Collene Riggsbee Rogers - Helping father (clip)

Collene Riggsbee Rogers: If they didn’t go then it was me, you know, and I just didn't want to do it so I said let me find me something to do, I have to get into some stuff. I got into 4-H, I got into Girl Scouts, I got into everything that was going to take me away. And at school, I got into the band, and I did statistician for the men’s basketball. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t there. I was always home because I liked to sew. So I’d be there sewing, but then he’ll come in and if he needed something because ain’t nobody around, he’d be like come on Collene. And I told him I don’t know how to do it, [and he said] but that’s alright, come on, you could hold the light or you could do something in the dark. And I just tried to keep myself busy.

Kathryn Wall: So, if you weren’t around he couldn’t call on you?

Collene Riggsbee Rogers: Yeah, he wouldn’t call on me. You see, everybody else they knew. But the only reason is I liked to sew and I would be at home. But the others, they found other stuff to do so I just had to do it too.

KW: What would he ask you to do?

CR: Well, you know, I wouldn’t go up under the house because I would always think snakes might be up on under there. But, you got to get down there and hold the light so he can see what he’s doing with the pipes. And he would get up at 2 o’clock if they called and go. And somebody has to go with him. And I would always say if they want the stuff done, why don’t they have them do it. Why do we have to go and do it. We’re in school, I remember we’re in school and having to go out there and do their water. I used to feel if they wanted it so bad, they could go out there and do it. But we had to do it.