Remembering a Day

100 years ago on May 26, 1917 a tornado stuck where I was born, Charleston IL

it hit the town next to it first and resulted in over 100 deaths.

As part of the Coles County Genealogical Society we researched the day, it was so fascinating, we ended up having a Memorial Service, 2 of our members put a booklet together with all the names, pictures of their tombstones, obituary and brief bio.

My GGGrandmothers first cousin and wife were killed. 

The stories are heartwrenching

I sorted through my Grandmother and Great Grandmother letters, and sure enough I found a letter my GGrandmother wrote to my Grandmother in nursing school describing the event.

A documentary was made, they asked me to read my GGrandmothers descriptive letter.

My surprise when we went to the showing, the first voice you hear on the documentary is mine.

If you would like to see it here is the link

Natures Fury and The Human Spirit

Mothers Day

Mothers Day

I miss my Mommy so on this day but am blessed to have a wonderful MIL I call Mom.

For FB, I made a collage of my Grandmothers and GGrandmothers. Although I realize I have a picture of ALL my Great Great Grandmothers too!

Easter 1984

Mom, Grandma and I

This is my Grandma as a baby Ruth Snyder with her Mom Nina Cash Snyder, Grandmother Margaret Wilson Cash and Great Grandmother Keziha Maddocks Wilson,

so that makes her my 3rd Great Grandmother!

My 2nd Great Grandmother Arabella Devers Snyder

this is my Mom's Paternal Grandmother Emma Toland Willingham on her 90th birthday. I think my Mom looks like her. I am the girl in the picture and my brother is on the rt.

this her Mother, My 2nd Great Grandmother Martha Sousley Toland

this is my other 2nd Great Grandmother Catherine Stiff Willingham

so this was my Mom's side of the family.

Now for my Dad's

My Sweet  Grandmother Mary Elizabeth Galbreath Winkler at 1515

I never knew her, but my cousins tell me so many stories and I feel her spirit at 1515.

and her Mother, Catherine Wilson Galbreath "Mama" who I feel I know so well from her daughter Annies diaries.

this her Mother Mary Hickman Wilson who died in childbirth, when my Great Grandmother was on 6. My 2nd Great Grandmother.

this is my other 2nd Great Grandparents Galbreath

Martha Houston Mitchell Galbreath

Sam Houston is her 1st cousin

And my Dad's other Grandmother and Great Grandmother

Laura Courntey Winkler with her mother Jane Trout Courtney and sister.

My Dad's other Great Grandmother
Margaret Sousley Winkler

and yes the other 2nd GGrandmother from earlier is her sister!

I come from a long line of wonderful Mothers. So blessed that the stories of their lives were passed down to me, and I feel that I have a idea of what each and everyone of them was like.

And, that makes me who I am today.

Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms out there

I will be with my babies

Greta

Pounce

 and

Jasper