The Southern Child: A Memoir - Paperback
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The Southern Child: A Memoir by Kathy G. Widener
The story of the Gantts of Rayflin lives on in the final book, Southern Child: A Memoir. The author describes in her own words her childhood.
"I lived basically the same life as my granddaddy, uncle, and daddy. By the time I came along, we did have electricity, added in 1948. Otherwise, things were pretty much the same, no indoor plumbing, and only wood as a heat source. The barn was torn down before my time, but the land was still farmed. Daddy was never a farmer, he worked in a cotton mill in the nearest town. Having been born after my Granddaddy Kelly's death, I never knew him personally. However, through the stories passed down to me, I always felt like I did. The old unpainted clapboard house built in 1912 still stands on a dirt road called Swamp Rabbit Road, less than a mile 'as the crow flies' from the black waters of the North Edisto River. We were happy go lucky kids and grew up with a sense of independence and strong guidance from our elders. Imagination was the key to our entertainment. I have included many of the mishaps and ways we devised to amuse ourselves."
Authentic Rural Southern Experience
Southern Child gives true insight into what country life in the South was like for children in the 1950's and 60's, from someone who lived that life. It was a different world then. This memoir captures the essence of growing up in rural South Carolina near the North Edisto River, where modern conveniences were scarce but family bonds and childhood adventures were plentiful.
Life on Swamp Rabbit Road
Kathy G. Widener recounts her experiences in an unpainted clapboard house built in 1912, where electricity arrived in 1948 but indoor plumbing remained absent. Her father worked in a cotton mill while the family maintained their connection to the land. Through vivid storytelling, Widener preserves the memory of a simpler time when children created their own entertainment and learned independence through daily life on a Southern dirt road.
Generational Stories and Family Legacy
This memoir serves as the final installment documenting the Gantt family history, connecting multiple generations through shared experiences and oral traditions. Though Widener never met her Granddaddy Kelly, his presence permeates the narrative through family stories passed down across generations. The book captures how children of the 1950s and 60s rural South lived remarkably similar lives to their ancestors, maintaining traditions and ways of life that would soon disappear.
Published by Deeds Publishing
Available in paperback format, this personal memoir offers readers an unfiltered window into mid-20th century Southern childhood, complete with the mishaps, imagination-driven play, and strong family guidance that defined the era.
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The Southern Child: A Memoir by Kathy G. Widener
The story of the Gantts of Rayflin lives on in the final book, Southern Child: A Memoir. The author describes in her own words her childhood.
"I lived basically the same life as my granddaddy, uncle, and daddy. By the time I came along, we did have electricity, added in 1948. Otherwise, things were pretty much the same, no indoor plumbing, and only wood as a heat source. The barn was torn down before my time, but the land was still farmed. Daddy was never a farmer, he worked in a cotton mill in the nearest town. Having been born after my Granddaddy Kelly's death, I never knew him personally. However, through the stories passed down to me, I always felt like I did. The old unpainted clapboard house built in 1912 still stands on a dirt road called Swamp Rabbit Road, less than a mile 'as the crow flies' from the black waters of the North Edisto River. We were happy go lucky kids and grew up with a sense of independence and strong guidance from our elders. Imagination was the key to our entertainment. I have included many of the mishaps and ways we devised to amuse ourselves."
Authentic Rural Southern Experience
Southern Child gives true insight into what country life in the South was like for children in the 1950's and 60's, from someone who lived that life. It was a different world then. This memoir captures the essence of growing up in rural South Carolina near the North Edisto River, where modern conveniences were scarce but family bonds and childhood adventures were plentiful.
Life on Swamp Rabbit Road
Kathy G. Widener recounts her experiences in an unpainted clapboard house built in 1912, where electricity arrived in 1948 but indoor plumbing remained absent. Her father worked in a cotton mill while the family maintained their connection to the land. Through vivid storytelling, Widener preserves the memory of a simpler time when children created their own entertainment and learned independence through daily life on a Southern dirt road.
Generational Stories and Family Legacy
This memoir serves as the final installment documenting the Gantt family history, connecting multiple generations through shared experiences and oral traditions. Though Widener never met her Granddaddy Kelly, his presence permeates the narrative through family stories passed down across generations. The book captures how children of the 1950s and 60s rural South lived remarkably similar lives to their ancestors, maintaining traditions and ways of life that would soon disappear.
Published by Deeds Publishing
Available in paperback format, this personal memoir offers readers an unfiltered window into mid-20th century Southern childhood, complete with the mishaps, imagination-driven play, and strong family guidance that defined the era.
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