Ethel Mae Lewis

Mama Said Ethel Mae Lewis

Ninety-four years ago Rosie Lee Edwards-Walker was born in Cotton Valley, Louisiana on Old Man Hayes Plantation. Her parents were sharecroppers and the only way you would get a meal you had to plant it, pick it, fetch it, or go into the woods and shoot it. Living on a farm Mom learned her survival skills at a very young age. Even though she was 9 years old, when food was needed on the table she could go into the woods with her older brothers, out-hunt and out-shoot them. They were older enough to be her father. She was a surprise baby born 19 years after her parent's first child. Despite her challenging upbringing, she was the best Mom ever to her 5 daughters. She was sweet, the most free-hearted person who would give anyone her last nickel, could read a person to a 'T' at first glance and was as funny as Richard Pryor except Mama did not curse. She was only 5 feet tall, however if you tried to harm her, her children or her family she would have made Tyler Perry's Madea look like a Nun. She has been a big influence in our life, a mentor and a friend. Mom is our 'she-ro.'