Herbert Craft, “Hambone,” was like a lot of country folk, a bit shy at first, but the friendliest person you ever met once he got to know you.
I first tracked him down in the general store between Burkesville and Marrowbone. There are usually six to eight people in the store, and it was so close to home for Hambone that he was often there.
He seemed to live to speak to people, but he was also a good listener.
Some of his buddies around town would tease him about his “girlfriends” and Hambone and the others laughed as if these romances happened yesterday. And for the most part, he and his friends were together for life.
He had strong religious beliefs, and I know how much this meant to him. But he knew times had changed, and he had a quality for accepting things.
He accepted and loved so many people. He said some of his favorite people were “hippies” because they were so friendly and kind to him.
Hambone just walked to the highway by way of his little country road and he would get a ride every time, sometimes before he even made it to the highway.
When he got a ride, he insisted that the driver drive safely. Once he said he made the driver stop because he was driving like a drunk.
He sometimes preached at the CME Methodist Church in Burkesville, though he was only a “guest speaker.”
