Elm Fork Echoes, Volume 22, May 1994 Page: 48
64 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Page 9 - Memories of "GAGA" PEARL GRAVLEY
GAGA
Martha Eileen Finch Page Lang
Being the oldest of Pearl Gravley's grandchildren, I had the opportunity of
naming my grandmother something other than just plain "Grandmother" or "Grandma",
so she became "GaGa". Most of my generation, as well as later generations and
many relatives and friends, respectively addressed her by that name until her
death.
GaGa was a very important part of my growing-up years. My father, Clifton Lee
Finch, was sick most of time until he died when I was 11. Because of this, I,
as well as my younger sister Betty and brother Steve, stayed with GaGa lots of
times; therefore, the following are a few of my many memories of "my" GaGa.
GaGa always let me go through her purse during church services. I'm sure this
was to keep me quite and occupied without making too much noise. BUT, when I
tried to go through my mother's, Beatrice Gravley Finch Spence, purse, I found
out real quick that I didn't have this same privilege!
I helped with the washing on the old wringer type washing machine; and then I
got to hang the laundry on the fence and on the bushes. I didn't know there was
a clothes line.
There were times when I was there that GaGa would wash her long, pretty red hair
and would come out on the front porch to let dry. At these times, she would let
me comb and/or brush and "play" with her hair. She seemed never to tire of this.
GaGa always prepared a large breakfast for Joe and Milburn, her two youngest
children who were still at home when I stayed with her, that consisted of big,
fluffy biscuits (and not the can type), fried eggs, bacon and/or sausage if it
was during hog killing time, thicken gravy and always chow-chow on top of the
eggs and gravy. Now, that's what you call a breakfast!
During one of our extended stays with GaGa, I had to check-out of my school and
go to Carrollton school. Going to school consisted of walking across the narrow
dirt road, climbing through or over the fence and walking across the field. That
was the short cut. When the field was too muddy, I had to walk down the road
to Belt Line and then to the school. That was the long way.
As I stated earlier, GaGa was a very important key figure in my growing-up years.
She was patient with me, gave me love, time and attention, always had time for
me thus making me feel I was the only grandchild she had, always holding my hand
when we walked and many, many more memorable things. This was so important to
me that I try to exemplify the same things to my five grandchildren.
GAGA
Katy Lynette Page
I am one of GaGa's great, great granddaughers. I am nine years old.
GaGa was a nice person. Even though she was in a wheel chair, she was able to
do lots of fun things. I would push her around in her wheel chair, and she liked
that. I enjoyed visiting her in the nursing home, especially during her largebirthday parties. 48
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Peters Colony Historical Society of Dallas County, Texas. Elm Fork Echoes, Volume 22, May 1994, periodical, May 1994; Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth760609/m1/52/: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Carrollton Public Library.