Final Black History Month features takes a look at the life of Aunt Nanny Whatley.
Editor’s note: This article was contributed to the Standard Journal by Greg Gray from the Polk County Historical Society.
Nanny was born a slave on July 15, 1838, and grew up with two brothers — Guy and Toby — on the King plantation in Floyd County.
Nanny says she remembers her mother only as being named “Harriet.” Her father, according to Nanny’s recollections, had arrived in this country by ship, and she did not know where he was born.
When Nanny was twenty, she says she met Mike Whatley, a slave owned by W.O.B. Whatley. The two were allowed to marry, probably after arranging for the sale or trade of the young girl to the Whatleys.
At her new home on the Whatley plantation in Collard Valley, Nanny says she and her husband began their life together. Mike and Nanny Whatley’s first home in Collard Valley was a slave cabin provided by their owner, W. O. B. Whatley. When he died, Mike and Nanny were given the one-room cabin along with one acre of land and a well.
After the U.S. Civil War, the couple gained their freedom, but chose to stay with the family who apparently had treated them as family members. While living on the Whatley place, Nanny and Mike had two children, Harriet and Obie. Obie was named after W. O. B. Whatley.
While she was still alive, Nanny had vivid memories of the many historic and dramatic events she had witnessed over her lifetime. Some of her sharpest memories were of the Civil War when Union t r oops s wept i nto Cedartown, burning the city.
During her lifetime, 27 presidents of the U.S. — from Martin Van Buren to Dwight Eisenhower — would hold office. As word spread of the newfangled invention called the automobile, Nanny said she refused to believe such stories. Within a short time, however, she said she saw for herself the first car driving up Collard Valley.
Airplanes were even more unbelievable to Nanny. When the first one she had ever seen flew over, she said, “I just stood there and watched it go out of sight.” She had never even imagined anything like it.
In 1922, Nanny’s husband, Mike, died. As a widow, Nanny remained in her little cabin, tending her garden, content to spend her remaining days right there.
Surprisingly, however, her health remained good right through her advanced years. She bought glasses, but didn’t wear them. Her hearing was exceptional for a person of her age. Her only complaint was for her “aching bones.”
As the years passed, Nanny Whatley became more and more proud of her age. Anyone talking to her in her later-- years was almost certain to ask her to what she attributed her long life. Her answer was simple: a strong faith in the Lord. She also said that she “worked hard, lived right, don’t hate nobody, don’t envy nobody, and the man upstairs just lets me live.”
Although when she was younger she “used to take a dram now and then,” she said she attributed no miraculous qualities to whiskey. However, even in her later years, she was known to ask Fields Whatley on one of his frequent visits, “Could you get me some good corn whiskey to sip to help my aching bones.
On a later visit when Fields took a pint out to Nanny, she thanked him and made one further request. “Massa Fields, don’t give any to my baby. He’ll just get drunk.” The remark amused Fields to no end, because Obie - her “baby” - was 86 years of age at the time.
“Aunt Nanny” Whatley continued her simple ways for many years. Finally, on March 8, 1958, the good Lord called Nanny Home. She died at the age of 119 years, seven months and 21 days.
Note: Being a volunteer at the Polk County Historical Society Museum is one of the most enjoyable endeavors I have ever undertaken. Our history and heritage are what make us what we are today. Working on this year’s series of Polk County Black History articles’, Aunt Nanny’s story has to be one of my favorite. Greg Gray