Looking back at an Alabama Native American woman’s voting history

As most of you already know, we are still in the process of cleaning out my mother in law’s house after to her passing.  We found this voter registration form for hubby’s great grandmother in one of the filing cabinets.  I am not at all familiar with old voting forms in Alabama, but you’ll note there’s a part about poll taxes.  She was full Native American (Poarch Creek) Indian, so we don’t know if this was a form of the same poll taxes imposed on African Americans at the time, or ???.  It’s very strange though, this document is dated 1967, but the Voting Rights Act was enacted in 1965.  I honestly haven’t had the time to do any research, but wanted to share.  I’d love to know more information about this if anyone knows, so please feel free to leave a comment.  🙂

An epitaph

While going through mother in law’s items, we found the epitaph she wrote years ago on a legal pad:

I was brought into this world

With no fanfare, no parades

My birth was marked

As no great occasion

No great triumph

I shall leave as such.

I have trudged this life

Loved by some

Hated by others

Liked by only a few

I have made my mark

Upon the world

Small but everlasting

I shall leave as such. 

There will be some who mourn me

Some who are glad to see me go

Some who will cry, some who will sigh

But I for one will care not

For I was born as such.

I have done my best

T’was all I could do

I loved so much

Disliked only a few

For all my sins

God will judge

I need not stand in reverence

Of mere mortal man

I came into this world unscathed

But I will not leave as such.

For my son I say

Make the most of your life each day

For we came a long way…alone

For the man I love I will say

Carry on, hon, it’s just another day

Pretend that I’m just away

For over the river, we all shall meet

Be not sad, for I won’t leave as such.

I’m glad it’s over

So glad that it’s through

No more heartache

No more pain

No more wondering what to do

No more worries

No more tears.

Yes, I’m very glad it’s through

And at last I’ll have peace of mind

I’ve searched so fervently for

I came into this world with naught

I shall leave as such.