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Oral Histories

The SFA oral history program documents life stories from the American South. Collecting these stories, we honor the people whose labor defines the region.

ORAL HISTORY

Randy Wade

Randy Wade is a lifelong shrimper, who began working the waters off Harkers Island as a young boy. Lean and weather-worn from a lifetime on the water, Mr. Wade sails solo on the waters of Core Sound and off the shores of South Carolina aboard his shrimping boat, Miss Addie. The boat was built by his wife’s father, Julian Morris. “I used to hang out with my Uncle Mervin, and he used to build boats and he also shrimped on the side…I started at seven. Every day when I got out of school, I was to the boathouse with him. In the summer I was clamming with my daddy every day. I went with him every day and it’s all I’ve done,” says Mr. Wade.

Date of interview:
2016-05-02

Interviewer:
Keia Mastrianni and Mike Moore

Photographer:
Keia Mastrianni

Download Transcript

“

When you live around saltwater, that’s when you got it in your blood. My daddy, he did [shrimping]; my daddy’s daddy, I mean right on down the line. ~ Randy Wade

Other Project Interviews

Interview

Mila Guthrie

Mila Willis Guthrie and her husband, Barry, opened Seaside Galley on Harkers Island in 1986.

Interview

Makeley Lewis

Makeley Lewis was a fisherman and boat builder, who followed the trades of his father and grandfather.

Interview

Jan Gillikin

Jan Gillikin is a celebrated cook and a prolific contributor to Island Born and Bred, one of the island’s most lauded…

Interview

Ira Lewis

Ira Lewis was born on August 2, 1918 and spent many years as a waterman of a different kind.

Interview

Emma Rose Guthrie

Emma Rose Guthrie was born on March 21, 1933 on Harkers Island. She spent her days on the water, fishing, clamming, and…

Interview

Eddie Willis

Eddie Willis began making a living fishing by age thirteen. He opened Mr. Big Seafood, with his father in 1976.

WORKING TOGETHER

WE CAN CULTIVATE PROGRESS.

The Southern Foodways Alliance drives a more progressive future by leading conversations that challenge existing constructs, shape perspectives, and foster meaningful discussions. We reconsider the past with research, scrutiny, and documentation.

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