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clothes into balls to keep them moist for ironing. If the clothes got completely dry they were sprinkled with water just before and during ironing.

Grandmomma was a mild-mannered woman, but underneath that calm exterior was the heart of a tiger. I remember a couple of times when that legendary fighting spirit showed itself. One time my former husband physically abused me. When Grandmomma found out about it, she asked me in a calm, level tone of voice, "You want us to kill him?" There was no emotion in her voice but her eyes said she was serious. I divorced that man for his own good.

Jennifer Boyd Staples

A Tribute

(Adella VonCassie Smith)

I, still, to this day, have the fondest memories of my grandmother, Adella Smith. To me, she was the strongest woman I have ever known. Although she didn't have much whatever she had she shared without reservation or hesitation. She was one of the greatest homemakers I've known. She could always make plenty out of a little.

She had so much patience. Even after keeping my cousins, brothers and sisters, her grandchildren and nieces all day long, she never became unnerved. She was always full of that nurturing quality that most mothers of today seem to lack. She kept us close to the family. Most of my direct knowledge of the family elders came as a result of her close association with her sisters, brothers, and cousins. Whenever they came into town, they made it a point to come visit her.

She taught me how to cook, a skill that has proved invaluable to me. I love her a lot and I miss her dearly.

Roderick (Charlie Brown) Boyd

Oh, How Sweet it is to Remember Grandma

(Adella VonCassie Smith)

As this project started to unfold, I could not resist thinking about my grandmother, Adella VonCassie Boyd Smith, and the indelible memories that I have of her. There are three events that stick out in my mind of all the memories that I have in my young life that involve her.

It was the summer of 1967 and I was making my first trip to Alabama. After a very long ride on the Trailways bus, we had finally made it. We got out of the cab at the bottom of the hill and my mother saw that the house where Grandma had lived in was no longer there. We picked up our luggage and walked to the home of Elvin and Minnie Smith. Once there my mother asked about where Grandma lived. After receiving the directions, we struck out again looking for Grandma's house.

As we approached the house, Mr. Frank Ray was outside and my mother asked him if the house across from his was Adell's. When he said yes I know that I was relieved because it seemed that we had been walking for quite some time although it had only been a few minutes. As we walked up on the porch with our luggage in hand, we could see Granddaddy sitting in his recliner in front of the screened door. He looked at us and yelled to Grandma who was in the kitchen, "Adell, somebody out here on the porch with some chillins. You better come out here 'cuz I thinks you got some compney."

Grandma rushed around the corner with her apron on and flour all over her hands. She was asking Granddaddy who we were when she threw open the door and starting screaming, "Lord,