Finger Lickin' Good Food at Family Reunion!

2009 Carroll Family Reunion, Richmond, VA. This is the family of my Aunt Bessie Bullock Carroll (1901-1991) who was a sister of my great grandmother, Bell Bullock Johnson (1890-1982).

Cousin Brian, the Family Reunion Cook/Chef. Love the Apron!

Yum, Yum! Looks Give Me Some of Them Ribs.

Like Someb0dy Doesn't Want Their Photo Taken.

Guess, It's Time to Eat Some Hotdogs Now!


Is It Ready Yet?It Won't Be Too Long, I Hope!

Tombstone Tuesday – Plumbline Church Cemetery

Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt Week #26: Visit a cemetery. Take photos and comment on unusual/unique grave monuments. Most cemeteries have at least a monument or two that make you stop and look, so do just that. Take a picture of the grave marker that made you pause and tell us why it did so, July 4, 2009.

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On Saturday, July 4, 2009, I visited the cemetery of Plumbline Holy Church in Enfield, NC where my great grandparents Minor Thornton I (1893-1966) and Morrisette (Marcia) Ashe Thornton (1892-1954) and other family members are buried.

Two grave markers caught my attention. One is the marker of my Aunt Lillian Ashe Johnson (1885-1950) who was a sister of my great grandmother Morrisette (Marcia) Ashe Thornton. The beautiful flowers are what caught my attention to this grave marker. See Aunt Lillian’s Grave Marker

The second unusual or unique grave maker belongs to Maple Pearlene Rudd (1920-1999) and it caught my attention because of the black color with white italic-style writing. Most grave markers I’ve seen are tan or gray tone and have a block-style print. Maple’s grave marker was the only marker of this color in the cemetery of Plumbline Holy Church. I do not know if Maple is kin to my family.

Memory Monday: Gimme Me a Break!

“Gimme Me a Break!” was one of my favorite television comedies during the 1980s. It ran from 1981 to 1987. It was the story of widower and Chief of Police, Carl Kanisky, his three daughters, Julie, Katie, Samantha, and their African American live in nanny, Nell Harper. Nell had been a friend of Carl’s deceased wife and he asked her to help care for his daughters after the death of their mother.

I would have watched this show during my college years (1981-1985) and a few years thereafter. The main reason I probably liked this show was because of the main character, Nell Harper whose real name was Nell Carter. I loved it especially when she sang on the show. I also enjoyed the original theme song that ran during the first few years of the show. I did not care too much for the new theme show that the show had in its later years.

For more about this sitcom, visit this website: Gimme Me a Break!


“Gimme Me a Break” Original Theme Song



“Gimme Me a Break” Both Original and Revised Theme Songs

International Black Genealogy Summit

I’m looking forward to attending and speaking at the International Black Genealogy Summit that will be held October 29-31, 2009 in Fort Wayne, IN. The theme of the conference will be “Reconnecting Lost Links.”

My lecture will be entitled “The Power of Blogging” and will demonstrate the basics of blogging, ranging from the technical aspects of blog creation, publishing and upkeep, to ways to steer traffic to a blog.

Not only do I look forward to presenting at this conference and learning new things from the other workshops, but I also anticipate meeting other researchers from around the world. Some of the attendees will be researchers whom I’ve met at other genealogy conferences. Some will be researchers whom I have met online and others will be researchers whom I will meet for the first time.

For a list and description of the speakers and workshops for the International Black Genealogy Summit, download the IBGS Speaker Summaries.

Was This a Water Well?

Was this once a well, I wonder? Was a brick casing built over what was once a water well? I see these things throughout rural areas, particularly in North Carolina. They may be located on the property of private homes or places likes churches such as this one on the land of Plumbline Holy Church in Enfield, NC.

Photo taken July 4, 2009

Tombstone Tuesday - Just Sleeping

On Sunday, July 19, 2009, I visited the Pleasant Shade cemetery in Hampton, VA for several reasons. One was to visit the grave of a relative who had been buried on July 11th. The second reason was to locate the grave sites of sevearal Pair family members, who are believed to be distant cousins of my father's family. After the burial I attended on July 11th, several family members informed me that they noticed the tombstones of some Pairs in this cemetery. I did not see these tombstones, however, through obituary research, I know that members of the Pair family are buried in this cemetery.

Near the grave site I was visiting on Sunday, was this interesting grave marker of Joy E. Jackson, (February 17, 1958 - June 23, 2001.) I do not believe that Joy is a family member, however, her epitaph "Just Sleeping" caught my attention which is the reason I took this photo. Since it was extremely hot during my cemetery visit, I did not stay there long enough to look at similar or other grave markers.

I plan to visit this cemetery again soon during a cooler time.

Memory Monday: Evening News With Walter Cronkite, 1916-2009

During my childhood, I recall watching the evening news on my family’s black and white television during the 1970s. American news icon, Walter Cronkite, (1916-2009) was a newscaster on the CBS Evening News.

On April 4, 1968, Walter Cronkite reported at the end of the "CBS Evening News" that Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King had been assassinated. He gave a detailed report about the shooting and the nation's reaction to the tragedy. I was about four and a half when Dr, King was killed. I recalling seeing images of his assassination on our black and white television, but I am not sure if it was during the time that it occurred, or in later years of my childhood.

Walter Cronkite had a memorable deep bass voice and I do not remember any other newscasters with a voice like his. He is remembered as the “most trusted man in America.” Thanks to the power of YouTube videos, we can hear Walter Cronkite’s voce again as he delivers the news to America about the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Sacred Sunday - Plumbline Church Sign and Bell

This was the church attended by my great grandparents Minor and Morrisette (Marcia) Thornton. Both of them are buried in the cemetery located in the back of the church. During my previous visits to the church, I remember the sign, but not the bell. Perhaps the bell was added recently. This photo was taken on July 4, 2009 during a holiday visit to the area. Like some rural churches, Plumbline church continues to hold services only twice a month.

A Braided Crown

Hair braiding or corn rowing hair has been around for thousands of years for African American women. I have worn crown styles of my natural hair or either had a little hair added to make the braids thicker and fuller. Added hair, known as braid hair, comes in a variety of textures and styles. I have worn styles using wavy/curly hair where this hair is braided in my own hair to the ends of my hair, and the added hair is left loose for a long pony tail

In this photo, I am wearing one of my favorite braid styles which I wore for the 1998 Bullock Family Reunion held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am standing with James, one of my Bullock cousins, who was the host of the 1998 family reunion.

My hair was braided in thin corn-row braids in a circular pattern around my head. One or two thick braids were incorporated into the hair to create the hat-like crown.

The video below demonstrates the method of braiding hair by adding synthetic hair to the natural hair.

The PowerPointers Blog

If you want to learn how to use the Microsoft PowerPoint software, or enhance PowerPoint skills you already have attained, then join me on my "PowerPointer's Blog." This is a a weblog about using the Microsoft PowerPoint software to create effectively designed presentations.

PowerPointer's Blog is the first blog I created and I use it as a supplement for courses I teach in using the Microsoft PowerPoint software. I also use it as a resource for faculty at the university where I work.

In case you don't know, PowerPoint is a graphical software that is part of the Microsoft Office suite of packages used for slide show presentations. One common mistake that presenters around the world make on a daily basis is overloading their PowerPoint slide shows with too much text.

My blog will not only provides tips on the mechanics of creating presentations, but also how to effectively design them.

Welcome to New Blogger, NadaSue

I’d like to welcome NadaSue to the blogosphere. She is the author of Just Thinking… She began this blog on Friday, July 10, 2009. Please visit her blog and welcome her to the blogosphere. Also, congratulate on her on “striking genealogy gold.” (Read about her gold mine experience in the posting, Gold Mine.

Decorated Gravesite - Aunt Lillian Ashe Johnson (1885-1950)

Gone, But Still Not Forgotten!

Photo taken by Professor Dru July 4, 2009

Plumbline Holy Church Cemetery

Enfield, NC

Family Gathering on the 4th of July

Thornton Family, Enfield, NC (also see video from gathering)

4th of July Family Gathering

This gathering was held on the 4th of July at the home of one of my Thornton cousins (in yellow shirt) in Enfield, NC. Since the death of his parents, this cousin annually holds a cookout/family gathering on the 4th of July. Prior to eating the family sung a song and had prayer.

A Video Tribute to Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

This is a great video of Michael Jackson singing the song “Smile” by Charlie Chaplin. I did not know about him singing this piece until I heard his brother Jermaine mention it in a TV interview this week. Jermaine Jackson attempted to sing the song, but choked up after singing the first line. No doubt, any grieving family member would have gotten choked up also.

This heart warming video is a great tribute to the memory of Michael Jackson and is very appropriate to commemorate his life as the world mourns his recent passing. The video features the adult Michael Jackson singing and playing the piano while an image of a child Michael Jackson moves and dances at the door of the room. Also included in this video while the song “Smile” is being sung are still photos and video from various moments of Michael Jackson’s life.

Enjoy!
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Smile – Michael Jackson

Oral History Interview - Growing up in a Small Town (Dumas)

This oral history project is an interview of two cousins. The interview was conducted by an 8th grader for an English/History school project. Oral History: From this interview, one can learn a a lot about childhood traditions during the life of the interviewee.