Dear editor:
My name is Ruth Garrison, and I am 82 years old. In the early 1940’s my family lived in Eatonton, and we had a young African American girl called “Boots” who lived with us. Boots was always a big sister to me, and she would be around 92 now, so possibly still living. I am reaching out to find out more about her story.
We were originally from Albany, Georgia, but my family lived in Eatonton when my Father R.H. Sasser Jr, worked in construction on roadways, and installing water lines, and sewer lines. At that time, a young African American woman known as Lula May helped my mother with washing clothes. Boots lived with Lula May and her other children and oversaw the small youngsters, including myself. Every week, I looked forward to laundry day with my mother so I could play with Boots and her siblings. One day, my mother and Lula May were talking about how much I loved Boots and my mother joked of taking her with us when we would move to Tuskegee, Alabama next month. Boots overheard this conversation and begged to come. Lula May thought it over for a long time but on the day, we were leaving, Boots climbed into the backseat wearing a wide grin and carrying a paper bag of her belongings. Lula May let her come with us.
In Tuskegee, Boots helped with housework and learned how to cook with my mother. Though, most of her time was spent keeping Gully and me “out of Mother’s hair.” One day, Daddy came home and announced in excitement that we could go and see the Ringling, Barnum and Bailey Circus. We reserved seat tickets but when we got there, we weren’t allowed to take Boots into the white section with us. Gratefully, a very kind family let Boots go into the colored section with them. During the entire circus, my eyes flowed through the section looking for Boots and my mother did the same. We waited after the circus by the colored exit sign but Boots never came out. We checked every tent and asked every person we could find if they had seen her but Boots had gotten lost. It was not until the next morning that the Washington’s called and told us Boots had been found and brought home safe by someone in the circus. This was not the last time Mother and Daddy would worry about Boots though.
Eventually, we moved again back to Georgia, but this time Boots returned to Eatonton to be with her family. We never heard from them or knew what became of her. But forever after, every time I climbed into a swing, I’d pretend to be a trapeze artist, swinging into the sky and back again. Standing behind me to give me extra pushes and carefully watch over me was beautiful Boots with a wide happy smile whom I loved. In those moments, I was back with Boots. I tell you all this story because Boots may be alive or some of her relatives may remember her and her story. My hope is to find information that would reveal Boots’ side of the story in this unusual relationship. In the photograph here, Boots appears to be about 10 to 12 years old and I am about 11 months.
If anyone knows something more about her story, I would be happy to learn it. You can reach me at 850-556-9378.
Sincerely, Ruth Garrison