“Aunt Viney”
There were three Citizens of Jefferson who were not so prominent but
they were well known and will be remembered by the “Children” of forty
and fifty years ago.
First we would remind you of “Aunt Viney.” Surely there was never
another just like her. She was a real African, large of stature, black,
kinky headed and had a style all her own. She modeled her robes of “tow
sacks,” often making them many layers thick, according to the weather.
Sometimes her robes were long and again they reached the shins. She
“earned” her living by begging from house to house and when the weather
was extremely cold she often sought shelter for the night, on the back
porches that were not securely locked. She was never in a hurry to leave
and was often aroused by the owner stumbling over her when he came out.
She was never known to steal and rarely displayed her temper. She had
little to say to anyone but she wielded her long heavy walking stick in
a professional manner when the children tormented her and they were not
long in retreating.
“Aunt Maria”
Another well known character was “Aunt Maria.” She was entirely
different from Aunt Viney in appearance and manner. She was tall and
slender and wore her dresses trailing in the dust. She would stand for
hours, on the street shaking her skirts and speaking fluently to an
imaginary audience. She was perfectly harmless unless tormented by the
boys who thought it rare fun to tease her.
“Sugar Boy”
Sugar Boy was the son of an adopted daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Walker, a
highly respected couple who lived in Jefferson more than fifty years
ago.
Barry Benefield, the son of our own Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Benefield, who is
a writer of great note has mentioned “Sugar Boy” in his books but he did
not tell you that the real “Sugar Boy” was red-headed, freckled and
always dirty. He had a better mind than many gave him credit for having.
He was always ready to play but when he grew tired he made it hard for
the smaller children while the older boys sent him home in a trot and
weeping.
He thoroughly enjoyed snooping around at night to peep in and see what
was going on in the neighborhood and to play “tick-tack.” He passed away
many years ago leaving only one sister who is living in California.
Even though he had a home, he liked to take his plate and push it
between the palings to the children in the neighborhood to be served a
lunch. Everyone was most generous and kind to him.