Thursday, June 10th, 2010 10:32:11

Self-Determination

My maternal grandmother, Linda Clay, was one of 11 children, born and raised on a tenant farm outside of Woodbury in middle Georgia. From an early age, the children began helping in the fields and house and by tending livestock. The boys wore overalls, the girls wore dresses made out of sackcloth. They all attended public school, where Linda played on the basketball team. The boys mostly quit school before high school to work full-time on the farm.

My great-grandfather had expected Linda would do the same once she finished high school. But, assisted by her mother — who had saved her egg money — Linda finished high school and left the farm, moving 50 miles south to Columbus, Ga., to further her education.