Archie and Evelyn meet

My father was born May 29, 1924, raised on a farm in Union County, North Carolina. He loved all the things a country boy loves, animals, hunting, fishing, bicycles, Ford cars, everything except for plowing. He was the sixth of seven children, a typical young man full of life, liked by all and seeking adventure. At the age of 17 he was working in Charlotte, NC at Pet Dairy on Central Ave. A co-worker Robert (Bobby) Williams invited him to come home with him one day and that’s when he met Evelyn Williams, Bobby’s sister. They were taken with one another right off. When Archie found out that Evelyn was 18 years old he told her that he was also, after finding out that she wouldn’t date anyone younger than she was.

My mother was born in Charlotte, NC, fifth child of Jim and Mamie Williams. Jim and Mamie worked in cotton mills since they were eight years old. Evelyn was raised on the so-called mill hill, Louise Mill as a matter of fact. The neighborhood was in North Charlotte, Belmont Ave. At that time the neighborhood was a Norman Rockwell type community with a fire station on one corner Buck’s café half way down the street, Turner’s café on the corner down the block, Mr. Ben field’s Barber Shop, Mr. Scarboroa’s barbershop and shower in the back part of his house, Spoons Ice Cream Parlor, and Covington’s corner grocery store, Everyone knew each other. Evelyn is eighteen years old now and excited about being alive. She was attractive, happy, liked to dance (jitter-bug) known for her pretty legs. The boys were biding for her attention and several wanted to marry her. At this time Evelyn is engaged to a soldier in Fort Bragg, Carl H. Then one day her brother Bobby brings a guy that works with him home. That guy was Archie Killough, boy meets girl, and with hormones raging all other relationships were put on hold.

Archie had a Model A Ford with a rumble seat perfect for double dating of which was done more often than not. The only bad thing was that there was no floorboard in the rumble seat area and Moma recalls that H.E.Hunnicutt’s girlfriend complained about dragging her feet on the road. Ever so often the Model A would break down and they would have to walk back. Mr. Spoons of Spoons Ice Cream once told them they might ought to get roller skates so they’d be sure to get back. Turner’s Café was the gathering place for young and old alike, when Archie would arrive or depart the guys on the corner would start yelling “get a wheel Archie” and that’s all it would take, he had to show them what his hot rod Ford would do. More than one time he would have to repair a transmission or rear end after showing off. They were both happy then and dreamed of their future together. Archie and Evelyn were married in 1941, WWII had just started and everyone’s life was about to change. I was born in 1942 and in 1943 at the age of 19 Archie was drafted into the Navy.

As I listened to my mother tell of the times they had back then I could see a spark of youth return to her eyes.
It was then that I realized just how important our memories will be to us in later years.

Archie Wallace Killough and Evelyn Loraine Williams
my mother and father by son Gary Burnett Killough

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