Freestone County, Texas Births Floyd County Hesperian-Beacon September 4, 2003 BEARIE COLEMAN 100 Years of Birthdays Will Be Celebrated By Bearie Coleman Mrs. Bearie Rauls Coleman will celebrate her 100th birthday September 30--and this beautiful century old woman is celebrating it from her own home where she lives with a daughter, Marie Jones. Mrs. Coleman's mind is still very sharp, and she attributes her long life to the "blessings of the Lord". Bearie Rauls was born September 30, 1903 in Fairfield, (Freestone County) Texas. Her parents, Willie and Anderson Rauls, were farmers and Bearie remembers it as a "hard life". "We would be in the fields at sunup and work until sundown," said Bearie. "My mother got sick when I was 9 and I've been doing all the housework since then. I only had a sister and she was 6 years younger than me." She married T.J. Coleman, December 18, 1919. "I was not quite 16 years old," said Bearie. "My husband came to this area in 1929 in a wagon with a cotton picking crew. I came on a train a few months later. I had two daughters with me--Florine and Ruth. Two other children, Willie Mae and Anderson, stayed behind with my father for a little longer because they were in school." Bearie said her move to this area started off a little rocky. "My husband had sent word for me to stay home a little longer but I left on the train before I got the message. The train dropped us in Lockney and my husband wasn't there to pick me up. "I was wondering around Lockney with two little girls and it was scary. In that day and time they didn't like Black folks in Lockney. There was a White man following me around and he looked so angry. I was very afraid of him. "Finally a Black man came up to me and told me he would take us to his motel that he owned. He said for me not to worry--that he wasn't going to hurt me. I was still scared--but I didn't know what else to do. "I said we would go-so he took us by horse and buggy to his motel which was about 1/4 mile out of town--just past where the old Fair Barn is. "The next morning he put us in his buggy and took us out to the field (out past Cedar Hill) where my husband was picking cotton. He was working for a man named John C. "When we got there the kids jumped out of the buggy and took out across the field running and hollering. He saw us and ran toward the kids and grabbed them both up. Everyone was so glad to see each other." Bearie is quick to add that folks in Lockney are very nice now. "As a Jehovah Witness I used to walk around town and hand out books. The people in Lockney were always nice to me and listened to me at their doors." Bearie continued her hard work after getting to Floyd County. She continued to work in the fields--picking cotton--pulling weeds--picking up maize--and she took care of her 13 children. "I did a little bit of everything. "I would get home at 4:30 p.m. and wash and cook. The next night I would cook, iron and sew. I made all the kids clothes --except the boys pants. I made breakfast every morning." Cooking was done on a wood stove and washing was done on a glass rub board and a hand cranked tub. Bearie says her husband T.J. left farming and starting working in construction. A move into town and electricity made life a little easier. One of the best things that has happened to her later on in life, according to Bearie, is that she has been banned from the kitchen! "My health is not great anymore," said Bearie. "I can't do as much and I need help to do everything--but I don't worry about it too much." When asked what advice she would give to "working mothers" today, Bearie said, "Look for the Lord's guidance and ask for his strength. Do the best you can-- that's all you can do." Bearie has lived in her current home, on E. Lee, since "the 30's or 40's". She has outlived her husband, and four children, Willie Mae Stevens, Anderson Coleman, Annie Florine Mann, and Allen Coleman. Children living in Floydada are: Joe Coleman, T.J. Junior, Bettye King, and Marie Jones. Other children are: Paul Coleman, of Dallas; Pearlie Mae, of Houston; Ruth Papenaugh, of New Mexico; Myrtle Coleman, of Amarillo; and Chester Coleman, of Arkansas. There are 41 grandchildren, 76 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-greats. Over 200 people attended her birthday celebration Sept. 1st.