Frances Jane Booth Keen
FRANCIS JANE BOOTH KEEN
Grandmother Keen
Written By:
Mary Jessie Keen Tuck, 1958
Recopied By:
Michael E. Barbour, 2006
I only remember grandmother dimly.We did not see her often.She was pretty, fair, blue eyes, dark hair, tall, slim, and spoiled.She had a lovely voice and sang well.She was dignified and proud, but underneath her sweetness and dignity there was a mean and overbearing streak.She was used to the very best of everything, and had her way, they were very wealthy.
In slavery days she was boss, mistress, lady, and queen.She was a good mother and spoiled her children and grandchildren too much.She was of Baptist Religion.Grandpma made grandpa toe the mark, she was waited on hand and foot.It is said that her abuse killed one little weakly slave, Joe, her errand boy.She was a social fiend and a great dancer.During the early years she had wines and strong drinks of the finest and highest quality and adapted to Paregoric and Laudanum in her last years.Grandpa had the patience of Jobe, that is pure love.After slavery freedom, she pitted herself and made the family wait on her.I remember seeing my Aunt Annie nurse her and on her death bed she managed to hug me and say, “Be a good Girl”.The next week she died.Her corpse was so very beautiful and everybody cried so much.There were so many friends, neighbors, and kin folks.I wish I could remember them all.The family loved and respected Mommie so very much.Yes she had faults, don’t we all, but she was the finest character and from a noble family of English Decent.She made a poor man of Grandpa with her extravagant tastes and social life.However, she was good hearted and would give anything she had to those she loved and respected, poor and rich alike.
I feel she is resting peacefully and will accept the gospel now being taught in the spirit world.I shall meet and know her some day and she will be proud of me.
I love her and the rest of my people.