2

FL-19
January 27, 1939
Rich and Lula Gray (Negro)
South Florida Turpentine Corporation
Carters, Florida (Near Lakeland)
Negro Turpentine Foreman
Paul Diggs, writer (Negro)
Veronica E. Huss, reviser.
2000 wds

RICH AND LULA GRAY

A small Coca-cola sign, tacked to a shack at Carters,
Florida, and bearing the name of Lula Gray, led me to the
quarter houe of the Negro camp foreman, Rich Gray. Rich
works for the South Florida Turpentine Corporation. Lula is
his wife. Their small home once served as a home and store
combined. It is reached from the main highway by planks
over a ditch.

Rich was not at home, but Lula invited me to come up on
the little vine covered porch and wait for him. She told me
that he came in from the wood every day for his noon meal,
and as it was near that time, I accepted the invitation. I
sat in the swing and shoved the one rocker on the porch with
the toe of my shoe. Lula was busin in the kitchen cooking, so
I didn't have much time to talk with her, but I managed to
ask her where she was from.

"I'se from Manna, South Carolina," she said, "and I'm
37 years old. But of course this yere age what I jest give
you haint what my insurance age is!"

I asked her to explain.

"Well, the reason is that hit doan cost us so much if

1125B