My Family Migration by: Brenda McCullers, 2016
In a strange kind of way I am an immigrant living in South Florida. I have lived in Florida most of my adult life. I moved from Virginia when my husband took a job with Florida Power & Light. I have adapted to the Floridian way of life. I wear flip-flops year round, to church, and to work. I keep a bathing suit and beach towel in my car. I look for a parking place in the shade rather than near the front door of the store. Nonetheless, in my heart I am a Virginian. That is where I was born and where I was raised. My family’s traditions, my family’s heritage, the culture of Virginia are imbedded within my heart, within my soul, and within my very being. I love Florida, but Virginia will always be home.
I come from a long line of Virginians. My ancestors on both my mother’s and my father’s sides can be traced back to the English that settled in and around the colony of Jamestown in the 1600s. Although I do not know the personal history behind each ancestor that made the journey, I do know that dreams of economic opportunities, religious freedom and political freedom brought many to the land of America. And for others, like my 9th great-grandfather, America offered an escape, an opened door to a new life, a new culture, and a new beginning.
As the story goes, when he was a teenager, my 9th great-grandfather ran away from home and boarded a ship for America. After arriving in Jamestown he was traded to the Powhatan Indians by Captain John Smith for copper. He spent over a year and a half with the Indians, learning their language and their culture. My 9th great-grandfather acted as a messenger and interpreter between the Powhatan Indians and the people of Jamestown and eventually married one of Chief Powhatan’s daughters. He wrote about his experience in a book called, American journeys collection, relations to Virginia. There are many names along the family tree between my 9th great-grandfather’s name and mine. Some have stories attached to them, some are just names, and still others have helped shape me into who I am today.
As a child I remember being excited for summer to arrive. It had nothing to do with plans for summer camps or going on vacations. It had everything to do with visiting my grandparents on their farm in rural Virginia. It was located in Nathalie, a farming community in Halifax County. I looked forward to playing on the farm, helping my grandmother with chores, and listening as she told me stories about our family’s history. I heard about our Christian heritage, about our family roots going back to Colonial America, and about our ancestors who fought in the Civil War and the Revolutionary War. She instilled in me a love for God, a love for family, and a love for country.
My grandfather was a WWI veteran. He never really talked about it but his uniform hung in the closet in one of the upstairs bedrooms. He was a hard worker. Along with running the farm, he owned and operated a country store where he sold gas and the basic things people might need between trips to South Boston, which was a 35-minute ride. My grandfather came from a large family and they all lived within a relatively short distance of each other. They were all farmers except Uncle Frank. He was the banker in South Boston. My grandmother’s sister also lived close by. Family was very important to both of them.
My grandmother and my aunt Louise were best friends growing up. They married brothers and they both taught school. They loved telling stories of the fun they had when they were young, and I loved listening. My favorite conversations were about the dates they went on with my grandfather and uncle and stories of my dad and his brothers when they were young. They also shared stories of the great depression. Nothing was wasted. Nothing was thrown away. You raised your own food and you took care of your family. My relationships with my grandmother and Aunt Louise influenced my decision to pursue teaching.
My dad was a WWII veteran. When he returned from Japan he went to college. After graduating he worked as a science teacher and later took a job with Nationwide Insurance. He worked with Nationwide until he retired. Even though he no longer taught, science continued to be a part of his life. He was an avid gardener and loved nature. He planted vegetable gardens large enough to feed the whole neighborhood. My dad was also a musician and a magician. He enjoyed entertaining people with his talents and devoted his spare time and talent toward putting on shows for children until arthritis restricted the use of his hands.
My maternal grandmother died before I was born. My mother’s aunts lived close to my other grandparents so we would spend time with them when we visited Nathalie. My mother was a godly woman and was very creative and artistic. I remember watching as she put together quilts and thinking I would never be able to create one as beautiful as the ones she made. We would go for walks often and she would collect an array of things along the way. Once home, she would put together her collection creating beautiful collages and table centerpieces. I was always amazed at how she could arrange everything in such imaginative ways. Although I did not realize it at the time, those lessons on design helped shape how I make art today.
As I look back at my family and reminisce about the past I still have many questions about the names with untold stories. Where did my 9th great-grandmother go when hostile Indians killed her husband? How did my ancestors survive after their house was burned during the Civil War? Why would a parent name their son Grief? Or their daughter Obedience? Then there are the other questions. What character traits of my ancestors are seen in me today? Would I be willing to take risks and explore new frontiers like they did? Do I cherish freedom or do I take it for granted? How do I fit into this family story? What legacy do I want to pass on?
What I do today, tomorrow, and the next day is part of our family story. For our story to go on, it must be written, drawn, painted, documented in some way. I have come to the realization it is up to me to do this so my children and their children will know their heritage—a family that loves God, loves family, and loves our country.
I come from a long line of Virginians. My ancestors on both my mother’s and my father’s sides can be traced back to the English that settled in and around the colony of Jamestown in the 1600s. Although I do not know the personal history behind each ancestor that made the journey, I do know that dreams of economic opportunities, religious freedom and political freedom brought many to the land of America. And for others, like my 9th great-grandfather, America offered an escape, an opened door to a new life, a new culture, and a new beginning.
As the story goes, when he was a teenager, my 9th great-grandfather ran away from home and boarded a ship for America. After arriving in Jamestown he was traded to the Powhatan Indians by Captain John Smith for copper. He spent over a year and a half with the Indians, learning their language and their culture. My 9th great-grandfather acted as a messenger and interpreter between the Powhatan Indians and the people of Jamestown and eventually married one of Chief Powhatan’s daughters. He wrote about his experience in a book called, American journeys collection, relations to Virginia. There are many names along the family tree between my 9th great-grandfather’s name and mine. Some have stories attached to them, some are just names, and still others have helped shape me into who I am today.
As a child I remember being excited for summer to arrive. It had nothing to do with plans for summer camps or going on vacations. It had everything to do with visiting my grandparents on their farm in rural Virginia. It was located in Nathalie, a farming community in Halifax County. I looked forward to playing on the farm, helping my grandmother with chores, and listening as she told me stories about our family’s history. I heard about our Christian heritage, about our family roots going back to Colonial America, and about our ancestors who fought in the Civil War and the Revolutionary War. She instilled in me a love for God, a love for family, and a love for country.
My grandfather was a WWI veteran. He never really talked about it but his uniform hung in the closet in one of the upstairs bedrooms. He was a hard worker. Along with running the farm, he owned and operated a country store where he sold gas and the basic things people might need between trips to South Boston, which was a 35-minute ride. My grandfather came from a large family and they all lived within a relatively short distance of each other. They were all farmers except Uncle Frank. He was the banker in South Boston. My grandmother’s sister also lived close by. Family was very important to both of them.
My grandmother and my aunt Louise were best friends growing up. They married brothers and they both taught school. They loved telling stories of the fun they had when they were young, and I loved listening. My favorite conversations were about the dates they went on with my grandfather and uncle and stories of my dad and his brothers when they were young. They also shared stories of the great depression. Nothing was wasted. Nothing was thrown away. You raised your own food and you took care of your family. My relationships with my grandmother and Aunt Louise influenced my decision to pursue teaching.
My dad was a WWII veteran. When he returned from Japan he went to college. After graduating he worked as a science teacher and later took a job with Nationwide Insurance. He worked with Nationwide until he retired. Even though he no longer taught, science continued to be a part of his life. He was an avid gardener and loved nature. He planted vegetable gardens large enough to feed the whole neighborhood. My dad was also a musician and a magician. He enjoyed entertaining people with his talents and devoted his spare time and talent toward putting on shows for children until arthritis restricted the use of his hands.
My maternal grandmother died before I was born. My mother’s aunts lived close to my other grandparents so we would spend time with them when we visited Nathalie. My mother was a godly woman and was very creative and artistic. I remember watching as she put together quilts and thinking I would never be able to create one as beautiful as the ones she made. We would go for walks often and she would collect an array of things along the way. Once home, she would put together her collection creating beautiful collages and table centerpieces. I was always amazed at how she could arrange everything in such imaginative ways. Although I did not realize it at the time, those lessons on design helped shape how I make art today.
As I look back at my family and reminisce about the past I still have many questions about the names with untold stories. Where did my 9th great-grandmother go when hostile Indians killed her husband? How did my ancestors survive after their house was burned during the Civil War? Why would a parent name their son Grief? Or their daughter Obedience? Then there are the other questions. What character traits of my ancestors are seen in me today? Would I be willing to take risks and explore new frontiers like they did? Do I cherish freedom or do I take it for granted? How do I fit into this family story? What legacy do I want to pass on?
What I do today, tomorrow, and the next day is part of our family story. For our story to go on, it must be written, drawn, painted, documented in some way. I have come to the realization it is up to me to do this so my children and their children will know their heritage—a family that loves God, loves family, and loves our country.
