Recollections: Legends of Yesterday - Joel Timothy Paulk

­­ This is a reprint of original articles by Hugh Woolley, a longtime resident and community leader of Graceville. Woolley published these articles in The Graceville News more than 20 years ago.

Originally published in the March 29, 2001 edition of The Graceville News.

Joel Paulk, another early board member of the local REA appeared in the picture of the first annual REA meeting along with his oldest son, Harvey. Dora Lee May, his wife may have been in the picture also. I knew Harvey real well and we used to drive to U of Fl. most every weekend for class as we were working on our Master's degree. I also knew Bobby real well as he attended the Veteran's agriculture class. I have been knowing Curtis many years as a progressive farmer.

I also had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Joel Paulk, a quiet, modest, down-to-earth sort of fellow. When you read about this remarkable family you, too, will admit that they belong to the legends of the community. I asked Geraldine, Curtis' daughter to write about her grandparents. She in turn asked her mother, Ethel, to write the following and Geraldine edited the story. Many thanks for the good job to both of you.

I might add that I taught at the high school with Geraldine and I believe she was elected Teacher of the Year during the mid-eighties.

Joel Timothy Paulk: A Real Survivor

written by Mrs. Curtis (Ethel) Paulk

edited by Mrs. David (Geraldine P.) DeFelix

Television survivor games cannot compare with the real life survivors such as Joel T. Paulk of Campbellton. A man of humble beginnings. Mr. Paulk not only survived family tragedies, several реrsonel illness, and the Great Depression, but he also serves as a highly respected leader of his church and community.

He was born in a log cabin on February 12, 1898. His father, Bryant Paulk died when Joel was a very young child. His mother later remarried and had several more children besides Joel and his sister Beatrice. By the time the youngest of his half-brothers and half-sisters was born, Joel had married Dora Lee Garner from near Graceville and had started a family of his own. He and his new wife helped to raise the baby stepsister, who stayed with them for some time.

During the influenza epidemic of 1917-18 Joel contracted the flu and struggled to stay alive as families all around were losing loved ones sometimes whole family units were found dead in their homes. His devoted wife worked hard to keep him comfortable and see that he had his medicine on time. With the help of a very good neighbor, Dora Lee was able to keep their farm going; however, Joel lost one of his lungs as a result of the severity of his illness.

Disaster struck again when the banks closed, and people were losing their lifetime savings because of the Great Depression. Fortunately, Joel was advised to withdraw his money from the bank in Campbellton on the day before it closed. His withdrawal was not much, but it was all that he had to keep his family going as the hard times got harder. People all around were hard pressed to meet their financial responsibilities. Farm equipment was being "attached" for payment, but through hard work and perseverance, Joel and his family were able to survive.

Faithful churchgoers, Joel and Dora Lee were the devoted parents of eight children: Flossie Lee, Alene, Harvey, Huelon (Dick), Paul, Curtis, Kate and Bobby. Mr. and Mrs. Paulk set the kind of example that led their children to be responsible citizens of their communities. When Harvey, the eldest son graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Mr. Paulk and Dick were the only ones of the family who were able to attend. Mrs. Paulk stayed home with the older children, who were quite young at the time. At the appointed time she gathered all the children around the radio to hear the name of their brother as his diploma was presented When they heard Harvey's name called, cheers and tears of joy filled the room of that rustic country home-it was as exciting as watching a winning Super Bowl touchdown!

Mr. Paulk served his community and church tirelessly. He served on the Board of Trustees for Federal Land Bank and was instrumental in establishing the first Marianna Production Credit Association. He also served on the West Florida Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees for several years. A supporter of Chipola Soil Conservation, he worked at the county agent's office and measured land for a few years. His evident religious conviction and dedication led to his ordination as a deacon in Ephesus Baptist Church northeast of Campbellton near his home. He later served for many years as a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Campbellton.

Mrs Paulk supported her husband wholeheartedly in his leadership roles. Once after she played the piano for a community dance, she went before the church to request a pardon for her "sin." Her fun-loving nature prompted Mr. Paulk to remark that was as hard to keep under control as one of the children sometimes. Joel's dry humor must have provided a bit of emotional support for the hard times that he knew so well. When people would mention that he and Abraham Lincoln shared the same birthday, they were both born in log cabins, and neither one of them was much to look at!

Mr. Paulk strove to set a good example for his children and his community, always trying to point them in the right direction. Progress was his motto, he continued to live on the land of his birth until his death in 1968. The log cabin that he was he in was born in was pulled down just before then. It took two tractors and much hard work to uproot a house that had stood strong for so many years. As strong as that cabin was, Mr. Paulk's will to survive was even stronger. And though he is no longer with us, his legacy of standing for what is right, never giving up, and loving his family and friends lives on in the lives of those who knew and loved him.

Photo Cutline: PAULK FAMILY -   Front row (l-r) Nellie Kate, Mr. Joel T. Paulk, Mrs. Dora Lee Paulk, Bobby. Back row (l-r) Dick, Aleene, Paul, Harvey, Flossie Lee, and Curtis.

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