Vanessa Richardson

Still, Talmadge apparently insisted on expanding the family, whether Wanda liked it or not. As the years passed and her responsibilities increased, Talmadge's behavior became juvenile. He compulsively showed off with attention-seeking dances or by jumping off tables. Though he projected a larger-than-life spirit in public, in private he became a different man.

Still, Talmadge apparently insisted on expanding the family, whether Wanda liked it or not. As the years passed and her responsibilities increased, Talmadge's behavior became juvenile. He compulsively showed off with attention-seeking dances or by jumping off tables. Though he projected a larger-than-life spirit in public, in private he became a different man.

At home, Talmadge reportedly grew bullish, domineering. Suddenly, he had no problem berating his wife. When words weren't enough, he hit Wanda and the kids. But Wanda hid her husband's alleged abuse from church friends by peddling images of the perfect family. She gussied up her kids just as she did her childhood collection of baby dolls, suits for her boys and tailored dresses for the girls.

At home, Talmadge reportedly grew bullish, domineering. Suddenly, he had no problem berating his wife. When words weren't enough, he hit Wanda and the kids. But Wanda hid her husband's alleged abuse from church friends by peddling images of the perfect family. She gussied up her kids just as she did her childhood collection of baby dolls, suits for her boys and tailored dresses for the girls.

She was desperate for her neighbor's approval, but acquaintances felt interactions with Wanda were forced, insincere. They commented that she seemed weirdly submissive. Her sister always said she was a follower, and others agreed. Nobody could get a sense of who the real Wanda was. Adding to the stress at home, Talmadge couldn't hold down a job.

She was desperate for her neighbor's approval, but acquaintances felt interactions with Wanda were forced, insincere. They commented that she seemed weirdly submissive. Her sister always said she was a follower, and others agreed. Nobody could get a sense of who the real Wanda was. Adding to the stress at home, Talmadge couldn't hold down a job.

He surrendered to financial difficulty, which only made him angrier. He spent money they didn't have and drove the family to duress. Ashamed, he fled home regularly during the 1970s. Wanda tried to keep the family afloat. She paid what bills she could and struggled to provide basic care for her kids.

He surrendered to financial difficulty, which only made him angrier. He spent money they didn't have and drove the family to duress. Ashamed, he fled home regularly during the 1970s. Wanda tried to keep the family afloat. She paid what bills she could and struggled to provide basic care for her kids.

She took odd jobs doing hair or teaching piano, but clients hated coming to her chaotic house, so she had trouble holding on to work too. When she lost a client, Talmadge refused her the same benefit of the doubt she gave him. Instead, he beat Wanda and the children or whipped them with leather belts. And while, at least initially, Wanda didn't hit her kids, she did let the abuse happen.

She took odd jobs doing hair or teaching piano, but clients hated coming to her chaotic house, so she had trouble holding on to work too. When she lost a client, Talmadge refused her the same benefit of the doubt she gave him. Instead, he beat Wanda and the children or whipped them with leather belts. And while, at least initially, Wanda didn't hit her kids, she did let the abuse happen.

And when her children came to her for comfort, she distracted herself to avoid vulnerability. She met her kids' tears with apathy. If they accused Wanda of not being there for them, she responded by grabbing a knife and threatening to kill herself. She'd ask what they would do if she were gone, really gone, forever. Wanda's early threats were just precursors to future abuses.

And when her children came to her for comfort, she distracted herself to avoid vulnerability. She met her kids' tears with apathy. If they accused Wanda of not being there for them, she responded by grabbing a knife and threatening to kill herself. She'd ask what they would do if she were gone, really gone, forever. Wanda's early threats were just precursors to future abuses.

Her kids would soon be forced to survive much, much worse. In 1964, 19-year-old Wanda Barzee married childish ne'er-do-well Talmadge Thompson. But once the honeymoon glow expired, Talmadge beat Wanda and her kids without remorse. But Wanda never once made an attempt to halt the battering or defend her children.

Her kids would soon be forced to survive much, much worse. In 1964, 19-year-old Wanda Barzee married childish ne'er-do-well Talmadge Thompson. But once the honeymoon glow expired, Talmadge beat Wanda and her kids without remorse. But Wanda never once made an attempt to halt the battering or defend her children.

In time, the years of abuse took their toll and Wanda became an abuser in her own right. When her oldest kids reached eight or nine years old, she threatened them regularly. She said that if they were dead, the family would be okay, maybe even better off. Sometimes she locked the pantry for days on end. Then she'd choose just the right moment to make a piping hot meal for herself.

In time, the years of abuse took their toll and Wanda became an abuser in her own right. When her oldest kids reached eight or nine years old, she threatened them regularly. She said that if they were dead, the family would be okay, maybe even better off. Sometimes she locked the pantry for days on end. Then she'd choose just the right moment to make a piping hot meal for herself.

She'd call the kids to the dining room and indulge in front of her starving children, moaning in delight. As her kids got older, Wanda escalated to physical abuse. She hit them or pulled their hair, but the psychological torments were the ones that left lasting marks.

She'd call the kids to the dining room and indulge in front of her starving children, moaning in delight. As her kids got older, Wanda escalated to physical abuse. She hit them or pulled their hair, but the psychological torments were the ones that left lasting marks.

As one of Wanda's daughters put it when interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, "...the physical wounds could always heal, but the scars of emotional abuse remained." Perhaps even worse was Wanda's neglect. The Thompson kids had no knowledge of right and wrong. In school, they acted out. Her boys even vandalized the neighborhood church.

As one of Wanda's daughters put it when interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, "...the physical wounds could always heal, but the scars of emotional abuse remained." Perhaps even worse was Wanda's neglect. The Thompson kids had no knowledge of right and wrong. In school, they acted out. Her boys even vandalized the neighborhood church.