When I left Chickasaw community on hwy. 4 west of McGehee it was during the WW2 and what was left to farm was my MOm and her younger brother. We moved to Neal's settlement (the black whole of Calcutta) to be close to my Dad's (I did not know him) brother to help look out for Mom and I. Mason Bayou was on one side of Turner Neals plantation and the other side was bordered by 43 Canal. During the years of 43,44, &45 we eked out a mere living. Drank pump water that was less than desirable, had to take typhoid shots. My uncle William Fitzhugh Wilkerson worked for pennies a day, cotton farming (share cropping) with horses and mules. In off season he took care of hundreds of cows and hogs in the river bottoms. I wonder how anyone survived the water, insects and lack of good food. I have only been back in that area once since we left in 1945. Ruth Wilkerson Donham.