"A Day in the life"
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 25, 1912 (Thursday)
Gladys Love Smith was born in Pontotoc County, Mississippi.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 10, 1916 (Monday)
Vernon Elvis Presley was born in Fulton, Mississippi.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" June 17, 1933 (Saturday)
Gladys Smith now twenty-one, married a seventeen year old Vernon Presley. At this time, they both lived with relatives in East Tupelo, Mississippi. Gladys was employed at the Tupelo Garment Centre, while Vernon worked on a Dairy Farm owned by Orville Bean.
Bean loaned Vernon $180 so he could build a house on his father's land on the Old Saltillo Road. They had an arrangement that would allow Vernon to pay rent on the house until the loan was paid back. Then the couple could assume ownership. The house was built with the help of Vernon's father and brother and was located next door to his parents Jessie and Minnie Mae Presley.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 8, 1935 (Tuesday)
At home, Gladys was attended to by Dr. William R. Hunt and she gave birth to twin boys. The first, Jesse Garon was delivered stillborn at 4:00 am, the second, named Elvis Aron was born at 4:35 am.
The Presley House, 386 Old Saltillo Road, East Tupelo, Mississippi
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 9, 1935 (Wednesday)
Jesse Garon Presley was buried in an unmarked grave in Priceville Cemetery near Tupelo, Mississippi.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 25, 1935 (Wednesday)
The Presleys celebrated Christmas with their families and friends in Tupelo.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 7, 1936 (Tuesday)
Jessie Presley's brother Noah, a store owner and school bus driver, became mayor of East Tupelo, and under his guidance great civic improvements are made within the community.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 8, 1936 (Wednesday)
The Presley family celebrated Elvis' 1st birthday in Tupelo.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" April 5, 1936 (Sunday)
A devastating tornado swept through Tupelo and killed 235 people and injured 350 more. Gladys, Vernon and the baby took refuge in Jessie and Minnie Mae's house.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 25, 1936 (Friday)
The Presleys celebrated Christmas with their families and friends in Tupelo.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 8, 1937 (Friday)
The Presley family celebrated Elvis' 2nd birthday in Tupelo.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" November 16, 1937 (Tuesday)
Vernon, Glady's brother Travis and another man named Lether Gable were charged with "uttering a forged instrument". They altered a four-dollar cheque from Orville Bean which was payment for a hog. None of the three men could come up with the $500 bail, so they remained confined in the Lee County Jail.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 25, 1937 (Saturday)
The Presleys celebrated Christmas with their families and friends in Tupelo.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 8, 1938 (Saturday)
The Presley family celebrated Elvis' 3rd birthday in Tupelo.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" May 25, 1938 (Wednesday)
Vernon and Travis were sentenced to three years in the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" June 1, 1938 (Wednesday)
PRISON SENTENCE - Mississippi State Penitentiary, Parchman, Mississippi.
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Vernon arrived at Parchman where conjugal visits were allowed. Gladys would have to make five hour bus trips each way with her son on several occasions. Noah Presley would often drive her to visit her husband and brother. This is probably when the strong bond between mother and son was forged as life had gotten much harder for them both from this point on.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 25, 1938 (Sunday)
The Presleys celebrated Christmas without Vernon.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" January 8, 1939 (Sunday)
The Presley family celebrated Elvis' 4th birthday in Tupelo. (photo date unknown)
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" February 6, 1939 (Monday)
Vernon was released from Parchman Farm with a six-month suspension of his sentence, granted on the condition that he continued his good behaviour. This was also the result of a petition from the good citizens of Lee County and a letter from Orville S. Bean, the party on whom the cheques were forged. The document was signed by Governor Hugh White.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" May 3, 1939 (Wednesday)
During Vernon's incarceration, Gladys was unable to keep up the payments on their home so she had to move in with relatives in East Tupelo. Vernon began employment with the Federal Works Project. He was assigned to the sanitation department in Lee County. He was paid $30.10 for 140 hours work.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" July 29, 1939 (Saturday)
During the summer Vernon was re-classified as a skilled carpenter on the Sanitation Project with his pay upgraded to $52 a month.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" August 5, 1939 (Saturday)
Governor White granted Vernon an additional ninety-day suspension for "good behaviour" while he was out on former suspension.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" November 3, 1939 (Friday)
Vernon was granted an indefinite suspension of his sentence.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" November 30, 1939 (Thursday)
The local bank repossessed a car that Vernon had purchased through a loan and threatened to sue if he did not pay the $72.58 that was still owed after repossession.
Elvis: "A Day in the Life" December 25, 1939 (Monday)
The Presleys celebrated Christmas with their families and friends in Tupelo.