True Friendships Last Forever
Grandmother buys her friend's house.
Fifty-eight years ago today, September 7, 1966, my grandmother, Mattie Williams Bell, received a letter from her friend and neighbor, Izeatta Williams. This was the 3rd letter she’d received during the summer of 1966 in which Izeatta asked for assistance in managing her affairs in Augusta, GA, where they lived.
Izeatta could not make the mortgage and insurance payments on her home. She first asked grandmother to speak to the mortgage broker and insurance company.
Those task accomplished, Izeatta thought she’d earn the payments over the summer putting her in good standing with each company. She did not want to lose her property, and expressed gratitude that her friend and neighbor made two payments for her.
Izeatta Williams and Mattie Williams were childhood friends. They each lived in colonial style, 2-story, 8 and 12 room homes respectively, uncommon for African Americans in the early 1900s in any city but especially a southern city. Their fathers were carpenters and brick masons. The young girls had much in common, including last names, but they were not related.
Both travelled north during the summers between 1920-1930 to work as live-in-maids. Mattie worked in Massachusetts and New York City. Izeatta worked in Brooklyn and Long Island, New York. Each sent money home to help with expenses.
Mattie stopped traveling after she got married in September 1927. She found work in the local Colored Wing of University Hospital, Augusta, GA, during the 1930s. There were periods between 1927 and 1930 that Mattie travelled to Sea Island, SC, to do live-in-housework because jobs were still scarce in Augusta. Effects of the Great Depression were still heavily impacting the south and many other parts of America.
Izeatta continued to travel between New York and Augusta. Her hopes of earning enough money to retain her home were not realized.
Grandmother paid the notes as promised and later agreed to take over payments in effect buying the home from Izetta around 1970. Paying fire insurance and the bank were first steps to helping her thought buying the home was not Mattie’s original intent.
Izeatta turned to Mattie not just because they were childhood friends and neighbors, Izeatta knew Mattie and her sisters owned 3 additional houses and were more versed in managing real estate that she. Mattie paid the fire insurance; and she and her sisters bought and kept 1281 until the late 1980s.
Izeatta moved back to New York and, as far as I know, remained there until her death. Further research needs to be completed to confirm this. What I do know is that she had a friend in my grandmother, one who saved her home so that she would always have a place to come back to. 1281 was rented out until the property was sold to a local church. The two women and my mother remained friends until death separated them.
What a wonderful story of friendship. Thanks for bringing these two women back to life.
The empowerment in us using our own stories🎉