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ORAL HISTORY

Rosie Hawkins

Southern Sweet & More

Rosie Hawkins bakes fried pies, cookies, and other sweet treats for the Oxford Community Market. Originally from Vardaman, MS, Rosie grew up as the oldest of eight children to parents who worked as sharecroppers. She cooked her first cake at the age of six. She says that she learned to cook just by watching her mother and others cook in her family. Rosie has cooked on and off throughout her life to help support her family, including sending her grandson to medical school. She has cooked for restaurants, for families, for her church, and others who reach out by word of mouth to her. Rosie bakes fried pies and other goods for the Mid-Town Market and the Oxford Community Market. She ends up making approximately 400 fried pies per week.