Courtesy Sandra K. Gorin, Gorin Genealogical Publishing   Volume 2 of Barren's Black Roots, (c) Aug 1992). By permission of the author.

Herbert Lee Craft “Hambone”

“The Great Love of God is the greatest love of all ...” This is how I would like my story to begin,

because it is how I have lived my life, in the service of God.

“I am Herbert Lee Craft, known to most people around Cumberland County as “Hambone.” 

“I was born Dec. 19, 1907 in a section of Cumberland County known as Noah’s Hollow.

“My mother was Ethyl Craft, the daughter of Lile Craft. My stepfather was John Robert Cary. I had three half brothers, Grant Cary, Howard Cary and Ross Cary and one half sister, Beulah Cary.

“As a child I remember my mother and grandmother walking with me and my half brothers and sister, across the fields to go to church. We attended Mt. Moriah church. We did not have services every Sunday; each church had a Sunday for worship. Grandmother and Mother would line us up and we would start across the fields to the church. When the church house was in sight we would sit down under a tree and dust off our shoes, so we would look nice upon entering.

“I have enjoyed music all my life. I play the guitar and banjo, and when I was younger, I used to play at dances. I love the old songs and still play and sing “Some of These Days,” “Rock of Ages”, and “Down by the Riverside,” which I performed on a tape for the Cumberland County Musical Heritage in 1988.

“When I was young I worked for Fred Gander and Gene Able at Glasgow, KY. I have never driven a car, but there was always someone to give me a ride every day as I traveled the 40 miles each way to work and back.

“I think all the young people know I love them as I do the older ones, and everyone takes the time to say hello to “Hambone.”

                (Source unknown and undated, photograph included)