Mattie McIntyre King passed away July 11, 1980

Articles have been edited by Suzanne Forte for brevity and to avoid mention of living individuals.

Although Mrs. Mattie King stands only 4' 3" in her stocking feet, she is a lady who really stands tall.  In her 88 years she has known plenty of hard times and plenty of hard work.

She was born in Habersham County in 1888 - one of six children of the late Newton McIntyre and Hancy (Southerling) McIntyre.  She and her brother Bill McIntyre of Campton are all that remain of the original family.

"I didn't know nothing but hard work as a child," she says.  "We children had to work as soon as we could pick up a hoe and start digging.  I got to go to school for only a few days.  My father wouldn't let us go because he said that we had to work like he did.  The teacher even offered to buy us some books, but he still wouldn't let us go.  I wanted to learn to read, so I took the first 15 cents I earned, bought a little book, and taught myself how to read."

"That was a long time ago.  I've lived in Loganville now for over 50 years.  Before coming here, I lived in Grayson.  I became a member of Grayson First Baptist Church at age 25. 

Mrs. King's first husband was William Kirkland.  They were married about ten years before he died of heart trouble, leaving her with three small children.

"That's where the hard times began," she says.  "If I didn't work in the fields, I might walk two or three miles to someone's house to wash clothes for them.  I would get there early in the morning, wash all day, make 50 cents and walk home late at night.  I washed and swept people's yards just for the money to buy the wood we burnt."

After Mr. Kirkland died, she later married the late Tom Weather.  They had one child.  Mrs. King's third husband was the late Him Hood, and her last husband, Etowah King died in 175.  Al-in-all Mrs. King has ten grandchildren and many great grandchildren, some of whom she has never seen.

I plan to work as long as I can.  If I ever get helpless, I'd rather just drop out but that's not my choice.  I know the Lord watches over me or I'd already be gone."