Let's see ---Mama Liz (aka Liz Loadholt, aka Adeline Elizabeth Patterson, aka Elizabeth Patterson Loadholt) is 69 years young, so I have to go back in my memory a long ways.
I was born in farm house 2 miles out in the country from Garnett, SC to Ulmer & J.O. Patterson. My parents lived in the house that my Mother's parents had built and had lived in. The house sat way back from the road and had walkways leading out front to a garage and a general merchandise store. The house had a porch wrapped around 3 sides of the home. I remember the special swing that had belonged to Moma when she was a little girl. I'm fortunate to have that swing now on my porch.
Also, behind the home were several small buildings --- one was the smoke house, one the washing house, & one was the old kitchen house.
Also, there was a big barn about 50 yards from the home -- And we cannot forget the chicken house where we raised chickens and the dairy where we milked the cows.
My childhood was spent helping out with the farm and also helping out with the general merchandise store. My favorite thing was to wait on customers in the store. We had everything in that store from homemade butter to shoes to small farm equipment --- I remember especially the Johnnie Cake cookies ---- actually, I have in my home today the cookie jars from the store and also the cigar case from the store.
I have very vivid memories of helping weigh the cotton. At the end of a day during cotton picking time,it was Mama's job to weigh the cotton that had been hand picked that day ---she allowed to help her a lot ---it was fun to be there and watch the friendly competition between the cotton pickers to see who had picked the most that day. Picking cotten was very hard work (I tried it once or twice) and they got paid .03 per pound.
Pretty much all we ate came from the farm --- peas, butter beans, corn, tomatoes, beef from the cows, pork from the hogs grown on the farm, chicken, eggs, milk, butter that we made from the cream off the top of the milk.
My brothers' clothes were bought, but my dresses were all made out of the empty feed sacks. Back then, the feed sacks were pretty printed material and Moma was a great seamstress. It is sad that at the time, I didn't really appreciate what Moma was doing --- I was teased at school for wearing "feed sacks", so I did not like my dresses. Looking back on it now, I'm sure Moma was most disappointed that I didn't like my dresses. BTW, that didn't stop her from continuing to make my dresses from the feed sacks. I now understand that money was very tight and they were doing the best they could.
Unfortunately, the farm land which was inherited from Moma's parents was not kind to my Daddy --- he was not good with the farming and they never really made any money. The General Merchandise store was more of a service to the community --- I don't remember it ever making any money, either.
I have 2 brothers - one older, John- 3years older, and one younger, J.O., Jr.- 2 years younger --- of course, we thought that the older brother knew everything ---once, when I had a loose eye tooth and it was about to fall out, John told me that if it fell out, that my eyes would fall out. I was horrified and of course, went running to Moma.
My Daddy was really old fashioned and did not want my hair cut. (even my younger brother had long hair until he was about 5). I begged to have it cut (I was probably about 7 or 8 years old) --he said No. My older brother, John, decided that he would help me out ---he cut my hair -- Well, you would thought that he had killed someone. My Father was furious, to say the least --- I remember John being whipped with a 4 platted leather whip. This gave me nightmares --- I felt that it was all my fault.
In the photo, I'm the middle child - the other long hair is actually my younger brother.
Around the age of 4 or 5, I walked up behind John as he was cutting wood with an ax -- yep, the ax caught me just under my left eye. It was a miracle that I did not lose my left eye --- I still have the scar today --- there was no doctor close by so there were no stitches.
Christmases were a christmas tree decorated with colored lights and tinsel --- until I was about 14, all 3 of us children got a gift together --- not individual gifts. When I was 14, I got this beautiful red sweater and skirt that I had seen in a store window and wanted so badly. That was such a special Christmas.
I grew up around horses --- we had a cart that was pulled by a horse --- my Father loved his horse - Amos -- used him to drive deer hunts on the property. When they had good luck deer hunting, we would have venison to eat. We children had calm horses --- we rode Western --
Dady would not let me wear shorts or even pedal pushers (remember those?) or really anything shorter than jeans when I became a teenager --- he would not let me date --I went to the Jr/Sr prom with my brother one year and my senior year he did allow me to go with the son of a good friend of his, but only because my brother was also going. After much begging, he did allow me to join the band and also finally allowed me to participate in a class play ---he was sooooooo protective.
Moma was very talented -- played the paino and sang - beautiful voice --- she was very smart --attended Brenau College. No, I did not get any of her talent. Her father had been a lawyer.
My Daddy dropped out of school after the 8th grade --- he had worked at his Father's saw mill before he married Moma.
When I became a teenager, they built me my own bedroom - converted part of our side porch. To get to my room, I had to go through their bedroom. I had no heat in my bedroom, so in the winter, I would be under many blankets, get up and run for the fireplace in my parent's bedroom. Daddy would have the fire burning. Before this, my 2 brothers and I all shared a bedroom.
Since my bedroom was adjacent to my parents, I could hear them talking --- mostly, yelling. Seems like they fought a lot. My Daddy would be so mean to her. I would lie in my bed and just shiver -- scared to death. My Daddy was so mean that he would say that he was going down to the swamp & kill himself. He would take the shot gun and after he was gone for 10 minutes or so, you would hear a gun shot. Of course, we were all terrified --Moma would go running down to the swamp and Daddy would be just sitting there. I would catch myself saying that I wished he were dead --I thought that everything, especially, my Moma would be better off. I remember asking Moma on many occasions, why didn't she kick Daddy out? Her answer was always, "I married for better or worse."
During my high school years, Daddy started to disappear for days at a time -- sometimes, weeks. He would always come back and Mama always seemed happy to have him back. Back then, I did not know where he was or what he was up to --- I later learned that he had "girlfriends".
Determined to get away from this environment --- I went to college through my own efforts --- there was no money from home -- I worked at Winthrop in the dining hall and in the music department -- also got student loans -- My Grandmother Patterson would send me $5 or $10 from time to time for me to use for snacks, etc.-- I graduated in 1962 determined not to go back to that environment --- I planned on going in the Peace Corps.
On a trip back to Winthrop from a visit home my senior year, I had just gotten on the Greyhound bus (which I always used back and forth to college), when the family Doctor followed me on the bus. He was on the school board and they needed teachers. He had a contract in his hand and begged me to sign it just for 1 year. Out of respect to him, Dr. Harrison Peeples, I signed the contract -- after graduation, I went back to Garnett to live with my Moma & teach high school math & physics at Estill High (my alma mater).This was in 1962-1963.
I know that I'm being too long winded, but I have to say that my goal was still to get away from Garnett & Estill --- to get out of town. I would not date anyone without a college education because to me, that meant I at least had a chance of getting out. (looking back -- that was ridiculous, of course)
In December of 1962, I met Boyd Loadholt (Clemson graduate). After 2 dates, we were an item --- I knew this was the person for me. We married in August 1963 (BTW, at the time we had no idea where Daddy was) and the rest is history. We now live in Mt Pleasant, SC, have 2 children, 3 grandchildren,co-founded the AgentOwned Realty Co. in 1992 and this year will celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary. Wow, am I ever glad that Dr. Peeples convinced me to go back home after college.
In his later years, I watched Daddy turn around. When Moma got sick, he really took special care of her --- you could tell that he really loved her -- he was with her when she took her last breath. Most importantly, Moma knew that he loved her. He was truly sorry for his younger years. Not until these later years did I find it in my heart to forgive Daddy--but most importantly, I did forgive him before Moma or he passed away.
I do believe that my childhood has made me the person I am today -- I love my family --- I love my husband dearly --- loyalty is very important to me -- I have no place for cheaters --- education is important --- compassion is critical --- love animals --- love people --- you gotta have drive --- believe in hard work --- belief that success is the journey. BTW, I don't like the "real milk" straight from the cow --- never did and still can't think about it.
Broker, SC Certified Trainer, Relocation Director
Co-founder of AgentOwned Realty
Liz@AgentOwned.com
843-725-5007
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