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Jaylaan Bennett
Professor Raymond
UWRT 1104
18 July 2016
Writing Prompt 4: Family Tree Project
As one grows up there is often one family member he or she may love to visit or talk to.
This person for me is my grandmother, Pauline Mildred Campbell. Her strength, courage, hope,
faith, compassion, love and determination is what I love about her. She is the sun I wish for on a
cloudy day. She learned at a young age that her faith in GOD will get her through all lifes
toughest battles. The bible verse she loves to this day is Matthew 6: 9-13.
Born on July 3rd 1942, Pauline Mildred Peterson, my grandmother never had an easy life.
My grandmother is a five-foot, brown skin woman with thin grey hair and sometimes has a feisty
attitude. She hates when others comment on her height because her response always is That
doesnt mean I cannot bring you down to my level.
During 1942 World War II was occurring and the United States was going through a
though time; however, in Hartsville South Carolina the Peterson family was trying to make sure
they had everything they needed to survive. Hartsville is a small town outside of Florence, SC
and Bishopville, SC. Just imagine a town with no Wal-Mart, 5 stop lights, and one Elementary,
Jr. High, and High School and that is what Hartsville is like. My great grandparents Laura and
Willie Peterson owed our family store Peterson Groceries, which helped support their three
children (my grandmother being one).
My grandmother attended Elementary School at Butler Elementary until 7th grade. She
proceeded to Jr. High School until 9th grade and then matriculated through high school at Butler

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High School. She met her late husband, Wicky Campbell in High and they conceived their first
child, Charles Campbell, at the young age of seventeen. I asked her if she ever thinks back and
regret having a child so young and her response was, At first I did when I thought I could not
make it through. But I continued going to church and now I realize some things happen to make
us better than we were before. She completed high school on time and with criticism from her
family. After High School she married her late husband Wicky Campbell and began college at
Florence-Darlington Technical College majoring in Patient Care Assistance. While in school she
had her second child, Ron Campbell, and her final child, my mother, Lalita Campbell.
She enjoys working in her yard plating flowers and making sure every piece of straw is in
order around her mailbox. She also loves to bowl, and was a part of a major bowling league in
Florence, SC. However, being around friends and family and going to church are two things she
has always loved to do.
Mildred Pauline Campbell is the strongest woman I know and I did not even know this
much about her until I called her and told her I wanted to ask her some questions. Times like
these are what I will remember forever and one I hope to be half as the woman she is today.