UNDER THE FLAPS

Sunday, April 9, 2023

2023 April 9,~Easter Childhood Memories and Vintage Photos

Happy Easter!

"In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it, you'll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade."- Irving Berlin. (Chances are, if you were born after 1960, this song, written by Irving Berlin, is not a familiar tune to you. Me? I still whistle the melody when I think of the Easter season).

There was a time that greeting Easter meant wearing a new bonnet, and you had to strut down the avenue to show it off! That was the order of the day. This new finery and the new clothes that went with it were symbolic of the end of dreary winter and the rebirth of nature that came with spring. Back in the early 1900s (and continuing somewhat until the 60s), strolling to church and back home, to show off bonnets and clothes became a popular pastime.

Last week, I wandered down the Easter rabbit hole (no pun intended). I reminisced of some of my childhood Easters. You see, a friend posted a photo, on social media, of the style of dress and accessories that I fondly remembered wearing for Easter when I was a little girl.

Oh those itchy crinoline slips😝! And the fabrics of semi-translucent organdy and satin. And ribbons and lace! The hats, the white gloves, the white socks, the black patent leather shoes, the handbags ...... all part of the 'total image'. While I do not remember the photo below being taken, written on the back was Easter April 9, 1950. It was taken on Jefferson Street near Elmwood Park. Can't you hear the music of that song? while they strut up and down the street? I was almost 2 years old!

Our family increased. By 1953, I had gained a sister. Our family of four seemed inseparable from my Dad's twin brother, wife and 2 boys! (It was as if I had 2 brothers!) Easter Sundays were no exception. How did we get those church choir robes placed on top of our Easter finery😂?

Our family, once again increased with the addition of another sister, Nancy Sue, in 1954. The Easter extravaganza continued with the fancy homemade Easter attire!

Store bought Easter finery was not an option in our household. But oh, how my Mom made sure that we were 'dressed-to-the-nines' with her sewing skills. That sewing machine of hers must have 'burned-the-midnight-oil,' making sure all outfits were ready to wear. How she and my Dad managed get us ready and in the car to drive to Church was an accomplishment! My Dad would keep things moving along, as well as care for my paternal Grandmother, his Mom, who was also living with us at the time. I suspect he was busy boiling (what seemed to be hundreds) eggs that were dyed for the big hunt later Sunday afternoon. THERE WERE NO PLASTIC EGGS BACK THEN!

Easter childhood memories included my Uncle John, a mechanic at N&W, who was my Mom's brother. He worked part time at a florist delivering corsages to customers to be worn with their Easter attire. We, too, were the lucky recipients to receive such delicate orchids. No outfit would be complete without it! Photos below include my Grandfather, Grandmother, Mom, sisters Judy, Nancy, and myself.

***On a side note, my Uncle John lived at home with my Grandparents. He never married. In addition to assuming most of their household maintenance, he made sure that we had transportation to various activities. My Mom did not learn to drive until I left home for college, and my Dad drove the only car to work.

Our family increased, once again, with the addition of another sister, Kathryn Lee, born in 1959. I was 11 yrs old when she was born. No doubt, the Easter fineries continued each year, and I'm pretty sure my Mom continued to 'burn the midnight oil', making our outfits for the proverbial Easter Parade! (Oh how I wish I had more photos 🥰.) While I do not have 'Easter' photos of the early years of my sisters and me, this one comes close (1960)! Look at those dresses, and patent leather shoes, and white socks!

Reminiscing of Easters past included the last 'Easter finery' that my Mom made for me. (She made sure I was able to make my own clothes from this point on.😁!)

Our 3 children are now adults with children of their own.

I wonder what Easter childhood memories they will pass on to the next generation?

Monday, January 16, 2023

2023 January 16~ *****ZACHARIAH WHEAT FAMILY CEMETERY ~GENEOLOGY

What you are about to read is more than 'discombobulated'😁. It is downright F.R.E.A.K.Y!

But first things first...... the facts: My name is Teresa Kay Hamilton Sharpley, age 74, and I am married to Ronald Sheppard Sharpley, age 75. We have been married for 52 years, have 3 adult children (all married) and are are blessed to have 5 grandchildren. We both were born in Roanoke, VA; attended schools in Roanoke, married in Roanoke, VA; and have lived in our Roanoke home since 1974. Ron has been retired for almost 9 years, and I was a 'stay-at-home-mom'(whatever that means😂). During the 'stop-the-world' pandemic, Ron and I decided to 'wrap up a few loose ends', get our papers in order, clean out file cabinets, update wills, clean out closets, drawers, attic, repaint and carpet a few rooms, yada yada. We rummaged through volumes of scrapbooks, boxes of photos, and tried in earnest to chase after our 'genealogical roots'. I created 8-10 personal blogs about my heritage, which have been copied and printed. Ron's descent had been thoroughly documented by his Mom. On a humorous note, I suppose you would say that we have entered that last leg of our journey on the planet! But don't get the shovel out, people, because we ain't done yet😘! Honestly, our kids have not gone wildly insane over many of our worldly possessions (and that is OK), but perhaps one day they MAY want to read and share the following findings with their tribe! After all, I DID marry my cousin😮! Ron and I have 'documented facts', tracing our roots much earlier than the Revolutionary War. Day trips to courthouses, cemeteries, online genealogy sites, libraries, etc., provided us with not only excuses to get out of the house and frolic, but gave us the opportunity to gather data to support our findings. *All birth, death dates have been verified. Most marriage dates have also been documented. Many, but not all, burial sites have been confirmed.*

Especially for me, genealogy isn't about just doing the research. It's about telling the stories and ensuring that my ancestor's legacies live on for generations to come. Genealogy has a way of making abstract history real. I can't speak for anyone else, but I personally think that this hobby has become "a cultural phenomenon - fueled by sophisticated technologies and driven by a relentless fascination with who we are". We already know what happened THEN. The bigger issue is: Can we learn lessons that sustain us. What's the story behind a family's idiosyncrasies? Why the auburn hair? an explanation for that nose, or a particular behavior? "With these stories, the truth is only the beginning of the journey. In an era that spells the end of family secrets, many of us are faced with profound surprises about ourselves and our families, answers to questions we never even realized we were asking."

Welcome to the twisted vines....... and I DO mean twisted. Ron and I followed the gnarly dense thicket (more briers than brush) to the base of said tree trunk. Finding the ZACHARIAH WHEAT FAMILY CEMETERY, on January 16, 2023 was our mission. We had maps in hand, fairly accurate directions, coordinates👉 37.47137, -79.50667, an aerial view map via zoom earth, and an extensive list of 28+ cemetery memorials to be located and photographed. Boy, this day far exceeded our expectations!

On a side note: The head of the household was Zachariah(L?) Wheat, who married Edith Chastain. Their double marker is shown below! They had 14 children!Their children married, and named their kids Zachariah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary, oftentimes using the same names as generations before them. Yes, quite confusing! Judging from the number of 'Zachariahs' in the family cemetery(at least 3), confirms my confusion!

One of their children was HAZAEL. It was of utmost importance to find his marker! and we did!

Unquestionably, we did not allow adequate time to photograph all of the markers, but we made great strides!(Hint: We will be returning!) Brothers, Sisters, Mothers, Fathers, Infants, and large initialed rocks........ told stories that will never be forgotten. Oh how our pedigree chart has increased, intersected, and entwined!😲

We encountered a few scrapes, endured a few falls, and survived a few booboos...... all in the pursuit and search for family history😁!

Ronald Sheppard Sharpley's Mother was Dorothy Lucille Stanley Sharpley, who married Winston Sheppard Sharpley. (Both are buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Roanoke, VA). Photo below was taken on their wedding day.December 9, 1939.

Dorothy's Father was Raymond Forrest Stanley, born in Bedford, VA, and married Alice Elizabeth Hess Stanley. (Both are buried in Sherwood Memorial Park, Salem, VA). Photo below is Raymond.

Raymond's parents were John Washington Stanley and Verona Blanche Jennings Stanley.(Both are buried on a hill at Suck Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Bedford VA (3887 Jopling Rd, Rt 643)

Verona's parents were Rachel Jane Minerva Wilkerson Jennings, and James Wheat Jennings. (Both were born and died in Bedford Co, VA, and are buried in Mountain Cemetery, Peaksville, Bedford, VA (Wheats Valley Rd, across the street from the Bedford Reservoir).

James's Mother was Elizabeth (Logwood)L. Wheat, who married James Chappell Jennings.

Elizabeth's parents were Zachariah Wheat and Edith Chastain Wheat. I'm repeating myself here, but both were buried in the Zachariah Wheat Family Cemetery(As previously mentioned, Zachariah and Edith had 14 children.) In addition to Elizabeth, there was a son......... HAZAEL WHEAT. Hazael and Elizabeth were brother and sister!

****Here begins that twisted vine that resembles an exceptionally dense thicket****:

Teresa Kay Hamilton Sharpley's Mother was Mary Lee Anderson Hamilton, who married Carl Cannaday Hamilton. (Both are buried in Sherwood Memorial Park, Salem, VA) Photo taken on their wedding day, December 11, 1947

Mary Lee's Mother was Eva Kathryn Thomasson Anderson, who married John Alexander Anderson, II. (Both are buried in Sherwood Memorial park, Salem, VA)

Eva Anderson's Mother was Nannie Lucille Davis White, who married Joseph Green Thomasson.

Nannie's Mother was Lucy Davis Wheat White, who married William Henry White.

Sadly, no photos have been located, but birth, marriage, and death dates have been verified.

Lucy's Father was Hazael Wheat, who married Eliza M Tinsley Wheat. (As previously written, Hazael is buried in the Zachariah Wheat Family Cemetery and as previously written, Hazael's parents were Zachariah Wheat and Edith Chastain Wheat.