Cousins

 

Cindy Bridges

Cindy is the daughter of my grandmother's youngest sister Bernice Hicks.

The couple seated are Donald and Oma Dell Hawley. The boy is their son David.

Oma Dell was the daughter of my grandmother's oldest sister Ruby Hicks Barnett. She and Donald had four children - Donna Kay, Mike, David, and Danny.

Mike Hawley and his wife Sandy, and their son Matthew Allen Hawley.

Donna Kay Hawley with her husband Rick Waller and their two children Amanda (Mandy) and Aaron.

Here's a picture of Aaron Waller with his daughter, his mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Ruby Hicks Barnett -- five generations:

Ruby Hicks Barnett, Oma Dell Barnett Hawley, Donna Kay Hawley Waller, Aaron Waller, and his daughter Katelyn.

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We always called them second cousins. Technically, Cindy is a first cousin once removed - but that sounds so snooty. Oma Dell's kids (Mike, Donna, David, and Danny) really are my second cousins. Cindy, Donna, and Mike, are all near my age, even though Cindy is in our parents' generation. That's because my great-grandparents, Ulys and Annie Hicks, had nine children over a span of 18 years. The oldest daughter Ruby was born in 1912, and the youngest daughter Bernice was born in 1929. By the time Bernice was born, Ruby had already married and had a child (Oma Dell).