Lottie was born in Carlton, AL in 1884. She married Cato Bush and to that union three children were born, John, Denise, and Esiah. After Cato’s death, she married Steve Hatfield. John and Dennis left home as teenagers and little is known about their where they are to this day. It is believed that they left home to avoid a confrontation with their stepfather, who was known as a “tough customer”. Lottie and Hatfield lived in Sunflower, AL. A white man known as Mr. Hal had warned Hatfield about trespassing on his property. One Sunday morning Hatfield’s cow wandered away. He went onto Mr. Hal’s property to look for him. Mr. Hal shot Hatfield with a double barrel shotgun. After he died, Lottie married Willie Joe Sims and they purchased a house in Neese’s Quarters in Prichard. She was destined to live only seven years in the house she worked so hard to obtain.

In the tradition of many of Jack and Sylvia’s children, Lottie was a businesswoman. Given the shortage of jobs available to Black men, even less so for women, Lottie decided to become her own boss. A tall, solidly-built woman, Lottie was an imposing figure. She sold “preparations”, which included perfume, face powder, shaving powder, and liniment. She was an agent for A.G. Gaston Enterprises in Birmingham. This industry was similar to companies such as Avon or Mary Kay. Transportation was a major obstacle so door-to-door sales was a lucrative business. Her routes included Prichard, Crichton, Chickasaw Terrace, Plateau, and Whistler. She walked to these communities from her home in Prichard. Each day she walked a different route selling her goods. She actively engaged in her business as long as she lived.

She was a faithful member of Macedonia Baptist Church in Prichard. Her relationship with the Lord anchored her through the death of two husbands and the estrangement from her two older sons. Through it all, she trusted in God and instilled in her family the importance of living a life that glorifies God. Now decades later, her grandson is still able to recall quickly the name of her church.

Lottie died of a heart attack on January 21, 1945. Her youngest son died two year later.

Sources:
Death Certificate
Herman Bush, Grandson
Fred Jackson, Grandson of Steve Hatfield