children, fearful that he would turn on her.
In 1939, when Velma was seven years old, she began attending the local elementary school with her older brother Olive. Her teachers found her smart, and she received excellent grades. Velma at first loved school as it was an escape from her crowded, volatile home life , but that soon wore off as she was picked upon by her class mates for always being dressed in hand-me-downs. They also made fun of the contents of her lunch-box, which consisted of cornbread and a slice of ham. This affected Velma so much that she would hide from the other children while she ate her lunch.
Velma hated the poverty she and her family lived in and began stealing change from her father’s pockets to enable her to buy candies from the store opposite the school like the other kids. Then, from an elderly neighbor, she stole $80. This enraged her father so much, he took the strap to her and beat her black and blue. She was never known to steal as a child again.
With nine children to support, life in the Bullard family was tough. With so many children, Velma’s mother was often ill and as Velma grew older her mother demanded more and more help of Velma with the house and with the smaller children.
Although Murphy Bullard was tyrannical, he also loved his children and in particular Velma, much to Olive ’s, her brother, jealousy. Although money was short, Murphy Bullard would take them out on excursions and teach them to swim and fish in the nearby rivers. He also taught them all to play baseball and would organize games for his children and their friends.
Twice each summer , Velma would be sent to a Presbyterian Bible School.
When Velma was thirteen , the family moved to Robeson County, and Velma enrolled at Parkton Public School. Although no longer achieving the high grades she had enjoyed when younger, Velma did excel at basketball and was chosen to play on the school team. When her mother gave birth to twins, she made Velma quit the team as she needed Velma’s help at home. Velma deeply resented this but did as she was told.
When she was fifteen, Velma began seeing a boy from school, Thomas Burke, who was a year older than she. He was a tall, thin, dark haired boy, and they got along together well. Murphy Bullard forbade them to see each other out of school until she was sixteen, so the young couple had to limit their time together to the playground.
When they did begin to date, it was under strict guidelines set down by her father.
First Marriage
Thomas proposed to hazel-eyed Velma when she was seventeen, and she accepted. Her father was furious but despite her father’s rage , she stood up to him and married Thomas in 1949. They both left high school, and Thomas took work anywhere he could: in a cotton mill, as a farm laborer, and as a delivery truck driver.
Velma gave birth to her first-born son, Ronald Thomas , on December 15 th , 1951. She delighted in being a mother and was probably for the first time in her life genuinely happy. On September 3 rd , 1953, Velma had her second child, a daughter they named Kim. Thomas and Velma, although poor with only the basics in life, were content. When the children began school, Velma returned to work at a textile plant to bolster the family income. Velma had the night shift. Apart from working, she was also extremely active in the children’s school life. She took an active part in all school activities, was always one of the first to volunteer for chaperoning on school trips, and was an active member of the PTA. She was one of the most popular moms at the school with the children and teachers seeing her as being fun and a terrific sport. Velma was also committed to teaching Ronald and Kim Christian values and regularly escorted them to a Baptist church.
In 1963, Velma’s life changed. She started to have medical problems and underwent a hysterectomy. The operation was successful physically. For many women having a hysterectomy is emotionally
In 1939, when Velma was seven years old, she began attending the local elementary school with her older brother Olive. Her teachers found her smart, and she received excellent grades. Velma at first loved school as it was an escape from her crowded, volatile home life , but that soon wore off as she was picked upon by her class mates for always being dressed in hand-me-downs. They also made fun of the contents of her lunch-box, which consisted of cornbread and a slice of ham. This affected Velma so much that she would hide from the other children while she ate her lunch.
Velma hated the poverty she and her family lived in and began stealing change from her father’s pockets to enable her to buy candies from the store opposite the school like the other kids. Then, from an elderly neighbor, she stole $80. This enraged her father so much, he took the strap to her and beat her black and blue. She was never known to steal as a child again.
With nine children to support, life in the Bullard family was tough. With so many children, Velma’s mother was often ill and as Velma grew older her mother demanded more and more help of Velma with the house and with the smaller children.
Although Murphy Bullard was tyrannical, he also loved his children and in particular Velma, much to Olive ’s, her brother, jealousy. Although money was short, Murphy Bullard would take them out on excursions and teach them to swim and fish in the nearby rivers. He also taught them all to play baseball and would organize games for his children and their friends.
Twice each summer , Velma would be sent to a Presbyterian Bible School.
When Velma was thirteen , the family moved to Robeson County, and Velma enrolled at Parkton Public School. Although no longer achieving the high grades she had enjoyed when younger, Velma did excel at basketball and was chosen to play on the school team. When her mother gave birth to twins, she made Velma quit the team as she needed Velma’s help at home. Velma deeply resented this but did as she was told.
When she was fifteen, Velma began seeing a boy from school, Thomas Burke, who was a year older than she. He was a tall, thin, dark haired boy, and they got along together well. Murphy Bullard forbade them to see each other out of school until she was sixteen, so the young couple had to limit their time together to the playground.
When they did begin to date, it was under strict guidelines set down by her father.
First Marriage
Thomas proposed to hazel-eyed Velma when she was seventeen, and she accepted. Her father was furious but despite her father’s rage , she stood up to him and married Thomas in 1949. They both left high school, and Thomas took work anywhere he could: in a cotton mill, as a farm laborer, and as a delivery truck driver.
Velma gave birth to her first-born son, Ronald Thomas , on December 15 th , 1951. She delighted in being a mother and was probably for the first time in her life genuinely happy. On September 3 rd , 1953, Velma had her second child, a daughter they named Kim. Thomas and Velma, although poor with only the basics in life, were content. When the children began school, Velma returned to work at a textile plant to bolster the family income. Velma had the night shift. Apart from working, she was also extremely active in the children’s school life. She took an active part in all school activities, was always one of the first to volunteer for chaperoning on school trips, and was an active member of the PTA. She was one of the most popular moms at the school with the children and teachers seeing her as being fun and a terrific sport. Velma was also committed to teaching Ronald and Kim Christian values and regularly escorted them to a Baptist church.
In 1963, Velma’s life changed. She started to have medical problems and underwent a hysterectomy. The operation was successful physically. For many women having a hysterectomy is emotionally
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