The Alice Marshall Jackson Story

I’S Married Now Little Miss Alice met her future husband, George C. Jackson in Crawfordville, Florida at Swanson’s Place. At that time, George, had decided it was time for him to settle down, find a wife and start a family of his very own. He had begun praying that God would send him a good wife. A good Christian wife, who would work beside him, love, support and encourage him to become the husband and father that God had ordained him to be. George was living and working in a place called Brim Fountain at that time. We don’t know the exact circumstances which brought them together, but we do know that they met, and it was an instant attraction. After many conversations and innocent flirtatious remarks as they passed each other along the way, George began to realize that she could be THE ONE. Even though Alice was only 12, she was very mature for her age and a very pretty girl. She carried herself impressively with pride and confidence. Alice’s little figure was changing, with a petite frame which was beginning to fill out in all the right places. One fine day, George got up enough courage to go to the Marshall home to request of Alice’s father that he please be allowed to court his daughter Alice. Alice’s father and mother were shocked at his request, since Alice was around 13 and George was 26 years old. “Why would a man your age want to marry our baby!” asked Alice’s dad. “ She is just a child!” Papa Marshall formally said. George, however, was a very persuasive talker. He told the Jacksons of his work ethic, his Christian background, and his vision for the future. The Marshall’s already knew that George was a hard worker and an honorable young man. At first, Alice’s father and mother said no, this is not happening, my daughter is too young to be thinking of such things. But George was persistent, every Sunday for about 3 months George came to the Marshall home with the same question, “May I please court your daughter Alice.” Finally, after a lengthy discussion, Alice’s father felt that a long courtship of 5-7 years would be agreeable. Wow! Alice and George were elated that Papa Marshall had acquiesced to their request that George be allowed to “Come a Courtin’.” This is the approach George and Alice were to handle their courtship. George who dressed up in his “Sunday Go to Meeting Attire” would come to visit Alice in her home. They were allowed to sit on opposite sides of the sofa in the parlor or on the porch and talk to each other. No physical touch such as hand holding, hugging, nor any other public signs of affection were allowed. Alice’s parents were always present when George came to call. This was NOT an ideal setting for the couple, but even within those circumstance, their love for each other blossomed. Even though the couple was not allowed to have private meetings, where there’s a will, there’s a way. They found a special place where the two of them could meet, talk, and hold hands. After courting for about a year, the couple decided secretly to get married. Of course, secrets do get out. And when this bit of information got back to her mother, Leah gave Alice the whipping of a lifetime, the worst beating she had ever had. But that did not deter their plan. It simply “fueled the fire”. Alice became more determined to marry George. Because Alice’s parents forbade her to see George, the young couple were reduced to writing to each other and meeting at her cousin’s house. It was there, at her cousin’s house, that they devised their plan. On April 11, 1922, Alice was to meet George in town. At the tender age of 14, this was to be there wedding day. As a part of the plan, Alice asked her mother if she could go into town to make a purchase at the store. Her mother agreed, and Alice hurriedly got dressed, putting on her favorite Sunday dress and her favorite comb placed perfectly in her hat. Then her mother placed a “monkey-wrench” into her plan. Her mother requested that she take her sister Sarah, with her. What will she do now! If she complained or made any type of argument, Alice felt that her mother might get suspicious. As the young sisters approached the spot in town where she was to meet George, Alice told her sister of her plan to marry. Her sister Sarah said these words, “Ooo, I’M GONNA TELL MAMA!” Alice proceeded to plead for her life. She finally convinced Sarah to wait until after she married to run home and tell Mama. Well, Sarah thought about it and decided she couldn’t wait. With the hot news on her lips, Sarah ran all the way home to tell Mama and Daddy what was about to transpire. Alice’s parents were shocked and saddened that their little girl had disobeyed them and was about to GET MARRIED!!!!!! In the meantime, George nervously awaited his bride. When George met her in town with a marriage license and a forged letter of permission from her parents (since she was not yet 18), off to the courthouse they went. The forged permission letter had been written by George’s aunt. The judge, upon seeing Alice, looked carefully at her and perceived that even with a letter of permission from the parents, she was clearly not 18. He then refused to marry them. The judged did not want to be prosecuted for marrying a minor. He did suggest, however, that they go to the clerk of the court’s office for their wedding ceremony. There, they recited their vows of love, honor, and commitment after which sealing their wedding nuptials with Alice's first kiss. They married on that wonderful day and remained husband and wife for 34 years.