Irene Tyson and Reba Campbell have been friends for nearly 40 years. They met while living in Washington D.C. Both women have ties to the South: Tyson hails from Mississippi while Campell’s roots are in South Carolina. Over time, their bond became even stronger after Tyson and her husband invited Campbell and her fiancé to join them in a small supper club. The gatherings drew both the Tyson and Campbell families closer together, and the meals shared brought a taste of home to their communal table, with each recipe calling to mind a cherished memory.
Campbell and her family eventually returned to South Carolina, and just a few years later, Tyson and her family put down roots in the Palmetto State as well. In 2024, the two joined StoryCorps to share the origin story of their lifelong friendship, and how food played a starring role.
TRANSCRIPT:
Tyson: There were four couples who said, “We need to do a supper club.” And then we said, “Okay, everybody's going to invite one couple.” And Rob and I didn't hesitate to say, “Oh, well, David and Reba are going to be our couple.” And then that just started the ball rolling. So, you brought this whole South Carolina thing into our Mississippi culture.
Campbell: Tradition.
Tyson: Yeah, and tradition. And you were doing this stuff called “Beaufort stew.” And none of us knew what Beaufort stew was. And it was kind of like, “Well, shrimp boil.” No, it's Beaufort stew. And you were on the phone with your daddy. We walk in there, and you were saying, “Irene time it.” Nobody had, I mean, you know, it was…
Campbell: We wore watches.
Tyson: We wore watches. Or you had a timer, and you had the phone on the wall that had the stretchy—
Campbell: Long cord.
Tyson: --cord that you could walk outside and your patio where everybody was, but you were on the phone with your daddy the whole time saying, “All right, the water's come to a boil. All right, now put the potatoes in—"
Campbell: Potatoes in first.
Tyson: “Okay. Time it for five minutes.” And you were just so to the point. “Okay, five minutes. All right, now, Daddy says I have to put the corn in it?”
Campbell: Corn in.
Tyson: Corn in next. And then it was a sausage, you know, and then it was a shrimp. I mean, it was like, “We have to do it exactly like my daddy says.” And you were walking around that kitchen on that stretchy phone cord talking to him the whole time, and it was delicious. First time I ever had Beaufort stew. And I think food has played a role—
Campbell: Mm-hmm!
Tyson: --in so much of what we do with our relationships.
Campbell: Gosh, I remember going to y’all’s place on a Sunday afternoon supper club. And you made fried chicken.
Tyson: Fried chicken.
Campbell: Yeah.
Tyson: Yeah, we had fried chicken, and I think I made cornbread? I mean, it was like all these things from my--I can remember being on the phone with my mama like you were with your daddy, because I actually got a chicken and cut it, and I had never cut a chicken before.
Campbell: Oh, my gosh.
Tyson: And, ah, that little condo, I mean, that we had, I mean, the kitchen was…tiny.
Campbell: Yeah, I remember that.
Tyson: But I fried that, I fried that chicken, and we all, in fact, I don't think I've done it since then (both laugh). Y'all gave us the greatest gift in the whole wide world to get us to Columbia and then to let us make our home, your home, until we could find a place that was right for us to move into.
Campbell: Well, you cooked dinner!
Tyson: Yeah, I did. (both laugh)
Campbell: Again, that was before I had a husband who would cook!
Tyson: Well, and Reba, I just want to say, too, because we had to create new family traditions when we moved here, and there is not a family tradition that y'all aren't a part of. From our Christmas Eve and y'all showing up and you being, you know, not having family, grandparents and aunts and uncles here for the Grandparents Day, you were the…you and David were always “a special friend.”
Campbell: “Special friend.” Of course.
Tyson: You are there for every…the birth of Annie Watkins and Ruth Emma, you know, you were right here for that. For graduations, for confirmations. You've been the one who have made things just wonderful for the girls when they've gotten married and celebrating. And having our first granddaughter to be named Campbell for y'all, I mean, is just a testament that y' all are--
Campbell: Such an honor.
Tyson: I love you, Reba!
Campbell: I love you, Irene.
Tyson: Yeah. I'm very thankful for you.
Campbell: Me too.
Tyson: Yep. (laughs)
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