Elvis Presley: First Introductions to Gospel Music
Gladys, Elvis Presley's mother, had a hard time during pregnancy; however, she was able to continue working at the Garment Plant. She did have to stop working toward end of the pregnancy. When it was time to deliver, Vernon's mother, Minnie, and a midwife plus one other woman attended her. The midwife ended up calling in Dr. William Robert Hunt.
Around four a.m. January 8, 1935, Dr. Hunt delivered a baby boy stillborn. Around 35 minutes later another boy was born. The twins were named Jesse Garon and Elvis Aron. The stillborn twin was buried in an unmarked grave in Priceville Cemetery, below Old Saltillo Road. He was never forgotten either in the legend of Elvis's twin brother or in family memory. Elvis would frequently visit his brother's grave as a child. As an adult, Elvis referred to his twin over and over again. Gladys had a strong belief that when one twin died, the one that lived received the strength of both. After the birth of her twins, Gladys and Elvis were taken to the hospital. Gladys was never able to have another baby. The physician's fee was $15 paid by welfare.
Elvis grew up a much loved and adored child being unusually close to his mother. Neighbors recalled how Gladys worshiped her little boy. Elvis called his mother pet names and they often communicated using baby talk. Elvis was also attached to his father showing over-protection behavior even as a young boy. When Vernon went swimming, Elvis would have fits if he saw him dive because he was so afraid Vernon would get hurt. Gladys tells the story of when a house caught on fire in East Tupelo. Vernon ran in and out of the burning building trying to salvage the neighbor's belongings. Elvis was certain his daddy was going to get hurt and he screamed and cried. Gladys calmed him down by saying, "Elvis, you just stop that. Your daddy knows what he is doing." Elvis's view of his growing up was that his mama never let him out of her sight. He could not go down to the creek with other kids, and Elvis recalls times when he would run off and his mother would whip him. During those times Elvis thought his mother did not love him.
Neighbors described the Presley family as being a little peculiar, but active in church and community. Gladys and Vernon had high hopes and expectations for their only child, and desired at least that he would graduate from high school.
Gladys' uncle Gains became the main preacher at the Assembly of God Church in 1937. The church now was housed in a modest wood-framed structure on Adams Street built primarily by Mr. Gains. Many of the congregation remembers a very young Elvis Presley trying to join in with the hymn singing whenever possible. Gladys told the story of "when Elvis was just a little fellow, not more than two years old, "he would slide down off my lap, run into the aisle and scramble up to the platform where he would stand looking at the choir trying to sing with them. He was too young to know the words, but he could carry the tune and watched their faces to try to do as they did."
Source: Last Train to Memphis, The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick
Around four a.m. January 8, 1935, Dr. Hunt delivered a baby boy stillborn. Around 35 minutes later another boy was born. The twins were named Jesse Garon and Elvis Aron. The stillborn twin was buried in an unmarked grave in Priceville Cemetery, below Old Saltillo Road. He was never forgotten either in the legend of Elvis's twin brother or in family memory. Elvis would frequently visit his brother's grave as a child. As an adult, Elvis referred to his twin over and over again. Gladys had a strong belief that when one twin died, the one that lived received the strength of both. After the birth of her twins, Gladys and Elvis were taken to the hospital. Gladys was never able to have another baby. The physician's fee was $15 paid by welfare.
Elvis grew up a much loved and adored child being unusually close to his mother. Neighbors recalled how Gladys worshiped her little boy. Elvis called his mother pet names and they often communicated using baby talk. Elvis was also attached to his father showing over-protection behavior even as a young boy. When Vernon went swimming, Elvis would have fits if he saw him dive because he was so afraid Vernon would get hurt. Gladys tells the story of when a house caught on fire in East Tupelo. Vernon ran in and out of the burning building trying to salvage the neighbor's belongings. Elvis was certain his daddy was going to get hurt and he screamed and cried. Gladys calmed him down by saying, "Elvis, you just stop that. Your daddy knows what he is doing." Elvis's view of his growing up was that his mama never let him out of her sight. He could not go down to the creek with other kids, and Elvis recalls times when he would run off and his mother would whip him. During those times Elvis thought his mother did not love him.
Neighbors described the Presley family as being a little peculiar, but active in church and community. Gladys and Vernon had high hopes and expectations for their only child, and desired at least that he would graduate from high school.
Gladys' uncle Gains became the main preacher at the Assembly of God Church in 1937. The church now was housed in a modest wood-framed structure on Adams Street built primarily by Mr. Gains. Many of the congregation remembers a very young Elvis Presley trying to join in with the hymn singing whenever possible. Gladys told the story of "when Elvis was just a little fellow, not more than two years old, "he would slide down off my lap, run into the aisle and scramble up to the platform where he would stand looking at the choir trying to sing with them. He was too young to know the words, but he could carry the tune and watched their faces to try to do as they did."
Source: Last Train to Memphis, The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick
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