In 2002 Justin Jensen recalled : " The idea of having a museum in the old home of the Hering family was first thought of in the early 1980's - most probably in 1982 . One day my mother was working in a vegetable garden beside the Jeri Southern childhood home when a man in a rental car stopped on the highway in front of the property and called out , " Is this Jeri Southern's home ? " .Mother left her work and walked over to talk to the man who told her that he was from England and was the president of the British Jazz Club . He had travelled to Royal particularly to see the old house . Mother was amazed that someone would travel such a great distance especially for that . After some conversation the man asked if he might see the inside of the property , a request my mother was happy to grant .

The circumstances then were that Mrs.Hering , Jeri's mother , had died about eighteen years before and even though my mother had thought of remodeling the house into a rental it remained untouched . Everything inside remained as it had been . Even the piano that Jeri had learned to play on when aged five was still standing in its corner . "

" Genevieve Hering ( Jeri Southern ) had been three years of age when her family moved the four and a half or so miles from the mill in Jessup ( Hering's Mill ) where she had been born , into Royal .As an infant and through her girlhood - she was to gain by the determined influence and companionship of her home-minded , both journalist and elecutionist , mother . Importantly as it was to prove , from the age of five , Jeri was given piano lessons .  Regarding schooling ; at first she attended the school in Royal but Mrs . Hering , wanting her daughter to have opportunity in life , thought that Jeri at age thirteen should attend the Notre Dame' Academy in Omaha. The Academy had some very accomplished music teachers . "

Thelma Reefe,Jeri's home town best friend of her childhood and youth was present at the first "Jeri Southern Day"organised by the Jeri Southern Home and Museum held in the home itself . During conversation about the old days,Thelma said that Jeri was
always " just Genevieve " , seeming always "to take time to talk with friends." On seeing the museums special display Thelma expressed her surprise that the gramophone records of her old friend had been sold in so many countries. On display that day were records with sleeves in Japanese,German and Spanish.  Thelma remembered Jeri at school in Omaha , recalling that when either herself or class mates had music practice they could only use the old upright piano in the music room,whilst Jeri was permitted to practice using the school's grand piano in the concert hall.Jeri had begun piano lessons when aged five.Eight years later she was a pupil at Omaha's Notre Dame Academy,having moved there after initial education in Royal's Grammar School.Aged thirteen she herself was giving others piano lessons.

For themselves and to earn money the Herings kept chickens and it was important that they did , for Jeri's attendance at the Omaha Notre Dame Academy cost money. Money got from the eggs went towards her school fees. The school itself took eggs as part payment for her keep.
She also did other work.For the local Helmer family there was cleaning and ironing to do .The photograph directly below shows Jeri and her friend Thelma during their first driving lesson in the Hering's 1928 Chevrolet Sedan. Jeri is wearing her cleaning work clothes.

Ron Helmer , a grandson of the Mr.Helmer that employed Jeri remembers that his grandfather had been a vaudeville performer - " a song and dance man who was often around pretty ladies " and that Jeri enjoyed the stories that his grandfather would tell . Young Ron Helmer would carry the young Jeri both to and from her work at his family's farm south of Royal on his bicycle . On one occasion , when returning Jeri home , her shoe caught in the spokes of the back wheel . Ron was very upset . He said , " It just wrecked the wheel ! "
When in 1956 Jeri Southern returned to Royal to perform she particularly asked to speak with her old friend Ron Helmer .

Another old friend of Jeri's schooldays was Irene Petric. On visiting the Jeri Southern Home in Royal she said that at the Notre Dame catholic school Jeri was not known either as Genevieve or Jeri but " was always Ginger " due to her having reddish brown colored hair .She remembered her friend as being a girl who was lot of fun and who would always " walk like a star ". Having little money , Jeri was careful about spending . On one occasion the pair shopped for easter dresses : " That was an experience " , said Irene , " we spent hours looking for just the right shoes and dress. " At Notre Dame each girl had to take a turn to " do kitchen clean up ... little Jeri could barely balance the trays of plates that needed to be cleared from the tables ... we ate off yellow glass plates , they are called depression plates nowadays ... Jeri dropped a tray of them breaking many " . Even though the damage was accidental Jeri had to compensate the school and was billed , being charged 25 cents for each plate broken , it took her a very long time to pay for them all .