Duncan Family

Bonnie with Uncle Albert Ivey, dated March 1955. This photo from Wayne Ivey.

GA Coronation, Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Dated March, 1955.

Denise on seesaw in August, 1955. Looks like the carefree days of summer.

Brenda earned the Queen with Sceptre rank in GAs in the Fall of 1955. This is at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. With her is her scepter bearer Cathy Ellison, daughter of Doc and Wilma Ellison.

Brenda's coronation as Queen with Scepter. On left end is Jane Wix, right end Sandra Thomas. Aunt Bill Nash, GA Leader, presents the scepter.

This is the group of younger GAs at the time of Brenda's coronation. They included Bonnie at extreme left and Sherry fifth from left.

Our School Bus Driver Also Took Us to Church!

I started attending SS and church when I was in first grade as the school bus driver, Mr. Wallace, invited everyone who did not have a church to come to his church on Sunday (Mt. Pisgah Baptist). He drove his school bus route on Sunday mornings to pick us up until he retired at the end of my fifth grade. Mr. Wallace drove the school bus to take Brenda to Riverside School. He also drove his bus to take the children to the Austell movie theatre on Friday nights. Brenda thinks it was on alternating Friday nights. Mr. Wallace's son Chuck Wallace took over the bus route to Riverside School. Then his grandson Doyle Wallace took the bus route to Riverside and afterward to South Cobb High School where Brenda attended.

After Mr. Wallace's retirement, members of the church gave us rides to church when Mom did not go or there was no car available. I became active in all the children's programs and then all youth programs at the church. I had been a Christian since age 11 following VBS. In GA's (Girl's Auxiliary) I learned many scriptures and about missions. Sunday School and evening Church Training helped for learning to study, do study courses, and be able to speak before a group.

Denise with Brenda in December 1955.

Denise settled in the rocking chair with Brenda.

Brenda Memories

Stories told to me about my birth.

Memories of the end of World War II

I remember the day the war was over with all the sirens, horns, and my cousin and I out in the yard beating on tin cans to join the excitement.

Do you remember the Day World War II was over over in your hometown? We lived at 981 Bankhead in Atlanta. Horns honking, church bells ringing, street car bell cords pulled, all sorts of noise makers including kids beating on large cans with big spoons. People up and down sidewalks laughing, dancing, singing, and yelling- Our dads and uncles were coming home! With my dad( Army), and three uncles fighting on my mom's side (my mother's 2 sisters husbands -Uncle Albert, Uncle Clarence (Army) and my mother's brother, Uncle Roy, (Navy) and two uncles on my dad's side (one was already missing in action). The women and children on my mother's side all lived together as the women worked and my grandmother cared for us children (3) and did the cooking. My mother worked at Bell Bomber Plant and two aunts worked on Marietta Street. My older cousin (Wayne Ivey) and I joined the excitement that day by sitting in the yard beating on cans with rocks or spoons, laughing and yelling "daddy is coming home" .

Moving to Austell

We moved to Austell the summer before I started first grade at Riverside Elementary School. Our newly built 4 room house at Rt 2, River Road was described by mom's relatives as "out in the country". My dad's family was living not far from the house. Dad lived in Austell most of his adult life. We did not have inside plumbing or a bathroom in this house the first year. Baby girl three arrived in the fall of my first year of school. We were raised with the chickens and the hogs. It was ok with me and many others that Riverside School only had outside toilets until my 4th grade year. A cafeteria was included in the addition to the school in my 6th year. Baby girl number 4 arrived when I was 11 yrs old, in 6th grade.

Story of Commitment to Christ

I asked Jesus to come into my heart and life be my Lord and Savior when I was 11 yrs old. (God's Story) I began to learn more and seek God with all my heart. He made a difference in my childhood and my teen years. There were some troubles , trials and difficulties within my family which affected me. I learned to trust Him for everything and I told that to everyone at school and everyone in my family. Jesus, church and the people and leaders there and the activities were the most important part of my life. Jerry Cole (Beaver) was my mentor and my very special friend at Mt Pisgah.

I started Sunday School at age 6 because the driver of the school bus (Mr Wallace) invited everyone who rode his bus to go with him to Mt Pisgah Baptist Church on So. Gordon Rd. He drove the school bus route on Sunday mornings to pick up those who wanted to go. We waited at our school bus stop. I was so excited to go and learn about Jesus. When I was in second grade, my little sister started going with me. I was involved in all other age group programs including Sunbeams, GA's and Bible school. I think I was 10 yrs old when my mother started going. We did not talk much about Jesus at home. Mother was taking all three of us girls. She made a profession of faith and was baptized that year. Dad went only a few years at Father's Day or Easter or sometimes for events one of us girls were involved in. Basically though, it was the church family and leaders that encouraged me to learn and know about Jesus.

I had attended Bible School every year and mom and a neighbor did refreshments once. The year that I was 11 years old, Preacher Wix talked to us older kids in VBS about how to become a Christian. I began to seek God with all my heart. I did not hear a clap of thunder but I felt God speaking to me. I asked him to enter my heart and my life. I did talk to mom and a neighbor on the weekend and told them what I was experiencing. When the invitation was given on the following Sunday in June 1952, I stepped forward to say, I had invited Jesus into my heart and life. The invitation hymn was I Surrender All and that was exactly what I was doing - surrendering all. I found peace quickly because things were sometimes in turmoil in our family and in my heart. I was baptized in July in King's Lake off Hillcrest Drive. I had found grace through as relationship with Jesus. I begun to question myself when I heard others talk about "did I do it right" or "I was so young" or just doubting their salvation.

Brenda in December 1955. She was listening to 78 rpm vinyl records.

Dorothy Jean Duncan Watts with young daughter Jeannette. December of 1955.

Brenda recalls Bonnie shooting this picture with the Brownie camera with flash. It is in the white house on the hill where they lived until 1958. The 1955 date is based on assuming that she is 14.