I posted an article last month about a man called Sam, who often walked through the old South Sprigg neighborhood. He was the subject of false rumors spread by the adults who lived there, simply because he was a black man. Here is a link to that article: http://southsprigg.com/2011/10/09/does-anyone-remember-a-man-named-sam/

Gary Wren, a former schoolmate and reader of this blog, saw that article and was thoughtful enough to fill in some of the blanks about the man called Sam. First, his name was Mr. Jesse Harris. His nickname was Slim, not Sam.

The best news Gary provided was that Mr. Jesse Harris loved God and that he was, in fact a very kind man who had had a very rough life. He lived to be 100 years old and is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery at Cape Girardeau, MO. He died in 1975 and, although he appeared to be extremely poor, he left his church $35,000 (a huge sum in 1975 when candy bars cost a nickel).

Thank you, Gary, for answering some of the questions that I never thought I would know the answers to. This information gives me hope that I may still one day meet Mr. Jesse Harris and give him the respect he should have received while he was living.

Not Mr. Jesse Harris, but resembles him.