“I grew up in Yazoo City and lived here all of my life. I have cut a lot of grass around here. There were ten kids in our family-eight girls and two boys. I was named after the guy in the history books, Booker T. Washington. I’m a junior. I can’t pronounce my middle name, so I just say T. My mom died when I was nine years old. I had a brother living in New York and a sister living in New Orleans. They both wanted me to live with them but my dad wouldn’t let me move away because I was little.
When I was about 12 years old, my cousin told me not to get on his bike because the brakes were bad. I was a hard-headed kid. I got on anyway and rode down the hill. The breaks went out, and I was hit by a drunk driver coming up the hill. That knocked me high into the air. I woke up in the hospital. It happened on a Thursday night. The doctor said it damaged the part of my brain that controls my speech and my mood. Every now and then I stutter a little bit or get kind of jittery and nervous. That is from the accident. I learned to just live with it.
Two years ago, I was driving my truck and Johnny, the owner of Preaux’s restaurant in Yazoo City, pulled me over. He had been looking for me. His security guard had died and he offered me the job. The rest is history. I take care of people and make sure people get in and out okay. I like making them feel good. The people here are good to me and help me out. Give a little and it comes back to you. We take care of each other.”
Booker
Lynne,
This does not apply directly to your blog but I figured I would throw it out there anyway. I grew up in Mobile in the 50’s & 60’s and my family would regularly get BBQ at Corrines Kitchen on old Fulton Road which was later renamed Dauphin Island Parkway. Sometimes we would even sit down with Corrine and her family and eat there. I have never tasted BBQ quite like that since I left and am trying to find out how she made her sauce. My best guess so far is that she used chipotle pepper (smoked jalapenos) or something similar. I don’t think anyone had heard of chipotle in those days so she was very innovative and maybe smoked her own spices. Any clues? I thought I read in one of your blogs that you or a friend knew Corrine.
Here is the story that was about Ms. Corrine. Unfortunately, I don’t have any more information than this. https://oursouthernsouls.com/cooking-runs-in-my-family-corrine-is-my-great-aunt-and-she-had-a-restaurant-for-over-50-years/