Monday, April 21, 2014

Photos of My Mother

Blakley Family Living Room in late 1979's or early 1980's

Lula's Birthday

Another birthday

On the table birthday gifts

During the Christmas Season. Perhaps in the 1970's.

A hard day at work.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Capture Life Through Photos

Notes From Tuesday, 17 April 2012


Capture Life Through Photos

I was looking through some of my photos on August 22, 2011. I had an idea come to me. It was to post unknown relatives on my family history site.

I was putting some of the photos in sections of babies, children and adults. Then I had another idea come to me. I never thought of doing that.

I started compiling photos of my Grandpa Leo's siblings. I thought to blog on each one of them. I know something about their life. A photo would liven up the blog.
I came up with about 12 ideas. The majority of the photos are from my mother's parents. I don't have many photos of my father's siblings. I wish there were more.

I don't recall what I was doing that brought the idea to post photos. I guess I was using my imagination. Or perhaps I was thinking who was the person in the photo? It's just an idea.

Our ancestors tried to capture their life through posing for photos. I know that was all they had back in the early days. Some of them could read. I'm glad that whatever way my ancestors recorded their life for the future.

Photo can bring out more to our family history. As the old saying goes. " A picture can stay a thousand words. I'm thankful for the invention of the camera and the media devices of this day. We all can record our family history with many medias.

May we capture our lives through whatever media we have.
May we record our lives for the future generation.
Amen.

Thanks for reading.
Susan

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Encounters With My Race

This is a re post from my Zanga site 31 March 2008

While I was growing up, I imagine myself special. I grew up in a large family. By the time I was going to school, schools were desegregated. It was an experience to get to learn more about people.

Most of my classmates in my grade school had a different color than me. I was the only person of my skin color in my class from my first grade to the 6th. I can say that there were not many minorities in our whole grade school during my stay there.

As far back as I can remember, I recall getting a doll for Christmas. It was not my skin color. I liked the doll anyway. The sad thing about it, I had to give the doll back to the person that gave it to me. I never understood way.

Then some of my siblings where telling me some things that I did not understand. They had been through some of the issues like I had experienced. They clued me in on some things. What I learned in my up bringing influenced how I saw things.
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Reflections: On Encounters With My Race.
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In My Early School Years:

It was not until I got to the 2nd Grade at Mark Twain Elementary School when I made a discovery what others said about my skin color. I knew that I was different. But how different was I?

Some of us girls were in line waiting to go into our classroom. One of the girls said that they had a crush on Elvis Presley. Then that girl turn to me and said that I could not have a crush on Elvis because was not his color.

It was also in the 2nd Grade that we had to draw a picture of our mothers for Mother's Day. I was so excited. We get to COLOR. I loved to draw.

One day our teacher Mrs. May wanted our attention. She said to the others students (not including me) to take out a pink crayon. Mrs. May told me to take out the brown crayon. I did not know why. All I wanted to do was to COLOR.

In Our Neighborhood:

Then there was an issue that came up while some of us siblings were playing ball with some of our neighbor's kids. One day one of the neighbor's kid was going to go into his house. He told me that I was not allowed in.

This kid was explaining to me why. Their parents told them not to let blacks in to their homes especially black females. I could not go into their homes. So I did not.

In My Middle School Years:

Then as I made my way to Truman Middle School, I had some encounters. One day I was walking down the hallway. I saw someone who I knew from another class. He was with some one who said "there is a N ahead of us."

Yeah, I heard what that person said. I slow down a bit before I was about to open the door where I was going. The person who I knew told the other person-- he said "She is OK!"

I recall before going to High School, a guy called me asking me what color I was? I did not answer his question. What different should it have made if I would have answered the question?

In My High School Years:

I made my way to Central High School. Yes, the issue was there too. One day I was walking into the Freshman building. There were three or four guys sitting on the bench.

I was the only girl there as I made my way to the door. One of the guys said the N word. It was loud enough so I could hear.

As I heard the voice say the word, I tried around. All the guys were laughing with there heads down. All I did was shook my head and with about my way.

Then in my Senior Year, I was in the Senior building studying in the hallway. For some reason some one from above split to where it landed on my paper. I looked up and the person way gone.

In Life:

Yeah, through out my life even still this every day, my skin color is an issue with some. There are many of us who are taught by our parents about other races. Should a person's skin color matter? I don't think so.
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On My Journey Of Transformation:
My Higher Calling
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Through the years, I have grown through the issues of being called names. Since I am discovering who I am in Christ, that is what matter the most. I was created in the image of God.

I came across the scriptures that ----Men looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. That is the most important beauty of a person. It is the heart of the person that matters.

About Church:

What I learned in life it comes out of us. What I heard that there are black churches, whites churches and so on. I did know why we were taught this. But it happened.

I remember when I started going to church. I heard some tell me that I was going to a "white" church. Then when I joined the choir for a season, I was in a "white" choir. What is the labeling business about churches?

There are times in my life when I do label things. Perhaps it is human nature. But at times I question myself. Why do I do that? I have been growing from labeling.

About Racism:

I do experience racism. Some cases are more noticeable than others. While some are well hidden. Racism or whatever the name is displayed nowadays, is there.

There is a local store in two. If I go there with one of my brothers, there would be a person watching us to see what we will do. There are many times that I have grown not worry about people watching me. I don't understand why certain groups of people are watch more than others in stores.

I recall a friend that told me that her mother was a racist. This mother overcame that. Whenever I would see my friend's mother in church, I would go out of my way to give this lady a hug. When I did they I looked her in the face and saw a beautiful smile.

How could a person not like another race? What blind spots are there? Whatever it was to this lady had, God removed the issue. She was set free.

About People:


I try to speak to all who are willing to speak to me. There have been some hard cases. All of us are different. Through time, I get to learn more about people and understand some things about them.

I remember that my parents taught me to speak to every body. I grew up in a neighborhood of many races. Mostly blacks and whites lived on our long block. Our next door neighbors were Mexicans.

Some Of My Thoughts:

It was not to long after I became a Christian, I heard a preacher preached on racism. What he spoke on made some sense. Some one ask this preach can any one marry out of their race. The person was speaking of a black marrying a white person.

The preacher said that there is only one race. That is the human race. A human marries a human. We are all humans with different tent covering.

At one point in my life, I ask God for forgiveness of those who held slaves in bondage in America. I ask God to bring healing to the descendants from slavery. We should not hold what our forefathers did to one another forefathers.
I pray that people can unite as one: one as the human race. One thing I like about going to the church were I worship the true and living God is that I see a rainbow of colors there. Many people of different descents.

God is so good to bring many people of different origins together. There is only one God one Faith. That is of Jesus.

If we can see the God likeness in our fellow human in what ever race there is, we should not be comparing who is who. That who's skin tone is better or which hair text is not to have.

We are all created for a purpose. We can learn from one another as we share this earth together. We can be what God, our Creator wants us to be: a family of God God is our Heavenly Father.
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In The Spirit of Thankfulness:
Encounters With My Race
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I am thankful that God doesn't see color. I am thankful that God designed each and every person differently. I am thankful that God choose every thing that I am from my skin tone to what language that I would speak.

I am so thankful that Jesus came to bring us a new way to be human. I am thankful that I am human. I am thankful that God give my the nature to relate some people. I am thankful for a church of many nationalities.
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Also I would like to add that I have relatives of many races. Blacks, Whites, Mulattos, American Indians, Mexican American, I don't know all what else. I can say that I have a rainbow of relatives. I am not ashamed of that.

We lack knowledge of what we don't know about other races. We are either taught about it or learn about it from other influences.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

My First And Middle Birth Names

Re post from my Xanga site on Thursday, 07 May 2009

Are you happy with the name your parents gave you? Why or why not?

Do I like the name that my parents choose for me? Yes, I am happy with the name that my parents gave me. I was born the last in my family. Actually, my parents didn't have a name for me when I was born.

How did my parents come up with my name? It was one day my father came into my mother's hospital room with my name. He said let's name her Susan Ann. I was named after one of my parents' friend Susan.

My middle name came from my Aunt Anna. She was my mother sister and sister in law. Aunt Annie was married to my father's brother.

I grew up going by the nickname Susie. In my school years I remember been called Susan the most in my early years. Susan is my official name. I am not tried of my name.

I want to honor my parents by keeping my name they choose for me. I wouldn't want to change it. It's mine. That's the name on my official birth recorded that was record on May 8th a month after I was born.

I have been looking up what my name, Susan means. It's interesting to know what a name means. Susan means Lily. Susan is an English name with an Hebrew origin.

On My Journey Of Transformation
My First & Middle Birth Names
I am thankful for my names. If I combine my 1st and if I had my Aunt's Anna's name as my middle name, my name would be Susanna. Susanna is in the Bible

Luke 8:3
Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's business manager; Susanna and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.

Doing Life In The Kingdom Of God

Psalm 127:3
Behold children are a heritage from the LORD The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Footnote:
The first two questions were from Xanga's featured question submitted by tonyasworld

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

In Family History: April

Welcome to The Month Of April ~ In Family History

In The 2nd Quarter: On April 1,2014 ~

In Family History: April

~ April 1, - 19, 2014 ~ The Lenten / Easter Season begins on April 20, 2014!

-------------------
Updated: March 2015

~ On April 1, 1885 ~
Luttia / Luella (HENDRED) MANLEY was born in Monticello, Missouri. She was the daughter of George and Ellen (LOVE /WASHINGTON) HENDRED. Luttia was the wife of William / Arthur MANLEY.

~ On April 1, 1895 ~
Flora Elizabeth (LAWRENCE) BLAKEY born in Kansas. She was the daughter of Henry and Bettie / Betty (LEWIS) LAWRENCE. Flora was married to Jordan BLAKEY.

Sometime in April of 1910 ~
Anna L. (WINN / WYNNE) PEYTON passed. She was the daughter of Townsend WYNE / WINN and Mary H. (WOODWARD) WYNNE/ WINN. Anna was the wife of Wade H. PEYTON Jr.

Sometime in April of 1976 ~
Frances Ophelia (HOLDER) DADE passed in Fort Madison, Lee Iowa. She was the wife of Louis "Louie" DADE.

~ On April 1, 1977 ~
Isaac BLAKEY passed away in Yankton, South Dakota. He was the son on Isaac and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE) BLAKEY. Isaac was the husband of Maggie (WILLIAMS) BLAKEY.

~  On April 1, 1997 ~
Wilma Jean (LANGDON) KING passed in  Los Angels, California. She was the wife of William Edgar KING.

~ On April 1, 2000 ~
L. M. (LANKFORD) BLAKLEY passed away in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was the daughter of Leo and Mary (ALLEN) LANKFORD / LANKFARD.

~ On April 2, 1910 ~
Julia Mary (BROWN) COLLINS and Charles W. BROWN Jr. were born in Canton, Missouri. They were the twins of Charles W. BROWN and Margaret "Maggie" Elizabeth (DADE) BROWN. (Julia was the wife of Melvin M. COLLINS Sr. Charles W. BROWN Jr. passed on April 5, 1910.)

~ On April 2, 2012 ~
1940 Census release to the public.

~ On April 3 1908 ~
James Adam BAILEY was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was the husband of Zella B. (HENDREDS)  BAILEY.

~ On April 3,  1914 ~
Zella B. (HENDREDS) BAILEY was born. She was the daughter of George Edward HENDREDS and Anna Rhena (ROBINSON) HENDREDS.

~ On April 3 1924 ~
Charlotta DADE LANKFORD/ LANKFARD passed away in New York. She was the daughter of Isaac and Frances (OVINGTON) DADE. She was the wife of Robert Louis LANKFORD/ LANKFARD.

~ On April 5, 1910 ~
Infant Charles W. BROWN Jr. passed. He was born on April 2, 1910. He was the twin of Julia Mary (BROWN) COLLINS. Parents: Charles W. BROWN Sr. and Margaret "Maggie" Elizabeth (DADE) BROWN.

~ On April 5, 1931 ~
Phillip MANLEY was passed away in Marion County, Missouri. He was the son of George and Luttia / Luelle (HENDRED) MANLEY.

~ On April 6, 1937 ~
Etta Louise (MOORE) MINOR was born. She was the daughter of Russell MOORE and Mattie (WHITE) MOORE. Etta was the wife of Marion MINOR.

~ On April 7, 1905 ~
Clarence N. DADE was born in Missouri. He was the son of Pearl DADE and Belle (COTTON) DADE.

~ On April 8, 1909 ~
Floyd B. HENDRED was born in Missouri. He was the son of L. Isaac and Elise Lee (MARSHALL) HENDRED. Floyd was married Lena Mae (WASHINGTON) HENDRED.

~ On April 8, 1915 ~
Charles Addison "Puffy" LANKFORD was born in Pocatello, Idaho. He was the son of Louis and Sarah Elizabeth (WRIGHT) LANKFORD. Charles was the husband of Lydia ? LANKFORD and 2nd wife Gladys (PEASON) LANKFORD.


~ On April 9, 1916 ~
Isaac Ransom BLAKEY was born in South Dakota. He was the son of Isaac and Maggie (WILLIAMS) BLAKEY. Rev. Isaac Ransom BLAKEY was the husband of Arlee Lorraine (BULLARD) BLAKEY.

~ On April 9, 1930 ~
Doris Laverne (NICKERSON) McCLARTY DAVIS was born in Texas. She was the daughter of Ezekiel W. NICKERSON and Isabella (LANKFORD) NICKERSON.

~ On April 9, 2013 ~
Archie / Thomas J. BLAKEY passed in Sacramento, California. He was the son of Flor (LAWRENCE) BENTLEY BLAKEY BLAKEY.

~ On April 10, 1940 ~
John Will GUYTON Jr. was born the son of John Will GUYTON Sr. and Maybelle (BLAKEY) GUYTON.


~ On April 11, 1917 ~
Eugene T. RICHARDSON was born in Hutchinson, Kansas. He was the husband of Mary Jane (BLAKLEY) RICHARDSON.

~ On April 11, 2008 ~
Harry Frank CLAY Sr. passed in La Belle, Lewis, Missouri. He was the son of Robert R. CLAY and Cora (MANLEY) CLAY.

~ On April 11, 1966 ~
Roberta D. (INGRAM) BLAKEY passed in Ramsey, Minnesota. She was the wife of Zackious "Bubby" BLAKEY.

~ On April 11, 2009 ~
Lucille "Lucy" (BLAKEY) BROWN passed away in Yankton, South Dakota. She was the daughter of Spencer BLAKEY Sr. and Leona (JOHNSON) BLAKEY.

~ On April 12, ~

~ On April 13 ~

~ On April 14, 1902 ~
William "Willie" (WASHINGTON) passed away in Lewis County, Missouri. He was the son of David and Louisa (DADE) WASHINGTON.

~ On April 14, 2008 ~
Roy CLAY Jr. passed in Keokuk, Lee, Iowa. He was he son of Roy CLAY Sr. and Cira Jean (PERKINS) CLAY.

~ On April 14, 2008 ~
Quitman Daniel Jack FLUDD Jr. passed in Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee. He was married to Thomas Sarah (PEYTON) FLUDD ANDERSON.

~ On April 15, 1945 ~
Zenolia (BLAKEY) DEBBS was born. She was the daughter of Clarence Ollie BLAKEY and Zenolia (HAVARD) BLAKEY.

~ On April 16, 1922 ~
Ellen (LOVE / WASHINGTON) HENDRED passed away in La Belle, Missouri. She was the daughter of Louisa Jane (DADE) WASHINGTON. Ellen's father's last name was LOVE. Ellen was the wife of George HENDRED.

~ On April 16, 1926 ~
Edgar LYLE passed away in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was the son of Chilton and Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKLEY LYLE.

~ On April 16, 1963 ~
Elsie (MARSHALL) HENDRED passed away. She was the wife of Lon / Isaac HENDRED.

~ On April 17, 1923 ~
Lucile Lee WHITE was born in Chariton County Missouri. She was the daughter of Rev and Mrs. T.A. White.

~ On April 17, 1928 ~
Lucile Lee WHITE passed away in Chariton County, Missouri. She was the daughter of Rev T.A. WHITE and Mary Lee (TOOLEY) WHITE.

~ On April 17, 2008 ~
Harriett (ARMSTRONG) HICKS passed away in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was the daughter of George and Juanita (BARTLETT) ARMSTRONG. Harriett was the wife of Frank HICKS Sr.

~ On April 18, 1918 ~
Mary Ann (JOHNSON) BLAKE passed in Howard County, Missouri. She was the mother of John BLAKE. John's father was Joshua WHTIE.

~ On April 18, 1936 ~
Ransom Louis SIMMONS Jr. was born. He was the husband of Mildred "Millie" Carling (CHURCH) SIMMONS.

~ On April 19, 2012 ~
Catherin Virginia (ARMSTRONG) ELLIS passed in Illinois. She was the daughter of George T. ARMSTRONG and Juanita (BARTLETT) ARMSTRONG.

~ On April 20, 1953 ~
Mary Kay (RICHARDSON) CUMMINGS was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was the daughter of Eugene and Mary J. (BLAKLEY) RICHARDSON.

~ On April 21, 1887 ~
Delilah "Lillie" Delila LEWIS was buried in Mount Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was the grandmother of Susan (LEACH) WASHINGTON who was the wife of John / William WASHINGTON Sr.

On  April 21, 1910 ~
Louisa Jane "Janie" (DADE) WASHINTON passed away in Lewis County Missouri. She was the daughter of Isaac and Frances (OVINGTON) DADE. Louisa was the wife of David WASHINGTON.

~ On April 21, 1920 ~
Lula M. LANKFORD MADISON was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was the daughter of Leo and Mary (ALLEN) LANKFORD.

~ On April 21, 1963 ~
William R. MORRIS passed in California. He was the son of Alex MORRIS and Alberta "Berta" (WHITE) MOORIS.

~ On April 21, 1992 ~
Serena E. FARMER passed away in Denver Colorado. Serena was the daughter of Robert Leon FARMER Sr


~ On April  23, 1943 ~
John Wayne COLLINS was born in Moberly, Missouri. He was the son of Meliving M. COLLINS Sr. and Julia Mary (BROWN) COLLINS.

~ On April 24, 1931 ~
Meta (HUGHES) LANKFORD BEARD passed away in Kansas City, Missouri.
She was the daughter of John and Laura (Boots) Hughes. Meta was the wife of 1st to Charles E. LANKFORD and 2nd Hanceford BEARD.

~ On April 26, 1939 ~
Laura B. BLAKEY passed in California. She was the daughter of Jordan BLAKEY and Flora (LAWRENCE) BENTLEY BLAKEY BLAKEY.

~ On April 26, 2006 ~
Lois (STEWARD) LANKFORD HILL passed away in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was the daughter of Clara. D. STEWARD and Joe McGrady. Lois was the wife of 1st to Leo LANKFORD Jr. and 2nd Robert Hill.

~ On April 26, 2014 ~
Roberta (LANKFORD) TOLLVER HILL KEELING passed away. She was the daughter of Robert and Grace Lee (SMITH) LANKFORD/ LANKFARD.

~ On April 27, 1924 ~
Dorothy LYLE was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was the daughter of Chilton and Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKLEY LYLE.

~ On April 27, 1947 ~
Velma Corrine (CARR) FRANKLIN was born. She was the daughter of Willard J. CARR and Beatrice N. (EMERY) CARR.

~ On April 27, 2008 ~
Lavonne Faye (HOFFMAN) BLAKEY passed in Yankton, South Dakota. She was the wife of Leroy Everette BLAKEY Jr.


~ On April 27, 2011 ~
Mary E. (THOMAS) TILLMAN passed away in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was the daughter of Milton Vernon and Mary Virginia (LANKFORD) THOMAS. Mary was the wife of Ronald TILLMAN.

~ On April 28, 2005 ~
Ethel Leona (CLAY) MANLEY passed. She was the daughter of George Granville CLAY and Jannie (SIMMS) CLAY. Ethel was the wife of Artie William MANLEY.