Wordless Wednesday - Henry and Eudora Coleman

Henry Coleman b. 1877, d. 1957, and his wife Eudora "Dora" Markham b. 1877, d. 1948

Dora was my mother's aunt. Dora was the oldest daughter of 15 children and was known by her youngest siblings as Sister Dora.

Photograph given to me from Cousin Jessie Mae Markham.

Sentimental Sunday Long Awaited Grandchildren

Grandma Gertrude was 60 years of age when she first became a grandmother, and she would be a grandmother to just one set of grands. She would have to wait for her fifth of six children to grant her wish.

On each of our birthdays, Grandma would call us to her room and give us pieces of money according to our age. If you were five, you would get five different pieces of money and so on. Her gift was mostly coins but we all looked forward to her counting the pieces of money into our small hands.

Grandma had her first heart attack when she was about 65 years of age, shortly after the death of my grandfather. She left her rural home and moved to the big city, living next door to a daughter Alice, and another daughter Rosie lived on the same street. Grandma lived in a small shotgun apartment with her oldest son Uncle Jr., and my father would leave my mother and three children to live with Grandma while he pursued other interests.

Although grandma was sickly, she often encouraged her grandchildren and would admonish our father to do the right thing. She died at age of 72 years after another heart attack and strokes.

I am two nickles of age and not a grandmother. A recently married daughter has ensured me that I will beat my grandmother's record but it will be real close, and I hope to continue the tradition of counting money into their birthday hands.

The photograph was taken in my grandparents' yard in Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Mississippi in 1957. Standing is the author, Grandma Gertrude Overton Durr and on her lap, author's brother Richard. Photograph is part of the author's collection.

Christmas - 1932

Brothers John and Andre Wise are dressed in the outfits Santa delivered. I love the cowboy assemble. The gentleman worked for the Wise family whose name is no longer remembered. He has his gift in his hand and I wonder what Santa left for him under the tree.

The photograph, taken in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, is from the personal collection of Georgia Wise.

Advent Calendar - Day 15 - Wedding Anniversary

Hubby and I married 31 Years

December Events
Grandma Gert died Dec 01
Husband's Birthday Dec 04
Sister-in-law Rosemary's Birthday Dec 07
Our Wedding Anniversary Dec 15
Sister-in-law Susan's Birthday Dec 25
Niece Hope's Birthday Dec 31
Sister Shirley's Birthday Jan 01

Advent Calendar - Day 11 - Other Traditions

Uncle Scott's Christmas tradition was unusual because he was and is the only person I knew who did this during the holiday season. When he came to visit, before he knocked on the door he would call out Christmas gift in a loud voice. I don't remember him or anyone explaining the why he did this. A light bulb moment occurred while reading slave narratives. This tradition may have originated during slavery.

"At Christmas time the slave children all trouped to "de big house" and stood outside crying "Christmas gift" to their master and mistress." Amanda McCray of Florida

"If we could manage to say "Christmas gift" to any of the Master's family on Christmas morning before they spoke to us, they would have to give us a gift of some kind." Malinda Discus of Missouri

"De fust one what said Christmas gift ter anybody else got a gif', so of cou'se we all try ter ketch de marster." Charlie Barbour of North Carolina

Ernest Scott was born in 1897. He married my Dad's sister Rosie Lee Durr.
The photograph, taken in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, is from the personal collection of Georgia Wise. The lady in the photograph is unknown.

Wordless Wednesday (almost) - Alex Adams Family

Alex Adams with his wife, children and grandchildren in front of the home he built in Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Mississippi.
Back Row: Naomi, Beulah, Clark, Letha
Front Row: Alex Adams b. 1859, grandson George (Letha's son), Alice Washington Adams b. 1857, sitting on Alice's lap, granddaughter Lillie (Beulah's daughter)

Naomi's daughter, Hazel Marie Pierce, married my mother's 2nd cousin Paul Scott.
Naomi's son, Julius Virgil Pierce, married my mother's 1st cousin once removed Earnestine Coleman.
Letha's daughter, Estella Williams, married my mother's 1st cousin Emmitt Coleman.

Adams family photograph from the collection of Veronica Ramsey Swift, direct descendant of Alex and Alice. The photograph is dated November 13, 1908. Thank you Karen E. Pierce for sharing.

Naomi Adams Pierce and her husband Henry Pierce

Photograph Courtesy of Nathaniel Thomas

Tombstone Tuesday - Mary Bailey

In Memory of Mrs. Mary Bailey
Born 1847
Died Dec 8 1944
Age 97
Gone But Not Forgotton(sp)
Its Our Lost And Heaven Gain
Hickory Block Cemetery
Jefferson County, Mississippi

Daughter of James and Emily Earls
Wife of Wallace Bailey
Mother of: Wallace, Jr., William, Vina, Josephine, Flora, Horace, Greely, Richardson, Pearly, Quitman, Roseanna, Mamie, Willie, Mary, and Emily