Copyright 1999- All rights reserved
Kermit Smith, was the first child and first son born to James and Susan (Doss) Smith. Kermit was born 19 September 1909, died September 1990, at age 80. He is buried in the Smith Family Cemetery high on a mountain top with his parents grand parents at Briar Branch, Harts Creek, WV. He married (1) Bertha Workman, (born 10 March 1907 )d/o Carter and Belle (Browning) Workman, Kermit married (2) Synthia (Hensley) Tomblim. ( no children by 2nd marriage).
Kermit served in World War II. He was a retired coal miner and a deacon at Mt. Era United Baptist Church.
Children of Kermit and Bertha (Workman) Smith:
1. Mabal
2. Dora
3. Tracy- died young
4. Violet
5. Layuna
6. Malinda
7. Jerenia married Arnold Fillinger
"As I remember them:
You know, some children are lucky to have their grandparents well into their teenage years, but I lost mine when I
was little girl. What I do remember, left a lasting inpression on me. I believe they were very religious.
To walk into their yard was like walking into Paradise; so green and so "grassy." Why I could have laid rite down and went to sleep ifin I hadn't been scared of their dogs, Old Dime and Daisy.
It was very pleasant to be around Granny Sue and Grandpa Jim. Now we never went down to their house without Mom or Dad though , unless was it was an emergency. I always went to them to get my teeth pulled. Granny Sue always knew what I wanted when she saw me coming. ( Of course, I always had my hand over my jaw.) Grann Sue would say, "What ye want child?" I would say, "My tooth pulled." Grandpa would grab the "wire pliars" off the wall plate on the rafters. He would say, "Let me pull it, as he was coming towards me, opening and closing the pliars. Granny Sue would say, "Hush up Pa, you're sacrin' the child to death."
Granny Sue would say, "Hand me the twine Pa." ( It looked like rope to me.) She'd say, " Close your eyes and it'll be out in a minute." The door would slam and the next thing I knew, there would be my tooth on the end of rope-oops, I mean twine. Grandpa would be laughing. Granny Sue would say, ""It's all over child." So help me, as I write this, it was a nightmare for me, but it was a delight for Grandpa.
Grandpa was a hard working man. Granny Sue's house was always "spick and span." Granny Sue played the fiddle and the old organ. They say she played very well in her young days.
Dad had to go in the Army (World War II) when Isom was about three months old. and Grandpa went with Mom to Maryland to see Dad. Grandpa helped take care of Isom and as I recall, he sure enjoyed riding the train. But even better than the train ride, was to get to see Dad.
We stayed at Granny Sue's when Mom and Grandpa went to see Dad. I remember we sat in the yard in the hot boiling sun one whole day after they left. Dad was gone about a year and when he came home, Uncle Sherman went into the Army.
I remember Grandpa working on to of the house in his bibbed overalls. Seems like one day he was well and the next day, he was gone..........."
