The prompt this week for 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is Family Photo.
I picked a photo from a Martin family reunion held in June 1978 in Vienna, Virginia.
My grandfather was J. Daniel MARTIN (1886-1955). He was married to my grandmother, Florrie THOMAS MARTIN (1894-1979). Much of their offspring were in attendance along with two of Daniel’s siblings and their families. Other ‘adopted in’ family was there, too, like my dad’s sister, Dorothy HEISER BROWN (1915-1998).
This reunion was special because of what our family had been through in the years prior. In the five years before it, we lost four family members including a child. I think everyone understood the importance of us getting together from all over the eastern U.S. It was a wonderful reunion and many photos were taken. Below is one of my favorites.
This photo is my grandmother with her five remaining children (three of the lost family members were her other children).
My grandma is in the blue dress with the dark blue sweater. The woman next to her with dark hair is my mom, Gladys MARTIN HEISER (1921-1999). The other woman is my aunt, Miriam “Millie” MARTIN ATKINS (1926-1994). The man with glasses is my uncle, Jeremiah Daniel “Jerry” MARTIN (1923-1998). The man in the vertical striped shirt is my uncle, Marion Thomas “Tommy” MARTIN (1930-1978), and the man in the white shirt is my uncle, Robert Donald “Bobby” MARTIN (1928-2006).
On that treasured day of love and laughter, we had no way of knowing that Tommy would be gone a few months later from a heart attack, or that my grandmother would be gone the next spring also from a heart attack.
This photo was the last one taken of Grandma with her children. I’m so glad my mom organized the reunion, that so many were able to attend, and that a lot of photos were taken including this one.
Copyright © 2019 Nancy H. Vest All Rights Reserved
Lovely photo of a beautiful family. This reminds everyone why Family Reunions are important. My family was so much better about getting together for happy reunions than funerals back in history than today. It seems we’ve had more funerals than weddings. When I was growing up we always had family get togethers and reunions. My granddaughter just got married and had a nice old fashioned wedding where everyone got together for a happy ocassion. My son offered her a nice destination wedding and she said “”No way Daddy, we will take our time to plan and have everyone there to enjoy our special day!” My daughter and I realized we should’ve done this long ago for extended family for a reunion!!!! We will hire Lilly Kate!!
Suzan, your story reminds me of my daughter when she got married in September 2015. She wanted a family and friends wedding like a family reunion would be. And it was just like that. We had no way of knowing that my husband (her dad), would need a pacemaker 3 months later or a valve replacement 5 months after that, or that he would pass away in June 2017 from continued heart problems. My daughter was so glad she’d had the family and friends wedding. We all need to gather more for fun things than for funerals.