Bill Wright had known 108-year-old Aggie Fenton for all his 50 years—-she was at the hospital when he was born and for every extended family gathering spanning four generations.
It wasn't until an August morning nearly 45 years later that he first visited her home. Walking into her living room, he was stopped in his tracks—-pictures of his family adorned every nook and cranny. It was then he realized the impact his family had on Aggie's life and she on his. Realizing there was so much more to know about this woman who was "family."
Raised in the Deep South during the Jim Crow era, Aggie moved to Memphis at 14. Years later, she made her way to New Jersey, where she worked for Bill's grandparents, a world away from her hometown of Holly Springs, Mississippi. He left his Northern roots and traveled to the Deep South and beyond, to discover and chronicle her remarkable story of courage, resilience, and contentment. Bill was surprised by the warm welcome and help he received from strangers on this quest. And, on his journey to find Aggie, he discovered truths about himself and the secret to a long and good life.