| ASKING FOR HAND IN MARRIAGE The Old-Fashioned Way Rain was beating down on the tin roof of our house one cold December day in 1938. Daddy had lit a fire in the fireplace, and I was lying down on a cot or single bed in the living room by the double windows overlooking the porch. I don't remember if I was ill or just resting. Mama was in the room with us, and possibly Kathryn also. Even with the rain, I felt calm and serene. Suddenly a knock came at the door. Mama, the servant that she always was, opened the door. There stood Havard in his blue denim overalls and khaki shirt, his usual everyday attire. He came in and got by the fireplace, warming his hands. In those days, our chair seats were made with cowhide, and he took a seat in one near Daddy in front of the fireplace. Perhaps Mama made coffee, because Havard loved his coffee. Daddy would drink about a half cup with just a little bit of cream. Havard was telling Daddy that he and Gladys wanted to get married, and he had come to get Daddy's permission to marry her because she was only 16. He was probably 6 ft. tall, and Gladys was 4 ft. 10 in. tall. All of us Days are short, the tallest being 5 ft. 2 in. Mama started crying. I don't remember Havard's exact words, or Daddy's, but he did give his permission and maybe some admonitions on how to treat his daughter. He was a minister and a very kind and generous man. I don't think I realized then because of my age exactly what was going on or what was being said until after Havard left. When I didn't understand something, I would always ask Mama to tell me. You know the rest of the story. They got married, at our house, no doubt.... I can't remember....early the next year. We all loved Havard very much. He was the only brother I had ever known. There is a continuation about their first child, which I will write later. Ruth Day Richardson |
| JUICY FRUIT GUM About half a block north of the Leon Day homestead at Saron, there is a dirt road, now named the Joskey Dykes Road, leading east to a log cabin where My Great-Uncle Jess and Aunt Dellie Havard once lived, and also my Uncle Odis and Aunt Essie Day Havard lived. One summer day in 1938, when I was 7 years old, and my sister Kathryn was 8, our older sister, Gladys, age 16, asked us if we wanted to go to Aunt Essie's with her. Of course, we were happy to go, skipping along picking daisies or other flowers. When we arrived at Aunt Essie's, Kat and I stayed outside to play and Gladys went inside. After awhile, we got thirsty and went to the kitchen to get some water. What we saw shocked us. Gladys and Havard were all hugged up, arms wrapped around each other, kissing!! They were surprised and apprehensive that we had discovered their little romantic rendezvous. Havard reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out a package of Juicy Fruit Gum, and gave us each a piece so we wouldn't tell daddy! We didn't see Aunt Essie because she wasn't at home that day. I know now the reason that Gladys wanted Kat and me to go along was to chaperone. Perhaps their lovers' tryst that day 63 years ago is why I am an incurable romantic to this day. And we kept our promise not to tell daddy. Ruth Richardson Day |
| The Day Ladies Gladys Novelle Lula Kathryn Ruth Sylvia Patti Page |
| Facing the picture, on the left side, left to right: the young boy is Charlie Grimes, who also went by the last name of Christian. The three men directly behind him are Uncle Jess Havard, Pastor Marshall Ivy and Tom Havard(I think). I may not be correct on all of these, but I’ll ask my mother. She has this picture. The other man on that side is my daddy, Eulon Page. The women are: front row left to right, Nettie Cryer and Aunt Gladys Havard. Behind them are Ruthie Mae Cryer and Aunt Allie Grimes. The two women in back, left to right are Merle Grimes and Bertie Havard, Tom’s wife.(If I’m right about him, I think that’s who she is) On the other side, starting in front with the children, I'm not sure about the little girl, it may be George and Jo Grimes' daughter, Dorinda. Next to her are John Page, Richard Grimes, me(Patti Page) with Ray Modisett(Sylvia's son) in front of me. Next are my grandmother and grandfather, Ruby Tatum Day and Leon Day. Second row: Sylvia Havard, Lula Day Page, Lois Day, a visiting woman preacher, (a Sister Hall maybe), the man between her and Ruby is Tony Grimes, Wynn, and I just can't place the man next to Wynn. Back row: Phyllis Page, Maelene Cryer, Jo Jones Grimes, George Grimes, the dark haired man behind Wynn is Earnest Day and I think the man in back is Lindale Grimes, but I’m not sure. (Names provided by Patti Page) |
| Parents: Leon Day SPOUSE: Ruby Tatum |
| Ruth Day |
Ruth, Louise and Kat
