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people
Dorothy and her siblings
Floyd Johnso n, age 18 Dorothy Johnson, age 18
COUNTRY TALES words and images courtesy Dorothy Johnson
Dorothy Johnson currently resides in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Recently, Dorothy shared stories from her life to pass on to her family and friends. As Dorothy spoke, Kara Billingsley, a member of Dorothy’s church family at Assembly of God in Barling, wrote what Dorothy said, word for word. What follows is Dorothy’s story, and we are so thankful she chose to share it with us.
to bring him back for child support. When I was older, I loved to go to her house because there was no supervision and we really had fun! My dad and mother came from different backgrounds and had different personalities. My dad was a strict disciplinarian while my mother loved to laugh, have fun, and was very easy to get along with. We had two big black mules, a cow, pigs, chickens, two dogs and several cats. I was a little afraid of the
I was born August 1, 1928, to a tobacco farmer and his wife
mules because they were so big. The dogs belonged to my
in the hill country of western Kentucky. I was the last of seven
brother, so being almost an only child, I made friends with the
children. Two brothers and one sister were already away from
chickens and cats. In the mornings, I got up and raced to the
home when I came along. There was one brother born before
barn very early to see if the kittens had opened their eyes or
me who died at a very young age. As you can see, I was a
started to purr. I think to me; this is like what the kids do today
child during the Great Depression. We were never hungry, but
when they play games on the television. I learned to read very
I believe some of our neighbors were. One day I went home
early and searched out every book in the old house. I think I
with a school friend from recess. For lunch, we had a large
learned to read so early because when my brother was forced
jar of canned tomatoes and cornbread. Still, we laughed, ate,
to read to me, he would say “Oh my aching back!” However,
and had fun. They had ten children and their daddy had run
I did develop a love for books that has lasted a lifetime.
away to parts unknown. In those days, no one went after him
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