JIM
BROOKS
(cont)
Jim worked at several occupations,
including, farming, RR employee, grocery clerk, carpenter and service
station operator.
While in St. Augustine, Fl., they lived in a second story apartment
on a street due west and about 3/4 mile from the City Gates. Around the
corner and two houses down lived Jim's sister Erie (Brooks) Holloway and
her husband, Barto Holloway (Lonie's cousin). Jim worked as a car
knocker at the railroad yards for a while and in sugar cane for a while.
I remember Mama talking about going swimming at St. Augustine Beach,
riding a boat in Matanzes Inlet, visiting the old Spanish fort and other
historical sites while there.
J. R. tells me that the only thing he remembers, as a three year old,
was a man delivering bottled water because they didn't like the sulfur
water used at that time. I don't think Mama and Daddy were too happy in
St. Augustine, though, and welcomed an opportunity to return to Calhoun
County.
Jim farmed for a while right after he and Lonie were married. He
worked as a carpenter while in St. Augustine and returned to farming
upon his return to Calhoun County. After a few years of farming, he
moved into Edison (Section House) and again began carpentering.
He helped to build several houses in Edison, the original colored
school house, and a number of military barracks during the early part of
World War II.
The old Negro school house was a wood frame building located about
1/2 mile down the side street by the Edison Baptist Church. I was there
one afternoon when the entire crew started singing
"When The Saints Go Marching In"
I don't know why that impressed me, but it did.
The carpenters, at that time, didn't have labor saving tools that are
available today. They used hand saws, nail aprons, and hammers ~ no
Skill saws, radial arm saws, pneumatic nail guns, portable power drills,
etc. All work was by hand and labor intensive.
In the early 1940s, Jim began operating the Standard Service Station
in Edison. He operated
"The Station"
until
his retirement at age 65.
Ma Ma had suffered a series of strokes since the first on in the
early 1940s and on 13 July 1968 she suffered her last and most serious
stroke. Medical assistance was called and she was carried to the
hospital in Arlington, Georgia where she died.
Pa Pa had a massive stroke on 3 August 1968, and died one week later
on August 10, in the hospital in Arlington, Georgia. He died four weeks
to the day after Ma Ma.
They are buried next to each other in the Holloway section of Salem
Church Cemetery.
For Lonie's Obit:
CLICK HERE
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