October 5

 Lester Burford married Cleffie Hicks 05 October 1935 in Judsonia, Arkansas

Lester and Cleffie were my grandparents. They were the most influential people in my life growing up, except for my parents (and maybe even without that exception).

Lester and Cleffie had four children: Wathada (my mother), Morris, Bob, and Ron.

PHOTO: Lester & Cleffie and Wathada

Lester and Cleffie lived in Watervliet, Michigan, when I was growing up. When they retired they moved to Bald Knob, Arkansas.

The following pictures were taken at Lester and Cleffie's 50th wedding anniversary party at my parent's house in Downey, California, in 1985.

PHOTO: Cleffie, Wathada, Morris, Lester

PHOTO: Cleffie and Lester with some of their grandchildren - Karen, Dianne, John, Leslie

* * *

Lester died in 1990, age 77. Cleffie died in 2004, age 87.

October 4

Charles Michael Burford died 04 October 2005, age 57

Mike was the son of Bernice and Dorothy Burford.

Bernice was a brother of my grandfather Lester Burford.

* * *

Charles Russell Thomas died 04 October 1980, age 75

Russell was the son of Roy and Mabel Thomas.

Roy was a brother of my grandfather Bill Thomas.

* * *

John Thomas Owen Sr was born 04 October 1896

John was a son of David and Paralee Carter Owen.

PHOTO above: David and Paralee Owen with their children Clyde, Elmer, John, and Ola Mae.

PHOTO: John Thomas Owen

Paralee was a sister of my great-great-grandmother Adaline Carter Arnold.

PHOTO: sisters Adaline, Ellen, Paralee Carter

* * *

Lois Ermell Arnold Newman died 04 October 2002, age 77

Lois was a daughter of Marlie and Birdie Arnold.

Marlie was a brother of my great-grandmother Annie Arnold Hicks.

PHOTO: Birdie and Marlie Arnold

* * *

Toilvy Cleveland Sandefur died 04 October 2007, age 95

"T.C." Sandefur was the husband of Wincel Jackson.

Wincel was the daughter of Etta Arnold and Ben Jackson.

PHOTO: Etta and Ben Jackson with children Alvis and Wincel

Etta was a sister of my great-grandmother Annie Arnold Hicks.

PHOTO: Adaline Arnold (center) with daughters Annie and Etta

* * *

William Thompson Herdman was born 04 October 1841 in Ohio

The Herdman family is related to the Treat family by marriage - Belle Treat married Ulysses Grant Herdman. William Thompson Herdman is the first cousin twice removed of Ulysses.

I love my handy-dandy cousin explainer!!!

October 3

Ruby Dorcas Hicks married Arvil 'Jack' Barnett 03 October 1926

Ruby Hicks was a daughter of my great-grandparents Ulysses and Annie Hicks.

PHOTO: Ulys and Annie with their children, 1930 or 1931.

Ruby and Arvil were married and their daughter Oma Dell is in this photo, on Ulys' lap. (Annie had two more children after this first grandchild was born.)

The following pictures are not necessarily in chronological order...

Jack and Ruby were married 65 years.

October 2

Annie Elizabeth Ensor was born 02 October 1999

Annie is the daughter of Melissa Anderson and Paul Ensor

Melissa is the daughter of June and Bill Anderson

PHOTO: June and Bill Anderson

PHOTO: Melissa with daughters Ashley and Annie

PHOTO: June is in the center, holding Annie. Melissa is on the left next to June, Paul is to the right of Annie, and Ashley is to the right of him. Bill Anderson is in the back on the right. The rest are June's son Randy and his wife and children. 

June is a daughter of Doc and Irene Hicks Barnett

PHOTO: Doc and Irene with daughters June, Betty, Bobbie, Velma Lee

PHOTO: June and Bill Anderson with granddaughters Annie and Ashley

Irene Barnett was a daughter of my great-grandparents Annie and Ulysses Hicks

PHOTO: Ulysses (center), Annie standing behind him. Left - Ruby, Elvin standing in front of her. Right - Irene and Cleffie (my grandmother). Evalee standing in front of Ulysses. These were the first 5 of their 9 children.

PHOTO: Annie and Ulysses Hicks.

This is how I remember them.

I don't know whether or not Annie Ensor was purposely named after her great-great-grandmother Annie Hicks, but I kinda hope she was.