Leslie J. King

http://www.lesliejking.com

 

Travel

 

"I wanna fly like an eagle... to the sea, Fly like an eagle let my spirit carry me ..."

 

LaFayette , AL

LaFayette, the county seat of Chambers County, was created on December 18, 1832 from the Creek Indian secession. Named for Dr. Henry C. Chambers of Madison County, the county government was organized in 1833 by Judge James Thompson of Jefferson County. LaFayette was formerly known as Chambersville.

My granddad, Eddie Carlisle, wanted to take a trip to see "his people one last time". I haven't been "down South" since 1985 and had never met some of the people he told me about. I thought it was a great idea and started to talk some relatives into going. My mother and aunt were a hard sell. They never went back to LaFayette once they moved to Cleveland in 1950 as children.

After mentioning that everyone was getting on in age and this would probably be the last time they would see them again, they agreed to go. My brother went along for the ride. It was a long drive - approx. 12.5 hrs., but we made it in before dark.

I've also had a chance to attend several Finley family reunions. They occur on the 3rd weekend in August and everything is donated. We meet at the home of Louise Owens for a good old fish fry and picnic. I never had a "fried pie" until I went to the reunion. They are very delicious and apparently, easy to make. I’ve met a lot of people and relatives over the years and they have helped trememdously in my research.

If you ever need to visit, get there before August or after September for if the heat doesn't get you, the humidity will! We went in June and it was very humid. I went back the next 2 years in August (hot,hot,hot!) and in October.