Ozener Yancey

September 28, 2016 by Alex Chapin
section: Interviews

Mrs. Ozener Yancey grew up in the Cherry neighborhood of Charlotte and walked to church in Brooklyn. She joined Friendship Baptist at age 15. She recounts the trepidation she felt when she first visited the church but also the welcoming nature of the congregation. She attended Second Ward High School. She talks of Mr. Hemphill, a church leader, as well as the sister of her good friend Sarah Francis, both of whom died. She talked of their funerals and the ways in which the church came together to mourn. She misses the closeness of the old church in Brooklyn where she knew everyone and the congregation looked out for others.

Part I

 

Part II

Tape Log

Tape Log: Oral History Interview with Ozener Yancey

Oral History Interview with Friendship Missionary Baptist Church

Ms. Ida James

Mr. James Yancey

Mrs. Ozena Yancey

Interviewed by Brian K. Alexander

Time Description of Interview Contents
Time Description of Interview Contents
15:12 Tape picks up on second half of interview – Sister Ida James speaking. Sister James is discussing the changes from the “old” Church to the “new” Church – the impact of the size of the Church on the lack of closeness in contacts.
17:21 Sister James: “Like I say, the only thing I miss is the closeness and I miss my people that I’m used to seeing, and when service is over, you stand and chat a few minutes…”
17:44 Question: What things about the new Church today are better than what you had in Brooklyn? A list of things in conjunction with the new Church facility follows, including the nursery and daycare and library.
18:40 Mr. Yancey remembers the pipe organ at the old Church in Brooklyn. Mrs. Yancey and Mrs. James join in the discussion and mention several names surrounding the old music ministry.
19:18 Mr. Yancey discusses changes in the Deacon Board.
20:47 Question: When you think back on Brooklyn, do you still think of it as a community even though it doesn’t exist as it did before? Or do you not think of it at all as a community?
21:04 Sister Yancey and Sister James chime in together: “Oh, yes” Sister James Mr. Yancey: “I kind of look at it like you do people, you’re here today and you’re gone, and you don’t come back, so Brooklyn’s kind of like people…”
22:30 Sister Yancey: “It’s almost like it never was, and only the people have it in their mind that were there.”
22:46 Mr. Yancey discusses the connection to integration and its benefits. He remembers his time as a court counselor and its connection to integration. He continues to talk about Brooklyn and other communities and interacting with Second Ward High School.
24:20 Question: What is your vision for the future of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church? Where do you see it going? All three individuals refer to the Church building plans focused on property across from the Church on Beatties Ford Road, which is approximately 104 acres adjacent to I-77.
26:23 Question: Do you think this is going to change the Church?
27:14 Question: What sorts of information have we missed? What things would you like to tell us that we may not have gotten to? If there is a question you think we should have asked or if there is a story you may have that we weren’t able to cover in the questions we asked?
27:52 Sister James: “…as far as the move from Brooklyn to here, it taught me a lot. It taught me how to be appreciative of the things I have now, and to appreciate the things I have and not worry about the things I can’t have. Because, I think about the times when I didn’t have what I have now, so I value all that. That helped me to raise my four children. I taught them to appreciate what they have and don’t worry about what somebody else have. If your next door neighbor have more than you have, don’t worry about that, just thank God for what we have given you, and to put a value on that…”
29:28 Mr. Yancey sees all of the churches standing together and talks of future growth.
31:50 Closing.

Transcript

Ozener Yancey