She was born Josephine Louise Lankford on August 30, 1932 to Leo Sr. and Mary (Allen) Lankford / Lankfard. Josephine’s sunset came on Thursday October 5, 2017. She was one of 11 children. Her first husband was Comezell Z. Walker Sr. (1922 – 1964) Her second husband was James Wilson Jr. (1922 – 2022). She was the mother of 6.
Colorized photo of Josephine Louise (Lankford) Walker Wilson
She was the last auntie on my mother Lula’s side to pass.
I’m thankful that my Auntie Josie took the time to share what she known of her parents’ family history. During the times of sharing, Auntie Josie said that she took some of the family pictures. She told me that she played the piano.
She would call me to shared things. I would call her for clues and share what I found. My sister Freda and I or brother, “Eddie” would visit her home and we shared things.
She talked about how some of my brothers would play ball where the Lankford family home was.
She spoke of who took pictures when she was in them. An example of the one photo of 5 of the 6 Lankford sisters. Milton Vernon Thomas took the photo. Vernon was Auntie Josie’s sister Mary aka Jennie’s” husband. And there were photos of uncles and aunties I never seen in a photo before.
Another crop photo: the one with her brother Fredrick “Fred” with his army uniform on. Her brother in law “Willie” Farmer was next to him. There were photos of brother Addison’s “Ad’s” wedding to Pearl Smiley. I didn’t know that Uncle “Ad” was married. Auntie Josie told me who was in the photo.
One day Auntie Josie called and told me that one of her former bosses passed. The lady’s obituary was in the newspaper: she was a Morton. Auntie Josie said, she worked for this lady before she was married and had her first child. The Lankfords worked for the Morton families for years.
I think Auntie Josie was the one who took photos and keep up with the family history. She clipped news articles from the newspapers etc. There were days she would call and told me that relatives passed.
One Summer afternoon while visiting Aunt Josie with my sister Freda, Auntie Josie was telling us about the JET Magazine with the actress Hatttie McDaniel in it. She was reading about Hattie and came across a name that caught her attention. She said UNCLE NYM!!!
Auntie Josie’s Uncle Nym LANKFARD was married to Hattie McDaniel. It was a surprise to me too. I haven’t heard this. Yes, it’s true. Hattie’s second husband was Nymalua “Nym” Lankfard. Google it. Nym wasn’t George Langford.
I remember that last time I visited Auntie Josie. I showed her some photos that were giving to me. She told me who some of them were. She even saw some photos of herself and her sister Betty.
I miss the days of those home visits and phone conversations with Auntie Josie. I have found so much since her passing. I find myself talking to myself when I visit her grave site. I’m thankful for all that Aunt Josie clued me in on.
Then the news came that Auntie Josie passing. That marked the ending of the Lankford siblings on my mother’s side. The next generations of the Lankford descendants remain. I’m in the 4th generation from Robert and Charlotta. And there are three or four more generations more after the 4th generation, I think.
R.I.P. Auntie Josie
Until we all meet again.
Thanks for reading.
Mrs. Josephine Louise Wilson: My Last Auntie To Pass
Blessings,
S.A. Blakley
In Remembrance For August
BARTLETT Family
Blakey Blakley WHITE Family
DADE Family
I changed the them to Mrs. Josephine Louise Wilson: My Last Auntie To Pass
From “Last One Standing.”
June 14, 2023
The theme for Week 24 is “Last One Standing.” My thought with this theme was there are some ancestors that we research, and we feel like we are the only one researching them. (Or maybe I’m the only one who has felt that way!) Of course, feel free to interpret the theme however you’d like!
