I THANK GOD FOR CHOOSING ME to tell this story, for fueling my fingertips and putting Essie Mae’s voice so clearly in my head. I thank Him for my husband, Brian, who gave me the courage to climb this mountain, lifting me along the way; and for my mother, Miriam Furr Lucas (Mimi), my tireless reader and greatest fan—she inspires me to reach for the stars and loans me her wings to get there; and for my children, Olivia and Coulter, my glorious distractions from writing—they bring me back to reality and keep me grounded, knowing what is truly important in life. I could not have written a word of this without each of you.
I am grateful for a supportive extended family and am so blessed to be a beneficiary of my grandmother’s fervent prayers, Miriam Coulter Furr (Mama Jim). She embodies the faith, heart, and tenacity of my dear Essie Mae. To my grandfather, James Martin Furr (Daddy Jim), and my aunt, Bonnie Marie Furr Buck—I miss you both, I think of you often and thank you for your inspiration. You help keep my eyes upward and my thoughts on heaven.
So many have helped in the making of this book; I am both humbled and thankful. First, my sincere appreciation goes to Mark Gilroy, my agent, who believed in Essie Mae from the start. To my publisher, Joey Paul, I thank you for hearing my voice and for taking a chance on a new writer; and to everyone at Integrity, including Kris Bearss, Jennifer Day, Scott Harris, and Bobby Sagmiller, thank you for helping ease my transition into this new world of books. My deepest gratitude goes to Rachelle Gardner, my insightful and brilliant editor, for helping to make this a much better book and for making me a better writer along the way. Thank you.
To some talented authors of the South Carolina Lowcountry, especially Pat Conroy, Richard Coté and Harlan Greene, and to author/musician Michael Conner in California, thank you for your generous advice and direction. And to the Seacoast Christian Writers’ Group, I’m so glad you were there when I was finally ready to take the plunge and share my work. I will always appreciate your enthusiasm and “loving critiques.”
I appreciate the following people: Eartha Lee Washington for filling my head with her wonderful stories and voice at a time when I needed it most; Annie Scott at Boone Hall Plantation for teaching me to weave; and Thomasena Stokes-Marshall whose important work helps to protect and empower the sweetgrass community. There should be more like you.
Finally, a very special thank you goes to Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation and to Alada Shinault-Small of the Avery Research Center at College of Charleston. I am forever grateful to you both for your support and your efforts in helping me to get my facts straight about the Gullah/Geechee culture.
I have tried to convey the richness and lyrical nature of the Gullah language, but it is based on oral traditions and as such, hard to do justice on paper. Therefore, I have taken quite a few liberties in my portrayal of the Gullah language and of the Mount Pleasant African-American vernacular so that this book will be accessible to readers from all regions and backgrounds. In saying this, I would like to encourage readers to visit the Lowcountry and experience the Gullah/Geechee culture and sweetgrass basket makers firsthand.
A few final notes: my portrayal of New Orleans voodoo is purely fiction and not intended as fact. Also, The Spirit of Sweetgrass was written before the Gulf Coast was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. My thoughts and prayers remain with those affected and with those who are working so hard to rebuild the great city of New Orleans.
Peace!