Friday, 19 January 2007
Reminiscing~~~~Unique Things Part 5
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Kindegarnter 7th Grader 8th Grader Senior
Mark Twain Truman Middle School Central High
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Here are Seven plus Unique Things About Myself and others. I thought to share with you. Happy reading...I have others ideas about blogging as I was reminiscing this week.
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1. I have a unique mark or scar right between my eyes. I always imagined myself as an Indian girl from India. [I have some American Indian blood in me]. My mother told me how I got this mark between my eyes. It was a result from a rock thrown at me.
Actually it was two rocks. There is a scar on my left temple too. The mark between my eyes happen before the Kindegarnten picture was taken. [I was five in that photo.]
2. One Spring or summer... between 1970 - 72... I almost cut out one of my fingers. There are two fingers on my right hand that are almost the same length. [This might be a future blog to share.]
3. I was a patrol girl during my sixth grade year at Mark Twain. As I was on duty one day a student heard me talking. He said that he always thought that I could not talk. I was very shy in my early years.
4. I won a Wacky Award during my eighth grade year at Truman Middle School. I received an award for being "The Quietest Person"in my eight grade class. I still got that award around here somewhere along with my grade school report cards.
5. I became the 18th member in my family to graduate from Central High School. 15 brothers and two sisters graduated before me.
6. On the day that I graduated there was an article on the front page of the local newspaper with my parents and I. It was about our family's historical moment.
7. I was the only person in my senior class who did not miss a day of school in four years. I received an award for that. [There were 445 of us that received our diplomats.] Actually I missed a half day which was credited as a full day.
One of my sisters and I went to South Dakota to visit some cousins about our family history. [This might be a future blog too.] Also If any of you graduated from Central from the years 1956, 58, 59, 60, 62, 63, 66, 67, 69, 70, 72, 73, 76, 77, 78, 79, 81, and 1982, our mother saw you gradate too.
This concludes my reminiscing of my public school years. Yeah, I had many styles of clothing. I even had varies kinds of Afro's. One of my niece's saw the photos that I have of myself from my seventh grade year through my junior year in high school. My Afro appeared to grow each year. I was a senior in high school when I got my first perm...I did it for my senior picture. I have fun reminiscing.
Have A Good Friday!
~~~"Susie"~~~
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A man's spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God. --C. S. Lewis
Family Connections: Gathering The Generations
Saturday, June 11, 2022
Friday, June 10, 2022
Reminiscing~~~My Time Line Public School Years Part 4
Friday, 19 January 2007
Reminiscing~~~My Time Line Public School Years Part 4
I have put together some interesting things about my schooling years. I was hoping that I would have found my report cards from grade school. I used my memory on the names of my teachers and spellings. I found my Kindergarten group photo.
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In 1968 I entered Kindergarten at Mark Twain Elementary. There were 42 of us in the afternoon class photo. I had a cousin and there were twins brothers as my classmates. [There were about half of my classmates I could not place.] Our teacher was Miss B. Wise. [She was the youngest teacher that taught me.] Special note: I had four brothers and a sister attending school while I was in kindergarten. We had some cousins going to school with us.
Below are the Grades and a little bit that I can recall. I added some updates.
1st I don't recall very much about the first grade. However I did have to repeat. I was told by my siblings that this would happen. [This was the only grade that I know I don't have my report cards. I have all the others.] One thing that I do recall...having a band aid on my head one time. I played rough when I was growing up. [My knees have scar on them.] I was a tom boy. Teachers names were Mrs. Fletcher and Mrs. Espy.
2nd I got to learn how to write "fancy"...I think we call it "cursive writing". I was in a group called the "Motor Mouse Reading Group". When we had to draw a picture of our mothers for Mother's Day, the teacher told the other kids to take out their pink crayon. She told me to use the brown crayon ....to color my mother's face....Back then I did not know why. I was not thinking about color. I just wanted to color. Our teacher's name was Mrs. May. She had been teaching a long while. [I could say that she was the oldest teacher that taught me in grade school.]
3rd I recall standing outside the hallway by my third grade classroom. I had drawn a picture of my mother. I had to ease the eyelashes off my mother's eyelids. I drew this picture for Mother's Day. The teacher told me that I could not have eyelashes on my mother's eyelids. [The eyelashes were in the right place on the eyes.] Our teacher's name was Mrs. Buneau.
4th We had a "play" in class. I like the play so much that I copied it...in my own handwriting ... word by word. One day my teacher found my copy in my desk. My very first time I went to the "Big" office was when I had to go get permission to ride my bike to school. I did pass the test. That year kids kept letting the air out of my tires so I had to stop riding my bike to school. Our teacher's name was Mrs. B. Ashworth.[ Sometimes she would play ball with us during playtime.]
5th I missed about two weeks of school. I was sick. I don't recall what I had ...chicken pot or whatever. I got to write a letter to a "famous person". I choose a movie star /model who had the same name as mine...well somewhat... her last name spelled different. [Special note: This model wrote me back. I got to meet this actress/model while she was in town in March of 1992.] Our teacher's name was Miss J. Jones. She had a twin sister.
6th I was a patrol girl. As our reward for being on patrol, we got to go to a Royals' game in K.C. MO...that was my very first one. I graduated from the six grade. We had a graduation ceremony. We wore paper caps on our heads. I remember my Kindergarten teacher taking some of us outside so that she could take pictures. We were the ones who she taught. Our teacher's name was Mrs. J. Gibson. [She said that I was one of her favorite students.]
7th I entered into Truman Middle School. I missed registration. Yeah, I registered late. One of my brother's taught math there. Another one of my brother was in the eighth grade. I was challenged to take spanish and french classes. That year my whole family gathered together for the news paper. We appeared in the news paper on January 6, 1977. It's been 30 years.
8th I was ending my Middle School years. I notice yesterday that I was one chosen to be in "tiger country" section in our year book. We were Truman Tigers. Some of my teachers wrote in my year book that I should talk more. They said that I was a good student.
9th I entered into Central High School. There were two other brothers there. One a senior and the other a sophomore. We had another brother who taught social studies there. [This was the start for me to take french classes... I did for 4 years. I got a B every year. English was another story. I don't know why I did better in french.] Also we had a nephew who lived with us. This nephew told some of his friends that I was his niece. This nephew was with us for three years. He graduated in K.C. his senior year in 1982.
10th I was introduced to black history in my geometry. I wrote a paper on Benjamin Bannecker [1731- 1806.] He calculated the first ever survey for the Federal District which is know as Washington D.C. He did other inventions too. I got my first job "shackling" corn for the summer. I was the only girl there. There were four of my brothers with me.
11th I made a trip to Yankton S.D. to visit some of our cousins to learn more about our family history. I did not go to the junior or senior proms. I did not have a date.
12th In 1982 I had all determination to complete my senior year to became the 18th member in my family to graduate from Central High. [2007 is my 25th anniversary on May 27th. I will have to find Portia T. We can have our 25th reunion. We did not go to our 20th so we met at church on Friday. Portia is the only member that I know at WOLC that I went to school with. She and I go back to Truman Middle School "days".] It's rare that I come across my former classmates from grade school through high school years. There is a former classmate who once was my sister in law.
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I though to share this timeline with you first before I share the unique things. As I look back now I know that God was with me during my early life and my schooling years. I was very shy and I had trouble hearing. [This started in elementary school.] I grew in... what I grew in . I did not have a lot of friends. I did not go to a lot parties. I did not listen to a lot of music. I could not hear the words to the songs. As for when we read out loud in class, I could not hear where we were at times when it came time for me to read. At times I did not know. I felt lost.
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At first I was not going to share what I shared with you. I thought about it. I took a step of faith. All that I have been through has been experiences in life. I know where I have been and I got an idea on where I am headed. With the grace of God on my side I can keep on keeping on. I keep pressing forward.
I will keep on reminiscing on some other things. I like to thank of all you that made a comment or two... Thanks for reading my journal.... It's good to look back at things once in a while. But not to stay there. I just wanted to share this with you guys... No matter where you have been or what you have been through you can keep on keeping on. We got Jesus walking along with us on this journey called life. ~~~~~"Susie"~~~
Reminiscing~~~My Time Line Public School Years Part 4
I have put together some interesting things about my schooling years. I was hoping that I would have found my report cards from grade school. I used my memory on the names of my teachers and spellings. I found my Kindergarten group photo.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 1968 I entered Kindergarten at Mark Twain Elementary. There were 42 of us in the afternoon class photo. I had a cousin and there were twins brothers as my classmates. [There were about half of my classmates I could not place.] Our teacher was Miss B. Wise. [She was the youngest teacher that taught me.] Special note: I had four brothers and a sister attending school while I was in kindergarten. We had some cousins going to school with us.
Below are the Grades and a little bit that I can recall. I added some updates.
1st I don't recall very much about the first grade. However I did have to repeat. I was told by my siblings that this would happen. [This was the only grade that I know I don't have my report cards. I have all the others.] One thing that I do recall...having a band aid on my head one time. I played rough when I was growing up. [My knees have scar on them.] I was a tom boy. Teachers names were Mrs. Fletcher and Mrs. Espy.
2nd I got to learn how to write "fancy"...I think we call it "cursive writing". I was in a group called the "Motor Mouse Reading Group". When we had to draw a picture of our mothers for Mother's Day, the teacher told the other kids to take out their pink crayon. She told me to use the brown crayon ....to color my mother's face....Back then I did not know why. I was not thinking about color. I just wanted to color. Our teacher's name was Mrs. May. She had been teaching a long while. [I could say that she was the oldest teacher that taught me in grade school.]
3rd I recall standing outside the hallway by my third grade classroom. I had drawn a picture of my mother. I had to ease the eyelashes off my mother's eyelids. I drew this picture for Mother's Day. The teacher told me that I could not have eyelashes on my mother's eyelids. [The eyelashes were in the right place on the eyes.] Our teacher's name was Mrs. Buneau.
4th We had a "play" in class. I like the play so much that I copied it...in my own handwriting ... word by word. One day my teacher found my copy in my desk. My very first time I went to the "Big" office was when I had to go get permission to ride my bike to school. I did pass the test. That year kids kept letting the air out of my tires so I had to stop riding my bike to school. Our teacher's name was Mrs. B. Ashworth.[ Sometimes she would play ball with us during playtime.]
5th I missed about two weeks of school. I was sick. I don't recall what I had ...chicken pot or whatever. I got to write a letter to a "famous person". I choose a movie star /model who had the same name as mine...well somewhat... her last name spelled different. [Special note: This model wrote me back. I got to meet this actress/model while she was in town in March of 1992.] Our teacher's name was Miss J. Jones. She had a twin sister.
6th I was a patrol girl. As our reward for being on patrol, we got to go to a Royals' game in K.C. MO...that was my very first one. I graduated from the six grade. We had a graduation ceremony. We wore paper caps on our heads. I remember my Kindergarten teacher taking some of us outside so that she could take pictures. We were the ones who she taught. Our teacher's name was Mrs. J. Gibson. [She said that I was one of her favorite students.]
7th I entered into Truman Middle School. I missed registration. Yeah, I registered late. One of my brother's taught math there. Another one of my brother was in the eighth grade. I was challenged to take spanish and french classes. That year my whole family gathered together for the news paper. We appeared in the news paper on January 6, 1977. It's been 30 years.
8th I was ending my Middle School years. I notice yesterday that I was one chosen to be in "tiger country" section in our year book. We were Truman Tigers. Some of my teachers wrote in my year book that I should talk more. They said that I was a good student.
9th I entered into Central High School. There were two other brothers there. One a senior and the other a sophomore. We had another brother who taught social studies there. [This was the start for me to take french classes... I did for 4 years. I got a B every year. English was another story. I don't know why I did better in french.] Also we had a nephew who lived with us. This nephew told some of his friends that I was his niece. This nephew was with us for three years. He graduated in K.C. his senior year in 1982.
10th I was introduced to black history in my geometry. I wrote a paper on Benjamin Bannecker [1731- 1806.] He calculated the first ever survey for the Federal District which is know as Washington D.C. He did other inventions too. I got my first job "shackling" corn for the summer. I was the only girl there. There were four of my brothers with me.
11th I made a trip to Yankton S.D. to visit some of our cousins to learn more about our family history. I did not go to the junior or senior proms. I did not have a date.
12th In 1982 I had all determination to complete my senior year to became the 18th member in my family to graduate from Central High. [2007 is my 25th anniversary on May 27th. I will have to find Portia T. We can have our 25th reunion. We did not go to our 20th so we met at church on Friday. Portia is the only member that I know at WOLC that I went to school with. She and I go back to Truman Middle School "days".] It's rare that I come across my former classmates from grade school through high school years. There is a former classmate who once was my sister in law.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I though to share this timeline with you first before I share the unique things. As I look back now I know that God was with me during my early life and my schooling years. I was very shy and I had trouble hearing. [This started in elementary school.] I grew in... what I grew in . I did not have a lot of friends. I did not go to a lot parties. I did not listen to a lot of music. I could not hear the words to the songs. As for when we read out loud in class, I could not hear where we were at times when it came time for me to read. At times I did not know. I felt lost.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At first I was not going to share what I shared with you. I thought about it. I took a step of faith. All that I have been through has been experiences in life. I know where I have been and I got an idea on where I am headed. With the grace of God on my side I can keep on keeping on. I keep pressing forward.
I will keep on reminiscing on some other things. I like to thank of all you that made a comment or two... Thanks for reading my journal.... It's good to look back at things once in a while. But not to stay there. I just wanted to share this with you guys... No matter where you have been or what you have been through you can keep on keeping on. We got Jesus walking along with us on this journey called life. ~~~~~"Susie"~~~
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
At The Cemetery: In Person And Online : Update
On Memorial Day, May 30, 2022, I visited the cemetery where most of my relatives were buried. It was a beautiful day. I posted some of the following on my other social media sites. However, I added a lot more to this blog.
I visited the cemetery where most of my family connections were laid to rest. My parents, David / Lula, my two siblings, Paul and Lula, some of my parents’ siblings / their spouse, Mary Virginia / Milton Vernon, and Leola / William and, Sarah Belle / Rev Aile, and Addison, and Leo Jr. / Lois, and Betty/ James, and Fred, and Josephine, ~ Mary Jane / Gene,, and Paul and Rev O. Pearson.
My mother’s parents Leo Sr. / Mary Anna, three of my mother's grandparents, Robert / Charlotta and Anna Laura. some of my parents’ aunts and uncles George / Juanita, and Lula Mae, James / Sallie, and Charles, and lots of my cousins and other people connected to the family.
As I was walking, I found myself talking out loud as I was nearing the gravesites. Thanking God for my Parents, my mother’s parents, Great Grandparents and so forth.
And as I was walking to my Aunt Josie’s gravesite, I was saying to her, oh how much I’ve discovered since she passed. I shared my discoveries with her. And she gave me leads to follow.
Wouldn’t be wonderful if our loved ones can hear what say about them after they have departed this earth? It would be something.
Photo taken on Memorial Day 2022: Cloud wonder
It started getting darker as the clouds moved in the path of the sun. And while I was looking in this direction, I wanted to take some last photos. Oh, the timing of these clouds. It's amazing!
June In Remembrance
Here's a repost for week 21 in 2021.
When I’m at the cemetery: in person, I always looking around and in the direction of my relatives’ resting places. I see this land as resurrection ground. And it’s the place where some of my relatives, friends and I will be laid to rest.
A story about “visiting” a special relative:
In the early 1990’s, I was walking and looking around where some of my relatives were buried. I was trying to find other relatives. I came across a tombstone that surprised me. The family surname was spelled differently.
This information gave me something to work with. I have come across that LANKARD spelling in other records. I don’t know the reason behind the two spelling. The family surname was spelled Lankford. I honor both spellings.
The cemeteries should be important place for our family search. At one point we will have to go there for funerals. In other times we will go to place our respect. And on special occasion search for loved ones who have pass. And when we go, may we find who we are looking for.
And through the decades, there is one cemetery has changed. There are some of my relatives tombstones that are missing and or sunk into the ground. It’s sad to see. I pray the the place will be kept up.
The virtual Memorials on Find A Grave.
It’s a place to visit online. There are a lot more information added to the memorials that I created or saved to my Find A Grave : Project. I see that searcher are connecting the dots to find loved ones.
This virtual cemetery is a place to discover where our loved ones were laid to rest. The locations, where they were buried are clues. And we may be able to make more discoveries about their lives.
Where are some of my relatives buried?
In my early searching, I wonder. There are a lot who don’t have tombstones. As I continue to search online memorial, I see that searchers have marked the spot where some were buried. That’s a good idea.
Which cemetery is special in my family’s history?
I notice that most of my relatives were buried in the old section of Ashland Cemetery / Oakland Cemetery. The earliest known family member recorded was burial in November of 1919.
The earliest and oldest known member, Delilah Lewis was buried on April 21, 1887 in Mount Mora Cemetery. Delilah was listed as 113 on a newspaper. The article traced her roots from Tennessee to Missouri by her former slave owners.
The City Cemetery: Sunbridge Cemetery is where other family members are buried. There are many without tombstones. But, they have memorials on Find A Grave. They are not forgotten.
Thanks for reading.
At The Cemetery: In Person And Online #52Ancestors Week 21
S.A. Blakley
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