William Johnson Moore

I find myself a few months into this pandemic, and taking a pause from writing my family history book. June is graduation month, and I began to reflect on my graduation day, June 6th, 1966.  The local news programs have

had several stories on how the lack of a senior year and celebrations is affecting the class of 2020. I just happened to see a picture of

Black people lined up to vote in the spring of 1966 in Alabama.  I should mention that while researching a portion of the book I noticed that Robert Brown my great grandfather was born in Alabama in about 1848.  So, I recently have a connection with Alabama. Looking at the picture of people lined up at the Sugar Shack in Alabama in 1966 and reflecting of my research into the 1920 census of my grandfather super imposed on the recent killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, so many things make sense, but don’t make sense.

The 1920 Wilson county Census was taken on February 4, 1920 (I was born on February 4, 1948).  The fifth household on the page is my grandparents.  My father isn’t listed.  Lines 30 and 31 are the names of two of my aunts I actually remember; line 30 is aunt Mary who I have video of, and line 31 is aunt Ethel, who lived on Paca Street in Indianapolis in the 1950’s (she’s listed as Martha E.)  The second household listed on the page is the Baddour household, an Arabic speaking immigrant family, who had a servant from the UK.  The eldest son in the Baddour household, Frank would go on to become mayor of Lebanon, and have portions Sparta Pike renamed to Baddour.  The tale of two Americas? 

I can recall August 8, 1988, being told it would be a significant date, about all I remember from that date is I began to seriously look to go into consulting.  I knew that trying to move forward in a company I’d worked for twelve years would not end well for me. Probably not like Frank.

How I knew Great GrandPa Brown was born in Alabama? In 1880 while living in Mississippi with his wife Kizzie, he told the census takers he was born in Alabama as his father was. (Click image to enlarge and see line 46)  So, it seems some of those folks lined up at the Sugar Shack in 1966 may have been some of my long lost cousins.

"Negroes at polling place, as they vote in large numbers for the first time in history." Peachtree, Alabama.; 5/3/1966; Source: Record Group 306, National Archives

5/3/1966; 

A picture of my aunt Mary, the only person mentioned on that 1920 census record that I have a picture and video of.

Earlier this month, we laid Joyce's aunt Dorothry Thorne to rest. Dorothry was the youngest child of Rev. William D. and Alice Edwards.

This June I received a picture of my oldest cousin Charles, who is a proud Dad on Father's Day 2020.

Another highlight of the month was seeing our youngest grandaughter Ayani crawl and begin to pull up to try to stand and ................