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A skilled carpenter, Eddie Lee constructed two homes on his property, one for his family and one to gain rental income. Grandpa is praised as a soloist and song leader for his church and a pianist who gathered his family around the piano for hymn-singing soirees. Betty Crumbly Booth speaks fondly of "singing hymns while dad played."
Grandma is the subject of stories of her loving--and firm--parenting, as well as her delectable skills as a cook and baker.
She leaves behind evidence of her skilled handiwork: knitting, crocheting, and quilting.
This quilt still warms body and spirit in the home of a great-granddaughter, Meghan Barber.
Betty Crumbly Booth mourned that her family would not know and cherish the memory of her grandfather Wash Caldwell with whom only she had enjoyed spending childhood years. A heartfelt discussion on this subject fueled the determination of her sister-in-law, Faith Johnson Crumbly, to ensure that Betty's desire would be fulfilled using family talent.
The administrative and marketing experience of family members like Faith and the technological savvy of Jonelle Giulianelli (CR) enabled an online family discussion to develop Faith's "God-given idea of a forensic art project." Following her publishing training, Faith found a "buyer" for the idea before investing time and energy in it. So even before an artist was secured, Faith contacted Mirian Allen, Museum curator, about placing the art. Allen's research unearthed a newspaper article verifying the residency of Wash Caldwell. And the idea had found a home. When the call for artists ended and Betty confirmed the veracity of Greg Crumbly's forensic art interpretation, Faith shared Greg's website information with Curator Marian Allen. After viewing Greg's art and credits, Allen proposed having an induction ceremony at the Laurel-Jones County Black History Museum & Art. The exhibit remained there for 9 months.
Wash Caldwell's mother was a member of what is now called the Mississippi Choctaw Band. His father was of Scottish lineage.
Grandpa Caldwell was a farmer, and many of his offspring have a "green thumb."
A newspaper article found by Marian Allen, curator of the Laurel-Jones County Black History Museum & Arts, confirms Grandpa's entrepreneurial spirit. He earned ancillary income by using his team of horses to pull the city fire wagon.
Grandpa also was known around the Laurel area for raising many colors and varieties of roses that grew on trellises as well as in-ground. Many of his offspring also cultivate roses in Laurel and around the nation.
Grandma Lula to the Caldwell Grands and Grandma Lucy to the Crumbly offspring was the eldest of the six offspring born to Wash Caldwell and Mary Steel Caldwell who died during the birth of Nellie (Crumbly).
Grandma married Ulysses Grant Knight. Grady, Leon, William, Sarah (McLaughlin), and Mary Ellen (Prince) were born to their union. Grandma also raised the 8 children born to Ulysses' deceased wife.
With all this at home, Grandma Lula was the teacher in the one-room Piney Grove School in Moselle, MS, that gave the firm foundation for students succeeding in higher education when schools were integrated.
If you can share information about the one-room, segregated Piney Grove School in Moselle, MS, please put PINEY GROVE SCHOOL in the subject line email to CrumblyCaldwellHeritage@yahoo.com.
CrumblyCaldwellHeritage@yahoo.com
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