This beautiful, magnificent woman, Gladys Green Parker, decided to go on home last night. I was lucky enough to be her oldest grandchild. She was a poet, an artist, and the Matriarch of our family. Right now, I hope she is reunited with Papa and Mama Green and listening to their stories again.
The Story of Gladys
Let me tell you about my family and my earliest recollections. There was Papa, Mama, six boys and me, the only girl. Two boys came along before I was born – Alvah, age 4, and Morris, age 2, who was called the “knee baby” because he was just walking good and after I was born, he was “next to the baby.” Four more boys came later.
My Papa, Baxter Council Green, was a wonderful, smart man. He was born and raised in an area known as “the green swamp” near Abbottsburg, N.C., a little old place outside of Bladenboro. Although he only had a fifth grade education, Papa was a smart man. He could do figures as well as anyone and read real well, too. His learning was all from experience. He and my brother Alvah invented a system for cement septic tanks that were eventually put down all over Myrtle Beach, S.C. Well known and respected in his time, everyone in Myrtle Beach called him “Plumber Green” – and a sign with those words written on it hung on his house, making him easy to locate. When he died, his funeral was a humongous affair – one of the most heavily attended in Myrtle Beach in those days.
He was the quiet type, a true Southern gentleman. With his light brown hair and clean cut appearance, he was handsome in a reserved way. He never had a moustache or a beard. I remember watching him was his face and how he would bale water up on it over and over again. The only remarkable feature he had were his outstanding and expressive blue eyes. When he smiled, his eyes would twinkle. For some reason, he was unable to laugh out loud, so instead of laughter, tears would shine in his eyes.
Sometimes he was rough and stern on the boys when they needed it, especially Morris, who was very witty and dry and seemed to have a knack for getting into trouble. But Mama, who never fussed about a thing, in her quiet way, knew just how to calm Papa. He always put Mama on a pedestal.
There has never been a woman born like Mama. Harriet Adrian Gladden Green, called “Hattie”, was a beautiful lady with soft brown eyes, dark brown wavy hair, a nice, almost olive complexion, a short curvy figure and a sweet smile. No wonder Papa decided to marry her the first time he met her. Papa said, “The first time I saw your mother, she and her Daddy were sitting on their porch, and my stomach did an upside-down.” They both talked to me separately and told me all about their courtship days. His talk was all about her. It seems as thought she was the “Belle of Masonboro Sound” and he had to ride his bike eight miles on an old oyster shell road when he went to see her. There was a lot of pushing pedals for him to woo her away from the Masonboro fellows.
The Courtship of Hattie and Baxter C.
by Gladys G. Parker (7/16/1968)
I always like to hear
Her tales of long ago
I’d draw my chair up near
Her voice was soft and low
Hattie talked the most
About her courtship days
Then she’d smile and boast
About her wiley ways.
The country boys had not a chance
For, coming up from town
Was “Dude”, her new romance,
Biking, ten miles down.
“Dude”, really not his name.
His name was Baxter C.
But, the fellows played the game
Of green-eyed jealousy.
Baxter C. had a friend
Who also lived in town.
One day Bill slipped away
And brought his surrey down.
Oh! She thought she was a duchess
Riding in a carriage.
She had forgotten Baxter C.
Who had his mind on marriage.
Little did she know
He was on his way right then
Suddenly, she saw him!
Cycling around the bend.
No, not a great big fight
But, oh the flurry flew
Alas! She knew that very night
Baxter C. would do.
Papa often smiled
While she talked about her beaus.
He really didn’t care
Because he loved her so.
When Ginger snaps..... 
