Alabama towns claim a part of Hank Williams’ legacy Story and photos by Emmett Burnett
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pproaching Georgiana on I-65 North is an overpass bridge “Hank received his first musical instrument, a harmonica, at sign with a message: “Lost Highway.” The words pay homabout age 6,” the Georgiana house tour guide notes. “He perage to a local boy who made good – Hiram Williams. He formed in church. Mom played organ and dad played the juice changed his name to Hank and became “The Shakespeare of harp.” Hank Williams also worked – a lot. Country Music.” As a boy, he shined shoes, sold peanuts on the streets, and at Many towns claim Hank Williams and have a story to tell. age 8, received his first guitar, a gift from his mom, purchased Ready to visit some of the places country music’s superstar called from Sears and Roebuck. home? Let’s ride. He befriended a Georgiana street performer, Rufus “Teetot” We start where Hank did, in tiny Mount Olive. The third child Payne, who taught young Hank how to play guitar. “They held of Jessie Lillybelle “Lillie” and Elonzo Huble Williams was born lessons under Hank’s house,” says Simmons, “because Payne, a on Sept. 17, 1923 in a log house no longer with us. He was born black man, felt he would be in trouble if seen with a young white with spina bifida, rendering constant back pain that in later life boy following him all over town.” triggered a drugs and alcohol dependence. Looking back as an adult, Williams recalled Rufus Payne as But at Mount Olive “my only teacher.” By West Baptist Church, age 10 the youngster a love for gospel muwas singing and persic was nurtured. Years forming in local parlater Hank wrote and ties and winning talent recorded gospel songs contests. “He never had inspired by his church, a little boy voice,” Simsuch as “I Saw the mons adds. “What you Light” – inscribed on hear on his records is his tombstone. how he sounded as a The family moved teenager.” to Greenville and latThe singer’s career er, a few miles south to advanced when the Garland. Mom Lillie family moved to Montopened boarding housgomery in 1937. “They es and took side jobs moved here for a better to support her family. life and opportunities in Hank’s father was mosta bigger city,” says Erica ly absent from the boy’s Hank Williams Sr. Boyhood Home and Museum, 127 Rose St., Georgiana, Ala. Parker, spokesperson life due to a brain aneufor the Hank Williams rysm and eight years of hospitalization in Alexandria, La. Museum on 118 Commerce St. “He performed on the street in In 1934 the mom relocated her family to Georgiana. Their first front of WSFA Radio.” house and everything they owned burned in a fire. Their second Station managers were so impressed, they brought the street residence was 127 Rose St., today the Hank Williams Sr. Boyhood singer in to perform and later to host his own radio program – for Home and Museum. pay. Hank was now a professional singer, making enough money “Hank’s mother ran boarding houses and this was one of her to form a backup band, the Drifting Cowboys. At the age of 16, he first,” says Leona Simmons, the home’s tour guide of 26 years, as dropped out of Sidney Lanier High School. we walk through halls chock-full of Williams’ memorabilia in“He was a genius in writing and recording music,” Simmons cluding a guitar he and Elvis Presley played. says. “Hank once told his band, ‘Boys I got a new song. Y’all ain’t The family, visitors, and boarders enjoyed the home’s four going to have a problem with it. Now give me something.” And fireplaces, running water, electricity, and an outdoor toilet. Rethey did, often recording on the first try. gardless of the home’s amenities or lack thereof, Georgiana was Williams was famous for saying, “If a song can’t be written in a turning point. 20 minutes, it ain’t worth writing.” 14 JUNE 2020
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