Thanksgiving Memories

Mama and Daddy loved  Thanksgiving Day. 

Thanksgiving was big in our extended family because their children, grandchildren, and later great grandchildren made their way to Jowers Ten Acres for the day. We filled my parents' home to overflowing.  Mama and Daddy had 5 children, 5 daughters-and sons-in-law, 13 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren (several of the greats were born after Daddy passed away).

There are three Thanksgiving Days that stand out. One we almost didn't get to have.

One year sometime in the 90's a hurricane blew through Tallahassee just before Thanksgiving. There was no electricity at the Jowers Ten Acres house. Someone had loaned my parents a small motorhome which meant they had some level of comfort, but they weren't hopeful that our family feast would take place. Just before Thanksgiving Day the phone call came that said the electricity was on and to hit the road. Thanksgiving was back on the schedule. Hooray!

Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2003, brought great sadness to my family. Daddy passed away that afternoon. Our meal was finished and we were about to celebrate his 3rd great grandchild's first birthday when the call from the hospital came. Most of the family was there at Mama and Daddy's that Thanksgiving. All three of my children were there, a rarity in itself. The night before Thanksgiving my sons, Jim and me, visited Daddy in the hospital. Daddy was in rare form telling stories and making us laugh at the funny things he said. Little did we know that was our last time with him.

Thanksgiving Day in 2008 fell on November 27 that year.  Except for one grandchild and great grandchild, the entire rest of our family was there - 34 people in all. We all made sure we were there. For the first time since Thanksgiving, 2003, all three of my children were there. It was a good day with lots of laughter. The younger grandchildren enjoyed their time together. The older cousins talked. The greats loved playing outside in the big yard. The usual naps were taken. The food was plenteous and delicious, but none was prepared by the best cook in the family. Mama was not feeling well, cancer taking over her frail body. She seemed to enjoy everyone being there but it was a tiring day for her. This Thanksgiving Day, November 27, five years to the day after Daddy passed away, was Mama's last Thanksgiving. She still had a few more days left, but how wonderful that she had the people she loved most with her on one of her favorite holidays.

Thanksgiving, 2011, will be the first time for some of the family to be together for this holiday. My sister, Kathi, has invited us to her home to celebrate the day set aside to be thankful to God. Not everyone will be there as in years past. Hopefully, it will be a new beginning. We have so much to be thankful for, especially for the parents we had.

Here are some photos from Thanksgiving, 2008, in Tallahassee, Florida:

Good food and family

Family

Family

Mama and Daddy's children

Mama and Daddy's grandchildren

The older grandchildren

The younger grandchildren

The great grandchildren

Cousin Edgar, Uncle Harmon and the USAF

Cousin Edgar recently sent me two emails regarding my "Veterans Day 11/11/11" post about family members in the service. I updated that post with the corrected information. I wanted to add his own words with more details and a wonderful story about Uncle Harmon.

Edgar wrote: "Just wanted to say thanks for the tribute to those of us in the family who served in the armed forces.  You may are may not know that our cousins Buford Wooten (US Marines, Viet Nam) and Jim Singletary (USAF, Iraq and Afganistan).  Jim recently retired with 20+ years in the USAF."

His second follow-up about Uncle Harmon:  "Uncle Harmon was a 20+ year veteran of the USAF and very proud of it.  He retired as a Technical Sergeant (E-7).  As a matter of fact he had great influence on me joining the USAF and strongly encouraged me to attend the USAF Office Training School, which I did.  As a matter of additional information trivia, he made sure he met me with Dad at the Pensacola airport after my graduation and commissioning.  He insisted I give him a dollar for his salute to a newly minted Second Lieutenant.  It is Air Force tradition for a new 2nd Lt. to give the first non-comissioned officer who salutes him a dollar.  He wasn't really the first, but I had to give him the dollar anyway."

I so appreciate Cousin Edgar's story and information. To all my family  . . .  sisters, brothers, cousins and others . . . I welcome any stories you have about our family. Send them to me. The more we know about our family, the richer we are.

Thanksgiving and Mama's Dressing Recipe

Today I scanned Mama's dressing recipe and emailed it to my sisters. That recipe has been in our family a long time. I don't know where it came from and never thought to ask Mama about it. It's just always been a part of my family's life. She only made it twice a year -- Thanksgiving and Christmas. She never missed making it except maybe her last Thanksgiving. One of my sisters might have made it that year.

 In 1971 Mama sent me the recipe when I lived in Spain. I couldn't eat Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner in Rota without Mama's dressing! That's when I made her dressing for the first time myself. It was good, but somehow, it didn't taste the same. I knew that later that day Mama, Daddy, and my younger sisters and brother would be eating the real deal.

In 1972 Jim and I had been invited to have Christmas dinner at some friends' home near us in Rota. I offered to bring dressing. I was pregnant at that time with my first baby, Jeffrey, who was espected to come any day. A day or two before Christmas I made the cornbread that is the base for the dressing and I would finish making the dressing Christmas morning and bake it. Well, my labor started Christmas Eve day and Jeffrey was born at 1:06 am Christmas morning. Needless to say I wasn't going to be taking dressing to my friends' home. That day Jim jumped into action, He followed Mama's recipe and finished the dressing. I heard he did a good job!

 Later, when we lived in Orlando and Winter Park, Christmas dinner was alternated each year between us and Jim's brother, Mike and his family. Then I made Mama's dressing every other year, but I still got to eat it at Thanksgiving.

No matter what it's called . . . Mama's Dressing, Grandma's Dressing or Great Grandma's Dressing . . . it's part of my huge family's Christmas and Thanksgiving traditions.

William Ashley Gilley - Confederate Soldier

Here's a hallelujah moment . . .

Yesterday I was reading a book about the last battles of the Civil War that took place in April, 1865, in Virginia, just before Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered. One of the battles took place on the road to Farmville, Virginia on the afternoon of April 6.
Gen. George Armstrong Custer led an attack on Confederate troops.

From the book . . . "Of about 3,000 rebels, only 600 escape Custer. But the general is still not satisfied. He orders three Union cavalry divisions to give chase, cutting men down as they run. In a rare act of lenience, those who make it into the woods are allowed to live. Later they will be rounded up as prisoners of war. For now their confinement is the woods itself; those who try to fight their way out are promptly driven back inside. More that 2,600 Confederates are captured."

My great grandfather's brother, William Ashley Gilley, was one of those Confederate soldiers who was captured. I found a record on Ancestry today that confirms that information. (See Prisoners of War record below.) W. A. Gilley lived in Alabama but he joined an infantry unit in Florida.

 The Battle Flag of the 11th Florida Infantry was captured at the Battle of Sayler's Creek by troops under the command of Major General George Custer.  (The Battle of Sayler's Creek took place the same day as the one in Farmville.


The 11th Florida Infantry Regiment has received little attention from those who study the War for Southern Independence. Likewise, little has been written of the Siege of Petersburg through which they endured...the longest siege in US military history. The 11th was born from the 2nd Florida Infantry Battalion and the 4th Florida Infantry Battalion. 

 From Ancestry:  Selected Records of the War Department Relating to Confederate Prisoners of War, 1861-1865

Also from Ancestry (taken from the List of Soldiers for the 11th Florida Regiment):

Name:	William Gilley
Enlistment Date:	8 May 1863
Enlistment Place:	Boynton Bluff, Florida
Side Served:	Confederacy
State Served:	Florida
Service Record:	Enlisted as a Private on 8 May 1863. Enlisted in Company C, 11th Infantry Regiment Florida on 8 May 1863.
Sources:	87
Height:	5'10 "
Eye Color:	grey
Hair Color:	dark
Complexion:	fair

This information is from the Alabama Civil War Service Database

Last Name: Gilley
First Name: Wm MI: A

Branch: Infantry
Regimental Unit: 11th Florida Regiment
Company Unit: C
Enlistment Date: 1863/05/08
Enlistment Information: Florida, Boynton Bluff,
Private.

Remarks: The records show Wm. A. Gilley, Pvt., Co. C, 11th Regt., Fla. Inf., CSA enlisted at Boynton Bluff, May 8, 1863 by capt. Curry. Roll for Nov. & Dec., '64- last on file- shows him present.

Prisoner of war record shows him captured Apr. 6, 1865 at Farmville, Va.
and took oath of allegiance and was released at Newport News, Va. June 24, 1865.

11th Infantry Regiment Florida
Date of Organization:	8 Jun 1864
Muster Date:	9 Apr 1865
Regiment State:	Florida
Regiment Type:	Infantry
Regiment Number:	11th
Regimental Soldiers and History:	List of Soldiers Regimental History Eleventh Florida Infantry The 11th Florida Regiment was composed of the 4th Florida Battalion, seven companies, the companies of Captains Ochus and Robinson, of the 2nd Battalion, and Cullen's unattached company. There is some confusion in the records that makes the assignment of two of the companies; in this Regiment uncertain. W. J. Robinson was Captain of Co. A; Adams A. Ochus, of Co. D; Charles Beggs, of Co. E; John Tanner, of Co. F; G. W. Bassett, of Co. G; W. E. Anderson, of Co. H; Joe J. Chaires, of Co. I; D. D. McLean, of Co. K. Like the 10th the story of the 11th follows closely that of the 9th until the fateful April 6, when this Regiment with the 5th and 8th, under the command of Colonel Brevard, was sent by Colonel Lang, then in command of the Brigade, Finnegan having been transferred to Florida, by order of General Lee to protect the wagon train. These Regiments were captured by General Custer's Cavalry. This accounts for the Regiment surrendering but 4 officers and 19 men on the morning of April 9 at Appomatox. Source: Soldiers of Florida in the ... Civil War ... page 236 Battles Fought Fought on 15 Aug 1863 at Green Cove Springs, FL. Fought on 15 Jan 1864. Fought on 8 Feb 1864 at Boynton's Bluff, FL. Fought on 8 Feb 1864 at Boynton Bluff, FL. Fought on 8 Feb 1864 at Boyington's Bluff, FL. Fought on 3 Apr 1864 at Richmond, VA. Fought on 4 Apr 1864 at Burkeville, VA. Fought on 1 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA. Fought on 4 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA. Fought on 6 Jun 1864 at Cold Harbor, VA. Fought on 10 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 13 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 15 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 22 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 23 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 24 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 27 Jun 1864 at Reams' Station, VA. Fought on 27 Jun 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 29 Jun 1864 at Reams' Station, VA. Fought on 1 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 2 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 9 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 30 Jul 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 10 Aug 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 21 Aug 1864 at Weldon Railroad, VA. Fought on 21 Aug 1864 at White House Station, VA. Fought on 21 Aug 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 21 Aug 1864 at Reams' Station, VA. Fought on 22 Aug 1864 at Weldon Railroad, VA. Fought on 22 Aug 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 24 Aug 1864 at Reams' Station, VA. Fought on 10 Sep 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 11 Sep 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 14 Sep 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 15 Sep 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 20 Sep 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 24 Sep 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 27 Sep 1864 at Marianna, FL. Fought on 4 Oct 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 23 Oct 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 26 Oct 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 2 Nov 1864 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 10 Dec 1864 at Weldon Railroad, VA. Fought on 1 Feb 1865 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 9 Feb 1865 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 20 Feb 1865 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 2 Apr 1865 at Petersburg, VA. Fought on 2 Apr 1865 at Hatcher's Run, VA. Fought on 3 Apr 1865 at Richmond, VA. Fought on 3 Apr 1865 at Howard's Grove Hospital, Richmond, VA. Fought on 6 Apr 1865 at Harper's Farm, VA. Fought on 6 Apr 1865 at Farmville, VA. Fought on 6 Apr 1865 at Sailor's Creek, VA. Fought on 6 Apr 1865 at Newport News, VA. Fought on 6 Apr 1865 at Archer's Farm, VA. Fought on 6 Apr 1865 at Amelia Court House, VA. Fought on 6 Apr 1865 at Danville, VA. Fought on 6 Apr 1865 at Burkeville, VA. Fought on 7 Apr 1865 at Burkeville, VA. Fought on 7 Apr 1865 at Amelia Court House, VA. Fought on 10 Apr 1865 at Macon, GA.

Veterans Day 11/11/11

I wish to pay tribute to members of my family who were veterans, some during time of war.

Homer Edgar Jowers, US Navy, World War II - my daddy
Thomas Henry Jowers, US Army, World War II and Reserves - my uncle
Harmon Jowers, US Air Force (20 years) - my uncle
Edgar Jowers, US Air Force - my cousin
Buford Wooten, US Marines (Viet Nam) - my cousin
Jim Singletary, US Air Force (Iraq and Afganistan) - my cousin
James (Jim) Howard, US Navy - my husband

Homer Jowers, 1944

                                                    

Henry, Homer, Harmon, 1950's

Green Berry and Caroline Hicks Jowers

The photographs below are of my great grandparents, Green Berry and Caroline Hicks Jowers. They are my granddaddy's parents and my daddy's grandparents (obviously). I remember seeing this framed photograph as a young child. I really didn't give it much thought other than it was somebody in Granddaddy's family. The original photograph is rather large and it hung in my grandparents', Hilliard Edgar and Annie Gilley Jowers, home near Leonia, Florida for many years. After my grandmother died, it hung in my parents' home in Talllahassee, Florida. Now my brother, Kevin, has it in his home. Now I treasure it as a link to the past and am very glad it has survived all these years. I wish there were more early photos of the Jowers family members.

I used my camera to take a picture of the original. Then I cropped the original into larger photographs of Green Berry and Caroline Hicks Jowers.

New Addition to the Family Tree

On November 1, 2011 I added someone new to my family tree. My son, Jeff, married Kristin in Orlando, Florida. I've started adding her to my records. Congratulations to the newlyweds. We had a fun day.