 |
| Lucy "Mama Lucy" Lanier (1898-1996) |
My grandmother Lucy
Callins-Lanier was the middle child of George and Lucy Callins of Dallas Co,
AL. One of her qualities is that she was very strong willed woman. While she was
living in Alabama she practiced Midwifery and herbal medicine. She
delivered over 200 African-American children all over the county. When two of
her children were born very prematurely, she nursed them to health by creating
a heated incubator made of a box and using old fashioned cast irons. When one
of her daughters was born with a leg deformation, she was told by the doctor
that she would never walk. My grandmother made a makeshift brace for her legs,
worked with my aunt and she learned to walk without even the use of as much as
a cane! Both of these children are living today.
During the 1950's she and most
of her children and some of her grandchildren relocated from Alabama to New
York. She didn't stop working once she came to New York. Once in New York, she
and three other southern ladies worked tirelessly selling homemade cakes, pies
and other southern sweets to raise money to found the only Black Baptist
Church in the Town of Highlands. They named this church Saint Mark's Missionary
Baptist Church. Mama Lucy held many positions at the church including
Treasurer, President of the Missionary Board, and finally Mother of the Church
until her health began to fail in the early 1990's.
The grandmother I knew was firm
and loving. She didn't say too much, but always offered a meaningful word of
wisdom or encouragement at just the right time. She was a wonderful cook,
especially her desserts. Our family favorite dessert was her delicious Tea Cakes.
Though Mama Lucy has been gone for 16 years, her spirit is still strong in our family. In honor of her memory, I have included a recipe for real southern Tea Cakes. (Courtesy of About.com)
Simple Southern Tea Cakes
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 2 eggs
- 2 3/4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Preparation:
Combine the sugar and butter in a mixer bowl, beating until light and
fluffy.
Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. In another
bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt; add to
creamed mixture and mix well. Shape cookie dough into
small balls. Arrange on a cookie sheet. Press flat with the flat bottom
of a glass. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.
Makes 3 dozen.
.jpg)
