Tag: Stafford

Happy Anniversary

Teresa Penny2 Comments

Fifty-five years ago today, my parents said “I do”. The ceremony took place at the home of my grandparents, Lewis and Evelyn Stafford, in Prairie Hill, Limestone County, Texas. In honor of their wedding anniversary, I wanted to share their wedding photos. Thanks to the new colorization tool at MyHeritage, I’m able to share them in color. It’s amazing how the colorization (though subtle) brings out the dimensions of the photos. I never noticed or paid much attention to my mother’s bouquet before but now can see that it is soft pink roses. There are some photos that do not colorize well or colorize completely (I think depending on the shades and shadows), but most of the wedding photos did well.

Their wedding announcement was in the newspaper and is typed out below. There were a few mistakes which I have corrected in the brackets that follow the mistaken entry.

Mrs. Jimmie [Jimmy] L. Stafford

Sandra Curry [Badeaux] Bride of Jimmie [Jimmy] L. Stafford

Miss Sandra Darlene Curry [Badeaux], daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Curry of Mart and Jimmie [Jimmy] Louis [Lewis] Stafford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis [Lewis] Stafford of Prairie Hill were united in marriage on Friday, Feb. 19 at 8 o’clock in the evening at the Stafford home. Rev. Fred L. Sain read the impressive double ring ceremony. Attendants were the bride’s sister, Miss Janice Badeaux of Mart and the groom’s brother, Dannie [Danny] Stafford of Prairie Hill. The bride’s gown was of white peau de sole with fitted bodice and whose scalloped neckline was outlined with alencon lace. Bands of the lace trimmed the full, floor length skirt. The headpiece was a pearl crown with waist length veil attached in soft gathers. Only the families and a few close friends attended the wedding and reception which followed. The groom is employed in Mt. Calm. Mr and Mrs Stafford will make their home in Prairie Hill.

My parents celebrated nineteen years together, and then my mother went on to be with the Lord in Heaven. Today marks fifty-five years that they would have celebrated.

Remembering Nenaw

Teresa Penny1 Comment
Margaret Evelyn Parten Stafford
1921-2009

Ten years ago this week, my precious grandmother went to live in her eternal home. I was very close to her and miss her still. She was smart, funny and sassy. Nenaw, as her grandkids called her, was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother who always welcomed visitors with love and affection. Whenever we knocked on her door, she always hollered out, “Come on in if your nose is clean”, followed by the most infectious laugh.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of spending time at my grandparents’ home. We used to go to their house every Friday night, a tradition started way back before I was born. All the family would come together on Friday nights for food, family time and dominos.

I remember always sitting on the kitchen floor with my grandmother playing Jacks or Pick-up Sticks. As I grew older, I stood at my grandmother’s elbow as she played 42 (domino game) and taught me her strategies. I became pretty efficient at playing as an adult. We had many cousins who came as well and would have competitions out in the backyard seeing who could jump the furthest off the porch onto the lawn or who could make it jumping over the huge plant at the corner of the porch. Playing football was usually a part of our weekend fun as well. The highlight of our visit was gathering in the front living room listening to my grandmother tinkle away on her antique piano. She played a tune that reminded me of a bygone era, maybe something from the 1920’s or 30’s. We usually danced around while she played. Some of us would even pair up and play chopsticks for extra entertainment.

Nenaw was a fun loving grandma and never minded getting down on the floor with the grandkids to play. She was always so proud of her family and let them know it every time she got a chance. Even as she bragged, she admitted, “Every crow thinks hers is the blackest”. She wasn’t afraid to admit that she was very partial to her family.

Writing poetry was something that she enjoyed and was quite good at it. She wrote all sorts of poems in her lifetime. Some were in memory of a loved one who passed away, others were political or sports related. Many of her poems and other writings have been published in the local newspaper. Sewing and other crafts have also been a part of her special interests. She made an amazingly beautiful Christmas tablecloth using the sequin and bead method. She also made many beautiful crochet items for the new babies in the family. No doubt, she was a lady with many special gifts and talents.

Margaret Evelyn Parten was born in Delia, Limestone County, Texas on 7 August 1921. She was the daughter of James Monroe Parten and Winnie Johnson. She married Lewis Albert Stafford in 1939 and was the mother of four, grandmother of eleven, great and great-great grandmother of a multitude.

She was employed for many years at the Mexia State School MHMR where she was a dorm charge and assistant supervisor. Everyone who knew her saw that she was caring and deeply compassionate . She loved her clients and co-workers and they dearly loved her.

Many vacations were spent traveling across the country with her family and friends. Her closest friend, Margaret Gamble joined her on many trips.

Staying close to family and friends was always very important to her. She wrote letters often and made many phone calls daily, always remaining close to her cousins who lived far away. One of the greatest things I learned from my grandmother was the importance of family. I love her dearly and miss her every day.

“School Days” Sweethearts

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52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Week # 36 “School Days”

I have chosen to write about my grandparents for this week’s writing challenge, for it was during their school days that they met and fell in love.

This was my grandmother’s locket she had in her jewelry box. Several years after she passed away, my Aunt Carolyn brought the jewelry box to a family get-together because she wanted all of us to be able to choose a piece of my grandmother’s jewelry. My daughter pulled out the locket and opened it. We were all stunned to see the photographs inside. No one had ever opened the locket before that point in time. It was a rare treasure. This was about the age my grandparents were when they met.

I remember my grandmother telling me about the first time she met my grandfather. My grandmother was the only child still living at home and because her widowed mother was a practical nurse, she had to travel quite a bit, so my grandmother stayed with her sisters or brothers during the times her mother was gone.

            It was early one weekend morning. This particular morning, she was staying with her sister, Velva. Velva and her husband had hired some boys to do some work on their farm.  My grandfather was one of the boys.  My grandmother was still in bed asleep when one of her brothers came into the bedroom for something. My grandfather and one of his brothers were following behind him. They were quickly introduced.  She said she sat straight up in bed and jerked the covers up to her chin, but politely greeted them.  This was the beginning of a friendship that would turn into a courtship and a lifelong love. I believe my grandfather was smitten the first time he laid eyes on my grandmother.

            Both my grandparents’ families lived in small farming communities. My grandfather, Lewis Albert Stafford was born 13 July 1920 in Birome, Hill County, Texas.  He was the third youngest of ten children. By the 1930 census, the family were living in Limestone County.  

My grandmother, Margaret Evelyn Parten, was born 7 August 1921 in Delia, Limestone County, Texas. She was the youngest of nine children.  

They began writing letters to each other over the next several years. My grandmother kept all her letters from my grandfather, but I have never been able to find any that she wrote to him. Apparently, he didn’t save them, but you get a sense of the relationship through my grandfather’s letters.

            Among the earliest letters written to my grandmother was dated October 14, 1935. My grandmother would have just turned fourteen and my grandfather fifteen.  

Mart, Texas

Route 4

Oct 14, 1935

Dearest Evelyn,

     I guess you thought I wouldn’t answer your letter you wrote but since I started to school I don’t know if they will let us write to each other. But I am going to stay home a few days and pull bollies. But I will be back. I couldn’t get along without seeing a good looking girl like you. I told Howard I didn’t like anything at Prairie Hill but you Evelyn. Some Saturday nite you come down to Velvas and stay all night and I will come after you and we will go to a show or some where if you can go. I have been down at Velva’s house all evening me and some more boys. They was talking about good looking girls. I told them you was the best looking girl at Prairie Hill and Mart to. Howard said a man was coming to school and take some pictures today. If he does you have some made and send me the best one. Did you go to the ball game Sat nite. I sure hated it because I didn’t get to go. I came up there and they said the bus had just left. It sure made me mad. I heard Prairie Hill won. I sure was glad they won. Well I will close. Answer soon write a long letter if them boys will let you. Ans soon

                                                                Love always Love

                                                                Your Best Friend Lewis

PS. Wrote with a pencil and sealed with a kiss

If you love me you will answer this.

                                                                                Love

                                                                                Lewis

                                                                                Ans Soon

                                                                                Lewis

My grandparents continued their courtship throughout their school days.

I remember looking at this picture with my grandmother telling her how good looking my grandfather was. She got the biggest grin on her face and said “Oh, I know he was”. She was pretty smitten too!!

They were happily married on October 14, 1939