.~‚ ~ ~







ED McCREX
Ex-Slave - Age 76.


	Ed MoCree‘s home was pointed out by a little albino Negro girl about 10 years old. The small front yard was gay with snapdragons, tiger lilies, dahlias, and other colorful flowers, and the two-~story frame house, painted graywith white trimmings seemed to be in far better repair than the average Negro residence.

	Chewing on a cud of tobacco, Ed answered the knock on his front door. “Good evenin‘ Lady,* he said. “Have a cheer on de porch whar it‘s cool.‘~ Ed is about five feet, six inches in height, and on this afternoon he was wearing a blue striped shirt, black vest, gray pants and black shoes. His gray hair waS topped by a soiled grey hat.

	Nett, his wife, caine hobbling out on the porch and sat down to listen to the conversation. At first the old man was reluctant to talk of his childhood experiences, but his interest was aroused by questioning and soon he began to eagerly volunteer his memories. He had just had his noon meal and now and then would doze s little ‚ but was easily aroused when questions called him back to the subject.

	WI was borned in Oconee County,“ he said, “jus‘ be.

low Watkinsville. My Ma and Pa was Louisa and Henry MoCree, but Old Marster called Pa ‘Sherin‘ for short. Far as I ever heared, my Ma and Pa was borned and brung up right dar in Oconee County. Dere