~*~*A special heartfelt Thank You to Pamela Sitler for the sponsoring of my grandmother's memorial site!! Your an angel Pamela!*~*~
Lillian (Tanksley) Cumins was my daddy's mama; whom he loved, cherished, and spoke of often. She married Ernest Melton Cumins in 1915; and together had 7 children. I wish I could have known this interesting woman, but she passed away before I was born. Through my dad, aunts, uncles & siblings who did know her; they all highly talked about what a wonderful mama & grandma she was. I knew then I had missed out on knowing such a wonderful person. She was a very hard-working wife and mother who loved her children very much and did her very best at providing for them. Her mother was full-blood Choctaw Indian and my grandmothers facial features sure showed it! (Daddy told me her mothers' name was Lillian Lenia Leotai Tanksley!) I thought that was the coolest name I had ever heard. I used to get a kick out of hearing my daddy say it! Grandma, grandpa, and all the kids endured such hardships in life. They were sharecroppers in Mississippi and Missouri during the depression and worked hard in the cotton fields in order to survive and put food on the table. My cousin Sonny (who would spend so much time with her) told me a story of something that had happened to her, that I hardly believed it! He said she was out in the cotton fields choppin cotton one day when she was struck by lightning! The lightning had gone up through the hoe and struck her. He said that she wasn't hurt to bad, but had nerve damage in the one hand, to where it would "follow" what her other hand was doing.
I remember my dad telling me stories of when they were little, and the hardships they all had to go through as kids. As a little boy, he was out pickin' cotton along side his mama and the rest of the family.
During the dust bowls, grandpa and grandma Cumins had to leave their farm, pack up their belongings and move the family out to California. Their life mirrored the movie, "THE GRAPES OF WRATH," & I can totally see how my grandma would be just like Ma Joad! They relocated to the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley and settled in Porterville Calif. With all the difficulties grandma faced raising her children and working so hard all the time,(along with having an unfaithful husband), she never said an unkind word or did an unkind deed towards anyone; thus showing this wonderful trait by example and instilling this great quality in her children. Grandma never had the luxuries she wanted, but it wasn't 'cause she didn't try. She lived with the hand that was dealt her.
She was a strong woman with strong values that she instilled in her kids.
I sure wish I had a chance to know her, but I know someday we will meet. She is now in heaven with all but 1 of her children; and granddaughters, Noel & Kathleen Cumins, along with many other grandchildren.
Grandma Lillian succumbed to colon cancer in 1960 in Tulare Calif. She is fondly remembered and sadly missed by all her family whom she leaves behind.
*~*Thank you to all who leave flowers/tokens at my granmas memorial site; it means so much to me, for in my heart she was worth them all!*~* God Bless You.
Lillian (Tanksley) Cumins was my daddy's mama; whom he loved, cherished, and spoke of often. She married Ernest Melton Cumins in 1915; and together had 7 children. I wish I could have known this interesting woman, but she passed away before I was born. Through my dad, aunts, uncles & siblings who did know her; they all highly talked about what a wonderful mama & grandma she was. I knew then I had missed out on knowing such a wonderful person. She was a very hard-working wife and mother who loved her children very much and did her very best at providing for them. Her mother was full-blood Choctaw Indian and my grandmothers facial features sure showed it! (Daddy told me her mothers' name was Lillian Lenia Leotai Tanksley!) I thought that was the coolest name I had ever heard. I used to get a kick out of hearing my daddy say it! Grandma, grandpa, and all the kids endured such hardships in life. They were sharecroppers in Mississippi and Missouri during the depression and worked hard in the cotton fields in order to survive and put food on the table. My cousin Sonny (who would spend so much time with her) told me a story of something that had happened to her, that I hardly believed it! He said she was out in the cotton fields choppin cotton one day when she was struck by lightning! The lightning had gone up through the hoe and struck her. He said that she wasn't hurt to bad, but had nerve damage in the one hand, to where it would "follow" what her other hand was doing.
I remember my dad telling me stories of when they were little, and the hardships they all had to go through as kids. As a little boy, he was out pickin' cotton along side his mama and the rest of the family.
During the dust bowls, grandpa and grandma Cumins had to leave their farm, pack up their belongings and move the family out to California. Their life mirrored the movie, "THE GRAPES OF WRATH," & I can totally see how my grandma would be just like Ma Joad! They relocated to the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley and settled in Porterville Calif. With all the difficulties grandma faced raising her children and working so hard all the time,(along with having an unfaithful husband), she never said an unkind word or did an unkind deed towards anyone; thus showing this wonderful trait by example and instilling this great quality in her children. Grandma never had the luxuries she wanted, but it wasn't 'cause she didn't try. She lived with the hand that was dealt her.
She was a strong woman with strong values that she instilled in her kids.
I sure wish I had a chance to know her, but I know someday we will meet. She is now in heaven with all but 1 of her children; and granddaughters, Noel & Kathleen Cumins, along with many other grandchildren.
Grandma Lillian succumbed to colon cancer in 1960 in Tulare Calif. She is fondly remembered and sadly missed by all her family whom she leaves behind.
*~*Thank you to all who leave flowers/tokens at my granmas memorial site; it means so much to me, for in my heart she was worth them all!*~* God Bless You.
~*~*A special heartfelt Thank You to Pamela Sitler for the sponsoring of my grandmother's memorial site!! Your an angel Pamela!*~*~
Lillian (Tanksley) Cumins was my daddy's mama; whom he loved, cherished, and spoke of often. She married Ernest Melton Cumins in 1915; and together had 7 children. I wish I could have known this interesting woman, but she passed away before I was born. Through my dad, aunts, uncles & siblings who did know her; they all highly talked about what a wonderful mama & grandma she was. I knew then I had missed out on knowing such a wonderful person. She was a very hard-working wife and mother who loved her children very much and did her very best at providing for them. Her mother was full-blood Choctaw Indian and my grandmothers facial features sure showed it! (Daddy told me her mothers' name was Lillian Lenia Leotai Tanksley!) I thought that was the coolest name I had ever heard. I used to get a kick out of hearing my daddy say it! Grandma, grandpa, and all the kids endured such hardships in life. They were sharecroppers in Mississippi and Missouri during the depression and worked hard in the cotton fields in order to survive and put food on the table. My cousin Sonny (who would spend so much time with her) told me a story of something that had happened to her, that I hardly believed it! He said she was out in the cotton fields choppin cotton one day when she was struck by lightning! The lightning had gone up through the hoe and struck her. He said that she wasn't hurt to bad, but had nerve damage in the one hand, to where it would "follow" what her other hand was doing.
I remember my dad telling me stories of when they were little, and the hardships they all had to go through as kids. As a little boy, he was out pickin' cotton along side his mama and the rest of the family.
During the dust bowls, grandpa and grandma Cumins had to leave their farm, pack up their belongings and move the family out to California. Their life mirrored the movie, "THE GRAPES OF WRATH," & I can totally see how my grandma would be just like Ma Joad! They relocated to the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley and settled in Porterville Calif. With all the difficulties grandma faced raising her children and working so hard all the time,(along with having an unfaithful husband), she never said an unkind word or did an unkind deed towards anyone; thus showing this wonderful trait by example and instilling this great quality in her children. Grandma never had the luxuries she wanted, but it wasn't 'cause she didn't try. She lived with the hand that was dealt her.
She was a strong woman with strong values that she instilled in her kids.
I sure wish I had a chance to know her, but I know someday we will meet. She is now in heaven with all but 1 of her children; and granddaughters, Noel & Kathleen Cumins, along with many other grandchildren.
Grandma Lillian succumbed to colon cancer in 1960 in Tulare Calif. She is fondly remembered and sadly missed by all her family whom she leaves behind.
*~*Thank you to all who leave flowers/tokens at my granmas memorial site; it means so much to me, for in my heart she was worth them all!*~* God Bless You.
Lillian (Tanksley) Cumins was my daddy's mama; whom he loved, cherished, and spoke of often. She married Ernest Melton Cumins in 1915; and together had 7 children. I wish I could have known this interesting woman, but she passed away before I was born. Through my dad, aunts, uncles & siblings who did know her; they all highly talked about what a wonderful mama & grandma she was. I knew then I had missed out on knowing such a wonderful person. She was a very hard-working wife and mother who loved her children very much and did her very best at providing for them. Her mother was full-blood Choctaw Indian and my grandmothers facial features sure showed it! (Daddy told me her mothers' name was Lillian Lenia Leotai Tanksley!) I thought that was the coolest name I had ever heard. I used to get a kick out of hearing my daddy say it! Grandma, grandpa, and all the kids endured such hardships in life. They were sharecroppers in Mississippi and Missouri during the depression and worked hard in the cotton fields in order to survive and put food on the table. My cousin Sonny (who would spend so much time with her) told me a story of something that had happened to her, that I hardly believed it! He said she was out in the cotton fields choppin cotton one day when she was struck by lightning! The lightning had gone up through the hoe and struck her. He said that she wasn't hurt to bad, but had nerve damage in the one hand, to where it would "follow" what her other hand was doing.
I remember my dad telling me stories of when they were little, and the hardships they all had to go through as kids. As a little boy, he was out pickin' cotton along side his mama and the rest of the family.
During the dust bowls, grandpa and grandma Cumins had to leave their farm, pack up their belongings and move the family out to California. Their life mirrored the movie, "THE GRAPES OF WRATH," & I can totally see how my grandma would be just like Ma Joad! They relocated to the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley and settled in Porterville Calif. With all the difficulties grandma faced raising her children and working so hard all the time,(along with having an unfaithful husband), she never said an unkind word or did an unkind deed towards anyone; thus showing this wonderful trait by example and instilling this great quality in her children. Grandma never had the luxuries she wanted, but it wasn't 'cause she didn't try. She lived with the hand that was dealt her.
She was a strong woman with strong values that she instilled in her kids.
I sure wish I had a chance to know her, but I know someday we will meet. She is now in heaven with all but 1 of her children; and granddaughters, Noel & Kathleen Cumins, along with many other grandchildren.
Grandma Lillian succumbed to colon cancer in 1960 in Tulare Calif. She is fondly remembered and sadly missed by all her family whom she leaves behind.
*~*Thank you to all who leave flowers/tokens at my granmas memorial site; it means so much to me, for in my heart she was worth them all!*~* God Bless You.
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Gone~ but not forgotten.
