MILLIANS: The Flannery connections

Published 1:25 pm Friday, December 13, 2024

As what would have been the 100^th birthday of Flannery O’Connor approaches in March of next year, there will be a renewed focus on the famed author. Georgia College & State University is planning a full schedule of events.

I continue to marvel at the memories people around town have of O’Connor, who passed away in 1964 at the age of 39 with complications from lupus, and Andalusia, the family farm.

Everything from where she worshipped (every morning for mass on the front row at Sacred Heart Catholic Church) to where she ate lunch (Sanford House Tearoom), what she frequently ordered (fried shrimp and peppermint chiffon pie), and where she is buried (historic Memory Hill Cemetery: Section A, Lot 39, Grave 7).

Many people — some living, some not — had connections with Flannery or Andalusia. Louise Sallstrom recently passed along a couple of items that I found very interesting. 

The first came from Harry Beck, a mutual friend of mine and Louise’s. He wrote what he titled “My Special Connection to Andalusia.” Take a look:

“I lived in Gordon until the age of 9 (1953). There, I often visited and occasionally lived with my parental grandparents. Sometimes during those years (probably between 1948 and 1951) my grandfather, Perry F. Beck, was employed as ‘overseer’ at Andalusia.

“Although I was quite young, I recall hearing my grandfather mention the family names Cline and O’Connor, and he would talk about the horses, Shetland ponies and peacocks that inhabited the farm. He loved animals, especially horses, and he considered his job a pleasure rather than work. 

“When my grandfather’s job at the farm ended, he was given a beautiful sorrel filly and two Shetland ponies, one brown and the other a brown and white pinto. He named his horse “Filly,” and I named the ponies, my ponies, “Brownie” and “Patsy”.

“During the time I was living with my grandparents and had the ponies, Western movies starring Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hop-Along Cassidy and others were popular. Most boys my age wanted to grow up to be cowboys. While others were riding broomstick horses and ‘playing’ cowboy, I had the real thing.

“I still treasure those early memories, which I owe, in part, to the O’Connor family. 

“Although I never knew Flannery O’Connor and do not recall ever visiting Andalusia as a child, I feel a connection to them through these childhood memories.”

Next, came information about the late Mary Barbara Tate’s connection to O’Connor. In her 2015 obituary, Tate was described as “a Milledgeville cultural force, a great friend and compassionate teacher.

“Her elegant literary taste touched thousands of lives through a vigorous teaching career, based for 23 years at Georgia College, and through work as a youth director, library consultant and teaching volunteer for First Presbyterian Church. She was well known for her work to secure the legacy of Milledgeville’s most renowned write, her friend Flannery O’Connor.”

According to her obit, Tate’s literary relationship with O’Connor blossomed in the late 1950s when she and her husband became members of a reading group that met at Andalusia.

Milledgeville friends of O’Connor’s, local academics and clergy gathered weekly for an informal study of theology, philosophy, and fiction. 

After O’Connor’s death, Tate was the founding editor of the Flannery O’Connor Bulletin, which she published from 1972 to 1987. She also was the founding member of the Flannery O’Connor-Andalusia Foundation, serving as a board member, treasurer and docent.

Mary Barbara was legendary at the First Presbyterian Church. So much so, that a number of members recorded their memories of her. 

And Tate was known for collecting quotes, sayings, poems — and even comic strips, like this from Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts.” 

Peppermint Patty: (in her desk and raising her hand to answer a question): “Yes, Ma’am? Charles Dickens.”

Marcie: “Sir, how did you know that?”

Peppermint Patty: “If you go to school long enough, sooner of later the answer is going to be Charles Dickens.”

Well, if you talk to enough people around Milledgeville, sooner or later the answer is going to be “Flannery O’Connor.” 

And, I say that in a very good way.

Flannery was fascinating. She’s put us on the map.

If you have memories of or connections to Flannery and Andalusia, I’d love to hear them.

Rick Millians, a 1970 Baldwin High graduate, is retired after working at newspapers in Georgia, Ohio and South Carolina. Reach him at rdmillians@aol.com.