FREESTONE PAST/PRESENT J. R. (Sonny) SESSIONS SHERIFF 1965-2001 “AUNTIE” During my tenure as Sheriff the County nearly always had financial problems. I started with two other paid positions that I was fortunate to fill with James and Sue Gregory for seven years. There were no jailers, radio dispatchers, only them and myself to do it all, and I think under the circumstances and work load did well. I requested more help many times which never came to pass for many years, when it did come it was thru Federal Grants and special programs. I hired many not qualified as the pay so low, I had two former employees sent to the pen. Fairfield had no active police, only Mr. J.B. Scott who worked only nights and did a tremendous job. When the Gregory’s took better jobs and moved to Athens Mayor B.G. Capps knowing our plight came to our rescue as he did many other times. Sue Gregory had done the dispatching (day and night) cooked for the prisoners and did anything necessary while James and I took other calls. Needing someone to try to fill Sue’s place with little success. Auntie Rebecca Mannon was hired and paid by the City of Fairfield to assist at the Sheriffs Office. You needed to know Auntie to understand this, though she had worked for years she knew nothing about the Sheriffs Office. Auntie an old maid type though been married several times. I never had a more dedicated or loyal employee, but she one of those that didn’t care how you did it as long as you did it her way. Though she worked here several years she changed very little. She came to work at 7am promptly, fixed breakfast for all prisoners with a deputy or citizen taking upstairs to the prisoners, this in the old Jail which a two story building with prisoners held upstairs and living quarters for jailer downstairs along with a small kitchen area. She then took care of the office calls, handling many her way. I tried to have a meal at noon for our personnel. The time it served was when the corn bread was ready. I was expected to stop what ever I was doing and come eat, it didn’t matter what. Prisoners were fed two meals daily then, breakfast and in the afternoon before she left at 3pm sharp. Most of the time after she left there no one in the office. Many phone calls for me came during the noon hour, instead of letting me take them then as she wanted dinner to be uninterrupted would tell them to call back or I would call hem, I would have preferred to take them as they came. When she left in the afternoon or night when she departing she would tell most goodbye on the police radio. I took a lot of kidding from other officers for this. Once while working an attempted Streetman bank robbery with all kinds of police there including Rangers and FBI she called on radio to tell where she put information for me “By the daily calendar she gave me for Christmas”. (Never did live that one down). If someone came to the office to visit with me and she didn’t think it important or such she might just screen it. On several occasions was pleased when I came in and had missed some request. Sometimes I would contact the subject and grant their request much to her displeasure, did this once on some dynamite which she couldn’t understand until told her subject might blow himself up. Came in once and found quite disturbed on report black joint been burglarized and the “piano” robbed, couldn’t understand why anyone would rob a piano (she didn’t know this what they called a juke box. Every day challenging and different. Other employees at Office called her our Pusher and this true in many ways. She served as Bailiff for women jurors when sequestered and held over night. You would have thought they operating a beauty salon on the fourth floor of Courthouse with her hanging out a window requesting things for the ladies. She also often ran the office on Saturdays or when needed *** From Original Sheriffs Report 1973 More holes made in Leon Co. Jail by pair not appreciating Royce’s Hospitality. (This old Jail and ours nearly identical). Many drivers and vehicles in ditches during ice and snow with many advising they came from area used to it and knew how. One Yankee truck driver bragging that he done it all his life didn’t go l00 yards before in ditch. Teddy Bear out late night helping lady get car moving so could go to work. Reserve meet and eat finding out what Teddy Bear really good for- barbequing. First meeting of Salary Grievance Committee with adjustment recommended. Murder of one rooster and assault of others by neighbor’s dog. Little girl left at Navarro Co. service station who got out of vehicle without parents knowledge reunited with family. Friend and Reserve Deputy Richmond Claridge happened to be in Waco café when tornado went thru, advised it looked better from under table. *** Found old written request from local woman (a real character) to let jail inmate August Cornish visit with his dog. Don’t remember what I did but should have approved. *** Grandpa’s Report Regret having conflict and missing Bob Wright reception and 50th Anniversary at Mexia Daily News. Bob and I friends of many years, his wife Peggy has close family Kirven connections. Hope you make it another 50. *** Sara’s girls’ basketball team to Malakoff winning their division and can go National later. Cooper delivered cookie dough ordered thru school project. Still on boys varsity baseball team. He and friends camped out recently in Tehuacana Creek bottom with intent of sleeping in old box car, didn’t take into consideration a buzzard already claimed it and nesting there not going to give it up easily, boys decided they sleep somewhere else. Buzzards are harmless but really sound bad if messed with. Kenzie and Devin with church group spent weekend at retreat held at old Westminster College in Tehuacana, enjoyed and impressed.