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Barbara Johns' Diary

Page 1

My first recollection of Cullen, Virginia was in the year of 1942. I arrived by train from Washington D.C. to Richmond, VA. In Richmond, we were picked up by my uncle and transported to my grandmother’s home in Cullen, VA.

The ride on the train had been exciting – mainly because it was my 1st train ride, but mostly, because it was crowded with soldiers. I was fascinated by all of them – in my imagination they were big, tall, not-so tall men who looked so handsome and polished in their uniforms. I was particularly impressed by them because my own Daddy had been called into the army and though I had not seen him in his uniform — I imagined he must look as handsome as these men. In fact, the very reason my Mother, brother, sister and I left Washington to live in Va, was because my Daddy was in the service, and he felt we would fare better in the country.

My days at my grandmother’s house were fun filled and chore

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In fact, the very reason my Mother, brother, sister and I left Washingto to live in Va, was because my Daddy was in the service and he felt we would fare better in the country.

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BARBARA JOHNS’ DIARY

Page 2

filled. In fact, one seldom got a chance to sit down and rest before the familiar cry of Barbree (as she called me came), I then rushed to feed the chickens, pick up chips for the wood stove, run to the spring for a bucket of cool, fresh water, gather the eggs, or do some household chore that was needed. My grandmother owned a 175 acres of land, and farming (raising pigs, cows, tobacco, corn and other crops was as important to her and my grandfather existence as they became to our own when my Dad returned from the war.

My mother left us in our grandmother’s care and returned to Washington to live with her sister and work for the government at the Pentagon. I was enrolled in school at the Mary E. Branch Elementary School in Farmville, VA, where I remained through the 8th grade. ~~My I~~

My Dad came home on furlough and we were happy to see him. He brought me a pair of red wooden Dutch shoes which I prized very highly and kept until they were burned in our house

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