Interesting that as I began to pen my memories of Fannie Louella JACKSON BARWICK {1920 – 1992}, my beloved Maternal Grandmother, Stevie Wonder’s rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water began to play.
My Lord, without a doubt there is no single person who had a greater impact on my life than Anbownes. There is no person’s absence, that I miss more.
She was a firm, honest, no-nonsense straight-shooter. She was everything you dislike as a child and everything you come to respect and admire as an adult.
She was the personification of honor. People spoke [and speak] of her with reverence.
My Grandmother was regal in appearance, always impeccably dressed, with the most beautiful, pecan hued hands and fingernails I’ve ever seen. There are moments when I seem to catch a hint of her gardenia scent. There are MANY days when I miss the sound of her deep, husky voice singed from many years of smoking.
Her love and loyalty were the rock we all –especially my Mom– held on to and truth be told, Mom started leaving us the day Anbownes transitioned.
I know now, what I didn’t quite understand then… watching a good Mother leave you is the hardest life challenge any child will face. It is impossible to sustain this kind of separation (not loss) and not be permanently changed.
By example, Anbownes and Mom taught a scared (and clueless) child how to Mother her Son. And though hurt by my circumstance, she never faltered in support. Because she stood by me, I am the woman I am today.
Once during her daily bath, she told me that if she were a millionaire, she could not have had better care. Those words comfort me now. I know without a doubt, she knew that I loved her.
I was with Anbownes to the very end, standing beside her when she transitioned. And when she “went home”, I began a new journey — across a bridge — to become a me that I could be proud of; a me that was more like her.
When you’re weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all
I’m on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can’t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
In honor of Fannie Louella Jackson Barwick, Anbownes, my bridge over troubled water — both then and now.
I love you.
Luckie.
P.S. Bownes, how am I doin’?!:-)
[Image source: Fannie Jackson Barwick age 18 yrs old ~ 1938; Wife of William C. Barwick]
I attended this BARWICK Family Reunion in Dothan, Alabama but failed to capture any Oral History to aid my family research today. I was too busy complaining about the summer heat and lack of things to do!
Amazing, the gift of being young and clueless — you miss treasured opportunities that may not come your way again!:-(
Pictured — Siblings, Elizabeth Ella and Willie C. BARWICK aka E (my Grandfather) with Mary WESTMORELAND BARWICK (wife of Cleveland and Grandmother of Cousin Glenza) in the middle.
E was always impeccably dressed in a suit, tie and hat! Handsome ain’t he?!:-)
Looking forward to meeting Cousin Glenza and family in Cincinnati this July!
Thank God for aging and wisdom!:-)
Luckie.
Flavious and Great Aunt Hannah BARWICK SLAUGHTER on their Wedding Day!
I am so excited to be preparing for a visit this weekend with Aunt Hannah (age 90 years old)! This will be the first time she’s seen baby Jaiya Devi and I know that she is VERY anxious to spend time with Mom.
Don’t worry, I go equipped with portable scanner and can’t wait to get my hands on her coveted picture stash! Who knows what I’ll return with!:-)
Wish us safe travel…
Luckie.
Willie Charles Barwick ~ my Maternal Grandfather
Most of you don’t know that I am in the process of purchasing 150 glass-plate negatives from the historic Rensler’s Photography Studio in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Willie Charles Barwick
Rensler’s opened its doors in the early 1900’s and closed-up shop in 1989. With the closing of the family-owned studio, thousands of historic images and/or glass-plate negatives were sold.
Many named images with associated records, from the years 1950-1989, went to Cincinnati Historical Society. These images live in storage, uncatalogued and totally unavailable to the community.
Hannah Barwick
Thousands of unidentified images, pre-1950, were sold to Cincinnati locals and I am working with two of these gentlemen to identify and purchase 150 African-American Rensler images from the earliest years through 1950.
Elizabeth {Ella} Barwick
Why do I care? Aside from having a soft-spot for unnamed Ancestors, my Georgia and Alabama lines intersected in Cincinnati by way of my Maternal Grandparents, Fannie Louella JACKSON and William Charles BARWICK.
Lena Barwick
At the time, Rensler’s was one of the few studios willing to photograph African-American people, so over the years my family often turned to the studio to capture special moments. My cherished 1930 Catie WINGFIELD DORSEY Rensler image allowed me to see my 4th Grandmother for the first time and the BARWICK siblings original Rensler images {seen throughout this post} from the late 1930s are my prized possession!
Yes, I’m hoping my purchase of the unknown, will reveal more of my missing family to me. However, should I receive 150 Ancestors with no ancestral connection to me, I will be just as content.
James & Mary Barwick
I will believe whoever comes to me was intended to and I will honor them by sharing them with the genealogy community in the hope they can be identified and eventually returned to their loved one.
We shall see what happens… I’m uber-excited to say the least!:-)
Also expect future updates on the larger effort underway by me and a few Genea-Friends, to preserve the several thousand remaining glass-plate negatives.
A descendants work is never done…
Luckie.
[Note: Both Great Aunt Hannah and Lena are still living in Cincinnati. I hope to travel there to see them this month!:-]
The Barwick Sisters, all five – Aunts Lena, Dorothy, Ella, Helen and Hannah.
Cousin Glenza, this is for you because I know how badly you wish to see the living Sisters {Lena, Hannah & Helen}.
Looking forward to July 2010.
Luckie.
Our Alabama Roots ~ Barwick & Related