My most recent memory of Jean was when we visited her and daughter Debbie and son Jimmie in Bradenton, Florida 2008. She uses a walker at 78 but her mind is sharp as a tack. She carries her trusty pistol on her walker when home alone. Said the neighborhood was declining but it looked fine to me.
Jean was a feisty one from birth. She was small when born and sister Fannie practically raised her while another sister Mary Lou was sick with whooping cough etc. and needed their mother`s attention. I understand Mary Lou always had her hands up wanting to be picked up.
At age 16 or 17 during WWII Jean did the patriotic thing and wrote letters to a local soldier overseas. They were friendly pen pal letters. His to her were passionate love struck letters. She laughingly shared them with her mother and Grandma Bryant. When he came home he invited her to a carnival. She was excited for the evening out and dressed in her only store bought dress-a white one with red buttons down the front and a monogramed J. on the bodice. They stopped by a friend`s house first and suddenly the hosts had to leave. She being naive sat down to wait. The soldier put the moves on her and she told him Papa would kill her. He replied "He`ll make me marry you after tonight." At that point she reached over his shoulder for a bottle of whiskey on the end table. She reared back and broke the bottle over his head. He yelled"When you say no you mean no." She returned home with glass and whiskey all down her front. She slipped in a side door where her mother took her clothes to soak and sent her up to bed. Papa was a strict one and never knew of the incident. Why Papa was strict with his baby daughter will come out later.
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