Black HerStory Month

On March 9, 2016March 9, 2016 By dancingpalmtreesIn Ancestor, Ancestors, Ancestral Memories, Ancestry, DeBorah Ann Palmer, Eva Gordon Palmer, Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer, Hattie Banks, Hattie Finney Banks, Helen Garcia, Helen James, Helen Palmer Garcia, Mable Elizabeth Palmer, Mable Palmer, Maternal Heritage, Maternal lineage, Matriarchy, Thelma Palmer Varner5 Comments

In the USA March is Women’s History Month. Borrowing a phrase I heard used I Declare and Decree this Black HerStory Month. Twenty-Eight or in the case of this year 29 days is not enough to celebrate the achievements of African Americans nor do we often hear about the accomplishments or even acknowledge Black Women so I Proclaim March Black HerStory Month.

First Honors and Praises to the Our Black Family Matriarchs. Our Queens! From what I’ve been told I am very Blessed and Fortunate to have family photos from my Dad’s side dating back to the 19th century. My Paternal Grandmother Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer kept meticulous records recording the name of each ancestor on the back of the photos. The one Woman ancestor photo that does not have a name is a tintype and at some point the name either fell off or became detached.

I have only a few photos of my Maternal Women ancestors as my mother’s family did not have the money to either purchase cameras or pay to have their photos professionally taken. All have now gone onto to Glory and passed into eternity but even the 19th Century Queens who I did not get a chance to meet in person I carry not only their DNA but their strength, faith and fortitude to preserve in and over all circumstances. Ancestral Memories flow through my veins.

Aunt Carrie_George Gordon's sister — Aunt Carrie_George Gordon’s sister

Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer -- Paternal Grandmother — Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer — Paternal Grandmother

Maternal Grandmother Hattie Banks 12251974_Dayton Ohio

Rosalie Palmer_William Palmer's Sister — Rosalie Palmer_William Palmer’s Sister

MablePalmer — My Mom Mable Elizabeth Palmer around 1956

Aunt_ThelmaMeAunt_Helen1977 — Aunt Thelma, me, & Aunt Helen at my High School graduation in 1977

Aunt Helen_Obit(1) — Helen Louise Palmer Garcia ~~ My Dad’s Oldest Sister

Ancestor_Dad_Side — Unknown Woman Ancestor on my Dad’s side. This is a tintype and her name must have fallen off at some point.

African/Native American Queen — MMC 2002 Graduation

Two of the Sisters. My Mom Mable Elizabeth Palmer and Helen James.

Quilts

On January 18, 2016March 18, 2017 By dancingpalmtreesIn DeBorah Ann Palmer, Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer, Everyday Use Short story by Alice Walker, Helen Garcia, Helen Palmer Garcia, Quilts, Thelma Palmer Varner, Uncategorized, William J. Palmer, William Junius Palmer, William Palmer12 Comments

https://goo.gl/photos/93pk8FMZcV3ezqss9

Quilts

On the surface the beautiful design, the warmth on a cold winters night while underneath an intricate patchwork of stitches all coming together joining not just pieces of fabric but generations. In my case me granddaughter to my paternal Grandmother Eva Palmer. Grandma Eva died when I was 5 or 6 so I did not get to know her well but that quilt held her memory however faint to me for quite some time. The colorful triangular patches sewn together combining functional with fancy.

Grandma Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer — Grandmother Music Sewing Box

Grandmother Eva’s Music Sewing Box

Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer — Grandmother Music Sewing Box

Grandma Eva’s Musical Sewing Box that plays, “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”

Her patchwork quilt so lovingly made for me the first child of her only surviving son, my Dad Edward G. Palmer was like an umbilical cord linking us together. Now both my grandmother and my Dad have long since passed on but every time I see quilts I think of Grandma. Some threads represented the sons she lost to Polio other threads her grandchildren representing the next generation. And I possess her quiet strength and strong faith to endure tragedies and celebrate triumphs.

Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer -- Grandmother — Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer — Grandmother

Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer. My Dad’s Mom. She married my Grandfather William Julius Palmer on Jan. 15, 1919. My grandmother was 27 when she got married to my grandfather who was 40. My grandmother was a Milliner, my grandfather a shipping clerk. I have very vague memories of her.

When I read the story Everyday Use by Alice Walker which is supposed to be a riff on the Bible’s Prodigal son I the good girl, the faithful daughter became the prodigal daughter who eventually returned to the fold. Every so often whether permitting I make my pilgrimage to Harlem to walk the streets of the Harlem Renaissance and every day people like William and Eva Palmer raising a family on a shipping clerk’s salary. My Grandfather William Palmer taking the kids to Mt. Morris Park (Now Marcus Garvey Park) on an outing.

My Grandfather William Palmer with four of his children at Mt. Morris Park around 1926. My Dad Edward G. Palmer is not in the photo because he was not born until 1930. The little boy on my GrandDad’s lap later died from polio.

Everyday Use

Short story by Alice Walker

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug97/quilt/walker.html

Sometimes I can still remember traveling to Harlem with my Dad to visit my Grandma Eva. In my mind I’m still walking around her large apartment. I see my Aunt Eva’s piano. I see my Dad looking out the window while playing with the window blind cords and then I hear my Grandmother’s voice telling him to stop and for all of us to come eat.

Then memories fade………….

Cee’s SHARE YOUR WORLD – 2016 WEEK 1

On January 4, 2016January 4, 2016 By dancingpalmtreesIn Cee's SHARE YOUR WORLD – 2016 WEEK 1, DeBorah Ann Palmer, Helen Palmer Garcia, SHARE YOUR WORLD – 2016 WEEK 1, Uncategorized6 Comments

http://ceenphotography.com/2016/01/04/share-your-world-2016-week-1/

SHARE YOUR WORLD – 2016 WEEK 1

As a child, who was your favorite relative?

My Aunt Thelma Palmer Varner. I spent many happy times with her at her apartment in Co-op City Bronx, NY. She also took me to the movies, petting zoos, shopping etc… Aunt Thelma was the “funny story” Aunt. Always having some weird, wacky yet wonderful NYC adventure. I was truly brokenhearted when she passed away from breast cancer in 1985. After she left the body I became very close to my Aunt Helen Palmer Garcia (the woman in the pink dress) who went to be with the Lord May 2010 at age 89. Both my Aunts (My Dad’s Sisters) had a great and positive impact on my life.

Aunt Thelma, yours truly, Aunt Helen HS Graduation 1977

If you could be a tree or plant, what would you be?

A Palm Tree that way I’d know I’d be in a warm climate!! Or a Rose bush because that was my Mom Mable Elizabeth Palmer’s favorite flower. She planted many rosebushes in our backyard when I was growing up.

What would be your preference, awake before dawn or awake before noon?

Awake before Noon! Unfortunately my body clock loves to wake me up before dawn! Dang Insomnia!!

Would you like to sleep in a human size nest in a tree or be snuggled in a burrowed spot underground?

I don’t like heights but I’ve rather sleep in a well secured human size tree nest since being burrowed in the ground sounds too much like being buried underground!! I wanna me Jesus but not right now!! Let me sleep with the Eagles!

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for the Blessing to have spent time with my brother Stephen Vincent Palmer on Christmas Day and the following weekend. Regular readers of my blog know how much I Love my brother Stephen. He was my own personal Christmas gift! I’m also grateful for the Me-time I took this past New Year’s weekend. I just relaxed, rested, wrote my blogs, did my Soulful Struts, took photos and just enjoyed my time as a Solitary. As for the upcoming week I requested Friday, Jan. 8th off from work so I can attend a progress report meeting at Stephen’s Day Treatment Center, AABR. Anytime with Stephen is time well spent!