Interview with Willie Green Cutts, December 3, 2013

Partial Transcript: Mr. Cutts, we're glad...

Segment Synopsis: Willie Green Cutts was born in De Soto, GA and was raised by his grandparents. He discusses walking five miles to school and his grandmother's job as a midwife when he was ten years old. He explains that his grandmother only had one child, but she raised many children.

Keywords: Lee County, GA

Partial Transcript: So, you talked about walking...

Segment Synopsis: Cutts explains that he attended school until third grade, and later worked plowing mills and occasionally sang for entertainment in Atlanta. He details a spiritual experience in a field that assured him even without an education that he would work things out.

Keywords: "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" (song); Atlanta, Ga

Partial Transcript: I got old enough...

Segment Synopsis: Cutts recalls being granted generous loans and eventually was able to farm five thousand acres. He mentions receiving a call form Senator Talmadge to come to Washington, where he was the only Black man working on a committee. After a few bad farming years, he discusses opening a restaurant, which he's ran for twenty years.

Keywords: Bank of Commerce; Cutts Restaurant; De Soto, GA; Herman E. Talmadge; Washington, DC

Partial Transcript: What about family...

Segment Synopsis: Cutts discusses his family life and meeting his wife. He explains leaving school to help his grandfather on the farm, and his experience with singing. He shares that, though money was tight, he's been blessed.

Keywords: Cutts Restaurant; De Soto, GA; Martha Fish Cutts

Partial Transcript: Now, it was hard work...

Segment Synopsis: Cutts details the work he did on the farm working long hours and shares a few particular experiences on the farm. He also recalls his one experience getting drunk on whiskey and the lessons he learned throughout his life.

Keywords: De Soto, GA

Partial Transcript: State Trooper...

Segment Synopsis: Cutts recalls a memory of getting pulled over for speeding and how lessons from his childhood have helped him in adulthood. He recalls his grandmother's parenting style and agrees that he has tried to instill the same lessons she taught him in his children and grandchildren.

Keywords: De Soto, GA