Early in their marriage, tragedy struck. Ollie developed tuberculosis and lost a lung at the age of 21. At this time they had two small children, but they later had several more. Times were sometimes hard, living without electricity and running water, but it didn't seem to bother anyone. Along with raising her own children, it seemed as if Etta raised half the neighborhood kids as well. She always worked to help supplement the family income. She showed her children lots of love and always made sure they were in church. And when Easter came, Etta saw to it that each child had a new outfit, sewn by her own sweet hands. When you visited, she expected you to eat and to never leave empty handed. You would be caring at least one jar of her canned greenbeans.