Mother’s Day

I always looked forward to using a small amount of my Saturday pay from the United Five and Ten to buy a surprise gift for my mother, Inez McIntyre Proctor. This was usually a box of handkerchiefs or a scarf. She was always happy with any gift that came from me. I was an only child and received all of the pleasure. She was a special lady and well-remembered in Swainsboro even though she claimed to be from Vidalia where she was born, raised, and her McIntyre family was well known. She met, fell in love, and married Louis Proctor who was also born raised and from a well-known Swainsboro family. They lived with his mother at her home on North Main Street until she died. That is where I was born. The home is across the street from Coleman House and still standing on my last visit. After sale of the Proctor home, Louis obtained the first FHA Loan available and built a home on Church Street where I grew up, and my mother, Inez lived for the rest of her life. She always held a job to secure the family income. Her jobs were of value and important to her. She assisted Emma Marshburn the County Nurse and gave vaccinations to all students. When WWII came and postal workers were drafted, she replaced their positions. When the vets returned, she began the career that she held for the rest of her life. After Mr. Gray bought the Forest Blade, she became the managing editor, and the Blade grew to the local paper of today. She worked at the Blade until her retirement. Her contribution to Swainsboro is well known, but she remained to consider herself from Vidalia. At her death, the request that she left for her final service was that she was laid to rest in the McIntyre plot in Vidalia. We took her back home. I am proud to be the daughter of Inez McIntyre Proctor. Write to Shirley at [email protected].