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Brainstorm with the SFA ⟶
March 13-14, 2021
2021 Spring Symposium
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the SFA
Dec. 9, 12–1 p.m. CT
Brainstorm with the SFA ⟶ Dec. 10, 5:30–6:30 p.m. CT
Brainstorm with the SFA ⟶
March 13-14, 2021
2021 Spring Symposium

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. If you would like to contribute to SFA’s oral history collections, please send your ideas for oral history along with your CV or Resume and a portfolio of prior oral history work to annemarie@southernfoodways.org.

< Back to Oral History project: Saltwater South: Harkers Island, North Carolina

ORAL HISTORY

Randy Wade

Randy Wade began working the waters off Harkers Island as a young boy. Wade’s family members also built boats. “I used to hang out with my Uncle Mervin, and he used to build boats and he also shrimped on the side,” related Wade. At age seven, Randy Wade would spend much of his free time with his uncle at his boathouse. Wade transformed that interest into his life’s work as a shrimper. 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.

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 cook and contributor to Island Born and Bred, a community cookbook written by the women of Harkers…

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.

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