Antoinette Breau has moved many times in her life, but will always treasure the memories of the time she spent living in a farmhouse in Lilesville before a certain filmmaker asked her family to move.
Breau now goes as “Tonie,” but was known as “Nannie” during the year and a half she lived in the farmhouse then owned by Harry Huntley. One day, Huntley showed up with filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who told her family of his hopes of filming a movie called “The Color Purple” in their home.
Spielberg took Breau and her family in a limo to McDonald’s, chatting with the kids about what they would do with the $5,000 he offered their parents if they would move. “He was a very nice guy,” she said. “To have these memories flood back — I’ve been through a lot in my life, and have lost of lot of memories, so to get these back is amazing.”
Her parents accepted the offer and moved to Louisiana, but Breau still remembers spending part of her childhood in the creek near the farmhouse, taking family photos in different locations on the property, and watching a tornado just miss the now-famous farmhouse.
Most of all, she remembers just “being a family” together. “Everything we did there was as a family, as a team,” she said.
When the family first moved in, the house was in less than prime condition. “The house wasn’t really livable, but we persuaded Mr. Huntley to let us move in,” Breau said. “I think my parents paid about $250 per month, which was a pretty good price but the house was in disrepair.”
That didn’t stop the large family from enjoying the place. Breau remembered her mother, a Girl Scout leader, hosting camp-outs on the property. Breau and her siblings would also climb large magnolia trees in the front yard of the house.
Breau spent the best Christmas of her life in that house, though it started out sad. “I remember my mom cried so hard that last Christmas we were there because she was so sad, just heartbroken that she couldn’t get us a Christmas,” she said. “I said something to my teacher when she asked what we were doing for Christmas, and I just told her we’re not doing anything. When she asked why, I was honest, and told her we couldn’t afford it.”
That teacher went into action. “On Christmas morning, there were three trucks coming up the driveway, and Santa was in one,” Breau said. “They were all loaded with Christmas presents for me and my siblings. I remember seeing my mom cry. That was the best Christmas of my life.”
During last week’s celebrations in honor of the 30th anniversary of the movie’s filming, Breau and her fiancé, Tony Chambers, made the three-and-a-half-hour trip to Anson County from Pickens, South Carolina.
They visited with her best friend, Barbara Gainey, and visited the Anson County Arts Council to see the display for the movie. They also saw the display in the Hampton B. Allen Library and visited the HOLLA! Center in Morven, though it was closed when she arrived.
Best of all for Breau, they visited the farmhouse she grew up in. She was nervous that the current owners wouldn’t let them onto the private property, but the gate was open and they took a chance and drove up. “It was God’s will that the gate was open,” she said. “Even the owner, Ronnie, said that you usually don’t see it open. That blew my mind. I was meant to be there.”
She enjoyed a leisurely visit of the property, reminiscing of times past. “The owner was really great,” she said. “He told me to just take my time.”
One of the magnolia trees Breau remembers climbing was still standing.
Touring the property brought back memories. “I had a great life, and that was just a great memory that I’m thanking God that I’ve got,” she said. “It probably is because of ‘The Color Purple’ that helped make these memories so special and helped me treasure them.”
Breau’s fiancé also said the trip was worth it. “I’m loving this, in all honesty,” he said. “I haven’t seen anything but smiles from her all day. She’s having a blast. Not to mention, the property is beautiful and so peaceful.”
In 1987, Breau’s father bought a VCR just to rent “The Color Purple.” Breau currently owns three copies of the movie, and her older son has his own copy. They enjoy watching the movie together.
Now, Breau’s siblings all live in Alabama. Her parents, Romeo and Cheryl, died in 2006 and 1994, respectively. Breau lives in South Carolina with her children, Paul Mennix Jr., Amber Leah Mennix and Anthony Mennix.
