December 20 — 26, 2021 Weekly Recap

CHRISTMAS WEEK 

We spent Christmas Eve at relatives (see Jaunts).

Christmas Day Renee came over for Christmas breakfast. This has become a tradition for us. 

 

Adam and his girlfriend Bri, came over on the 26th and we had our Christmas with them. We had a great time. Barry BBQ'd steaks and lobsters. We also had baked potatoes and a great Caesar salad with Barbaras' (our neighbor) homemade Caesar dressing. She taught Barry and I how to make it a few months ago. This was the first time we made it on our own. We had her taste it and we passed the test. I can taste it now as I write about it. 

JAUNTS 

Christmas Eve we spent at Melissa and James' in South San Jose. Adena also helped host. This was the first Christmas we all spent together since Christmas 2019, right before the pandemic. Aunt Violet, David, Danny, Jo Ann, Adena, Shaylynn, Melissa, James, and Utah were all there. We had a wonderful time. It was so much fun watching Utah open all his presents. He was so good and had a great time. His smile is contagious. 

Danny, Jo Ann, and James opening presents

Utah enjoying his mom's headband

James being silly with one of
Shaylynn's stocking stuffers

Willow trying to stay out of the way

I gave Adena & Melissa these
headbands that lite up

Utah & Shaylynn playing
with his new workbench

VOLUNTEER WORK AND MEETINGS

I did not do any volunteer work but I need to. I'm behind in posting upcoming events on the 2 calendars, ConferenceKeeper and the Bay Area Genealogy Calendar. I need to get caught up. 

I did not attend any meetings. 

LISA CALL

Lisa and I met on Monday and had a great discussion about her kids, her speaking fee, and that CGS should have a class on the 1950 census since its release is April 2022.

AMIGOS CALL (LISA, LINDA, STEWART)

We cancelled due to the holidays. 

WEBINAR MEETINGS

I didn't attend any due to the holidays. 

BOOKS READING AND COMPLETED

I started these 2 books earlier this year and still have not finished them. I will try to finish by the end of January 2022.

1. Company Commander Charles B. MacDonald (some day I will finish this)

2. Zotero for Genealogy: Harnessing the Power of Your Research Donna Cox Baker

Copyright © 2021 by Jacqueline Threet Henderson, Jacqueline's Jaunts. All rights reserved.

I Finally Visited Eddie

I finally did something I’ve wanted to do for years, visit my Uncle Eddie Griffin’s burial site in San Jose, CA but life just seemed to get in the way. Two months ago, we dropped our motorhome off at Leale’s RV Service Center in south San Jose. Two weeks ago, we went back to tour Leale’s facility and check on the work that is being done. A few days before we left, I mapped the directions to the cemetery, and surprisingly, the service center was only two miles down the road. I think my Uncle was calling me. 

I took numerous photos of his burial site for my records. On the hill behind Eddie’s spot is a Pacific Bell tower. There is a memorial plaque commemorating when my Uncle Top (Columbus Utah Griffin) was killed while working on a Pacific Bell building in downtown San Jose, CA, but that’s a story for another time. I made sure the tower was included in a few of my photos. My mother, Wanda Lue (Griffin) Threet, had no idea the tower was there when she picked out the spot for Eddie. We found out later from my cousin Danny, Uncle Top’s youngest son. 

Eddie passed away April 15, 1988.[1] His memorial service was April 21, 1988 at Oak Hill Memorial Park in the Chapel of Roses building[2].  I remember attending the service. A lot of his friends attended along with most of our family. It was a beautiful service, and the weather cooperated that day. 

Eddie was only 3 years older than me. He was more like a cousin but always reminded his nieces and nephews he was our Uncle. He always carried school photos of each of us in his wallet and told his friends about us. Eddie and I remained close for most of his life. There were times I lived out of state or in Los Angeles, but we would write. If I went back to the bay area for work, I would stay at Grandma and Grandpa’s and we would try to hook up. He lived in San Francisco when he moved out of Grandma and Grandpa’s and at times, I would stay with him. We would bar hop or go to dance clubs….fun times. 

My mom, Uncle Top and Uncle Eddie are all siblings. There is a total of seven siblings in this order, Herbert Ray Griffin (died at the age of 2), Richard Lee Griffin, Columbus Utah Griffin AKA Top, Wanda Lue Griffin AKA Sis, Jimmie Dean Griffin, Reba Jean Griffin and Eddie Griffin (no middle name). I’m glad I finely visited him and now that nagging “thing” in the back of my head is gone. I think he was happy. I do miss him a lot but know he is with a bunch of our family members having a great time. Enjoy Eddie. I love and miss you tremendously. 

Photo is of Eddie, me and my cousin David. I'm guessing it's around 1961-1962. 

[1] San Francisco Department of Public Health, death certificate no 88, Eddie Griffin (d. 15 April 1988); issued to sister Wanda Lou (Griffin) Threet, then passed to her daughter Jacqueline Threet Henderson (Castro Valley, California) 2000. 

[2] Eddie Griffin Funeral Notice, San Jose, California, citing services on 21 April 1988; Jacqueline L. Threet Henderson Personal Papers, 1988---, privately held by Jacqueline L Threet Henderson, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Castro Valley, California. 

Assumption: But I Thought They Were Buried in Turlock

In the 1990’s my Uncle Jimmie Griffin was ready to pass on the family genealogy research he was working on. I inherited the binder he had, and it was full of family group sheets. This was during the time when the internet had just begun. I started collecting documents; birth, death, funeral, funeral programs, graduation information and any other documents I could get from family members. I kept anything that marked a family event. I put these items in that binder or file folders I created, then forgot about them. 

At some point I purchased the genealogy software Family Tree Maker. I started inputting the vital records information I had gathered and scanning items into Family Tree Maker. I still kept the paper versions if I had one. As of writing this post I still have A TON of documents I need to scan and update to Family Tree Maker. It’s a never-ending project. 

Since I retired in August 2019, I have been working on my genealogy research and writing skills by documenting family events, telling the story, and starting this blog. I have taken numerous classes, courses, attended institutes and seminars to improve those skills. 

Last week I started writing about my Grandma, Susan Bertha Alice (Landrum) Griffin. I needed to confirm a few dates and thought I’d look in Uncle Jimmie’s binder for the information. I went to the Griffin section and noticed I had funeral programs for both my Great Uncle Johnie Thomas Griffin and his wife Dulsa Wanda (Stewart) Griffin. I didn’t realize I had these! I didn’t know they both passed in 1994 and 4 months apart AND I had assumed they were both buried in Turlock, CA at Turlock Memorial Park! Well, you know what they say about assuming…They were buried at Lakewood Memorial Park (Restland Garden Area), Hughson, CA. 

Goes to show I can’t even trust what I did long ago but not surprised with everything I have learned in the past year and a half. UUUUGGGGGGG….is a do over in my future?