I'll start by saying many people don't understand when I tell them that I was raised by a woman who was born the same year Coca Cola was first sold in bottles.
Grandma shares a birth year with Moms Mabley and Martha Graham.
1894.
My grandmother Ida was a tiny woman with a great big laugh.
I remember her for so many things.
I often wonder what she would think of today's politics..especially having a black president.
I can imagine her voice saying over and over "lord keep that boy safe".
I do remember that she DID NOT like The Muppets.
She would ask me.."Why don't they have feet?" When I explained that they were puppets..she would say..without fail.."sounds like some foolishness to me"
This is a picture from the 70's..a road trip to Virgina to visit some much loved cousins.
I am making the crazy face because I am standing next to grandma's spit cup..I was trying to be so cool..way off the mark. Grandma is on the far left.
I am sure she would amazed at the world today, cell phones especially.
I can imagine her asking.."well where is the cord to the phone?"
After my reply she would most certainly reply.."sounds like some foolishness to me".
These pictures are from a recent trip my father and my cousin/sister..cause we're close like that.. took to visit the church my grandparents..their parents and my parents attended.
We also set out to put flowers on their graves.
It was odd to imagine returning to the places where my ancestors walked and farmed the land in a Benz.
People loved my grandparents and the land they once owned is still referred to as The Champion Farm.
My dad is truly a life line to that part of my history.
I asked him about growing up in the 1930's and if people were mean to them in their community.
He recalls farming with other white families and never being disrespected or made to feel threatened.
I recall my grandmother and my dad driving down to the country to visit old friends black and white when I was a young child. I got a first hand look at some beautiful friendships.
My grandfather John died nearly eight months after I was born in 1971. I don't remember him, but I love the stories that my family members have shared with me.
It's a little odd when I look at his head stone and see my name..or most of it.
His parents favorite president was McKinley.
Not sure why they didn't include the full name on his headstone. Saving money I suppose.
During the ride , my dad and my cousin made sure to show me how far they walked to church from home.
We didn't visit the farm this time.
On a visit a few years ago, the people who lived nearby greeted us, told fond stories of my grandparents, and their children. It was truly a trip back in time.
This is the final resting place for my great Aunt Annie.
She was my grandmother Ida's sister and passed away several years before I was born.
The true family historian was our cousin Percy Jones.
He was an awesome man, extremely intelligent and very kind.
I remember as a child his dedication to keeping the church cemetery maintained for Chalk Level CME church.
He was a veteran--click here to see a beautiful video tribute and very devoted to his family and passing down family history.
He and his darling wife Rosie were married for many years and passed away within months of each other.
These are the resting places of more members of the church.
The Prince family was another large family in the church.
My parents and grandparent and aunts and uncles grew up with them and thought very highly of them.
Hustler,Hardy Lois and Grace Prince were really outgoing and interesting people.
I learned so much from my grandmother and will never forget her teaching me to read from the biggest bible ever made.
See spot run had nothing on learning to pronounce Deuteronomy and philistine before pre school.
The coolest thing about the trip is remembering riding down to the church every Sunday in the 70's with my dad and grandma, in a car that only had an AM radio.
American Top 40 with Casey Kasem was always on.
Explains my total love for AM GOLD formatted music.
My cousin Angie and I singing our faces off and often making up lyrics.
My family rocks.
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