Born into the hard-scrabble world of depression-era Alabama, author and humorist Faye Brown learned early to look on the lighter side of life.
“My mama always believed that a day without a laugh was a loss,” Brown said recently from her home in Moundville. “I had a very poor childhood but my parents helped get us through. They grew all our food so we always had plenty to eat and plenty to wear.”
And, it seems, plenty of good times and fond memories, in spite of the lack of material things.
One of nine children, Brown grew up on a tenant farm enjoying the wholesome pleasures of a simpler time such as the call of the whippoorwill in the spring or a Christmas tree lovingly decorated with sweet gum balls, paper chains and strings of popcorn.
Taking to heart the age-old advice to “write what you know,” the 69-year-old Brown (she’ll be 70 in February) has drawn on her experiences to write a series of down-home books with funny bone-tickling titles.
Among the titles are “Pot Likker, Pulley Bones and Pea Vine Hay” and “Chinch Bugs, Chinky Pins and Chinie-Berry Beads.”
She also writes a syndicated column that is printed in 20 newspapers across the Southeast, including her hometown newspaper, The Moundville Times.
“What I write is humorous satire,” she said. “If it’s not completely true, it is based on my childhood and it’s lots of laughs.”
Southern childhood
Even though Brown’s books reflect events in a Southern childhood, she has learned that the same things she found memorable in her own life are true of people across the country. Fans of her books and columns from as far away as New York have written to tell her of their common experiences and how much they enjoy her stories because they can identify with them.
Although she has written for most of her life, Brown’s first book wasn’t published until she was 53 years old. Before then, she was a busy wife, mother of three, schoolteacher and church worker.
She has been active in Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) since 1958 and since joining Moundville Baptist Church in 1977, she has served as Girls in Action (GA) director and leader. Brown also teaches grades 5 and 6 in Sunday School. “Working with the kids keeps me young,” she said.
Around 1988 people started asking Brown to share her stories aloud in group settings. Thus began a series of appearances at festivals, banquets, senior retreats and other events that continue to this day. She has also appeared on television and radio shows across the country.
“It’s become a wonderful ministry for me,” she said, “and I always give my testimony. I start off with funny stuff and then relate my stories to spiritual truths. And people are really receptive.
I’ve never had a problem except for one TV station that cut me off when I started with my testimony. The Lord has really blessed me.”
One of the most satisfying parts of her ministry, according to Brown, is the opportunity to encourage senior citizens with not only humor but with practical advice as well.
In that regard, she has developed seminars geared toward helping seniors take a lighter look at life.
With a seminar titled “Puttin’ Your Past onto Paper with the Pot Likker Lady,” Brown teaches seniors about writing down their memories.
“It’s good for them to put down on paper what the Lord has done for them and how He has blessed their lives,” she said. She noted that while writing down their stories can help lift seniors’ spirits as they relive pleasant memories, it can also be a gift to future generations.
Brown’s personal struggle with worry led her to create another seminar called “Box Up Your Troubles in a Wal-Mart Bag and Laugh, Laugh, Laugh.” Using five boxes in a Wal-Mart shopping bag along with applicable Scriptures to illustrate her points, Brown encourages participants to make their own spiritual “boxes” and modify their attitudes.
Writing God’s blessings
“I struggle with pessimism,” she said. “My dad was a pessimist and with the Lord’s help, I’ve tried so hard not to worry so much.”
Brown’s writing has been “somewhat interrupted” the past few years with the births of two grandchildren. She also now works part time at Focus on Senior Citizens Center in Tuscaloosa. But that doesn’t mean her writing days are over.
Even though she has no immediate plans to write another book, she does plan to continue her syndicated column and, of course, to present her seminars whenever and wherever possible.
“I’m like Willie Nelson,” she said with typical good humor, “always on the road again.”
Faye Brown’s books also include “Roas’nears, Rabbit Toback’r and Rosebud Salve;” “Granny’s Teacakes, Grab’led ‘Taters and a Gillion Twice-Told Tales;” and “Foot Logs, Franch Harps and Fox Grape Jam.”
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