I Believe – My Values

Simuel Heywood Vernon, Jr., and Martha Ellen Mosley are my father’s parents.

He was known in the community as Sim Vernon and was called Sim.

Granddaddy and Grandma were married on July 27, 1919, in York County, Virginia. They celebrated sixty-nine years of marriage.

The 1920 census shows that my granddaddy, grandma, and their young son, Ed Lee, my father, lived with his parents, Simuel, Sr., and Jane, in Grafton, VA.

I am unsure if my parents, Ed Lee & Lucille, lived with Daddy’s grandparents or Momma’s parents when they first married. I had heard that my father did not go with his parents when they moved to their home on Rt 17 in Grafton, VA.; his grandmother raised him.

Sim and Martha had six children: Edward Lee (known as) Ed Lee & Bubba, Mae Ellen, Carrie Elizabeth, Alice Marie, William Haywood, and Wardell Nathanial. (See Chapter 4 for my relationship with my father’s siblings.)

Granddaddy lived in Grafton, Virginia, all his life. He worked at the Naval Mine Depot, now known as the Naval Weapons Station.

He received a certificate certifying that the U.S. Navy employed him during World War II.

Cornelia Mae Vernon is Granddaddy’s only sibling; she married Paul Francis. They lived in  Hampton, Virginia, and had 11 children; she died on July 23, 1967.

In 2010, there was a Vernon-Smith family reunion in which many members of the Francis family participated. We all met and talked to several of our cousins. My siblings and I didn’t grow up knowing them, my father’s cousins.

Granddaddy was born on August 26, 1899, in Grafton, Virginia. He was widely known and respected in the Grafton, Yorktown area. He was a faithful member of Grafton Baptist Church. He had a good life and passed away at his home in Grafton on January 16, 1988, at 89.

Martha Ellen Mosley Vernon, My Grandmother

Grandma Martha was born On February 2, 1902, in Grafton, Virginia.

My sister Barbara and I used to take the bus downtown on Saturdays to meet Grandma and Granddaddy on 25^th and Jefferson Ave in the Black shopping area. Granddaddy would give each of us a dollar, which was a lot of money back then. I remember Grandma’s big smile and laugh when we did come around.

Barbara also stayed with them one or two times during the summer; she would work at the crab factory, where Grandma worked to earn money for school clothes. I tried working at the Crab factory; I worked one day but was not too fond of the smell, so I never returned.

We didn’t have a close relationship with our father’s parents when we were children. As my sisters, Jr. and I grew older and went about our lives, we all seemed to gravitate toward Grandma, and she appeared to want the relationship. She seemed glad to see us whenever there was a significant family activity. I always came by to see her whenever I came home for a visit after I married Howard and moved to Alaska.

Now that I am older, I wish I had had more time with Grandma Martha when I was young. Although I remember her and can see her face, I didn’t know her. I wish I could say, “My grandma told me.” Knowing what she liked or disliked would have been great. I would like to know if I am like her right now.

It would have meant the world to us if Grandma had made a small effort to help us after Momma passed away. At that time, we really needed her.

I am writing this book because I want my grandchildren to know me. To know that I love them and will always be there for them as long as I live.

Grandma died on March 6, 1996, at her home at 7908 George Washington Memorial Hwy Yorktown, VA 23692, at 94.

Grandma and Granddaddy are buried at Grafton Baptist Church Cemetery Harrison Grove.

THE GRANDPARENT EFFECT

Children who live with or have frequent contact with a grandparent have lower mortality and disease rates. The Grandparent stays more engaged and active and thus is more likely to live longer.

5 Things Grandparents Do for Young Children.

Grandparents can play many essential roles in the lives of their beloved grandchildren. Depending on how far away they live and other circumstances, they can be caregivers, teachers, and playmates. They are trusted advisors for their adult children, who are now parents themselves. For many families, grandparents provide regular childcare. In some cases, they are primary caregivers to their grandkids. Whether they live nearby or stay in touch from afar, the love and emotional closeness that grandparents provide significantly impact their grandchild’s healthy development.

1. Grandparents give advice.

Being the parent of a baby or toddler is a joy, but it’s not always easy, especially for new parents. And little ones grow and develop so fast that parenting routines that work one day may not work the next. When in doubt, parents often go online for answers. But the sources of parenting information they trust the most are their own parents (usually their mothers or mothers-in-law) more than friends, pediatricians, or websites.

2. Grandparents’ lived experience and wisdom can be beneficial and calm parental frustration or panic.

Of course, some advice from grandma or grandpa may not align with what we now know about child development. Grandparents know that there’s no such thing as a perfect parent. Whether or not you can spoil a baby, their intuition and long-term perspective can be comforting to a parent who isn’t sure what to do sometimes and doesn’t want to make mistakes.

2. Grandparents teach young children.

Grandparents can bring a special enthusiasm to the time they spend with their little ones, and that helps a child learn and grow. They help children learn by playing, talking, and reading together while giving them focused attention. And they teach more directly by telling stories and sharing family and cultural traditions. Grandparents are also uniquely positioned to reinforce limits and lessons from parents while also listening, wiping away tears, and showing their grandchild that they understand.

It’s hard to quantify the impact of the special connection between young kids and their grandparents. Still, studies have shown that having actively-involved grandparents can help children grow confidence, cope with stress, and have fewer behavioral issues as they age.

3. Grandparents provide child care.

More than just occasional help, many families rely on grandparents for regular, trusted child care for their little ones. According to ZERO TO THREE, one in four children under five is looked after by their grandparents while their parents work or attend school. That’s the same number of children enrolled in formal childcare programs.

While many grandparents rise to the challenge, it’s not always easy. About half of the grandparents surveyed feel some level of disagreement or tension about approaches to childcare, and 2 out of 5 say the caregiving job is tiring.

 

4. Some Grandparents are Primary Caregivers.

Many grandparents are also helping raise their grandchildren, which increases both the challenges and the rewards.

5. Grandparents Love.

Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers learn and grow through close, caring relationships with adults. The most important thing that grandparents bring their little ones is love. The attention, interaction, and unconditional love from grandparents (and parents) help a young child feel safe and secure. And that’s what they need for healthy brain development.

So, a grandparent’s love makes a real, lasting impact on a young child’s future. Research also shows that a close, involved relationship is good for grandparents, too, contributing to healthier, happier, and possibly even longer lives. August 31, 2022, First Things First

After reading this, I am even more confident that my close relationship with you all, from infants to adults, was one of my biggest blessings. And we have a fantastic relationship.

Proverbs 22:6 NIV

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.

“To God Be the Glory.”

Some history I found on the First Baptist Church Jefferson Park website explains how my mother’s people migrated from Mulberry Island to Jefferson Park.

The late Deacon William and Mrs. Lucy Wooten’s inspirational leadership contributed to the organization of The First Baptist Church Jefferson Park in 1918 under the Holy Spirit’s guidance. After being displaced from their homes by the United States Government, Deacon and Mrs. Wooten and a small group of others came to Jefferson Park from Mulberry Island (now Fort Eustis) in 1918.

Remember, Poppa (Grandpa Moses) was born and lived with his parents on Mulberry Island.

When the government took the island to establish Fort Eustis, about 1,000 people lived on the island, they were primarily black. In relocating, they scattered in many directions. Some went to Yorktown and Warwick County. Others went to the Colony area, and some to Jefferson Park. Information from a document written in Mrs. Wooten’s handwriting in 1918 tells the story of the move from Mulberry Island to Jefferson Park. She and her husband, Deacon Wooten, and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Harris were the first to move into Jefferson Park from the island. They came to the Park mainly because of Mrs. Ethel Ashe’s efforts, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Harris. Mrs. Ashe was a former resident of Mulberry Island. But then, she lived in Newport News because her husband, the late Trustee William Ashe, was in the Army and stationed at Camp Steward. Upon hearing the bad news concerning her parents’ plight and the others who had to leave Mulberry Island, Mrs. Ashe began looking for a place for them to live. Fortunately for her, one day, while shopping, she overheard a conversation about Jefferson Park, where land was available for black people to buy. Immediately, she went to the island and told her parents and others the good news. Negotiations began to purchase the land, and the move to Jefferson Park soon began.

The Islanders were frustrated over having to leave Mulberry Island for many reasons. They had to start their lives all over, leaving their homes, families, and churches. Most Islanders who came to Jefferson Park were members of the Colossian Baptist Church on the island. Like any undeveloped area, Jefferson Park had no modern conveniences, public schools, mail delivery, or church. The people were stouthearted and determined to make the Park livable. They worked hard, cleared the land, and did everything they needed to make it their home and a proud place to live. However, they were unsatisfied with their striving to clear the land. They wanted a Church.    Not having a Church to worship was the greatest frustration for them. The people missed the singing, the praying, the preaching, and the fellowship they had enjoyed in the Colossian Baptist Church. However, God had not forgotten them, and His plan was already in action though they did not know it.

The first place of worship was a very crude building. According to some members, the building resembled a woodshed more than a Church. Deacon Wooten built the church; he and other men also made the pews, the pulpit, and the communion table. Kerosene lamps attached to the bare walls furnished the faint glimmer of light for the night services. There was no piano, organ, or formal choir. Someone usually led the songs they sang in the group. The leader would start by saying a few words of a song, such as Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound…and the people would answer back with the same words in the song. Today, this type of service is challenging to visualize and, for some, difficult to appreciate.

The pioneers of our church, regardless of the circumstance or the building’s plainness, were faithful to God. Sincere in their commitment and genuine in their worship. As more people moved into the Park, the church continued to grow. In the people’s efforts to save souls, they often gathered at the little church and then walked through the Park from house to house, singing songs of praise. Whenever they came to a place where an unsaved person lived, they sang and prayed tirelessly, hoping to persuade the person to come out and “be saved.”  Many people did come to know the Lord through these soul-saving campaigns. The Church baptism services were in the James River, just off Lincoln Park in lower Newport News. Today, we can be thankful for the zeal exhibited by the early pioneers.

As you can see from the church’s history, the people who moved from Mulberry Island were related. Esther and my Mother are first cousins, so Esther’s mother and my Grandma Jane, these two sisters, Jane and Elizabeth (Liz), went in different directions when they moved from Mulberry Island. Grandma Jane and Poppa moved to Yorktown, while her sister Elizabeth moved to Jefferson Park.

Years later, my parents purchased two lots to build a house across the street from the church you read about at the beginning of this chapter. My parents moved from Newsome Park to Jefferson Park. Jefferson Park had the same makeup as Newsome Park; the only difference was that they owned their homes. Our cousin Esther’s house was next door to the church. 621-42 St. After her death, her nephew, Cepheus Boykins, sold her house to the church. Esther did not have children, so Cousin Cepheus was her next of kin. It is now part of the parking lot for First Baptist Jefferson Park.

So, this is information that brings my family to Jefferson Park. My parents have moved here from Newsome Park. And by now, our family has five girls, all about 18 months apart. The idea was to build and live in a small house while Daddy built the larger one with his friends’ help. The small house had only two bedrooms, so we girls had to sleep in the same bed. I remember being two at the head of the bed and two at the foot. Back then, the bedrooms would be cold with no central heat and air. We had one Big Stove in the living room, and Daddy would put so much coal and wood in it that it would turn red from the fire inside. I was afraid it would burn the house down; it heated the living room and kitchen area but not our bedroom. We used a “foot tub, ” a small tin tub; we would bring it to the living room near the stove and bathe there before bed. We would pile on blankets and coats to keep warm. To this day, I like a heavy quilt on my bed.

We survived Hurricane Hazel in that little house.

I remember we were home alone. Momma had gone to work despite a hurricane forecast to hit our city that day. She worked at the Port Author Chinse Restaurant, “Overtown,” as it was referred to back then, and Daddy worked at VEPC, Virginia Electric & Power Co., in October 1954. I was 11 years old. I would turn 12 in December, so Barbara was 13 years old.

“Long before its worst winds and waves slammed into Hampton Roads on the afternoon of October 15, 1954, Hurricane Hazel was a storm to remember. And by the time it rumbled to the north about 6 p.m., it had battered the  100-mph gauges at the Norfolk weather station so badly against the top end of the dial that they had to replace it.” The following is from a  Daily Press News article I found online.

“At Fort Monroe, more than 100 trees came down — and 500 people were evacuated from their homes because of high water.

The newspaper reported that more trees fell along Chesapeake Avenue and downtown Hampton — where fierce winds pulled sign after sign down from the exposed storefronts in the King and Queen Streets business district.

Steady 90-mile per hour-plus winds roared in from the southwest against the shoreline at Newport News all afternoon, toppling a chimney at the Daily Press and sending it plunging through the roof.”

We survived Hurricane Hazel in October 1954, one of the worst storms to hit the area. My sisters and I were home alone, and I remember the hurricane well. We were not afraid, and we did not have a phone. I remember Momma was so worried about us because she had to take a bus home from work. She got home as soon as possible. But God…..There was no damage to our house. Not a shingle off the roof or window was damaged in our little house. When Momma and Daddy got home, they were so happy to see us, and we were glad they were home. They both said they did not think our house would make it. After that, Daddy was so proud of his little house.

Daddy started on the larger house, a two-story five-bedroom house, and the outside was cinderblock. There were two bathrooms, one upstairs and one downstairs, we did move into the house, but with all that happened, he never finished it. There were so many things that happened as they worked on the house. Not only did Daddy lose his job, but he also got sick. As hard as Momma tried, she could not keep up with so many children and so much to do.

One day, Daddy was working on the house. Baby Sis and (I am unsure if it was Esther Mae or Christine) were going to the store. As he tries to split a cinderblock with a hatchet, a piece of steel flies off and hits Baby Sis in the eye. They rushed her to the hospital, and the Doctors had to remove her eye; she was maybe six at the time. She received a plastic Eye then; plastic is better than glass. I remember the Lyons Club donated money for the procedure and paid $1,000 for the eye. That was a rough time for our family. But Baby Sis was young enough to get accustomed to the plastic eye and not being able to see out of her right eye. Sometimes, when she got older, she even joked about it. Momma made sure Baby Sis grew up learning how to take care of her eye. It was like Momma knew she would not be around to do things for her, and Baby Sis needed to understand how to take care of herself. Momma was most concerned about Baby Sis because of her eye. What if something happens to her other eye? “She would be blind,” Momma said; she hoped Baby Sis would go to college, and she was the first of us to get a college degree.

After many trials and Momma’s passing, we all left 614 one by one over the years.

With no one living there, the house went down fast. Homeless people and drug addicts would use it for shelter. They broke out the windows. It became a problem in the community right in front of the church. Soon, there were many complaints from the city that the house was a nuisance and fire hazard; boarding it up was the only choice. Even boarding it up was not enough; people just pulled the boards off and went in.

We leave 614-42 St in Jefferson Park, Newport News, VA. no one is living there, and it is all boarded up. We had some good times there, but not much, not much at all, after Momma died. So much happened in 614.

The timeline on 614, our family Home. This is how 614 changed hands over the years, ending with Lonnie Sr. & Martha Jane.

October 9, 1959, conveyed to Lucille Vernon by deed of Frank A Nichols et ux. Recorded in the Clerk’s office aforesaid in Deed Book 378, page 156

August 7, 1973. Kline Furniture Co placed a $1049.81 Judgment

October 8, 1974. Esther Mae Vernon Whitt, Elnora Vernon, Lucille Vernon Gibbs & George Gibbs, her husband, and Edward Lee Vernon Sr., widower of Lucille Vernon, did for and in consideration of $1 did grant and conveyed to Martha Vernon and Edward Lee Vernon Jr.; all of their right, title, and interest in the property known as 614-42^nd street.

April 29, 1976, Barbara Vernon Haynes and James Haynes, her husband Martha Vernon, Christine Vernon Slade, and Deborah Vernon did for and in consideration of $1 did grant and conveyed to Edward Lee Vernon Jr.; all of their right, title, and interest in the property known as 614-42^nd street.

November 22, 1976, Edward Lee Vernon, Jr. and Gwendolyn R. Vernon, his wife, for and in consideration of $1, did grant and conveyed to Martha Jane Williams and Lonnie Allen Williams; all of their right, title, and interest in the property known as 614-42^nd street.

Things had gone so wrong with the house that Lonnie & I found ourselves coming from Denbigh almost every other week to do something. We ended up having to have what was left torn down. A picture of our Red and White car is in the driveway, a truck at the front door, and you can see through the roof.

We looked into getting a loan but did not qualify before Lonnie started working at the Shipyard. Also, Jefferson Park was not the best area. We were not 100% sure we wanted to move there.

I had a very close relationship with Aunt Mae and Uncle Horace, and they stood with me both times I married. So I saw no reason not to transfer the two lots to Uncle Horace. He would rebuild the house for us since he had a construction business and then sell it back to us. Lonnie and I talked to him about that, and that is what we did.

Although Lonnie and I owned the house (614), I should have discussed it with my siblings. I never thought my life would change so drastically as it did.

December 8, 1977, Martha Jane Williams and Lonnie Allen Williams, for and in consideration of $10, did grant and convey to Horace L Taliaferro, Sr, and Mae Ellen Taliaferro, his wife, all of their right, title, and interest in the property known as 614-42^nd street.

January 23, 1978, the $1049.81 Judgment by Kline Furniture Co. placed on 614, having been paid and satisfied, the lien thereof is now released.

So, we discussed it with Uncle Horace and devised a plan for rebuilding the house. I was close to Aunt Mae and was often around Uncle Horace, so I thought this was an excellent safe plan. We signed over the lots to Uncle Horace and Aunt Mae.

Lucille came for a visit and stopped by our apartment on Motoka Dr.; we talked about 614 and what we would do with it. We were both excited about getting it redone. She stated that it could be a family house and somehow shared. I can’t remember the details of the conversation, but I know she was saying it would be the family home. We did not discuss how this would work, how the family would do the financing, or who would live there.

After she left, Lonnie and I talked, and he stated that if it was like that, he could not build a house for us on it. I tried my best to come up with something. I did not consult with my sisters and Jr.; the next thing you know, my life took some significant twists and turns, and I did not get back with Uncle Horace. I never thought he would sell the lots without giving me a chance to get them back first. But he did. He never contacted me when he was approached about the lots being for sale.

Lonnie had passed away; I met Howard, and we married and moved to Alaska. Since I transferred the lots to him and when he sold them, so much had happened in my life. As I look back, it was my responsibility. Before I left, I should have talked to them about the lots. I only found out he sold the lots when Barbara called and told me a house was built there.

As with everything in life, something always makes you stop and ask why. In my relationship with them, they knew how vital those lots (614-42^nd St.) were to our family. How could they sell them, knowing that is where my sisters, brother, and I grew up? The place my mother and father worked so hard to build for our family without letting me know they wanted to sell them or someone was interested in buying the lots. I would have repurchased them at the going rate. Remember, I did not sell the lots to them; I signed them over I received no money. We had to pay off the $1,000 lien.

Losing the house and the lots placed me in a very unpleasant situation with my siblings. They trusted me by setting the property in my name; this has hurt me to my core, but I have not let it keep me from loving my family and having a relationship with them. But I feel it is so unfair.

I am genuinely sorry that this happened. It feels like everything Momma and Daddy tried to do just “went downhill,” and I did not help.

Thelma Nickles, who lived next door to us, is a little older than me, but we all grew up together, purchased the lots, and built a house on them; she was still there the last time I checked.

Saying sorry does not mean much, but I am sorry to my sisters, brother, nieces, and nephews. Most of all, I am sorry to Momma & Daddy. I know how hard they worked to get that house built. I am so sorry we did not hold on to the home and property our parents tried to build.

Looking back on the situation today, I know I could have handled the situation better, but at the time, I was dealing with so many issues. Moving to Alaska, I just got swept up into my new life. No Excuse.  But I will never forget 614-42 Street as the place where I grew up, and there were some happy memories there.

Edward Lee Vernon, Sr. & Lucille (Smith) Vernon

1/17/1919 – 8/22/1983            4/26/1926 – 10/6/1960

 Ed Lee & Lucille had Eight Children

Seven Daughters                                                                                           One Son

Barbara Yvonne      04/15/1941                                                           Edward Lee Jr.    03/15/1952

Martha Jane            12/14/1942

Christine Elizabeth  04/01/1944   (04/24/2021)

Esther Mae              01/09/1946

Elnora Brenetta       07/25/1947

Lucille (Baby Sis)  07/01/1949   (09/29/2006)

Deborah Juanita      07/31/1957

Growing up, we were very close. We loved and cared about each other. We have grown up over the last 61 years. We all have our own families. Barbara, Christine, Ester Mae, and I were all born in Warwick County, VA. Elnora, Lucille Deborah, and Jr. were born in Newport News, VA.

We have lived throughout the U.S., starting with our birth city and state of Newport News, Virginia, to Baltimore, MD; San Francisco, CA; Modesto, CA; Auror, Colorado; Washington, DC.; Fairbanks, Alaska; Albany, GA; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Denton, TX; and Sicily, Italy. This chapter will show you how we have been Blessed and protected and how far we have all come.

“There is only One Time you Should look Back in Life; it is to See how Far you have Come.”

While not all of us are here now, God took two; Lucille (Baby Sis) joined Momma and Daddy on September 29, 2006. Her death was very difficult for all of us. I am so grateful to God for His Love, Grace, and Mercy watching over us so we can tell our story.

I have been away from my writing for a while. I have some news to share, and it is not good news. I must tell you that Christine went to be with Momma, Daddy, and Baby Sis on April 24, 2021. It has been ten months now (today is 2/20/22), and I still go to call her sometimes. I miss her so very much.

I am not going into my siblings’ lives; I will let them tell their own stories. I will give you the composition of them and their families. You will have the basic information about your aunts and uncle if you want to research your family history.

Barbara is the first-born, married to James Beverly Haynes, they had five Children

Three Daughters                                                                                       Two Sons

Sheri Denise (Haynes) Briggs/Daronta Briggs                                       James Edward Haynes  

Yvette Monique Haynes                                                         Carl David Haynes/Amy Cunningham

Yvonne Elise (Haynes) Owens/divorced Sidney Owens

                        Barbara has Five Grandchildren

 Carl David                                                                 One Son

                                                                        Monte Demon Johnson Haynes

Yvette Monique                                                         One Daughter                                  

                                                                         Beverly Shani Haynes                                              

Yvonne Elise Owens                                             Two daughters                                    One Son

                                                                   Sydney Janae Owens                         Sidney Leon Owens Jr.

                                                                   Syvonne Elise Owens

                       Barbara has Eight Great-grandchildren

Sydney Janae Owens                                  One daughter                        One son

                                                           Lauryn James LouisMe               Duke Kerenedel LouisMe

 Monte Demon Johnson Haynes             Three Daughters                       Three Sons

                                                                        Zion                                  Jaelyn Haynes

                                                                        Jelyn                                 Kamari Haynes

                                                                     Naomi                                 Kameron Haynes

Martha Jane married Lonnie Allen Williams, the biological father of Lonnie Allen. Karen’s biological father is Alfred B. Julye. I also married Howard Harrell, who adopted Lonnie; we raised Karen, Lonnie, and his son Howard II. They raised three children.

One Daughter                                                 Two Sons

Karen Denise Vernon                                  Howard Earl Harrell ll married/divorced Kimberly LaRose

                                                            Lonnie Allen Williams Harrell, married to Tiffany C. Powell

                         Martha Jane has Nine Grandchildren                                                                                      

Karen Denise Vernon                            One Daughter                     

                                                          Briahnna Jane Vernon              

Howard Earl Harrell II         Three Daughters                                        Two Sons  

                                          Jordan Nicole Smith                               (Trey) Howard Earl Harrell III

                                         Sadeyah Renae Harrell                  Trenton Andrew Walter Harrell/married Malory Cain

                                        Mariyah Earlene Harrell                                                                             

Lonnie Allen Williams Harrell             One Daughter                                 Two Sons                                       

                                                           Lola Ava Lucille Harrell                 Logan Allen Harrell                                                              

                                                                                                                    Langston Elijah Harrell                                               

                        Martha Jane has Seven Great-grandchildren

Jordan                                                             Three Daughters                               Two Sons                                   

                                                                       Lilly Smith                                        Hayden Smith                             

                                                                        Nova Smith                                      Kamden Smith                            

                                                                      Madilynn Smith

  Sadeyah                                                            Two Daughters

                                                                     Ryleigh Abigail Ann Harrell-Ford

                                                                      Ariyah Kimberly Harrell-Ford

Christine married Thomas Slade; they had Two Children, Michelle and Michael. She is married to Eddie Brinkley.

                                     One Daughter                                           One Son

Michelle Denise (Slade) Powell/Darrell Powell             Michael Thomas Slade

                    Christine has Two Grandchildren

Michelle Denise                           One Daughter                           One son

                                                      Erika C. Powell                      Darrell Craig Powell 

                 Christine has One Great-grandchild

Erika Powell                                         One son                                             

                                               Justin Chase Banks, Jr. (JJ)

 Esther Mae was married to James Whitt; they had two daughters.

She was also married to Mitch Foster, and they had one son.

           Two Daughters                                                One Son                          

    Shelia Denise Whitt                               Derrick Foster married/divorced Nisha McPherson

Renee Whitt

                    Esther Mae has One Granddaughter

Derrick Foster One Daughter                           Morgan Camille Foster

Elnora has Two children: Sterling and Brittany.  Jerome Price is Sterling’s father, and Joseph Durham is Brittany’s father.

                          One Daughter                                                                                            One Son

Brittany (Vernon) Steward/D’Angelo Steward married/divorced          Sterling Jerome Price married Shauntia King

                Elnora has Three Grandchildren

Brittany           One Son                       

                   Kobe J. Boston          

 Sterling has                                       One Daughter                        One son      

                                                       Tierea Robinson                Sterling Jerome Price, Jr.

                 Elnora has Two great-grandchildren.                                               

Tierea Robinson                                 One Son    

                                                  Micah Jesse Hayes  

Kobe J. Boston                                 One son     

                                                Chance Amir Boston

Lucille was married to George Gibbs they had Three children

          One Daughter                                       Two   Sons

Lisa Denise Watts /Kevin Watts                    Akil A Gibbs

                                                                      Ade K Gibbs    

                 Lucille has Five Grandchildren

  Lisa Denise Watts                   Two Daughters                             Two Sons

                                                  Alisha Watts                              Aaron Gibbs Dann

                                                 Crystal Watts                            Rashard Watts

Ade Gibbs                           One Son 

                                         Jaxon Aziz Gibbs

Lucille has Four Great-grandchildren.

Aaron Gibbs Dann                                                    Two Sons                         

                                                                             Ethan Dann                                                      

                                                                           Owen Dan 

Alisha Watts                                                             One Son

                                                                          Shawn Turner, Jr  

Rashard Watts                                                      One Daughter                         

                                                                          Allayah Renee Watts

Edward L. Jr. is married to Gwendolyn Ricks and has three children: one Daughter with Chiquita Taylor.

Two Daughters                                                                                            Two Sons

Ebony Lucille Vernon                                                                 Shomar L Vernon married Amy

Brittany Lee Taylor-Vernon       (Chiquita Taylor, Mother)              Careen Omar Ricks

                                   Edward L. Jr. has Five Grandchildren.  

Shomar L Vernon                           One Son              

                                                  Donavon Edward Vernon                         

Careen Omar Ricks                One Son                                                      Two Daughters

                                            DaeVion Marquis Ricks                         TruNique Ebony Marie Ricks

                                                                                                           Aniyah Vernita Ricks

Brittany Lee Taylor-Vernon                         One Daughter                

                                                            Charlette Lee Kirkpatrick  

                    Edward Lee Jr. has One Great-grandchild

TruNique Ebony Marie Ricks                                   One Daughter

                                                                                Alannis Ricks

Deborah married/divorced Michael Swift they have One Son.  Michael Andrei Swift II married Amarachi Okoro

As of today, October 18, 2022, the number of offspring for Lucille & Ed Lee, counting their eight children and spouses, is eighty-two. There are eighty-two Children, Grandchildren, Great-grandchildren and Great-great-grandchildren…

My Dear Children, Grandchildren, Great-grandchildren, Nieces, Nephews, Sisters, and Brother. I pray you will share this story with your children and your children’s children. If you find a mistake or a misspelled name, please forgive me and charge it to my head, not my heart.

 “And whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens; Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance; And when you get the choice to sit it out or DANCE, I hope you DANCE.” The song “I Hope You Dance”

…. Love has no ending….

 To my nieces and nephews: Although we rarely see each other, I love you all. And when we are together, it is a Blast!!!

Grammy, Aunt Jane, Jane

When a Mother Dies, a Child’s Mourning Never Completely Ends.

It is said you die twice, once when you take your last breath. And again, many years later, when your name is spoken for the last time.

My Dear Children and Grandchildren, please remember me. Tell a story; remember a time we spent together. Feel my hug. Toast to GRAMMY!!!!! Remember December 14, my Birthday, and the day I left you, Month        Day        Year        . I will always be with you with every heartbeat. Just say my name.

The lyrics from “The Prayer” by Andrea Bocelli touched my heart because they related to my siblings and me after our Mother passed away.

“I pray you’ll be our eyes, And watch us where we go, And help us to be wise, In times when we don’t know. Let this be our prayer when we lose our way; lead us to a place. Guide us with your grace to a place where we’ll be safe.

When stars go out each night, I pray we’ll find your light and hold it in our hearts.

Let this be our prayer. When shadows fill our day, Lead us to a place. Guide us with your grace.

Give us faith so we’ll be safe. We ask that life be kind And watch us from above. We hope each soul will find Another soul to love. Let this be our prayer, Just like every child needs to find a place.

Guide us with your grace. Give us faith so we’ll be safe.”  Songwriters: Carole Bayer Sager / Alberto Testa / David W. Foster

Momma had been sick for quite a while, and we kids were too young to realize how ill she was. What has always amazed me is that Daddy was sick long before Momma became ill. Now I know it has nothing to do with time or age when your time comes.

Her eighth child was born less than two years before she got sick. She had two jobs and looked after a sick husband with a house full of kids under 15. The Doctors said it was stress, she was working too hard, and it went on for three years.

At the age of 17, I oversaw the burial of my Mother. Daddy was there, but I felt the final decisions were left up to me.

After the funeral, Uncle John came to me and said he and Steen wanted to help. He said they had talked and wanted to take the two youngest with them, just for a while, Baby Sis and Deborah. Uncle John and Steen had only been married for four years, and she had two miscarriages which left her unable to have children of her own. Deborah was 3, and Baby Sis was 11. I told him we needed to talk to Daddy. Daddy was so broken and hurt that he did not know what to do, but he said it might be the best thing since he could not take care of them and still had more treatments for his illness. In talking about the girls going, Jr said he wanted to go. I am unsure how Jr. came to go, but they took him too; he was eight.

So, the day after the funeral, Deborah, Baby Sis, and Jr. went to Baltimore to live with Steen and Uncle John. This started a relationship that would last until they died. We were all still in shock, and I remember feeling so sad and torn when they left; there was a hole in my heart. Not only have we lost our Mother, but we have also lost our three younger siblings. I will never know what would have happened if we had all stayed together. This separation would have a profound effect on all of us. The bond we had will never be the same again. I have thought about it since writing my memories. When I think about it, I wish we had stayed together, but when I think about what happened with us girls at home, about how things went, we struggled to keep the essential things going. And there were heated arguments about the Social Security money and who would use it and how. At those times, I felt that the younger ones were better off. There was some stability with Steen and Uncle John, and we had their Social Security money sent to them.

I know how hard it was for us girls after Momma died over the years. It felt like we were left all alone. It was tough for Baby Sis, Jr, and Deborah; also, they lost their whole family. Over the years, a wonderful thing happened with Baby Sis, Jr. and Deborah. I saw the bond between them grow strong, and they grew closer.

On the other hand, it seemed like the five of us at home grew further apart. We could not close the broken chain. We did not have that ONE over us holding us together. We did not know how to take care of ourselves, not to mention take care of others. Over the years, we grew, and as the years went by, we did find a path to each other. We are sisters, and we love each other. Like everyone else, we did the best we could, and when we knew better, we did better.

When Christine graduated from high school, she got married. Esther Mae and Elnora moved to Baltimore when they graduated and never returned to Newport News to live. Their children were all raised in Baltimore, which is home to them. Lucille (Baby Sis), Jr., and Deborah returned home!!!. They all graduated from High School in Newport News. We grew from children to adults. We survived childhood, and we made it. No one went to jail, got hooked on drugs, or was homeless on the streets. We just started having babies and getting married, and here we are now; we went from a family of 10 to a family of 73. God is Good.

Barbara was 19, and I was 17; Christine, 16; Esther Mae, 14; Elnora, 13; and Daddy were all at 614. It was hard and challenging, and we went on; time went on.   After Momma died, I don’t remember talking about her; we did not “Say Her Name.” We did not celebrate the day of her death or her Birthday. It was like she never existed. Now I know it was hard for us to talk about Momma without getting upset. The people around us did not talk about her because they did not want to upset us, so maybe that’s why we did not talk about her. She was just gone.

God always put someone there for you; for us girls at home, that was Esther. She did everything she could do for us as she grieved herself. Esther and Momma were very close, and Momma’s death was sudden; no one was expecting it. Most people did not know she was ill. Esther knew the surgery was serious because Momma told her everything. Esther became our go-to person, our Grandmother. Sometimes we spent the night at Esther’s house because we did not have electricity or heat.

We could depend on her to be there when we needed a babysitter. She kept our children not just for us to go to work but also for us to go out. She often loaned us money, not taking it when we could repay her. She would say that’s ok, keep it. You will read about what she did for Karen and me. All the older grandchildren that grew up in Newport News knew and loved Esther. I loved her like she was my Grandmother, and she loved us.

One by one, as the years went on, we all left 614, including Daddy. Momma was the glue that held us together; our chain was permanently broken. We were all lost without her; sometimes, even today, I can see the effects of that loss. We made it BUT for Esther, Uncle John, and Steen.

Uncle John is my Mother’s brother, and Steen was his wife. They married on March 10, 1956. Momma died on October 6, 1960. Steen and Uncle John did not have much time to bond as husband and wife before we came into their lives. Momma had gone to Baltimore when Steen was in the hospital. I can’t remember if Momma or Steen told me this. Momma had asked Steen to take care of her children if anything happened to her.??? Why? Did she know she was not going to be here for us?

Steen & Uncle John, with all the ups and downs, there were many. We also had so much to be thankful for. We could look forward to large family Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. That was when we came together with love and shared. There’s no way we could have made it without both of them.

There are so many times that Steen made it fun. Steen taught us how to cook, and all of us girls have at least one of her recipes. We have benefitted from her love and teaching. Steen’s strong will and determination showed us we could be strong women. It was not easy, praise God, but we were family, and at the end of the day, we all knew in our hearts that we could depend on Steen.

Uncle John’s calm, beautiful smile and love gave us strength. They both gave us some beautiful memories after Momma passed. It wasn’t easy, but I know with certainty that we benefited from growing up with them in our lives as we moved from children to adults… They did their best, and when they knew better, they did better. I take this time right now to say thank you, and I love you with all that is in me, to Steen and Uncle John.

I said we, the Vernon Sisters and Jr., have all lived in their home at some point. They fed us and supported us with money when we needed it. They taught us what they believed was the right thing to do. They took us in with open arms, and we stayed until it was time to go. And at the end of her life, Steen told me in my last phone call, “I love you; I love you all. I didn’t realize how much you all mean to me.” I love you too, Steen.

Below is the tribute we did to each one of them.

From October 3, 1915 to November 26, 1998,  John H Smith

Dear Uncle John,

This world has been given clear notice of how much you really mean to us.

Your compassion and concern have warmed many weary hearts, as those who know you best must all agree. Your devotion has created strong bonds of friendship by just the way you smile. You have never been one to run from a good cause or fight; instead, you would rather go the extra mile. In Jesus’s name, you worked passionately and faithfully to aid those of us less fortunate than you. You often and unselfishly stretched forth your hands to share your blessings as God had commanded you.

Not once did you complain, no matter how many times we came. You have taught us many lessons about loving each other in this meaningful, short life. Your Christian leadership and outstanding example showed us that we ARE the keepers of our sister and brother. True love is grand when given and shared with others, for it brings complete peace deep within.

Repeatedly, you have illustrated that when we love another soul, we experience the ultimate gift of being loved right back, as you are loved. As we now reflect on life with Uncle John. There cannot be a day without Steen, who was always by his side. And each time we came to him, she opened her heart and said, Ain’t that nothing; y’all come on in.

I want to assure my sisters and brother that God’s assignments for Uncle John continue. We shall miss his pride, inner strength, steadfastness, diligence, wisdom, comforting ways, and protective love.

So, you see, he lives on in us. He may not be with us after today, but all he has given will remain with each of us forever and ever, and we will pass it on to our children. God will crown him a Prince on judgment day.

Ernestine C. Smith    October 21 – June 5, 2015, 

This world has been given clear notice of how much you really mean to us. In His infinite wisdom, God has seen fit to move from our beloved Aunt Ernestine Smith, so lovingly known by us as Steen. We come together to pay our respects to the memory of one whose life was full of love. Steen, a woman of strength, honor, and faith, will forever be cherished as an Aunt who stepped in to take care of eight children when our Mother passed away in 1960. That’s a long time ago, over 50 years we spent with you. I truly believe God put you in Uncle John’s life just for the eight of us.

Steen, your commitment to God and devotion to family and friends will be a lasting memorial of the life you lived. Often and unselfishly, you stretched forth your hands to share your blessings as God had commanded. And never did you complain, no matter how many times we came. And you stayed the course, and you never asked anyone to leave. Your legacy continues to live on in us and the many others you touched along the way. You will be missed but not forgotten.

We, the Vernon Sisters and Jr., thank God for allowing our paths to cross as we journey through this life. You were the Grandmother our children did not have. You were the one there as we grew from teens to young adults. You were the one we called “Steen, can you keep…….you even kept some for the whole summer. And we have not even gotten to the cooking; there are some things we make now just like you did. You and Uncle John, with his big smile, I know he is smiling up there now.

I could go on and on….but I must stop now for you see the “Best of Her Story has Never Been Told.”  She gave us the Best of what she had to offer.

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Momma had to leave us, but God hand-picked the Angels that watched over us. They gave us all they had to give. ALL!!

I know Momma and Daddy are so proud of all of us.

My year at college was both exciting and challenging. The classes I had required much study time and preparation. I had several different jobs to help supplement the many costs of being a student at this Christian University. I also had the opportunity to date which I did not have in high school. By the end of the year, I learned that I would not have the opportunity to attend another year. Even with the scholarship and jobs, the costs were too much for my parents to keep paying. Now I had to decide what the next step in my life would be. I returned home and began working at Lee”s Grill again. I think that it is also important that I mention that I had met and started dating a college student by the name of Richard Himes from Augusta, Kansas. He would become a part of my life for the next three years.
I am so very grateful for the guiding direction from my Heavenly Father in the next decision in my life which was to become a nursing student at Mercy School of Nursing in Oklahoma City for the next three years. My experiences there would not only prepare me to be a nurse but would also prove to be another turning point in my life. I was assigned a roommate from Lima, Peru whose name was Rocio Maria Torres who became Chio to all of us. I eventually learned that she was of the Mormon faith but had to keep that a secret because she was here at this school on a Catholic Nursing Scholarship. This school was a Catholic institution and was supervised by nuns. She was afraid that if they would discover that she was a Mormon, she would be sent home. I did not know anything about being a Mormon except for the movie I had watched about Brigham Young and the pioneer Mormons. Chio became part of my family and was like another sister to me. In our last year of nurses training, we were transported by an airplane to St.Louis, Missouri in May for a three-month pediatric training at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. For the first time, Chio was able to attend her church and I wanted to go with her. I had visited many different churches through the years searching for the answers to my questions about who I was, where did I come from and what was my purpose in being here on this earth.
I think now I would like to share the story of my conversion to the restored gospel and how I became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints known as the Mormons. My first meeting to attend with Chio in St.Louis, Missouri was a testimony meeting. The testimonies that were shared in that meeting that day prompted me to want to know more about this new religion that I did not know existed at this time. Chio contacted the missionaries to begin teaching me. Their names were Elder Brether and Elder Minor. After the first discussion, I knew that this church had the truths that I had been searching for all these years. I must have shocked these two young missionaries when I told them that I wanted to be baptized immediately. They graciously informed me that I had to have all six discussions first so they gave me all six discussions within the week. I began reading the Book of Mormon and was scheduled to be baptized on August 3rd,1967. During that week I received two phone calls that asked me to not be baptized into this church. One phone call was from my dad and the other one was from Richard Himes. I did not understand why they were so against me being baptized but I knew that the Holy Spirit had witnessed to me that this church had all the truths that I had been searching for. I remember on the day I was to be baptized that it was very stormy with many dark clouds but as I was getting dressed after the baptism the clouds parted and the rays of bright sunlight came through the window, giving me such a feeling of peace and love. I continued to read the Book of Mormon which is another witness that Jesus is the Christ and the Jehovah of the Old Testament. I also embraced the belief in Joseph Smith as a Prophet and of a living prophet in our day to lead and guide us as in the days of old. I had always believed that God is my Heavenly Father, that Jesus Christ is his Son, and the Holy Spirit are three distinct beings. Also, the importance of families being together forever is another truth that I believed. We returned home from our rotation at the children”s hospital and finish out the year.

When I get the opportunity to lead a session on The Chosen, I tend to pull nuggets from the episode – lines that I find somewhat profound and thought-provoking (although not always scriptural-based or even significant aspects of the plot). In episode 7, there were several, in no particular order:

“Why would he wish that for someone like me?”

“Sometimes God sends a dove. Matthew, that man was your dove.”

“I want to understand things, Mary. Especially the inscrutable things that unsettle me.”

“Bones will still break. Hearts will still break…You could still have lost a baby when you were a fisherman. You just wouldn’t have anybody to turn to.”

“He said it all depends on you.”

“I know you have felt unworthy. Matthew, I know you have felt unworthy…”

“Our lives are often painful, yes? So we think that life is full of scarcity, not abundance. But there are times, when out of nowhere, the world expresses it’s longing to be whole. And suddenly God steps in. And we are called out of our blindness and into redemption.”

“Why would he wish that for someone like me?”

(In Episode 7, Matthew was wondering why an old man gave him his most valuable possession, even though Matthew had turned against his people by enriching himself and becoming a tax collector.)

A few years ago, Alex invited me to join a group of his friends to Man Up, a men’s retreat in northern Michigan sponsored by our church. I felt similarly fortunate as I do today, surrounded by a bunch of cool young men pursuing their faith. At an evening session, a brief demonstration of our relationship to God was shown that has stuck with me. One guy stood on one end of the stage, facing the other with his arms extended, to show God’s posture to us – always there, always ready and eager to accept us – but allowing us to choose. On the other end of the stage, another guy depicted us and showed the choices we have – we can face God, face away from God, walk toward God, etc.

To me, when we feel unworthy, it’s kind of like looking down. We would like to look at God and walk toward him. But we know we’ve screwed up, and we can’t muster up the gumption to look at God, let alone take the first step. We feel that “life is full of scarcity, not abundance”. We think, why would God want to have a relationship with someone like me?

Once we get past that, we can look at God, walk toward him, and embrace Him. Pretty cool spot to be, God holding you, you holding God, your shoulders drop. Free for everybody, no charge. God continues hugging us and turns us so we can hug others at the same time. Even better.

Often, I try to remind the folks of While Flag how great I think they are, and how great I think God thinks they are. Young men, raising families, pursuing careers, helping their communities, and taking time to learn about “the inscrutable things in life” that are hard to understand.

That’s the image I hope to convey to my kids and their kids. I’d like to love them enough that they feel secure enough to love others. Also pretty cool.

But there are times, when out of nowhere, the world expresses it’s longing to be whole. And suddenly God steps in.

By doing this, I hope it’s like the movie Pay It Forward. We help each other feel secure so that we can share the same with others. And no one misses the chance to hug God because they feel they’ve messed up. And if we do it well enough, “…the world expresses it’s longing to be whole…and we are called out of blindness and into redemption.”

That’s why I frequently remind this wonderful group of young men, taking the time at 6:30 am on a Tuesday to figure out the inscrutable things that unsettle us, that they are enough, and they are deserving of God’s love.

When I was a senior at KU, I met with the leader of KU’s Campus Crusade for Christ. I was the president of my fraternity, and he was meeting with leaders on campus. An image he shared one day, under a tree, stayed with me (and Alex used it once as a guest sermon in his church).

The image is a wheel with four spokes, labeled mental, physical, spiritual, and social. The idea is that we need balance in our life. It also points out that you can have too much of anything. We can probably relate to time when we or our friends have had too much mental in their life (working so much that you’re miserable); or social in your life (happened frequently in college); or too much concern about our physical nature (as depicted on about everything on TV). We may not realize that our spiritual spoke can also be too long and throw our wheel out of kilter. We’ve met, and so did Jesus, people who’ve emphasized religion to the point that it has thrown their lives out of balance.

Sometimes, a White Flag member will express regret for not being religious enough, which of course could be true. It also could be true, that this young gentleman is doing a pretty good job of balancing his family, faith, friends and health, and that God is proud of him.

“Bones will still break. Hearts will still break.”

One guy I didn’t hug enough. Craig, one of my best friends, took his life when we were just starting families. Great guy. Loved God, loved others. Maybe didn’t love himself as much as he should. If I had it to do over again, I’d have hugged that guy every day so that he would know I thought he was wonderful. I’m going to try to not make that mistake again.

In Episode 7, Simon lost an unborn child, almost lost his wife, and found he and his wife may not be able to have children, all while Simon was spreading the word of God. He tries to say life was easier when he fished.  John reminded him that Jesus didn’t tell them things would be easy just because we follow God, and said, “You could still have lost a baby when you were a fisherman. You just wouldn’t have anybody to turn to.”  When bones break and hearts break, we need to try to remember that.

“Sometimes, God sends a dove. Matthew, that man was your dove.”

For the record, I think my son in law Jake may lead the league in chatting with people about God in a relaxed, non-confrontational way. Ben leads in numerous ways, including carrying a $20 in his car and knowing the perfect words to say when giving it to someone he doesn’t know. I think I stink at both. I wish I was better.

So, when Jake reached out to me six years ago and said Ben was starting a Tuesday morning Bible study and asked me to join, I said I was in. I was not as close to God at that point as I would like to be.  I attended for a year or so and loved every minute of it. Then I got pulled away by the normal things, job, family, other stuff, and fell out of the habit. For three years. Jake would ask when I was coming back. Drew would take me to lunch and ask when I was coming back. I continued to follow the updates on Group Me, but I had fallen out of the habit in attending. Then Ben sent out a note saying that Jake was going to be leading an episode of The Chosen. Jake and I chatted about it while grilling burgers. He asked me to come. No way I was saying no. I think I’m up to 2-3 years straight (mostly) since then. “Sometimes God sends a dove…”

“I know you have felt unworthy. Matthew, I know you have felt unworthy…”

I think the part I like about this best is the way Mary said this to Matthew twice. He heard her the first time, but he really heard her the second time. And he knew she was right, and he knew this was his biggest obstacle from getting close to God.

This is why I continue to give verbal, and sometimes literal, hugs to the men of White Flag. Because when we feel unworthy, it’s hard on us and our ability to love others. I want you to know that I love you and God loves you enough that you can drop your shoulders. And receive God’s love. And share it with others.

And thanks for sharing your Tuesday mornings with me.

– John Resnik