Much earlier in their life together, before the birth of their oldest child, my mother, Faye - Helen Faye Moore Payne; and long before the birth of their only son, Tommy - Earl Thomas Moore, Jr.
My great-grandmother, Maude King Moore - PaPaw's mother. She is the only great-grandparent on my mother's side of the family that I ever knew. She is pictured here standing in front of the home where she lived on North Izard Street in Forrest City. The house used to stand in the vacant lot that is located across the street from the present location of the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce.
PaPaw is pictured in the photo to the left with his mother, whom I called MaMaw Moore, and with his sister, Mary Evelyn Moore Keller King Star. To me, she was always affectionally known as "Aunt M". This photo was taken in the living room of PaPaw's home, with a view into the dining room. The small table that can be seen in part just to the right of PaPaw's foot is a table that I am fortunate enough to have in my living room today.
In the photo to the right, Aunt M is surrounded by her three sons. Her oldest son, Al, is pictured standing behind her. Her middle son, Charles, is on the left. Danny, her youngest son, is seated on the right.
Grandmother, PaPaw, my mother, and Tommy. This photo was taken in February, 1943.
Mother, PaPaw and Tommy - 1948
PaPaw - year unknown.
Mother and PaPaw - year unknown
Grandmother is rarely seen in photographs, for a couple of reasons. First of all, she was often the one behind the camera. Secondly, and probably most importantly, she hated to be photographed. She is pictured here with Mother and Tommy on Mothers Day, 1960.
PaPaw at work at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Forrest City, Arkansas. This photo was on the front of a postcard. The Coca-Cola Bottling Company was located at the corner of South Izard Street and Court Street in Forrest City, just west of the St. Francis County Courthouse. Courthouse parking currently occupies the location of the former bottling company.
Grandmother worked as well. She taught dancing for many years in Forrest City. Dancing had long been a love of hers, even before she ever met PaPaw. She had studied dance while living in Pine Bluff, and even performed in an opening act for Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. at a production in Pine Bluff. After she and PaPaw met, they often danced together. They had been dancing together in a performance one night when, while still wearing his tuxedo from their dance routine, he asked her to marry him.
This photo was taken on Mothers Day in 1948, and includes some of Grandmother's family members. Pictures on the back row from left to right are:
Howard White, Joanne White (daughter of Grandmother's sister, Naomi), Grandmother, PaPaw, Mother, Aunt Naomi (one of Grandmother's sisters), Uncle Harry Wynne (Grandmother's brother), and Aunt Juanita (one of Grandmother's sisters.) I'm uncertain of the identities of many of the others in the photo and will update this page as soon as I get the correct information. I do know that the girl at the far right of the front row is Becky Reed (daughter of Grandmother's sister, Juanita)
Grandmother's siblings
Grandmother's sister, Juanita, is on the left in the photo above, along with Grandmother on the right. This photo was taken on Mother and Daddy's wedding day, November 28, 1953. Grandmother and Aunt Juanita are in Grandmother's dining room preparing the table for the reception.
