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THE FAULKNER YEARS ~Francys Katherine Norris Faulkner was born in Myrtle Mississippi on 5-25-1919 Her husband Hulen was born that same year in the Cache River bottoms of Arkansas. At the age of nine months, Francys moved with her family from Mississippi to Blossom, Texas by railroad. During those days Texas had only an eleven year education requirement, Francys graduated from high school one day before her sixteenth birthday and went to North Texas State Teachers College. With degree in hand she moved to NE Arkansas near her uncle G.I. Byrd ~Her teaching career started at Milligan Ridge, Ar. in 1940, Francys met a guy named Hulen that worked for Caudill Bros. cotton gin and they married in April of 1941 ,during those years and on into the early 60's most Mississippi county schools had a split term , this allowed the children to help on the farm during planting and harvest season. when Mrs Faulkner started her teaching career, her take home pay was $76.80 per month. she taught at Milligan for three years until her Husband Hulen was drafted into the Army and was assigned duty in a company training inductees program at Camp Polk,La. Then Hulen was sent to Europe , He became part of the group of soldiers that made the mad dash through the snow under General Patton in Belgium. ( The Battle of the Bulge ). Hulen served in the 11th armored division and was on the front for 148 days without relief. Those days still remain on his mind today and he has said many times that he was thankful that his boys did not have to go through such an experience. He really has feelings for the soldiers serving in Iraq & other dangerous spots around the world .. ~Francys had returned to Blossom, Tx., where she enrolled at North Texas State Teachers College at Denton Texas, and completed her degree. ~Her teaching career was interrupted by the arrival of a brown eyed baby boy that they named George. When George was only eight weeks old, due to a shortage of teachers, Mrs Faulkner began teaching half days in Blossom Texas where her parents lived . . The following year she taught English at Detroit,Texas high school. The war was over in May 1945, and Francys was eagerly awaiting Hulen's return, which occurred in late December . ~Janurary 1946~The Faulkners were back in Arkansas and she resumed her teaching career at Caraway where their second ( blond hair, blue eyed ) son Bill was born in 1948. ~1949~The Faulkners moved to Manila and Francys taught in the Manila school system from 1949 until she retired in 1982. Her first year at Manila she taught every subject that they did not have a teacher for. The following year she became librarian as well as teaching English, Speech and French. With the support and patience of her family she finished work on her masters degree in 1965. When MHS received a North Central rating , she chose library as her field ,keeping the facility open part of the summer. ~Mrs Faulkner said she always enjoyed her work,and liked being Senior sponsor. Keeping up with all that energy and creativeness kept her on her toes as well as kept her young. The students were a joy to be around , there was respect and admiration from the students She really enjoyed library work because most of it was a one on one relationship. ~Another highlight of her career was the two years that she took students to France. They learned a lot, not only about their culture, but respect for other people. ~Mrs Faulkner said that she never considered herself a perfect teacher, she can look back at situations and wished she had handled them differently. She is greatful for having the opportunity to be a teacher. ~The support and interest of the parents was invaluable and helped make her job a pleasant one. ~Some of Mrs Faulkner's Favorites are,~ (Movie~Gone with the wind.)~(Song, Love walked in & Oh you beautiful doll~ These two made a gleam come into her voice so I know there is a good story behind them that I will report on later.) ( Books, She did not have just one but several that she read many times ~In His Steps, Gone with the wind~ The Robe ~The Wall ~ The Lost Colony ~A Cause ~ To kill a mockingbird~ and, Intruder in the dust.) The most Memorable event besides their trip to Alaska was their 50th wedding anniversary celebrated at the First Baptist Church in Manila with many many friends and relatives . ~Note Hulen Faulkner's, Grandfather Governor Hill Faulkner faught at Vicksburg MS. in the Civil War after the war, he moved his family to Beech Grove , west of Paragould AR. along the Cache River area. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~Thank you Mrs. Faulkner for all those years you eagerly taught us, You truly made a difference in many a students life. GOD Bless you !! and again Thanks. MHS ALUMNI |
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