By: Cherise Dash

ENGL 250: Research & Writing II

Prof. Buchanan

My Love, My Family

My grandmother, Thelma Johnson was born in Amelia Courthouse, VA on October 21, 1918, to the late Albert and Jenette Ward. She was the 4th oldest child out of 9 children and the 2nd oldest girl. There were 6 boys and 3 girls. Out of all 9 children, the only surviving one left is her baby sister and the youngest one Dorothy Quarles.

My grandmother loved everyone and she would feed you as if you hadn’t eaten in a week. She would cook as if 10 people were coming to her house. She made you feel like you were family and never turned anyone away.

How It Started

She passed away on September 3, 1987 from her battle with cancer of the liver and that’s when everything seemed to changed. The family didn’t seem as close as it once did when she passed away. She kept the family together and her house was our hangout spot.

We always looked forward to coming to “granny’s” house whenever we came down from New York to visit. That’s what we all called her was “granny”.

How It Started cont’d……

Now we come to the man of house, my grandfather Carl E. Johnson, Sr. Born on June 3, 1919 in Amelia Courthouse, VA to the late Edgar and Nola B. Johnson. He was the 3rd oldest of 5 children and the 2nd oldest son.

He died on September 28, 1996 of a heart attack and before his passing he was the only living survivor on his side of family.

How It Started, cont’d…….

My grandfather was some what soft spoken. He was in the U.S. Army and served in WWII. Back then in the 1930’s and 1940’s young men could enlist in the military, they were not drafted into the military. My grandfather built the families first television and he went to an apprentice school to become an electrician.

My greatest memory was when he shoot his gun every year on New Year’s Eve. That was something that he did every year and give the kids money of course.

How It Started, cont’d……

Pictures of The Ones I Love

Pictures of The Ones I Love

My grandmother Nola B. Johnson was my grandfather’s mother. She had passed away by time I was born. Before she died, her last wish on her death bed was to have a shot Gin.

She had Native American on her mother’s side of the family. My mother is actually named after her. Her name is Nola G. Johnson. My great grandfather Edgar had already passed away by time my mother was born.

Family History

My great grandmother Nola B. Johnson, according to my mother, had a fall one winter and she really never seemed to recover from that and that was probably what caused her to die. She probably never got treated for that as health started to declined.

My great grandmother, Jenette Ward died from diabetes . This was my grandmother’s mother and diabetes runs on her side of the family.

Family History, cont’d…….

The Johnson and Ward family has some characters. They new had to have a good time and when you were around that family, there was never a dull moment.

Going up to Amelia to my uncle Buster house’s for Memorial Day was an adventure. We would pack food for the 2 hour car ride as if we were going up there for days. We come the same day and we just have the best time being around family.

Just Family….

As the years go by, we don’t seem to be as close as we use to be. After the lost of grandmother, grandfather and aunt, we just seem to drift. Yes we have our own lives and families but we still need to be close as a family and not hold grudges or be angry over something silly.

After my mom survived her stroke, that’s when it seemed we as a family got close again and its kind of sad that something like that has to happen in order to be a family.

Just Family, cont’d……

Even though we may not as be as close as a family like we use too bee, I wouldn’t trade these people in my life for anything. I’m blessed to still have my mother living and doing well. I would be lost without her. I still have my sister and brother whom I very, very close too. Especially my sister Angela Dash, she’s my mom and I tell people that all the time.

Then there’s the love of my life, my son Mathias. Never thought I would be blessed with a child but he’s my blessing and my joy and he keeps me motivated to better my life.

Just Family,, cont’d……

Family Pictures