Interview with Glenna Turner, November 25, 2010

Partial Transcript: This is November 25th and we are speaking to Glenna Turner.

Segment Synopsis: Glenna Turner was born in Letcher County, but lived most of her childhood in Perry County. She has nine siblings, but two died when they were babies. Some of her siblings have passed recently. She was the second child. She moved to Berea in 1982.

Keywords: Berea (Ky.); Eastern Kentucky

Subjects: Childhood; Families.; Letcher County (Ky.); Perry County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: See, I took my kids. I ran away.

Segment Synopsis: Turner left her husband. She married a soldier that she didn't know very well. He was an alcoholic, and she believes he stayed in the service too long. He was so drunk one night that he passed out. When he did, she wrote him a note saying that she had gone to get a jar of mustard. She took her kids and never returned.

Keywords: Divorce; Greyhound bus; Soldiers

Subjects: Berea (Ky.); Families.; Marriage

Partial Transcript: How did, how did you all meet?

Segment Synopsis: Turner met her husband through her sister. She met him and fell madly in love because he was in the service.

Keywords: Marriage; Soldiers

Subjects: Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: Now what was, what was life like as a child?

Segment Synopsis: Turner says that her family was happy. They were poor because she grew up during the Depression. The food was usually beans and potatoes. Her nickname was "Smiley." Everyone thought she was beautiful. She tells of her siblings.

Keywords: Great Depression; Memories; Smiles

Subjects: Childhood; Depressions--1929--Kentucky; Kentucky.

Partial Transcript: What are some of the things that you, you, you love doing?

Segment Synopsis: When she was young she loved bicycling. Now she likes friends. She tells of her friends. She took care of her father as he grew older. She tells of his life and memories of him.

Keywords: Activities; Family; Friends; Richmond (Ky.)

Subjects: Childhood; Families.

Partial Transcript: So you raised your, so you raised your boys...

Segment Synopsis: Turner raised her children at her parents' home. She worked regularly. She has a heart problem that should have kept her from having children. She went into heart failure while giving birth every time she gave birth. Her doctor 'tied her tubes' right after she gave birth the second time. Her children were young when she left her husband. One son was four and the other was nine.

Keywords: Children; Family; Parenting; Work

Subjects: Families.; Madison County (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: What, um, what types of things did you like to do with your, your boys?

Segment Synopsis: Turner enjoyed going to church with her children. They visited family members together. They were just a happy family.

Keywords: Family; Memories

Subjects: Families.

Partial Transcript: Did, um--do you have any funny stories about them?

Segment Synopsis: Turner tells a few memories that she has of her children. Her oldest son wouldn't call his father 'dad'. However, he did call a stranger 'dada'.

Keywords: Memories; Stories

Subjects: Families.

Partial Transcript: Now when did they--when did they grow up and move out and--

Segment Synopsis: Turner tells of her children and when they were out on their own. Her son Jimmy graduated high school, married, and was constantly in college getting various degrees. He makes good money, but she can't remember what he does exactly.

Keywords: Children; Education; Marriage

Subjects: Families.

Partial Transcript: What are some of the things you're most proud of Mrs.Turner?

Segment Synopsis: Turner explains that she is proud of the people in her life. The pastor's wife said that she was just like her sister. She is just easy to like. She smiles because it makes her happy.

Keywords: Family; Friends; Religion; Richmond (Ky.)

Subjects: Hospice care.

Partial Transcript: So, kind of looking back and thinking about all the people in your life that you love, and sounds like you have a lot of people...

Segment Synopsis: Turner says that the happiest moment in her life would be having her children. She also has a memory of her family Christmas that she tells. She said that she learned to not marry a soldier that she didn't know.

Keywords: Family; Happiness; Memories

Subjects: Hospice care.