Sharing Memories 2012 (Week 16): Christmas 1964

Mom with Frank Jr, Sandy and I- 1964

Granny was helping with dinner preparations

This was Christmas 1964 and we were settled in Westwego, Louisiana. I remember the aluminum Christmas tree. I used to enjoy watching the multi-colored wheel rotate and illuminate all the glass colored bulbs at night. 

I remember that us kids would spend Christmas day engrossed in our new toys while Mom and Dad spent time in the kitchen preparing a sumptuous meal. We all gathered around the table and had the finest meal of the year... together. In these early years, Granny was with us. She usually prepared the cornbread dressing and chicken and dumplings (yummy!). Granny was one of the best cooks in the South! In later years, Mom took over on cooking most of the Christmas dinner. She was a fine cook as well, an art she learned from her mother.

This was a time before the "electronic era"- when, as children, we were happy to receive toy cars, stuffed animals, baby dolls and strollers.  It was a time when we were truly excited to see Christmas morning arrive because we could barely wait to open our gifts!  We only received gifts twice each year- our birthday and Christmas.  We were usually limited to a single, simple gift on our birthday, but at Christmas we usually received several items on our "wish list".  

I have many treasured memories of the Christmas holidays from childhood, thanks to the hard work and efforts of my parents.  The gifts were just a small part of the joyous holiday season- more importantly, the best memories are those moments we spent with family.

Memoirs of Lula Sue Simmons: Part 10, Memories of a Poor Child's Christmas

I was blessed to have such wonderful memories of Christmas as a child.  Christmas was a big event in my childhood and my parents did their very best to provide us with most of the items on our "wish list".  Besides the gifts, there were big family gatherings and lots of good food.  There was laughter, love and time spent with family.  

Mom was not so blessed in her early childhood.  Because the family was struggling to survive, their gifts were meager.  I remember Mom, and Dad too, talking about those days.  They often received a few pieces of fruit for Christmas, such as apples and oranges, and sometimes a few pieces of candy which really made them happy because those were treats they rarely received.

Mom wrote some of her memories about Christmas as a child:

Christmas, no tree, no gifts    just family and all of the food that we could want.  I can remember the first Christmas tree.  A coffee can full of sand with a little pine tree in it.  We gather [sic] sweet gum balls and covered them with cotton to hang on the tree.

My grandmother put it up for us.  The lonely little pine tree sitting by a fire place with cotton cover [sic] sweet gum balls.  But we thought it was the most beauthful [sic] tree in the county.  We didn't know that there was another kind of life out there.  When we started school and I would sit in the class room after Christmas holidays and listen to all of the things the other children got, then I knew that our life was different.  After I got older I wouldn't go to school that frist [sic] day because I didn't want to stand up in that class room and tell the teacher and classmates what I got for Christmas.  So instead of lieing [sic] to them I would stay home.

Family Albums: Simmons Family, Christmas 2004

Simmons Family Gathering

Christmas 2004

Home of Charles & Susan Bourgoyne

Columbia, Marion County, Mississippi

Me and hubby Charles

Our children- Crissy, Ryan & Cherie

Our clan- Left to right: Tyler, Crissy & Matthew, Me & Coby,
Ryan, Cherie & Charles

Crissy & husband Ryan with their son, Matthew

Charles and I with Matthew

Four Generations- Me, daughter Crissy, grandson Matthew
and my Mother, Lula Sue

Aunt Gertie and children Debbie, Pam & Matthew

Sisters Lucretia, Debbie & Pam

Pam and Uncle Berley (her father)

Debbie & Dwayne Ward

Pam and Richard Boleware

Timmy and Theresa "Cookie" Simmons

Sisters Cortney "D.D.", Meichelle & Misty

Sisters Gertie & Lula Sue

Charles & Matthew

My grandson Coby

Me, daughter Cherie and grandson Coby

Cherie and her son, Coby

My mother-in-law Lena Mary Rockforte

Sandy, Mom, Frank Jr and Me

My niece, Jennifer and her son, Conner

Zachary (Darla's son) couldn't take anymore-
he had to have some nap time ;)

Coby and I

This Christmas was very special because it was the last time our extended family were all together for Christmas Day. Since then, many have moved away, married and started families of their own. Since then, Mom and Uncle Berley have passed away. Charlie and I had a huge crowd for Christmas dinner; over sixty family members and friends would spend the day with us and enjoy good food and joyful laughter. The memories of this Christmas will linger with me for many years to come.

Family Albums: Simmons Family, Christmas 1999

Simmons Family Gathering

Christmas 1999

Marion Apartments Community Room

Columbia, Marion County, Mississippi

Berley Alton Powell, "Uncle Berley", Dena McIntyre Powell and

Sandra Powell in background

Me, daughter Crissy and mother-in-law, Lena Rockforte Bourgoyne

Lula Sue (Mom), Aunt Gertie & Uncle James

Brothers- Frank Jr and Tony Powell

Uncle Alton was obviously in a deep conversation with

Uncle Berley.  Also in photo are James "Bully" Lege and 

Darlene Horn Simmons (Uncle Alton's wife)

It seems though I had more photos of that day but I'm unable to locate them at this time.  I will post them later if and when I find them.  

Mom wasn't feeling well that day but she managed to cook her delicious dressing and chicken 'n dumplings.   Sandy and I helped her as much as we possibly could with the preparation of the dinner tables, decorations and with food preparation.  By that evening, she was feeling worse and for several days after Christmas, Mom was sick.

As always, it was good to have family together in one place.  That year the crowd was less than usual, but we still had a good time and were blessed with delicious food ;)

Family Albums: Simmons Family, Christmas 1998

Simmons Family Gathering

Christmas 1998

Home of Charles & Susan Bourgoyne

Columbia, Marion County, Mississippi

Teresa "Cookie" Morgan Simmons (blue blouse) with children

Jessica, Jason & Jerome

Jessica Renea Simmons

Timothy Jerome Simmons with grandfather Alton Simmons

Alton Simmons with grandchildren:

Jason, Jessica & Jerome

Pamela Kay Powell Boleware (center) with 

son Joshua David Thornhill (left) and husband John Richard Boleware

James "Bully" Lege & Lucretia Fay Powell Lege

Pam & Richard

Cynthia Ann Balfontz Wiginton & Matthew Alan Wiginton

with daughter Josie Leanna

Gertrude "Gertie" Simmons Wiginton & James Wiginton (center) with

Cynthia, Matt, Josie, Debbie & Pam

Sandra Rennae Powell with daughter Suzanna Lennae Helveston

Gertie & James

Frank Dalton Powell Jr (blue shirt) & Terry Lynn Lucas Powell with children

Jennifer Lynn, Frank Dalton III "Trip" & Channing Dion

Lula Sue Simmons Powell

Frank Dalton Powell Sr

Susan Gail Stogner Bourgoyne & Charles Raymond Bourgoyne with children

Cristina (holding Tyler), Ryan & Cherie

Pam, Debbie & Lucretia with their father Berley Alton Powell

Trip has his arms full holding his cousin Tyler

Uncle Alton was teasing Jason about getting his picture taken

Lena Mary Rockforte Bourgoyne

Cookie & Pam browse through our family history album

Enjoying Christmas dinner

Lennae has her first taste of dumplings, yes she loved them!

Dinner was delicious, as always!  

Aunt Gertie sampling a piece of fried turkey

Tyler had played until he was worn completely out!

Charles and I had a house full of guests for Christmas that year, but we enjoyed every minute of it!  Our house on Spell Drive was somewhat small but we managed to make it all work.  Charles put huge plastic tarps around the carport to help keep some of the freezing wind out.  Most of the men gathered in the carport while the women stayed indoors.  The cold weather didn't seem to bother the children too much because they played outdoors or in the carport.  

Charles hooked up the turkey fryer that year and, at Uncle Alton's request, he fried 6 turkeys.  Yes, 6 turkeys! He started cooking at the break of dawn that morning.  Uncle Alton wanted 2 or 3 turkeys to take home with him and he loved the way Charles fried turkeys.  (It's been a couple of years now since I've had a fried turkey.  When I do have fried turkey, I always think of Uncle Alton)

Mom did the honors of preparing the cornbread dressing and chicken 'n dumplings- that was her specialty.  She was so happy to have the family together.  She talked about it and made preparations for weeks ahead of time.  

Aunt Gertie brought her specialty, Pistachio Salad, and a couple more dishes.  I prepared a Heavenly Hash cake, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Fudge, Cherry Cream Cheese Brownies and some vegetables.  Everyone brought along a covered dish so there was plenty to eat!  

Debbie was feeling sick that day but she put forth her best efforts to be a part of the gathering.  We all had a wonderful time together and now we have the lasting memories to treasure from that day.  

I was busy as a bee, taking snapshots on the go.  My family used to fuss because I constantly had my camera in close range, ready to take a quick photo at any given moment... but, just look at all the memories I've captured! ;)