JOSEPHINE 100

Josephine Ruth Moore

Mother:               
Margaret Helen Moore (maiden name Anderson).  Born and raised in Buttonwood, Delaware.
Father:                 
Louis Thomas Moore.  Born and raised in Petersburg, VA.   
Husband:            
Edward James Talley.  Born in Penllyn, PA.   After he got out of the Army as an officer, he worked at Rorer Pharmaceutical as a supervisor.  Eddie was well respected.  During that time he became a member of Bethlehem Baptist and later, a deacon.
Siblings:               
George, Arthur, Richard, Louis.
Children:             
Her first child was stillborn shortly after marriage.  Her second child Robert Bruce Talley was born in 1950 and went to Wissahickon High School as well as Cheney University. Bobby did well at college and enjoyed a brief career with IBM.  He later relocated to California where he was married to Rochelle and had their only child Allen.  Allen has 2 children who were born after Bob passed in 2009.
Childhood:          
Josephine was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, December 14, 1920.  Attleboro a small town just north of Pawtucket Rhode Island, had very few blacks.  In fact, her family grew up being the only blacks in school and church.  They enjoyed going to the pond to fish and skate.  She loved climbing trees.  She remembers her Dad, Louis, loved the children and would never spank them.  Their mother Helen was different; they had to get their own switches to receive their punishment with. Louis was tall and stately while mom was short and feisty.  He drove a truck for the city.  He was 6’4”.  He was more passive than Mom.  He never spanked the children.  (She thinks Dad was afraid of Mom!)

Mother did “day’s work” and took in laundry when raising children after father died.  Josephine was 14 years old at the time.  Mom would often come home so tired she would go to bed with her hat on.  Because the weather was so cold, sometimes her skirt would be frozen.  Others offered to help, but Mom refused because she thought since she was poor, they might take her children.  She was devoted to her children and her husband’s words were: ‘take care of the children.’  Mrs. Talley smiles when she talks about her mother’s devotion to her children.  She says she could tell her anything and Mama would listen.

Mother decided to move to Philadelphia because she wanted to be closer to relatives in the event something happened to her.   Originally Josephine was sent to Philadelphia to live with uncle and aunt, then Mom came with George.  The rest stayed in Attleboro to sell home and came later.   It was not pleasant in Philadelphia because Uncle Joe, Helen’s brother was a bit difficult to get along with.  They were not able to ask for more food, so they were often hungry.  Mom rented a home in Germantown. It was modest, and they were happy to have their own.

Adulthood:         
Josephine went to Simon Gratz for high school and Berean for dress designing.   She also did housework and factory work to help make ends meet.  Unfortunately, Josephine did not finish high school because Mom became ill and she had to care for her. She still regrets leaving school to this day. Her brothers helped with the finances as well.

Jo met Eddie at church.   Her brothers were reluctant about him at first and would warn her, “you are going to have a baby.” Her brother Richard was the worst one.   (At one-point Josephine told her sister-in-law Mary not to ever have a girl because of Richard’s ways with her.)  When she turned 21, she married Eddie on June 26, 1942.  When married, they moved to Penllyn with Eddie’s family.   She said his mother didn’t like her because she was not a “light complexion girl’’.  They stayed with his parents for about four months. Frustrated with her relationship with her mother-in-law. She told Eddie she cannot stay there any longer and they moved back with her Mom.

Their first child who was stillborn; named just ‘Baby Talley’.  At first they didn’t let her see him but she was able to hold the child.  She was afraid to have another child; but Mom urged her.  Robert was born in 1950 and he was a happy healthy beautiful child.  (Eddie’s Mom told someone before she saw him that she hoped he wasn’t dark; but Robert was light-skin.)

Later, Josephine worked as a dental hygienist.  She enjoyed that job and serviced some people who still live in the area. While they enjoyed their dual income, her husband became ill and had to leave work.   He was an excellent worker (supervisor).  His boss was so fond of him that he visited him every week and even took him to the Flower Show.  Illness lasted 3 years but was taken care of at home with Josephine providing care that was recognized by the nurses.  They said, “we never saw someone so well cared for.”  During the early part of his illness she still cared for Mom but she had to put her in Germantown nursing facility for about 3 years.  She feels people talked about how wrong this was; but she said she couldn’t’ take care of both of them.  It wasn’t an easy decision.  She visited so much she was commended.  Her mother Helen died at age 99.

Hobbies:             
When Eddie was alive, they travelled (Alaska, California, Las Vegas for road trips as well as abroad).  Likes sewing, knitting, reading books and the Bible.

Accomplishments:     
Church member.  Taught Sunday School at Provident Methodist in Massachusetts.  Also Sunday School teacher, Usher and Missionary at Providence Baptist church, Germantown PA, and Bethlehem Baptist church, Penllyn, PA. Now she is engaging in a personal home Bible study of her own which she loves and

Later Years:        
Her nephew, Ronald Moore (Richard’s son) moved into her home to assist her.  Her comments:  They get along well.  He is very thoughtful.  She thanks the Lord for sending him to her.

Personality:   
Cheerful and enjoys laughing and making others laugh.  She enjoys being around happy people who love God and the Bible like she does.  When asked how she is, she often replies “ain’t no used to complaining”, or “it could be worse” .  She has a strong sense of right and wrong and isn’t afraid to express it.  Her conviction that the Bible is true and that God has acted in her life has sustained her through the loss of those she loves.  Her hope is to be reunited with them when they are resurrected.

Remaining Family:                 
She has one grandson, Allen who lives in Japan, two nephews, Richard Jr. and Ronald, (Richard’s sons) and three nieces Jacqueline, Jocelyn (twins) and Pamela (George’s daughters). Of course a host of great nieces and nephews which she can’t name at the moment… but give her time.

-Lovingly compiled by Marie Obey