Priview of The South I Knew: Love Letters to My Children

Paul Owens is one of the most colorful characters in Galivant’s Ferry. Y’all know him but you don’t know the way in which he grew up—right behind my house. His grandma Callie and his granddaddy William raised him. Paul stayed “on the hill” (the banks of the Little Pee Dee River swamp). When I asked [...]

All Southerners – especially the older ones – want to know who you are, where you’re from, who’s your daddy, what’s he do, where you go to church. In other words, when they meet you, they are asking, “Who are your people?” They don’t mean any harm; it’s in their genes to want to know [...]

I told you this wasn’t a history book, but if I’m going to tell you about the Galivants Ferry Stump, it’s important to know the history beforehand — because, in many ways, this history is a microcosm of the South, and certainly of Galivants Ferry. The Stump was and still is a big deal! It’s [...]

The Galivants Ferry Church lies nestled under oak tress dressed in grey southern moss.  It will always be a simple homey church… the church where I was raised.  Inside, the clear large window panes let in all the natural light and give you a good view of a small part of God’s world outside. I [...]