Just before her 15th birthday Ara Foster Davis' mother passed away. She had six younger siblings so her formal education ended so she could raise the younger children. She was still raising them when she married Henry Davis and started her own family. She had eight boys ~ Henry Jr, Howard (Eddie), Thomas, Norman, Ronnie, Bobby, Floyd and Stan. Ara and Henry eventually moved their family including her father to California.
When her sons started their own families two traditions began that have continued long after her death. No matter where the boys spent Christmas day, they always gathered at her house on Christmas Eve. And her grandchildren knew that no matter how naughty or nice they had been they were sure to get flannel pajamas (for the boys) and a flannel granny gown (for the girls) and a toy. After her death Norman continued the tradition by hosting the Christmas Eve gathering at his house.
The second tradition was a picnic on Easter Sunday. Rain or shine, the family has gathered at Sloughhouse for the annual picnic. The only exception was due to the tragic death of her great grandson James. He was hit by a vehicle in front of his grandpa's house on Easter morning.
Granny never learned to drive. She always took the train or Greyhound when she traveled. The one and only time she took to the air for travel was in February 1976. She flew to Oklahoma for her brother Melvin's funeral.
I spent many weekends with my Granny as a teenager. I loved to listen to her tell stories about my dad and uncles when they were boys. I loved to hear about the relatives in Oklahoma that were faces in pictures. My most cherished memories are of spending summer days with my mom (Granny's favorite daughter in law), Granny and my mom's mom canning anything we could stuff in jars.
She died in her sleep in May 1976. At the time of her death she was survived by seven of her eight sons. She was "Granny" to 28 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Sometimes I sit in the rocking chair that she sat in all those years ago. I wonder what she would think of computers, cell phones, Find A Grave and other things. But most of all I wonder what she'll look like when I see her again.
When her sons started their own families two traditions began that have continued long after her death. No matter where the boys spent Christmas day, they always gathered at her house on Christmas Eve. And her grandchildren knew that no matter how naughty or nice they had been they were sure to get flannel pajamas (for the boys) and a flannel granny gown (for the girls) and a toy. After her death Norman continued the tradition by hosting the Christmas Eve gathering at his house.
The second tradition was a picnic on Easter Sunday. Rain or shine, the family has gathered at Sloughhouse for the annual picnic. The only exception was due to the tragic death of her great grandson James. He was hit by a vehicle in front of his grandpa's house on Easter morning.
Granny never learned to drive. She always took the train or Greyhound when she traveled. The one and only time she took to the air for travel was in February 1976. She flew to Oklahoma for her brother Melvin's funeral.
I spent many weekends with my Granny as a teenager. I loved to listen to her tell stories about my dad and uncles when they were boys. I loved to hear about the relatives in Oklahoma that were faces in pictures. My most cherished memories are of spending summer days with my mom (Granny's favorite daughter in law), Granny and my mom's mom canning anything we could stuff in jars.
She died in her sleep in May 1976. At the time of her death she was survived by seven of her eight sons. She was "Granny" to 28 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Sometimes I sit in the rocking chair that she sat in all those years ago. I wonder what she would think of computers, cell phones, Find A Grave and other things. But most of all I wonder what she'll look like when I see her again.
Just before her 15th birthday Ara Foster Davis' mother passed away. She had six younger siblings so her formal education ended so she could raise the younger children. She was still raising them when she married Henry Davis and started her own family. She had eight boys ~ Henry Jr, Howard (Eddie), Thomas, Norman, Ronnie, Bobby, Floyd and Stan. Ara and Henry eventually moved their family including her father to California.
When her sons started their own families two traditions began that have continued long after her death. No matter where the boys spent Christmas day, they always gathered at her house on Christmas Eve. And her grandchildren knew that no matter how naughty or nice they had been they were sure to get flannel pajamas (for the boys) and a flannel granny gown (for the girls) and a toy. After her death Norman continued the tradition by hosting the Christmas Eve gathering at his house.
The second tradition was a picnic on Easter Sunday. Rain or shine, the family has gathered at Sloughhouse for the annual picnic. The only exception was due to the tragic death of her great grandson James. He was hit by a vehicle in front of his grandpa's house on Easter morning.
Granny never learned to drive. She always took the train or Greyhound when she traveled. The one and only time she took to the air for travel was in February 1976. She flew to Oklahoma for her brother Melvin's funeral.
I spent many weekends with my Granny as a teenager. I loved to listen to her tell stories about my dad and uncles when they were boys. I loved to hear about the relatives in Oklahoma that were faces in pictures. My most cherished memories are of spending summer days with my mom (Granny's favorite daughter in law), Granny and my mom's mom canning anything we could stuff in jars.
She died in her sleep in May 1976. At the time of her death she was survived by seven of her eight sons. She was "Granny" to 28 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Sometimes I sit in the rocking chair that she sat in all those years ago. I wonder what she would think of computers, cell phones, Find A Grave and other things. But most of all I wonder what she'll look like when I see her again.
When her sons started their own families two traditions began that have continued long after her death. No matter where the boys spent Christmas day, they always gathered at her house on Christmas Eve. And her grandchildren knew that no matter how naughty or nice they had been they were sure to get flannel pajamas (for the boys) and a flannel granny gown (for the girls) and a toy. After her death Norman continued the tradition by hosting the Christmas Eve gathering at his house.
The second tradition was a picnic on Easter Sunday. Rain or shine, the family has gathered at Sloughhouse for the annual picnic. The only exception was due to the tragic death of her great grandson James. He was hit by a vehicle in front of his grandpa's house on Easter morning.
Granny never learned to drive. She always took the train or Greyhound when she traveled. The one and only time she took to the air for travel was in February 1976. She flew to Oklahoma for her brother Melvin's funeral.
I spent many weekends with my Granny as a teenager. I loved to listen to her tell stories about my dad and uncles when they were boys. I loved to hear about the relatives in Oklahoma that were faces in pictures. My most cherished memories are of spending summer days with my mom (Granny's favorite daughter in law), Granny and my mom's mom canning anything we could stuff in jars.
She died in her sleep in May 1976. At the time of her death she was survived by seven of her eight sons. She was "Granny" to 28 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Sometimes I sit in the rocking chair that she sat in all those years ago. I wonder what she would think of computers, cell phones, Find A Grave and other things. But most of all I wonder what she'll look like when I see her again.
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