Coazell Frazier interview recording, 1994 August 07

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Tunga White	Now, before I start asking you questions about yourself, can you tell me if you remember your grandparents?	0:03
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. On both sides.	0:08
Tunga White	Okay. What are their names? On your mother's side?	0:08
Coazell Joesese Frazier	On my mother's side was William and Sally Campbell. They were Campbells.	0:13
Tunga White	And where were they from?	0:26
Coazell Joesese Frazier	They were from up there above Allendale. Place called— I imagine that's where they were from because we used to go and visit. Place we used to call Martin.	0:26
Tunga White	Martin?	0:38
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm. South Carolina.	0:39
Tunga White	And what did they do for a living there?	0:47
Coazell Joesese Frazier	They farmed.	0:47
Tunga White	Okay. Did they own their own land or were they renting or cropping?	0:47
Coazell Joesese Frazier	They owned their own land. Because at that time you shipped cotton by the bale and all, that they did.	0:50
Tunga White	So cotton was one of their crops. And did they have any other crops they used the grow?	0:59
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Well, they planted everything that you needed, you know. Cotton, corn, potatoes, peanuts, watermelon, the whole farming thing. Because the people usually say that you get pain in the stomach from raw peanuts. Man, and I remember we used to eat so much raw peanuts and I never had no pain in my stomach. And I used to have it by the stack in the fields. They did for themselves. And even when we went, 4th of July was usually the family reunion or whatnot, they'd barbecue a cow, two or three hogs. Not even a ice box, and the meat didn't spoil.	1:05
Tunga White	How did they keep it from spoiling?	1:59
Coazell Joesese Frazier	They'd hang it up, drip drain it from blood, and they knew how to put it in salt and barrels and things like that, and then take it out and wash it to barbecue it and whatnot. But I think that's our greatest problem, being lazy, or don't care. Because you know, you'd get thirsty to my house because you ain't got no water to your house. And if you got any sense, you try and get some water. You always get so thirsty to another person's house.	2:00
Coazell Joesese Frazier	But that was it. I never heard people complain. The most I heard about being segregated was when the military, when it start taking Black into the Marine Corps and building the air station out there, because they'd come in and say, "Y'all don't have a all Black neighborhood?" And I never even thought of it, because he was a big Jew right on this corner. And in the next block was Jews, and all down. And the man that ran the store right there didn't think anything was coming over here and telling my mama if he saw us do anything wrong. And we got our backs cut.	2:37
Tunga White	Oh, okay.	3:27
Coazell Joesese Frazier	White lived over there, Black lived next to that, White— It was never—	3:27
Tunga White	This has always been a mixed—	3:33
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Integrated area. Even down during, took it to the church in that whole area. Even in the front of the church and on the side of the church and on— You know.	3:34
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Seems people go away from here and leave the property. I don't know who is in charge of it or whatnot. Or, then, quite a few of them died. So I imagine that's why the property has been sold because I know the house my first grade teacher lived in was on Carter Street, right across from that White Methodist church. She lived there, Ms. Simmons. And when you left first grade you didn't have to go to college because honey, she was what you call a star teacher.	3:49
Tunga White	Oh, really?	4:26
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yes, goodness. And most of my classmates went, we went from first grade til we graduated together. And then we were concerned about each other. You came to school and couldn't get you a lesson? Honey, we started. You got it before you left.	4:27
Tunga White	How did y'all do that?	4:44
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Well, if there was an assignment, everybody touched the fellow that knew the assignment and read them. Because sometimes you didn't even have your own books, you know, you would look on with others, with your seatmate or whatnot. But then it was— Like, these kids are graduating now and can't even spell C-A-T. Never. No, ma'am, honey. We were concerned and we saw to it, and you didn't— Well, honey, was no such a thing as social promotion then. You had to be ready for the next grade. But they take it lightly. Well, the parents go along with it, I think. Yeah, because most of them have to sign or whatnot for the child to be socially promoted, and that isn't anything— I would want to learn something that I don't know.	4:46
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Well, they turn up their nose at doing domestic work. And I've done that, too. But you learn. There are people that, well, you needn't get mad with them because they got more than you, or you needn't get mad with them because they know how to live. Because believe you me, they do. Now, the point I would try to point out is are you willing to learn? Because at the end of the day, that you know, they don't know. Because my mama took in laundry and—	5:37
Tunga White	You still have it?	6:11
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yes, sir.	6:11
Tunga White	The iron that your mama used.	6:11
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yes, ma'am, honey. And I mean, you had the iron with those with not even a smudge on it. The white things, you know. I say anything I don't do now is because I don't want to. Because I sure know how. But I was taught. Really and truly, she did. Whenever I'm going through the house, because she died since '58, going through the house now, I looking for my pair of shoes to put on and I find one. I said, "Mama, you know exactly what you was doing when you had one pair of shoes for us."	6:21
Tunga White	Right. You didn't lose them.	7:06
Coazell Joesese Frazier	No, ma'am. You had but one pair.	7:08
Tunga White	You knew where that was.	7:09
Coazell Joesese Frazier	You find one, a blue, a yellow, green. Now you better listen, you— Well, you call that living and all. But I go right, "Excuse me mama, you knew what you was doing." Because I tell you, I can't find my shoes. But then life itself— Because we, as far as having money, well, we didn't have any money. But then we weren't going nowhere to spend any. We didn't need to.	7:11
Tunga White	Now you say your mom, she took in laundry? What other kind of things did she do for money outside the house?	7:38
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Well, that was most of it. And then at one point, she stopped that, and then she used to have a sewing room here. And that building before you get to FEB, on the corner of Carteret and King, is where the sewing room was. And my neighbor that lived behind me, she passed too. And the lady, Edith, I think. But she was over it, and they made clothes. But you know, I never thought of it. I don't know how the clothes were distributed. I don't know if they gave them or sent them to families on welfare or what. But then they made comforts and they had a mattress place. They attached the mattress, made mattress and things. But then I never even thought of it, who did it because I knew my mama worked there.	7:48
Tunga White	Now who do you say ran the place? You said she died in the '80s?	8:49
Coazell Joesese Frazier	She was the overseer, Leola Riley. Leola B. Riley. She was the one that did the sewing and all. And there were all— There was women in there. And I believe all those women are dead. Just think of it, they are. But then, it was a job through the WPA. And I never even thought of it, what they did with the things. But I know it was just—	8:55
Tunga White	Made clothes and—	9:32
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Hm?	9:32
Tunga White	You're saying comforters and things like that?	9:32
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah, mattresses and stuff. They're all very basic things that you need. They did. And that was the other outside paying job that she did.	9:35
Tunga White	Now, how long did she work at that place? Or how long was that place open? Do you know?	9:51
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Well, I don't know because I don't know when the WPA phased out.	9:56
Tunga White	So it just went long as the WPA was going on?	10:02
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm. Yeah. No, because then even, they used to do for homework like tie radishes and dig potatoes. Because we even used to go after school to help with that. It was big farmers in Beaufort area then. And you'd tie radishes and dig potatoes and numb— It made a 100% and it wasn't no whole lot of hassle, too. But I never even thought of what they did with the things. I guess all I had to do was ask her. But everybody that could sew mostly worked there. They had about 12 or 15 women in the sewing room, they used to call it, that really and truly did the job.	10:08
Tunga White	So is the building still up there, or is it—	11:01
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah, at that time it was the library. The Colored library on Carteret Street. But then, see, they had this— Before then, it was a church.	11:04
Tunga White	Oh. Do you know the name of the church?	11:16
Coazell Joesese Frazier	I'm trying to think now. Because I think it was something like a— I'm going to have to think of the name of the church.	11:17
Tunga White	So you say it was a church, then they made it into a library?	11:42
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Because that's— But I never even thought about who owned that building. I know the university is using it now. Because it got a park bench right in the front. It's on a corner. But—	11:48
Tunga White	Do you know what kind of building the school is using it for now?	12:06
Coazell Joesese Frazier	I think for an art studio, teaching art. Or at one point they were. I guess it's the same thing now, I don't know. There's an art building, to teach art.	12:12
Tunga White	So what did—	12:30
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And it's a oil building, too. Because those shingles, they're still there. They have never done no renovation on that because, see, it was divided. One part was for the Colored library, and that part they use it for the sewing room. Can I fix you something cold to drink?	12:34
Tunga White	No, I'm fine, unless you want something.	12:56
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Uh-uh. I just got— That's why I eat when I have the stories, because that's eating time.	12:59
Tunga White	Yeah. I eat, too.	13:05
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah.	13:05
Tunga White	So you mentioned your mother's parents. You all visited them a lot when you were a little girl?	13:11
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. Each summer, we'd go there, but then she'd come and get us in time for school.	13:18
Tunga White	So you spent the summers out there in Martin?	13:30
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm.	13:30
Tunga White	So what kind of things did y'all do out there at your grandparents' farm?	13:33
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Eat them raw peanuts, and watermelon and cantaloupe, and anything that grew wild. And the fruits, the peaches and the plums. Because plenty of times when we'd get there, my grandma make us throw all in the hog pen because in the hot sun, if we had a hat, you know, a little straw hat? Full of plums and peaches. Because at that time things grew in the wild, and they were plentiful. But then they had— Well, they say it would've made us sick to eat all them hard things. We didn't know. But we had enough, they didn't mind us throwing away, either.	13:39
Tunga White	So you just had one brother? So did you have other cousins that would come to your grandparents' house in summertime?	14:25
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. See, because my mama had four sisters. And two of them had something like six or seven children, and they would come back and forth to my grandparents, too.	14:30
Tunga White	Now, can you describe your grandparents' house they live in?	14:54
Coazell Joesese Frazier	I'm wondering, because I didn't pay any attention. Not to be— They had fireplaces, I remember, and flooring, hard flooring. But then, I never remembered how many rooms or anything like that.	15:03
Tunga White	Did they have a porch?	15:27
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm. Yeah, we had a porch, back and front porch. Then they had a smokehouse with all the meat in it. Oh, and cool water that we got. It came from a spring. Grandma, she used to have this big huge gourd. You know what gourds are?	15:31
Tunga White	Mm-hmm.	15:52
Coazell Joesese Frazier	That's what she used to send us down to the spring, to get the gourd. Yes, ma'am. And that made the best lemonade with no ice.	15:53
Tunga White	Cold water.	16:02
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Cold water. And if I go up that side now, they'll ask me if I want to go to the spring because they know that's what used to call, you know—	16:03
Tunga White	Water?	16:14
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm. Ice cold water. That's right. And I remember how they used to take the— Because they used to grind the sugar cane for syrup, and how it was settled in the syrup barrel. And that's what they used to use to sweeten the lemonade, those crystals, like hard crystal. That's what they used. Because I never saw them use just sugar.	16:14
Tunga White	Sugar. Oh.	16:44
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Boy, but that was some good lemonade. Yes, sir.	16:48
Tunga White	Your father's family, were y'all close to your father's family?	16:58
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm, because my brother and I were my daddy's only two children, and my grandmama was crazy about us.	17:04
Tunga White	Where they were they from?	17:11
Coazell Joesese Frazier	They were up there, because we used to divide the time—	17:15
Tunga White	Oh.	17:18
Coazell Joesese Frazier	— Between the grandmamas.	17:18
Tunga White	Oh, okay. So they were in Martin, too?	17:20
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm.	17:20
Tunga White	Okay.	17:20
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah.	17:20
Tunga White	And what were his parents? Their—	17:20
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Annie and Ben.	17:20
Tunga White	Okay. And their last name?	17:33
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Frazier.	17:34
Tunga White	And they were farmers, too?	17:34
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah.	17:40
Tunga White	So you'd go up in the summertime and you'd go from one house to the—	17:44
Coazell Joesese Frazier	To the other. That's right. And we used to have our way to our daddy mama, so we stayed there. Anything we wanted to eat, anything we wanted to drink, any place we wanted to go. And we used to go fishing and all, she'd take us with her, you know. Oh man, we used to have a ball, my brother and I.	17:48
Tunga White	So she kind of spoiled you all, more than your—	18:12
Coazell Joesese Frazier	She just was nice because she couldn't spoil asleep. Because when we get the mama change.	18:16
Tunga White	Yeah.	18:20
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yes, sir. Because she'd always say, "Let them stay with me." Mama said, "They're coming." She said, "Because that's the same reason why, right there. They going." Oh, yeah.	18:21
Tunga White	So did they have a lot of other grandchildren?	18:35
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Uh-uh. My daddy was an only child.	18:36
Tunga White	Oh, he was the only.	18:38
Coazell Joesese Frazier	But on mama's side, it was a lot of— Mm-hmm.	18:38
Tunga White	So you all were the only two grandbabies.	18:43
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm. From the— Yeah. And you know, I think now, I knew both. I knew my grandmother mother.	18:47
Tunga White	Oh, really? Tell me about her.	18:57
Coazell Joesese Frazier	She used to be a cook and she would— Oh, goodness, she could cook. She would serve bread for you. And then she would put all these nuts and things in it, you know? And then she would bring— At that time they used to get the flour in a bag. Kind of cloth bag. And she would fix— Especially if they told her, if you were going home mad, she'd fix all them nice goodies and put them, and give him his bag, and give me my bag. And she was my grandmother's mother. Isn't that something?	18:59
Tunga White	And what's her name?	19:40
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Oh, boy. We used to call her Grandma, Grandmama. But I know her real name would be— What the heck her name?	19:42
Tunga White	So she lived— Where did she live—	19:52
Coazell Joesese Frazier	She lived up in that same settlement. Yeah. She lived in that same terrace, to have come in her buggy, with horse and buggy, to bring us whatever she wanted us to have. And it was always something. Either if it was time for the fruit on the trees, she brought that. And then wherever she made, she brought that. Oh, man, she brought it. Even last time I saw my grandfather on my daddy's side, they kept asking him did he know who I was. And he said, "I don't know who she is," said, "but she sure favor me."	20:00
Tunga White	He did?	20:43
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yes, ma'am. And that was the last time I saw him. And then, see, my mama took sick, and then seemed like they all wanted to come to me. And mama used to tell me that "You can't take care of them because you got me here, and that would make a big difference." But each one of them wanted to come to stay with us because they know we didn't have no choice. We been brought up that way. We had to take of mama. So then they just knew it was going to be like that for them, too. But it's amazing, but I knew all my grandparents' parents and— That sound like a bump.	20:44
Tunga White	It does.	21:36
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Oh, I glad that's kind of bump, see.	21:39
Tunga White	Yeah.	21:41
Coazell Joesese Frazier	See that?	21:41
Tunga White	That's a policeman.	21:42
Coazell Joesese Frazier	That was their board, I hope.	21:46
Tunga White	Boat or something.	21:46
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. Yes, ma'am. Look, it better be.	21:50
Tunga White	I know.	21:53
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Because I declare, me, I ain't seen them myself. I don't know where she been. I didn't see them.	21:54
Tunga White	Okay. Okay, now. Now, when did y'all move to Beaufort?	21:56
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Oh, oh, my mama brought us down here. Man, we were babies. Because you know what? She used to work in a peanut factory, and she knew that she couldn't leave us there. But the grandparents, they wanted us, but no, not her. No, sir. Mama said, "No way."	22:06
Tunga White	Why didn't she want to keep y'all there so they can help take care of y'all?	22:31
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Uh-huh. Mama said she was going to raise her own children. Which she did.	22:40
Tunga White	Oh. So why did she pick Beaufort?	22:40
Coazell Joesese Frazier	She had a sister here.	22:44
Tunga White	Her sister was here. Okay.	22:47
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah, her sister was already here years before then. Because my mama had a brother that went to Magnus school.	22:48
Tunga White	Really?	22:59
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm. Down there. People used to try. That's why I tell you I don't understand parents being so— I don't know how they can be so like that, but the children can't learn. And way back then, my grandparents came, because wherever the school was, you know. And as much as they talk about this ain't slavery and that ain't slavery, do you know some slaves were taught to read and write? And seemingly, what you learned is what it is. Not because— Well, they couldn't help themselves if they were slaves, but then they learned.	22:59
Tunga White	Right.	23:46
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And that's the important thing to me, especially in this world. You have to learn, baby, to stand on your own. They're so complacent, it ain't even funny. Because I don't see, even while I'm shopping, young women. "You don't mind telling me the price on this meat?"	23:47
Tunga White	Really?	24:08
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah Because you know, "I left my glasses home." They always got to cover up. They are just as complacent as they can be.	24:09
Tunga White	How much education did your parents have?	24:20
Coazell Joesese Frazier	I don't know. I never heard her say. Because I know it was just a grade school, but I never heard her say how much it was. But then, evidently, they'd go to these one room schools, you know? One class sit over here and one over there, because it didn't have no like it is now. Or even like it was when I came in. But she learned. Because I've often wondered how mama must have learned from experience because I don't think they could afford to send her to school. I mean, like a college. So most of hers I'd say came from experience, which was very good and strong, too, you know? Because she really and truly, she could really shoulder her responsibilities.	24:26
Coazell Joesese Frazier	She said that that's why she wanted to see that we grew up and do the best that we could. Because she says— Very Christian-hearted, and we had faith in God to do the things that we needed to do. And mama said, "You got nothing to do with another person. You have to learn to do for yourself." And said, "Even if I don't bring you up the way you should be, honor thy father and thy mother." Said, "That's one of the Ten Commandments." Said, "You'll be charged with that." Child, I get cold shivers when you hear a child don't know how to speak to their parent. Because you know it must be the parent fault.	25:32
Tunga White	Was your mother a strict mother?	26:22
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm.	26:24
Tunga White	Did she have a lot of rules around the house?	26:25
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Not really because she told you what to do and it had better be done by the time she got back. Because I was telling somebody the other day, "I know me and Rusty went to school one morning and didn't make the beds and things and she got home before we did. And she was waiting on us." Ooh wee. Boy that was a tough— But then, you know, you learn from experience because that was the best feeling in the world, when she said, "I know who raked the yard." Boy, that'd light me up like anything because I knew it's me. Then I'd say, "I did it. I don't know why you're saying that." My brother, called him Rusty, "I did it." Mama said, "No, you didn't. I know who raked." You know, you couldn't rake the yard. No, you swept the yard and you raked on the edge, you know, the trash out you. And then do it neatly. Mama said, "I know who did this."	26:28
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And even to iron and things, you know. Boy, my mama really used to praise me and I— Boy. And I can iron today. I don't want to, and I don't. And I please don't. And the same thing with cooking. You learn, do things like that because she instilled that in you. But now you hear people go, "They can't do this and they can't—" I don't even know what to say because that's dumb. Because you sure have to learn. And how are you going to learn?	27:28
Coazell Joesese Frazier	One of my customers drive this bus over on Hilton Head to do cleaning. And she told me, she said, "I'm not talking about children, I'm talking about grownups." They go on Saturday morning, and no Saturday morning you going to make less than 55 or $60 to do the cleaning. See, but when the Budweiser, the Pepsi or the Coke company said there'll be 700 people coming in at such and such a time, it's supposed to look like it was just built this morning. But then you go, she said, "You better go be ironing." The sheets hanging on the floor, the towels. She said she just get so disgusted. "Oh, you so particular. You always want your things done this way." She said, "And in particular, they're paying you accordingly."	28:04
Tunga White	Right.	29:06
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. And she said, "And you wouldn't have a job." Because, well, it's a seasonal thing. It doesn't last all year. Most of their time, it's either the first part of the spring or during the summer when all the ball games and the tennis is staying. And you have to learn to do what you do. Because this tennis tournament they usually have when they having the Water Festival? He always went. And see, he works in Columbia, and see, they're very strict about when you can sign in and pay your entering fee and all that. And he had somebody to do it for him, and he came and he won.	29:07
Tunga White	Oh, wow.	30:12
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And that's it. You do what you can do. You don't have to stand on no corner. "Oh, man. I will— Oh—" You do it. And the commodore over the whole entire thing had it so that just Beaufort be entering the different things. And a Black girl is Miss Beaufort County.	30:13
Tunga White	Really?	30:44
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Didn't even know she— Because knowing who it was, I would've gone and support the child.	30:45
Tunga White	Yeah.	30:49
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Didn't even know. And they say at the time they were making the announcements, that some of those White folk got up and start folding up their chairs to leave. But you should have seen the— I wish I had— I don't know where they are. The letters that two of her classmates wrote, that they didn't have no Black judges, so she was put in there by the way. Right. And I said, "Lord I wish I'd known the child was running." Because I—	30:50
Tunga White	She's the the first—	31:30
Coazell Joesese Frazier	The first.	31:30
Tunga White	— One.	31:30
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yes, but then he tried that, just Beaufortonians because Charleston and Walterboro and all them neighboring places came in. And so who whoever won was Miss Beaufort County, but home is Greenville, this place and all. But no, sir. Beaufort. And I was so glad. I said, "I'm so sorry. I didn't know that she was there because I certainly would have, and would seen that a lot of other people go down there and support her." Because you put forth the effort you do. You ain't got no argument with nobody. You don't have to prove to them. But if you go in, you go in. And so evidently, it must have been that way because she still won. Yes, ma'am. And 99 people that I've spoken to since that's what they've been saying, that they didn't know a Black was even in it. That's right.	31:32
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Because these kids now, having an attitude is what's supposed to put them through, and it's the wrong attitude. You're dumb as you are, and you know don't have no money, and seemingly you ought to try to learn something.	32:34
Tunga White	What's the difference between children now and the way that children when you were growing up, what other differences can you think of?	32:54
Coazell Joesese Frazier	The vast difference that I see is discipline, discipline and Christianity. You have to believe and grow up, that's supposed to be your foundation, to know and learn about God.	33:05
Tunga White	Did your mother make you go to church?	33:27
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Oh, yes, baby. If I didn't go to Sunday school on Sunday morning, don't leave the yard.	33:29
Tunga White	Y'all had church every Sunday?	33:37
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Every Sunday.	33:39
Tunga White	Now what church was it?	33:40
Coazell Joesese Frazier	First African Baptist.	33:41
Tunga White	Okay, so you've always been at that church.	33:43
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm. And not only that, do you know I had seen my mama even cook on Saturday because she wasn't doing anything on Sunday.	33:49
Tunga White	On Sunday. Yeah.	33:57
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And even after my mama died, the man used to— He was what you call the court crier. And Black, too, you know. He came by here one Sunday evening and I was cutting wood to fill the fireplace, and he stopped the car, bam, and leaned out the wind and said, "Well I can tell Ms. Corey's dead." Because child, you didn't even cut no wood on no Sunday in my mama yard. No, ma'am. And you know, that's exactly what I think of when I said that this Sunday school is going back to the Old Testament. Because ain't no two ways thinking about it. They believe, not only them, but the whole neighborhood. What? We couldn't even throw a ball, and now the biggest games are played on Sunday.	33:59
Tunga White	Y'all couldn't do anything.	34:54
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Go to Sunday school, stay to church, come back, go back to commune, leave that, go to BYPU. And they used to have a night service. You stayed in church all day Sunday. Yes, sir. You go serve the Lord.	34:57
Tunga White	So you had Sunday school. What time Sunday school usually start?	35:15
Coazell Joesese Frazier	10 to 11. And then morning service start at 11. See?	35:22
Tunga White	Mm-hmm.	35:23
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And then if it's not commune Sunday, it out about 12:30.	35:24
Tunga White	Okay.	35:28
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Then the church used to be packed. They might—	35:29
Tunga White	Really?	35:31
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm. Yes ma'am. And then—	35:34
Tunga White	So you had communion maybe like—	35:37
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Once a month.	35:39
Tunga White	The first Sunday?	35:40
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Sunday.	35:40
Tunga White	First Sunday in a month?	35:41
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah, first Sunday.	35:41
Tunga White	Okay. And then you have, you said, the night services and things like that where every Sunday?	35:48
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah, BYPU.	35:54
Tunga White	Okay. That was every Sunday?	35:56
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Six o'clock.	35:56
Tunga White	Every Sunday, six o'clock.	35:57
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm. And the church was packed because you have to have some place to go. And that where you was going, to church. BYPU, and then you have the night service.	36:00
Tunga White	So that would start maybe seven?	36:12
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah.	36:15
Tunga White	They'd go probably about two hours?	36:17
Coazell Joesese Frazier	No, about an hour and a half. And seem like that was the best time to even see each other. They stood around and talk. Because Sunday was really church day.	36:19
Tunga White	So was the night service, did they have a lot of people that attended the night service?	36:36
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah.	36:40
Tunga White	It was full?	36:40
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm. Because most time, because some people, if they were nurses or whatnot and had D duty, then they would come to church at night. Couldn't make it that morning. Because I know I had a job, little job, and I was in fourth grade, and working down to this place behind CR Motel. They call it what now? Breakfast? Bed and breakfast. And the lady used to want me to work on Sunday, see? And mama told me to tell her that I couldn't work on Sunday because I had to go to Sunday school.	36:43
Tunga White	So what kind of work were you doing at that job?	37:27
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Wash dishes. See, it was like a motel. And then breakfast, and I'd wash the dishes. And wash the dishes and then the towels and things. And then while the towels and things was drying, then I would iron the napkins to use for the dinner. Then they had a good cook, she'd fix me a good dinner, and boy, I'd come on home. But then lady said she wanted me to work on Sundays, and mama said I couldn't work on no Sunday.	37:33
Tunga White	Now what days of the week were you working on, though?	38:07
Coazell Joesese Frazier	We was doing summer hours. You know, out of school?	38:11
Tunga White	Mm-hmm.	38:13
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And I work all the days except Sunday.	38:14
Tunga White	So you worked six days a week?	38:17
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm.	38:20
Tunga White	Okay.	38:20
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Because after she found out that I couldn't work on Sunday, she would let me wash whatever towels were dirty on Saturday evening. Because mama said I was not going over and that was that. But that felt good, you know, make your little change.	38:23
Tunga White	What kind of kind of money were you making on that job?	38:41
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Child, you'd be surprised. Something that must be $1.75 a week.	38:44
Tunga White	Now, what would you do with the money that you made? Would you keep it or would you give it to your mom or what?	38:51
Coazell Joesese Frazier	She would give me the 75 cents, and then she would save the dollar.	38:56
Tunga White	Oh.	39:00
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Because see, when school opened— And then I couldn't spend that 75 cents, you know.	39:02
Tunga White	What?	39:06
Coazell Joesese Frazier	You know what? I had to— See that lipstick store down there? I used to put my dresses in layaway and pay 25 cents.	39:13
Tunga White	You're kidding?	39:20
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. Because they lived upstairs then, and I'd go down there and pay my 25 cents on my dress. And the dress wasn't no more but 98 cents.	39:21
Tunga White	Really?	39:29
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. And then my mama could sew, and she made quite a bit of my dresses. Because we had a juice store right on that corner where the post office is. And man, material was 10 and 15 cents a yard. And my mama could sew. And that lady back there that I told you was over the sewing room, she could make things, too. She'd cut it and mama sew it up. And Magnus school used to have a sales house. You know that is what kept Mather going for a long time. They used to call it the sales house. And I knew both of the ladies that worked in there because one was my church member and the other one lived down the street, you know?	39:30
Tunga White	And what were their names?	40:23
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Miss Netty Killingsworth and Mona Brown. Mona Brown was in charge and Miss Netty was like her coworker and thing, you know. And all these things used to be shipped from New York. Them Yankees used to— Miss Mather had that among her friends in New York City, the state of New York, to ship these things down to be sold to people so that would help the school.	40:26
Tunga White	And what kind of things would they sell?	41:00
Coazell Joesese Frazier	You name it, they sold it. Because my mama used to get them big old wool skirts that had White women on and make my overcoat.	41:03
Tunga White	You're kidding.	41:14
Coazell Joesese Frazier	I was sharp as a tack.	41:18
Tunga White	You was one of the best dressed girls in the school.	41:20
Coazell Joesese Frazier	But not so much as the best dressed, but then she took the time to make it. And you know, neat. I mean, it didn't matter whether I had to go to the store and get something or wear something from home because she really and truly made it. Because they could sew. They and Ms. Netty is the one that caused me to be to Mather, taking up beautician. Because they had a class set down there to teach beauty culture. And after my mama took sick, I know I needed something to be home. Or on my own time, I should say. And that's when I went to Mather.	41:24
Tunga White	Now, when did your mama get sick? How old were you when your mother got sick?	42:14
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Let me see, when my— I had just finished high school. I finished graduating in May of '40, and Mama took sick the first Sunday in June. And she'd been down, and I'd never known her to be sick before, you know. And she was up and down and up and down. She died in '58. So that was about 18 years, huh?	42:18
Tunga White	That was a long—	42:50
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Long time. It sure was.	42:50
Tunga White	Now, what was her problem? What was wrong with her?	42:50
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Well, she had lost the use of her limbs, her legs and things, that she couldn't get around. Then she lost her sight. And that was it. I mean, she wasn't on no medication or anything like that. And above all, I said, all the Alzheimer's and things that people have now? And man, I knew I would've died if I'd gone in that room and my mama couldn't hold a general conversation with me. But she was fine otherwise. If you didn't know of her condition, you wouldn't have known it by just going in there talking with her. Voice strong. And I often think we were staying back there then, you know. And people came and went all day long, and she'd tell me who was there. And not no doors locked like you do now. Nobody breaking in and all that foolishness. Because she was just left there.	42:50
Tunga White	So you were out working and things like that. Now your brother, is he younger than you?	44:00
Coazell Joesese Frazier	He was older, but he'd be working too.	44:06
Tunga White	Okay. What kind of work was he doing?	44:09
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Parris Island.	44:10
Tunga White	Okay, he was—	44:10
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Truck driver on Parris Island.	44:10
Tunga White	So who would take care of her while y'all were gone? Would just the people in the community come by?	44:16
Coazell Joesese Frazier	But then you see— No, I'd be going around just about half a block because I had a little shop around there.	44:22
Tunga White	Oh, you were close. Okay.	44:30
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm.	44:31
Tunga White	Okay.	44:40
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And then with that— That was about the size of that. Because you go on your own time, you come back when you got ready, and everything worked out fine. Because I wondered if mama had to go on a dialysis machine, or go have this. Because some people, oh man, they are in for it now. And I mean, they're really sick.	44:40
Tunga White	Right.	45:05
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm. I know that would've been a time for me. So God is there even when you don't recognize it, or you don't really and truly— But then, it couldn't have been nobody but Him. Because really, I didn't give it a thought. It was just something that I had to do and went ahead and did. But then with His guidance and above all, showing me how. And mama was a pleasant person to deal with because she even used to thank you for the cool water you fixed for her.	45:07
Tunga White	Oh, yeah?	45:47
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm. No problem with her at all.	45:47
Tunga White	Let me ask you about you going to beauty school, for taking your classes at beauty school. Now was this while you was in high school or this was after high school.	45:53
Coazell Joesese Frazier	After high school.	46:03
Tunga White	After high school. And—	46:03
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Because—	46:03
Tunga White	Tell me more about that.	46:03
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah, because I used to catch the bus or walk. Most time walk to Mather. Because the class was in the afternoon at 2:00. From 2:00 to 4:00, I think.	46:10
Tunga White	Okay.	46:23
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And then, if I was on time, I caught the bus. It was 15 cents up to the corner. And if I missed the bus=	46:25

Tunga White	What's her name?	0:01
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mary Roberson Haywood. And she died because she lived right on that corner West Broad and Victory, passed right by her house the other day and remembered her so well. So kind, people were kind then, or saw to it that you did— so with that.	0:02
Tunga White	Now let me ask you how long did it take you to finish your beauty program?	0:29
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Just the nine months.	0:32
Tunga White	Nine months.	0:33
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Then you have to work— You have your exam after the nine months and then you work six months as an apprentice. And then you go, you are on your own.	0:35
Tunga White	And tell me some of the things that, how they taught you month by month. What kind of things they taught you first one, second month, third month, and some of the things you learned while you was in beauty school?	0:49
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Oh, boy. You got your basic training more so than you do now. But I don't know what they do. Oh you learn the shampoo because most of now is chemicals. See that got little fuzz you got.	0:58
Tunga White	You know I didn't have— I said I curled it with no mirror this morning. I know this is a mess today.	1:21
Coazell Joesese Frazier	But no it's not. I'm just teasing you.	1:21
Tunga White	No. I say myself, I said, "How can I curl my hair with no mirror?" I curled with no mirror today.	1:21
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Oh, you did okay. You did fine.	1:27
Tunga White	Don't look too close then, don't look too close.	1:40
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. Because at least you in style.	1:40
Tunga White	You don't have to do too much with this hairstyle. Just wrap it up.	1:47
Coazell Joesese Frazier	It's a pity ya'll got such bad hair.	1:52
Tunga White	You're so nice.	1:55
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Even the undertaker used to— The undertaker told me that your mama sure had some pretty hair on her head. I said, "But I have too." He said, "You stay in your—" I don't stay in my head.	2:02
Tunga White	Oh, no you're not that way.	2:10
Coazell Joesese Frazier	But then we had to learn how to shampoo. And then after you shampoo and dry it, you comb press it. And then you learn how to press it. And that's what I'm doing now. Because would you believe it? There are plenty people that can't stand chemical. And so they are the ones that still coming and the mamas who don't want the children into it until they build their own age.	2:14
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Because these people— But I guess it's the sugar that some on the dialysis machine and the doctor has instructed them no chemical whatsoever. And then even if you are a diabetic, you can't use it. Do you know that? Even some detergents that people can't use. Can you imagine? And I said thank God for small favors because I've never run into the probably like that.	2:44
Tunga White	My grandma thinks like that. And a lot of people allergic to the detergents they washed their clothes in, and they can't wash their clothes with certain stuff. Because of this—	3:17
Coazell Joesese Frazier	That something?	3:22
Tunga White	[indistinct 00:03:23] get against their skin and just make them itch or swell up or something like that.	3:23
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah, and a whole lot of people. And I never even thought of it before. Because my mama made her soap, most of it, the lye, grease and things, lye soap. And I didn't try no after effect. Because that's where we had to scrub that floor bit, strictly board. You could hear that brush about three miles down the street. But then the floor would be kind—	3:28
Tunga White	It'd be clean.	4:00
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Oh, boy, it would be shining like I don't know what. But well that was the way of life, ain't no two-way thinking about it. And I don't know now where people get an attitude toward White people. Because now they have everything or they have everything that they want, I should say. And well that would be just as bad if I would hate you if you were in that position. Why hate you because you got?— I'm going to learn to live for Cozell.	4:01
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And the way I live is left with Cozell. That doesn't have anything to do with you. I have people who come by here right now. Ooh. I always wanted a piece of that. I don't want where you got in your yard. That's your business. I want what I want. And you know what I want? The things that can almost take care of themselves.	4:44
Tunga White	I know what you mean. That how I like [indistinct 00:05:09].	5:05
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Don't need no kind of— I used to have the most beautiful hibiscus and thing. But then I find out they have to be traumatized in the wintertime. I'm not going through all them changes, no cotton picking thing. They finally died. And I heard people come up to me from Hilton Head say, "I know you didn't let that pretty hibscus die." And I said, "Lord, all the way from Hilton Head. You know why I cut in my yard?"	5:08
Tunga White	Oh, my goodness.	5:36
Coazell Joesese Frazier	That's right.	5:37
Tunga White	They need to get them some business.	5:41
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. But the whole thing it is, to want what you want and that is satisfaction for the soul. Because ain't no two-way thinking about it. What other people got don't make you happy. And then if you ain't got no sense at all, you ought to realize that. Because you just wasting time.	5:42
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And then, but then it's so good when you can do for yourself, know what to do for yourself, know how to do it for yourself. Because I said, and most if you trust in God and have the faith, because most time you aggravate him anyway and you don't even need where you're begging for, you find that out. Oh, gosh though. God, I thank God for my mom and my upbringing. And I had sense enough to know that my foundation is it. I go through right now and say, "Mama, you were right. I know."	6:03
Tunga White	When did your mama ever tell you about boys when you were coming up, and how you're dealing with boys?	6:48
Coazell Joesese Frazier	She told me that she had heard Mama Moore's mother saying, "Well, if she should bring a baby into the world, she ain't going to be the first one." Mama said, "You ain't going to be the 99th thousand one then."	6:55
Tunga White	Either.	7:08
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mama say, "I'm the only married woman in this house. And that's the only woman can have a baby when she get ready." Not you. No, ma'am, no, sir. Boy, love to dance. Child, I done talked to him [indistinct 00:07:25], "You better go down some next mama if I can go to that dance."	7:11
Coazell Joesese Frazier	I think about a fellow that came along with us and now he is, what? I don't know what happened to him. But he's out of his mind and that thing hurt me, oh my Lord. He was the first boy in our group that could drive a car.	7:27
Tunga White	Really?	7:52
Coazell Joesese Frazier	He is the first boy that had the bicycle. His daddy used to work at the golf company, old company. He had everything a child coming up could have. Because we would act, I said, "Bruce you better come to my house." And mama and [indistinct 00:08:12] were crazy about him because he was a person with manners. Even [indistinct 00:08:18]. And I came up that school, course could go to the dance. I should be better as a— Because there wouldn't be no dancing, because you ain't just— Hey, children can leave home and go, no, ma'am.	7:52
Coazell Joesese Frazier	A classmate was down here for the reunion our high school had. And we were sitting on the porch and laughing out because Kat used to come up here, Kathleen was her name. She said, "Because, here I come." I said, "Ms. Coralee, can Cozell go with me?" Mama said, "Please ma'am, let her go." Miss Kat say her mama ain't say a word.	8:34
Coazell Joesese Frazier	We made that up in school because you couldn't leave home. I see these children here parents, "Where you been? What kind of way you been?" Baby if you left that yard, mama knew where you were going, even if it was under false pretensions. You better believe it. Honey, and it would do us all the good just to get together. That's why I say we were concerned about each other.	9:01
Coazell Joesese Frazier	When they come here for reunion, I don't have to go to the reunion, everyone know where I live. And they hit this corner. Yes, ma'am. And they said they would think I'm telling the tale if I'd go back and tell them how we standing on this corner in the school breeze— just talking about the things that happened during the times when we were kids. And they said they— Because you don't hold no conversation with nobody in no city.	9:31
Coazell Joesese Frazier	See, because even the people you work with, they're not honest. They either setting you up to be robbed, or they go see that you get robbed by some friends of theirs. And then you— Because now honey, even the kids in school, you didn't talk back at no teachers because cars weren't plentiful. The teachers walked by here going home. And if one stop and some of them children, "Ms. Coralee [indistinct 00:10:33] out of town. Was Cozell in class today?" Gracious, God, I wouldn't have been here talking to you now. But that's it.	9:59
Coazell Joesese Frazier	But now that's the teacher says that's the only time you see the parents if you want to discipline the child. "Well, I don't want nobody. Well, I don't want nobody putting a hand on my child." Child, mama said, "If you came home your sight and not crippled, they could of beat your brains out." And she meant just that. You mean to tell me you go from home and somebody have to tell you how to act? Ooh that made her mad.	10:40
Tunga White	Oh, my goodness.	11:10
Coazell Joesese Frazier	But then we always got along with each other. Yes, sir. We had to depend on that for discipline. Yes, ma'am. We respected each other with that, ain't no if and am. Ooh, they think well most times that's what kids do. They think they doing something— "Oh, I tell her had a mess." They come by here, DSS office is down the street there. Young, unwedded mothers talking about they didn't get their welfare check, and I'm going to tell her daddy, "[indistinct 00:11:46] money," as if they're throwing it out. That's it.	11:11
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And you know what? And they come by and if they— "Would you please ma'am tell me where the DSS building is?" I'll tell them. But if they come by, "You know where that DSS building is?" I say, "I sure don't," and it right down the street. I think you learn manners before you learn anything else.	11:53
Tunga White	That's right.	12:15
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yes, sir. You ain't fooling a soul but yourself. And some are from the island or [indistinct 00:12:25], or— "You can't get lost in that Old Beaufort."	12:15
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And they got— seemed like if you had had a baby— And I don't understand them people with all that carrying on about abortion. Child, I know when that a man in Beaufort made his money like that really, forming abortion.	12:30
Tunga White	Really?	12:50
Coazell Joesese Frazier	But then that was their business. Because if you were going to get rid of child they wouldn't know it. It's the one, these are late model mamas that go to them clinics. Because a lot of those women out there with those senators, house representatives men, and find out they're not going to marry them, they done had plenty abortions. Now they go get out there and talk about, "We marching on the board." Me, I ain't marching on nobody behind. If you want to have beat every day, go ahead. I hope you know what you're doing.	12:51
Tunga White	There were some girls when you were coming up that had abortion?	13:26
Coazell Joesese Frazier	No, ma'am, no, sir. They what? Just this year I think the buried my sixth grade teacher. I think she's about the last one that was living. No, ma'am. No baby in there. What? No, sir. Um-hmm, don't play that.	13:29
Tunga White	Did your mother when you was coming up, or did a lot of mothers tell their daughters about the birds and the bees, how [indistinct 00:14:05] things like that?	13:55
Coazell Joesese Frazier	That's right. Ain't no if and ams about it. And that was a rare thing to hear about a girl. And you know what the other thing is? You better not be seen with her. If she got pregnant then she ain't got nothing to tell you. Because all areas to learn about womanhood, she know, now you don't. And you just calmly cool your heel.	14:05
Tunga White	When girl—	14:33
Coazell Joesese Frazier	But then they were not only that, they too was embarrassed. It really truly hurt some girls to be caught up like that. Not like this. Oh God, they out there, no. Yeah. And think they're doing something.	14:34
Tunga White	The girls who got pregnant, were they kind of stay at home or go off somewhere or something like that?	14:55
Coazell Joesese Frazier	They're very few, but they stayed home, very, very few. And I can't remember really and truly of being any in— Well, ain't not in my class I'm quite sure. Because all the girls in my class are still living. And one boy that was in our class died. And he was the principal of the school in Dale. Oh you heard about Dale, South Carolina? James Davis. But anyway, he died. And you know what? He was to church that Sunday.	14:59
Tunga White	Oh, really?	15:39
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And then Monday morning the people that worked over there, the fellow called me to the fence and said, "You heard about James?" I said, "No, what?" He said, "James died." I said, "He couldn't have." And I saw he was over the choir. He had me singing in all kind of voice, soprano, alto, baritone, this tone.	15:41
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And he had been to the doctor on Friday and he was hoarse, so I thought that's what it was. That Sunday morning, his mama was the mother of our church, he sat with his mama. I said, "Oh, excuse me, sir, you aren't singing this morning?" And we went from first grade together. He says, "no," kind of hoarse, "And so ain't no need of me struggling to try and sing."	16:05
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And I say, "You can't sing anyway." And he laughed and went on. And that Sunday evening they buried a teacher that used to work with him and he came back to that that funeral. And it was drizzling rain. And I say, "You got a [indistinct 00:16:59] in your bag here?" He said, "Yes, say, "Ms. Pits had worked with me for years." But I said to myself, "Nobody know what that doctor told him. It could have been his heart," and he just didn't say it.	16:39
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And "He got up," his wife said, "and took his bath and was dressing for school, and pass out." And before EMS get there he was a dead man. Girl, and I've been telling her to move ever since that day. Because that's too far for EMS to come to give first aid.	17:13
Tunga White	How far is that?	17:40
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Dale is about— You know anything Lobeco? No.	17:45
Tunga White	Hmm.	17:48
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Because [indistinct 00:17:53] if I knew anything about that country. But anyway, even after you pass that Lobeco station, you have to turn and go down in Dale to get where he lived. And it's a pretty good distance. It's too far for man and much too far, gone.	17:53
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Because his brother said he— After the wife had called him and told him that called EMS because to take James to the hospital, he said he went on down to the hospital to wait for him, and never did showed up. And we didn't knew James had died. Gracious, Lord. I said, "I know he couldn't be." Yeah. He had died.	18:14
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And then another classmate died before then, and they were the only two. But wasn't but 11. And they all still around. But then just as I told you was pure discipline, because James and the Davises and I, well were more or less raise up together. And because his daddy told us not to ski in the barn, we had been on skate in that barn. We had better not skate in that barn because he'd beat all of us. That's the only time I would run home. But then that's who disciplined. Yes, goodness. That was it. We really and truly had a better relationship than they could ever.	18:46
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And just think on it. They do. And when they see other kids, man stop. That's it. I blame the parents. They may not think so. They always stress the point that don't want the children to work hard like them, and don't want this for the children. And hard work will not hurt you.	19:39
Tunga White	What kind of chores did you have growing up?	20:14
Coazell Joesese Frazier	What kind I didn't you mean.	20:15
Tunga White	That makes a simpler question.	20:15
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yes. Gosh. Because you didn't have no choice. Because see, we had kerosene heater and then wood stove for the cooking. But then you had to keep the wood box full with wood and then keep the oil tank full, and that's what we heat by. Then, shoot. But then the most thing that we did was helping mama out. She'd leave your chore there for you to do. And that's a must without a shadow of a doubt.	20:21
Tunga White	Did you have more chores than your brother?	21:12
Coazell Joesese Frazier	No. No. He had to get in the wood in the water. And well, you know how it was? Especially after mama was sick, whoever came home first did, without any problem or any questions, just went ahead and did what needed to be done. He used to have on Friday that mostly was your busiest day as far as hair is concerned. And they used to come ride to work on the truck from Paris Island. And the truck stop out there and he said first thing he'd look up to see if any smoke was coming out there.	21:14
Coazell Joesese Frazier	He said, "Oh, my sister done cooked that." Oh, but then we didn't have no problem. We've been really and true— Mama did an A-1 one job with us. Yes, sir.	22:00
Tunga White	Now when you were working at your— You said that when you got out of beauty school you had to do an apprenticeship with somebody. Who did you do yours with?	22:15
Coazell Joesese Frazier	[indistinct 00:22:25] Garrett. She moved. She was originally from this side and she came back home. And she ran a beauty shop. And I worked with her for about that six months. Because you had to put in that six month to get your apprenticeship.	22:25
Tunga White	After that you got your own place or did you work with someone?	22:47
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Umm-hmm. I got right around the corner, because that was close home. I worked on my own land.	22:51
Tunga White	And what did you name the place?	22:58
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Cozy's Beauty Nook, C-O-Z-Y'S, Beauty Nook, N-O-O-K, Nook. Yeah. And that was right around the corner, see where I could run home whenever I got ready. Yeah.	23:00
Tunga White	And you were open how many days a week?	23:18
Coazell Joesese Frazier	I was off— That's the main thing, I took off like I want. Most time it would be Mondays and Tuesdays, but work Wednesday, Thursday Friday and Saturday. But then in between that time I have time to come home and feed mama or fix something or anything like that.	23:21
Tunga White	How did you afford the equipment that it took to start off?	23:44
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Credit. Because then you know what? Hair used there used to be but a dollar. And if they wash it themselves, if they shampoo they hair you getting 75 cents. Yeah. But then the [indistinct 00:24:18], a company in Savannah, Georgia let me have my chairs and things. And I never will forget him. I don't hear from him now because they're retired. And he was a Jew because he knew Richmond and those that lived right there by us.	23:57
Tunga White	How many chairs did you have there?	24:44
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Just one.	24:46
Tunga White	One chair.	24:46
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm.	24:46
Tunga White	Did you ever have anybody that worked with you?	24:51
Coazell Joesese Frazier	With me?	24:52
Tunga White	Mm-hmm.	24:52
Coazell Joesese Frazier	No, I never did because it was just a small place, even then. Now I don't have but the one room. I don't have nobody to work them six months. No. Which is best because I go and come when I get ready. And if you had somebody working with you or under you, you have to give an account of that.	24:54
Tunga White	Okay. This just about does it. But now, question, and do you have a middle name?	25:26
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yep.	25:32
Tunga White	What's your middle name?	25:33
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Cozell Joalese, J-O-A-L-E-S-E. Frazier. Okay. C-O-A-Z-E-L-L. You spell that right?	25:34
Tunga White	Mm-hmm.	25:50
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Okay. Frazier.	25:50
Tunga White	Okay. And what was your maiden name?	25:50
Coazell Joesese Frazier	That's my maiden name.	25:50
Tunga White	Oh, so you don't have a middle name? Just—	25:50
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Joalese is my middle name.	25:51
Tunga White	Joalese is your middle name. [indistinct 00:25:57].	25:51
Coazell Joesese Frazier	But you mean if I've been married.	25:57
Tunga White	Okay.	25:59
Coazell Joesese Frazier	That's what you—	26:00
Tunga White	You've never been married?	26:00
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Umm-mm.	26:00
Tunga White	Oh, okay.	26:00
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. Gosh, you sticky.	26:03
Tunga White	It's been one them days.	26:05
Coazell Joesese Frazier	So I notice.	26:10
Tunga White	What's your date of birth?	26:12
Coazell Joesese Frazier	July 30th. Dewayne brought me a gift.	26:14
Tunga White	Oh he did?	26:17
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm.	26:18
Tunga White	And what [indistinct 00:26:19]?	26:19
Coazell Joesese Frazier	I'm surprised he didn't tell. I got to tell you that?	26:19
Tunga White	Huh?	26:23
Coazell Joesese Frazier	I do, I have to tell you that? I heard.	26:23
Tunga White	Give me a estimate, give me a little.	26:23
Coazell Joesese Frazier	July the 30th is my birthday, period.	26:34
Tunga White	Okay. You want to be there, Wayne.	26:36
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Oh. That's enough?	26:47
Tunga White	Yeah. Okay. I just need to know, do you know your mother's date of birth, or—	26:49
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Birthday? July 19th.	26:52
Tunga White	Okay. What year?	26:52
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Oh, man. It could be I think 1901.	27:02
Tunga White	Do you know her date of death? You said it was 1958, right?	27:21
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm.	27:27
Tunga White	Do you know—	27:27
Coazell Joesese Frazier	August the 25th.	27:27
Tunga White	August. And her full name?	27:33
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Coralee Campbell Frazier.	27:36
Tunga White	And your father's full name?	27:44
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Isaac Frazier.	27:47
Tunga White	Do you know his date of— you recollect?	27:52
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. Because I think he was at 1900s. Because mama say she was a little—	27:53
Tunga White	And he's dead too?	28:03
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Mm-hmm. My daddy died. And it hasn't been long. Well, hasn't been long, it's been '80 something. I don't— Let me see. I think it was something like May of '87. And if I look on that thing when I find it and it's different, you'll never know.	28:14
Tunga White	I'll call you.	29:02
Coazell Joesese Frazier	No you won't Because I ain't going to look today.	29:04
Tunga White	Oh, you are hard on me. Okay. What's your brother's full name?	29:12
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Luther Frazier.	29:14
Tunga White	Okay. And you know his birthday?	29:17
Coazell Joesese Frazier	It's December— December what? December the something. December. I know Russell birthday, it must the 30th, 1919.	29:22
Tunga White	Have you ever lived any other places after you grew up besides here?	29:51
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Um-hmm.	29:56
Tunga White	And any other job you've held besides the beauty shop you worked at as a grown up?	30:05
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. I did domestic work. I told you, I washed towels and things. And I used to cook and all for one time. But then after mama became an invalid, I had to be here all the time where prompted me into being my own boss.	30:12
Tunga White	Are you a member of any club or organization?	30:34
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Well, no, I have been on a lot of—	30:47
Tunga White	Yeah. Just you can give me something that you were a past member of.	30:51
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. I was on parks and trees, and I was with HELP.	30:57
Tunga White	What is HELP?	31:06
Coazell Joesese Frazier	HELP is a organization that helped the needy. And I have worked on all them other ones, even March of Dimes and Heart Fund and Muscular Dystrophy. And you work on all those kind of things.	31:09
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And I was at one time women league, the Black Women League, I joined once. But then I drop out because find out it is very— I don't think they do anything for the town.	31:45
Tunga White	Oh, really? What kind of things did they— The goals of the Black Women's League.	32:12
Coazell Joesese Frazier	That's what puzzled me. Because seemingly they send to the headquarters whatever monies and things. I don't know of them handling anything in this area.	32:15
Tunga White	Around what year were you affiliated with them?	32:32
Coazell Joesese Frazier	This is '94. Must be in probably '87 or something.	32:41
Tunga White	Any others?	32:50
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Might be but I haven't thought of them yet.	32:53
Tunga White	Okay. Do you have any hobbies now that you'd like to do? [indistinct 00:33:02]?	32:57
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. Sitting on my porch (laughs).	33:02
Tunga White	That's a good hobby.	33:05
Coazell Joesese Frazier	And do nothing.	33:06
Tunga White	Do you have a favorite quote or saying or Bible verse?	33:15
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Yeah. "Thank God's for small favors."	33:18
Tunga White	Have you received any awards or honors, anything like that?	33:33
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Oh, man, nothing. But—	33:38
Tunga White	What? Name some. Name the ones you're most proud of.	33:44
Coazell Joesese Frazier	Shoot. Why you don't know?	33:48

Item Info

Title:

Coazell Frazier interview recording, 1994 August 07

Permalink:

https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/r4445vn4c

Date:

August 7, 1994

Creator:

Frazier, Coazell Joesese

Contributor:

White, Tunga

Description:

Name: Coazell Joesese Frazier; Date of birth: unknown; Place of birth: Martin, SC; Occupation(s): beautician; Residence: Beaufort, SC
Informant ID: 479; Interviewed by: Tunga White.

Identifier:

RL00170-CS-1438
777e6f45-d81e-4bc4-aa95-8f16868134e3
behindtheveil
b842bf77-fd28-49a2-b3ea-c732cb879a8c
ark:/87924/r4445vn4c
b842bf77-fd28-49a2-b3ea-c732cb879a8c

Digital Collection:

Behind the Veil

Source Collection:

Behind the Veil: Documenting African American Life in the Jim Crow South interviews, photographs, and project records, circa 1864-2011, bulk 1990-2004

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Location:

Format:

Language:

English

Occupation:

Beautician

Provenance:

The David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library acquired the Records of the Behind the Veil Oral History Project from the Duke University Center for Documentary Studies in 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2002.

Rights:

Limited Re-Use

CC BY-NC 4.0

Rights Note:

Copyright for content created by the Behind the Veil project is held by Duke University and made available to the public using a Creative Commons Attribution / Non-commercial (CC-BY-NC) license.

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Sound

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Coazell Frazier interview recording, 1994 August 07

Transcript

Item Info

1. Coazell Frazier administrative file, 1994

John Hope Franklin Research Center

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John Hope Franklin Research Center

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