I never minded working.”
Sis made 25 cents a day on those early jobs.
Over the years I’ve written about the strong work ethic I witnessed in Pap and other elders in my community. The enjoyment of work is something I’ve pondered on over the years.
Work is…well work. It’s not always enjoyable yet there is satisfaction in accomplishing what needs to be done. From making a garden, to cooking supper, to punching a time clock and everything in between—work gives one a feeling of accomplishment.
Before I left Sis told me to pray for her leg to get better. A couple of years ago she had a stroke and has never fully recovered.
In a couple of weeks she’ll be 97 years old and her main concern is her leg. She said “If I could get to where I could walk on two feet I could get to work and get some things done that I’ve been a wanting to do.”
Last night’s video: In Appalachia We Add Rs to Words – I LOVE the Way We Talk!
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So much to be learned and treasured from our seniors. I do enjoy your stories and posts and thank you for giving some of us a window looking back at information that enriches our daily lives.
My goodness I loved the videos that you made with her! What a blessing it was to hear her talk about her life. She seems like such a sweet person.
If I don’t get numerous things accomplished in a day I literally have a feeling of guilt. My husband will tell me not to worry so much about, take a nap if I want, or its no big deal. But he works so hard (although listening to some of the grab arse that goes on at his job, I do sometimes wonder…..) that I feel like I am short shifting him if I just laze about. But I enjoy work. I will work all day in a garden, can all week in 90 degrees, slog around in a pig pen, haul chicken manure, clean house, take care of babies, knit, spin, sew…. my hubby told someone once, “my wife works so hard that even when she is ‘relaxing’ she is doing something – knitting, sewing, crocheting…”. But do NOT get me started on a good book. then I won’t get anything done! I have been keeping track & am averaging 60+ good sized books a year. I try to squeeze it in between all the work. My dad told me once, “if a job is worth doing, its worth doing right.” I try to go by that.
“He who seeks rest finds boredom, he who seeks work finds rest.” Dylan Thomas. My favorite quote.
I think we used to have more valuable things for our elders to do, other than sit & watch tv. There were lots of little jobs that they could do; shell peas, tend children, card wool, spin, whittle, repair things. This freed the younger ones of the family up to do the real physical labor. I think when we start housing folks in nursing homes we have lost something as a society – because these are the people that pass on values and knowledge, even when their ‘leg’ won’t work to let them get back at it.
She is such a National Treasure! So much wisdom and experience to learn from! My father is 92 and we need to always listen to all they have to share. They are our connection to “life”. I’m so in love with your channel and your blogs/vlogs! You should so consider writing a book about Granny and her endless lessons of life! I would be the first in-line to purchase! God bless you and your family! ❤️
My grandma Bertie Moore told me that the secret to a happy life is to work! I never forgot what she said. She grew up in Eastern Kentucky and had an incredible work ethic that I was fortunate to inherit. She was my role model. I miss her terribly.
Tipper–Give Jeri Whitaker my e-mail and tell her to feel free to get in touch with me. Don has keyed her in on the photo collection but I can add a bit (I wrote a story about the project not too long ago for “Smoky Mountain Living” and will gladly share that. I can also direct her to some printed sources on the project.
She’s obviously a wonderful woman. She reminds me of my parents and grandparents. They taught me that hard work can be enjoyable and brings a feeling of accomplishment. I have passed this along to my kids and grandkids.
Thanks for your blogs.
I enjoyed watching the videos you made with Sis Rachel. I’ll be praying God blesses her with a complete healing so she’ll be able to do the things she loves. She is such a blessing and a joy to listen to. I’m so thankful for the testimonies of our elders and the stories they share. They are filled with a treasure trove of wisdom and knowledge! 🙂
Tipper, do you think it might be possible for you to share Sis Rachel’s address so we could send her a birthday card?
Regina-I will find out and let you know 🙂
Thank you, Tipper 🙂
I’m happy to read that you made a return visit to Mrs. Hicks! Her husband was the maternal first cousin of the wife of my 5th cousin. That makes us close kin right? But ponder this, Ramona is the 1st cousin of my sister in law Barbara. When Harold was courting Barbara they wanted introduce Ramona to me. Ramona’s father was a funeral director for Ivie Funeral Home there in Andrews. His family lived above the funeral home. Barbara was visiting them there so Harold went there to visit her and I went along one time. I didn’t know about them living over funeral home and when found out I wouldn’t go in and she didn’t come out. If I hadn’t been so timid or if Ramona had come out, this story might have an entirely different ending.
Say Hello to Ramona and Mrs. Hicks for me the next time you see them.
Ed-I love that story 🙂
Tipper, I wonder if the dam project Ms. Virginia spoke about was Fontana Dam. I’ve been trying to find someone who might have pictures of that project because my daddy worked there and we lived in Bryson City for a time while he worked at the Fontana Dam. I was reading your post about Mr. Casada, and his having grown up in Bryson City. I tried sending him a text but quickly learned the phone number he gave was a land line. Do you have any suggestions? I would be eternally grateful for any information about The Fontana Dam project.
Thank you.
Jeri Whittaker
2/2/2023
near Athens, Georgia
Jeri-Don said they’re all in the TVA Kodak Collection at the National Archives in Atlanta. He said if you wanted to go to the Archives, you need to make arrangements ahead of time. The negatives are kept in cold storage. The process of bringing them out and warming up to ambient conditions is a controlled one which takes a few days. The archivist is Maureen Hill. Her e-mail is maureen.hill@nara.gov. I hope this helps 🙂
Almost until the end of his years, and he lived 101+ of them, Daddy thought about work even when his body no longer allowed him to do much of it. He loved to reminisce, and most of his recollections involved work. Of course that was pretty much all he knew his entire life, so that’s where his memories were.
Among all the myriad of wonders he and Mom passed on to me and my siblings, I have to reckon a willingness to work (and I feel almost guilty when I don’t get things accomplished on any given day), a sound work ethic is well towards the top of the list.
I firmly belief there is something uplifting and sustaining in work, and this grand lady obviously has it ingrained in the very essence of her being. Would that we all were so fortunate! She has been blessed and her example blesses us.
All this talk about work has wore me out, I think I will go rest and take a nap! Today is sort of an anniversary for me, I started working for Michelin Tire on Feb. 2 1976, 21 years old. 38 years later, I retired. At that time people were lined up through the doors out into the parking lot to put in applications. Now hardly anyone will put in an application and most of the ones that do get hired will not last a week-they say I am not going to work that hard.
What a wonderful lady! Praying for her leg to get better. I am so thankful that I came from a family that instilled in me and my brother the value of hard work. Work is all my dad knew as he had to quit school in the 6th grade to help when his dad become sick and there were 10 children in that family so the older boys didn’t have a choice but to quit and keep the farm going. My husband also came from a family of hard workers, and as we get older, we are so thankful that is the way we were raised. I think it makes you appreciate and love your family even more. Tipper, I remember your interviews with her a while back, she’s a treasure for sure!!
Lord bless her. I’ll come in agreement in prayer with you, gladly.
Work is good for the soul and the body. My dear mother-in-lawGracie, sent us this “prescription” many years ago: If you’re filled with worry – work. If you’re disappointed – work. If you’re burdened with heavy responsibilities – work. If sorrow comes – work. If dreams are shattered – work. If hope seems dead – work. If you’re happy and want to stay that way – work. No matter what your condition – work. Work as if your life depended on it. It really does. She was such a wise woman, my soul mate.
Really like this!
She is a wonderful woman. Makes me think of my granny who could work us all under the table. She had 19 children and lost many of them to pneumonia, measles, etc–the deadly childhood diseases of the time. She had to keep on going to feed and clothe her family–her house was spotless, too. She would turn out the whole house to clean–even the walls and when she got older, we would help her. She was a person of faith. They were Pentecostals and I saw her dance across a room at worship when she had a hard time walking. Mama came from a family of girls & it was a much more relaxed lifestyle. Mama said she thought Granny would work her to death after she married my father. Granny had a weekly schedule of what had to be done each day. She had a day for sewing and mending, washing, ironing, etc.
I remember your video back some time ago when you interviewed Rachel and I saw the sweetness, great ability to recall memories so vividly of her growing up years. I remember my growing up years and thinking Daddy’s Mother must have read that statement in the Bible that says idle hands are the devil’s workshop because it seemed he never stopped working. Even when he came home from his job he always had work projects at home and he would try to be in bed by 9 p.m., and was ready to go the next morning by 4 a.m. My Mother was the same way even though she had Rheumatic Heart and had three heart attacks, severe illnesses only kept her down for a very short time. They both had such strong determination formed with moral and high work ethics they had learned from their parents.
I never had to carry water from a spring but both my parents had to in their growing up years. I have walked to those springs that my Mother and her Sister’s walked to daily to get water for the family’s use and it was a fer piece from their home. I’ve stood by the stream that my Mother and Grandmother said they used to fill their big black iron pots to boil water on warsh day.
I’ll be praying for Rachel.
I remember my grandmother washing clothes in the black cast iron pots. Granddaddy would
draw the water out of their well. Sometimes in warm weather grandmother would take the clothes to the creek near us and rinse them out. I now owned the pots she used. That is something else I have of my grandparents that has memories worth more than any amount of money they might sell for.
Well Rachel has a bit over 37 years on me and is more centered and settled to boot. Your post just goes to show why folks about my age need folks of her age. But at the same time. it shows why younger folks need us, whether they think so or not. I hope and pray to have a ‘good old age’ not just an old age, being willing and able to do work I’ll never have the benefit of for the sake of unknown others. I would treasure the attitude and the ability as its own reward.
I used to say that my mother didn’t know HOW to sit down and be still; she was always doing something. Now she is soon to be 82, and her back and legs are giving out on her and it’s so hard to see her just mostly sitting. She does what she can, but she can’t do nearly as much as she used to. It’s hard to see your parents changing, especially when their generation had such a work ethic.
I feel a sense of accomplishment when I complete a task. Yesterday, I replaced a receptable in our bedroom, and my husband was around if I needed help. I had never done it before, and I was proud of my self. It isn’t difficult, just make sure you have shut off the breaker to that room.
I was raised with a strong work ethic and we raised our girls the same way.
The Great Generation did have a strong work ethic, and I was taught by the best. It is a bit of a hindrance, as it can make you feel guilty when you loaf a little. It balanced out though when later in life I was told “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” One may ask how you can possibly enjoy work. It was part of your upbringing, and you just never questioned it. I have often wondered if others felt a bit guilty when they slept late, as that was frowned upon by most folks I knew. I remembered a dear uncle who had a terminal diagnosis telling my family, “I just want to get back to work.” I enjoyed your visit with Sis, and I love how she wants to get busy. Prayers for her that life will treat her gently, and that her leg will improve. By the way, Sis is a common nickname attached to many at one time. My youngest sister was called “Sissy” by more than just her sisters. That was a common Appalachian nickname in my neck of the woods.
My older brother and I called my oldest sister just “Sister” for a long time. We didn’t know her real name.
My mother’s eldest sister, Cherie, is called Sis by everyone in the family. She is the oldest girl out of 16 kids (10 lived).
A very common name for eldest boys up my way is, Bub. That is what they called my father’s father. That is also my BIL’s nickname. Tends to be a farm thing, too. Very common in my granddad’s family was being called by something other than you’re given first name. Being the good Irish Catholics that they were, they only chose from about 4 male family names & 1 female; Mary LOL. Well, there were lots of Charles, Edwards, Christophers& Johns. There were Mary Janes, Mary Margarets, Mary Ellens, Ellas, Eleanors. I had a great uncle John Christopher, that was called Chris, an g-aunt Mary Margaret, called Reetzy, a g-g grandfather named Chris, called Kit, a g-aunt Patricia (who is my namesake) who became a nun & gained the name Sister Christopher. And to top it all off, my g-grandfather, grandfather (called Bub), father (called Jaime), & brother are Nicholas. So you MUST have a nickname or no one knows who is talking to whom. Now, mind you, all the extended family lived up and down the road I still live on – Dixon Road (my maiden name) and they all had Chris’s, John’s, Marys, & Charlie’s too! When I go to my family’s cemetery you can really lose track of which generation is buried where.
I have an aunt that we still call auntie sister. I didn’t know her real name when I was little lol.
I wonder what some of those things were that Rachel wanted to get done? Might be I should ask some older folks what things they would do if they could and I maybe find a whole new way to gift people. Mom always told me that if I got to feeling sorry for myself, I should go do something for someone that was unable to themselves and it would change my feelings. She would go out of her way to help someone by cleaning for them, taking them shopping, getting them groceries. I sure wish I could tell her that her examples have stuck a long time in my mind and thank her.
Miss Rachel is an incredible example of dedication, determination and service in her drive to accomplish the work that needs to be done. She is in my prayers.
I enjoy so much seeing and hearing of SIS and good people just like her who built this country. You look just thrilled and delighted sitting there with SIS, Tipper! It’s a great candid photograph! It seems we have a country of a lot of spoiled, lazy, simply mad at the world young people who really don’t work physically at anything. If they would just live a little and stop being plugged in on the cell phone or walk away from a computer, it would be a miracle! (Sometimes I secretly pray for power outages, glitches etc to watch them squirm and freak out!) I asked my kids what would you do with no water or electricity. They really couldn’t get it. Lol I am encouraged, however, when I see the youthful go getters and there are plenty of them too! A hard day of work is a wonderful thing when every bone seems to be aching and you’re exhausted. It’s looking back on the day and completed work that somehow makes life worth living and you appreciate all the things you have!!! You’re thankful, humbled and any pent up frustrations are long worked out of a body! Hard work is good for the mind, body and soul. May God bless Sis and restore her to walking for Jesus pleasures in healing his own!
I’ll bet you know the old Mills Brothers song that starts ” When you come to the end of the day…” Your post fits that song to a “T”. I love that recording, which was probably covered by other artists.
Oops…it was The Inkspots, not The Mills Brothers…and Perry Como recorded it as well.
Happy early birthday to Miss Rachel! I will be praying for her to be able to walk! What wonderful memories! I have been brought up to value work, to give 110% at any job and it has always been a blessing to me. Miss Rachel absolutely has worked hard all of her life. Thank you for sharing. God bless you and yours❤❤
At 97, it is wonderful that Rachel “Sis or Granny” has the will to keep going!
Hard work and a good work ethic contributed greatly to her long life. Can you imagine many of today’s youth or adults not minding going down to the creek to fetch water? I admit I like a lot of the conveniences we have today but unfortunately some of them can also have a negative effect if we let them. God intended for us to work, not lay around on our laurels.
Happy Birthday to Sis and may God richly bless her with healing for her leg.
I will also pray for Rachel. I am thankful for my parents loving me enough to teach me strong work ethics and the proper way to live my life, even though the lessons were sometimes taught with a keen hickory switch. My daddy quit school in the 8th grade to help his daddy on a sharecropper farm. Now many of the younger generations-not all- will not work in a pie factory tasting pies. They have had everything they ever wanted gave to them and were never taught to work. If you don’t believe this, just ride by a high school parking lot and look at cars and trucks kids are driving. The few kids of my generation that drove the newer cars to school had started working the second shift (evening) after school in a cotton mill when they turned 16 years old to buy their own cars. I drove a school bus for two years ( in SC students drove the buses) and used the little bit of money I made to help pay for my clothes and other things I would need or want in my senior year. Daddy didn’t ask me to do this, I just felt like I should help him out after all of the things he had done for me when I was younger.
What an inspiring woman! Prayers for healing and birthday wishes for Miss Rachel!
Certainly adding Miss Rachel to my prayer list here in Ohio. Be blessed all.
Lovely person: I will pray for Rachel’s leg to heal. Enjoyment of work is a lost concept and ideal in our society. The tv is always tellings us to relax or we deserve a vacation and so on. My ancestors took a small vacation every day by reading their Bible and having a leisurely chat with God who is their best friend.
May God Almighty, healer of all healers, restore her legs to His perfect form….in Jesus’ name I pray! I love Rachel’s memories and would love to know her. That since of accomplishment, (and pride) when we’ve finished some hard work, is what so many younger ppl have been deprived of. We “think” we don’t want our kids to have to work as hard as we did (or our parents and grandparents did,) yet that’s an in justice to the young ppl. Sure it’s good to not have to haul water from the creek, but not if it means you’ll just sit on the porch and throw rocks all day. I simply love her 97 yr old spirit, my goodness it’s beautiful!
I’m really intrigued by the concept of worker camps and boarding houses back in the day when many big infrastructure projects were underway. My grandmother’s family ran one at the turn of the 20th century when the railroad came through their farm and there were many bridge and tunnel projects going on. They provided lodging and meals for two shifts for over five years. I guess working was natural.
Praying for your leg Rachel! God bless.
HAPPY 97th BIRTHDAY to RACHEL! Absolutely sending healing and energy to Sis. Thank you for this jaw-dropping post. Still shaking my head in admiration. There is a connection between a strong body from lifelong Doing, the confidence of Knowing so much and the Longevity of life.
Please tell Miss Rachel I will pray for her leg to get better. (I live in Texas.)
My goodness, what memories. People of her generation worked harder than people of today. For sure, more morals and ethics and I think loved their life as much or more than people of ‘today’. As far as adding ‘Rs’, sounds good to me…sometime I will say more better, and just to mess with my Grands, and of course, Mom, you know that isn’t a word or phrase. Almost the weekend and rest time. For sure say Hi to Granny for me.
Ninety-seven years is a long time to live! I will, for sure, pray for Rachel!