Juanita Floyd and Sara Berry

00:02 Hi, my name is Sara Berry and I am 54 years old almost 55 but today's date is Saturday, March 13th, 2021. We're all happy that 2020 is over. I am in Mississippi at my home office right now in Tupelo, Mississippi and the name of my conversation partner is Juanita Floyd and she is my very dear friend that we written a book together and I've just been grateful with her with her friendship over the past several years.

00:48 The Juanita wants you to reduce yourself. Hi, I'm Cosette Juanita Floyd. My age is 59 soon to be 60 or today's date is Saturday, March 13th, 2021. I am located in Tupelo, Mississippi actually at my office create Foundation is where I work the name of my partner, of course is Sara Berry and then she is already stated. She's my dear dear friend.

01:22 And I guess Juanita we can start this conversation. Maybe just sort of reminiscing a little bit about how we met. I remember it clearly. Do you I remember it clearly I do well on my end and a mutual friend of ours called me and said that that asked me if I knew Juanita and I said, you know, I've heard of her name. Oh, we live in the same city small City and but I had not met her and he said I think you need to meet and you need to hear her story and I'm an author in Britain books before in and he said I think you would be interested in hearing her story. So when we came back from

02:17 Vacation, I contacted Juanita and and she began to to share her story and I was just overwhelmed with how beautiful it was and what a necessary message Juanita that your story is that the world just really needs to hear and I have been blessed to be your friend. At first. We just started working together about maybe putting together a children's book about her story and called Summer of 1969. And and that was great as working Partners, but along the way we became much more than working partner who became very good friends, and I'm very grateful for you Juanita. And I think it's safe to say that we have a common fate and

03:12 And we are both Christians and I think that that when lends itself to are you no feeling like we're more sisters that we don't look anything like four sisters than anything else, but I really just wanted wanted to give you space to just be able to let's reminisce about your story cuz I never Tire of hearing it. So I just kind of want to toss the ball to you and say

03:43 Remind me of this beautiful story. Thank you so much Sarah. I will I am happy to share my story and what I really love about our friendship. Yes. I happen to be black. She happens to be white but that transcends what the world everything that's going on in the world today. I think it's beautiful that we can come together and be good friends and through my mother story is really my mother stories about how my mother prepared me for integration doing 1968-69 and how beautiful for two women to come together one black one white to come together and write a story about Redemption write a story about love. So I'm going to share my story today and just started off the way. I normally present when we're together in the summer of July 1975.

04:43 14 year old girl was rescued from the bottom of a swimming pool at a local apartment complex in Tupelo. The Rescuer was sitting outside in a swing on that beautiful Saturday morning when he was hysterically summon, Mr. Please come help me my sisters in the pool. The teenager was estimated to have been underwater anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes and ambulance was called and the young girl was taken to the hospital unconscious. She was unconscious for a day and a half. Her family was told that due to the lack of oxygen for over 10 minutes. She probably would have brain damage and would possibly be a vegetable for the rest of her life the rescue who became a friend and mentor to the young girl was mr. Junior Smith.

05:37 A former Banker in Tupelo the 14 year old girl was mean Juanita Gambrell Floyd. I always share this testimony because I truly could not be talkin or speaking before you today. My story revolves around the Journey of a woman who believed in a dream a woman who influenced inspired and made a difference with only an eighth grade education. She was an unsung hero her first job was working in the cotton field her second job working as a maid some employers treated her as a human being others treated her quite ugly and unfairly.

06:26 Her sweet loving husband died leaving her a single parent. She then worked at a factory for over 20 years standing on her feet day after day her hands and feet worse norlin arthritic her fingernails and toenails were fungus covered but she kept on working. She knew she had to provide for a family. She believed in her dream that her children would fare better than she had then School integration happen.

07:02 How does a mother prepare child for difficult circumstances and how does a mother create in the child and unshakable confidence and who he or she is and what that child can achieve?

07:18 In the summer of 1969 the pivotal year of school integration. I just finished first graded Bill Ford Elementary in New Albany, Mississippi. My mother told me that I was going to a new school for second grade. I asked if my friends would be there. She said probably not but I would make new friends every day during the summer of 1969. My mother asked me. What is your name your given name and I say mama, you know my name. What is your name? And your given name? I would reply my name is closed at Juanita Gambrell.

08:00 While she was working outside in the garden, I would often ask her to play with me like she always did when she came home from work, but that Summer She always answered by saying no, why don't you sit over there and read your books this happen every day during that summer in August the night before school. My mother said to me you will meet new children. The only difference is your skin is brown and there's is white, but you're all special children.

08:36 We arrived at school. I was the only little black girl in the entire second grade at that time. Now, there were other black students just not in my grave. My mother filled out the necessary papers, then we walked together over to the teacher. She said to the teacher. I trust you with my child. I am confident that you will protect her teach her and love her by the way when she is on the playground. Would you allow her to carry her little spatula books with her she then I place my hand in the teacher's hand.

09:16 Imagine how my mother felt when she left her baby girl on the first day of school with white strangers not knowing if she had prepared be enough RFI would survive the first day. She later told me after leaving that the classroom as she walked down that long hallway with tears in her eyes. She never look back because if she had as any precious mother would do to protect her child. She would have scoop me up and arms and ran, but she didn't later that day cat recess. I went over to the Merry-Go-Round to play When the Children would not play with me. I went over to the teacher got my little Satchel of books and Simply Red.

10:10 Other days on the playground mini of the children call me names and you can imagine what they called me. Guess what I said. Oh, no, that's not my name. My name is Kohl's at Juanita gambrel later when I would tell my mother what happened each day on the playground. My mother would always gently say give it a few more days. These are children. They will want to play I now am amazed by the wisdom of my mother that summer before school began her and usual tactics actually had a very subtle purpose to prepare me for the trials. I would face. I'm happy to say that I went to school with those same students from the 2nd to the 12th grade. We became best friends and they honored being high school by electing me as an officer to various clubs. The school administration allowed me to work in the office the school store.

11:10 And I made the majority of intercom announcements to the entire School each day. My mother was so wise by constantly saying to me you will be a lot you will love you will not hate every night. I would hear my mother pray and Lord let the heart of a child come forth after I got older. I realize my mother knew that if the heart of a child came for the children would not see color.

11:42 Imagine if you were hated and mistreated because of the color of your skin when I would say mama the students don't like me Mama. I hate them. Mama would say you got to love baby. You can't hate Mama the boys stick out their legs and trip me. They throw spitballs at me everyday when I go to the restroom, the white girls say here comes the end. Let's see what's told she uses because we don't want to use the same stall my mother kept on praying. Can you imagine mom has pain but she kept saying to me you still must love the majority of the time in school. I was the only black in my classes.

12:30 Mama talk to me all the time about an education. She said you must get an education. That's the only way you can do better than me the day I graduated from Ole Miss. I walk up to Mama who had tears streaming down her face. And I said Mama this is yours. You deserve this degree because of the late mrs. Bernie's way Gambrell. I have the opportunity today to try to make a difference and hopefully leave this world better than I found it. I can try to encourage motivate and inspire all of us to love to have compassion on people respect and racial harmony with each other.

13:17 The influence that we have on others can span years and generations years ago. I received a phone call from my son's homeroom teacher asking me to come to the school so that she can speak personally to me about a matter, you know, the dreaded phone call from a teacher. I arrive at the school with a very heavy heart concerned about my son the teacher. Thank me for coming and these were her words to me. There's a boy whose name is John John is quite the children call him a nerd John has severe severe acne when he walks down the hall they clear a path around him. He sits alone in the cafeteria when he raises his hand to answer a question the kids laugh at him because of his accident.

14:12 I need to tell you that your son is made a difference in John's life out of all the children in the 8th grade black or white rich or poor your son started sitting with John in the cafeteria. Tyler is late for his own classes so that he can walk John to his classes. Mrs. Floyd. John is now a happy boy.

14:36 With tears streaming down my face. I left the classroom and went to my car where I thank God for my mother who years earlier instill in me the value of making a difference in the lives of others regardless of race black or white or socioeconomic status rich or poor. Her teachings have now spanned another generation. Mrs. Bernie's way gamble. My mother was the best thing that ever happened to me and to my family. Tyler told me he and the young man reunited on Facebook the young man. Thank Tyler for being his friend in high school. Tyler said to me mama

15:24 I believe John was on the verge of committing suicide in school.

15:31 So you see by your beliefs by your words by your actions as people we can lift Alive's and spirits of those we meet and truly make a difference in their lives. If not for my mother's encouragement doing Elementary in high school. I don't know where I would be you see I never had another black teacher after first grade all my teachers were white, but I made it the odds were stacked against me. If I had given up I would not have been successful. I would not be working as a professional. I would not have a job as a scared little girl. I would not be managing the nearly 150 million dollars of assets of create Foundation through my job. I never thought that I would be interacting with bank president College president Hospital president business owners.

16:31 Are you the doctors as a scared little girl? I never thought that the past president of itawamba Community College with contact me and asked me to be the commencement speaker for college ceremony. I stood before hundreds of graduates and hundreds of people as a little girl from The Red Hill Community in Blue Springs. I never thought I would be standing before audiences sharing my mother story. I never thought I would be

17:04 Having an opportunity to have my mother story recorded.

17:11 I never thought that for almost 14 years, I would be writing a monthly column in the Northeast, Mississippi Daily Journal about my opinion.

17:21 And Sara said another friend and member of this community Tupelo Mississippi introduced me to the the sweet lady Sara Berry and author in her own right and a local publisher Sarah use my presentation to write the story and children's book form. We collaborated on Mama story and publish the children's book. I never thought that I would become an author that scared little girl in second grade is an offer my son. Tyler said Mama. What a surreal moment to see your name on a book and on Amazon. I celebrate the magic of Education. It is open so many doors for me. I celebrate the magic of riding. We had a book signing at Reed's bookstore, which was phenomenal. We had so much support from people of all ethnicities throughout Northeast.

18:21 Mississippi I never imagined that people would donate money to help get this book into schools and libraries today over 5,000 books have been donated. I never dreamed that this book would be submitted to the teacher's Choice Awards and for 2019. We won a national award in the category of family believe me. This would not have happened. If not for my mother's teachings and instructions in our family. You see all of us have choices. I could have easily been bitter a racist unproductive no motivation. No love for people. I could have been a Dropout a part of the statistics in Mississippi.

19:10 I could have allowed all of those negative situations in my life to affect me.

19:15 Just as my mother impacted my life, each of us continue to have a chance impact this world with our abilities to make a difference in the lives of people all of us have the power to influence the many people we come in contact with daily. It doesn't matter about race nationality or socioeconomic status. What does matter is this?

19:41 You can effectively make a difference in someone's life. How do I know? Let me tell you about a great leader in our community who helped me Jack Reed senior 36 years ago. Ask this question to an all-white mostly male board at create. Why can't we hire Juanita? She has a degree. She's qualified. She's trustworthy. I move that we hire Juanita because of that one decision from one person my quality of life. My family's quality of life changed and improved.

20:21 While standing in the Reads bookstore, I recall the decision that Jack Reed senior made on my behalf for me to be hired at create foundation and how ironic that 32 years later. I was standing in his store autograph and books one decision by one person. So you see you can effectively change someone's life.

20:49 There's a movie that's been around for over 50 years call It's a Wonderful Life the movie revolves around and Angel Clarence who helps a man George by showing what life would have been like if he never existed Clarence wisely shows George. How much is life is matter all the lies. He is touch and the contributions he has made to his community. I don't want to lie George begins to understand the differences. His absence made Clarence said strange, isn't it?

21:27 Each Man live touches so many other lives.

21:33 And when he isn't around he leaves an awful hole doesn't he? You see George you really had a wonderful life, don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away.

21:46 Sara

21:48 What would I whirl be like if you had not been born?

21:53 Your life doesn't matter to someone.

21:57 All of us can touch the lives of so many people with our gifts and abilities with our service just like George in the movie.

22:10 In closing this presentation

22:14 One of my favorite quotes simplest comes from an unknown author.

22:20 There are two dates on every tombstone.

22:26 There's a birth date and there's a date of death and every human being is guaranteed those two dates.

22:36 But that little Dash that lies between those two numbers is what defines Our Lives.

22:44 So make your dash count live really live.

22:50 All of us have been given a dash.

22:56 Your dash is in your hands.

23:00 Think about your dash.

23:03 Ask yourself. What can I do with my dad can my dad's change my little corner of the world? How can I make a difference with my Dash?

23:16 Believe it or not all of us hold the key to someone's like just like my mother misses Bernie's Wade Gambrell during the summer of 1969.

23:32 That concludes my presentation and Sara.

23:39 Just singing once again how thankful. I am that you're my friend and how much your mom story in your story has impacted my life and and it made me want to be a better mother embolism my own children. And again, I wanted as you know, I have seven children and three of them are married. So I guess I have 10 children, you know, they can make their mark on the world. They can they can make a change in our world in the area of racial reconciliation and I hope and pray that I have influence them towards that like your mom influence you and you know, when you were talking, you know, one thing that came to my mind is that are stated that we have a shared common face, you know, I know what popped in my head was it

24:39 What are the Ten Commandment says honor thy father and mother it is the only Commandment that has a promise attached to it. And it says honor thy father and mother that it may go well with you your days may be long and I was your act like you did not even mention even a smidgen of only you only made a smidgen of all the different things at me you stood before State Legislature and then honor there and lots of different things and I just I feel like that idea of continue to honor your father and mother it has gone well with you and I am very grateful for that. But anyway in your ability to love and forgive I was also remembering when we had our book signing it reads that you you know, I spoke about

25:39 Do you remember how the line was just going all the way through the store and door? The line was so long. It was going out the door and you and I pause for a minute between tiny bugs and we looked at all the different faces and there were right black folks and white folks remember there were two Indian and all these different and and yeah my little Chinese children that the we've adopted two kids from China and so it was just this beautiful city of different places so beautiful, but as your call one of the most

26:22 Prevail moment, you know what I'm going to say. I know what you're going to say when they're a big Burly white man that waited in line for about an hour finally made it up to to the table and he said to you I bet you don't remember me. Do you and of course, I know I know what that's like at a book signing that you know, but he said I was in your second grade class and he hears just started crying and and I remember sitting there crying myself as you stood up and you'll have that that that Embrace of of reconciliation and you know, was he one of those mean boys, you know, you probably don't even remember

27:22 He might have been and yet there has been that forgiveness and it was just such a profound and beautiful moment that we were able to have there with that man. And just like that's why you have to keep telling your story. That's why we had to do a book because there's sometimes in our world today that we just think, you know, these problems are just too.

27:51 And I had too much of a history. There's just it's just been too long. It's not possible to change but I think that you proved the world wrong about that and I hope that our friendship also proves the world wrong about that and and and just the scene that I have in my head of you you and the big Burly white man hugging crying. I mean that proves the world wrong tree. So anyway, I guess those are those are the thoughts and in my head and I'm just so glad to be able to sit with you today and rehash this conversation that we have had multiple times and it gets me everytime. I'm just so grateful to be a

28:51 Art of being able to help you tell your story and mostly just grateful for your friendship. So anyway, I guess that that is that is is it will deceive what what the what the world how we can change the world going forward together?

29:10 Any man?

29:14 So I guess