Front: Fay, Lucky, Louzine (Granny), Geneaieve.
Back: Jr., James, Gazzie, Charlie, Dorothy, Jean, George
There are eleven in my family counting Mom and Dad. The best family in the world as good as anyone ever had.
The oldest is Faye and I guess the prettiest. The rest of us never had a chance if she was on the guest list too.
Then there was Dorothy, who believe me was really a treat because she worked to keep us something to eat.
Then next comes Jean, who always looked just like a queen. Her curly hair and big blue eyes always takes us by surprise.
The next one is Jr., Charles Jenkins, Jr. who came back from the Army with all of us some Christmas presents.
Then George who worked at the dairy and cut Momma wood for the stove.
Then Geneaieve, who is really the cutest especially when she is chewing gum.
Then the next one is me, but since I’m the one who’s writing this, I’ll leave me out today.
Then James, the closest one to me, the one I always cheated when he and I played hop-scotch.
Then Lucky, who grew up so tall and strong just like Daddy.
Mom lost two babies Thomas Cash and Willa Mae.
She told me Thomas had brown eyes like me and Willa Mae had red hair like her.
We were Appalachian poor people and some still are.
Mom told me when I was born the snow was up over the porch when the doctor came to our house.
—Louzine Jenkins Wilson (Granny)
—-
Granny wrote the piece about her family many years ago. Now, her and Lucky are the only ones left from the big loving happy Jenkins family.
Today, March 6, is Granny’s birthday and she just happens to be 80 years young 🙂
Tipper
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Happy belated birthday Granny. Glad your Birthday is in March too. My grandson was March 7, mine March 10, my youngest daughter March 20, my mother in law March 18. There’s alot of us in March.
A belated happy birthday, Granny! What a beautiful photo of a big, loving family! I sat at my computer and matched every name to their photo. Thank you for sharing!
I hope you are well and happy and ready for spring to come to the mountains!
Happy 80th birthday to your sweet Granny, …..
Happy Birthday to a lovely lady!
Hope you had a lovely Birthday, Granny!
Happy Birthday, Granny! I loved reading about your wonderful famuly.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANNY.
PRAYING THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY WITH THE MANY BLESSINGS OF OUR LORD.
Age is a gift. As I fight to survive cancer, I tell every woman I know…..if you hear a woman whine about getting older, just slap her ‘cross her face!! If we get another day to see the wonderful world, be grateful.
Wonderful that you, Granny, share in your writing about your loving family! ♥️ ( Just like Tipper )
I looked up people who were born today, Granny, and didn’t see anyone I recognise. So I guess you are the only one. Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday “Granny” I hope you have a wonderful day with your wonderful family.
Happy Birthday, Granny!
But I have to take issue with you saying that Faye is the prettiest. It’s obvious that designation belongs to that girl named Louzine.
PinnacleCreek is exactly right about “spittin’ image” – take a look at the photo of Louzine as a high school senior (found on Ancestry.com). That could just as well be Chitter.
http://www.diagsol.com/Photos/Louzine_Evelyn_Jenkins.jpg
I
Tipper,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOUZINE
I will be 72 late next month and I still miss Jerry, just as I miss moma and daddy and all five of my brothers. It’s terrible being the youngest in the Family, you have to bury them. But that is God’s Plan. It just takes time, nothing will help at the moment. It just takes time.
I hope you have a Happy Birthday and many more. All of you’re Children and Grandchildren Love you, and that’s the way it should be. …Ken
Happy Birthday Granny!!!! Your beautiful story and picture of your family reminded me of my Mother’s. There were 13 in her family – parents and 11 children. Seven daughters and four boys – one set of twins. They are all gone now but how I love to look at the pictures and remember the stories. By the way, I think Granny was the prettiest.
Happy Birthday, Granny! I hope you have a wonderful birthday and many more to come. My girls called my mother Granny.
Happy Birthday, Louzine!
Happy birthday Granny. I too was born in windy March.
The picture makes me think of my parent’s families and how big Appalachian families use to be. All of Dad’s family are gone. Nine brothers and sisters and there were ten in Mom’s family. Mom being the oldest at 93.
Wow!! That’s a beautiful apple. Makes me want an apple tree like that one. What kind is it?
AW-Its an apple tree at the Folk School called “Early Harvest.” The apples come in during July and August instead of later in the Fall. They’re very tasty too!
Happy Birthday! I loved reading the story about your family! Hope you have a bright sunshiny day!
That apple looks like an”Old Timey Horse Apple” I had one in my front yard but finally had to take it down after the remnant of a hurricane partially uprooted it. It is rare that we get the remnant of a hurricane strong enough to uproot trees but this one totally uprooted a Winesap and partially uprooted the Horse Apple which made wonderful Applesauce, it’s sugar content when totally ripe would turn the peel glassine!
Happy Birthday, Granny! Fay sure was pretty, but I’m not sure she was the prettiest. Look at you how beautiful!
Happy Birthday, Granny and wishing you many more! The writing is beautiful, leaving no mistake that Granny loved her family!
Ditto!
I just absolutely love this post from Granny, and I want to see more, please. In every picture posted of her it is obvious those girls inherited a lot of their beauty from her. “Spittin’ image” some would say. Thank you Granny, for introducing us to that wonderful family.
With that beautiful crocheting, you need your own Etsy shop! A post on what kind of chores you did, and how you did them would sure be interesting. Also, a random memory from back in the day can be so interesting to others. Blind Pig readers are a special sort who value our heritage, and we love following anything about Tipper’s family.
Happy birthday ma’am. You have seen a lot of changes in your life but weathered them all. Thanks for the introduction to your family. From what you have written and what Tipper has written about you all I am sure you were never poor in the things that matter most. As a dollar poor Appalachian girl once said, “We’re rich. Maybe someday we will even have money.”
By the way Tipper, my wife made your cinnamon cake yesterday. It is already a third gone or so. Wonder how that is …..
The apple picture is really nice. It would lend itself to all kinds of uses with an appropriate caption.
Happy Birthday Granny, I hit 80 in December and my whole family is gone. Like Granny I have lots of great memories. I feel blessed to live here in this beautiful place.