Della Raye: A Girl Who Grew Up in Hell and Emerged Whole

By Gary Penley

Throughout the compelling true story of Della Raye Rogers, her determination, strength, and faith stand as testaments of the enduring resilience of the human spirit against adversity. For twenty years, Della Raye lived at the Partlow State Asylum for Mental Deficients in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Left there by her uncle in 1929 at the age of four, along with her mother, aunt, and brother, she would know her mother only as another threat the attendants of the institution employed against her. She was subjected to beatings, made to work like a slave, and was given little formal education.

Growing up as she did, a small child in a world of people suffering from a variety of mental disabilities, it is amazing that for twenty years she would continue to hope that she would someday be free, that she would continue to fight to be treated with basic respect, and that she would emerge, finally, a whole and vital adult. Della Raye not only continued to hope and to fight, for her trials were not ended with her release, but she learned to forgive those who sought, by intent or by inaction, to destroy her.

Della Raye became a beautician and married Floyd Hughes, a widower with five daughters, in 1951. Together they also had two boys, Donny and Butch. She has visited a number of the people who worked at Partlow in nursing homes and hospitals and has remained in contact with many of the people she met during her confinement.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565549449
• ISBN13: 9781565549449
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company
• Length: 239 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.7" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Little Girl Lost

Della Raye is only one of hundreds of children from age 2 through age 21 who were shipped off by one or both parents to Partlow who simply did not want to care for them any more. Fortunately she, and others whom I personally know, came through it, although they will never forget the nightmares of being locked in a 4 x 4 room for a month for stealing a piece of cornbread, or worse yet, beging stripped naked and taking turns for showers until all patients in that building were finished. No personal clothing, no books, no radios, or newspapers, when a relative of mine was released after ten years, she did not even know how to dial a phone or how to apply for a job. This book is a true story of one person's hell, replicated thousands of times over at least 50 years, and must be read to be believed. Believe me, it is all true.

In the shadow of Partlow

I drive by Partlow every night on my way home from work. As a resident of Tuscaloosa, you sometimes forget that Partlow and Bryce are there. As you head towards the bridge to cross the river, the top of the main building at Bryce is easily seen from afar, and I'm sure visitors to the area probably think it to be an antebellum home. Instead, the sprawling grounds of Partlow and Bryce speak of the sad state of "care" in this state, in the past and in the present. I truly loved this book, and I always hoped after I read it for the first time that I would run in to Della Raye somewhere in town and get to meet her. I know she's gone now, but what a testament she left. I hope many more people will read this story. She never became famous, but she showed courage and perseverence and forgiveness and love to the world, a world that locked her away and demeaned her existence.

I couldn't put it down!

A must read for everyone. I was hooked by the first paragraph at the library, but ran out to buy my own copy. Della Raye is one amazing lady. Incredible story of human strength and perseverence in the face of unbelievable inhumane conditions.I wanted to run out, find her, and take her home with me!

Compassion in words

What a gift Mr. Penley gives to Della Raye and her family by documenting in such detail the dramatic experiences of an unfortunate girl. This story helps open the eyes of the public to horrors of some experiences in facilities for the insane (especially for those who are not insane). I read it with much interest even though I did not know the family. I was able to meet the author at a book signing. The story of how he came to write the book made it evident that he wrote this as an expression of friendship to the family, which adds depth to this work. (What a difficult work it must have been!) His quotes and details make it seem that he was there. That makes it come alive even more! In the end, I wanted to meet Della Raye as she is today. (I also recommend his other book, Rivers of Wind).

You will not be able to put this book down...

and you shouldn't because it will most likely change your life! Author Gary Penley does an incredible job of telling the true story of the life of Della Raye Rogers who lived in a hellish existence for 20 years! As a normal and intelligent four year-old, she was sentenced to a state asylum in Alabama during the Great Depression along with her mother and other relatives who were indeed mentally deficient. Upon entrance she was completly separated from her mother and began a life with both retarded and mentally ill patients. But that is only part of the story-you will shudder, cringe, and cry as you read of the horrible abuse, sickening conditions, cruel nursing staff, and beatings she suffers at the hand of her own mother when she finally sees her several years after entering the asylum. BUT, you will also read of one of the greatest triumphs of the human spirit as Della Raye makes the best of her situation before being released at the age of 24! She goes on to live out, in the most amazing way, TRUE forgiveness! Choosing to forgive and loving unconditionally becomes her prescription for healing and wholeness. Just wait until you read the story and find out who she visits and ministers to in their dying days! After reading this book I said I would never complain about anything again. Della Raye is one of my heroines-i tell everyone I meet about her!