Journal
Jane "Janie" Vardell Lawton Varn
Volume
VI
Û July
5, 1947 - May 2, 1955
Beaufort S. C.
July 5, 1947
This is July 5th. It will be one month on the 11th since I made my visit to Daisy.
Aug. 15, 1947
Dr. Black came to see me. I have bleeding piles. Eleanor went with Anne to Greenville.
Aug. 24, 1947
We, Sissie, Belle Lawton, and Mrs. Hull, went to Ellen Fripp's wedding yesterday evening, 5 o'clock. It wasn't much of a show. Belle is here for a visit; will go back to Greenville today. We will go to Hazel's for dinner. Rivers and Eleanor and the boy started on a trip to Virginia on Friday; expect to be gone a week. It has been very hot.
Beaufort, S. C.
Aug. 28, 1947
We are having very hot days, especially the afternoons until about six o'clock; they are almost unbearable. Ethel Bistol brought Mrs. Bristol to see us yesterday. Mrs B's mind is in pretty bad shape. I hope Sissie will not get that way.
Beaufort, S. C.
Oct. 11, 1947
Annie and Edward came Oct. 7th. E. left the 10th; Annie left this morning. A beautiful day.
Beaufort, S. C.
July 18, 1948
This is Sunday, July 18th, 1948. Bessie Waterhouse's granddaughter, Millie, was one year old yesterday. On that day Lee Webb's wife had a daughter; two children and she has been married two years. I have been sick. Hazel took care of me on the Island; got back last Monday. It is quite hot today.
Beaufort, S. C.
Nov. 12, 1948
This is Jane's birthday, my darling granddaughter. I do wish I had something handsome I could give her. Well, I love her. Her parents will give her what she needs. I am going to have my hair cut and a permanent. Guess I will be sorry. This beautiful weather continues. Thank the Good Lord for it.
Beaufort, S. C.
Apr. 11, 1949
Yesterday was Palm Sunday. It was wonderful to hear Rivers sing the Palms for the 28th time. My darling Mary came to see me yesterday; did not come in time for church. We had dinner at Hazel's home. Mary brought me a new dress for Easter. I hope it will fit. Fred came also. He looks fine. LeR. has a new Ford car.
Beaufort, S. C.
Apr. 17, 1949
This is Easter Sunday. May joy be with me this day! I had the pleasure of having Daisy, Foster, and Jean come to see me yesterday; they are most dear. God bless my children.
Beaufort, S. C.
June 14, 1949
I cannot sleep. It is 1 A.M. I had one of those horrible hemorrhoids on May 22nd. Left me quite bad off. Hazel took me to Frogmore that Sunday afternoon. LeR. and Rivers took S[issie] to Summerville to stay with Annie. Hazel kept me for a week, Mary coming for me May 28th. I stayed in Bamberg a week. Mary and Fred took me to Bishopville on Sunday, the 5th. Daisy was lovely to me. Took me around and gave me a good time. Mrs. Luther McCutchen took me to Summerville to pick up Sissie. Daisy and Jean drove over there with us, going back with Mrs. McCutchen that night. My darling Hazel with James and Jane met me in Summerville, brought S. and me back to Beaufort. I hope will be able to carry [on], the dear God helping me.
Beaufort, S. C.
Nov. 16, 1949
Tomorrow we will have our bazaar. Hope it turns out well. S. and I will go if possible. I am looking for Daisy and Jean, also Annie and Edward to come next Sunday. Hope Mary will also be here. We are having lovely weather; not so cold. Hope it lasts. Joe, our cleaner, is in the hospital with pneumonia. Too bad.
Beaufort, S. C.
Feb. 5, 1950
My birthday will be the 7th, but Daisy could only come Sunday. It was delightful to see the dear child. She brought me bacon, fruit , and candies. Mary and Fred came; we had such a lovely dinner with Hazel and LeRoy. God's indeed good to me.
Beaufort, S. C.
March 24, 1950
I went to Dr. Black today. Hazel took me to his office. He says I have no cancer and that ...... ...bothers me can be relieved by treatment. Rivers took Sister and me for a drive around some of Beaufort's new wards. Eleanor has gone to take ..... to see the surrounding plantations. Henry Varn's daughter got married today.
Beaufort, S. C.
April 22, 1950
Hazel took me to Charleston to have my toe nails cut. Rivers, Jr. went with us.
Beaufort, S. C.
May 5, 1950
As I cannot remember Jane's boy friend's name, I am writing it down Melton, Melton.
Beaufort, S.C.
Sept. 22, 1950
Yesterday Nellie took Sissie and me to see the Lawton girls, Minna, Florence, Luella, and Estelle. Luella and her husband Bob Gibson have a wonderful Flower Development at Hampton for furnishing flowers for weddings, funerals and other occasions. We were treated very fine. Gave us a fine dinner.
Dec. 25, 1950
Lord I do thank thee for a happy day. I was with my children. Rivers, Eleanor, Frances, and Rivers, Jr., Jane and Hazel came to see me in the evening. Everybody has been good.
Frogmore, S.C.
May 4th, 1951
Sister Belle is gone to the better land. I am back with my precious child Hazel Walpole. Now yesterday, May 3rd, my good friend Mrs. McDonald passed away after a long illness. It leaves me quite desolate.
This is the 21st of Sept., 1951. I came to Frogmore to live with Hazel the 11th of Jan. when Sissie broke her hip and shoulder and had to be carried to the new .... Hospital in ... It has been a sad time for me. Hazel has been wonderful, thank God for her. Hazel took me to Charleston yesterday to have my hearing aid looked after.
Frogmore
Oct. 18, 1951
Yesterday was nine months since my sister fell and broke her hip and left shoulder. I have been through many trials since. Only trusting in the Lord has prevented me from giving up.
Frogmore
Nov. 7, 1951
I went to see Annie the last Sunday in September with Eleanor and Rivers. On the first Sunday in Oct. I went to see Mary with Hazel and James in the ...
Nov. 11, 1951
The lines of this entry have been over written, perhaps over a continuation of the entry forNov. 7. Only a few phrases can be made out: "Armistice Day ..." and "Edward Carwile been buried a week." By this time Janie was almost blind herself, and a handwriting, while still fairly legible, had a tendency to drift off the lines.
Jan. 9, 1952
Edward Carwile died the night of the 3rd of Nov., 1951. Jane Melton's boy was born 23rd Dec., 1951, named Edward Lewis. Foster Cathcart married Norvelle Baskin 15th Dec. 1951. On Jan. 8th, 1952 I went with Hazel to Savannah; had my feet treated and my eyes examined.
Frogmore, S. C.
Sept.2, 1952
Had a storm Saturday night, Aug. 30th, 1952; lasted about 3 hours. Did not do much damage; front yard with [Entry stops here, although on the next line there were the words: "lasted about 3 hours." By this time her mind had begun to go in and out.]
Frogmore, S. C.
Oct. 21, 1952
This is my son Rivers' birthday. He was born in 1898 in the ...
Feb. 2, 1953
This is Ground Hog Day. It was a dark day from the beginning and rained at the end. Ted came for Jane and Edward. They left us yesterday. I missed them greatly today. God bless them.
July 3, 1953
The weather is very warm. Stuart House, Beaufort, S. C. now occupied.
This [is] the second day of Dec. [1953]. I am still at Frogmore with Hazel. Daisy has been sick; therefore, I have not seen her in quite a while. John came for Thanksgiving and his birthday 28th of Nov. Foster and Norvelle had a son, James Foster, Jr., on the 19th of Oct., 1953. His heart was weak; he died the 7th of Nov., 1953. Anne Thompson's boy came last Sunday, Nov. 29, 1953.
The last three entries in the Journal, shown below, were written when Janie, at 92, was almost completely blind as well as quite deaf. Her hand writing is very shaky, tends to wander off lines and in some instances words are written one on top of another. Furthermore, she seemed to have used a very hard pencil, making her words very difficult to see. There are a few additional words, but I could not make them out.
Frogmore S. C.
May 30, 1955
Decoration Day.
1954, Dec. 18
A very cold day.
Monday, 2nd day of May, 1955
I am at Frogmore with Hazel and LeRoy. Jane Melton [arrived] a week ago [with] her sons Edward and Richard.
Volume 1 -- March 19, 1886
to June 19, 1889/a>
Volume 2 -- July 17, 1889
- October 29, 1899
Volume 3a -- October 29, 1899 - July
22, 1928
Volume 3b -- September 1, 1939 – March 15, 1941
Volume 4 -- August 17,
1941 - August 22, 1943
Volume 5 -- October 1, 1943 -
June 13, 1947
Volume 6 -- July 5, 1947 - May
2, 1955
