Robert Burkett

 GRANDMA LAMON and GRAYPOP

I don't have an exact date for my grandmother's birth. Her name before marriage was Ruth Strickland. She had 2 children by her first marriage, my dad and his sister Gertrude (Gertie). I met Aunt Gertie a few times and you could tell she was related by looks to my dad. Boy, could she drink, cuss and smoke though. My dad never smoked or drank,  Grandma Ruth was widowed when my dad was 8 (1909) so I assume she was born around 1885. She was around 65 or so when she died. She was a tiny woman who loved her snuff (tobacco). When she visited she would try to hide it from us kids but kids being what they are, we found it and sampled! I thought it was disgusting but to each his (or her) own. I never new Graypop's first name. He was a big contrast to grandma, a large man with a big moustache. He was an oyster fisherman by trade. He was the closest thing to a grandfather I had and for a long time I thought he was my grandfather. He visited once in a while and always brought each kid a brand new shiny dime. I'm sure he could speak but I don't remember anything he said. He and grandma had one child together, Junior. I never knew him. How grandma came back into my dad's life is a mystery to me but she was a nice lady. When I met them they lived in what would literally be called a shack on a beautiful piece of property right where the Homasassa river enters the Gulf of Mexico. I remember a few visits to their place which I will mention at another writing. The Florida government had Graypop committed over a land squabble. I think they were trying to do an imminent domain or tax foreclosure claim on his property and he appeared at the Capitol steps to see the governor; Probably not  the best idea. Anyway, from what I heard he was committed to Chattahoochee Insane asylum and died shortly after being confined. Of course the Government assumed his ownership, I think.

I'm sorry to say I don't have any photos of either of them.

AUNT TEBER and UNCLE QUINCY SMITH

This is my other family. No, really I spent as much time here as at home. Aunt Teber's real name was Sevility. Her birthdate is in December of 1907. She was mom's closest sister and mother to 2 girls, Margaret and Juanda. Juanda is the same age as I am and we were very much like brother and sister growing up; more about that in another post. Margaret, who is still living in Florida was older by several years so as we were growing up I didn't know her as well. She was and is a beautiful woman, inside and out.  Uncle Quincy was my father's 1st cousin, born in August of 1893. As you can tell he was much older than Aunt Teber (Where did they get all these weird names?). His mother was a Burkett, so he was my second cousin and my uncle, making his daughters my first and third cousins. He was a quiet man, always smoking a pipe and I don't remember a time his hair ( a full head) was not pure white. He worked as a firefighter and was chief at Winter Park, Florida after it was no longer a volunteer location. Not sure when that was but some time after 1950. I am sad to say I don't know the exact year either of them passed on. I guess I was busy being stupid somewhere other than Florida. My cousin Margaret would know and if she reads this she can let me know. You will see me mention them quite a few times as I go into my life history especially in my younger years.

Next I will try to provide information about my brothers (and sister) but I will publish this page first.

My aunt and uncle. Not sure about year but certainly late in life!