Zeb, what is your full name?
My full given name is Zebulon Carrington Pery.
And, what is your occupation?
Tobacco Farmer and Confederate soldier
Tell us about yourself. Where were you raised? What's your family
like? Where do you live?
I was born in Powhatan County, Virginia in 1825. My father was much older than my mother, she being his third wife, and she being a child bride. I grew up on our family farm and raised tobacco until Virginia decided to secede along with the other Southern states and form the Confederate States of America. At that point, when the North declared war on us, I, along with my brother, enlisted in the Confederate Army.
Although I lost my mortal life at the end of the war, I have walked the state of Virginia since that time.
What are your short and long term goals? What do you want out of life?
Unfortunately, I never found love during my natural lifetime, and, I understand that finding true love will free me from my eternal wandering.
I also seek to better the life of my niece, Yolanda, who has taken up with the lowest breed of humanity.
What's your most embarrassing moment?
Regrettably, I must relate to you one of the most humiliating and frustrating moments of my existence. After I was wounded in the Battle of Petersburg, I made it home to Powhatan County only to succumb to my wounds. Abigail says I died of infection and that modern-day medicines could have saved me, but in any event, in 1865 my body was quite dead yet I walked the earth.
At that time marauders set upon our plantation and found Honey, my brother’s common law widow. Right in front of my eyes they raped and killed her with her own tiny daughter looking on. There was nothing I could do! No matter how I struck them, my hands went through them like a hot knife through butter.
Biggest regret?
My biggest regret, after not being able to save Honey would be that I didn’t discover the true meaning of life until after I was dead.
Every been convicted of a crime?
The conquering troops that invaded Virginia say that I am guilty of treason for taking up arms against the United States. I stand firm in my belief that I served the state of Virginia to the best of my ability.
If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Since when I returned home from the war, my dear darling mother had passed away of Typhoid, I would once again like to tell her how much I loved her and how sorry I am that I wasn't there in her hour of need.
Are you single? Married? Looking?
Fortunately, I am very happily married to Abigail Willis Perry.
What's your ideal mate like?
I searched Virginia high and low until I spied Abigail hard at work on the thing she refers to as a computer and at that moment, I knew she was the one for me. Before I laid eyes on Abigail, I had not been one to believe in love at first sight so I set out to learn as much as I could about this woman. I immediately read every one of her books and my heart was set on my beloved.
Tell us a secret. What's something others might not know about you?
My secret is actually a shame I carry with me. Although a Virginian and a slaveowner, I believe that to own another human being is wrong and I carry with me the knowledge that my family wronged the people who faithfully served us for many long years.
Do you have a nickname?
Most people call me Zeb. Although my mother did called me Zebby.
Any pet peeves?
I live in modern-day Richmond and I don’t understand why people are so addicted to doing things so quickly. Why, taking a leisurely trip to the countryside in a horse and buggy was very delightful in my day. Today people are too much in a rush to enjoy such a thing.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why?
I would make myself visible to other mortal souls so that I could remove the injustices in the world that cause some to be terribly downtrodden.
Any pets?
On our plantation in Powhatan County, we had cats to catch the mice, dogs to help us in hunting, cows for milk, and horses for transportation. I did, however, have a favorite horse I called Moses that I took to war with me. Only a year into the war, he was shot out from under me. I still miss him greatly.
How about allergies?
While I was in my ghostly state, I suffered from neither hot nor cold, nor hunger nor thirst, and now I have all of those and a terrible reaction to the pollen in Richmond.
Do you support any charities?
Abigail and I take in mistreated children, who under our loving care, come to trust again.
Is the glass half full or half empty?
The glass is always half full, although I must admit, my life is incomplete without Abigail at my side.
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