Washington, DC’s summer weather is doggone hot! 100 degrees maybe more. Early today in Buddy Attick Lake Park in Greenbelt, MD my new friend John was making sure his dog was getting relief.
I’m Posting every day for the remainder of 2011
I’ve decided I want to blog more. Rather than just thinking about doing it, I’m starting right now. I will be posting on this blog once a day for the remainder of 2011.
I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, awesome and wonderful. Therefore I’m promising to make use of The DailyPost, and the community of other bloggers with similar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can.
If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way.
Lonnie
Grandma’s house not as big as it used to be
Growing up we looked forward to going down to the Carolinas to visit our grandmothers. Childhood memories recall lots of activities and people in both homes. It was the pot belly stove and the sacredness of the “don’t go in there” living room with the piano in North Carolina — biscuits baking in the wood burning stove and long walks to pick peaches in South Carolina.
I remember the huge porch in South Carolina where Grandma Dawkins lived and the large French doors separating Grandma Hart’s living and dining rooms in North Carolina with the linoleum floors where I was often told “Boy, pick up your feet before you scratch my floor”. With all the people visiting, the relatives who resided in the houses, no bathroom in one, and only one bathroom in the other, I have no idea how we managed. We did though.
Not too many years ago and some 30 plus years later I visited what remains of both homes and was amazed at how small they actually were. No where near as big or as nice as the houses that I remember as a child. I know that houses can deteriorate over the years but do they shrink?
What do you remember about your Grandma’s house?
My father’s family lived in the house above at one time. It housed my grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and visitors. Train tracks ran in front of the house and we always knew when the train was coming through. I often wondered where it was headed and what it would be like to jump on board and go for a ride.
My mother’s parents had 12 children and lived in this house for many years. There were big rockers on the porch and rails all around with flower gardens in the front and on the sides. One summer a brand school was built across the street. That school also shrank and now is gone.
Meeting my grandfather: Search for ancestors in North Carolina
I know that this is not the best picture but it is one of my favorites. It’s a picture of my maternal grandfather given to me by my aunt. I have only seen this and one other picture of him.
The picture sparks so many questions. My grandfather David Beam Hart died the year I was born so I never knew him. HIs nickname was Buddy and he and my grandmother Alda were the parents of 12. My grandmother lived a long life and I have many fond memories of her.
Grandpa (I guess that’s what I would have called him) worked on the railroad. For the longest time I misunderstood what working on the railroad meant. I had seen the movie “10000 Black Men Named George” and had imagined him working on the train as a porter which would have been hard enough. Later I learned that he and a lot of others actually worked on the tracks – a hard and extremely dangerous job. These men helped make the railroad industry possible. Many gave their lives. Also he was a resident of Rutherford County, NC. Rural North Carolina was not a safe place to be an African-American in the early 1900s. Knowing this I have since become fascinated by the history of southern railroads and early life in Rutherford County, NC.
Here’s a picture though that no one knows much about. How old is it? Are those his horses? Where is he? It is even not clear enough to really show how he looks.
A lot of my time has been spent doing genealogy and some questions like who his brothers and sisters were have been answered. I even found his draft registration card. On that card I was delighted to find out that I was born on his birthday. This date varies from what is stated on some other records but I will go with the draft registration date of course. The search for more information about Buddy Hart continues.
Funeral Photography – Picturing Goodbye
Few people think of having funeral and memorial services photographed. If done properly it can be a tremendous source of comfort to a family. It might also be the only time for some families to take group portraits as members often live many miles apart and only see each other on such occasions. When my mother passed almost 10 years ago, the services were beautiful and well attended with relatives that I haven’t seen since. I certainly wish pictures had been taken.
Funeral photography that we offer does not focus on the deceased but on the people gathered. Many of them are taken discretely from a distance. Unless the family requests I do not take pictures during the ceremony but have found that afterwards and during the repast there are opportunities to capture images that will be treasured for years. Sometimes this becomes the last time family members are photographed together.
Reasons I think a funeral service is one of the best times to take pictures.
- It’s an important life event that can be documented for future generations.
- Often families in mourning are not able to focus on who is present and what events are happening. Pictures allow them to be reminded.
- Photography can bring comfort to family members later. They can be reminders of how many people attended and how special the ceremony was.
- It’s an excellent opportunity for family portraits as sadly this is the time when the most family members are in one place. Often family members have not seen each other in years and may not see each again for years.
- At the repast after the funeral service people are nicely dressed and are usually willing to be photographed. I have had family members who are not on speaking terms for some reason still agree to take a picture for this occasion.
This beautiful horse-drawn carriage convinced me that I needed to have some kind of camera with me. In this case it was my cell phone.
Quiet moments can be taken quietly without intruding.
Families often would never have an idea of the number of attendees.
For the two pictures above it would have been very difficult to have all of these family members gather in one place for these portraits except for these occasions. After the repast families relax somewhat and are more open to pictures and often can even manage some smiles.
Funeral Photography
Happiness is pulling all the giftwrap paper off the roll
When my grandson started pulling some of last year’s gift wrap paper off of a roll, I saw how fascinated he was and how much fun he was having. Rather than stop him I allowed him to continue and grabbed my camera instead.
For about a half of an hour he enjoyed moving it around, hiding under it, and walking on top of it. It required no special sounds, no batteries. and he certainly needed no help. He found the prize inside — the paper core. That will be his favorite toy for a couple of days.
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The Ground View – What if you’re not that tall?
I went to the Artscape festival in Baltimore a few years ago. I decided to put my camera on the ground and see what the view was from there without looking through the viewfinder.
What I saw was interesting. I was wondering if this is what our children and little ones see. If they are walking with us, do they just see feet and legs unless they look up or off to the side. They may see things we don’t see. It’s a different view!
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Fred D. Gray outstanding minister as well as noted civil rights attorney
Fred D. Gray was in Washington for funeral service of his sister.
Last Saturday I had the opportunity to photograph noted civil rights attorney Fred D. Gray. He was in Washington, DC to attend the funeral of his sister Pearl Gray Daniels, a retired educator and member of the church where I attended for a number of years.
Well known for having been the attorney for Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Freedom Riders and more, Brother Fred Gray is just as well-known by many in the Church of Christ as being an outstanding minister. He served as minister for the Holt Street Church of Christ in Montgomery, AL and other congregations at the same time he was making history as an attorney.
I am a photographer and when I learned that he was going to deliver the eulogy I made sure to bring a camera. I did not bring a flash or accessories as I was not sure if I would be able to take any pictures and I wanted to be discrete. After the service I asked him for permission to take his picture and he was very gracious. Next I took a picture of him and the minister – G. A. Freeman. Then to my total delight I was asked to take a picture of his family. I did so and it came out ok but I am still wishing I had taken my flash.
I will treasure this picture of Fred Gray and I hope that we are passing along to our children the history of outstanding contributions to both our country and our churches by people like minister and attorney Fred D. Gray.
Lonnie Dawkins is a Maryland based portrait and event photographer.
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Downtown Washington, DC turned Purple for Pancreatic Cancer Research
I never appreciated the beauty of the color purple until I saw masses of purple T-Shirts and purple and white balloons in downtown Washington this past Saturday. The occasion was the Pancreatic Cancer Purple Stride 5k Walk & Festival. You can go to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or Shirley’s Angel Foundation to find out more about the event.
Meanwhile enjoy the beauty of purple.
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Support Shirley’s Angel Foundation at Pancreatic Cancer Purple Stride 5K Walk in Washington, DC
In an earlier post we talked about a local organization Shirley’s Angel Foundation (SAF) and the work that it is doing in the community. See the earlier post. SAF is the leading provider of research and education to decrease the incidence and mortality of Pancreatic Cancer in the African-American community.
This weekend SAF is participating in the PANCAN Purple Strides 5k Walk in Washington, DC. The event takes place Saturday June 18 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Fee: Adult $30, Youth age 3-12 $10, Virtual Participant $35, Survivor Free
Join the team! Even if it is too late to walk or you have other plans for Saturday, your donation can walk and help advance research, support patients and create hope for those affected by pancreatic cancer. Click here for more info and to donate.
Team Page of Shirley’s Angel Foundation
Shirley’s Angel Foundation website Visit SAF’s website to find out about other SAF events taking place in the community.