Proud and Gentle Folk was written by LuWanda M. Cheney who was born March 8, 1940. Her mother was Betty Overbay, daughter of Albert Vattell Overbay and Lucinda Mae (Thomas) Overbay. Albert and Mae (as Lucinda was called) had twelve children. Two died of diphtheria in the 1920s, leaving Vat, Leon, Robert, Roy, Bess, Betty, Alberta, Ralph, Marisla (Bones) and Edward. Between them, they had many children. In the early 70s, Mae, who was called Grandmommy by her grandchildren, was heard to say that she had thirty-three grandchildren and one, Ida Mae, was expecting a great-grandchild at the time.

LuWanda has made this bit of history and folklore available in an effort to preserve family stories that were passed down to her.