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RETURN TO NEW STUFF OR TO HOME PAGE OR TO CREATIVE To request the link for Reunion 2003 photos by Lois click imloismiller@msn.com
"Many Faces of Beauty" Photo by Barb Burdett S LOIS' PAGE NELLIE/WM>ISABELLE PEARL> LOIS
Isabelle, Lois & Billie
Lois 3 months to present
Announcing
the birth of Ryan Lee Johns, To View Reunion 2003 Photos from Lois, Camille & Reatha go to: http://groups.msn.com/BurdetteReunion2003
You will need to either copy & paste address into address line of your browser window, or type it into the address line. If anyone wants to send captions for photos, please do so, and BBC.com Editor will add them.
Lois' Christmas gift. "Alstott" & son Kevin
Bob Miller Father's Day 2003 This
is the latest picture of Connie shallet, The daughter I raised,
I am enjoying the stories.
FOR ANGIE A Valentine
entered my life A spark
lying idle God chose to ignite.
Nellie/Wm>Isabelle>Lois>Kevin>Jared & Jacob& Kimilee
TO LAMARR, LOVE MOM It
has been 34 years since God took you home to him. I have missed
you so much and my love is deep as it ever was. I look forward
to the day when I will Join you. You and I always had something
special, that I will never forget. go
to LaMarr's Web Page
TRACING & PHOTO FROM VIET NAM WAR MEMORIAL PROVIDED BY MINDY BROCENOS
LaMarr Lee Johns (Nellie/Wm>Isabelle>Lois>LaMarr) Gator's Christmas 2002
L-Gator, Cody and Brittany Blevins,Gators Grandchildren,Leann
Blevins and Kelly Johns, Gator's Children
Brittany by tree, Leann in the other chair
Poem,training Puppies.............Untimely Relief Written
by Bob Miller
SOUTH CAROLINA ICE STORM DECEMBER 4, 2002 We
in South Carolina, just went through the worst ice storm in S.C.
in this state's weather history of 100 years. The weather men
had been forecasting bad weather for 4 days. REUNION 2002
Kimilee Johns (Nellie/Wm>Isabelle>Lois>Kevin>Kimilee)
L-toR Lois, LaMarr 3rd (Nellie/Wm>Isabelle>Lois>LaMarr>LaMarr Jr.>LaMarr3rd), & R-Harold, Angie & Ronnie(N/W>Isab>Lois>Ronnie>Angie)
L-Lois Smith Miller & R-Ronnie Johns & daughter Angie, Reunion 2002 (Nellie/Wm>Isabelle>Lois>Ronnie>Angie) Photos by Barb Burdett S Dear
Kimilee, Ever wanted to know the difference between a second cousin and a first cousin once removed? http://www.genealogy.com/genealogy/16_cousn.html?Welcome=1036414369
The story
I want to tell you is a story about Kimilee Michelle Johns. I
am 11 years old about to turn twelve. Continuing the story of Angie Brown By Ronald E. Johns The
strangest thing to happen to me was getting a phone call informing
me I had a daughter whom I never knew about. And after a lengthy
conversation with this person I obtained her phone number so I
could call her. What a strange experience that was, to be talking
to a daughter whom you never knew you had . We talked for quite
a long time, and all she could say is that she wanted to come
see me, but it would be a while before she could. Finally after
about a week I decided to fly to New York myself and spend a week
with her and her family. That was an experience in itself , for
I never flew before, not anywhere…
After a half a day of flights and delays, I finally got there
to meet her. I had to make a quick stop, and as I stepped out
of the men's room, there she was. No doubt she was mine, the spitting
image. I just walked up to her and gave her a big hug. After which
we got my bag and left for Long Island where she lived with her
husband and daughter. Anyhow, I spent a week there getting to
know her and her family, in which I had a wonderful time. In
July she went to Florida and stopped by to see me on her way back
to Long Island, and we spent the afternoon together in which time
she got to meet more of the family, and had a good home cooked
southern meal. My granddaughter enjoyed it so much that she tried
to eat four pieces of Mom's chicken, but it was too much for her.
About a week after Angie got home , she tried to cook some chicken
the way we told her, but she left something out. And when her
daughter started to eat a piece, she burst out and said, "This
is not like my Great-Grandma's chicken." Well
that's all there is, but we plan to meet in November at the family
reunion. That's all to my story. I Hope you enjoy it . See you
at the reunion Ronnie Johns. ANGIE'S SEARCH I was born Angela Christina Vaughn on December 9,1974 to my mother, Lynn Vaughn. I was adopted by my grandmother, Ruth Evans in 1976. She had 10 children of her own prior to adopting me. I had very little contact with my birth mother. In fact, I remember each of the 6 times I physically saw her. As I grew older I began to ask questions regarding my father. I had always wondered why all of my friends had a father and I didn't. When I reached the age of 15, I asked my mother for my father's name. She gave me the name "Ronald", and that was all she could remember at that time. So, about a year later I drove to her house and sat her down and asked her where he lived at the time of my conception. She had told me the last place she knew of him living was Clair-Mel city in Florida. I then asked her for his last name. She then told me that his last name was "Johns". At the age of 16, I received a copy of the adoption consent form which was sent to Mr. Floyd Johns' house for my father to sign. That document contained an address of Mr. Floyd Johns. I drove to Clair-Mel city in search of this residence, but had no luck at the door. No one was home. I then put my search on hold for a couple of years. I was beginning to feel burnt out by all of the dead ends. When I reached the age of 18 I asked my mother if she could remember if my father had any brothers or sisters. She said she believed he had a sister named "Shawnda". She didn't have a last name for Shawnda, just that she was close to my age. I began to search on the internet for any criminal records that he could have possibly had. With those records, I could possibly obtain a last known address. And that I did, but he no longer lived in any of the addresses given to me. I made a trip to the local police station to obtain a mug shot photo of a man named "Ronald Eugene Johns". I took the photo from the hand of the clerk, took one look and began to cry. I knew I had been searching for the right man!! I looked so much like him. We had the same facial features, eyes, cheekbones, and hair color. I took that photo and carried it around to a few places in Brandon, Florida. (where I believed he would most likely be) I showed some people, and they seemed to have known him pretty well. The men I spoke with told me that "Ronnie" had moved to Ohio. So, again I put my search on hold for another year. I then moved to New York in December of 2000. I contacted a friend of mine in Holiday, Florida, who could do my physical searching for me as I was unable to do so from NY. I asked him to go to the DMV in Tampa to obtain a copy of "Ronald Johns'" driving record. On the driving record was his social security number which my friend gave to his Private Investigator friend to do some professional searching for me. Two days later, she (the PI) sent a 13 page report of all people associated with that SS#. The name Shawnda was present on the report. My friend then called her phone at around 10pm and asked her if she was Ronalds' sister, she said yes, she was. So, she called him (Ronald) and told him that his daughter was looking for him. I then get a phone call about 20 minutes later, and it was from my friend. He stated that he had my father on the line as well. My knees began to shake as well as the rest of my body. Then I heard him say "hello", and we started talking about how I found him and basically verifying that he in fact was my father. We spoke on the phone on numerous occasions after the initial call. We had agreed that he would come to New York for one week to meet me and to stay in my apartment. I and my husbands' cousin, Joey, picked him up from the airport on February 16, 2002. I turned to look for him, and he was already standing there. It was like looking at a mirror walking towards me. We gave each other a big hug, and he said to me (which I will NEVER forget) "It took me 27 years, but now I'm finally here." We drove back to my apartment on Long Island, and there we stayed and got to know each other for that week. We took pictures, but I do not have a scanner, so I will mail them to you if you could please send me your address. That's my story, and if there is ANYTHING else you wish to know, please feel free to e-mail me or write to me, or call me. RONNIE’S DAUGHTER by Lois Smith Miller
Unaware of Angela being born and being his, Ronnie left Tampa and went out to Idaho where Connie (his adopted sister) was living. He met a girl there and eventually married her. They had a daughter and named her Angelia Marie Johns. A few years later he came to South Carolina with me and expected his wife to follow. She didn’t come, and later on she got a divorce. They did come one time for about a month to visit us. Angelia married about four years ago or better. She has two daughters, Mackaela Marie and Destiny Lynn. Angelia is twenty-one years old. It is so strange that Ronnie’s daughters have such similar names. I’m proud to know that I have another granddaughter, great granddaughter and grandson-in-law. God has blessed me with children, grand children and great-grandchildren. My house is blessed by my husband of twenty-eight years, Robert (Bob Miller). He loves and treats the whole family like they are his. In fact he claims them. That includes the Bryant-Burdett family also.
Angie (Nellie/Wm>Isabelle>Lois>Ronnie>Angie)
ISABELLE - YOUTH I'm going to tell what Mama told me about the time of her birthday about three weeks before she passed away. Grandma was always sending her somewhere to work. She worked for the Ackermans in Tampa. Someone the Ackermans knew in Alabama needed someone to work for them. Mrs. Ackerman talked to Grandma, and Grandma let her go. She said they worked her very hard, and she hardly had any time for herself. These people had an uncle who stayed with them, and Mama said he was always reaching out and hugging her. She would pull away. He finally started to try to molest her. One day he exposed himself. Mama asked the lady she worked for if she could have a nickel to go to the store. She got a penny post card and wrote to Grandma and told her what happened, and she needed to leave there. Grandma sent her a ticket to go to Aunt Viola's and Uncle Charlie's in Tennessee. Aunt Viola said she had her hands full and put Mama in a boarding school in Nashville. Mrs. Ackerman was moving to New York and wanted Mama (Isabelle) to go with her. She came by the school and picked her up. Mama worked for the Ackermans for awhile, and then she got a job as a telephone operator. She said she bought her clothes from a second hand store in a high-class part of town, and she really had some nice dresses and coats. I remember she used to wear a fox fur. Another time before this she told me about when she met my father. She used to go on Saturday to his mother's house to make bread and rolls for the week. Although his mother didn't want him to marry Isabelle, they did get married. Shortly after that she got pregnant. His mother really got mad, and he finally took Mama to New Port Richey where I was born. A few weeks later he left, and she never saw him again. Grandma said she waited a long time to hear from him. She was really in love with him and what he had to offer her. Grandma and Aunt Billie told me the same thing. So, as far as I know this is true. Mama had a hard time until she and Daddy (Dolphus) moved to St Petersburg. Aunt Reatha and Aunt Thelma told me she worked at Bilt Rite (Awnings) for awhile (before she met Dolphus). Then she took a beautician course with Bessie Downs School. It seems that I remember sitting in a baby carriage while she did people's hair. Aunt Thelma, Aunt Reatha, Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Bud took care of me when she worked. Aunt Thelma told me she was fifteen when she took care of me. Aunt Dorothy used to buy me clothes. After
that Mama took the job taking care of General. I don't think either
one of us went for want of anything while we were there. Mama
got mad at General and went to Tampa where she met Daddy (Dolphus).
She stayed a week in Tampa and went to General's and got our things.
We stayed with Aunt Reatha and Uncle Ed for a couple of weeks.
When we went back to Tampa Mama and Daddy got married. ISABELLE
AND DOLPHUS Mama and Daddy got married January 31, 1936. They were married by James D'Arpa. They lived in a little house at Grandma's for awhile. Daddy got me a little puppy that was white with black spots. It was a female, and Daddy told me it was the sister I wanted. I loved it so much. We moved out on 50th Street. The house was an old two-story house built in the 1800's. It had a summer kitchen, and we spent most of our time there. The summer kitchen had two rooms - a kitchen and a dining room, and the kitchen faced the creek. The creek that went through the property was Six Mile Creek. Daddy used to catch crab and cook and take the meat out of the shells and make devil crabs. He would sell them at the shipyard during lunchtime. He worked one shift at the shipyard. They were building the drydock, and he worked on a dredge. He also farmed. Daddy started drinking, and Mama said she thought he was going to drink himself to death. She threatened to leave, and after that he just drank once in awhile. Daddy's father lived with us too. The water was full of lime, so we had to buy water for cooking and to drink. They used to go to the well to do the washing with tubs and washboard. Daddy always helped Mama do the washing. The well had a pitcher pump. One time when they were washing (at that time they were living in the house and renting the summer kitchen) Mama sent me to get another box of soap. I was just about to the house, and I looked down, and there was a snake all coiled around. It scared me so bad I jumped over the snake. I was wearing a panty suit that Mama had made when I jumped. The bottom popped off, and my panties fell down around my ankles. I ran to the summer kitchen crying, with my pants down. Daddy and Mama heard me holler, and they were dying laughing. It wasn't funny to me. ISABELLE AND DOLPHUS PART TWO 1937 Mama and Daddy moved us into a house near Grandma on the corner of Hamilton Avenue. The property went down to the Hillsborough River. Aunt Edna and Uncle Paul lived about a block from us on Highland. Grandma lived a few houses down on Hamilton. Philip and I played together all the time. He called me Owee. Mama would send him home because she wanted to do something, and he would come back and get under the house and call, "Owee Owee", and Mama would send him home. We were great pals. I'll tell some more about Philip at a later time. Daddy did some farming there, and Mama picked and canned. He also pulled moss out of the trees, and he and Mama hung it on a barbed wire fence to dry. Dried moss was used in the cushions for furniture. I don't know what else, but Daddy would dry it and sell it. An alligator came up to the dredge, and Daddy killed it. He brought it home on the running board of the car. I don't know where he took it, but a couple of days later Uncle Curtis and Aunt Gertrude came over, and Mama cooked dinner. Aunt Gertrude was real fussy about what she ate and smelled everything before she would eat it. She asked Mama what she was frying, and Mama told her blue fish. Aunt Gertrude said she never heard of blue fish. I didn't know if I wanted to eat blue fish or not either. Aunt Gertrude and I both tasted the blue fish, and it was delicious. She and I ate a bunch. After dinner Uncle Curtis told us it was gator, not blue fish. Aunt Gertrude said it was good, but she wouldn't be fooled again. Daddy bought five acres with a three-room house when I was eight years old. He farmed most of the land. He planted black-eyed peas, collards, peas, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yellow squash, carrots, strawberries and some other things. Mama spent the summer canning vegetables. Sometimes Aunt Dorothy came over and helped her. Daddy worked at the shipyard, sometimes two shifts. Mama had to work very hard as she had a cow to milk, chickens to feed, and vegetables to pick and can. They started taking vegetables to the Farmers Market from one AM until 5AM or longer. If Daddy was working during those nights Mama would leave Curtis, Wesley and Ronnie with me, and she would go to the market. She worked all the time, and so did Daddy. In August, 1945. World War Two ended. Mama was expecting a baby. December 1st she had twin girls. About two weeks later the shipyard laid off all but a few, and Daddy was laid off.
PART THREE - HILLSBOROUGH UPHOLSTERY When Daddy worked at the shipyard he bought a U.S. Savings Bond every two weeks. When he was working two shifts he bought a Savings Bond every week. When the war was over Grandma came up with an idea to buy two lots on Hillsborough Avenue; one on Hillsborough and the other behind it, and to build an upholstery shop. She made the down payment, and Daddy finished paying for them. Then he started on the building. He and Uncle Charlie dug the foundation and made it deep as Daddy wanted to build an upstairs for living quarters. Our neighbors bought the blocks. Daddy, Uncle Charlie and (I think) Uncle Frank helped to make the cement and pour the floor. I don't remember how big it was, but it almost covered the lot. Daddy bought a chicken coop and used the lumber for the roof. Even I got up there and helped with the roof. When Daddy got through with the building and septic tank it was ready to open. Mama had the twins early. They weighed 4 pounds 8 ounces, and Carolyn was sick. She constantly had the hiccups, and in just a few days she lost down to 3 pounds 9 ounces. The doctor said Mama's milk didn't agree with them and put Marilyn on Carnation and Carolyn on evaporated condensed milk. She was so weak they sent them home after two weeks so Mama could take up time with Carolyn who had to be fed with an eyedropper. She had to fill her mouth so full she would finally swallow. It took half an hour to get one ounce of milk down her. Meanwhile Daddy told Grandma she could open the shop. Mama got a machine made up for upholstery, and Daddy brought it in. He told Grandma it would be awhile before Mama could leave the twins with me. By the way, Carolyn still has that machine. Grandma opened up, and she got some work in. She got Aunt Billie to help her. Grandma and Daddy fixed a place for Grandma to eat and sleep. Daddy put a partition in the middle so Grandma could have her privacy.
In about six weeks Carolyn could drink her bottle, and Mama went
to work at the shop. Aunt Billie left. Mama would come home at
lunch and bathe the babies, feed them and do whatever they needed.
This was winter, and when the twins were four months old they
got pneumonia. We warmed bricks and wrapped a towel around them
and put it at the front of their bassinets and put camphor on
their chests. I was taking care of them. Mama usually took Ronnie
with her, and I took care of Curtis and Wesley after school. I
washed two loads of clothes a day and tried to iron but never
got much done, washed the dishes, cooked supper, and nothing ever
suited Mama. (We had a fight) and the next day just before she
came home I left with Floyd. (Mama thought) I didn't care about
the twins, or I wouldn't have left them. She didn't know I passed
her coming home about a block from home. She got Aunt Viola to
take care of things. She didn't know I came back about a week
after I left to see about my sweet sisters. She had every right
to (be angry) with me.
I went to Brunswick, Georgia, with Floyd whose mother was living there at the time. When Gator (Floyd, Jr.) was born Floyd called Mama, and she told him she was thirty-five, and she was too young to be a grandmother. She called Floyd and me and wanted us to come back to Tampa to help her with the shop and to take care of her kids and whatever else needed to be done. She fell in love with Gator and spoiled him all of her life until he went to Ohio. PART FOUR-THE MOVE TO THE COUNTRY AND LATER YEARS Mama and Daddy sold the shop and bought fourteen acres and a house off Harney Road in Seffner. A couple of years later the state bought four of their acres to extend Highway 301. In 1950 she got pregnant and had Ray. She was forty years old, and she threw a fit. She said she was too old to have a baby. After all, she had two grandsons. But she loved that little boy. She did things with him that she never thought about doing for the rest of us. But I loved him too. Mama had a terrible temper during my early years. The others didn't see that side of her. Basically she was a very good mother. She looked after us and worked so hard. When she and I were at General's she started teaching me to recite poems. The first was Little Orphan Annie by James Whitcomb Riley. Then she started teaching me poems and stories by Robert Louis Stevenson. If she hadn't had so many kids and so much work she would have been an exceptional teacher. She had so many talents. She could sew anything. She crocheted, knitted and tatted, made quilts and upholstered. After she started going to church and was saved her disposition changed, and a couple of years later Daddy quit drinking (about 1952) and never drank again. They moved to St. Petersburg because the dredge was doing a lot of work in the area. For the first time Mama was a normal housewife and mother. In fact she was so bored she started selling Avon Products. She spent a lot of time with the St. Petersburg Boys Choir, Little League and helping Ray in band in high school. Since the rest of us were married and had our own families she only had Carolyn, Marilyn and Ray. When Gator was in high school he wanted to move over with her and Daddy. Mama said he could. He went to school and worked at Winn Dixie. Mama had him give her $15 a week. She put it into a savings account (which he didn't know). When he graduated from high school she gave it to him. He was quite surprised. The dredge started moving around working at different places. Mama wasn't tied down, and she started going to visit Daddy where he worked, especially during the summer. Ray went into the service, and Marilyn and Carolyn were married, so Mama stayed with Daddy a lot; Ft. Meyers, Buefort, S.C. and Alabama. She had a heart attack in Alabama, and Ronnie and Gayla went to see about her. She liked it in Alabama. She had the birds and squirrels, and she love to tend to them and watch them. She got a round tube that you put a pecan in, and the squirrels would roll it all over the yard trying to get the pecan. It kept her entertained. Ronnie and Wesley went into the car air-conditioning business and talked Daddy into retiring to help them. He was sixty-eight at the time. They moved back into their house in St. Petersburg. Daddy bought a camper truck, and he wanted to travel out West. He especially wanted to go to Yellowstone Park. Ronnie and Wesley did really well until winter, and their business fell off. They told Daddy they weren't making enough to pay him, so Daddy quit going to the shop. It wasn't long after that he was going to the bathroom, and Mama heard him fall. She called EMS and took him to the hospital. His blood had blown a hole through his heart and caused him to have a stroke. It was hard on Mama, and when she went off to the store or other errands she worried about Daddy being alone. He got to where he could walk around pretty good, but he tired out easily. We all agreed that Daddy and Mama needed to move where they could be in back of one of the children who would be responsible. Ronnie had bought some property to build a house like they wanted and had room for another house. He talked to Mama about buying and selling her house in St. Pete and using the money to build a house for them on his property. About this time I went to Florida to Mama's and stayed. She started telling me about this, and she started crying (This was unusual for her). She said she didn't want to move. She liked it where she was. She had a lot of friends and church, but she couldn't afford to pay someone to keep up her yard. None of her kids had the time to do it. So she guessed she was going to have to move. So she and Daddy moved back to Tampa. Daddy went to work with Ronnie and messed around. Ronnie and Gayla fixed him a room with a cot and refrigerator so he could rest which he did most of the time because of his illness, mostly his legs. Mama got involved in church. She was a teacher, deacon and anything she could do. She worked in the yard planting flowers and then started raising orchids. She loved flowers. Mama's family was her pride and joy. She got Ronnie, Gayla and Philip DuBose to start having a family reunion, and we have had one every year since. What a joy it is. They elected officers, but some of the younger ones are going to have to take over. Daddy
died March 17, 1979, and Mama died June 9, 1993. I miss them so,
but they're in a better place than we are. Daddy and Mama, I'll
always love you. THE END
KIMILEE MICHELLE JOHNS CHOPSTICKS
EASTER AT LOIS'
Left Photo: Gator & Kevin, Lois' Sons - Middle LtoR Kimilee, Kathy & Leann (gr'dau), Kim (dau-in-law), Brittany(gr-gr-dau), front Patricia(gr'dau) beside Lois - Right Photo LtoR Kevin, Gator, Steve, Ronnie(sons), front Bob(husb)
This is a little story I'm going to tell, put it where it should be. Before Grandma moved to Darby about 1946 or 47 she bought a 1925 Buick. Now, Grandma couldn't drive, but she figured if she had a car someone would drive her where she wanted to go. She parked it at the upholstery shop sometimes, and she would let Floyd (Lois' first husband) drive it and try to teach me to drive. That dad-jim thing was aggravating. About the time I would get going good it would run out of gas. With that vacuum tank you would fill it and then take half an hour trying to start it again. I never learned to drive it. I did learn some basics and learned to drive a couple of years later. (page 12) Grandma then moved to Darby, and somebody took the car up there. I know Aunt Alta's boys did something to the car at the pond, so I asked Virginia to see if Bill or Jim know. (The letter from George W. Johns to Lois tells about the death of the car and some other interesting things that happened at Darby. Aunt Alta and family bought a house in Thonotosassa, and Aunt Billie married Ernest Croft. Grandma bought a farm on Highway 301 in Lawtey which is just out of Starke. She bought a loom and started making rugs and selling them beside the road to make a living. Leave it to Grandma. She could find a way. (Ed Note: See Photo of
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When Grandma and Grandpa were in Tampa there was a mission on Franklin
Street. They would take me there sometimes. On Christmas Grandma
would go and help make food and serve it. One time she put on a
play. There was another woman and her daughter. In the play Cecelia
(Corky Greene Wofford) went up to the woman and told her that we
hadn't had anything to eat in a week. Cecelia said, "We haven't
had anything to eat but ho-cake." A little girl laughed, and
then everybody else began to laugh. Grandma often went down to the
mission to help them, especially on Easter and Christmas. I guess
she knew what it was all about.
Raymond, my youngest brother, was born November 30, 1950, less than
a month before Christmas. Mama, Daddy and the family were living
out near Aunt Alta in the Thonotosassa area. Mama was just home
with Raymond when Daddy had to go into the hospital for surgery.
He was laid up for six weeks, unable to work. I was married to my
first husband who was gone with the military. My allotment for the
kids was snarled up, and I hadn't gotten any money for September
through December. Aunt Alta's family was having as hard a time as
we were.
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SNAKES I am deathly afraid of snakes
due to an incident in Nobleton. That's another story. SOMEONE
SPECIAL
Crocus Stained Glass Lamp For Lois by Virginia
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