Then, Now, & Somewhere in Between

Last week I was assigned to create a family tree (for my Teaching Diverse Populations class), so I went through a bunch of old photos. I just love old photos! There's something fresh about the faces, something unique in the lighting, something wonderful in the way they smell and feel that makes me wish I had lived then. It's as though each face has its own story to tell, and I wish I intimately knew every single one!

I do have the privilege of personally knowing many of the faces seen in my family's old photographs, of knowing their stories.

I just thought I'd share some favorites of the photographs I found.

This is my grandfather, in his 20s.This is my great-grandmother Annie (Nanny to me), holding her youngest son, Charles, the handsome young man shown above. I want to go get my hair cut just like Nanny's right now! She's so beautiful!

This is Annie's husband, George.

And here are all three of their children (L to R), Emma, Charles, and George.

I've been meaning to ask my dad about this little family. I don't recognize them, but aren't they the cutest family you've ever beheld? I love everything about them! Sorry I don't know their history, but I liked them to much to leave them out of this narrative.

This is my great-great uncle (Nanny's uncle) Dr. George Worth. He was a missionary in China for many years, supported by his home church, First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, NC. This book was written about his ministry.

Switch gears for a moment. Remember the handsome young man from the beginning of this post? Well, he fell in love with this gorgeous lady (go figure, right? :), Jean. Oh, I love this photo of my granny. I have an original 11X13 that I hope to keep forever. Not a day goes by that I don't wish Granny still lived. What conversations we would have!
Well, Charlie and Jean had two adorable and wild boys, also known as my dad (R), and my uncle Greg. It looks as if they're having some sort of picnic. Are those Confederate hats? Forget picnics, it's probably gruel and bad coffee. ;)

Fast forward quite a few years, and you'll see another familiar face.

Any guesses?

Well, Charlie and Jean are the middle-aged couple (Granny's still so classy!) in the center of the photograph, but my own mother is featured on the right. Another beautiful lady, I might add. This is at my dad's Naval graduation, only weeks before my parents' wedding.

And here's the strapping young man my mom married, seen here with his parents.

This is my dad with his cousin, Sandy, who is a captain of a ferry in NC.

And here are the two of them again, as of March 2009.

My dad and I had the best trip, because we both got to reunite with many relatives, and I was privileged to meet some for the first time, after hearing so much about them!

Here I am in First Presbyterian Church (the same one that supported Dr. George Worth) with my great-aunt, Emma. Emma is the daughter of Annie Worth (Nanny), and the sister of Charlie. Remember her as the small child pictured above?

The woman in the green shirt (Stephanie) and the man in the blue (Bill) are married. Bill is the son of Bill Sr. and Emma. The woman in the white is Emma and Bill Sr.'s daughter, Betsy. The sweet and lovely lady next to my dad is the sister of Bill Sr. and the wife of George, my great-uncle. George is Charlie and Emma's older brother (also pictured as a child above). I know, I know. This is where it gets confusing, because I'm doubly related to Aunt Harriet. She married my great-uncle George and is the sister of my great-aunt Emma's husband, Bill Sr. Phew! Got that?

George and Harriet's daughter, Happy, is seen next to Aunt Harriet.

Okay, maybe this photo will clear some things up. That's why I saved it for last.

Can you find Charlie and Jean? (Hint: look for pearls. I told you my Granny was a classy lady.)

They are the first couple on the left. My dad and his brother, Greg, are crouching in front of them. Cousin Sandy (the boat ferry captain) is next to Charlie, my grandfather.

Aunt Harriet is standing between Granny and her husband, George. Only two of their children are pictured here, Sandy (far left) and Happy (between them). Emma and Bill are the couple on the right, with their four children. Bill Jr. (seen above) is on the far right, and Betsy (also seen above) is the cute blonde in the front. The small boy in the front's name is Henry, but the name of Bill and Emma's other daughter escapes me at the moment.

Finally, the couple in the middle is George and Annie (Nanny). They are surrounded by their children and grandchildren (minus two) in 1967.