Email by Larry Woodard, Grandson of Mr. Henry Clay Woodard 
& Mrs. Claudie (McGovern) Woodard


The Harzell-McGovern Home- was one I visited as a child. Uncle
Francis & Aunt Susie were old when I was a small boy, but I do remember fishing
with Francis on Claudie & HC Woodard's farm.
  Claudie and Henry Clay Woodard had a farm called "Melton Branch" , of
about 200 acres, 10 miles west of Corsicana on Highway 31. So named for
the creek flowing through the place. Silver City was about 5 miles further
west on 31. Claudie Lee was a doting grandmother and spoiled her children and
grandchildren. My brother Robert Wayne and I would spend summers with
them and were given free run of the place. I have had a full and very varied
life, but I can not recall a more peaceful feeling than when I awoke in
summer at Claudie's house, to the smell of breakfast cooking.We'd hunt,
shoot, fish, fight, ride horses, rope cattle and drive the farm
machinery: pure boy heaven.  Every Saturday we'd load in the pickup and go into
Corsicana and load up on comic books and have a strawberry soda at Lou
Hashop's Drug Store soda fountain. Claudie died of heart failure in 1970.



Email by Kathy Woodard Bowman, Grandaughter of Mr. Henry Clay &
Mrs. Claudie (McGovern) Woodard

As children we went to the farm most week ends until grandmaw died when I was 
12. Mamaw always had fresh coconut cake made for our arrival. We had wonderful 
family dinners and a lot of music. I remember the piano, fiddle and guitar. 
We sat around and had a lot of fun and laughter. Like Larry those were some of 
the best times of our life. 

I remember Mamaw like to make things with old jewelry and jars, ha. I'm not 
sure what this art was called. But, I thought It was so beautiful. Being the 
youngest of the grandchildren I cant remember all the people who came and 
went. 

Mamaw and Papaw's house was the place to be, we went fishing, shot our BB 
GUNS and that is were my tom boy days started. There was no place better for 
us to explore and run wild! Once Mom bought us girls a new pair of Gold 
Sandals, as soon as we got to mamaws house Larry and I were out on the Land, 
well a lizard got caught in my toe of my sandal, I pulled my toe piece and 
the lizard right out. Larry had to carry me all the way back to the house. 
That was quite usual for our week end trips. Come to think of it, it is also 
the place I had more sticks in my pancake batter than pancake. We camped 
out a lot and thought that was such fun. 

We were very spoiled grandchildren, and it was very sad when things started 
to fall apart in our family. After mamaw died, dad and his brother had some 
falling out. We were not ever sure what happened. The farm was put up for 
sale without our knowledge and sold. I have taken a few trips back just for 
a look and to reminese, Larry and I have spoken often of how we wish we 
had the chance to buy that farm to keep in our family, but at least we have
the memories in our hearts. 

I have always wanted to know more about who we were as so much was taken away 
from us at such an early age. Being the only grandkids of Claudia and Henry 
Clay Woodard, it is great to know other family members. 

Kathy Woodard Bowman