I could write a short book on stories of childhood reunions and memories in Kentucky. There was a lot of love and happy times in our family along with some sad times and heart breaking stories. We gather together annually for a reunion and my relatives come from miles away and multiple states to enjoy it. It is a blessing to be part of such a wonderful family. For such a large family to still remain connected after so many generations is truly impressive.
My great grandmother Graci (Hall) Slone was the core of our close family. She lived to nearly 95yrs old. She had 9 children with my Grandma Ann being the oldest. My father Larry Hicks was the first grandchild for her. Dad was almost like the 10th child. Factor in early marriages and Grandma Ann had Dad at 17yrs old and it is easy to see how he was like the 10th child in the family. Dad was not much younger than his youngest aunts/uncles. I could tell stories passed down from my great aunts and uncles all day long. Dad recollected several of them over the weekend at the reunion. Stories of his aunts introducing him to cigarettes and giving him pure vanilla as a child were among the stories told.
Grandma Graci's home. I remember her living room being a sofa with quilting racks, needles, material, and related items. It was always filled with pictures of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren among others. She was very proud of her babies. I remember the fireplace in the center, the bathroom built off the house to the left side and sagging away from the house as long as I can recall. She never had plumbing in the house until the late 60's. To the right of the living room was Grandma's bedroom and the backside of the fireplace. You walked thru her bedroom to another bedroom. Behind the living room was the kitchen/dining area. I don't believe I ever left that house without a full belly. Fresh veggies from the garden, cornbread, ham and beans, and many more delicious meals were enjoyed at Grandma's house. I believe she would have been insulted if you didn't eat there.
Grandma's quilts. I don't remember ever seeing her in her home without a quilt on her lap or in front of her. All 9 of her children had kids, and most of them have had children. Most of us great grandchildren have our own families as well. I am 99% certain she made each and every one of her grand babies quilts. She had a label she put on each one stating "Made with Tender Loving Care by Grace Slone". She also made many dolls. As I grew older and spoke with her I remember her telling me "I wouldn't want any of my babies to ever be cold." When Grandma Gracie was sick she was working on a quilt for our daughter Graci. Her fingers barely worked, and she could only see with one eye but she was doing what she loved "to keep her babies warm" all the way to the end. I should add, my daughter is not the only great great grandchild with her name. As large as our family is, I am proud to say there were two of us who named our children after her. Erin and I discussed naming our daughter Slone after her last name, but decided to incorporate her great grandmother Ann and great great grandmother Gracie's names to keep the heritage alive. Grandma Gracie was extremely proud of each of her grandchildren. We are proud to have honored her with the name, and it seemed fitting Grandma was quilting her last quilt for one of her namesakes. Two of my great aunts had to finish the quilt after Grandma passed. I am tearing up just thinking of the love which went into this quilt.
Priceless stories. I could type all night recollecting stories from Grandma, my great aunts/uncles, parents, cousins, and friends of the family. Grandpa Bobby ran a taxi service in the 30's to provide for the family. Most families didn't have shoes let alone a vehicle. I was told there were only two cars in Knott county at the time and his was one of them. He would drive it into Lexington to "taxi" people on the weekends. Sounds pretty similar to how NASCAR racing started or a Dukes of Hazzard episode. My great Grandfather might have done some bootlegging of moonshine in his day, but he made sure his family had what was needed. They hunted for food, grew a garden, raised chickens and livestock, heated with wood or coal, and stories of running to the outhouse in the winter are plentiful. Grandma Graci used to roll her own cigarettes as was common at the time given the tobacco grown in the area. Even in the 80's when she had the first heart issues I remember, there are stories of her demanding her cigarettes in the hospital room. She did eventually kick the habit, but it is amazing she lived as long as she did given such a harsh life. Cooking with lard, fat, real butter, plenty of salt, and none of our modern conveniences was the norm. Horseback or walking was the standard mode of transportation. Shoes were a luxury when my grandmother was born 82yrs ago. You didn't buy clothes at the store, and there certainly wasn't a thought of cell phones or social networking. Our generation could stand to learn from what our previous generations went thru to better our lives.
Here is a picture of my wife, Erin, and daughter GraciAnn, talking about the wonderful woman she was named after at her grave site.
This is the headstone of my great grandfather Bobby and his wife Gracie (Hall) Slone.
My great grandmother Graci (Hall) Slone was the core of our close family. She lived to nearly 95yrs old. She had 9 children with my Grandma Ann being the oldest. My father Larry Hicks was the first grandchild for her. Dad was almost like the 10th child. Factor in early marriages and Grandma Ann had Dad at 17yrs old and it is easy to see how he was like the 10th child in the family. Dad was not much younger than his youngest aunts/uncles. I could tell stories passed down from my great aunts and uncles all day long. Dad recollected several of them over the weekend at the reunion. Stories of his aunts introducing him to cigarettes and giving him pure vanilla as a child were among the stories told.
Grandma Graci's home. I remember her living room being a sofa with quilting racks, needles, material, and related items. It was always filled with pictures of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren among others. She was very proud of her babies. I remember the fireplace in the center, the bathroom built off the house to the left side and sagging away from the house as long as I can recall. She never had plumbing in the house until the late 60's. To the right of the living room was Grandma's bedroom and the backside of the fireplace. You walked thru her bedroom to another bedroom. Behind the living room was the kitchen/dining area. I don't believe I ever left that house without a full belly. Fresh veggies from the garden, cornbread, ham and beans, and many more delicious meals were enjoyed at Grandma's house. I believe she would have been insulted if you didn't eat there.
Grandma's quilts. I don't remember ever seeing her in her home without a quilt on her lap or in front of her. All 9 of her children had kids, and most of them have had children. Most of us great grandchildren have our own families as well. I am 99% certain she made each and every one of her grand babies quilts. She had a label she put on each one stating "Made with Tender Loving Care by Grace Slone". She also made many dolls. As I grew older and spoke with her I remember her telling me "I wouldn't want any of my babies to ever be cold." When Grandma Gracie was sick she was working on a quilt for our daughter Graci. Her fingers barely worked, and she could only see with one eye but she was doing what she loved "to keep her babies warm" all the way to the end. I should add, my daughter is not the only great great grandchild with her name. As large as our family is, I am proud to say there were two of us who named our children after her. Erin and I discussed naming our daughter Slone after her last name, but decided to incorporate her great grandmother Ann and great great grandmother Gracie's names to keep the heritage alive. Grandma Gracie was extremely proud of each of her grandchildren. We are proud to have honored her with the name, and it seemed fitting Grandma was quilting her last quilt for one of her namesakes. Two of my great aunts had to finish the quilt after Grandma passed. I am tearing up just thinking of the love which went into this quilt.
Priceless stories. I could type all night recollecting stories from Grandma, my great aunts/uncles, parents, cousins, and friends of the family. Grandpa Bobby ran a taxi service in the 30's to provide for the family. Most families didn't have shoes let alone a vehicle. I was told there were only two cars in Knott county at the time and his was one of them. He would drive it into Lexington to "taxi" people on the weekends. Sounds pretty similar to how NASCAR racing started or a Dukes of Hazzard episode. My great Grandfather might have done some bootlegging of moonshine in his day, but he made sure his family had what was needed. They hunted for food, grew a garden, raised chickens and livestock, heated with wood or coal, and stories of running to the outhouse in the winter are plentiful. Grandma Graci used to roll her own cigarettes as was common at the time given the tobacco grown in the area. Even in the 80's when she had the first heart issues I remember, there are stories of her demanding her cigarettes in the hospital room. She did eventually kick the habit, but it is amazing she lived as long as she did given such a harsh life. Cooking with lard, fat, real butter, plenty of salt, and none of our modern conveniences was the norm. Horseback or walking was the standard mode of transportation. Shoes were a luxury when my grandmother was born 82yrs ago. You didn't buy clothes at the store, and there certainly wasn't a thought of cell phones or social networking. Our generation could stand to learn from what our previous generations went thru to better our lives.
Here is a picture of my wife, Erin, and daughter GraciAnn, talking about the wonderful woman she was named after at her grave site.
This is the headstone of my great grandfather Bobby and his wife Gracie (Hall) Slone.
