The first school I attended was a private home school at the residence owned
by the late Rev. and Mrs. Samuel Grayton. This home was then located on the
west side of Hickman Road, just opposite the beautiful home formerly owned
by the late H.H. Hickman, Mrs.
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Sarah Drayton was my first teacher, a dear and lovable Christian woman. One
of my daughters now claims a part of her name - Fannie Drayton H.
From this school I attended another private school at the residence of the late Noble Willis. This home was then located on the north side of the present Bon Air Hotel, which property was then or formerly owned by Mrs. A.M. Winter (deceased) and fronting on Hickman Road and Walton Way. My teacher then was Miss Mary Willis only daughter of Nobel Willis.
From this school I attended a public school in a church building formerly known as Harris Chapel located near the Fox Spring, a little more than a mile west of the Augusta arsenal, on Walton Way. This little Chapel was called Harris in honor or memory of my Husband's father - the late Rev. James Harris, of the C.M.E. Church South.
The Chapel now is no more - many buildings around many changes made, and lots of improvements in all directions have replaced this chapel and many other adjacent homes.
My teachers at this school were Chas. Johnson, Mrs. Mattie Harper Price,
Mrs. Mary
J. Rogers (Hayes), Mrs. Janie B. Trotty, all of
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Augusta Ga.
The first Sunday School I attended was formed by young women on the home grounds when I was about five years old. This was held out in an open field near the home. Several young ladies succeeded in getting the children together from the homes near-by and carried on this little open-air service in a good and useful way. Mrs. Cassie Taylor Gilbert, was my first teacher, assisted my Mrs. Mary Owens (Flowers) and Miss Eunice Longstreet, (deceased.)
After getting a little understanding of Sunday School there for nearly a
year there was a Sunday School opened up for colored children in the mornings
at the (Church of the Good Shepherd) Walton Way. The Hill, a large number
of col. children including myself, attended this school and were properly
taught and nicely treated. All white teachers with the late Dr. Edward
Barry
as Supt. different ones of the ladies would furnish music for us each Sunday
morning, until after I had learned music sufficiently to play for the school.
There was a large number of scholars, both boys and girls. The rules and
teachings were always good and interesting. Christmas and Easter
Celebrations
were grand. I attended this Sunday school for
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fifteen years including three years after I had married. The Rev. Edwin G.
Weed now Bishop of Florida, was then Rector of the Good Shepherd Church,
and
showed great pride and interest in the colored children there, until he was
chosen Bishop of Florida and left to make his home there.
Mrs. Weed and Dr. Barry (deceased) also gave a lot of their time and interest in regards to the colored children there in Sunday school.
I had the pleasure and opportunity of attending two Sunday Schools, one in the morning at nine o'clock to ten, and another at four o'clock in the afternoon , this was at the Rock of Ages C.M.E. Church which, I helped to build corner of Mt. Auburn St. and John's Road.
This Church is a branch from Trinity C.M.E. Church, located on Jackson St. and one of the oldest and most popular Col. Churches of Augusta or elsewhere in the South.
I was converted and joined Trinity C.M.E. Church at the age of nine years.
I always took great pride up to the present time in working or doing in some
way for the Church, and not only the Methodist Church, but any Church that
would need or accept my assistance.
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