1979 -Virginia Freeman

Interviewed by Kimberly Weitkamp

Virginia Freeman, Born October 1929, grew up on Mitchell Mill Road in Rolesville, NC. She moved to Oakwood in October 1979 with 4 of her 7 children.  Her children are Mildred-Janelle, Elvis, Janice, Willy, LaFayette, Curtis.

Her home at 213 Linden Ave, built in 1958, is an all brick structure with three bedrooms and one bath.  Virginia moved into her home in Oakwood out of necessity as the home she had been living in was going to be torn down.  She bought the home on her own and moved there with her children.  When raising her five children in the home, people had to wait to use the one bathroom and the children would wake up early to get into the bathroom first.  Her favorite memories were working in the yard.  Her daughter propagated the lovely cacti in the yard from a cactus she saw at a doctor’s office on St. Mary’s Street many years ago.  One of her daughters was born down the street at St. Agnes hospital at St. Augustine University.  Her children attended Effie Green Elementary, Sanderson High School and Enloe High School.  Virginia worked nearby at St. Luke’s, a women’s retirement home at 501 New Bern Ave. (current site of Helping Hands Mission). She cooked, cleaned, set the tables and helped out the retired women who, lived there.  She walked to work as it was only a few blocks from home, sometimes took the bus.

Virginia spent time growing a garden and using the fresh vegetables to make Chow Chow.  She also made biscuits from scratch which her children fondly remember.  Virginia has always enjoyed growing spring flowers in her yard, her favorites were buttercups.  The land is hard and hard to grow real flowers, as she got older, she put in artificial flowers which were easier to maintain.

Virginia has enjoyed walking in our neighborhood and was going up and down her stairs to walk the neighborhood until she recently moved into the Spring Arbor Senior Living Center.  Virginia’s favorite memories are watching the neighborhood change and seeing new houses being built.  She has watched local businesses move in and out of the store at the corner of Linden and Lan.  She really liked when it was a grocery store, even though it was “priced high.”  She fondly remembers some of her friends throughout her years living in Oakwood, sharing pictures of her 90th birthday party with friends, family and neighbors.

Virginia has a strong faith and enjoys listening to Christian music.  She attended Mt. Peace Baptist Church in Raleigh and grew up in Eagle Rock Christian Church in Wendell.

She showed me pictures from her 90th birthday which included family, friends, and lots of neighbors.
She was dressed lovely wearing her favorite pearls.

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