Elsie Lancaster was born in 1926, in a town six miles from Farmville. Her father worked as a chef at a local college and eventually saved enough to buy the family their own house. She grew up playing with both black and white kids. She married Melvin Lancaster, a man she began dating in high school, and a year later she gave birth to their daughter, Gwen. Although many of her six siblings moved away, Lancaster stayed close to home, settling in Farmville.

Lancaster stayed at home to raise Gwen. Then, in 1954, her mother-in-law got hurt, so Lancaster filled in for her at work. The job was housekeeper for Green’s grandparents. Melvin did not like the idea of his wife working for white people, but Lancaster enjoyed earning her own money, as well as the independence the job gave her. In addition to cleaning, Lancaster cared for the three Green children. She also helped out when Mimi and Papa hosted parties. Mimi cooked lunch for Lancaster on the days she worked for them.

Lancaster had been working for Green’s grandparents for five years when the public schools closed. Although Mimi and Papa had met Gwen on occasion, they never asked Lancaster how the closure affected her daughter.