The story was told many times of some city folks who stopped their car in front of my great grandfather's farm, and asked about buying a bushel of sweet potatoes. A fair price was agreed upon, and the potatoes measured out. The measure, like the price, was very fair, and in fact I've heard it said that it erred in the direction of being over generous. One of the city folks, doubtless in an attempt to sweeten the deal still further, asked Pa "You sure that's a bushel? Seems kinda small for a bushel to me."
Pa was as straight an arrow as you could ever expect any created man to be. And from his reaction he was apparently deeply offended. Without speaking a single word, and with no visible sign of anger in his body language, he hefted the potatoes back out of the basket and onto the potato bank. The buyer realizing his gaff too late began to try and reason with Pa – to absolutely no avail. As silent as if he were all alone there in the yard, Pa just turned and walked into the house, leaving the people to get their potatoes elsewhere.
Another story about Pa involves his longtime lodger, and cousin Hershel Sherrod. Hershel lived in my great-grandfather's home, in Emanual County, for many many years, up until around 1960 when Frank & Rachel (known by everyone as Ma and Pa) were themselves too old to remain on the farm, and moved into their daughter's home in Swainsboro. Hershel was the son of Frank's Aunt, Sarah Sherrod.
Hershel, who went by the nickname "Hush", was not in possession of all his faculties, and was hard of hearing to boot! It was Pa's custom to shout out for Hush to come to the table for dinner every evening along with the family. The story is told of how one time Pa forgot to call Hush to dinner. As everyone bowed their heads for the blessing, Pa shouted out at the top of his lungs "LORD!" Everyone present at that table remembered it, and laughed about it, for the rest of their lives.
Since I was three and a half years old when Pa died, I only have one memory of him. I remember playing on the floor beside his bed, and him reaching down and patting me on the top of the head. My mother told me many times that when Pa was being buried I insisted on standing near the grave and supervising the grave-diggers as they filled in the grave. I told them "That's my Pa - and I want to make sure they do it right!"
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OBITUARY - Published in the Florida Times-Union
W.F. SHERROD, 87, DIES IN SWAINSBORO
William Frank Sherrod, 87, father of two Jacksonville residents, died in Swainsboro, Ga., yesterday. Funeral services and burial will be in Swainsboro. A native to Swainsboro, Mr. Sherrod was a frequent visitor to Jacksonville. He was a retired farmer and member of the Summertown, Ga., Baptist Church. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Rachel Moody Sherrod of Swainsboro; three daughters, Mrs. M.W. Hall of Swainsboro; Mrs. C. Sherrod Eidson of Jacksonville and Mrs. Pete Sperlanes of St. Augustine Beach; two sons, G.O. Sherrod of Waycross and R.H. Sherrod of Jacksonville; 14 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren.
Pa was as straight an arrow as you could ever expect any created man to be. And from his reaction he was apparently deeply offended. Without speaking a single word, and with no visible sign of anger in his body language, he hefted the potatoes back out of the basket and onto the potato bank. The buyer realizing his gaff too late began to try and reason with Pa – to absolutely no avail. As silent as if he were all alone there in the yard, Pa just turned and walked into the house, leaving the people to get their potatoes elsewhere.
Another story about Pa involves his longtime lodger, and cousin Hershel Sherrod. Hershel lived in my great-grandfather's home, in Emanual County, for many many years, up until around 1960 when Frank & Rachel (known by everyone as Ma and Pa) were themselves too old to remain on the farm, and moved into their daughter's home in Swainsboro. Hershel was the son of Frank's Aunt, Sarah Sherrod.
Hershel, who went by the nickname "Hush", was not in possession of all his faculties, and was hard of hearing to boot! It was Pa's custom to shout out for Hush to come to the table for dinner every evening along with the family. The story is told of how one time Pa forgot to call Hush to dinner. As everyone bowed their heads for the blessing, Pa shouted out at the top of his lungs "LORD!" Everyone present at that table remembered it, and laughed about it, for the rest of their lives.
Since I was three and a half years old when Pa died, I only have one memory of him. I remember playing on the floor beside his bed, and him reaching down and patting me on the top of the head. My mother told me many times that when Pa was being buried I insisted on standing near the grave and supervising the grave-diggers as they filled in the grave. I told them "That's my Pa - and I want to make sure they do it right!"
===================================================
OBITUARY - Published in the Florida Times-Union
W.F. SHERROD, 87, DIES IN SWAINSBORO
William Frank Sherrod, 87, father of two Jacksonville residents, died in Swainsboro, Ga., yesterday. Funeral services and burial will be in Swainsboro. A native to Swainsboro, Mr. Sherrod was a frequent visitor to Jacksonville. He was a retired farmer and member of the Summertown, Ga., Baptist Church. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Rachel Moody Sherrod of Swainsboro; three daughters, Mrs. M.W. Hall of Swainsboro; Mrs. C. Sherrod Eidson of Jacksonville and Mrs. Pete Sperlanes of St. Augustine Beach; two sons, G.O. Sherrod of Waycross and R.H. Sherrod of Jacksonville; 14 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren.
The story was told many times of some city folks who stopped their car in front of my great grandfather's farm, and asked about buying a bushel of sweet potatoes. A fair price was agreed upon, and the potatoes measured out. The measure, like the price, was very fair, and in fact I've heard it said that it erred in the direction of being over generous. One of the city folks, doubtless in an attempt to sweeten the deal still further, asked Pa "You sure that's a bushel? Seems kinda small for a bushel to me."
Pa was as straight an arrow as you could ever expect any created man to be. And from his reaction he was apparently deeply offended. Without speaking a single word, and with no visible sign of anger in his body language, he hefted the potatoes back out of the basket and onto the potato bank. The buyer realizing his gaff too late began to try and reason with Pa – to absolutely no avail. As silent as if he were all alone there in the yard, Pa just turned and walked into the house, leaving the people to get their potatoes elsewhere.
Another story about Pa involves his longtime lodger, and cousin Hershel Sherrod. Hershel lived in my great-grandfather's home, in Emanual County, for many many years, up until around 1960 when Frank & Rachel (known by everyone as Ma and Pa) were themselves too old to remain on the farm, and moved into their daughter's home in Swainsboro. Hershel was the son of Frank's Aunt, Sarah Sherrod.
Hershel, who went by the nickname "Hush", was not in possession of all his faculties, and was hard of hearing to boot! It was Pa's custom to shout out for Hush to come to the table for dinner every evening along with the family. The story is told of how one time Pa forgot to call Hush to dinner. As everyone bowed their heads for the blessing, Pa shouted out at the top of his lungs "LORD!" Everyone present at that table remembered it, and laughed about it, for the rest of their lives.
Since I was three and a half years old when Pa died, I only have one memory of him. I remember playing on the floor beside his bed, and him reaching down and patting me on the top of the head. My mother told me many times that when Pa was being buried I insisted on standing near the grave and supervising the grave-diggers as they filled in the grave. I told them "That's my Pa - and I want to make sure they do it right!"
===================================================
OBITUARY - Published in the Florida Times-Union
W.F. SHERROD, 87, DIES IN SWAINSBORO
William Frank Sherrod, 87, father of two Jacksonville residents, died in Swainsboro, Ga., yesterday. Funeral services and burial will be in Swainsboro. A native to Swainsboro, Mr. Sherrod was a frequent visitor to Jacksonville. He was a retired farmer and member of the Summertown, Ga., Baptist Church. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Rachel Moody Sherrod of Swainsboro; three daughters, Mrs. M.W. Hall of Swainsboro; Mrs. C. Sherrod Eidson of Jacksonville and Mrs. Pete Sperlanes of St. Augustine Beach; two sons, G.O. Sherrod of Waycross and R.H. Sherrod of Jacksonville; 14 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren.
Pa was as straight an arrow as you could ever expect any created man to be. And from his reaction he was apparently deeply offended. Without speaking a single word, and with no visible sign of anger in his body language, he hefted the potatoes back out of the basket and onto the potato bank. The buyer realizing his gaff too late began to try and reason with Pa – to absolutely no avail. As silent as if he were all alone there in the yard, Pa just turned and walked into the house, leaving the people to get their potatoes elsewhere.
Another story about Pa involves his longtime lodger, and cousin Hershel Sherrod. Hershel lived in my great-grandfather's home, in Emanual County, for many many years, up until around 1960 when Frank & Rachel (known by everyone as Ma and Pa) were themselves too old to remain on the farm, and moved into their daughter's home in Swainsboro. Hershel was the son of Frank's Aunt, Sarah Sherrod.
Hershel, who went by the nickname "Hush", was not in possession of all his faculties, and was hard of hearing to boot! It was Pa's custom to shout out for Hush to come to the table for dinner every evening along with the family. The story is told of how one time Pa forgot to call Hush to dinner. As everyone bowed their heads for the blessing, Pa shouted out at the top of his lungs "LORD!" Everyone present at that table remembered it, and laughed about it, for the rest of their lives.
Since I was three and a half years old when Pa died, I only have one memory of him. I remember playing on the floor beside his bed, and him reaching down and patting me on the top of the head. My mother told me many times that when Pa was being buried I insisted on standing near the grave and supervising the grave-diggers as they filled in the grave. I told them "That's my Pa - and I want to make sure they do it right!"
===================================================
OBITUARY - Published in the Florida Times-Union
W.F. SHERROD, 87, DIES IN SWAINSBORO
William Frank Sherrod, 87, father of two Jacksonville residents, died in Swainsboro, Ga., yesterday. Funeral services and burial will be in Swainsboro. A native to Swainsboro, Mr. Sherrod was a frequent visitor to Jacksonville. He was a retired farmer and member of the Summertown, Ga., Baptist Church. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Rachel Moody Sherrod of Swainsboro; three daughters, Mrs. M.W. Hall of Swainsboro; Mrs. C. Sherrod Eidson of Jacksonville and Mrs. Pete Sperlanes of St. Augustine Beach; two sons, G.O. Sherrod of Waycross and R.H. Sherrod of Jacksonville; 14 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren.
