Daddy's mother had ten children. The youngest was Joyner Delano. He was in his thirties when I was a kid. True to his Indian heritage, he had a very dark complexion, jet black hair, and dark brown eyes. He was very thin. He wore black slip on shoes, white socks, dark pants, button up long sleeve shirts, and a hat like all the men wore in the old movies. They called him "retarded". Today he would be called "mentally handicapped" or "challenged" or a "special needs" person. We just called him - Uncle J. D.!
Everyone in the community around Blake Apartments in Sheffield knew and loved Uncle J. D. He would make daily rounds visiting them all. If he wanted to check you out, he would place the back of his hand to his cheek with his knuckles just below his eye. Then, as if he were looking down the barrel of a rifle, he would extend his long brown finger toward you and give you "the eye".
Mama Conley gave him a watch, not that he could tell the time, perhaps it was just what he wanted for his birthday. One day he came home from his community walk without the watch. Mama Conley asked him where it was. He smiled and said, "I sold it". Then he pulled a crumpled up dollar bill from his pocket. Uncle J. D. did not know the value of a dollar nor the value of the watch, but I am sure whoever "bought" it from him did! I was upset! I wondered if anyone would ever know who took his watch. Later I was assured that there was someone who would - Psalm 103:6 "The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed."