Scrapbook Sunday - My Mother and Me

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Your Favorite Recent Genealogy-Related Blog Post

  From Randy (my cousin) over at Genea-Musings:

it's Saturday Night - 

time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

1)  This week the challenge is to pick one recent genealogy-related blog post by a genealogist and/or family historian. 

[For ideas, see recent Best of the Genea-Blogs, or recent Empty Branches on the Family Tree, or recent Genealogy a la Carte .] 

2) Tell us the geneablogger's name, the blog's title, the link to the blog post, and why you selected that post.

3) Share your favorite genealogy blog post as a comment on this post, on social media or in your own blog post! Please leave a comment with a link on this post so others can check it out.

Here's mine:  

I found my favorite recent genealogy-related blog post on Linda  Stufflebean's Empty Branches on the Family Tree blog.  It is titled Uncle Don, WWII Veteran by Joy on Joy Neal Kidney from November 7th. 

While I had never read Joy's blog before, I found that I enjoy her writing.  This blog post was very down-to-earth and a great tribute to a veteran in her family.  With having the free access this week to military records due to Veterans Day, I have been neck deep in reading the stories about the veterans and/or their units.  It has been fascinating and educational. 

I also enjoyed reading another blog very similar to mine in writing about and celebrating her family.  We all have our niche, but I don't see many blogs like mine that concentrate mostly on family stories.  Learning how to is great and necessary, but taking the time to write our own family stories is essential in my opinion.  

Sympathy Saturday

    Sympathy Saturday will be where I share the obituaries and my condolences for members of my family tree who passed recently.  When you get to be a certain age, you begin to read the obituaries every day.  As the days go by, you read about more and more of your friends and family members who have died.  You compare their age to your own and get a jolt. "That could have been me." 

    For genealogists, checking obituaries and visiting cemeteries is as normal as breathing. I learn so much from an obituary, i.e., maiden names, parents' names; children's' and grandchildren's' names, funeral and burial locations, sometimes even a cause of death.  I want to learn these things not for any purpose but to put it on the family tree for future generations to see and learn about the family that went before them. I admit, most of these relatives I have never met, but I think it is important to share that they were here on this Earth, and they were important.

    So I am signed up with at least three funerals homes from Swainsboro, Vidalia, and Wrightsville to get daily notices of obituaries sent to my email.  Every day, I peruse them and with the help of the family tree, figure out who is related to me and add any new information to the tree. Some weeks there are several, and some weeks there are none. We have one this week

    Please join me in offering condolences to her family and holding them in the light.

Marion Winifred "Winnie" Cox Townsend
10 Jun 1936 - 08 Nov 2026
Kite, Johnson, Georgia, USA

Marion Winifred Townsend, lovingly known as “Winnie” entered into eternal rest on November 8, 2026 at the age of 90. Born June 10, 1936 in Sandersville, Georgia, Winnie grew up surrounded by familiar people and places that shaped her early years. Her roots in Washington County would always be a special part of her story. It was at the Kaolin Festival where she met Mershon Townsend, beginning a love story that would lead to marriage and a lifetime together. The two made Kite, Georgia their home where they built a life and raised their family. Winnie attended Kite First Baptist Church faithfully until the beginning of her sickness. Her faith was an important part of her life, and she felt comfort reading her Bible daily. She retired from Johnson County School System where she worked in the school cafeteria and also helped with the family business when they owned and operated Gilleys in Wrightsville. Winnie was said to be the secret behind the famous Gilley’s hamburger, a favorite that so many came to enjoy. Winnie will also be remembered for being a wonderful cook. Her Brunswick stew, cornbread dressing, fried chicken, and warm banana pudding were among family favorites. Her kitchen was a place where good food and treasured memories came together, and those who gathered around her table will forever remember the love she put into every meal. In her quieter moments, Winnie enjoyed embroidery, crossword puzzles, and putting together jigsaw puzzles. There was rarely a puzzle she couldn’t solve. She was a true Bulldog fan and loved cheering them on. Her family will fondly remember these simple joys and most importantly the life she shared with those around her. Above all, Winnie was a loving mother and a devoted Nanny. Her grandchildren were among her greatest joys, and she was their biggest supporter. She loved hearing about their many accomplishments, adventures, and special moments that filled their lives. She took great pride in each of them and treasured every opportunity to share in their happiness. Her great-grandchildren also brought her tremendous joy, and the memories made with their Nanny will be treasured always. Winnie was preceded in death by her husband, Mershon Townsend; her parents, Marion Thomas and Louise Cox; and her two brothers, Claude and Cecil Cox. She leaves behind a loving family who will forever cherish her memory: her children, Cindy (Steve) Jarrard of Kite, Marcia (Andy) Robinson of Wrightsville, and Charles (Nina) Townsend of Statesboro; her grandchildren, Charlsie (Ben) Butler of Watkinsville, Anna Kate Robinson of Athens, and Charlie and Emma-Charles Townsend of Statesboro; her great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Isabel, and Hubbell Butler; and her sisters-in-law, Jackie Cox of Ocilla, Florida, and Doris Townsend Batts of Macon, Georgia. Winnie leaves behind a legacy of family, love, and cherished memories. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Lighthouse, formerly Kite First United Methodist Church where Winnie attended with her young children. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, November 11, 2026 in the Minton Chapel Cemetery in Kite, Georgia. Mr. John Wilder Page will officiate. The family will receive friends from 10:30 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, at the cemetery. Pallbearers will be Charles Townsend, Charlie Townsend, Andy Robinson, Steve Jarrard, Ben Butler, and Todd Hutchinson. Stanley Funeral Homes and Crematory/Wrightsville Chapel has charge of the funeral arrangements.

Friday Face(s) from the Past

 

My precious nephew, Harry Earl Tapley, Jr., would have turned 58 next Tuesday, November 17th. This year is 40 years he has been gone, and I still miss him so.  

"Since you've been gone I've had to find
Different ways to grieve
There's days that I don't even want it on my mind
But tonight I'm weak

So, I'm gonna pull out pictures, ones with you in 'em
Laugh and cry a little while reminiscing
By myself
I can't help
That all I think about is
How you were taken way too soon
It ain't the same here without you
I gotta say, missing you comes in waves
And tonight I'm drowning

Yeah, I know you're in a better place
And one day I'll see you again
But it's killing me we can't be face to face
I miss my best friend

So, tonight I'm gonna pull out pictures, ones with you in 'em
Laugh and cry a little while reminiscing
By myself
I can't help
That all I think about is
How you were taken way too soon
It ain't the same here without you
I gotta say, missing you comes in waves
And tonight I'm drowning
Yeah, tonight I'm drowning

I know it's a part of life
But I wasn't ready to say goodbye"

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Chris Young / Corey Justin Crowder / Josh Hoge

Performed by  Chris Young

Drowning lyrics © Concord Music Publishing LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 

Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Drowning by Chris Young Official Music Video

Where were my ancestors in 1925...

 ... and what were they doing?  

My parents were not born yet so we go to the grandparents.

My paternal grandparents, Lusion Keman Tapley and Nealie Vermell Drake Tapley, who had already been married for 11 years, were living on their farm in Johnson County, Georgia, between Kite and Bartow.  He was farming, and Nealie was busy cooking, cleaning, and keeping up with five children aged 10 and under, along with a teenager. The family was still two years away from having electricity to their home. 

My maternal grandparents, Charles Morgan Tapley and Ethel Irene Ranney, were both still single in 1925. 

My grandfather had run away from home at age 16, joined the Navy, and ended up in California. He got out of the Navy early, but stayed out west. At age 18, he was living in Los Angeles, but I am not sure what he was doing at that time to support himself.

Ethel was only 12 years old in 1925.  She and her family lived in Redlands, San Bernardino County, California. The family had relocated to California from Michigan within the last 3-4 years. Her days were probably filled with school, chores, and hanging out with her older sister, Alice.

My Drake great-grandparents, William John Drake and Emma Vermell Harrell Drake were living in Adrian, Emanuel County, Georgia in 1925.  He was a preacher and probably a farmer, also. Their children were grown, but I know that at least one son was still living with them in 1925. 

My Ranney great-grandparents, Luther Boardman Ranney and Bessie Alice Carter Ranney, were living in Redlands, California, as I mentioned.  Luther had been a farmer back in Michigan and now he was a laborer, though I don't know in what field. 

Bessie was a homemaker who cooked, baked, sewed their clothes, did the shopping, and was an involved, loving parent. 

These looks back in time are so interesting to do. I usually find holes in my research that I wasn't aware of AND find some thing I had forgotten about.  

Where were YOUR ancestors in 1925?

Veterans Day 2026

    

    Every year on November 11, communities across this country pause to honor the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. While many enjoy the day off or attend a local parade, the history behind the date and the specific purpose of the holiday are often overlooked or misunderstood.

    Understanding how Veterans Day came to be - and how it differs from other patriotic holidays - helps us honor our servicemen and women with the clarity and respect they deserve.

    The origins of Veterans Day trace back to the end of World War I. Major hostilities officially ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, when the Allied nations and Germany signed an armistice.  

    The very next year, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson declared November 11 as the first "Armistice Day" to commemorate the heroism of those who fought in World War I and celebrate the return of peace.

    In 1938, an act of Congress officially made November 11 a legal federal holiday, originally dedicated to World War I veterans and the cause of world peace.

    After World War II and the Korean War, veteran service organizations urged Congress to expand the holiday's scope. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation changing the word "Armistice" to "Veterans," officially broadening the honor to all American veterans of any war.

    Between 1968-1975, Congress, under The Uniform Monday Holiday Act, moved Veterans Day to the 4th Monday of October to create a three-day weekend for federal employees.  However, due to widespread public disapproval and the deep historical significance of November 11, Gerald Ford signed a bill restoring the fixed November 11 date starting in 1978.

    Today, November 11 remains a fixed anchor on the calendar, ensuring the legacy of the 1918 armistice is never forgotten. 

Veterans Day vs. Memorial Day: What's the Difference?

    One of the most common misconceptions surrounding American military holidays is confusing or merging Veterans Day with Memorial Day. While both pay tribute to service members, their purposes are distinct:

Holiday	When	Primary Purpose	Who We Honor
Memorial Day	Last Monday in May	Remembers and mourns those who died in service or as a result of injuries incurred during battle.	Deceased service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Veterans Day	November 11	Pays tribute to all living and non-living military veterans who served honorably during wartime or peacetime.	All U.S. military veterans, with an emphasis on thanking living veterans for their service.

    Remembering this distinction allows us to direct our gratitude appropriately: Memorial Day is a solemn time of remembrance for the fallen (think funeral or memorial service), whereas Veterans Day is an opportunity to thank living veterans for their duty, sacrifice and continued contributions to our nation and communities.

- Historical information provided by Google Gemini with some editing and tweaking by me.  

Harry Tapley Sr.
U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam
my brother

    Today, please remember to thank a veteran or honor your relatives and ancestors who served. 

Charles Morgan Tapley
U.S. Navy, World War II
My grandfather "Pop Pop"

   

  

Comfort Ranney
U.S. Army, Civil War
My 2nd Great-Grandfather

                     

 

Tombstone Tuesday

 

Recently, my cousins, Keith and Jimmy, and I visited cemeteries in South Carolina (Don't panic - I live only 15 minutes from the South Carolina state line!). We hunted and hunted (cemeteries are not marked well or at all; if they have a map, it is confusing; or there is no office in which to inquire) and were rewarded with finding a few relatives' graves.  I love when it is cool enough to go cemetery hunting!  

Robert Washington Page

buried at

Sunset Hill Cemetery
North Augusta, Aiken, South Carolina, USA

Robert Washington Page is the 1st cousin, 3x removed of Keith, Jimmy, and Andrea.