“I grew up in midtown Mobile on Glenwood Street. I went to Murphy High School and had a ball. I wasn’t the best student. I went to Springhill College and decided somebody out there was dying to have my desk, so I dropped out to let them have it.

I was an oops baby and the black sheep of my family. My sister was 15 years older than me. My mom was 38 and six months along when she realized she was pregnant with me. She went to the doctor and asked what was wrong with her. The doctor asked if she could be pregnant. She said, ‘Don’t be ridiculous, I’m too old.’ Well, the frog died, the rabbit died, and three months later, I was here. She had a short pregnancy and wouldn’t talk to my daddy for the remaining three months.

I made my debut in Mobile and lived a bawdy, treacherous, fun-filled life. The Camelia ball went into Mardi Gras balls and it was parties until you dropped. I liked that life. I worked at a bank and could call in on the days I wasn’t feeling good. I finally got to the point where I couldn’t see a bottle of champagne. I was done.

My grandmother’s family helped found the town of Huntsville. My grandfather’s side helped found the town of Frederick, Maryland. My great, great uncle was Winfield Scott Schley. he was a Navy hero at Santiago when Teddy Roosevelt ran up the hill. He also rescued Admiral Greely who went to discover the Arctic and got stuck there. The two came back and helped start the National Geographic Society. He served under Admiral Farragut in the battle of Mobile Bay and was sent to get the flag of surrender from the Confederates. We all come from interesting people.

I’ve been everything but a prostitute. The hours were too bad. I worked on the movie West from North Goes South that was shot in Mobile in the early 90s. If there was a grade Z movie, this was it, but the cast was interesting. There was Larry Linville from MASH who was a good scotch drinker, so we got along. Phyllis Diller was funny on camera and very serious off, but we both painted, so I got to know her. Tina Louise was Ginger on Gilligan’s Island but you couldn’t mention it because she didn’t like being famous for that. There was also Morris Day from Morris Day and the Time and LaWanda Page who played Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son. LaWanda and I became best buddies.

I am a painter and my favorite painting is the next one. I was the executive director of the Eastern Shore Art Center in the late 80s and early 90s. I also write poetry.

I have been through hell the last two months. My husband died in September. We had been married for 54 years. He had stage four cancer and a blood clot in his left leg. Everything seemed fine in July, but he went down so fast. He was in the hospital for a week and died.

I sold the house quickly and downsized to a smaller house. My grandmother died when I was four and my father died when I was eight. A boyfriend died when I was in high school and another died when I was making my debut. You get to the point where you realize that everything is temporary and that life is a terminal disease for which they have found no cure. You learn to grieve on your own time.

Soon after my husband died, I got a certified letter informing me that I had to be out of my store, Best Kept Secret, by December 31. My landlords are doubling the rent to $5,000. I have had this store in Fairhope for 12 years. I started out in estate jewelry and clothing and have sold a little bit of everything. I call it a department store gone awry. Everyone comes in here. Young, old, black, white, and purple. Now people are coming in and saying they are going to miss this. That’s the biggest compliment.

I have gotten through the last two months one day at a time, one second at a time, sometimes one foot ahead of the other. I didn’t want to leave the store, but now I’m ready. The skies are the limit for what’s next. I have been around the world and I’m going to keep traveling. Something interesting is going to happen and I am not going to miss it.”

Claiborne

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