Hallowed Ground
by Marcia E. Floyd
Presented on the occasion of the grand opening of the Oxford College Organic Garden on land bequeathed to Oxford College by Marshall and Fran Elizer.
When Dean Bowen told me several years ago that plans were being made for an organic, "teaching" garden here on this spot of land, I was overjoyed, as was my mama, Fran Elizer. You see, you are standing on "hallowed ground" - it certainly was considered so by my daddy, Marshall Elizer. In his later years, he referred to this place as his "piece of heaven on earth.”
It was after World War II that he came to Oxford, Georgia with his young family to teach at a small, all-male, junior college known as Emory-at-Oxford. He found his "American Dream" right here on this chosen plot of land - 406 Emory Street. He planned and helped construct the house that still stands here. And for more than fifty years he planted a garden here himself. I never remember a summer when he lived in this house that he did not grow a garden filled with various combinations of corn, squash, tomatoes, butter beans, okra, and flowers. Always flowers - mostly zinnias, marigolds, and gladiolas that Mama picked and arranged into thousands of arrangements for the church, the Oxford College Library, and for friends who needed a lift. Mama and Daddy worked together in the garden - Daddy planted, hoed, and shared the bounty with neighbors; Mama picked, froze, canned, and shared with neighbors.
The "Oxford College Organic Garden" - there could be no more fitting tribute to my parents' legacy. I'm sure you can feel their presence here today. I regret my husband, Don, and I are unable to be with you today, but all my best wishes go to Daniel Parson and his family as they live and grow as a family in my childhood home.
I must admit that I crane my neck from the road when we drive passed to see if I can catch a glimpse of the gardener. He sometimes wears a big brimmed hat just like Daddy and he is making the earth laugh again with bounty. How fitting!
It was after World War II that he came to Oxford, Georgia with his young family to teach at a small, all-male, junior college known as Emory-at-Oxford. He found his "American Dream" right here on this chosen plot of land - 406 Emory Street. He planned and helped construct the house that still stands here. And for more than fifty years he planted a garden here himself. I never remember a summer when he lived in this house that he did not grow a garden filled with various combinations of corn, squash, tomatoes, butter beans, okra, and flowers. Always flowers - mostly zinnias, marigolds, and gladiolas that Mama picked and arranged into thousands of arrangements for the church, the Oxford College Library, and for friends who needed a lift. Mama and Daddy worked together in the garden - Daddy planted, hoed, and shared the bounty with neighbors; Mama picked, froze, canned, and shared with neighbors.
The "Oxford College Organic Garden" - there could be no more fitting tribute to my parents' legacy. I'm sure you can feel their presence here today. I regret my husband, Don, and I are unable to be with you today, but all my best wishes go to Daniel Parson and his family as they live and grow as a family in my childhood home.
I must admit that I crane my neck from the road when we drive passed to see if I can catch a glimpse of the gardener. He sometimes wears a big brimmed hat just like Daddy and he is making the earth laugh again with bounty. How fitting!