Community Life:
Gerson Stroud: We came up together all the way through, commencing in grade seven or grade eight. We knew each other and we knew where they lived, we knew the different children in the families. We got to know the parents. It was just like family
Gerson: When that picture ("Mr. Spears' retirement dinner") was taken, I had been back to school. I went to the University of Illinois. I got my Master’s degree and I came back to Charlotte and I taught one year at Johnson C. Smith University, and then went back to New York University and studied Retailing and Distribution and School Administration. I came back and became coordinator of Distributive Education at West Charlotte High School.
My War Experiences:
Gerson: After I left here, I went back to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. I was with the 92nd Infantry Division, Cannon Company, 365th Infantry. We went to Virginia to catch a boat to go to Italy. All of the 92nd went to Italy.
Our Wedding
Daisy: This picture is a picture of our wedding. It was during the height of World War II. Gerson had graduated from college and had training to go overseas. We decided that we would get married when he would have his first furlough. So this wedding was gotten together in one week.
A.E. Spears and John
Gerson: Mr. Spears was the District Manager of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, and his office was in the MIC building on Brevard Street. I would go to that office every Thursday when I got my newspapers. You saw the picture of my carrying and selling the Afro-American newspaper. From time to time Mr. Spears and I just had little chats, not realizing what the future may bring.
Growing up in Charlotte
Gerson: I was born in Charlotte and I lived in the community called Third Ward. This is a section where the new Ericsson Stadium is located.
Arthur Eugene ("A.E.") Spears (1885-1981) was an insurance agent in Charlotte. His daughter, Daisy Spears Stroud spoke about him:
My father, A. E. Spears.
Well, my father was a salesman par excellence I guess you’d call it. He could really sell. His place of employment was North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company that was located in Durham, North Carolina.
Daisy and Gerson Stroud