Lily-Mae Martin

Lily Mae Martin is a longtime resident of Sarasota County. Born in 1925, Lily Mae grew up in the turpentine quarters in Laurel and is among the last remaining members of that community. She has many stories of growing up working on the farms in Laurel and of the community’s many changes over the years. She continues to live with her family in Laurel today.

Student Interviewer: Chelsea Driver

Chelsea is a fourth-year Cultural Anthropology student. She is currently writing her senior thesis on Sarasota’s Booker High School. A second time participant of this project, she continues to be intrigued and impressed with oral history both as an interdisciplinary research tool and as a tool for community engagement and collaboration.