OUR ANCESTOR MOTHERS
Happy Mother’s Day!
Like many of you I am practicing safe social distancing. And
like many of you, I am finally finding time to complete projects that have been
neglected. One of those items was an unfinished blog post that I started at the
beginning of this year. So that is why the beginning of this post starts with a
reflection on Christmas.
January 2020
As I start taking down my tree in preparation of another
year, I cannot help but wonder what Christmas was like for our ancestors. Every decoration I have is so precious to me.
The ones that my children have made over the years are the ones that I cherish
the most even as they lose more pieces of the aged macaroni with each packing
and unpacking. I still love them and hang them on the tree with joy every year.
As I think about the extraordinary number of gifts that are
purchased for our modern Christmas’s (Jackson my grandson is benefactor of many),
I always want to remind myself that this was not always the case.
May 2020
We come from a long line of women that had to survived on
their own. They either were not married (Katheryn Broyle Rainey, Jane Gilbert
Mitchell, Sarah Brooks Keen) or they were left widowed at a young age (Laura
Mitchell Bell, Mollie Reid). I am so very fortunate for the opportunities that
have been presented to me. I celebrate these women every day but especially today,
Mother’s Day 2020, I would like to focus on their lives. It is important that
we recognize their sacrifice which is even more important as we, like them,
face uncertain times during this pandemic.
As we work at home during isolation or if you have to go to
work every day remember your roots. Our mother’s, as women of color, had to
come out of the womb ready to fight. Even with great family support and love
the odds were against them. They had to learn to be diplomats, negotiators,
soldiers, workers, peace makers, while still maintaining their passion for life
and compassion for others.
I can’t imagine the
trials and tribulations of Jane Gilbert Mitchell who had 13 children which many
of those were born into slavery but cleverly she gained her freedom and I know
at least six of those children were able to gain their freedom because of her. How
hard must it have been for a woman to go to court in 1837 in Georgia to make
sure proper paperwork was filed so that she and her children would not be sold
back into slavery because of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 and 1850.
And what of Katherine Broyle Rainey who was brought to
Eatonton, Georgia from Woodstock, VA as a young slave never to see her family
again. She raised 6 children basically on her own and then helped raise her
grandson Ambrose Reid. Her only option was domestic service which she did until
her death. Sally Brooks would have 5 children by William Steele and when he
passed away in 1859, he left her nothing in way of support. Mary Louise (Molly)
Reid Bell was widowed at a young age and was left to raise her five daughters
by herself.
How many times did they just want a weekend alone or just
want to take a day off work? How many times did they have to silently work on
demeaning menial task while sacrificing their dignity? How many times did they
have to “respect” those less intelligent than them, knowing that this was part
of their survival?
We all owe a great deal to these ladies. So, as we wrap up our Mother’s Day let’s
think beyond our immediate family and praise these brave ladies that gave us
life. We are so very blessed!
We need to honor them and remember WE HAVE OPTIONS!
Something they never had.
I want to remind everyone to take the time scan any photos
we have of the Steele Bell family. Let’s make sure we share our wonderful
heritage!
Happy Mother’s Day to
all of the beautiful ladies!!
Happy researching! T
