Ashley Garnett
LEWIS: So, just say your name for me.
GARNETT: My name is Ashley Garnett.
LEWIS: So, Ashley, what years did you go to school at Yancey in Esmont?
GARNETT: From ’98 to 2001 or ’03.
(mic noises)
LEWIS: [00:26] Who was the principal when you were at school?
GARNETT: Mr. Tate.
LEWIS: Mr. Tate.
GARNETT: Yeah.
LEWIS: [00:30] So, tell me about your experiences. Like what was memorable about Mr. Tate and Yancey?
GARNETT: Mr. Tate, on Fridays we used to have agendas with numbers in them, so he always gave us ice cream when he called your number up. You’d have a “free ice cream” pass every Friday. We used to have roller-skating in the gym every other Friday. It was fun.
LEWIS: That makes a difference, when it’s fun.
GARNETT: Yeah.
LEWIS: [00:55] What about your teachers? Have any memorable teachers?
GARNETT: I have four of them. Miss Watkins, who was my Head Start teacher, who taught me a lot. Then I had Ms. Jenkins, who was my first-grade teacher and second-grade teacher—and I still keep in contact with her. I had Mr. Dade in fourth grade—and he was like my first crush. And then Miss Koenig in fifth grade—and she was kind of strict, but I liked her.
LEWIS: [01:23] So you mentioned a couple of fun activities that Mr. Tate would do. Are there other events that stand out for you?
GARNETT: Fifth grade, we did a pen-pal with other schools, either in Albemarle County or Charlottesville. And then in the summer, we’d all come together with our pen-pals and meet in person.
LEWIS: [01:40] Oh, nice. That’s pretty cool. I see you were able to build some friendships through that.
GARNETT: Yeah. And then in fifth grade, we got the park for the first time, when they built it. So that’s where we had field day at.
LEWIS: Oh, cool, cool.
GARNETT: Yeah.
LEWIS: [01:57] Let’s see—well, you weren’t here during segregation and integration.
GARNETT: Uhn-hm. (laughter)
LEWIS: [02:02] So what else do you want to share about growing up in Esmont? So, sort of outside the school, but going on here.
GARNETT: So it was I think a small community, but everyone knew everybody. So I made a lot of friends I’m still friends with now. We used to walk to the park all the time with a little group of people—so our friends. And we thought we were grown. We used to go at like eleven o’clock and come back at five.
LEWIS: [02:27] That’s interesting. And being a rural area, sort of narrow country roads and stuff, do you feel like the kids still do that, or are still able to do that?
GARNETT: No, no. Like the kids don’t want to come outside anymore. I think it’s because of technology though. There’s like TV, Internet, “I want to be on my tablet.” Like, there’s no one at the park anymore.
LEWIS: [02:50] Do you feel like the environment, the neighborhood is the same, as to where they should be outside? Or do you think other things in Esmont have changed?
GARNETT: I think they should be outside. But then it’s like people moving in and moving out: no one knows each other, or anyone anymore.
LEWIS: [03:04] That makes a difference. That makes a difference. So you mentioned some of your friends, and maybe some elder folks in the community. Do you recommend anyone in particular that stands out, that you feel like has a story that you feel like they should tell about being from Esmont or something they experienced in school?
GARNETT: I’m thinking—because I know most of them moved away.
LEWIS: I got you. We could call them. (laughs) So yeah.
GARNETT: I don’t know. The person I would say passed away: Miss Watkins.
LEWIS: Ah, Miss Watkins, yeah.
GARNETT: Yeah.
LEWIS: Well, if anybody comes to mind, you can let us know—you or Peggy or somebody.
GARNETT: I will, I will.
LEWIS: [03:52] All right, let’s see: Any other thoughts or other resources that you feel that we as a group should look into when it comes to Esmont and B.F. Yancey School?
GARNETT: I think you should talk to Ben Page, Sr.
LEWIS: Benny Page, Senior? Okay.
GARNETT: Since he’s been here’s since like segregation and everything.
LEWIS: [04:15] Yeah, I know he knows—hopefully he will be here. I would think. But yeah, if he’s able to. And what about the churches? You still go to the same church you grew up in?
GARNETT: Yeah, New Green Mountain.
LEWIS: [04:28] Is there anything you remember about that growing up compared to now?
GARNETT: We had more youths there. We used to have lock-ins and field trips—and now we just have maybe five, six kids. And it’s getting smaller each year.
LEWIS: [04:45] Hm. That’s interesting. That’s interesting. Do you think that’s related to people moving out and things like that?
GARNETT: Yeah.
LEWIS: [04:54] All right, cool. Is there anything else? Anything you were thinking?
GARNETT: No, I don’t think so. No.
LEWIS: Cool, well thank you, Ashley.
GARNETT: Thank you.
(mic noises)
END OF TAPE [05:03]