Still Searching for Susannah
The Cheraw Chronicle & The Chesterfield Advertiser
COMMUNITY
Thursday, March 24, 2011 PAGE 1B
Still Searching for Susannah Susannah was found murdered at her home place, so many decades ago that no one remembers when. Except maybe her killer, who has never been found. Shannon A. Justice
ing a corn cob pipe. If she found the old photograph she would be looking at the image of the woman known as Susannah Gainey. Julia Arrants, author and South Carolina After the story ran, Arrants received a native, has been searching for years, but has phone call from Vergie Wallace, a woman yet to find what she’s started out looking for. It would be a disappointment to some, from the Teal’s Mill area who played in the but for Arrants who admits the information pine forest along Juniper Creek as a little girl. gained in her journey isn’t exactly what she Wallace shared that she and friends had come was seeking, the people she’s met and stories to know the woman when they met her by her told along the way, have made the trip worth cabin in the woods. “Aunt Susannah,” was what the children called her and even though traveling. Arrants began research for her book, they were initially intimidated, they later be“Searching for Susannah,” nearly eight years friended the old woman. According to Wallace, she and friends would ago. The concept of the book was to tell the un“Searching for often help Aunt Susannah by hauling wood and water told story of a Cheraw Susannah, for her. woman, murdered in the Arrants, however, was 1930s or 40s. Cheraw’s The author was workunable to learn much Forgotten Murder” more about the woman ing as the artist-in-residence at Cheraw State children befriended in is projected for the Park in 2003, when she the woods. Wallace passed first heard the story of publication, away in 2007, leaving many Susannah Gainey. While the author’s questions October 2011. More ofunanswered. spending her days researching local folktales information about One of the pieces of inforand nights in a rustic Arrants has gained the author and the mation cabin, her uncle, a park during research, was stored employee, shared with book can be found in the South Carolina State her a story that ignited Park archives. There, she the flames of curiosity at Arrants web found a faded picture of within. The story was old woman sitting in a site: www.Julia an about a woman named rocking chair, wearing a Susannah, a fortuneteller Arrants.com sewn dress, with her gray living on the banks of Juhair braided. Even though, niper Creek, who was althe woman in the photo did legedly murdered. According to her uncle Joe, not have a corn cob pipe, Arrants knew she is no one really knew if such a woman existed or holding the photograph her uncle had told her even if murder had occurred. to look for, it was a photo of Susannah. Shortly after completing her program at the Arrants new book, “Searching for SusanState Park with no more information than she started with, Arrants approached the newspa- nah,” is slating to be published later this fall, per for help reaching out to the community for but before it’s sent to the printers, the author answers. She hoped that someone would pro- is making one more request to the people in vide her information to prove the existence of Chesterfield County for information about Sua Susannah or knew of a murder in Cheraw sannah Gainey. Research of area census reports from 1900 that happened decades before. The story ran to 1930, show only a few women with a name in The Cheraw Chronicle, June 2003. “It was Uncle Joe who set her on the trail similar to Susannah Gainey. During this time of the murder in the park, but noone local many people were unable to read or write, couldn’t verify the story,” read the article. which could explain why names sometimes “No one had heard tell of a black fortuneteller vary from year to year. being murdered in her cabin where she lived Some of the individuals in census reports at the end of the park.” Arrants would like to look more closely at are Arrants told the newspaper, that according below, each listed with the area they living in to her uncle she needed to look for a picture during the census study. of a black woman who was barefoot and smokn From 1930 census: Susannah Gainey, Cherawchronicle.com
contributed photos
Sitting in a rocking chair, the rumored murder of “Susannah Gainey,” is the subject for a new book called Searching for Susannah.
Vergie Wallace met “Aunt Susannah” when she was playing in the woods near Juniper Creek as a young girl.
“Aunt Susannah” read tea leaves for her living in a wooden shack on the banks of Juniper Creek, near a place called “the end of the park. Inside was a wood burning stove, where she always had some kind of tea boiling, and above the stove, a shelf full of white cups and saucers. She said it was “for my work.”
Author Julia Arrants has been seeking infomration for her book since 2003. born about 1866, living in Cheraw; Susanna Gainey, born about 1883, living in Antioch, Darlington; Susanna Gainey born about 1848 living in Cheraw. n From 1920 census: Sue Gainey, born about 1895, living in Antioch, Darlington. n From 1910 census: Sannah A Gainey, (also listed as Savanah A Gainey or Susannah A Gorney) born about 1850, living in Alligator, Chesterfield; Susannah Gainey, born about 1866, living in MtCroghan or Chesterfield. n From 1900 census: Susan Gainey, born about 1883, living in Steer Pen, Chesterfield. To contact Julia Arrants with information for the story of Susannah, visit her on the web at www.JuliaArrants.com; by email at [email protected]; by phone: (912) 772-3072; or fax: (866) 878-3813. Information that can help clarify by either affirming or denying a connection of any people above, or knowledge of a murder long ago, or anything else of pertinence is urged to make contact. The book that began with a story of an untold murder has transformed into one about the connectivity community’s share that is common in the South. Within the books pages Arrants will share the stories she’s heard along the way along, as well as the many coincidences and connections Arrants found during the research and interview process.
contributed photos
Sandy Crest Kennel owner Laurie Brown calls out the names of dogs being transported to New York to be adopted through Petco stores. Some dogs ride solo inside travel cages while friendlier and smaller pooches ride together.
Long haul awaits dogs leaving kennel CHESTERFIELD — Thirty-six dogs left from Sandy Crest Kennel Friday afternoon embarking on an 18-hour trek to New York and Pennsylvania. It’s a long haul for two rescue transporters with The Wagging Dog, but their mission is to connect healthy canines to their new owners. “It’s like solving a puzzle,” said Sandy Crest owner Laurie Brown, who calls out the names of the dogs as volunteers load dogs into travel cages strategically stacked inside a van. When Brown took over the business ten years ago, the kennel housed animals while their owners were on vacation with some rescued pets. Nowadays, income primarily comes in through Last Chance, which is in need of housing for pets removed from shelters designated for new homes, and there is a lot of business. “Right now, I don’t have the room for anybody else,” Brown said. Friday, Sandy Crest housed 117 dogs in more than 40 kennel cages with as “many as 140 at one time,” Brown said. The furthest animals have come from Columbus, N.C., which is about 150 miles away. The Wagging Dog driver David Bourke, of Tennessee, used to make the 18-hour treks by himself. These days he has a co-pilot. “I used to take eight to ten dogs on a trip,
now its upwards of 30,” he said. Last year, Bourke transported around 850 dogs in his van, he said. “You wouldn’t think it, but they pretty much sleep by the time I get on 74, they wake up when I hit the pot holes in New York City,” Bourke said. During the trip, the dogs are fed and walked. “You can’t mistake the howl when a dog needs to go outside to use the bathroom,” he said. While under the care of Sandy Crest, dogs are spayed or neutered and given their shots; some of the malnourished animals are placed on diets to return them to a healthy weight. The process takes at least two weeks for adult dogs and longer for puppies depending on their age. “The northeast doesn’t have litters of unwanted puppies like we do,” Brown said. “They have laws that require pets to be spayed and neutered . Applicants for adoption are screened and undergo house visits. It’s almost like adopting a kid.” Before dogs are transported north, each dog is assigned paperwork noting their vaccinations. “From there, they are adopted at Petco events,” Brown said.”Some are adopted and the ones that aren’t, they have fosters who Last Chance volunteers load up a van of dogs to be adopted. take them in.”
COMMUNITY
Thursday, March 24, 2011 PAGE 1B
Still Searching for Susannah Susannah was found murdered at her home place, so many decades ago that no one remembers when. Except maybe her killer, who has never been found. Shannon A. Justice
ing a corn cob pipe. If she found the old photograph she would be looking at the image of the woman known as Susannah Gainey. Julia Arrants, author and South Carolina After the story ran, Arrants received a native, has been searching for years, but has phone call from Vergie Wallace, a woman yet to find what she’s started out looking for. It would be a disappointment to some, from the Teal’s Mill area who played in the but for Arrants who admits the information pine forest along Juniper Creek as a little girl. gained in her journey isn’t exactly what she Wallace shared that she and friends had come was seeking, the people she’s met and stories to know the woman when they met her by her told along the way, have made the trip worth cabin in the woods. “Aunt Susannah,” was what the children called her and even though traveling. Arrants began research for her book, they were initially intimidated, they later be“Searching for Susannah,” nearly eight years friended the old woman. According to Wallace, she and friends would ago. The concept of the book was to tell the un“Searching for often help Aunt Susannah by hauling wood and water told story of a Cheraw Susannah, for her. woman, murdered in the Arrants, however, was 1930s or 40s. Cheraw’s The author was workunable to learn much Forgotten Murder” more about the woman ing as the artist-in-residence at Cheraw State children befriended in is projected for the Park in 2003, when she the woods. Wallace passed first heard the story of publication, away in 2007, leaving many Susannah Gainey. While the author’s questions October 2011. More ofunanswered. spending her days researching local folktales information about One of the pieces of inforand nights in a rustic Arrants has gained the author and the mation cabin, her uncle, a park during research, was stored employee, shared with book can be found in the South Carolina State her a story that ignited Park archives. There, she the flames of curiosity at Arrants web found a faded picture of within. The story was old woman sitting in a site: www.Julia an about a woman named rocking chair, wearing a Susannah, a fortuneteller Arrants.com sewn dress, with her gray living on the banks of Juhair braided. Even though, niper Creek, who was althe woman in the photo did legedly murdered. According to her uncle Joe, not have a corn cob pipe, Arrants knew she is no one really knew if such a woman existed or holding the photograph her uncle had told her even if murder had occurred. to look for, it was a photo of Susannah. Shortly after completing her program at the Arrants new book, “Searching for SusanState Park with no more information than she started with, Arrants approached the newspa- nah,” is slating to be published later this fall, per for help reaching out to the community for but before it’s sent to the printers, the author answers. She hoped that someone would pro- is making one more request to the people in vide her information to prove the existence of Chesterfield County for information about Sua Susannah or knew of a murder in Cheraw sannah Gainey. Research of area census reports from 1900 that happened decades before. The story ran to 1930, show only a few women with a name in The Cheraw Chronicle, June 2003. “It was Uncle Joe who set her on the trail similar to Susannah Gainey. During this time of the murder in the park, but noone local many people were unable to read or write, couldn’t verify the story,” read the article. which could explain why names sometimes “No one had heard tell of a black fortuneteller vary from year to year. being murdered in her cabin where she lived Some of the individuals in census reports at the end of the park.” Arrants would like to look more closely at are Arrants told the newspaper, that according below, each listed with the area they living in to her uncle she needed to look for a picture during the census study. of a black woman who was barefoot and smokn From 1930 census: Susannah Gainey, Cherawchronicle.com
contributed photos
Sitting in a rocking chair, the rumored murder of “Susannah Gainey,” is the subject for a new book called Searching for Susannah.
Vergie Wallace met “Aunt Susannah” when she was playing in the woods near Juniper Creek as a young girl.
“Aunt Susannah” read tea leaves for her living in a wooden shack on the banks of Juniper Creek, near a place called “the end of the park. Inside was a wood burning stove, where she always had some kind of tea boiling, and above the stove, a shelf full of white cups and saucers. She said it was “for my work.”
Author Julia Arrants has been seeking infomration for her book since 2003. born about 1866, living in Cheraw; Susanna Gainey, born about 1883, living in Antioch, Darlington; Susanna Gainey born about 1848 living in Cheraw. n From 1920 census: Sue Gainey, born about 1895, living in Antioch, Darlington. n From 1910 census: Sannah A Gainey, (also listed as Savanah A Gainey or Susannah A Gorney) born about 1850, living in Alligator, Chesterfield; Susannah Gainey, born about 1866, living in MtCroghan or Chesterfield. n From 1900 census: Susan Gainey, born about 1883, living in Steer Pen, Chesterfield. To contact Julia Arrants with information for the story of Susannah, visit her on the web at www.JuliaArrants.com; by email at [email protected]; by phone: (912) 772-3072; or fax: (866) 878-3813. Information that can help clarify by either affirming or denying a connection of any people above, or knowledge of a murder long ago, or anything else of pertinence is urged to make contact. The book that began with a story of an untold murder has transformed into one about the connectivity community’s share that is common in the South. Within the books pages Arrants will share the stories she’s heard along the way along, as well as the many coincidences and connections Arrants found during the research and interview process.
contributed photos
Sandy Crest Kennel owner Laurie Brown calls out the names of dogs being transported to New York to be adopted through Petco stores. Some dogs ride solo inside travel cages while friendlier and smaller pooches ride together.
Long haul awaits dogs leaving kennel CHESTERFIELD — Thirty-six dogs left from Sandy Crest Kennel Friday afternoon embarking on an 18-hour trek to New York and Pennsylvania. It’s a long haul for two rescue transporters with The Wagging Dog, but their mission is to connect healthy canines to their new owners. “It’s like solving a puzzle,” said Sandy Crest owner Laurie Brown, who calls out the names of the dogs as volunteers load dogs into travel cages strategically stacked inside a van. When Brown took over the business ten years ago, the kennel housed animals while their owners were on vacation with some rescued pets. Nowadays, income primarily comes in through Last Chance, which is in need of housing for pets removed from shelters designated for new homes, and there is a lot of business. “Right now, I don’t have the room for anybody else,” Brown said. Friday, Sandy Crest housed 117 dogs in more than 40 kennel cages with as “many as 140 at one time,” Brown said. The furthest animals have come from Columbus, N.C., which is about 150 miles away. The Wagging Dog driver David Bourke, of Tennessee, used to make the 18-hour treks by himself. These days he has a co-pilot. “I used to take eight to ten dogs on a trip,
now its upwards of 30,” he said. Last year, Bourke transported around 850 dogs in his van, he said. “You wouldn’t think it, but they pretty much sleep by the time I get on 74, they wake up when I hit the pot holes in New York City,” Bourke said. During the trip, the dogs are fed and walked. “You can’t mistake the howl when a dog needs to go outside to use the bathroom,” he said. While under the care of Sandy Crest, dogs are spayed or neutered and given their shots; some of the malnourished animals are placed on diets to return them to a healthy weight. The process takes at least two weeks for adult dogs and longer for puppies depending on their age. “The northeast doesn’t have litters of unwanted puppies like we do,” Brown said. “They have laws that require pets to be spayed and neutered . Applicants for adoption are screened and undergo house visits. It’s almost like adopting a kid.” Before dogs are transported north, each dog is assigned paperwork noting their vaccinations. “From there, they are adopted at Petco events,” Brown said.”Some are adopted and the ones that aren’t, they have fosters who Last Chance volunteers load up a van of dogs to be adopted. take them in.”
