5th Edition: Carnival of African American Genealogy・Rebirth・ "We Baptist in Here"!

Original Mt. Coney

As Madea would say in one of her Tyler Perry movies: They don't want to mess with us 'cause "We Baptist up in Here!".

Yes, that's what we are  Baptist's!

That Big White Church with two steeples was named Mt. Coney in 1875!

 It started a long time ago in a little town named Midway, Alabama located in the southern western corner of the state in Bullock County. 

   

The "Black Church" formed out of Slavery and in the Brush Arbor! It has always been the forefront and most important part of my family's heritage. It's where we gain our strength from the daily toil of Living. From then until now in 2013 someone in my family has been in that church attendance or  holding office. It started with my Slave Granddaddy Ike Ivery he went in with some other Deacons of Mt. Coney included was his Father in Law Charles Hatcher to start the church. This was shortly after slavery. Our Faith and Rebirth has been told this way from Generation to Generation to remind us. 

Mt. Coney Cornerstone

 Mt. Coney has traveled with many family members for many generations. The Great Migration until today to different cities, it was carried on in the families hearts. No matter where they moved to and fro they took Mt. Coney with them.

Mt. Coney Missionary Baptist Church is 138 years young, it is the Center of all my Families Joy and Pain.

In my Documentary Rev. J.N Robbins said Mt. Coney was like the Hospital to the Community it was where they came to get their medicine not only for their Soul but for any kind of refuge they were seeking. It represented that in some kind of way.

Daddy moved his small family from Midway after World War Two was over and migrated up North seeking better job opportunities. In the 50's, while my Family moved to Ohio my Dad was a Deacon in training at St. Mark Baptist Church under the tutelage of Rev. I.J Johnson. 

St. Mark Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio

After one move that settled us all down till my Parents passed we moved to Steelton, Pa and joined Beulah Baptist Church, under Rev. J.C. Wallace now deceased. That is were Daddy became Chairman of the Deacon Board for 31 years until he passed at age of 91 in 2009.  


Proverbs: Chapter 22: Verse:6  "Train up a Child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Outside of Old Beulah my childhood church in my teens 1984(left; Derby, Me. Keith and Hope)

I got Dedicated in 1972 from Beulah Baptist.  February 13th, 1983 is when I got baptized. I had accepted the Lord as my own, and that was the longest walk I ever took up the "Red Carpet" in my Life. 

I remember when I had to stand up there and take Communion for the first time and I had to pick my Deacon! Everyone was laughing; of course I was gonna pick my Daddy, Deacon Lewis. Deacon Ollie Allen was my Honorary Deacon, even when I got Grown and joined the Army I continually paid my "Tithes" from where ever I was stationed.

I had my baby Eddie dedicated and got married in 1986 at this church. My whole world was centered around "Beulah" growing up. I went to Choir rehearsal, youth group meetings, Revivals! I remember going to Vacation Bible school or the year I was Sunday School Secretary. One of my responsibilities was to go around picking up the offerings from each class. I know that is where I got my "Secretarial" skills from.  Most of my friends were at church, but I also went to school with them. My First Love was at Beulah. All we could do was "make eyes"at each other. I won't mention his name.
 I remember sitting on the "Back Bench"(pew) with my friends, Hope, Keith, Timmy and Derby now deceased, also Twayna and many more. I remember once it was so many of us, Rev. Wallace made us move to some closer pews, we were keeping up to much back there!  We all still keep in touch till this day.

Me as Chaplain of our Youth Group (Patriot News) Harrisburg, Pa.

All the times after 1st Sunday when Communion was served, I had to stay and wait for my Parents to clean the glasses and put all things away. Or the Saturday before watching them prepare the Communion Table. I still have the glasses from Daddy's last Communion before he passed, Rev. Eichelberger came and served me and Daddy. 

"Do this in Remembrance of Me".


I can still hear all the "Whooping"and Preachin'! Rev. Wallace and Rev. Eichelberger could do. I can hear Ms. Phoebe Brown on the organ right now, she would tear it up so Good while we'd be singing,tears would stream down my face. They would have the congregation going, somebody always wailed with the Holy Ghost!,with all their best suits and ties. The women's finery and Crowns of Glory on their heads, What we would call "Mom hats", Sista Lewis could wear them hats every Sunday!

Mom's "Sunday Best"

There were times other churches would "Visit" especially once a year from Philly, I would always "1 finger Usher-Dip" out of service and go downstairs and sneak to see what Mom and them other Deaconesses would be cooking up?  Sis. Lewis, your Daughter is so pretty and you keep her dressed in the most beautiful things. Mom would smile and beam.

 During regular service Mom would be downstairs in the "Basement" preparing all the food with her apron and house shoes. The same ones she would whoop me with at times when I would get out of line. My Mom kept a switch in her "PockaBook"! even tho' she never used it on ME! I knew it was there, all she had to do every now and then when we would act up is turn her head around from the 3rd pew on the left hand side where she sat every Sunday and look at us with that James Evans from Good Times look and a balled up fist. We knew it was time to stop "Sniggling and Giggling". She meant business! BE QUIET! So many memories.

My Parents choose my Godfather, who was a preacher. Rev. Kenneth E. Grayson he would often come visit us from New Jersey. He'd always have a gift for me. Love to hear him preach and talk with my Parents. He use to come as a visiting Preacher and my Parents would be the host family. I always listened to him intently. He was a Great Orator. 

 I will have to ask my Siblings what their Memories of Church and Rebirth meant to them as child. As a Grandma I want to continue the tradition on with my Family and step into the shoes of my Parents. I cannot talk about my childhood without mentioning Beulah Baptist.

 4 Generations in front of New Beulah all Military on Father's Day 2006

REBIRTH:   A renewed existence, activity, or growth: renaissance, revival.

It continues in me, all the way from my Slave Granddaddy Ike all the way down to me and mines. Our religion keeps on going in this family.

This is the book I grew up with. Daddy would keep this book at home also. I would practice and learn. 

Daddy's Baptist Standards and Hymnals with Responsive Readings, signed by my Present
Pastor Rev. B.T Bishop

One of my favorite hymn's is when they would announce "Let's all turn to page 389, At the Cross".

At the Cross, At the Cross.Where I first saw the light, and the burdens of my Heart rolled away.........


So as I get my "Rebirth" renewed, Let's all get Prepared and Renew our Strength!.......... As we sing with the Choir!

  

One of my Favorite Pastors Rev. E. Dewey Smith sings MY Song!At The Cross.

1 Year Blogiversary!

Today is my 1st Year Blogiversary and I'm so Happy and Proud I made it!

Cupcake provided by FoodandTools

I'll also make this my Blog Prompt of "Tombstone Thursday" from Geneabloggers

I choose this date a year ago after much thought and trepidation to remind myself why I do this. It's because of my Parents who raised me. I want to share their Lives and keep their stories going.

On the day of the funeral for Daddy, Rev. Leon X. Eichelberger 3rd did Daddy's Going Home Service. 

Daddy's Obit

He preached from:

•  Timothy 2 Chapter 2  Verses 1-3  King James Version.

1. Thou therefore, my Son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3. Thou therefore endure hardships, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Strong in Grace, Endure Hardness, Good Soldier.....

Those words were all Daddy, until the day he Passed. So I dedicate this to Blog to Daddy and Thank him and Mom for all the "Notes" I have to tell. They are my Blessings. Miss and Love you Dearly and your always on my Heart......

Here's a link to my 1st Blog a Year ago. Threshold of Blogging! 1#

Mom and Daddy at their Combined 85th and 90th Birthday Party (left; Bettye and Me)

Together in Heaven

July 10th, 1918 ~ November 7th, 2009

A Surge of New and Old African American Bloggers has Arrived!

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  This was written and is credited by:
  
  
  

  

   My Tribe Member!   "Kristin Cleage"  at Finding Eliza please stop by and visit her Blog! 
  Recently there has been a huge surge of New African American Genealogy Blogs. We have the new group African-American Genealogy & Slave Ancestry Research to thank for encouraging and guiding their creation as part of their mission to move African American genealogy forward, to break down brick walls and to form a community of researchers encouraging and sharing with each other. Here are links to some of the new blogs, and a few older ones. If you can, visit. You might find something you were looking for! Appreciative to have my Blog added to the List and my Family Website.
  
  YES, you can CLAP! Give them a round of "Applause", Visit! and leave a "Note" or Comment!
  
  

  

• Echoes of My Nola Past - Robertson, Robinson, Bryan & Amos Ancestors of Webster Parish, LA
• American History Underground - History telling of the Goin's family.
• Claiming Kin - adding one leaf at a time to my Texas family tree
• Conversations with My Ancestors - Documenting the Life and Times of of My North Carolina Family
• Georgia Black Crackers - A personal journey back in time through my Georgia Ancestors
• In Honor of My Ancestors - We are linked in both life and death. Those who share a common blood relations never break apart
• Low Country Africana - Africa American Genealogy and History in SC, GA, and FL.
• My Elusive Kin
• Our Alabama Roots - Honoring Our Ancestors of Barbour , Henry & Houston Counties
• Spence-Lowry Family History - Connecting the dots on my tree with solid lines! Researching my African American genealogy in Pasquotank and Camden counties of North Carolina
• Taneya's Genealogy Blog
• The Family Griot
• Tracing Their Footsteps
• All Roads Lead to California - How my ancestors got to the Golden State, and how I'm tracing them around the Globe
• Ike Ivery - Honoring Our Ike Ivery, his 3 wives and 23 children and Descendants and keeping them all in one place to be Honored.
• Terrence Garnett's Family Research
• Connected by Blood
• They Came from Virginia - Following the trail of our Doyle and Carr ancestors from Virginia to Iowa one step at a time
• Caddo Trees - Caddo Parrish Louisiana Genealogy
• Mississippi Ancestors
• A Journey to the Past
• Interlocked and Interwoven - A Genealogy Restoration
• Cecelia's Dig
• Walking in Irene's Shoes - The Barnes-Smith Family History
• The Middlebrooks of Meriwether County - My maternal Ancestors of Meriwether County, Georgia
• A Home In Missouri - Tracing the history of our Taylor and Fowler ancestor's from Arkansas, Missouri and Mississippi
• The Book of Bannarn - Journey of tracing my ancestor's from Texas to Oklahoma to Minnesota
• Mysteries of my Ancestors - Following the Spirit of my Ancestors
• Notes to Myself - Constantly making notes of research, memories or thoughts of love about my family interwoven into stories.
• Back Porch Reminiscing
• Aterberry/King/Pinkney/Ritchardson Genealogy Page
• MOON-JACKSON ARMY
• Pieces of Me - A family tree can wither if nobody tends it's roots.
• Between the Gate Posts - respecting sensibilities, I will share my family stories entwine with historical events from Copiah, Jefferson and Lincoln Counties, MS
• J-Mac Journey - This blog journals moments in in time. The research and treasures discovered along the pathway of life's journey; our family genealogy
• Daniels Is my Name 
• The TALIAFERRO Project - A community of act of kindness to honor an preserve the family research efforts of our cousin, Sandra TALIAFERRO
• Lukasa -  a living memory board as we gather as family and honor our Ancestors

Wanted: "Mr. James Edward Lewis"

My Brick Wall Challenge!


Dear Granddaddy Lewis,

I've been looking for you, for quite some time, I have taken a DNA test thru FTDNA, 23andMe and Ancestry.com, a SNP test through DNA Tribes.
Just to get close to you. Where are you? Where are the rest of my PEOPLE?

Let me just start by saying I miss my Daddy. I wonder how many times Daddy missed his Daddy?

I'm on that road, kicking dirt and rocks to find where the MAN who gave us LIFE and passed the last name of LEWIS which we have carried since 1905 PROUDLY!

His name is James Edward Lewis. 

He married Eddie Lee Rosanna Louisiana Savannah Ivery on June 24th, 1905 according to the Bible, doesn't say where. I assumed Georgia.

Mrs. Eddie Lee Rosanna Savannah Louisiana Ivery Lewis 

Possibly Alabama from whence they both came according to some documents. I added some things up and this is where it has left me, BLOGGING to find Granddaddy LEWIS.

His first known Legal Document. I find him on 1910 Census for Georgia in Houston County. Line 87.  

He is living on Hawkinsville Road, Militia District 771. He is 28 years old. He says he is born in Georgia. Enumerator says him and his Wife Eddie are Mulatto (mu), the children are Black (B). His 1st Marriage, and he has 6 children already.

Next door to him is his Brother in Law, Prophet Ivery his wife's Brother. I've also looked to the neighbors for clues also.

1910 Georgia Census

I'm glad you signed your WW1 Draft Card. 

WW1 Draft Registration Card 1918

1920 Alabama Census

After 10 years I find you in 1920 Census in Alabama, Midway, Bullock County. He's enumerated on the road that runs through 2 Plantations one being J.G Hitchcock's.  His Wife's family is from Midway, Alabama. She is the daughter of Ike Ivery. He says he can read and write. He is 44 years old. My grandfather is 2 years old at this time He was born in 1918. Three more Daughters will eventually be born from this Union. A total of 11 children. Three are living today. All of them in their 90's. My Aunt's Sallie Bea, Aunt Essie Bea, and Aunt Sarah.


All 11 of James Edward Lewis children were named Mary Cooper, Rev. Obie L. Lewis, Mitchell Ben Lewis, Minnie, Leila Belle Davis, Frances Tarver, Sarah Miles, James E. Lewis,Jr. Sallie Bea Robbins, Essie Bishop, Johnnie Mae Lewis Matthews Woods. 

The Lewis's, (left) Aunt Essie, Aunt Sallie Bea, James E Jr, and Aunt Sarah

There are "Notes to Myself"......Your children have told me through oral history about Granddaddy Lewis, he "ran-off" when the children were small. All these Documents are what I have left of you to find you.  I wasn't around or old enough to ask the Elder children that are gone now as many questions as I like. Daddy and his 3 sisters told me all they can. All 3 are in their 90's now and all they want to talk about now is not of the past as much only what their minds can handle for a short time.  I obliged them now. They have done all they can for me in research and oral history. From time to time I will try to coax them. Those days of calling back and forth even if it's just for a quick minute to get some idea or answer I had conjured all up in my mind and had to get asked, is gone now. They have done their work.......

He had a brother named Quincey who laid his clothes upon the River in Georgia we were once told. We don't know if he jumped in the River or ran off too.

 I was told a 1-eyed woman girlfriend tried to burn Grandma Eddie and some of the kids down in her house in Midway, Alabama after running away from him in Macon, Georgia. Luckily it didn't spread. Everyone was okay, and it was put out. 

I have to Thank your Son, your Namesake. He kept the Lewis name going with stride. He took it, wore it with Pride. He let no one shun your Name anywhere. 

Everywhere he went he made sure no SHAME came to our name. It was what he lived by and stood for. His NAME and his WORD.

From you Leaving us. Daddy knew what to do and what not to do as a Father and Husband. He forgave you a long time ago. Every time I mentioned you to him, he was always quiet and only said what he knew, he never said a bad word about you. I knew in his heart what he meant without him saying it. He loved you so...

A lot of times the "Unspoken" words "Speaks" volume.

He wanted to be at your funeral but the girls were still hurt. When he got Older he couldn't remember what year it was? I made a time frame from 1955-1963. Based upon when Corky was born and we moved to Harrisburg to settle down. A lead of questions made me come to conclusion for a time frame.

He Loved us hard. Daddy opened up every opportunity in Life for us to succeed. We were the 1st in so many things. He doted on us. Disciplined us. He was like the folklore John Henry to us everyday how he got up to go to work everyday. He set an example not only in words, but how he Walked in Life.

Just like in the Bible with Job! Daddy rose early and gave his offerings for the sanctification of his children! He stood like Job, continually, always concerned over his family. 

Job 1:5 

 He gave us all you couldn't. 

You have a Wonderful Loving Spirited Legacy of a Family. From my Granddaughter Jai, to Eddie, and Me, my Dad, J.E.jr, J.E. who became Sr. to YOU. 5 Generations.


 Oh, What a Legacy!

We want you found, keep leading us towards the way. All is Forgiven. Let your Family find you so we can embrace and keep our circle unbroken.

In the words of my favorite Author Pearl Cleage: "I speak Your Name"! I speak your Name!~ I speak your Name!~

James E. Lewis

High and Low....All I know is I will keep looking for you Granddaddy!

With all my Heart ♥︎....
your Great Granddaughter 


Wanted: "James E. Lewis"!

CLOVER

The Color Purple

As of this moment I'm reflecting on when I went back to "Sweet Home Alabama" on my Ancestral Journey shortly after my Parents passed to do my Documentary. I couldn't help but think of this PHOTO up above........

It was around this time of year, actually in October I went on my Sankofa for Granddaddy Ike and anything else about my Family History I could find. 

Over the few days I was there to film and research. I can remember in the evenings I would walk around Aunt Sallie Bea's driveway and walk to the end just so I could get a look up and down the road. 

Can you close your eyes and imagine with me for a moment?

 Her white house that use to have a dirt road going up the drive which is now paved. Through her yard, I can see my Aunt Nettie's house from her backyard, but when I go out to the end of the drive I can see all this Purple CLOVER along the road which both of them live on. Just swaying in the wind. That photo is the view I saw all day long coming and going on that road.

I remember when I walked back to the house and I asked "Aunt Sall" what's those purple flowers out there by the road called?" what flowers, True Ann!?  Those.....I went back out and walked across the road and grabbed a few. These Aunt Sall, "what are these flowers called"? Laughing enthusiastically, she said in her Southern voice, those Ain't nothing but weeds grown up out there.

Ohhh!

Well, to me they weren't weeds, they were the prettiest flowers I had seen in a long while. I've seen them at different points in my Life. Faint loving memories.   

I felt like that CLOVER on the side of the road. It all swayed in one direction as the wind blew or a car went or came. It swayed from side to side. 

CLOVER has always been with me as a baby, a child in the yard, or the time I was loved-lorned over a boy at 16. Clover was Constant.

CLOVER has many meanings, the one of many that I found that spoke to my Life was: Living a life of ease, comfort and prosperity.

Clover 

Just in a short time to me, that doesn't seem so long ago when I was there in Alabama and so much has changed. Aunt Sallie Bea and Aunt Nettie aren't there now. They are with their children. 

CLOVER greeted me when I woke. It wrapped me up in the evenings. CLOVER was part of my winding down, a time of reflection. It was like a blanket of comfort. It rocked me. It soothed me. 

Are my days gone when I could just sit by the way side on either one of my Auntie's land, and look out over the road for that CLOVER? 



This is a memory that must stay with me.

That is what CLOVER will always be for me. No matter where I am and when I see CLOVER. 

That sweet looking CLOVER from Looking out on that old dusty road, it will always be COMFORT.

Next time I'm Down Home. I'll save some of that Clover just for Me...

What's the CLOVER in your Life?

As for me.....

That's what the "Color Purple of Clover" does for me.........

Me with my "Clover" age 3.

© Content is copyrighted and must have permission from the Author for further use.

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 

||| Me and Pam |||

  

                                

Me and Pam's Journey for about a year now has come to a "Great Conclusion"! We can finally say we are COUSINS!

We had the paper trail, now we wondered DNA wise?  Well finally this week, through Pam's sister, she's still awaiting her results we were confirmed. Pam's test came back and she is U5B8.

My Great Grandma is Cora Agnes Rebecca Watson. That line goes all the way back to 1580.

Pam’s Grandfather is Elmer W. Watson. Him and Cora are Siblings. Brother and Sister.

Their Father: Levi Alexander Watson married Rosanna Harriet Barrick. 

Grandpa Levi Alexander Watson and Grandma Rosanna Harriet Barrick
Parents of Elmer and Cora Agnes
  

The Mother of Elmer and Cora : Rosanna Harriet Barrick. Her PARENTS were:  Andrew Barrick and Rebecca Heckman.

Andrew Barrick  and Rebecca Barrick (Heckman my 3rd Great Grandma)  are 1st COUSINS.

Andrew and Rebecca (Heckman) Barrick 1st Cousins Married in 1837.

Andrew’s Father and Rebecca’s Mother were SIBLINGS.  Andrew’s father was George Barrick and Rebecca’s Mother was Susannah Barrick (4th Great Grandma) who were the children of my PATRIOT: Johann Nicholaus Barrick.

Andrew and Rebecca’s Parents Married SIBLINGS.   Meaning Susannah and George Barrick They married  HECKMAN siblings. Philip and Maria Magdelena Heckman.

WATSON LINE GOES BACK TO 1580

BARRICK LINE GOES BACK TO 1761 with my Patriot Nicholaus Barrick

HECKMAN LINE GOES BACK TO 1728

LAMBERT LINE GOES BACK TO 1745

This is how I became a U5 HAPLOGROUP: Which what makes me a U5b1c exactly, ends with Dorothea Zimmerman born in 1745 which is my 6th Great Grandma. This is how far back I have researched the Mother to Mother to Mother line for my U5.

Ancestry.com DNA Results

She is the Mother of Anna Marie Lambert (5th Great Grandma) who married "My Patriot Johann Nicholaus Barrick". Which are the Parents of Susannah and George Barrick, there are other siblings to my Patriot and Grandma Anna. These two just stood out the most.

Most of these lines are from Cumberland, Mifflin and Berks County,Pennsyvlvania. My Family didn't venture to far out from there. Doubling Gap, Newville are a few of the city names.

ALL these lines me and Pam are intertwined with her Grandpa Elmer and my Great Grandma Cora.

I finally got another 4th cousin successful DNA match on Ancestry.com!

With Pam and her sister for all 4 of these lines which were done pretty much correctly through another cousin Linda Barrick Durham she researched our family and wrote a book called: The Descendants of Johann Nicholaus Barrick. Linda hasn’t done DNA yet. I hope she decides to do soon. 

With the help of now gone Mildred Hurley who is passed away, she was a great researcher also of our Family. Pam has done more research than me. I’m just a little bit behind her but the DNA has proven our research on the paper trail side of Genealogy.

 It just goes to prove that if you do your research and document you will make it easier on yourself to get around all those hurdles on how to find your match. Some of it is challenging from me not having certain lines researched fully or some may be my brick walls like the Sweigard, Evan and Lewis lines.

So I have had much success about 3 times with a 4th Cousin, all happen to be on my European side. I'm waiting for some of my 4th Cousins and beyond matches on my African American side to reveal themselves also. 

I have tested with 23andMe, Ancestry.com, FTDNA, SNP marker with DNATribes. I have a Dr. McDonald report as well. I'm also on www.gedmatch.com .

I belong to several groups of interest for me on Facebook for Genealogy and DNA as well Ancestry sites. 

This is just some of my story, of SOME, of my People. 

This story is to be continued..........

I have so many stories on this line to tell of heartache and tragedy but most of all LOVE. So stay tuned on my "Momma's Side" of the Family!

"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".   

My Sankofa for Ike Ivery

This is what I've wanted to do for so long, I felt If I didn't do it, it wasn't gonna get done. I was always in a panic and worried I was so behind on family history research. 

So out of Love I had to get the ball rolling. Younger folks in my family they can take this start and run with! Back in 2007 I had rumblings in my Soul! I wanted to put a story together with all my family research, the documents and pictures over the years I collected. 

So I went on a internet search for someone who specializes in Documenting your Family History, That is were Ms. Susan Soble came in. She is the owner of Family Line Studios and she helped me make a Dream come True. 

This was done out of Love. With Blessings from my Elders. With A tribute to my Ancestors. Please take a look at my link to watch my Family History Documentary. 

Watch the History of Ike Ivery and his 23 Children.       


 Click the link below:

Ike Ivery and his 23 Children!                                                         

....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.