Grandma's Place

Kenneth's home life, as with all of us, shaped his personality, his faith, his dispositions, and his perspectives on life. Among our more than seven hundred letters and documents that cover the period before World War Two and the period during the war are many letters from his mother, Rebecca, and his sibling sisters, Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Ray, Rene, and Snook. Also included were letters exchanged between Kenneth and his cousin, W.J. Yarborough. We do not have letters from Kenneth's daddy, DA McKethan, or his younger brother, Alex. Nevertheless, these letters paint a rich picture of the life and love that existed in his family. One of the earliest letters was written in October 1940 to Kenneth while he was a student at North Carolina State College (Now North Carolina State University). These letters frequently asked when he may be returning from Raleigh or included a small amount of money. The closing to all the letters from home always ended with "Love..." Letters continued to be exchanged while Kenneth was at Fort Bragg and other of his stateside locations. Another letter included the presence of Ray, Rene, and Snook supporting Elizabeth as she was bringing her firstborn, Sandy, into the world. There were letters from Jane Ray from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, when Elizabeth was staying with her and Uncle Robert. Only glimpses of the McKethan family's relationships and way of life on Cliffdale Road are revealed in these letters. Kenneth (Sandy) McKethan, gives a far more detailed description, named "Grandma's Place,"  of the before war, during war and after war family life and events that molded Kenneth's character.