National Black Hymn: "Lift Every Voice & Sing".

Lift Every Voice

Lift Every Voice by the Wardlow Brothers on YouTube

      Lift every voice and sing

      Till Earth and Heaven ring,

   Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;

      Let our rejoicing rise,

      High as the listening skies,

   Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us,

   Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

   Let us march on till victory is won.

      Stony the road we trod,

      Bitter the chastening rod,

   Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;

      Yet with a steady beat,

      Have not our weary feet

   Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,

We have come treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,

   Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last

   Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

      God of our weary years,

      God of our silent tears,

   Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;

      Thou who has by Thy might

      Led us into the light,

   Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,

Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, forget Thee,

   Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand,

   True to our God, true to our native land.

Written: In 1899 as a Poem by James Weldon Johnson.

 His Brother John Rosamund Johnson penned it to music.  

On the occasion for Pres. Lincoln's birthday on February 12, 1900.

In 1919 the NAACP adopted it as it's Negro National Anthem for the plight and cry as affirmation and their liberation as a people. 

Many Rivers To Cross, PBS.

Many Rivers To Cross

 This LINK takes you to my own Personal Story Submission:

  My True Roots ~ Many Rivers To Cross 

Share Your Stories 

Except from where you submit your Story and Here is Why?

African-American history has played an integral role in the shaping of politics, economics, and culture in the United States. Growing up, how did you learn about the accomplishments and struggles of African Americans? Were you in a classroom? Reading a book? Talking with relatives or friends? How has your understanding or knowledge of African-American history changed and/or developed over time? What do you think is the most effective way to pass along this rich and growing history to future generations?

Me & Daddy, 1977. 

I wrote on behalf of my Family for "Many Rivers To Cross".....

This is what I submitted for Record for PBS and Dr. Henry Louis Gates.

I was at the age of 9 in 1977, when I stared listening and asking questions of my Dad about our Family. I don't know who took this picture of me and my Daddy but it reflects on what I have doing ever since. Trying to piece together my family roots, it was the same year that summer my Grandma Queen Daniel Miles passed away.


"Roots" came on television. I wanted to know more. Little did I know it was called "Genealogy" back then. So here I am now, still getting those Oral History interviews in writing "NoTes To MySeL f " by way of blogging.

Doing all I can in research even as far as doing DNA testing. It's fulfilling, it takes time and patience. My Greatest Readers are not born yet, I have to keep telling our stories. It's my responsibility to keep Honoring our Ancestors!

I hope I'm starting lo live up to my Name and seek what is 'TRUE" for my family........

Was Submitted Publicly  during October 22 ~ November 26, 2013.
For Premiere of "Many Rivers to Cross".

For the Record and For My Remembrance.

For: www.MyTrueRoots.com

By:   True A. Lewis

"My 3 Sons"! of Sam & Queen Miles Of Midway Alabama.

These are some NoTe's To MySelf.... about my Uncle's. 

I wanted them to have a place amongst their Parents and 7 Sister's. Hope you enjoy!

My Uncle Grover Miles!  Was the Oldest Son. Oldest of 10 children born to Sam Miles and Queen Daniel. Born June 15, 1912. Him and Aunt Velma his sister born 1929, share the same birthday. He Married his 1st wife Arluster Williams January 2nd, 1931. They had 7 children.  

When his 1st wife passed. He was introduced and met and married my Daddy sister's.

 Aunt Sarah Cate (Callie) Lewis Glenn on October 31, 1948. 

Grover Miles and Sarah Lewis Marriage License

They had 2 sons my Double Cousins Roosevelt and Eddie Lee, who are still taking care of their mother at 97. Making a total of 9 children for himself. Roosevelt helps me now with the Oral History from their side. 

We've always been close and he is always a phone call away for my questions. I so appreciate him carrying it for me and taking time. Aunt Sarah has done all she can for me in too many ways, to many times. She always had time to answer my calls and talk a while for Oral History.

 I talk to her from time to time just to hear her voice now. She has Done her work! so now I just want to enjoy what she gave me and the time I get to hear her voice of comfort and sweetness now. I just wish one day she knows how much of a gift she has given me!   

Aunt Sarah picking Collards

Uncle Grover! was something else. His laugh was so infectious! He would make you laugh. He had pretty grey eyes. I loved listening to him talk to my Mom. He seemed to have had to work hard all his life. He was a farmer. Mostly growing corn, peanuts and cotton. 

I'm sure Aunt Sarah had a vegetable garden right beside him. Out of 10 children and him being 1 of 3 sons he had a lot of responsibility helping Poppa Sam with his farm and then building a life and farm for his own family. He was special to me. I guess being the oldest. Mom would make her rounds from Pa when she would go home to Alabama and stay with them. 

Plus Daddy could be with his sister, who was his Wife. She had a lot of siblings as did Daddy so there were many family homes we would stay at to get equal time in for the both of them. When Daddy would get his vacation from New Cumberland Army Depot. They always planned for us to go "Down Home". 

 I always see Uncle Grover in my dreams with his overalls on. He loved us kids and didn't mind us being around. 

This is their Old Homestead and we all would fit up in there too!

Homestead of my Uncle Grover and Aunt Sarah Lewis Miles 

  I would love seeing them waving at us from that sandy driveway. Daddy always drove us there in his 1976 Park Avenue Limited Edition Red Buick. 

Uncle Grover Miles obit 

Uncle Edgar Miles!  born September 13, 1917. Passed away on September 4th, 2001. 

Uncle Edgar "Ed" Miles

It was a time going and getting back when he passed away. 9/11 had happened and his Siblings; Mom and Daddy went to the funeral and they were stuck in so much traffic, but they made it from Pennsylvania to Alabama.
 I last got to spend time with Uncle Ed in 1998 while stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga. I then moved on to Fort Lewis, where I was at when 9-11 happened. My memory of him is; he was quiet to me. I have to find the picture I took of him and my Son, I could see all 3 of my Uncles in him. Eddie has those eyes that change color depending on his mood and what color he is wearing, he has their sandy brown hair. Also Uncle Ed's house is by Poppa Sam's so it was always good to go and look where the Little House that seemed so Big to me as a child stood with no outhouse. We just used a pee pot back by the trees while I was growing up in the 70's. 
 Uncle Ed had one of his sons chop off some sugar cane for me to take back and I had enough to bring to my Mom in Pa. She laughed so. As a child it was sent to me by mail. I loved chewing on the raw stalks.


He was married to Cleo Williams: born November 1, 1919. I got this date from her Marriage License. Her headstone has another birth date. So I choose to go with the Marriage License. She passed away on July 25, 1982.  Her Parents were Mattie Johnson and Charles Williams. 11 Children all together. They married on December 3rd, 1938.  

This is their Marriage License:

Uncle Edgar Miles and Ms. Cleo Williams Marriage License,Union Springs, Ala

  

Uncle Bobbie Miles and Aunt Ella

Uncle Sam "Bobbie" Miles Jr.! Was the Baby Boy! and the Last Child! January 12, 1935 was when he was born! 24 years of marriage and here comes the little spit fire! He was Grandma Queen's what we would call today for back then: "After Life" baby. He probably was a "Sure Nuff" Surprise! He had a smile so big, as a Surprise! all his Life.
 He passed in Chicago September 26th, 2011. Uncle Bobbie was 1st married to Clara Grooms, her Father was a Minister who married a lot of his siblings and family members, when they got married. She past away young. They had 3 children together.  Then he married my Aunt Ella. Uncle Bobbie worked as a Steel Worker for Valley Mould Steel Corporation.  I was closest to Uncle Bobbie. He lived a short distance to me when I lived in Wisconsin. He was in Chicago so I traveled there a many of times to spend time with him and just talk. We called each regularly. I loved it that he took time to do that.
 He was full of jokes and he was the Youngest Child so he had good Oral History and Stories on all the other 10 kids. He was gentle, sweet. He loved to talk and he could "Play the Dozens" on anybody. Very good at cards. Uncle Bobbie loved to have a good gathering with food! He could be called every body's favorite to his Siblings. I think it had a lot to do with him just being the baby! What do you think? 

1930 Census, names were incorrect, but this is my Family. I have made the correction notice to Ancestry.com about this.

1930 Census of Sam & Queen with some of their children. 

I did a Previous Blog on the "7 Daughter's" their Sisters for a total of 10 children here at the below link you can find that story:

7 Daughters of Sam and Queen Daniel Miles

I hope you come back and read more on my Miles-Daniel Line. They are a Good Bunch. A Good Ol' Southern Family. Whom I Love and had the Blessing of spending time with all 10 of the kids, My Aunties and Uncle's. 

They hold so much of who I am. Every 2 years we celebrate and get together at our Family Reunion in Honor of them. We call it the Miles-Daniel Family Reunion. We celebrate again in Connecticut in 2015.

They were the Grandchildren of Slaves.They knew who they were! Ginnie Hooks~ George Miles ~ Poppa Sam Miles Parents. 

 Elizabeth Jordan~ George Daniel ~ Grandma Queen Daniel Parents.

These Uncles and Aunties of mine were all born in Bullock County, Midway, Alabama my area of continued research.

I only wish I had been old enough and strong enough to ask my 3 Uncles their thoughts and memories of them.

In 2013 we all went to Washington D.C. Many came from all over the Country!

Uncle Grover's Descendants

4 of the many Grandchildren for Uncle Grover! in the back: Eddie Jr. Roderick, Rosalyn, Marshani.

My 1st Cousin Shontrell; in front, left. My Sissy in between the boys is Jem.

I hope family and friends stop by and leave me a NoTe or Comment on their remembrances. This is just one of many stories I will eventually write about them to keep the Family History going.

These Men, My Uncle's to me, you will always be remembered to all of Us, by "Tinnie's Daughta!"

We Miss you, Love you & Thank you for being who you are to this whole family.

Aunt Velma~Mom! Tinnie~Aunt Lily~Aunt Nettie~Aunt Bunny~Uncle Ed and Uncle Bobbie on the End. 

All are Gone now.....except 2 of the 10 children. My Aunt Bunny & Aunt Velma. 2 Sister's who married to 2 Haslam Brother's.

 We Cherish all the times spent and Memories collectively as a Family. We will Continue to do so. Everyday is a Family Reunion for Us.

I do this in Remembrance for Them. 

For Those  MILES & Daniel !

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jordan Daniel ~My Pistol Witch~

Grandma Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jordan Daniel

~"Yo' Soul flies away and visits with the Ancestors while you Sleep"~

                           

She was born in May of 1847 possibly as early as 1843. She was 6ft 2inches of pure survival. This is where our Oldest Known L1c1d comes from in our DNA tested line.  On 1880 Census in Bullock County it's stated that she was born in Alabama and she was 35. She doesn't state where her Parents where born. Grandma Lizzie is on my Paternal Mother's side. She is living with her husband George Daniel, he was 38, her Mother in Law Mother Maria A born 1811. Mary Willis is living with them with her son Charles age 21 and a nephew Joshua age 8. I'm not sure of the relationship of Mary Willis? Was she sister to Maria A. George's Mother or just a boarder? I'm researching and looking through my DNA matches. 

If you remember my Grandma Berta Hatcher which is on my Paternal Father's side. Grandma Berta's brother Charles Hatcher was living next to them with Grandma Berta's Grandmother Airy.

Two of their 8 children were born by 1880. My Aunt's Chaney and Aunt Viola. Eventually she would have Mary, Isaiah, Hattie Mae, Georgia and "Queen" whom I belong to. Robert.

By 1900 she states she was married in 1865! She's had 11 children and 7 are Living.  Aunt Velma told me last night two of her Daughters died within days of each due to some flu epidemic that came through Midway. Her and George are still living in Midway, Alabama.

In 1910 the Census from Bullock County, Midway, Alabama says she is 60. So some dates are off. Grandma Queen and Robert are at home still living. Queen is 18. She got married in 1911 and had her first child in 1912. 

My Granddaddy Ike Ivery is on page 23 of that census. So he is living nearby. George and Lizzie's Granddaughter, my Momma Tinnie eventually would marry the Grandson of Ike Ivery, James Lewis. So the Ivery's knew the Daniel's!

1910 Census of Lizzie and George Daniel

1920 She is still with George. Grandaddy George Daniel had passed away January 21st, 1921.  

Grandaddy George Daniel Death Certificate

At some point she moves to Springfield County, Akron Ohio with her Daughter Hattie Mae (pictured below), She is my Grandma Queen's sister. Aunt Hattie Mae married Thomas Smart Sr. 5 of her children are in the household with them. If you all knew my Grandma Queen they favored so much. 

Aunt Hattie Mae Daniel Smart

They say when Grandma Lizzie came from Birmingham to visit them in Akron Ohio on Bina Avenue, she would smell fresh of homemade sachets. Rose and Lily's. She wore long ankled length skirts, starched petticoats. Her 2 piece black suit was handmade, she was to tall she had to have her clothes custom made. 
 She went to St.Paul's Baptist, but she was a staunch Methodist. When they would leave church going past Summit Lake, she would say, "them Baptist Think God all Mighty is deaf" because of all the whooping and hollerin'.

She was so big and strong and 90 sumpin' years old. She was strong as any man, and no one would mess with her.

She made the girls sit with their dresses over their knees: "No one wants to see your Possible". 

My Mom Tinnie was jittery around her Grandmother, she couldn't understand how her Mother was the Sweetest thing on earth could have such a STERN Momma. I don't know if I'll know all of Grandma Lizzie's ills with the World? I can only go by what her Granddaughters have relayed to me. I think it had a lot to do with Slavery.

Out of all of this, her Daughter Queen raised some STRONG children. None were weak. I know by her ways and means Mom learned lessons from her also. 

Mom said Grandma Lizzie "Smoked" all day. She had a trunk that she didn't want none of them "Chillren" to mess with. Mom said she never did find out what was all in it that she was so protective over? She said once, when she was with Grandma Queen, she hollered at her Daughta'! Keep them kids from my trunk Queen! Momma they ain't meaning no harm, they's just running and playing. They ain't thinking about that trunk.

 Mom left me clues to further my research. Mom called her a "Devilish Ol'Lady". Mom told the truth. She said they would call her a "Pistol Witch" behind her back. They was scared and didn't act up around Grandma Lizzie. 

Eventually I would do a search on her on Google. Just to see what would come up? That is when I ran into my Cousin Jeanne Cheatham. She is a famous Jazz Singer. She is the Granddaughter of Hattie Mae Daniel Smart.

Her book titled  "Meet Me with Your Black Drawers On" My Life in Music. It's also her signature song, the book included a CD with her work of music on it.  This is where I found a lot of info on Grandma Lizzie we had heard so much about. I never thought I would see a picture of her but there it was! 

 She told of things Grandma Lizzie would say or do: About her Shotgun, she would pull it out even when her Daughter Queen snuck out the window and ran off to marry Poppa Sam Miles.
Or her saying some African Tribes would have the females run up and sniff the armpits of their intended. If she survived the test, she could survive anything. Gotta find out what Tribe that is? Might be a clue as to what kind of African is in me!  She smoked a pipeful of homegrown "yarbs"(herbs) they kept her eyes clear and prevented asthma. 
On page 27 she would talk about how they hid in the root cellar from the Yankees during the Civil War. "A rascally bunch"! When ol'Masta died, his drunken sons somehow left the deed to all their land to Grandma Lizzie and her kin. Supposedly this was the source of her income. I also wonder if the rumors of her being with the "Irishman" is true? Till this day the blue-gray eyes are passed on from this side of my family. Mom also told me her and her son Isaiah, who is "Uncle Bud" got into about the land Grandma Lizzie had on his death bed. So there is some unresolved issues about that I would like to explore. I do know where the land is? I just need to find out what the connection was? What was it that he wanted to tell Grandma Queen? but she was kept from him by Aunt Missy.  It was said he was mad, when Grandma Lizzie went back to Ohio before coming back to Alabama she sold everything piece by piece. Mules and all.

One evening she went to Aunt Munch, Aunt Hattie had put her on the train back to Alabama, that's where Grandma Lizzie layed down and died quietly in her sleep. The book says 107! Still in search of her Death Certificate.

Grandma Lizzie living with her Daughter Hattie Mae in Akron Ohio 1930

She was born a Slave but didn't die a Slave. Her mind was made up and her heart was set.  Also she mentioned that Grandma Lizzie which I need to follow up on, made Quilts! She was asked to exhibit them in a department store where you exhibit your paintings. She won 1st Prize! Jeanne says they put her name and picture in the paper in the Akron Beacon Journal. When she went to pick her prize up the quilts were GONE! Where? No one knows. No one ever did find out who took the quilts out the window. She says it made her heartless all over again over white people for making her a Slave and now for stealing her life work. I have no idea what year this was? 

Cousin Jeanne has woven her life story in a array of wonderful words and pictures and all that she has accomplished playing all over the United States and World with some of the Greatest!

Cab Calloway and Cousin Jeanne on piano

Jeanne has played with Grover Mitchell,Buddy Collette, Illinois Jacquet,Count Basie, Big Mama Thornton. She was awarded the LA Jazz Society's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. So much......

I did have the opportunity to talk to Jeanne once, she was 78 in the early part of the year when I last spoke to her. She lives in California. I hope my cousins read this and contact me so we can share more.
 I'm so glad she wrote this book and shared a piece of our History in her story. She has 3 Cousins who are Grandchildren to Grandma Lizzie, my Aunt Bunny, Aunt Velma and Aunt Nettie still living. 
It was one of those initial conversations when you first start up a "Oral History Interview".
I love that on page 376 she says "We went from Slavery all the way to the White House". This family has! and other's in my family who I'll get the opportunity to talk about in other blogs. 

WoW Grandma Lizzie! The Legacy you left behind. 

A friend of Jeanne's asked her, How on God's green earth do you get all those men to follow you all over the world--all these years---playing that crazy song, "Meet Me with Your Black Drawers On"?

That's for me to know and you to find out!

For more info on Cousin Jeanne   << click.

Well Good Folks, it's for ME to Find Out and Let you Know!

Meet Me with your Black Drawer's On! till next time..........

UpFront with NGS: Everything is Everything -- A Personal Genealogy Perspective

UpFront with NGS: Everything is Everything -- A Personal Genealogy Perspective 

Authored by: True A. Lewis 

"The Old Guard"

"My Mentor" Mr. Dean Spratlan, 75, Historian, actually "Called Me" from Union Springs, Alabama. My Ancestral Home of most of my Family Research for years now.

Bullock County Courthouse, Union Springs Alabama

He wanted to let me know he had been getting my letters and phone messages and he was mailing me some "new findings" that I'll find of most interest.

He called to tell me, "I had good reason to worry this time about him", and it was all warranted. He won't fault me this time in worrying and not getting back to me. 

I usually scold him and tell him "Why you took so long" to get back to me? You know you had me worried kind of voice.

 Most of the time our method of communication is through "Snail Mail" or a few scattered calls here and there. No computers. He is so busy he rarely calls. I can count on my hand the times he has. I had been leaving messages and on one occasion I didn't, I just didn't want to bother him. 

It meant a lot to me that he called Today. 


His reason for all his delaying was,He had open heart surgery!

My heart dropped. I knew something wasn't quite right. Our talks had gone to long and to far apart. He sounded well and strong, and was getting back to his routine and not to worry.

Normally, I can take the absence of

Mr. Spratlan not getting back to me on a timely fashion. That's just his way. He mostly responds to a message I might of left on his answering machine months before or a letter I wrote,with a letter. We juggle back forth with the tit for tat on research. He's who I wait by the mailbox for most of the time. 

He's my Ol'Guy!I like to call him  "The Old Guard". He has been a steady guide in my life in what we call Genealogy and Family History.

Me and Mr. Spratlan

Me and Mr. Spratlan understand each other. We just have this Down Home mutual respect and admiration for one another. It's not like any other relationship I know of. We are of different races and both born in different era's. There's this dance we do in our conversations and music in our dialogue.  

He keeps me in tune with my research. He gently sways me in directions I need to be going without missing a beat. I sometimes don't know how I got there, it's with his teachings I get the steps. He knows how to scold me when I do wrong in only his gentle way. 

He gets tons of calls, letters and visits. He's needed everywhere for Conferences and Classes and even I hate to bother him with all my questions and nuance's about this and what about that? He keeps patience with me and "My Youth" as he would call it. 


I ponder on a lot of things he says. I'm constantly learning from the "Old Guard". 

Grateful he takes time to pass on a little fire without giving the torch up. I wish you could hear all our conversations and debates and scoldings: Now,TrueAnn remember what I told you about that time now!(in his southern drawl)......Mr.Spratlan embodies all that a Southern Alabama man is. Sitting side by side to do a little work, standing over him reading some document,just watching him and how he goes about doing research, the smell of his cigar. Him offering me a pop, walking the land and talking. Discussion after Discussion.

Researching with Mr. Spratlan

 His voice is of authority, booming and quite to the point with a heavy southern drawl. It's a constant teachable voice. He doesn't speak without capturing an unforgettable thought that you have to go back and think on it. He constantly makes you wonder and think that you have to come back to him with a answer or another provoking question. He has kept me quite on my toes. 

Either way, I know it's with much gratitude on my part that he has taken time over the years to Mentor and pass this "Genning" on to me. As he would say "Yeah,(this genealogy) It's something, but you just gotta stay at it"!

 I can never go wrong with all the knowledge, teachings and conversations to keep me going on this great Sankofa of keeping my Ancestors alive. I'm mostly self taught, but Mr. Spratlan has laid the ground work for me. He scooped me up and planted some good seeds. I hope in return I make him Proud, as I am of him.

I think I'll write him a hand written "Thank You" note just to remind him of all that he means to me and how I appreciate everything. 

Thanks for the Call Mr.Spratlan!

Roll Tide!

There's something to be said in keeping with the "Old Guard".