Merry Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas to all my family- from those close by to those far away and especially those that are no longer with us.  I love you all very much.

Wordless Wednesday- Christmas Joy

Wordless Wednesday- Christmas Joy

As the weather has gotten cooler here in Georgia, my thoughts drift toward Christmas.  58 days until Christmas day- where does the time go?

(That's my daddy on the far left.)

Wordless Wednesday- Luther Thompson and family

My great-grandfather, Luther Thompson was born in Persimmon Valley, Rabun County, Georgia on 23 March 1886.  He was the son of Sidney E. Thompson and his wife Adeline York Thompson, both also born in Rabun County.

This photograph shows Luther with his some of his daughters with his second wife (my great-grandmother), Sellie Clark.  My grandmother, Mary Ann Thompson Ellenburg (born 8 June 1924) is standing on the back left.  Her sisters are standing beside her (from left to right) are Ora (born 22 April 1922), Wilma (born 20 Dec. 1932) and Francis (born 24 Sept. 1936). Luther is holding my father, Lee Ellenburg (born 1 Jan. 1945). I believe this picture was taken around 1948 because my daddy looks to be about 3 years old.

New Ellenburg Blog

When I started my first genealogy blog "My Papa's Book," I never imagined how much I would enjoy writing and how many other researchers would contact me about my research.  I've noticed it gets a little confusing for my family to have both sides of my family combined in one big blog- so I will keep "My Papa's Book" for my mother's Chandler line. I have started a new blog for the Ellenburg side of the family.

What should I call the blog about my father's side of the family?  I tried to call it "with all my heart" because that's what my grandmother would say to me every time she told me she loved me but that name was already taken. I thought about my favorite memories of my grandparents and had a hard time narrowing it down to just a few.  The same words kept popping in my mind as possible names.

The first word was "banjo" because I can't see a banjo today without thinking of Grandpapa.  I'm sure he never had any idea that the times he played his banjo for me would make such an impression.

When I think of my grandmother I always remember the quilts she made for me and my sisters and later for my daughter.  I still can taste her perfect biscuits and continue to try to make them myself- they are close but still not as good as her biscuits.  One of my favorite memories of Grandmimi was when my sisters and I went to spend a few days with her and she taught us how to make baby dolls.  We stayed up so late making those three babies and I cherish both the doll and the memories.  Hence the name "Banjos and Baby Dolls." I think it's time to teach my baby girl how to sew her own baby doll.

Wordless Wednesday- The Ellenburg Family

These are my great-great-grandparents, George Washington Ellenburg and Rachel M. Watkins Ellenburg and their children.

Back Row (standing): Dovey, Bessie (my great-grandmother), Luther, Cancie

Front Row: Sibbie, George is holding Susie, Rachel is holding Lewis

This picture was taken around 1910 in the area on the boundary lines of Rabun County, Georgia and Macon County, North Carolina, near the area of Sky Valley, GA . 

Wordless Wednesday- Bessie Ellenburg

This is my great-grandmother, Bessie Ellenburg of Rabun County, Georgia. She was born on 4 March 1897 and died on 23 March 1919 in Jackson County, Georgia.

Her son Roy is my paternal grandfather.

Tombstone Tuesday- Lee Edward Ellenburg (1945-2006)

Since I am new to blogging, I just found out about the daily themes for genealogy blogs. I decided to start immediately by adding my daddy's tombstone as my first "Tombstone Tuesday" post.

Lee Edward Ellenburg was born on New Year's Day in Rabun County, Georgia on January 1, 1945. He died on December 8, 2006 in Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia and is buried in Baldwin Cemetery, Baldwin, Habersham County, Georgia.