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• 2025 Christmas lightsDecember 30, 2025
  We visited the Christmas lights at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• Grand opening of the new Whataburger in Mebane, NCDecember 11, 2025
  I was honored to be allowed to raise the American flag for the grand opening.

This blog is dedicated to my father, Robert Fulton Dukes Singleton. I am his son, Robert Fulton Dukes Singleton Jr. And yes, there is a 3rd, Robert Fulton Dukes Singleton III.

For as long as I can remember, my father talked about and sought out information about who his mother and father were. If someone could spend a million hours researching a subject then Dad did. He spoke with many individuals, some that actually could answer his questions yet would not. There was a “carry this to the grave” agreement in place. It was more than a little disappointing.

Sheriff Dukes of Orangeburg, SC had a couple of daughters that devised a plan to have Dad, give him away, cover their tracks and finally play dumb when asked for answers. Allow me to share.

Sheriff Dukes had what we always called the Dukes plantation. His mother lived in a small house he built very near. In the main house, lived Sheriff Dukes, his wife, two children and my father. Also, there were several housekeepers.

Dad did not join this household until about 1937, give or take I have no idea how many years. I will explain.

Sue and Mamie joined heads and came up with a most brilliant idea to solve the problem with one of them being pregnant. I believe the pregnant sister was Sue Riedell of San Antonio, Texas. Mamie was married to a Dr. Singleton of Red Springs, NC. This is what I believe happened in about 1929.

The two sisters got on a train together for Texas. Sue had been staying in Orangeburg while her husband, Col. Reidell was stationed out of the country.

When they were in Georgia, Mamie, gave birth to my dad is the story they came up with. Mamie said that she did not know that she was pregnant. Dad supposedly was born in St Joseph Infirmary. Dad was never able to obtain a birth certificate. There was a point that the story changed to him being born in Odessa, Texas. He was told that the records were destroyed in a fire. Dad contacted the records department in Odessa. They had no record of ever having had a fire and no record of dad of course.

Dad went on to Texas where he was given to a Mexican family. We assume someone in the family worked for Sue in San Antonio. This family raised him for about 6 years.

Somehow, Sheriff Dukes was kept in the dark until about 1937. He dispatched two deputies to go find dad. When dad was returned to SC, he spoke Spanish.

Maids in the house used to tell dad that Sue was his mother. Sue never had another child. She kept all of dad’s baby clothes and school records even though they lived 1000 miles apart.

We believe that Sue had an affair with a gentleman named Dwight Moseley from Orangeburg. Dwight Moseley had one daughter we believe.

In the 1990’s, my mom and sister drove into town in hopes of laying their eyes on Dwight. According to them, Dwight and my father looked exactly alike. I wish they had taken his photo.

Dad used to visit anyone and everyone that he could identify as having known Sue and Mamie. No one would share what they knew. One woman was anxious to talk to dad until her husband walked into the room and reminded her of a promise of secrecy she had given.

When Sue was in Greenville SC in her last days, I used to drive over on Sundays to sit with her. I remember well asking her if she was my grandmother. She said to me “I wish I could say”.

We will never know. I have come to accept that. I could write all day about this subject and I have. Little things like why did she wanted pay for me to go to art school. She was a painter. She made no such offer to any other kids in the family. Puzzling? Not really.

I guess there are lessons to be learned by all of what I write about. If you are raised in a Baptist family and have an affair with a Jewish man in town, there will be rumors and stories that will require promises to keep private.

The Dukes family had all college educated kids except my father. I believe that someone decided dad should be kept uneducated so he would not be able to figure out why he was treated differently.

Dad was different. My father did not drink. He did not curse. He was shockingly honest.

To his credit, he at the age of 60 got his college degree. He did not receive what he yearned for. His heart was heavy for so many years.

I love you dad. Maybe in heaven, you were able to find out. Let me know when you see me. I will be there soon enough.

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