Notes for George Martin Poole

GAYLE AND MARTY GALBRAITH GENEALOGY

Notes for George Martin Poole

George Martin Poole was my favorite Uncle, but it didn't start out that way! My first and most vivid memory of George occurred when I was about 3 or 4 years old. I had found an old pocket knife somewhere, and was sitting on the sidewalk, trying to sharpen it. I didn't know much about knives, but I knew they had to be sharp. About that time George walked up and squatted beside me. He took my knife and said "Here, let me show you how to sharpen it." He then proceeded to grind the blade into the sidewalk edge-down until it was as dull on the edge as it was on the back. Then he gave it back to me. I don't think I said anything, but if looks could kill, he would have died young. It was several years before I forgave him. That was sixty years ago, and I still remember it like it was yesterday. But as I grew up, we became as close as father and son.

George used to tell me stories of life in Thompsonville, where we were born, and like all of the older people in my life, his stories never grew too old to listen to. He told me of visiting his Uncle Raul Hall one day at dinnertime. Nearly everyone in the Thompsonville area was pretty poor, and a good number were "barefoot and on relief". That day Uncle Raul invited George to dinner, since it had just been put on the table. George went in and sat down to a table with a huge platter in the center. On the platter was a roasted "Possum" , complete with head feet and tail. George said the possum was lying feet up with its little claws all curled up into fists. I asked George How he liked the possum. He gave me a sheepish grin and said, " I don't know. I never et any."

When I was in the Air Force, I used to visit him and Janet and Eldie whenever I could. When I retired from the Air Force, my family and I settled in Greenville, Texas, where his family lived at the time. During the next 15 years, we saw each other often and enjoyed a close relationship, until his death.

BG Galbraith

George corresponded for years with a childhood friend, Eileen Lampley. She was married to Kermit Summers.
Eileen's fathers name was Enos Lampley, and he was a best friend of GS Jones, my great-grandfather.
Aline Sullivan was another childhood friend that George corresponded with until his death.