Life is Hard

Life is hard.

 Changes happen even when you don't want them.  What to do?? Pray and trust God to get you through it.
I did take a walk outside to get some exercise.

Some Family History

Family History -- family story passed down verbally.. 

It has been passed down by word of mouth that my Dad ( and his siblings) had an older brother and an older sister that died the same year... years before my Dad was born.   Well my cousin shared an old scrapbook with a newspaper story about the little boy, who was only 14 months old.  We found a death certificate for the little girl who was five years old at the time of her death.  I will start at Midway Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery where the are both buried.  Thanks to findagrave, have photos of both the graves.  

They both have little lambs on top of headstones and inscriptions on their headstones that represent the love of their parents.  Who can imagine the tremendous sorry of my Grandparents at losing not one, but two children within three months of each other.   I wish I could have talked with them about this.    How did they survive?  continue on?  I was only about four when Gammy died and seventeen when Gangal passed away from a Stroke.  

REDMOND, Edith Annette
31 May, 1916
4 June, 1921
"A fair bud of promise never bloomed"

REDMOND, Clyde Floyd
18 May, 1920 
21 Aug., 1921 

Headstone reads "Budded on Earth to bloom in heaven"

In my cousin's scrapbook, found this article that supports the family history that the boy drank kerosene and died.   More details, he was playing and found a coke bottle of kerosene and drank it.   My Grandparents went on to have four more children. I has always thought that he had died in Rome, GA, but this happened in Birmingham, AL and he was buried in Rome, GA.  His parents and Grandparents were from Rome and he was born in Rome. His father, my Grandfather worked for Southern Railroad.     

The little girl, it was told, died after a birthday party of food poisoning from the ice cream.  Another person said it was Botulism.  My hubby did some research and found her death certificate.. it lists "Acidosis" as the cause of death.   Was the acidosis 2nd to food poisoning?? We may never know.  Searches of newspapers have not revealed anything, at this time.   Her Birthdate of May 31 and death June 4 supports the "Birthday Party" story.  

By the way, the Dr. Sparks on the death certificate delivered at least my Uncle Sparks ( he is named after the Doctor) and later in 1929, took two streetcars to come deliver my Dad at home 12/23 in a huge snowstorm that struck Birmingham that year.   My dad always said his mother said she has quite a time getting him born and joked about it.   That is a whole another story.. The story of my Dad's birth is one of his favorite stories to tell people he meets. 

  

Edith Annette Redmond Death Certificate. 

Blast from the Past

My cousin brought over scrapbook and old photos for my Dad to look at while I am with him.  He is recovering from a stroke.

Saw a newspaper article and the name did not ring a bell, some of the articles were on his Dad's side of the family and not anyone I know.  There was an wedding announcement.. at first did not recognize the bride, recognized the name Mrs. Clarence Redmond ( my aunt Sybil) and further down was me!!!  I was the flower girl.  Wow.  I feel lucky to see it!!!  The articles back then were a lot more descriptive than announcements today.   
Somewhere I have photo of me with the bride, Faye at the wedding. I am thinking she became a Speech Pathologist at UAB.   I am thinking that Sybil was Faye's aunt. 

   

my Kindergarten Graduation

Wow blast from the past !

1966

Some of these people I went through school and high school with.

Wilkes Baptist Church was so close to our home and looks like lots of kids went there. 

I remember being picked up in a station wagon to go to Kindergarten.   

A lot of these people graduated from Midfield High School.. 

My Uncle ..

My Uncle Clarence Redmond only lived 14 months.  For years have heard the tragic story of his death, passed on from family.


Now have newspaper article.  Found in scrapbook at my cousin's house that belonged to his Mother ..
I always thought he died in Rome, GA, but he died in Birmingham and was buried in Rome (where he was born.)

Old Photos

My Dad's older Brother Clyde Floyd Redmond, born 05-18- 1920. 

Passed away August 21, 1921.   We think he drank some kerosene.  The way is was told, they were a neighbor's house and they had some kerosene in a coke bottle on a porch and he drank it. 

My Dad's Sister   Edith Annette Redmond 05-13-1916.  

Passed away June 4, 1921.  The way it was told, there was a birthday party and she ate some ice cream that was spoiled and died of food poisoning.  Someone else said botulism which is another way of saying the same thing.

My Grandparents lost both of their first children.  They went on to have five more.  

Old times

Mary Ellen, Johnny and Sue.....  

March

Hanging out on the back porch...  Love this one!!

 Birthday !!

 See my curls !!

Dancing the night away!!!

My Mother and her sister Barbara.  ?? undated and not sure where.

Old photo-- kids having fun in the sun with the wash bucket!!

Ritz Theater

 Gammy and Gangal's 50th Wedding Anniversary 

 Easter   ? 1970???? the car is a 1969 Green  Rambler Station Wagon we had for years.... 

H-mm posted b/c looks like Easter--- my Mom.. we look like we have similar hair. 

Who else has the clipping of their Birth from the Newspaper???  h-m-m-m-m??   Wonder what happened to all the other babies???  Would that be a wonderful human interest story to track them all down and see what they are doing, who they are, their families and so on.  

      BTW, the first one may be a MD in my town, but I have not been brave enough to ask him.    

Where are you??

Donald Todd Speed 

Vincent Stephen Sedwick

Albert Gordon Goodall

Holly Sue Dickerson

Matthew Taylor Knigght

Kenneth WarrenWhite 

Some Old Photos

These are some old photos from my Dad's house.  One I had seen.  The others he "found in a drawer."  He wanted to post them on Facebook for the family to see.  Especially the one of his Grand Mother and Grand Father.  I just love looking at them.  Cherish your family.  

All the Redmonds   

On couch, Perry, Betty, Sparks, Sybil, Jimmy.
On floor, William, Etta, (Dad & Mom), Wanda, Robert, Mary. 
Mary and Jimmy were the only couple not sitting together. 
Mary was the only girl of all the brothers. 

It looks like this was taken at our old house on Wycliffe.  At least the lamps look familiar.  And the little tole painting, I am thinking one Mom did.   

Found by my Dad. We think it is of some Floyds in Rome, GA.  It was not labeled or dated.  But a Wonderful Photo.  Need to see if I can find  family with two girls and two boys..   But if they had children afterwards, then we could not be sure of the size of the family.  Unless some random stranger recognizes an ancestor ... we will never know any more than "some Floyds."  Who are you? Where are you?  What sort of job did you have?  What were you hopes, dreams, struggles??

Ok, here is a lisitng. From the top of the stairs: Sue Redmond, ___#1(?Clarence's wife?)..____, Robert Redmond, Wanda Redmond holding ? Jeff Redmond), Gammy (Clara F. Redmond), Minnie Floyd (CFR’s sister), ___#2____(Jeanette,Peggy (?), Mary Redmond Arendale, Gangal (Clyde Redmond),
Next row: Betty Redmond, Perry Redmond, Bobby Redmond, Liz Redmond (?)
Next row: Steve Arendale, Johnny Redmond, Jill Redmond, -- need help here_____#3_ (Perry? Paul?) , Wesley Redmond, _______#4__ (Paul or Bruce??)
Next row standing in front: Jimmy Arendale, Clarence Floyd (Twin brother to Gammy) and his son, Wayne Floyd.
Dad told me who #1 was, but I did not write it down..
If that is baby Jeff, then we know about what year this was. Before 1964, I am thinking 1963.  My Mother was killed in 1965 and Andy was born in 1964, so I am thinking 1963.  

Clyde and Clara Floyd Redmond at their 50th Wedding Anniversary with the Grandchildren in 1964.       Let me try this-- Wesley, Bobby , Steve A. behind Bobby, Johnny, Jill,  Gammy and Gangal behind them, Liz Peggy holding Andy, David (?), Jeanette  A. holding Jeff, Paul, Bruce, ??  (I did not see Perry JR..)         

I was all about the cake.  We wore a lot of plaid back then and why are all Robert's boys dressed as cowboys??  LOVE this one!!

This is Redmonds and Floyds at Vulcan Feb 18, 1945. Names on back - Marilyn, Clarence, Clyde, Wayne, Minnie, Robert and John William.  My Dad in on the right.  Uncle Robert is the boy in front. Clara b/w them.   Clarence was Clara's twin brother. Wayne was Clarence's son.  

video of Boat Ride

Christmas Vacation