Joe Turner's Come and Gone - Character Guide

Character Guide

Seth Holly- In his early fifties, Seth is owner of the boardinghouse and works as a craftsman.

Bertha Holly- Seth's wife of 25 years and five years his junior, Bertha runs the boardinghouse. She does all the cooking and cleaning, later with the aid of Zonia.

Bynum Walker- A "conjure" man staying with the Holly's at the boardinghouse, Bynum is in his sixties and is a freed slave from the south.

Rutherford Selig- The only white character in the play, Selig is a peddler who sells Seth's goods. Known as the "People Finder", Selig is from a family that first brought Africans across the Atlantic to become slaves. But now he unites people by recording the names and places of all the people he peddles to.

Jeremy Furlow- Another resident of the boardinghouse, Jeremy is a guitar-playing 25-year-old. He came to the North looking for a job and a way in life. He works construction, putting in the new road outside of town.

Herald Loomis- An odd man who dons an overcoat and hat in mid-August, Loomis is 32 and a displaced slave searching for his wife. He was forced to work for Joe Turner for seven years, which separated him from his wife and daughter. He works as a deacon for the Abundant Life Church and at times was possessed by spiritual beings.

Zonia Loomis- Herald's daughter, Zonia is described as a tall and skinny 11-year-old.

Mattie Campbell- Mattie is a 25-year-old girl who is disappointed with her position in life and is looking for love.

Rueben Mercer- Rueben is the Holly's next door neighbor and about Zonia's age.

Molly Cunningham- Molly is a good looking young woman of 26 who is strong and independent.

Martha Pentecost- Loomis' wife, Martha is about 28 and very religious and a member of the Evangelical church. She left the South and her daughter behind.

Joe Turner- While Turner does not make an actual appearance in the play, he is often referred to with the expectation that the audience is aware of who he is. Joe Turner, the brother of the governor of Tennessee, would kidnap black men and force them into labor on his chain gang for seven years.