Dana's Family Gems

    My fondest memories of my Daddy are probably the lessons he taught me. Some were big ones, and some were simply ones he taught me from my own trial and error while some were just little things that he probably did not even know I was learning from. He taught me to care, to look for the unexpected and not to fear anything. As I was learning to read, I remember wanting to read with Dad. It never had to be a child's book. I was interested in reading whatever my Daddy was reading whether it be a western, a history book or even a newspaper I wanted to share time with Daddy.      Some morning, I would get up early just to spend time with Daddy. I would find him in his chair reading the newspaper and I would want to read a piece too. The paper had these little space fillers in them. It was just a little brief tidbit a comment or short story that filled the gap of missing space between other stories. I guess with today's computer technology these little fi...

  Old picture of Caylor's Chapel church/school in Townsend, TN. My Granny Hazel Webb Ledbetter went to school here. I'm not sure how long ago the photo was taken but thought it was neat. I think the new building was built around 1940s. Also found a church record book from 1962 my grandmother Lillie Davis was the recorder of the record book. Average attendance in June was 44 and the total offering collected was $ 11.62. Wow could we even buy milk and bread for that today?

 At Granny Hazel's, the stockings were a spectacle of sparkling glitter, each one adorned with sequins that caught the light and the eye. She crafted one especially for me, Kenna Best and Chris Ledbetter. The joy of finding them brimming with surprises was unparalleled. In truth, the anticipation of discovering the treasures within the stocking often for me eclipsed the allure of any wrapped presents.  As we got older, she declared she guessed she would get us a better present and forgo the stocking. I begged her to get me a stocking telling her she didn't need to also get me a present I just wanted the stocking. The stocking, a symbol of Granny Hazel's love, was the true gift that warmed our hearts.

 Each doll crafted by my Great Aunt Virgie Webb Brewer was a show of her affection. Countless hours she devoted, her hands weaving warmth into every stitch. The total number she created remains a mystery, but memories of shelves lined with her doll creations----each awaiting a cherished new home----remain vivid in my mind. Aunt Virgie's kindness and generosity knew no bounds. A charged price never tainted her gifts instead she gave them to delighted children, their smiles and bright eyes her only desired compensation. Those moments of joy are treasures I hold dear, as are the times spent on her porch, immersed in laughter and conversation with her and Granny Hazel. Their presence is deeply missed, their absence felt within the hearts of quiet spaces. 

  This made me laugh out loud then I got even more tickled because me and my Granny Hazel would sure be in trouble today. We used to play this game she called "peeking Tom" we would be riding along on some road trip and to keep me entertained she started playing this game with me. We would peek in windows (while in the road still) we would look for certain things and first to spot would be the winning peeking, Tom. For instance, we would peek first to spot white curtains, tv on and so on...we would probably be arrested peeking toms today, but we would giggle and have the best of times back then.

  Catching Grasshoppers Remembering Mitchell Webb “Dear Cousin, I visited your grave today …I never met you, but I feel close to you and wanted to let you know your life touched our family., I want to share your name and your story with the world to honor your memory.” Charles Mitchell Webb was my cousin. I remember my Granny Hazel walking through Bethel Cemetery and lingering at his grave. She would always ensure he had a special rose. Each time my mom spotted me watching Granny decorate his grave she would tell me about the day before… The day he was in the field catching grasshoppers. She could years later see him running and playing in that field with a jar collecting the bugs. If I recall Mom’s story correctly, he was staying with them while his mom was in the hospital, around the time one of his siblings was being born. Per mom’s memory she thought he wore himself out playing in that field but the next morning the family awoke to a fright. Stricken July 26,1953 with Polio. A...

  Ya'll got your wood gathered in for the winter. Here is a photo of my Papa Willie Ledbetter. He worked hard to be sure his family was warm throughout the winter and as you can tell he usually cut enough to share too. I remember as a little kid going out with him to cut wood. Granny Hazel made us a lunch in the big aluminum container that had three parts she would have sausage biscuits in the bottom and ham biscuits in middle with potato cakes or some treat in top, and we ate all day from it with a big thermos to all drink from too. I would scurry off to play and gathered sticks. Papa would accept whatever I gathered as if it was going to make for good kindling. I remember him skinning up his arm and bleeding heavy, but he wouldn't let me doctor him up. He said He would be okay. Those were some good days Miss Papa and Granny always but a bunch more during winter as the start of winter had many chores preparing but the cold winter days when we were cooped up inside, we got to e...

  My Papa Willie Ledbetter .... I remember he was a man of few words. But when Papa did speak folks seemed to listen and he always had something important to say. He worked at Alcoa but also farmed some. I remember I use to follow on his heels to the barn and to the chicken coops as a child. I would just walk in his footsteps and marvel at his strong hands caring for the animals and crops. He would always let me pick out a critter to call my own. I usually picked the runt, and he would laugh as the little runt soon grew to be the strongest. Anyway, back to the meaning of this story. With Easter drawing near. I remember my Papa and the red egg.... Early early each Easter morning Papa Willie would come onto his porch and yell "Get you a red egg." We lived up the hill and I could hear him screaming about the red egg as I imagined he was probably on the porch putting his boots on. Granny Hazel always had some dyed eggs on the table for Easter Sunday dinner. I can still see Papa t...

  October 10, 2011, one of the scariest days of my life but one of the best too. The day taught me to smile and appreciate every moment. It showed me that I was loved beyond measure. My journey started with what I thought was an eye problem resulted in finding out about my Chiari and Syringomyelia. I had brain decompression surgery on this day in 2011 and spent days in ICU. During those first days I honestly just wanted to give up and go on home to Heaven. The pain so intense I just didn't want to breath. Nurses struggled to help me but couldn't get me to budge. I never will forget my dad coming in that room hitting my foot and in no uncertain terms telling me to get up I was stronger than I thought. It wasn't long after his tough love pep talk that I was getting a regular room then home to months of recovery and then some. Cookie dog was a good little nurse (miss that baby), Sarah was just young, but she was always by my side willing to help, friends showered me with love ...

  The Blizzard of 1993 The blizzard occurred in  March 1993  and is often referred to as the  Storm of the Century . It brought  heavy snowfall , strong winds, and extremely cold temperatures to various regions. we huddled around the fireplace at my Papaw Willie's and Granny Hazel's. I never will forget the smell of that wood smoke sitting by Papaw playing checkers. Granny Hazel was a busy bee and decided some neighbors may have not been as prepared as us, so Granny went to cooking up a storm. No electricity she was cooking on top of that fire and a Coleman camp stove. She boxed up a box for each neighbor she deemed us to deliver to. We loaded up a wagon behind the four-wheeler and took off through the snow. I still laugh at us with those delicious smells bouncing about in that wagon that had attracted every neighborhood dog. So, there we trudged through the snow with a dog parade chasing behind us. True to Granny's thoughts many families were blessed with that...

  Davis, Beulah Ann Class Reunion 2011 writeup For her upcoming class reunion, I was asked to share some things my Aunt Beulah Ann Davis did since high school. Just starting to think about what to write for her biography swelled my heart with many memories and emotions. My Aunt Beulah Ann was one of a kind one in a million! She had the biggest heart with a soul made of pure love! After high school she worked at Five Point Cleaners for a time. Then she went to work at Levi's, and she retired from there with over 25 years' service. Beulah Ann loved Jesus and taught of God's love. She was very active in church, singing, teaching Sunday School and helping with youth group activities. She also greatly enjoyed traveling and working with a gospel Indian family The Browns. She was a crafty lady making all sorts of things. She entered many craft fairs but mainly created her crafts as cherished gifts. She also baked delicious items. I know of several times she spent many hours constr...

  Denese's faith was strong, and her love was admirable. Her love for my uncle, her kids, and her grandkids was boundless. Her love for all actually. She kept that ole farmhouse on the hill decorated so beautifully and it was such a home. Passersby were envious looking up there as it looked so country and charming. I know it certainly had a magnetic draw for me but not the building I valued the moments I could stop and have a chat with Denese. Sitting on the porch I would learn something valuable. And she was like non other if I was hashing out life's troubles she would listen and offer the kindest of advice. I appreciate her turning my way of thinking around on more than one occasion. She homeschooled her kids and taught them to see the beauty around them. She was certainly proud of those kids and when the grandbabies come, she was a loving example for them too. I saw the happiness on that grandmother's face helping them in the garden or learn to cook or just playing. I co...

 My Paternal Grandfather Fred Davis My Grandfather Fred Davis born in a small community nestled in the picturesque mountains of Tennessee. Roan Mountain, standing tall and majestic, cradled my grandfather’s youth. Its ancient slopes witnessed the laughter of generations, the whisper of winds through rhododendron blooms, and the warmth of family bonds. Last year (2023) I was able to go there and visit. I remember coming with Papaw, my dad and family when I was younger... bringing him back to see the home area.... us going up the mountain to see the Rhododendron Garden, I remember it being considerably colder up there and Pawpaw hugging me...to revisit and traverse these lands again last year, seeing the views, remembering family and enjoying history all around. As you ascend those same slopes, the air grows crisper, the sweet scent more pronounced. The Rhododendron Garden unfurls its petals, a vibrant mosaic of pinks and purples, a living testament to the passage of time. Each bloss...

My Paternal Grandparents  Fred and Lillie Davis were blessed with a family of nine children. Their legacy is woven into the fabric of their community.

  Daddy always said holidays were just another day. Each holiday if you wished him a happy day or gave him a present he would say “it's just another day” and pass off the importance of the special day. In 2012 for Father's Day, Dad did this very thing when I gave him a book on Appalachian history. He thanked me but said “you shouldn't have its just another day” Dad was a speed reader and the next morning he was sharing with me stories and photos from this gift that would be the last holiday present I was able to give him. He passed away a little over a month later. So as the special holidays approach and everyone centers around loved ones, I try to follow Dad's example and pass it off as “Just another day” in order not to feel loss and keep my emotions in check but it is the regular days and the little things that creep up and bring memories so strong that they bring me to tears. The little things ... a flag flying, a news story, tomatoes, a rusty antique a bit of histo...

Just like gemstones each family member is distinct with their own personality and history. Each family member holding different roles and significances in our lives. Each family memory and adventure symbolizing various aspects of us, our relationships and who our family is. Some gemstones are known for their protective qualities akin to a family member who looks out for us. Others are associated with love and nurturing. There are stones that represent strength and resilience, much like a supportive cousin or friend. Moreover, gemstones are often passed down through generations, becoming heirlooms that carry the legacy and memories of loved ones. They become treasured keepsakes that connect us to our past and to each other, much like the bonds we share with our family. With each gem contributing its unique beauty and energy to the collective just as each family member adds their own value to my family circle. In this blog I will collect and share my cherished family gem stories, family ...