Interview with Mary E. Rawlings, April 27, 1990

Interview Summary

Mary "Lady" Rawlings is the wife of Bishop Simon P. Rawlings of the House of God. In this interview, she discusses her family background and her childhood in Charlottesville, Virginia. She talks about her education, and says she had to quit high school to get a job to help support her family. She talks about her husband, Simon Rawlings' family background and his career within the House of God church. She talks about the tenets of their religion, including the importance of the Sabbath, following the Ten Commandments, and their dietary restrictions. She talks about the church's international ministry.

Rawlings tells several personal anecdotes about her experiences traveling across the United States with her husband. She talks about restaurants which would not even allow African Americans to walk inside, gas stations where they were not allowed to use the restrooms, and hotels where they were not given rooms.

Interview Keyword

African American families African Americans in Kentucky Charlottesville (Va.) Civil rights movements--United States Georgetown (Ky.) African Americans--Genealogy. Segregation in education African Americans--Education Marriage House of God Church House of God, Inc.

Interview LC Subject

African American churches--Kentucky African American leadership African Americans--Religion African Americans--Segregation African Americans--Social conditions Lexington (Ky.)--Race relations. Race discrimination Racism Rawlings, Mary E., 1919- Rawlings, Mary E., 1919- --Interviews

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.