....Missing Mommie....

Mother's Day is approaching. My thoughts every year around this time, I ponder and think on all the things I have been Blessed with having this "Mother of Mine".

Mom was born August 29th, 1923 in Midway, Alabama and she passed on November 11, 2008 in Oberlin, Pennsylvania.

Mother of Mine, Tinnie L. Miles Lewis

That's not as important to me these days. What's important is all the memories Mom left behind for me to have on those days I miss her the most. She left me comfort. A wealth of knowledge. Every time I think back on our conversations, they weren't always filled with laughter or sorrow but she was always teaching me something in every conversation.
How to do this or that. How to cook, husband advice, raising my children. It was always in a round about way she could weave advice into a life lesson.

Collection of My Favorites of Mom's Things

I can recall when I would be sitting in between her legs getting my hair done and my head snatched in all directions she would be on the phone gabbing with her girlfriend and watching "Young and Restless" all at the same time. She worked from 6-11 for AMP Inc. for 20 years. There for us during the day and Daddy for us at night. 

I love shucking corn with her, or scratching her head in a good spot that was itchy. Calling her crying or whining about something. Or the times she held me close in her bosom in church. Mom was fun. She had a mile wide smile. Loved by so many. She was full of pride about all her children. She really felt they were a reflection of her. Everytime I walked in a room to see her or waking up in the morning as a child, she had that look on her face that made the world light up. She was so happy to see you. All the countless times she stood by you in everything. She use to say: "I want my Flowers now, Don't wait till I'm Dead. We made sure Mom got her Flowers all the time not just holidays. It was kisses. Extra change in the mail. Paying for a church breakfast. Those were her flowers.
Who knew Mom would be Mother of the church. Something the "Black Church" has done for centuries with the Elders. I remember the Mother of the Church when I was young. In the end it would be mine. 

Daddy Me and Mommie

She was a foster mother awarded many times on her great work with children. Some we still keep in touch till this day. 
Mom taught me how to be a Woman, I didn't need examples.  I had one everyday. She taught me how Beautiful I am. What my Worth was. How to hold my head up high and my chin pointed. I could do all Things. I was Potential and Possibility. I have all I need to live a Bountiful Life. Most of all I was LOVED.



I'm the age my Mom was when she became a Grandma, with me. Forty-ish! and that prompted me to write this. At two days old she and Daddy had to make a decision about adopting their oldest child's, first child. He was in Vietnam and the Birth Mom was Caucasion and it was the 60's. Their children were grown and out the house. So they did. They kept me. Starting their lives all over again. I got the best of the best. My whole life is centered on keeping with all the traditions they have taught and passed onto to us to the next generation. My own Children were Blessed to see their Great Grandparents and learn from them also.

I have those same feelings she did about her Grandchildren. All that she taught me, I can see I'm showing up as my Mom to my Granddaughter. I want to pass all the ways of storytelling and teaching a lesson in each of our conversations, things that Janellie can take with her to carry on to her's one day. That is my wish.

Happy Mother's Day! to all The Mother's who gave birth, who are Motherless but Help to mold and teach other's children. I have those in my Life to, Pattykakes and Ollie Lifetime friends of mine who helped and reached out to me. A Stepmom since I was three years old. Norma or Momma as I call her who treated me like I was her own.I'm also one since she was three years old to Taya Girl. I hope she knows she has been loved by me since the day I saw her. And as a 18 year old woman she can take some of my knowledge with her also. I'm a Godmom for two boys, Elyjah and Trenton. I'm hoping the little I do, it will be a life lesson later, that I'm remembered for doing my best with them. 

                         

Where I'm From.....

                                                           

I'm from a old dusty red handled flour swifter, from fried okra, and sweet bread.

Mom's red-handled swifter and skillet

I’m from a remembered 4 story home, with a barn, ruled by my Mother’s voice and by my Father’s presence.

I’m from home grown variety gardens full of Collard Greens, Peppers, and Tomatoes. Acorns and leaves. Azalea bushes, fresh cut grass; along with Honeysuckle lamb in summer.

I am from big hearted, big eyes, high cheeks, with smiles long as the Mississippi River, all from a Granddaddy we only heard about, thru his Son J.E. and his wife Tinnie.

I’m from a lineage of slaves, sharecroppers, Civil Rights Advocates, Soldiers and Intellectual People of Wisdom.

From, “When one life was taken, another was Given”,  now you better “Run with it”.

I’m from a heritage of “We Baptist up in here”, foot-stomping, hand clapping, singing Ol’ Time Religion songs;Chairman of the Deacon Board, Reverends,Doctors, Lawyers and Teachers all out of a small school called Merritt School for the Colored.

I’m from a small town called Oberlin. With parts of  Midway, Alabama and Bonaire, Georgia with a touch of  South Carolina. From Ancestors who were West African, Yoruba, with deep European roots that stretch along from the eastern shores all the way down south to Florida.

Africa in 1600's

From mealtimes that included rice and something fried along with a piece of some 2- tiered cake Mom made of chocolate or coconut. From, trips "Down Home" in the summer, were all my family gathered to have a good time, even in sorrow. We always had a feast spread out by the Elders. I come from barefoot walks to Ms. Mary Thomas’s candy store where 1$ could by you a small brown bag full of goodies.

I’m from the Slave, Ike Ivery, and his unbeknownst slaveowner. From Lizzie Jordan a Slave woman who bore children from the Irishman and her born into slavery husband George Daniel. She was a Woman of her time. Rumored to be a BlackFoot Indian and African. I’m from a Patriot from Pa with the Barrick name. 

I am from a crowd of beautiful faces of all shades of color from white to latte, honey to chocolate. From Love and Hate, from a place where you can’t put a price on our soul or our body. From a place were we are all counted and a place where we are Somebody to Everybody. That’s our Treasure of Worth.

From my friend Lisa D. Cooper the originator. She showed me who she was thru writing this story.  I want to share and show you some of ME. Thank You Lisa!

Wordless Wednesday #1

President Barack H. Obama Honoring my Father 

4 Generations of Military all Firstborns

Please click the LINK to see my Story:

http://www.blackpresence.co.uk/african-american-soldier-family/



I was honored to GuestBlog on "Black Presence", about my Family's Military History. I wanted to share with you that didn't get to see it on other sites.

 Hope you Enjoy!

4 Generations of Military all Firstborns 

EvEryThiNg is EvEryThiNg

Well..... what do you want to know? My answer is always, I want to know EVERTHING !

Me and Granddaddy Ike

I got to try to find as much as I can. I think of EVERYTHING about Granddaddy Ike Ivery born in 1853. I want to know what his dreams, his hopes, his fears, even what his prayers were if that would be possible. There is no one thing, or a few things to get straight. I look for clues everywhere. I want to know EVERYTHING!

Last night Rev.Al Sharpton interviewed and asked Mrs. Mrylie-Evers Williams, she is the widow of Mr. Medgar Evers. What did she want everybody to know about Medgar Evers? She is giving the three minute Convocation at the Inauguration. 

Her answer was: EVERYTHING!, EVERYTHING!, EVERYTHING!

Learn EVERYTHING. Learn about the whole person as much as you can. Examine every aspect of their life to get a full story. 

Since 1870 Granddaddy Ike you have been leaving your footprints in Alabama. I've sort of been let on the loose to find them. Put my feet in your shoes, to walk the walk. I knew exactly what Mrs. Evers-Williams meant.

I want to know what they did to you when you walked the 434.5 miles from somewhere in South Carolina to Midway, Bullock County, Alabama, were you would eventually grow up and make your home. I hope it wasn't to much of a struggle and they let you jump on the wagon or a ol'mule from time to time along the way. How many weeks or months was that trip? They didn't smart mouth or beat you for any reason, did they? Did you meet other slaves along the way? What was it like at night along the route? What did you see? What was on your mind about the future? Did you think you'd ever be free? What happened the day Freedom came for you?

I'm glad you got to be with your Parents, William and Minty, after 2 census's I can't find them nowhere. 

Granddaddy Ike, I want to ask you where in South Carolina we come from? The oral history from your Children passed to Grandchildren keep passing that info on. I'm always trying to find the documents.
 I advanced myself taking a DNA test just to get closer to you. That opened up a whole new World!  But don't worry! I prayed over it. I was gonna be satisfied with whatever the outcome was gonna be. I had you on my mind the whole time.

Grandma Eddie Lee Ivery Lewis Resting Place

This is all I thought I had of you, from the ground. In reality, your blood runs through me and you left me so much more.  I see you through your Grand children's eyes. I didn't get to meet your 23 children.  Even my own Daddy. He's passed now, he kept you and your Daughter Eddie Lee alive in all of our hearts all the time. That is why we know ya'll so good.

Why you had to be born so long ago? I didn't get to sit up on your lap, smell your snuff, help you shave, or keep you toenails trimmed, bring you some of your daughter Eddie's sweet potato pie. Just a simple walk around the land hand in hand on Pruitt Place.  I just know I would of been your favorite, sitting around listening to your stories of slavery.

1912 Deed

In 1908 The state of Alabama did an Assessment Report for you and I saw your Pocket Watch value.Who you were staying with on Pruitt Place. You left me a lot of goodies to play with. Marriage licenses, death certificates, census's. I loved the deed where in 1912 you bought land from J.L. and Winnie Thomas. I'm still trying to find them and the coordinates of your property to see exactly where it's at. I'll get that done next trip down home.


Your two sisters. Isabella and Rosanna. It took me forever to find Belle! Named on a application of marriage, she was getting married on your Father William's property, so that told me he was still living at least until 1881. She was marrying Charles Haynes. Was he related to my grandma Mary Haynes, your 1st wife of three legal marriages? Was he her brother? Rosanna married Charles Ford and I couldn't locate them also. What happened to your sisters? Did they leave Alabama?

Can't find your brother's also. How long did your Parents live? Where are they buried?

Aunt Sallie Bea your Granddaughter told us of the story of when you passed. You was sick for a short while and you passed in your sleep. They had you laid out in what they called the parlor room. Everyone had to go through the front room to get back there. Aunt Sallie Bea said she couldn't see you as she had to babysit the children. But she remembers you lying up in there in state for a few days. The bells of Mt. Coney which you helped get built, were released into the community to let them know death was in the family. Daddy was 19. He had to be strong for his Mother, who was so close to you. I know this about your relationship and find it befitting she is buried next to you in death.

We didn't see it as a suffering or lost. You passed away in 1937 well before any of us where born.We got to spend time with other grandparents. Sam and Queen Daniel Miles. They did the best they could in loving us. It hit me in 1977 when Grannie Queen died.  I saw the pain and grief. My Mother never got over that, no matter how many celebrations we had, that hole was in her heart from that day forward. That is how I feel now that she is gone. 

Everybody is just about gone now. I have to try to put the pieces together one by one. So that our future generations can have as much info as they need to get to know you too. There will be times when I don't have EVERYTHING, but that will be suffice. 

I'm dedicating a lot of time through research, trips to courthouses, mail requests,oral history interviews to keep your memory alive. No matter the struggle or hard it was. Your Living was not in Vain. Not while I have a VOICE!

As far as you Granddaddy Ike and the rest of the Ancestors, ones I find, the ones I don't know yet. I want to know EVERYTHING!

I expect you to be on the other side of Heaven along the Jordan River, I know you can't help me to cross. But I put my hand up over eyes as the sun is ever so bright, but I can see you Granddaddy Ike, with your Momma and Daddy, Grandaddy William born in 1812  waving me over.
I know then I'll get all my QUESTIONS answered.

Talk to you soon in my Dreams or while I'm Awake. I know your just short, around the bend for me.


Truly Yours.
True!
Your Great Great Granddaughter

Sidenote: Happy Anniversary!
http://geneabloggers.com/geneabloggers-celebrates-years/

Funeral Card Friday #1

Rev. Obie L. Lewis.......... My Daddy's big brother........Daddy kept Uncle Obie alive by this photo. I think this might be one of the "oldest" obits I have. Hopefully not, but at the moment it is. It wasn't until Daddy passed, I found this obit in his WW2 footlocker. He was 13 years older than Daddy and more of an influence on him then Uncle Obie would ever get to know.  There is so much I have to learn just from his Funeral Card Obit. Poole Funeral Home is still in business and they have been Thanked and Helpful in so Many ways. I know he is buried in Mason City Cemetery which is now New Grace Hill. I have to get more history on the church and a lot of other unanswered questions. I will keep moving forward and adding notes to his bio as I learn. Also his Mother had a brother named Obie who had no children. My Uncle Obie didn't either. Ironic.
On March 1st, 1946 my Lovely Took Care of Business Aunt Belle died during childbirth,she was just 34 years old. Daddy took charge and made sure he was at both funerals in two days. Just running with so much on his shoulders. Just from this Daddy was always running making sure things where taking care of when it came to times like these, He was in Charge.

Uncle Obie's Funeral Card

Daddy said his Momma heard the "Rooster crow 3 times" and she didn't know she would be next on June 22, 1946. So I would say that was a hard Year for my Daddy. In my Family they always say DEATH comes in Three's. They always take two other people with them. Well in 1946 Death Came.

Rev. Obie L. Lewis


You are truly missed and I wish I could sit and talk awhile with you.

.HaTs oFF.

This was MY favorite HAT that embodied all of her Southern Charms. The Gardening Hat. Down by the Shore Hat, with it's Seashells that sparkle in the Light. The Floppy Hat.


Mom was always in Style with a Good Hat. That was her staple, her signature.

I need to get ready for a New Hat...........

You'd see her everywhere with one. As it comes close to Christmas and a New Year is upon us. It's like putting a new HAT on. I'm sitting at my little desk and I'm looking up at Mom's hat. She use to hang them on a door handle to the closet that was right by her seat at the kitchen table, she could just grab it if she got a quick visitor at the front door or if she felt her hair was out of place. It would be there if she was running out the door to go to "Tha STo", in her Southern accent!

 She had a hat everywhere in that house for every occasion.

Her hats would be up in the closet as you walked in the door on the top shelf of some old phonebooks always ready for a quick grab. Layed across my bed in my "old room" for ready on Sunday morning, even on a Styrofoam head just to keep that Tam in place. When she passed she had old hat boxes from Hess's, John Wanamaker's. It was hard to let it go. 
Me and my sister Bettye, after she passed, Laid them all out in the Living Room we called the "Front Room",we weren't allowed to be in as kids, as her friends would stop by and look the hats over and choose what memory they wanted to keep. We wanted them to have something of Mom's. Hats were important in a Southern Lady's wardrobe they stood for different things. Work~ Grieving~Celebrations. IT's an inspiration for me, for starting over in a New Year.

 Daddy just sat quietly over the coming weeks..... as we were settling all of Mom's personal things. He was the Leader in Mom having so many Hat and Purses and her Pins. He spoiled her with them. Me and Bettye kept several but that was the last hat I saw Mom in, and Bay graciously bowed out to let me have my way. The other thing I think of the most is Mom's pin hats. She had plenty. I love to just open my box and glance at them. The hat pins never went out of style for Mom, she had them all around in different rooms just for etiquette. That's what a Southern Lady does.

Mom at her Best. Our favorite.

She went out with Style no matter what time of year or occasion. Her biggest moment for me, was when Mom stepped out in her Church hat. She knew how to wear it, she wore it well! and It didn't wear her. Church hats were my Mom's Crown and Glory!

 I was always so Proud.

 I walked like a Peacock knowing my MOmma had the baddest hat in town on. When she passed in 2008 that is what all this reminded me of: LIFE. A New Year is starting so we have to take the old off and put on the new to start anew.......Hat's off to you Mom, "Sis. Tinnie" and to 2012! We Welcome 2013 as we put our New Hat on For the Year! See you next Year........

Back of the card with Final Bill

Mom's  "STEIN'S" Hat Bill from 1965