StoryCorps

Dolores Harvey is the definition of a doer. She became the first African American to work in the engineering department at Bell South and eventually became an engineer. At StoryCorps, she sat down with facilitator, Naomi, to discuss her attitude of perseverance and the advice she would give to those listening to her story...

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

In this StoryCorps segment, April speaks with her wife Molly about meeting each other at the right place at the right time. While discussing their insights on love, they also share some advice for young couples...  

Edited by Kierra Wright

Taylor and Jayson are best friends. While doing Yoga in the park, they spotted the StoryCorps mobile bus and their curiosity led them to eventually interviewing each other. While at StoryCorps, they both venture into a deep conversation about life and death. From reincarnation to the afterlife, these two try to answer the questions of life, as well as pose their own questions of what being alive and dying truly mean... 

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

Sonya Bennett and Nancye Jennings began their friendship after meeting at a book store. Their chance meeting allowed for a conversation to spark about the Baha’i faith Sonya had been a part of for many years. Upon learning that Sonya was a follower of the faith, Nancye mentioned that her great-grandfather was a Baha’i. In this StoryCorps segment, they both share stories about this chance meeting and Nancye’s journey to the Baha’i faith and what it truly signifies...

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

Casi and Jarrett Callaway are husband and wife and, like every marriage, they have to deal with the ups and downs of their relationship. Casi is the Executive Director of the Mobile Baykeeper, resulting in a demanding work life. One of those demands was – and still is – the 2010 BP oil spill. The Callaways sat down at StoryCorps to discuss how both Casi’s hectic career and the oil disaster have impacted their family...

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

Celia Mann Baehr (Bear) is the President and CEO of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra and Buddy Rice sits on the board of directors. They came to StoryCorps to discuss the 20th anniversary of the MSO, which took place in 2018. Baehr and Rice create the sense that the symphony is one of the best in the country – creating music education programs for students in the city and captivating diverse audiences – and Mobilians should be excited about experiencing their community’s orchestra firsthand...

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

Garrick and his wife Allison currently live in Mobile but spent most of their early lives in Austin, Texas. Garrick is a native and Allison attended The University of Texas. While visiting StoryCorps, they both share unique anecdotes about the two cities, and Garrick explains that the embracive attitudes of Mobilians is the reason he's so in love with the city...

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

William “Bill” Pickett is a military man, through and through, who spent over 20 years in the armed forces, but hardship struck him as he became legally blind during active duty. He came to StoryCorps to talk to his daughter, Chelsea Middleton, about events that led him to becoming visually impaired and how his faith gave him peace, even through adversity...

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

In this edition of StoryCorps, Tiffany Collins-Webb speaks with her daughters about the happiest moments she shared with her grandparents and how those memories have molded her into the mother she is now…

Edited by Kierra Wright

In this StoryCorps interview, Shunteria and Mary speak about their experiences with homelessness and raising their children in difficult environments. They reflect on finding support and structure through the Dumas Wesley Community Center’s transitional housing and putting their faith in God to help them when times get tough…                

Edited by Kierra Wright

Dennis and his wife Cathy have been married since 1973. During the early years of their marriage, they were faced with the difficulty of dealing with hurricanes and floods, including Hurricane Frederic that damaged their home in Mobile. In this StoryCorps piece, the couple discussed experiencing these floods and how, in hindsight, they realized that these heart-rending events only made them stronger...

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

Looking back on his family history, Herndon Inge realizes the advantages he and his relatives have benefited from were paid for by human bondage. He spoke with StoryCorps facilitators about this realization of white privilege that his family refuses to acknowledge and how it has affected the way he practices law...

Edited by Kierra Wright

Joycelyn Finley and her brother, Karlos Finley, both grew up in Mobile, Ala. surrounded by their father’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. In this StoryCorps piece, they talk about their father’s influence on the community and how his activism in Mobile led to his eventual incarceration...

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

The season of floats and parades is underway, as Mardi Gras in Mobile began on February 15 and runs through March 5. The Port City claims host to the oldest original Mardi Gras celebration in the United States and features a variety of distinct traditions and festivities every year. Suzanne Cleveland and her son Stefan are no strangers to the celebration and came to StoryCorps to reminisce about their earliest experiences of Mardi Gras and the uniqueness of the parades...

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

William “Bill” Pickett knew he was going to enlist in the Army as a teenager, but what he didn’t know was while there, he would find the love of his life. Bill sat down at StoryCorps with his daughter, Chelsea Middleton, and discussed being a military man and knowing he had found the one after only two weeks... 

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

Estela Dorn and Chuck Dorn Jr. are from different parts of the world, one being from the Philippines and the other from Alabama, but fate brought their lives together in Iran. In this edition of StoryCorps, they reflect on the then 39th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution and the events that took place, while also sharing their story of meeting each other. Chuck also shares insight on deciding to leave Iran at the apex of the revolution and Estela mentions how their love continued even after leaving Iran...

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

Dennis Thurston had a unique upbringing, from being adopted shortly after his birth to living in East Los Angeles during his youth, and he was able to mold himself around the inspirational relationship he had with his adopted parents. At StoryCorps, Dennis spoke with his daughter, Savanah, about his parents’ unusual romance story, as well as a peculiar event involving his mother that Savannah never knew...

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

In this StoryCorps interview, Renee Vaughn and her husband Nick speak about expanding their family through adoption after becoming “empty nesters.” Furthermore, Nick explains how some people in their lives are connected by a red thread - meaning they were destined to meet – and he’s realized, above all the obstacles they’ve overcome, family is the most important...

Edited by Kierra Wright           

Ninety two-year-old Tensie Johnson and her daughters Vicki and Michele dropped by StoryCorps to reminisce about old times. Overwhelmed with laughter, they discuss the lively experiences they’ve shared living in Bayou La Batre, which has resulted in a blessed journey for the three women...             

Edited by Kierra Wright

Mardi Gras originated in Mobile, Ala. in 1703 and has grown tremendously in the city from a simple carnival celebration. In this StoryCorps segment, Myra Sands talks to her daughter, Julie Watson, about growing up in Mobile surrounded by Mardi Gras festivities. From exclusive societies to the evolution of floats, Sands captures the essence of Mobile as a destination worth experiencing for Mardi Gras 2019...

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

Dr. Leon Chestang grew up in a tight-knit neighborhood in Mobile, Ala. during the 1940s. He paints a vivid image of his early childhood for StoryCorps. He remembers the activities the children would engage in and how interesting the people were that lived on his street. He also tells of a time his brother attempted to run away from home, and how he came to realize he could use his experience to write a manuscript to help young African American men... 

Edited by Corey Carpenter      

As a child, Dr. William Pollard’s parents taught him to always be appreciative of those who help him throughout his life’s journey. As a result, he credits his many academic achievements to those who have assisted him along his professional path.

When Dr. Pollard sat down at StoryCorps, he went into detail about some of those people – from a minister in Raleigh, North Carolina to those closest to him, like his wife – highlighting their roles in his path to success in the world of higher education...

Edited by Corey Carpenter

In this StoryCorps segment, friends Bobbi Kidd and Betty Jo Fain talk about how they met around 10 years ago while living in transitional housing at Sybil Smith in Mobile, Ala. Bobbi mentions how she remembers the vision board Betty created while living in Sybil Smith and how it accurately portrays the life that Betty is living now..

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

Colleagues and friends J.C. Barker and Dorothy Morrison have both worked with the Mobile Symphony Orchestra for years. 

The pair stopped by StoryCorps to talk about the importance of music education in Mobile. Dorothy tells us how she became involved with the orchestra and they both discuss the aspects they believe are most powerful about having such a positive organization in their community...  

Edited by Corey Carpenter

Kitty and her husband Dean had a daughter with Cerebral Palsy and together, they started the U.S. Handicapable Square Dance Association in Mobile, Ala. In this StoryCorps piece, Kitty sat down with StoryCorps facilitators to talk about her late husband’s commitment and passion for developing an event for handicapables – those who are mentally disabled – to come and dance...

Edited by Jalen Hutchinson

At StoryCorps, former U.S. Attorney for Southern Alabama Kenyen Brown spoke with professor and community partner Demetrius Semien about how the two came to meet at the re-entry council Kenyen founded in Mobile.

Demetrius talks about battling alcoholism, getting arrested and coming out on the other side. He also shares how the work he's done in conjunction with Kenyen has helped him come full circle in his journey... 

Edited by Corey Carpenter

Harold English and his daughter Jennifer have a lot in common - from spirituality to personality traits, and a love for the ocean.

They sat down at StoryCorps to discuss these similarities. Harold tells Jennifer about surfing and how it helped form his new outlook on spirituality, and he reminisces about special moments when Jennifer was a baby...

Edited by Corey Carpenter

Sisters Lillian, Joy and Mary have always loved their hometown of Gulf Shores, Ala. 

They reflect on their childhood on the Gulf at StoryCorps – growing up as the daughters of a fisherman and fond memories of their grandparents. The eldest sister, Lillian, shares how she married a shrimper and helped start the popular Gulf Shores Shrimp Festival, an event that has become a big tradition and has helped increase tourism in the town over the years...

Edited by Corey Carpenter

In this StoryCorps interview, 11-year-old Mia’s unruffled personality comes out while quizzing her mother Cara about the details of her happiest moments and the future hopes she has for Mia. The joy displayed in Cara’s answers perfectly displays a mother’s love for her daughter...

Edited by Kierra Wright

In this StoryCorps interview, Aaron talks with his daughter Jennifer about his experience going to prison, and how it affected Jennifer’s lifestyle. Although he faced some struggles following his release, Aaron didn’t allow those struggles to stop him from becoming an author and motivational speaker...

Edited by Kierra Wright