Written by Rachel Riley
Bernice Overstreet Meiselman, my mother, was very close to her family. There were frequent letters and phone calls with family members. I have fond memories of trips to Clifton Forge, Roanoke, and Melvene’s camp in the summer. This letter was found in a box of family photos.
April 27, 1951
Dearest Ones,
Guess I better bring you up to date on the happenings here.
Billy went to Roanoke & Salem checking on the automotive work and he said the plan was bad & he also went to Roanoke College and several business colleges. The next day he and Nita went to Roanoke looking at real estate and colleges.
I think he has decided to go to school and Nita wants to go to work & that really hurts him but it may have to be.
They left here yesterday around noon going home to sell their house as soon as possible.
They plan to buy at once in Roanoke if he is accepted and move as soon as they can. He hopes to be in school by May 28.
You know we are very happy over their decision & do hope it will work out…
We have been working hard cleaning fish pools, planting, etc. There is a lot to do when you have a home, but I sure love mine and am willing to work for it…I do hope you all can go down to Melvene’s soon.
Daddy and I plan to go to Billy’s next week and maybe if they are still there to help to move some things. We have some plywood he gave Daddy.
Guess my family is still a busy one.
I wrote Melvene that as soon as we get one of you settled, another one would pop up-it looks that way.
Write some and be good. Much love to all of you,
Mother and Daddy
I like this letter for several reasons. Its date suggests that Bill’s transition from the military to work to college was underway. His education and certification as a Certified Public Accountant were to be the foundation for their life plan. Gertie starts out by saying she wants to bring Bernice up to date, which is an example of communication that was happening with the parents and their three grown-up children. Letters were frequent. Obviously, Gertie and William were still very much involved in Bill and Nita’s lives and supported their decisions on where to live and choice of a profession. The pattern of life where the husband works and the wife stays home did not always fit people’s situations, but Gertie stays supportive and never critical. My aunt Melvene always worked. One thing is evident – that happiness and success is built on consistency and hard work.
© 2026 William B. Riley and Rachel M. Riley
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