Submitted by Zeita Parker Jones
From her nanny Lucinda Bell’s recipe, Jackson, Mississippi
Lucinda Bell had many talents, but her forte was cooking. She was renowned throughout Jackson, Mississippi, for her pecan pie. Lucinda’s employer, Mr. Parker, was an attorney recognized in the community for his honesty and integrity. But every man has his weakness. Mr. Parker’s was Lucinda’s pie.
A descendant of slaves and sharecroppers, Lucinda spent the greater part of her life picking cotton in the sweltering Mississippi heat. She had ten children, the youngest five of whom were born while Lucinda harvested cotton on a plantation. Lucinda remembers giving birth to a baby, placing him in a sling, and going back to working the field. When her youngest child was 10 years old, Lucinda was ready for less arduous labor, and began working for the Parkers.
Zeita has many fond memories of her nanny, who worked in the family’s home for 35 years. Zeita often skipped school to stay home with Lucinda, whom she referred to as her “second mom.” She would sit on the dryer while Lucinda did laundry, and become immersed in Lucinda’s vivid history lessons about slavery. Zeita soaked up every word of Lucinda’s thoughts about growing up black in the South. Although Lucinda had little formal education and could not read or write, she taught Zeita volumes about life.
Mr. Parker appreciated Lucinda’s care for his daughter, and he particularly enjoyed Lucinda’s culinary skills. Mr. Parker frequently hid $100 bills around the house, a fact Lucinda knew well. As Lucinda baked in their kitchen, Mr. Parker would nonchalantly ask her if she had made any extra pies. “How many $100s you got?” Lucinda quipped. He wryly replied, “How many pies do you have?” as he slipped her a crisp $100 bill.
Lucinda informed Zeita that she made three pies at a time—one each for Mr. Parker, Mrs. Parker, and Zeita. Mr. Parker repeatedly told his daughter that Lucinda only baked two pies, though Lucinda swore she had cooked three. Zeita assumed Lucinda’s mind was getting a little fuzzy with age. That third pie remained elusive. Years later, Lucinda was cleaning out Mr. Parker’s closet when pie tins began tumbling onto her head from the top shelf. When Zeita ran to see what all the ruckus was about, imagine her shock to discover that her “honest Abe” daddy had been secretly stashing and eating the third pie! Zeita planned to confront her father when he returned home from work. Given that Mr. Parker was diabetic, it was particularly alarming to Zeita when he told her he wouldn’t give up his pie—he’d just take more insulin!
Zeita tells us that visitors dropped by the Parker residence hoping to get a slice. However, Mr. Parker didn’t give up his pie easily. He could be overheard in the kitchen purposely saying in a loud, discouraging voice, “Can’t you just give them
a cookie?”
This recipe had never been written down before … until now. Zeita shadowed Lucinda in the kitchen to capture the measurements and transcribe the directions. Every time we take a bite, we honor Lucinda Bell.
Lucinda was cleaning out Mr. Parker’s
closet when pie tins began tumbling
onto her head from the top shelf.