Coosa County AlArchives Biographies.....Ezekiel, Lodis V. Born November 16 1918 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Rachel D. Varner McDonald mcdonald6025@bellsouth.net November 22, 2004, 11:45 am Author: Terra A. Jennings Helm "Life Review of Lodis V. Ezekiel" Interviewed by Terra Helm Lodis Ezekiel was the oldest of eight children, born in Weogufka, Alabama 1918. His parents were Homer Ezekiel and Rushie Varner Ezekiel. They were both born in the late 1890's. Before they were married, Rushie was engaged to Homer's brother, Ira Ezekiel. Ira went to Law School at Mt. Berry University in Rome, Georgia. After Ira finished college, he became the new schoolteacher in his hometown. A tornado hit the school and Ira was killed. Homer, who was also in college at Mt. Berry University, came home when he had heard about his brother's death. After Ira's death, Homer fell in love with Rushie Varner and they were married. During Homer and Rushie's marriage, they had eight children. Their children were: Lodis, Lester (Buddy), Evelyn (Pet), Earnest, Robert, A.V., Curtis, and Carolyn. Lodis remembers his mother taking the babies to the garden spot and placing them on a pallet under a shade tree, so she could work in the garden. He stated, "There were no fire ants at that time." "Fire ants did not come to Alabama until banana's were imported by ships in the Gulf of Mexico." Even as small children during the depression, we were taught to work in the garden. My dad always said, "All you need is a milk cow, sweet potato hill, a hog, and a couple rows of corn to feed your family." As a large family, they were never hungry because they planned their crops and livestock management a year in advance and all worked hard. Lodis remembers as a child growing up in his parent's home, " We would feed the farm animals while mom was cooking our breakfast, eat breakfast, work till lunch, then work again till supper." "We never were bored and had a lot of fun while working." "I never new there was a depression." My dad later became employed with the state of Alabama as a forest ranger near our home. A lady named Kate Prater would radio Homer when a fire broke out, and he would get on a bulldozer and make fire breaks to keep the fire from spreading. Homer also would watch for fires during the day from the Tower on Flag Mountain, the highest point in Coosa County. The Civilian Conservation Corps built several rock towers in Alabama, during the depression. The men that built these towers were from New York. President Roosevelt helped form the CCC so men could work all over the U.S. and send money home to their families. The earliest memory that comes to mind as a young child is when our family moved from Grandpa's home place to our home place at the age of four. The weather was very cold and it was snowing. I can remember snow falling on my face while lying in the bed. Our home was not sealed at that time so we slept under heavy quilts that mom and grandma made. Another memory that comes to mind as a child, is when mom went to cook, we better have wood at the stove. She would get a switch if there were no fire wood. During the holidays our family would have a big meal, sing and dance, and tell stories or jokes. As gifts our parents gave us baskets of fruit, sometimes toys, and shot guns for turkey hunting. I started first grade at Goldbranch School in 1924, which was a mile from my home. The school had only one room and one teacher. Mom made our lunches every day and we carried it in a peck bucket. Every day our pet pig Hoggy followed us to school waiting for our lunch scraps. My favorite teacher was Thelma Bazmore even though she paddled me for not knowing my multiplication tables. One year later, Coosa County built Weogufka School, which was 1st through 12th grade. My best friend was Vester Bryant. We grew-up playing marbles, baseball, and basketball. During that time our school had an outside court for basketball. When I turned sixteen years old, I bought a 1923 Model T for seven dollars and fifty cents. One day I drove to Marble Valley and a guy named Monroe Sears wanted to buy my car. I sold it for twenty-two dollars. Social events included church singings during the summer and school activities during the fall and winter. The young women in the community would bring a box supper to the singings and the young men would buy the boxed dinner. The guy's spent the evening with the girl who's boxed dinner he bought. I always managed to buy Minnie Lowery's boxed meal. She was my high school sweet heart. We dated for two years before we were married in 1938. During the first five years of our married life, I got a job with the city of Sylacauga as a Lineman. A Lineman read electrical meters and worked with power lines. Shortly we moved from the country to the city and lived in a small home. Our first child was Billy Floyd Ezekiel. That was the proudest moment in our lives. Our joy soon turned to sorrow when Billy died at the age of two. He died of Diphtheria. That was the saddest day of our lives. Our second son, Bobby, was born shortly after Billy's death. In 1943, I was drafted into the navy during World War II and was sent to electrical school in Gulfport, Mississippi. There I received a degree that was equivalent to a three-year college degree. Shortly after receiving my electrical degree, I was sent to California to set sail to the South Pacific on the USS Admiral Coutz. There were five thousand troops on the ship and we were allowed one meal a day. That meal consisted of crackers with soybean soup, and potatoes and onions that we found in crates and ate raw. Upon arriving in the South Pacific, I was stationed on an island called Ulithia. While stationed at Ulithia, I cut the troops hair with old hand shears. I was not allowed to charge for the haircuts, but the men paid me anyway. So, I sent the money home to Minnie, who used it to finish paying for our home. Once I sent a letter home to tell my family that I was coming home, but the letter arrived three days after I did. We also new that the Navy edited our letters, so I was not allowed to tell my family where I was stationed. We devised a way to let them know my location. I wrote the location on the back of the stamp. Minnie steamed the stamp off the letter and read my location. During the war, I achieved the rank of Fireman 3rd Class, and floated on a Comsuron 10 and unloaded supplies to all the merchant marines. Two others and I would float for three weeks at a time. We were allowed to eat on any ship we wanted, but we had to pull ourselves up a thirty-foot rope. I can remember sleeping below the water level in a ship and waking up seeing someone standing at the door in the dark. The man instructed everyone to be silent, because a Japanese submarine was spotted by sonar. During the war I witnessed two KamaKazii attacks, which killed twenty-two Americans in the ship behind us. The Battle Ship USS Missouri anchored at Ulithia for supplies, we all new that the ship was headed to Tokyo Bay for the surrender, so everyone signed up for duty. I missed by only four names. Shortly after the surrender, I was discharged from the Navy and I found my way home. After the war, I decided to make moonshine for a while to feed my family. So in 1946 I started my own business. We purchased eighty acres and a home near my parent's home. All I needed to get started was to purchase a 100lb sack of sugar ($5.00/100lbs), meal and rye ($2.00/ sack). This was enough to make ten gallons of moonshine. I sold it $2.00/gallon and stared making $20.00 per week. Gradually my income grew to $100.00 per week. There were several other families in that area that was in the same business. The joke at that time was that we needed to all wear badges to keep from selling to each other. I remember driving a 37 Chevrolet truck to Montgomery and meeting up with the police to make a sell. We would pull up to a certain red light and the police were waiting for us. We would then follow them and sell it to them for .25 cents/gallon. I am not proud of this part of my life and wished I had accepted Jesus Christ as my savior sooner. In 1949, I became employed at Kimberly Clark Paper Mill as an electrician. I started out at $1.25 per hour. I was employed there for twenty-three years before I retired. After retirement, I purchased a bulldozer and started my own business. I also had a large farm to maintain. I raised broilers (chickens) for industries such as Kentucky Fried Chicken. I averaged $45,000 per year in the chicken business. Now at the age of eighty- six, I am still able to care for myself and still live in my home. My sweetheart passed away last year and broke my heart. I wish I could go back in time and be at the age when my children were young. I miss that time in my life. I am very grateful for my family and the life I lived. Additional Info: Lodis V. Ezekiel (s/o Homer Ezekiel & Rushie Leanora Varner) b: 16 Nov 1918 Coosa Co., AL d: Living Siblings: Evelyn "Pet", Lodis V., Curtis, Albert Vernon "A.V.", William Lester "Buddy", Carolyn, Ernest, and Robert. Spouse: Minnie Lowery (d/o Simmie Lowery & Martha Riggins) b: 1 Jan 1920 Chilton Co., AL d: 29 Jun 2003 Brookwood Medical Center, Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama of a heart attack at the age of 83 Burial: Unity Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Coosa County, Alabama SS# 424-05-9794 Residence: Weogufka, Coosa County, Alabama 35183 Children: Billy Floyd, Bobby Adair, Judy L., Donna M., and Timothy W. "Tim" Ezekiel. Lodis was a retired electrician; he worked for Kimberly-Clarke. He lived in Weogufka, Coosa Co., AL, just off the Lay Dam Road. Lodis lived in Coosa County for more than 75 years. Minnie was a homemaker. Lodis and Minnie had a love that few people ever find. They were so close - truly one. Lodis was still in good shape into his eighties. He stilled farmed and could get around very well. He had a great memory and recalled things clearly from when he was a young child. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Even though Lodis remembers his childhood, one must be careful as those older memories can get mixed up. Be sure to check any genealogical or historical facts against accepted sources before taking his word as 'gospel.'] Additional Comments: Terra A. Jennings Helm is a great-niece of Lodis Ezekiel by blood and a grand-daughter-in-law by marriage. She interviewed Lodis and wrote this biography for a term paper assignment in nursing school. A copy of her paper was given to another great-niece of Lodis', Rachel McDonald, and she thought it should be shared with the public for the benefit of other "Ezekiel Researchers". Additional Information was researched and supplied by Rachel McDonald. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/coosa/bios/gbs708ezekiel.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 11.1 Kb