Daisy Estes

My Story
By
Daisy Bell Johnson Washington-Estes
(This story is an interpretation by Margaret Tarver from a conversation with Aunt Sis)

It is truly an honor to share my story. Most people know me as Daisy, but family and close friends know me as Sis.
On a very hot sunny day, the 12th of August 1921, a bundle of joy changed the lives of Ed and Ada Johnson forever. I, baby girl Daisy joined the rest of the Johnson family, which then consisted of an older brother and sister, Edna, also known as Hon. Three other siblings were born into my family, but the Lord had other plans for them. My youngest sister, Ada, also known as Luck, came eight years later.
Life was simple for my family in Fort Mitchell, Alabama. We lived on the land of a white couple, but were not sharecroppers and did not pay rent. My Daddy was very meek and mild mannered. He worked at Fort Benning in Georgia. Every day he would have to walk two miles to catch the boat and go to work. At this time, cotton was the main crop and source of income for most people. However, Daddy did not raise cotton. He did have his own field where he planted corn, peanuts, potatoes, peas, okra and other vegetables for the family. After coming home from work, he would always go directly to the field to work the land or harvest the vegetables.
Hon and I were two years apart, but you would have thought we were twins. We did everything together. If you saw one of us, you would always see the other. Although Daddy didn’t raise cotton, Momma would chop and pick cotton to help out. The only problem with this was Hon and I would have to go with her to the cotton fields. At age 7, we had to go to pick and chop cotton too.
I learned at an early age how to manipulate my Momma. I would complain that my back was hurting. I complained so much that Momma would finally send me home. I skipped all the way home with a smile and, of course, a hurt back.
I learned many valuable lessons as a child. One lesson was telling time without a clock. Momma showed me how to look at the sun to see what time my Dad would come home from work. Around 4 or 5 everyday when the sun was sitting just right, I would run to greet Daddy as he walked home.
Because Daddy was gone most of the time during the day, he needed to know what went on at home. I was the source of this information for Daddy letting him know who stopped by, how long they stayed, why they came by in the first place and other pertinent information. Of course I never let Momma know I had provided information to my Daddy. This was our little secret.
We did not own a car. Daddy could not drive. He bought a car once but had to end up selling it cause he never had time to learn to drive it. Our main source of transportation, other than our feet, was a wagon. The whole family would ride the wagon to town about 2 miles from our house. There was only one store in town ran by Mr. Howard, who was also the postman. Mr. Howard also sold tickets to the train.
Mail was not delivered to our house. All of our mail came to Mr. Howard's store. When Hon and I were five or six, our parents would send us to the store to pick up the mail. We looked forward to our weekly walk to pick up mail and possibly buy some candy.
And then came Ada, my youngest sister. Hon and I were excited to have a younger sister, until she arrived. We had to watch her when Momma went to the cotton fields. My little sister Ada was a poster child for not having a baby. She was a hand full.
I had the best childhood and didn’t have a nickel. Hon and I also went to the fields with Daddy. To keep us out of trouble while his attention was on supervising someone plowing the field, he would put us on a mule. Of course, we enjoyed riding and playing on the back of this old mule. We would pull his tail and his ears, walk and jump up on his back and even would see who could tumble and not fall off. Now the mule did not enjoy us playing on his back. One day the mule had enough and started walking toward the trees. We tried everything to stop him but couldn’t stop him. In fact he started moving faster and faster toward a group of trees. The mule carried us under a tree that had low limbs and knocked us off his back. That mule turned around and looked at us, shook his head and kept on walking, leaving us screaming on the ground.
Momma was very strict with us. No boy company. One boy in the country named Pete would always come to visit. He just came when Momma was not home. A white fence was around our house and we knew the fence had to stay closed when our parents weren't home. So when Pete came by he could only come to the fence and we would talk. Pete never came in the fence. This sparked my curiosity about boys and Momma tightened her reigns a little more.
Once a month we would go to Columbus, Georgia to shop. Black folks from the country would always gather on Kin Folks Corner, on 10th and Front Street. Parents went shopping and the kids stayed on the corner because they couldn’t go in the stores. We would get to meet other children our age and have fun playing games while we waited on our parents to return.
I knew I would be an excellent student because I was curious and questioned everything. The word "Why" was my favorite word. Hon and I went to Mount Olive School. This was a two-room school with two teachers. Ms. Dent was my first teacher. Everyday Hon and I would walk to school regardless the weather. There were buses then, but Negros were not allowed to have buses. School was fun and opened my mind to a world of adventure. I was determined I would see the world.
We stayed at Mt. Olive School until Junior High. This is when the family moved to Phoenix City, Alabama. We then attended Fifth Avenue Junior High in Columbus, Georgia. In order to attend this school we had to live away from home with a lady named Ms. Hattie, because the school was in a different state from our home (although Columbus was just across the bridge from Phoenix City). We would stay with Ms. Hattie during the week and went home on the weekends. It was hard for us being away from our parents, but so worth the sacrifice for a good education. We stayed with Ms. Hattie and her two daughters through high school. Hon and I both attended Spencer High School in Columbus, Georgia.
Education became the main focus for me. I knew I had to buckle down and be more assertive in high school. Boys had to be put on the back burner, but just for a little while. I made very good grades in high school. I even took a sewing class so I could make my own prom dress, which was green and pink. Everyone wanted me to play basketball, because of my height. I chose my studies instead of basketball. There were around fifty in my graduating class and I was in the top 10.
Momma never wanted Hon or I to date. So I started dating on my own. Of course, Momma didn’t know.
My hard work and good grades paid off. I was accepted into the Nursing School in Columbus City Hospital and stayed there for four years. Hon also attended the same nursing school. We did not have any money and did not have a scholarship. At that time, if you were smart you could get into school. How fortunate for me. Those were four hard years. Since I didn’t have money, I had to stay in the dorms. Most days I had to work in the hospital in addition to going to class and completing my classwork. I worked most weekends and would occasionally get to go home on the weekend.
Nothing could stop my determination to finish nursing school. All classes consisted of black and white students. This was long before desegregation. Doctors and sometimes nurses taught the classes. Of course, I had to work harder to earn my credits. Sitting in the back of the rooms, I would raise my hand to ask questions. Sometimes my hand was recognized and most of the time it wasn’t.
I was a tutor for many of my classmates both black and white. In fact, there was this one white man that was not very smart. I had a hard time helping him to pass his classes. Nursing students, both blacks and whites, from all over Georgia took their Boards at the same time. Boards were very hard to pass. I passed my Boards the first time.
Right out of nursing school, I married McGruder. We were young and in love, but had different views on life. Our relationship was short and I moved on.
Armed with my nursing degree and a recommendation from one of my teachers, I took my first job as a nurse in Wilmington, NC. I took a train to Wilmington, a place I had never visited and I did not know anyone there. Although terrified at first, I was determined to make this work. One night at a USO dance I ran into an old friend from Phoenix City, Joe Walker Williams, a man in the Marines. What a relief, someone from home. Joe helped make the transition to my first job and being a way from home so much easier. We had lots of fun together.
Life happens! Hon was living in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband Neal. She gave birth to a little girl, Phyllis, my first niece. As Hon and her husband were celebrating the birth of their daughter, Neal became very sick, was hospitalized and never got to hold his baby girl. I left my job in Wilmington and went to help my sister through this tragedy.
Of course now, I did not have a job. After three or four months in Cincinnati, I returned to Phoenix City for a while. I accepted a job at the Veterans Hospital in Tuskegee, AL. I was restless and still wanted to see the world.
Traveling outside of Alabama and Georgia was one of the items on my bucket list. My marriage to Joe Bain, an army man, allowed this to happen. For two years we were stationed at a base in Germany. I met a life long friend, Theresa Clark, who was also stationed there with her husband. When the men would be out in the field for weeks at a time, the wives would travel all over Europe. I traveled to Paris, France, all over Germany, and Holland. This was an exciting time for me. After two years, we moved back to the States to California.
Now you might wonder how I ended up in Denver. Well, years passed, life changes occurred and I met Henry Washington, another army man. We started out in California and then moved to a base in Tacoma, Washington. We left Tacoma and moved to Camp Roberts in Colorado Springs, CO. After Washington retired, we moved to Aurora, Colorado. I eventually moved to Denver where I stayed on Birch Street for over 30 years.
I worked in military hospitals in the maternity ward all over the country and in Germany. I retired from Fitzsimmon Hospital in Aurora after working there for thirty years.
While living on Birch Street, I met Hollis "Jack" Estes. Although we only were together for a short time, we really enjoyed each other's company. As Life would have it, I cared for him ‘til his death.
My house on Birch became too much for me to handle alone. So, I moved to an apartment. This was a new experience for me that lasted for five years. During that time, I had several falls. Edward (Nephew) would come and stay with me. We were truly mismatched. He put up with my constant suggestions, never complained and helped to give me the best care he could.
Again, Life happens. My health began to decline, I couldn’t drive my car anymore and I could no longer stay alone in my apartment. Man and Margaret (nephew & niece) came and moved me to Georgia, so that I could receive the care I needed. I spent my last three years at Jonesboro Assisted Living Facility in Jonesboro, Georgia. It was different being around those "old folks." I adjusted, but still let them know that I would do things my way.
Man and Margaret, thanks for all you did for me. I know I was difficult at times, well most of the time. Even when I packed my bags and was going to take the bus back home or when you would visit and I fussed the whole time with my legs crossed, index finger pointing and I used my three curse words. You still loved me and made sure I had the best possible quality of life.
My motto was just to enjoy life. Although I traveled all over the world, my best times were spent with family. I never had my own children, but I was blessed with a multitude of nieces and nephews. I was so fortunate to have such a dynamic family.
I know Mom, Dad, Hon, Luck and Jack, who left this Earth already, are waiting at the Gate for me. They will be taking turns getting me up to speed and helping me adjust to my new home in Heaven.
Well it's time for me to depart. I will miss my family and friends, especially all my nieces and nephews: Phyllis Abney, Los Angeles, CA, Constance Dodson, Atlanta, GA, Edward "Skip" Harris, Paso Robles, CA, Jimmy "Man" Tarver, Ellenwood, GA, Janice Harris, Los Angeles, CA, Michael Harris, Paso Robles, CA, Alvin Tarver, Chattanooga, TN, Conrad Harris, Virginia Beach, VA, Valencia Andrews, Birmingham, AL, Timothy Harris, Paso Robles, CA, Annette Garner, Los, Angeles, CA and all my great/great-great nieces and nephews. Margaret Tarver and Vanessa Briggs, you will always have a special place in my heart as my special nieces.
The Lord allowed me to stay on this, Earth 98 years, before he finally called me home. I was ready. Family, I loved you all. Please continue to love and support each other. Know that I lived my life exactly the way I wanted to live it up to my last breath.

Visitation : September 26, 2019 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace
6601 Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80220
(303) 996-0869

Celebration of Life : September 27, 2019 11:00 am

Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace
6601 Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80220
(303) 996-0869

Interment : September 27, 2019 1:00 pm

Fairmount Cemetery
430 South Quebec Street
Denver, CO 80231