First Generation Cousins (Charles Fowler Sr.'s children and his siblings' children ('older' first cousins)
Second Generation Cousins (Charles Fowler Sr.'s grandchildren and his siblings' grandchildren
( younger first cousins)
Third Generation (Charles Fowler Sr.'s great-grandchildren and his siblings' great-grandchildren
( even younger first cousins)
Fourth Generation (Chalres Fowler Sr.'s great-great- and great-great-great- grandchildren) and his siblings' great-great grandchildren.
We are one BIG family and there were still around 50 from the West Coast that were missing and many from the area that missed for one reason or the other.
Where we come from doesn’t matter as much as where we are headed.
We all age, but we all feel like kids again when we see cousins that we played ‘rock school’ with years ago on Grandmama’s steps.
Though the world is crashing around some of us, when we are together we feel stronger.
Some of our family members have made big mistakes in their lives, but God’s forgiveness covers all, so we should forgive also.
It was so obvious to us that many loved ones have passed away and wondered in some way if they had an opportunity to look down from heaven and smile at the chance to see us all together again.
You can’t pay some people enough to smile in the family pictures!
The Fowler women (and men) KNOW HOW TO COOK! Homemade chicken and dumplings and made from scratch chocolate cakes and Mike’s fruit ambrosia were just a few of my favorites.
It’s tough to watch those that were once vibrant and full of energy begin to slow down and need help. I want them to stay young forever in my mind.
Bud Duke NEVER changes! He has ALWAYS looked the same and we ALL love him like family!
Cousins I have never met now have a place in my heart as family.
If we loved each other as much as we judge each other- well, I think you get the idea….
Each one of us will leave a legacy or a footprint for future generations- good or bad.
God’s love in unfailing and even though some have lost loved ones through divorce or death, HIS love lasts forever if we only reach out to Him.
Even LOUD whistles being blown cannot quiet down our crew when they all get together. Next time we will have a megaphone! lol!
Those that have gone before us had a much harder time without all the modern day appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and lights. Transportation was a nightmare without cars and good roads. Communication was non-existent except for the occasional letter from far away family, and when they did get phones, it was too expensive to call long distance. All this to say….pick up that phone and call family more often, type a quick email or send a text. It means more than you think. I’m as bad as the next person about this, but I want to do better.
This past year has been a journey for me as I have learned about the Fowler family in detail from our family tree and through all of the pictures that I have gone through. I love this family very much and I know there have
been days that I have driven my family here in Florida CRAZY with all of the details that it took to make this reunion happen. My mama, Shirley Gainey, and son and daughter, Tiffany and David have done so much to help me, and my husband Tim, bless his heart, has had to have fast food more than usual.
Several people came up to me and asked if we
were going to do this again next year, and…um…. I think I need to recover a few weeks before I can say yes or no.
