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Carol's Chapter

Iris, a Big Sister and Second Mom

told by Carol Mae Guild Sutton

Carol remembers Iris, the oldest child and six years older than Bernie, as a second mother. Iris played with her siblings, bathed and dressed them, babysat, cooked, and cleaned while their mother experienced many pregnancies over fifteen years. Iris married when Carol was ten.

In the family's own words

Iris was a second mom to us as she was the oldest child and six years older than Bernie. She played with us, gave us many baths, got us dressed and baby-sat us. Mom was pregnant many times over a fifteen-year period, so Iris had to pitch in and do everything: cooking, cleaning, and caring for us. She got married when I was ten years old.

Referenced in

Carol's Chapter, told by Carol Mae Guild Sutton

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