My Great Grandma

She was such a kind loving soul, no one will ever compare. She greeted me arms open and it was truly an amazing experience. She talked about how amazing I was for supporting her for so long. I can only hope I become half the person she was.

I had always adored being in the classroom with her and trying to learn what she was teaching her classes, although they were much higher above my learning level. I had gone to the school with her for a couple years up until the time she had retired. This was an important aspect of my life because as I got older, English was always my strong point in school. Having her teach me how to read and write helped me become advanced in my English classes. I had always gotten high grades in all of my English courses or I was always put in the higher level reading groups at school. My grandmother really helped me establish a broad range of vocabulary; with this I was able to write quite well even as a young child in my younger

In her family she was the only one to continue her education past high school. Hearing what it took to make this happen was incredible. When I was in grade school both my grandmother and grandfather took it upon themselves to make a college education account for all us grandkids. They didn’t want to see us struggle like they had to.

Even though she was young when she died,she had a great life and accomplished many things. She spent her life with

Her favorite memory of her childhood is when she was protecting her sibling because he was being made fun of for breaking his arm. She is my grandma, and her name is Doralee Whittington. Doralee is really nice, and this falsely led me to believe her childhood, married life, and hobbies are what make her who she is today.

The modern day world is much different than it used to be one hundred years ago. Conditions now are very different from those of the past, such as how people communicate, dress, and live their daily lives. My grandmother, Linda, agreed to sit down with me and explain the changes and historic events she experienced throughout her lifetime. Her full name is Linda Marie Batye, and she was born on April 26th, 1947, making her sixty-nine years of age. Although she is retired, Linda was an executive assistant at South County Bank in Boone County. After divorcing my grandfather before I was born, she now resides in Columbia with her dog, Squirt. After asking her many questions, I began to weave historic events and her life together.

My parents divorced when I was five years old, consequently, my younger sister, Ellen and I were raised by our mother and grandmother. At the age of ten, our family immigrated to the United States of America, in search of a better life. By sheer coincidence, it was also the Groote Beer that crossed the Atlantic Ocean and brought us to New York. I will never forget when our ship entered the harbor on September 30, 1961. With everyone on deck, we sailed past the Statue of Liberty; the symbol of freedom and hope. Even in my young life, I

She told me I could always do what I wanted to do in life I just had to stick to it and try my best. I implemented trying my best by thinking of her. She always brought up how far she came and one day I asked what she meant by that, and she told me that she was going to school when there were colored signs or water fountains and restrooms. She also mentioned, that she watching Martin Luther King Jr. King march and make speeches as

The year was 1999, Gloria Urrea kissed her son and husband goodbye. She knew she’d see us again but the three months we’d be spending a part spent apart worried her. My father and I where heading to The United States in pursuit of a better life. My little sister was a mere six months old and complications with her permeant residency paper work had forced our family to come over in two separate groups. My mother, Gloria, had a successful textile business in Bogota, Colombia but having the opportunity to come to The US was worth as much as a winning lottery ticket.

Josephine "Betty" Bull Clarke; my great grandmother. At first glance, when you saw her tiny frame, and cute wrinkly face, you would almost think she was just your average grandmother. A common mistake. Only when you heard her war stories and sat down with her to have her tea, will you really know why she was to me, granny. She was born in nineteen twenty-five, in Essex, London. When world war two started, she became a war nurse, and she met my grandfather. When she had her first child, she fearfully moved to the United States, never to see her parents again.

My grandma was always a hard working person. But to see her eyes glisten in the sun as tears streamed down her face like a waterfall. It touched me. She was such a tough, you can't hurt me, kind of personality. Furthermore, not only did I feel touched because she is my favorite grandma, but I have never seen her cry before. She always was that person to be able to stand up when no one else would, be kind when everyone else was mean, and stay dedicated and brave when all thought was lost. Kind yet stubborn. Her name was Shannon. Shannon Rhoda. Her entire life has been hard work. As I saw her just let loose and cry I knew how much her mother meant to her. For if I ever lost my mother I would do the same. But this was unlike her to do this. Which made it even more memorable. It was a special moment I will always remember

A famous american novelist by the name of Marilynne Robinson once said, “You never know when you might be seeing someone for the last time.” My Great-Grandma, also known as Mamani, was on of most important people in my life. Although, I never really understood what she would say to me because she only spoke Armenian. She once knew English, but her Alzheimer's stole any memory of it. But no matter what, she ALWAYS had a smile on her face. That was why I adored her so much. Even though she let her Alzheimer’s take some of her memory away, she wouldn’t let it take her personality. Mamani was a very fancy woman. She would never leave the house without any bright red lipstick perfectly smeared on her lips no matter where it was she was going. She always had AT LEAST five bracelets or watches on each wrist. She’d always had a jacket on filed with fake diamonds and rhinestones all over it. She was so amazing. I’ll never forget her.

She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and while she may not always shower you with hugs and kisses, she found ways to express her love in her own special way, through her actions. Often times when I was younger and my parents needed someone to watch me, I would go over to my nanas and pawpaws. In the mornings she would always make me two scrambled eggs, toast with butter and jelly and chocolate milk. Being aware of my love for chocolate milk, whenever she would hear of me coming she would say to my pawpaw, “okay, Benny I have to run to Kroger and get Allison her chocolate milk.” This simple gesture illuminates the kind of

The person I have chosen to write about is my grandfather Juan “De Dios” Martinez. My grandfather has been a very influential part of my life. The fact that I am in this country, I owe to him and my grandmother and the struggles they endured coming here in the 60’s. His life has left an indelible impression on my life, and I feel an inescapable sense of gratitude and responsibility to him; to succeed and show him that his efforts for our family where not in vain.

My great-grandmother, Mama Jo, is from England, and my great-grandfather, Granddaddy, met her while in combat during World War II. Once the war ended, Mama Jo came across the Atlantic to the states and married my Granddaddy. This is where my family story begins. Their son is my grandfather, and he is the oldest of five children, which could get crazy at times. Most of our family traditions revolve around this side of the family due to its magnitude. Even though my great-grandparents have passed away, we have kept their home in our family, so every holiday we get together there. We call it the “Home Place,” and this place holds a very special place in my heart. Every Christmas we line up tables from one end of the house to the other, and sixty-two of us sit and have breakfast. Every Halloween we all get together and have a “soup night” while answering to the trick-or-treaters knocking on the door. Every Thanksgiving we have lunch at the Home Place, and after we eat, we always go to the front yard and play baseball until the day turns into night. These are the memories that will last a lifetime, and this is where I come from. This is much more than a house. It is a home, and I hope that it can be kept in our family forever so my great-grandchildren will be able to have these experiences.