Emma: In Her Own Words — Bits & Pieces

Transcription of my grandmother’s notebook. See Part 1 in the series for a full explanation. Some text is omitted to protect the privacy of living family members.

Organizations & Religion

“I started in P. T. A. when Edna started to school and am still a member. I served 2 yrs as pres of the Loyall P. T. A. ad was District pres for 3 yrs. I was on the state board for 6 ys. I had 7200 members in Dist. when I was president. I attended national conventions in Cincinati and San Francisco and all the state conventions in Lex and Louisville while I was on the board. I really enjoyed the P.T. A. work. I have been attending the Parent Teacher Banquet for 33 yrs at Loyall. Have been an honored guest as I started the first one in 1944. It certainly is a grand affair. 

I have been a member of the Homemakers Club since 1930. Have held the office of Co. pres. twice and have been privileged to attend most all the co. meetings. 

I became a Christian when I was 30 yrs old and a member of the Loyall Church of Christ. I have taught the Sr. Ladies Class for 25 years. Have been a member of the Ladies Aid all that time also. 

I served as vice pres of the Harlan Civic Club. I was a member of the B. P. W. Club for several years.¹Business and Professional Women’s Club

Health

The Lord has been good to me. He gave me good health to raise my children. When I was 69 I was in hospital for first time with blood pressure and diabetes. Blood pressure 300/130. Then in 71 I had gall bladder operation after being in the hospital with 2 attacks. Then in Jan 1977 I has cancer of colon. I did well with all of these and thank my Dear Heavenly Father each and every day I am able to be in my home now. 

I have had a rich full life. Have been wonderfully blessed with my children and grandchildren and hope to live many more years to enjoy them. 

My husband and I have been married 57 years this month. Oct seems to be a month when things happened to me. I was born Oct 24, married Oct 11, and lost Ruby Oct 25. 

Family

I am the only one left now of my mother and father’s family. My father’s mother was a descendant of a Revolutionary War soldier. My great-great grandfather was Thomas Ramsey Sr. Served 2 yrs and was discharged at Valley Forge in Feb. 1778.²Apparently, Mamaw was unaware that her paternal grandparents were first cousins and her grandfather was also the grandson of Thomas Ramsey, Sr.

Hartford lived in Chicago and we & the girls went to the World’s Fair there both years. He always showed us such a good time. Betty, their children and me and mine rode rickshaws one afternoon at the fair. We would ride the double deck buses to the city and then back just for the ride and to see the city. We rode on the top deck. 

We took one trip across Lake Mich to House of David on a boat. All the Cumberland Ridge Runners & their families and my family.³Hartford was half of the singing duo Karl & Harty, who were also a part of the Cumberland Ridge Runners—a group of musicians and entertainers who performed on WLS radio’s Barn Dance. We got a state room. We took a big lunch and Hartford & the children were eating it by the time the boat left dock. Everyone got sea sick except Hartford & Fay. I sure thought I was going to die. A storm came up on the lake and these big black waves looked like they were coming over the ship. We had a good time.⁴Really? That doesn’t sound like much fun so far. We had dinner at House of David.⁵http://www.swmidirectory.org/Israelite_House_of_David.html The houses were named Bible names. The men wore long whiskers & long hair.”⁶Emma Ewers Taylor Hopkins, “Journal,” 1974–1978, Loyall, Harlan County, Kentucky; privately held by Faye Hopkins McCauley, Mt. Vernon, Kentucky, 1978. Spiral notebook in which Emma wrote about her life, in possession of Faye (Emma’s youngest daughter) since her death in 1978.

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