Mother's Day

Barbara Briggs Tate on the rough oak picnic tables under the big oaks at Mt. Pisgah church. There were no ice coolers around 1950. Note the picnic baskets under the table. 

Photo courtesy of

  
Barbara Briggs Tate  

Written by 
LeRoy Walls 
CEO 

It was Mother’s Day and we were in our 1947 Chevy headed for Faith and Hope Church. Faith and Hope was a sister church to our Mt. Pisgah church. This was partly due to the many Walls family members that attended both churches. Three of Dad’s sisters went to Faith and Hope. Dad’s parents, one sister and two brothers and their families, along with our family, were all active members at Mt. Pisgah church.

I hope Mom was enjoying her day - - it was sure a bright spring day. It was in the early 1950’s before "U" highway, a farm-to-market road, was built so it took a while to get there. The Ozark woods were turning green. The white in the dogwood trees so vivid a few weeks earlier was fading but with the oak and hickory trees leafing out it made for a mighty pleasant drive.

We arrived at the church before Sunday School in time to say "hi" to Aunt Gillie, Uncle Austa and their daughter, Bonnie. Between Sunday School and church, Tom Means, Dennis, Dean and Gary Walls, Richard Geisler and I went outside. We didn’t really need to go to the outhouse but we wanted a chance to run and breathe the fresh spring air. Lots of the men were outside smoking. It was kinda like a brief recess or a movie intermission, which I truly enjoyed.

After the singing and preaching was over we boys rushed back outside to play while the women were getting the basket dinner set up. After the tablecloths and food got spread over those rough sawn lumber tables it looked mighty invitin’. The fried chicken and everything was great. I especially liked the pies.

The afternoon Mother’s Day program included the kids reciting their poems, a play and recognition for Mothers. Grandma Walls was given an Easter lily for having the most descendants present.

Aunt Gillie had told Mom that I was to say my "piece" right after my cousin Barbara. I was late getting back from the spring branch, below the church, and Mom was fit to be tied! And that was before she saw my wet shoe and pants cuff. But what would a Mother’s Day be if your own Mom couldn’t feel like a normal Mom!

12/31/1999