Mary Louise Murphy, her mother Pearl and grandmother Mollie Cason in 1943
The Life of Mary Lou
Handwritten By Her Mother, Pearl Murphy
After The Winecoff Fire
Transcribed For Winecoff.Org
by R. Michael Murphy
. On October 25, 1932, I, Mary Louise Murphy,
. made my appearance here,. In a hospital at Gainesville, Florida,
. eleven seventeen p.m. the time.
. When I looked around to see how I
. would like the care --
. Thought the world seemed mighty large,
. but I had no fear.
.
. Each day I grew and grew, until time
. to go home,
. To High Springs, Florida in a new Ford,
. in my G'mother Cason's arms, I went.
. Met by Friends, Dorothy Simpson & many more,
. who were glad I'd come.
. Some brought gifts, while others sent.
.
. I lay on the day bed by my G'mother's side,
. She crocheted bed spreads, & sang too.
. Time went on until I began to glide,
. Crawl, walk, chatter, and coo.
.
. I lived there until I was little over five,
. Had playmates, parties, much alive.
. Oh yes, I had a father, mother, a brother
. who was much older than I.
. How, I loved him, "I Know Why."
.
. Well, the time came, I had to move
. To Bainbridge, Georgia on June 12, 1938.
. I was welcomed there, by friends, with love
. Good people are everywhere, if we will wait.
.
. I was six years old, started to school
. Miss Grace Rawls, my first teacher.
. My, how timid I was, when I heard the rules.
. Wasn't too sure I'd like it either.
.
. On through the grades of school I went
. Made real good marks as I liked to
. Study, with Margie.
. Older chums, now, we all thought;
. Jeanne, Joe Beth, Rebecca, Bettye Joe,
. and neighborhood boys,
. To play with them in the afternoons.
.
. I grew to finish in grammar school,
. Then into high school, a freshman, scared;
. I didn't tell it, for then I began to feel my age
. Tried to be more dignified, more prestige.
.
. Sophomore next, what a thrill,
. Elected President of my class, what could I do?
. Oh, I know, I would change my name to Mary Lou.
. Sophisticated it seemed, whatta, whatta thrill!
.
. Election for Assembly next, in Atlanta, Ga.
. What? Me elected as a delegate there?
. With Patsy, Earl Carr, and Clarence too,
. Miss Mary Davis our Chaperone, Whoo!
.
. The day came to get ready for our meet
. All in a flutter, packing, so excited
. Told my loved ones goodbye,
. We all were about ready to cry.
.
. So off to Pat's home I went
. Spent the night and made our plans
. What we would wear,
. When we got there.
.
. The next morn the car was full
. of merriment in every form,
. Not knowing what would happen to us
. the following morn.
. The Seniors, Sue, Ruth and Maxine,
. With Pat, Earl Carr, Clarence, Miss Davis and I,. Registered at the Winecoff Hotel, on the fourth floor,
. Then later changed to the ninth.
.
. We attended an afternoon meeting,
. The last one at night, at the Capitol
. Back to the hotel to retire
. When the last we knew, an alarm of a fire.
.
. A Mission
.
. A religious club organized in the school
. To teach our boys and girls the rules.
. The Hy-Y's for boys and Tri-Hi-Y's for girls
. To protect them from the evil whirls.
.
. The youths were sent to an Assembly meet
. In Atlanta, Georgia, "The Capitol Seat."
. A great mission they had to perform
. With prayers and votes of everyone.
.
. To place the Bible in each school
. Always live the Golden Rule
. Respect the kind of every race
. A chance for all, each one a place.
.
. Some registered at the Winecoff Hotel, there
. Thinking they would have the greatest care,
. While in the early dawn, at rest,
. There came a signal of distress.
.
. Fire started from an unknown place,
. Gained headway at a rapid pace,
. Until it trapped our young and old
. Destroyed their bodies, but not their soul.
.
. A challenge, boys and girls, ‘tis true
. Your mission will not be in vain
. A better world lies ahead for you
. God received the messengers, and
. Eased the Christians pain.
.
. The Bible is true, it is told to you,
. "That greater love hath no man than this
. That a man lay down his life for his friends."
. John 15:13.
.
. Her Name was Mary Louise, it is true.
. Then on in years, to Mary Lou.
. Now, back to the original name
. On the slab of granite, Mary Louise, again.
.
. Pearl C. Murphy
. Bainbridge, Ga.
A Winecoff Fire Biography of Pearl Murphy is here.
__________________________________________
Source: The Collected Poems of Pearl Cason Murphy
