Diary Of A Backwoods Preacher: Stories My Grandaddy Told Me

I grew up with my Grandparents as an only child; therefore, I always needed something to entertain me. Remember, in the late 1930s through the early 1950s, when radio was our only source of entertainment? So early on, Granddad told me stories to entertain me. As a child and later, as an adult, I loved these stories. Of course, Sunday church was considered a must and this was a big part of our social life.

My Grandfather was a preacher, but his day job was farming or working in the fields to feed us and earn money. His preaching didn€t earn him anything. My Grandmother had the first beauty shop in Henderson County, but if the depression had not come along, she might have been much more successful. In order to make ends meet, my Grandfather would often pick cotton or farm on the halves. I personally never remember being hungry, but I did hear many stories of how, in the lean days, the Henderson€s had very little in the way of food. When my Dad and his brother were small, flour and water had to suffice for supper.

Before we go any farther, I need to describe my Granddad to you. He was born in Mississippi, somewhere near Holly Springs, and he had two sisters and six brothers. He was born May 13, 1886, and was born slap dab in the middle of nine children with four older and four younger. He was also the runt. His Mother died when he was 11-years old and he had to care for his younger siblings, while his Father and older brothers went to work in the fields. He learned how to cook and take care of the housework out of necessity. His parents gave him a first name, Oscar, but no middle name. His brothers nicknamed him €œThunderbolt€ because they said he could pass gas louder than anyone.
Since he was the runt, he grew up having to defend himself. Perhaps this contributed to his hard-headedness and stubbornness. He and his brothers were always pulling pranks and jokes on one another. After his Mother died, there was no real womanly influence and many of the pranks were often crude. When Oscar was full grown, his height was about 5€ 3€ and his weight not more than 120-lbs. soaking wet, but he was as tough as a boot. During his early boyhood days, at night he would set by the fireplace (as the only light available) and read the Bible. In this manner, he became very proficient with God€s word and became a lifelong reader. Because of this, I grew up surrounded by books and stories about Granddad€s youth and his preaching.