Billie Baird Boyd, 1936-2020

Ralph and Billie on their wedding day.

We've lost another first cousin last week. Billie was the pretty daughter of my Uncle Grice, Mother's oldest brother. She was a little older than my eldest sister. She had two older brothers, Bobby and Benny, and one younger one, Wayne. 

This is the funeral home obituary:

Obituary

Billie J. Baird Boyd, 83, of Suwanee, GA formerly of Duluth, GA died May 28, 2020. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic the family will have a private cryptside service at Green Lawn Cemetery, Roswell, GA. Ms. Boyd, a native of Porterdale, GA was a retired crossing guard with the Gwinnett County Police Department with 30 years of service. Preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Lee Boyd, her son, Ralph Lee Boyd, Jr., she is survived by her, daughters nad sons-in-law, Debbie and Frank Amodeo of Marietta, GA, Dana and John Barr of Suwanee, GA; brothers and sister-in-law Benny Baird of Rome, GA, Wayne and Linda Baird of Marietta, GA; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Charles and Faye Boyd of Suwanee, GA; grandchildren, Shawn Boyd, Brian Boyd and his wife Amanda, Kyle Boyd, Francesca Amodeo, Anthony Amodeo, Aaron Shealy, John Barr, Kathryn Barr; great grandchildren, Katlyn Boyd, Haylee Mewborn, John Mewborn, Nathan Mewborn, Preston Boyd, Jaxon Boyd; several nieces and nephews. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.billheadfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Bill Head Funeral Homes & Crematory, Duluth Chapel

Here is the Find-a-Grave online record:

Billie Joyce Baird Boyd 

BIRTH

25 Jul 1936

Porterdale, Newton County, Georgia, USA

DEATH

28 May 2020 (aged 83)

Suwanee, Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA

BURIAL

Green Lawn Cemetery

Roswell, Fulton County, Georgia, USA

---------

Here's an accounting of the children and grandchildren of Ieula Ann Dick (Baird) and Benjamin Wilson Baird.

Of course their Lola and Leon died as children and left no descendants. Mary never had any children.
The nine first cousins who have died include:
Grice's children
    Bobby Baird
    Billie Baird
Bill's child
    Don Baird
Vek's children
    Marion Loyd Savage
    Leon Loyd (Lloyd)
    Benny Loyd
Charlie's children
    Gail Baird Dorman
    Jerry Baird
Tom's child
    Jack Baird

My remaining 12 Baird first cousins are:
Grice's Children
    Benny Baird
    Wayne Baird
Sis's child
    Otis Lavay McCullough - Lavay is the oldest of all the cousins and is now 91. He lives in Alpharetta in an assisted living facility. He is as sharp as a tack and still spreading the Gospel wherever he can. Lavay is a not-very-retired Baptist pastor.
Jack's child
    Sandra Baird Caruso
Tom's child
    Jane Baird Lathem
Ruth's children
    Janice Shaw Crouse
    Joan Shaw Turrentine
    Terrell Shaw
    Carol Shaw Johnston
    Deborah Shaw Lewis
    Beth Shaw Roszel
    David Shaw

Mother Had the Measles

My mother had measles when she was a baby. She'll be 96 in a few weeks. Her three-year-old brother had measles at the same time. The same measles Mama has survived for nine and a half decades killed her brother before he turned 4. My grandmother kept Leon's little shoes in her cedar chest till the day she died. She had no picture of him. She said his hair was a light brown like Tom and Jack not red like Charlie or Grice. Had Leon survived measles he would likely have been gone like all five of his older brothers by now. If not he would turn 100 this October. Even long life is short from my current perspective.

John Franklin Enders "The Father of Modern Vaccines"

My first cousin Lavay is only ten years younger than his Uncle Leon. He and my high school friends David and Robert were all crippled by polio. I got the vaccine. The polio forced Robert to spend most of his short life in bed and killed him before he turned 20. David has spent his life hobbling around, remarkably well, on crutches. Lavay managed despite a bad limp to walk all his adult life thanks to leg shortening surgeries as a little kid. David and Lavay both are now dealing with greatly reduced mobility due to the horrible effects of post-polio syndrome. I managed to avoid the disease long enough to take the vaccine in the mid-fifties along with all my classmates. And I have been awfully grateful for Dr. Enders and Dr. Salk and their vaccines every time I think of those three contemporaries of mine and little Uncle Leon whom I never got to meet.

Jonas Salk, developer of the polio vaccine

Of course we must keep good records and always work to study the effects of all medicines and seek to improve outcomes. There are no guarantees. Even aspirin has side effects. But in the end I believe we must do what science tells us is most likely to protect our kids. 
Vaccines are in the news again as measles outbreaks occur here and there across the nation. A few cases have cropped up here in Georgia. No other vaccine preventable disease causes as many deaths as measles. Vaccines save many lives.
Give a listen to this man who has a unique perspective; he is a vaccine researcher and also the father of an autistic child ----
Anti-Vaxxers Brought Back the Measles

Gleaning Facebook: Family Joy and Pain Found Online

James Leon Baird’s death certificate. May 1, 1923. He had been born Oct 4, 1919. He died of measles and bronchial? pneumonia.

Little James Leon Baird is right there on the 1920 Census. In 1923 he and his newborn baby sister (my mother Ruth Baird Shaw) would both be struck with the measles. His would turn to pneumonia and take his young life but she would recover; five years short of a century later I am privileged to get to talk with that baby sister almost every day.

My grandmother in her kitchen at 45 Hazel street, Porterdale, GA.

My grandmother Ieula Ann Dick (Baird) with several of her grandchildren. Ruth Baird Shawdo we have this picture? I found it online today.
Ruth Baird Shaw
David Baird Shaw if the little boy and at the end of the sofa...with his arms folded and looking angry with someone. It may his little cousin sitting up under his Grandmama Baird's arm?

Diane Loyd Gage

I am the little girl in the red socks and my brother, Danny, is the little boy in blue, sitting on top of the sofa.

Terrell

Who is the luttle guy under Mama Baird’s arm? Could it be Andy McCullough?

 

Gleaning Facebook: My Grandmothers

 I miss my grandmothers on this Mother's Day. This is Lillian Ophelia Wilkerson Shaw, my Daddy's Mama. She was one tough cookie. Shge lost her own mother when she was only nine. She married at 16 and raised five rambuncious sons to be fine men. I loved the week I spent with her every summer as a kid. She worked me hard, but I still had a great time.

I know I have a picture on this computer,of Ieula Ann Dick Baird my mother;s mother. She had eleven children. Two died young, one as a baby and one as a three-year-old. The others all grew up to be my aunts or uncles, except the youngest who is now my mother! Ieula Baird was a big influence on me. She was kind, sincere, deeply religious, very loving. I wish I could find that picture!

Comments

Nora Matthews Is this Lillian Shaw's name sake?

Joan Shaw Turrentine Thank you for sharing this, Terrell! I strongly embrace what you wrote about each of our loving grandmothers!

Brenda Ron Carroll I loved when Dad would load us up and visit her!! Christmas time with her and my Grandma are precious memories

Ray Langley Terrell I have Wilkersons in my tree.

Terrell Shaw How 'bout that, Cuz!

Ray Langley Terrell Shaw John Wilkerson b abt 1765 married Peggy (Deer Clan) Coo-Tah-Ya

Gleaning Facebook: Mama Baird's Apron?

From Carol Shaw Johnston's Facebook:

Ruth Baird Shaw - what's the history for this apron? I was thinking that Mama Baird made it, but then I wasn't sure. Did you make it? Joan, Janice, Terrell, Deborah, Beth, David - do any of you know?

Comments

Janice Shaw Crouse

I know, for sure, that I didn't Don't think I have seen it before; it is beautiful -- great handiwork!

Carol Shaw Johnston
It is made from quilt blocks - machine stitched together, no lining, and the rickrack is machine sewn. I took it to an event the other day where "aprons" was the theme and told everyone my grandmother had made it, but then I started second-guessing myself. I think Mother gave it to me but it was so long ago that I don't remember anything about it. Or maybe Mama Baird gave it to me. I really don't remember. So I figured I'd better see if I can learn the history. And now I'm wondering - maybe Ron's mother gave it to me.

JM Stripling
It's lovely!

Beth Shaw
I'm with Janice. All I know is that I didn't make it. Mama probably knows.

Ruth Baird Shaw
Carol, It looks like something Mama would have made but i do not remember. How long have you had it?

JM Stripling
I so wish that I had some of my grandmother's aprons. I have some of her tatted handkerchiefs and pillow cases but an apron would be even more special.

Carol Shaw Johnston
Ruth Baird Shaw - I've had it at least since early in Ron's and my marriage. Maybe Mama Baird gave it to me. But I just don't remember. I've always thought it was made by Mama Baird but don't have a clear memory to back it up.

 

Photo Archive: Junction City 1952

My Daddy, Rev. Charles Columbus Shaw, at Junction City Methodist Church in the summer of 1952.

Junction City (Kentucky) Methodist Church in the summer of 1952

Ieula Ann Dick Baird, Terrell Shaw, Ruth Baird Shaw, and Carol Shaw Johnston at High Bridge KY 1952.

Interior view of Junction City (Kentucky) Methodist Church in the summer of 1952

Rev. Charles C. Shaw greets the folks after a service at Junction City Methodist Church in the summer of 1952.

This picture of Deborah Shaw Lewis in the parsonage at Junction City KY looks an awful lot like her son Benjamin as a baby, and her granddaughter Monica.

The parsonage at Junction City KY

Rev. Charles Columbus Shaw holds his youngest child, Deborah Ruth Shaw in front of the Junction City, KY Methodist parsonage.

Do any of my family recognize these young ladies? Junction City, KY, 1952. That could be our 1950 Chevy?

Carol and I sit on the parsonage porch in Junction City Kentucky in the summer of 1952