“Papaw Pride” was written about the pride a boy has in his grandfather. My grandfather on my father's side was Russell Gilreath. He was from Chattooga County Georgia. He owned a small country store that he along with my grandmother, Mattie Lee Fletcher (AKA “Nanny”), ran during the day. As a boy I spent a lot of time at that store. Their home was right beside it, so I often would walk from their house to the store as a young boy. I have memories of an old gas heater at the back of the store and rocking chairs surrounding it where customers would sit and talk about the day and perhaps drink a Dr. Pepper with my Papaw. Of course, back then it was fashionable to pour a pack of peanuts into your soft drink, so I did that as a boy too.
One of my fond childhood memories surrounds the afternoons, when Papaw would leave the store to my grandmother and he would head to the mountain to his farm. He raised corn and soybeans, as I remember. He also kept about 100 head of cattle. He owned a lot of property on the mountain. In fact I have been told that at one time he had the largest single tract of land in Chattooga County. I loved to ride up to the mountain with him in his old Dodge truck where we would load it up with square bales of hay and head to the pasture. It was a treat for me back then at eight years old to be asked to drive his truck in the pasture while he stood in the back and threw out bales of hay. The pictures are not the best, but here is one with my and Papaw sitting on his Allis Chalmers tractor. I took a picture many years later sitting on that same tractor.
As any kid, I was very proud of my Papaw and though he has been gone now for some time, I can remember like yesterday his love and smile that he often showed to me. I was proud of him and he of me.
Today I have eight grandchildren, and I am a Papaw too! I enjoying doing some of the same things with my grandkids as I remember me doing with my Papaw. That is what “Papaw Pride” is all about. I hope you enjoy the song.