MYSTERY OF TWO MARY ANNS

     I have repeatedly tried to find out about Mary Ann Johnson, second wife of Thomas Jefferson Burns, to no avail. I know she didn't come from outer space as she would have had to have parents. Was she born in North Carolina or Georgia as this family lived close to the state line. At one time on the census records, Tom is shown living in one county and the next census record another county. He never moved, the county line changed during a 10 year span. I just read a short story about her that I had never seen before when I googled her name. A daughter of Tom's had asked Mary Ann to marry her dad. Mary Ann was so shocked that she fainted, but she did eventually marry Tom and had 8 children. I never knew about his 2 wives until about 5 years ago when my sister-in-law told me the story. According to Tammy Burns who is the daughter of James J. Burns, her uncle Johnny had told her that his grandmother was Mary Ann Johnson, but Nick's mother was Mary Ann Hullender. Now Nick is the brother of James Edward Burns who was the father of James and Johnny. Four children were born to Tom and Mary Ann Hullender Burns before 1871. A daughter named Sarah Elizabeth came in the year 1871 about November. I don't know this for sure but I think her mother died in childbirth as after this event, Tom married Mary Ann Johnson. So the 1880 census record shows that he is still married to Mary Ann but her age is 25 with children, Abraham, James and Louise and no one was the wiser until a granddaughter by the name of Mary Lou Martin Kile (daughter of Radie Lou Burns Martin) started a family tree and in her research uncovered this fact. After this, it is just speculation as no one knows about Mary Ann Johnson. On the 1900 census record, she says that she is the mother of 8 children of which 7 were still living. This 8 includes John Abraham Burns, 1873; James Edward Burns,1876; Louise A. Burns, 1878; Candius Burns, 1884; Mendie Burns, 1885; Rose Burns, 1888; Jefferson Brisco Burns, 1892; David Sylvester Burns, 1894.Then I find no more record of her, even her death. When Tom died in 1927, he is listed as a widower. 22 years have passed with no record of her that I can find on the internet other than an affidavit for Tom's pension from the Civil War dated September 5, 1905. He is stated as living with his wife and 4 children and is unable to work. He also states that his wife has been sick for over 2 years. I can not find any record of her death or her burial location.
     Then we come back to Mary Ann Hullender. Tom and Mary Ann had 5 children and there are records for all of them. I even found her parents but no burial location. Tom was buried in Zebulon Cemetery close to his son, Nick. Why wasn't Tom buried close to one of his wives. What was the reason for this? This remains a mystery to me as I wanted to save this story for my children. As time goes on, it will be harder to find anything on the family. My children are all Burns' and are a direct line from Thomas Jefferson Burns. Still am not sure if this name contains an "e". Some of the children add it to their names and some don't use it. Children of Tom and Mary Ann Hullender Burns are listed as William Jesse Burns born in 1863; Martha Jane Burns born in 1866; Joseph C. Burns born in 1868; Nicholas Elisha Burnes born in 1869 and Sarah Elizabeth Burns, born in 1871. Nick continued to use an "e" in his name until his death.
     On the 1870 census record, he(Tom) is listed as married to Mary Ann Hullender. She is the daughter of Nicholas Hullender and Elmira Elizabeth Hambright. She was born in 1843 as she is listed on the 1850 and 1860 census record with her parents. On the 1870 census record, she is listed with Tom Burns and they are both stated as 28 years old.

GRANDMA AND SANTA CLAUS

This isn't my story, I copied it from facebook, but what a wonderful meaning for a child to learn. Christmas isn't about getting, it is about giving. Just as our Savior gave his life for us, we should give to one another gifts of love, gifts of prayer and gifts of hope. I hope that I will always share anything I have with others and be a Santa Claus to all. Makes me cry everytime I read it so have a box of tissues handy.

 I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid.

I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted...."Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.

For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.

I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."

The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it.

Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.

Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were -- ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.

May you always have LOVE to share,

HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care...

And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!

"ETERNAL FLOWER" in memory of Nancy Caldwell.

     I met a lady in Resaca back in the 70's named Nancy Caldwell. She moved next door to my mother-in-law, Ruby Dean, after the death of her husband. She was such a good person, lending me books to read and cooking extra and sending it to my house. I remember her cooking a fresh coconut cake that was my favorite. I asked her why she gave it away and her excuse was that she was diabetic and could only have one slice. " If I keep this cake, I will eat more than I should." was the reply that she gave me. She was forever giving me cutting from flowers or bringing me bouquets for the house. Her favorites were roses. I still have a smoke bush growing in my yard that came from her. And iris, just about every color of iris that I have, came from her yard in Resaca. She never met a stranger and never talked bad about anyone. Once, on the day that Grannie Ruby's father died in March of 1977, she cooked a complete meal and took it to the home for the family as they were grieving. Fried chicken, green beans, potato salad, cornbread, slaw, turnip greens, and even a chocolate cake and an egg custard, I will never forget all the food. It must have taken her just about all day. You just don't forget people like that who have not a jealous bone in their bodies.  So in memory of Mrs. Caldwell, I wrote a poem for her. I think in some way that she will see this poem where she has gone and know that she is loved. People like her never get their names in the paper or get book written about them. You wont read about her in the history book or in National Geographic but she will forever remain in my heart.

                                     ETERNAL FLOWER
           (in memory of Nancy Caldwell   July, 1996)

I lost a friend the other day
and such joy she brought to me;
just a simple home-made cake
or a cutting from her tree.

She never worried what people said
and went her merry way,
but yet her presence can still be felt
on a warm summer day.

I can see her still in a flower bed
wher jonquils and marigolds bloom,
but the flowers that she is tending now
will outshine the sun and moon.

And now as I sit on my window sill
while the earth takes its morning shower;
a window in Heaven opens for me
and I see her---an Eternal Flower.

GRANNY FRANKS AND PA TOM

                          Granny Franks and Pa Tom holding Luther; with Tom's sister, Ethyl

 From left to right back row, Ruby Franks Burns, Claude, Robert holding Katherine, Clyde, Granny Franks: front row, Ruth, Ralph, and Grady. Robert was home on leave from the navy during World War II. Luther had enlisted in the Army.

     This story is about Granny Franks and Pa Tom. They were the grandparents of my first husband, Marvin Lee Burns. Granny Franks was Katie Ella Smith Franks born Feb. 3, 1902 and died Oct. 14, 1980. She was the daughter of Joe Smith and Mary Molly Beasley Smith. They are buried at Dogwood Cemetery in Tunnel Hill, GA. Pa Tom was Thomas Napoleon Franks, born Sept. 18, 1895 and died March 27, 1977. They were married on April 3, 1916 and Granny always said that she was 13 at the time. But by my calculations, I think she was 14. By the time she was 20, she had 4 children and had buried 2 of them. Jesse Luther Franks lived to adulthood and so did Ruby Lee Franks. But Arville and Willie Mae died as babies and are buried at Dunagan Cemetery in Whitfield County in unmarked graves. Her youngest son, Ralph Winston Franks has marked these graves with a PVC pipe for the location but no headstones. Granny Franks would go many times to the cemetery and place flowers on the graves and Ruby continued the practice after her mom died. Tom and Ella are buried at Dunagan as well as Pa Tom's parents, Andrew Jefferson "Harve" Franks and Emily Bandy Franks.
     When I first met Granny Franks, in 1962, I had arrived at her house with Marvin. We rode with Grady and Essie Burns to Pa Tom's house for a visit. They lived on the Cline Rd. in a small 4 room house with no indoor plumbing. I thought I would bust before I got back to "civilization". They also heated their home with a fireplace. Pa Tom would sit in his chair to watch the news on TV. After that, it was turned off. Occasionally, he would watch wrestling on Saturday nights but nothing else. It was a waste of electricity. Granny Franks was blunt in the way she talked and didn't pull any punches. She proceeded to tell Grady and Marvin that they should swap partners. The girls didn't match their personalities. I thought Essie would have a fit. She doesn't like me to this day. Grady was my friend, but jealously has a way of destroying many relationships.
     Now Pa Tom liked to take a nip now and then and Granny Franks just couldn't stand the thought of this happening. She would often tell her son, Clyde, " Now don't you stop at that store and buy no whiskey. I can still take a switch to your backside." This was funny to me as she kept a bottle of wine beside her bed and every night, she would fill her thimble full and drink it before bed. She would tell you right quick," The Bible says take a little wine for the stomach's sake and that is what I do."
    Granny Franks had a set of twin boys named Claude Edward and Clyde Andrew Franks. I could not tell these boys apart for anything. For a long time, I had to see them with their wives to know which one was which.Claude had married Aveline Chitwood. She was a twin as well and they had a set of twins, Reid and Rachel. They had 3 other children as well.
     Clyde married a woman named Wanda Faye. They had 6 children, with only one girl out of the bunch named Connie. After Connie married, she had a set of twins.
     Granny Franks could make the best egg custard in the world. Many times when I visited, she would have some cooling on the kitchen table. But she wouldn't cut them until Sunday dinner. She dearly loved fried rabbit. Ruby said she grew up with this meat for breakfast. Many years ago, people that lived in the country would eat rabbit since they didn't get to town very often to buy meat. Most farms raised their own meat for food. Hogs, chickens and cows and sometimes a few goats. They caught squirrels and rabbits as well. Cows were used more for milk and butter and Granny Franks had her favorite churn that she used for many years. One morning after Granny Franks got sick just before her death, Ruby called me to visit the store for her.  I asked her what she wanted me to get? She wanted me to go to the old Colonial store where IGA is located now and get a rabbit. I didn't know that you could buy them cut up ready to fry. But they had them in the freezer section and so I bought it and took it to Ruby's house. She fried it and made biscuits and gravy. Granny Franks ate a little of this and died the next day. Its funny what people want to eat when they know it is their end of days.
     Right after Jeff was born in 1966, it was Granny and Pa Tom's anniversary for 50 years. They wanted to go to Crawford Springs for a picnic. A lot of the family gathered at their house and we left. After lunch, it started to get very cold. We headed back to the house and on the way, it started to snow. By the time we got home, we had about 3 or 4 inches on the ground and my clothes froze on the line. Granny and Pa Tom had to stay at Ruby's house as the roads were closed and they couldn't get home. For their 60 anniversary, we had a big dinner at their home on the Cline Rd. Just about the whole family was there. They made a 5 generation picture with Granny Franks and Pa Tom, Ruby Franks Dean, Grady Burns with his son, Travis Burns, and the great great grandchild, Christy Burns. This was in 1976. Pa Tom died the next year. He started having mini strokes that made him bed ridden until his death. I spent many nights at their home sitting with Ruby while Granny Franks could get some rest. Ruth would sit as well on alternate nights. This is when Ruth made her puff and stuff quilt. I had never seen one before and it turned out very well. Ruby would piece quilts as well but mostly she would mend clothes. I treasure the memories that I have of them and wanted to share them with my children. As they grow older, they can hand down some of these stories to their children. Every one should keep up with their family. Genealogy is over 1/4 of the bible. If GOD wanted a record kept, then so should we.
All their children consisted of:
Jesse Luther Franks
Ruby Lee Franks                                                      
Arville Franks
Willie Mae Franks
Robert Clayton Franks          
Claude Edward Franks
Clyde Andrew Franks
Ruth Francis Franks
Ralph Winston Franks

Granny Franks and Pa Tom in the 1950's

MY FAVORITE PEOPLE by TANDON LEE MABE

My great grandson gave me this story this morning so I wanted to put it on my blog. He has decided to write stories like me. He wanted to know how to get it published but what he actually said was, "He wanted other people to read it." This is his story exactly the way he wrote it.

MY FAVORITE PEOPLE by LEE MABE

My two favorite people are my Granny Rhonda and my mom. Even though my mom was not always there for me, I still love her and my Granny was there for me alot. My Granny was good to me alot only when I was good. But when Iwas not good, she would be mean to me. My mom was nice too, like my Granny. But one time when I was real bad, she whipped me. But my mom is real nice and cool like other mom's. And my Granny is nice and cool like other Grannys. They are both the same amount of nice and cool.
by Lee Mabe

DEAR SANTA, PLEASE BRING JESUS

     Back in 1990, when I was with a singing group called "The Sounds of Praise" I had an opportunity to be in contact with a man named Billy Graham. Now this is not the famous one, just a small person in Georgia who wrote poems and tried to get them published. It just so happened that he had been to Nashville this day with a Christmas poem that he thought would be significant for this season since the drug increase was so prominent at this time. They told him it was to late in the season to release a Christmas poem so he started back home.
     Our group was practicing at a store we had rented for a Bible book store. He had a flat tire in front of our place so we helped him out. We even rented him a room for the night so he could get a fresh start the next morning. When he saw that we were singing gospel songs, he gave me this poem and told me to use it in anyway I could for God's purpose. As I read the poem, tears flowed down my cheeks and I couldn't finish reading. Jesus said "Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of Heaven." We started reading this poem on our radio broadcast on Sunday morning and had so many requests that I had it printed on flyer's to give to anyone who wanted it. As you read the following poem just see if it effects your heart and life like it has mine.

Dear Santa,

Please bring Jesus and leave Him under my tree
aw' it wont take you long
and that's all I want for me
I didn't want to ask you for an awlful lot of toys
just bring me Jesus, give the rest to other girls and boys
you see I have no hands to ride a bike
nor eyes for a fancy treat
I need no scooter or kick and go
for I have no feet
don't bring me no cowboy hat
my head's a different shape
no pretty clothes to wear,
I have mine special made.
You see, my mom was a drug abuser
and she took an over dose
y' me even being here
came mighty close
December 25, 1980,
that's the day I was born.
My mom was in a coma
she died the next morn.
But Santa, papa says when Jesus comes
I'll be just like new
I'll be like all my other friends
Billy, Tommy, and Sue
So that is why I ask you Santa
and I hope that you can see
just bring me Jesus
and leave Him under my tree.
               Love
                         Billy
p.s. I hope you enjoy your cake and coffee.

SILAS MERCER BROWN-my second great grandfather

An interesting turn of events happened yesterday in the book of my life-I received information about my 2nd great grandfather, Silas Mercer Brown. I have been searching for him many, many years and a cousin obtained the death certificate for his daughter, Eliza Caroline Brown Beall and had the parents names-Mercer Brown and Eliza Chandler. Now the fun begins as I search for his parents. Found her parents as she is the second cousin of my great grandfather, Noble Newnan Beall who married Silas' daughter. Also, an interesting thing happened when I went to the website findagrave.com to view his memorial. There was a note of thanks for contributions to "Sacred Harp" music. Says he was a noted singer and songwriter and published in this book. This tells me that just about all the music ability in the family came from this man and I thought it all came from the Beall side as my grandfather and all his brothers wrote gospel music. Just wish my dad had known all about him. Well I have alot more relatives to find and maybe contact the living ones if they have a tree on ancestry.

S. M. Brown 1811, March 29, 1881. Was born in South Carolina and moved to Georgia in 1834, settling in what would become Haralson County. His given name is something of a mystery as it is given as Silas in the1870 Federal census, but Samuel in the 1880 census. He married Elizabeth Chandler (Eliza or Lucy) in 1836. A farmer, he served as Justice of the Peace in 1868-69. Brown was the first secretary of the Tallapoosa Musical Convention in 1867 and also participated in the Chattahoochee Convention. He contributed several truly memorable tunes to the 1870 Sacred Harp, all marked "original" indicating that they had not even been published previously. His obituary in the 15 April 1881 Carroll County Times reads:

     "We regret to chronicle the death of Hon. S. M. Brown of Haralson county. He died of chronic liver disease. He was well known to all the old citizens of Carroll and adjoining counties and was thought well of far and near. He was a good singer and a composer of music. He had several pieces of music in the Sacred Harp and we hope Bro. Ripples will sing two of his compositions found on page 138 and 384 of the Sacred Harp, in remembrance of Bro. Brown, as it was his request to have them sung before his death by his friends."

Later that year, on 14 August, the Tallapoosa Musical Convention passed a memorial resolution stating:

     "Since our last meeting, Death has visited our musical family. Bro. S. M. Brown was born in South Carolina in 1811 and moved to Georgia in 1834 and in 1836 was married to Miss Lucy Chandler. He never made any public profession of religion, but his walk and conversation imitated that of a christian. He was a dear lover of music. Just before his death, he raised his hands toward heaven and said, "I want to go up yonder." He breathed his last on March 29th, 1881. He was a kind father and an affectionate husband. He has left a kind wife, eight children and many friends to mourn his loss.
     .
     1. Resolved, that in the death of Brother Brown, the convention has lost one of its best standards.
     2. Resolved, that we would say to the children to try and imitate the steps of their father.
     3. Resolved, that our prayer is that when we leave this land of toil we may strike hands with him beyond the river Jordan.
     4. Resolved that we sing the tune "Span of Life" led by Bro. C. J. Cook and engage in prayer, led by Bro. T. L. Lassiter.
     5. Resolved that the proceedings be recorded on the convention book and a copy sent to the Carroll County Times for publication and request that the Cedartown paper to copy, and a copy be sent to the family of the deceased Brother.

J.M. Hamrick / B.O. Monroe / S/ Edwards, Committee

page 138 "Ogletree"

    Frequent the day of God's return
    To shed its quick'ning beams;
    And yet how slow devotion burns,
    How languid are its flames.

page 322 "Man's Redemption"

The glorious plan of man's redemption
By the Son of God was wrought,
To save the lost and ruined nation,
So to Heav'n we might be brought.

Chorus:

Glory, honor, and salvation,
To the Lamb who once was slain;
Sound His praise thro' ev'ry nation,
May it never cease again.

 page 384 "Panting for Heaven"

    O when will the period appear
    When I shall unite in your song?
    I’m weary of lingering here,
    And I to your Savior belong.
    I’m fettered and chained up in clay,
    I struggle and pant to be free,
    I long to be soaring away,
    My God and my Savior to see.

page 379 "Span of Life"
My span of life will soon be gone,
The passing moments say;
As length’ning shadows o’er the mead
Proclaim the close of day.
O that my heart might dwell aloof
From all created things,
And learn that wisdom from above,
Whence true contentment springs.