This Day in History...

One-hundred years ago today, Saturday, November 11, 1911, my great-grandparents, Wiley Virgil Bird and Willie Ann Josephine Hunter, were married in Huntsville, Alabama. Wiley, the son of John William Bird and M. Canzada Pierce, was an eighteen year old native of Walker County, Georgia, who had been orphaned at a young age and left in the care of his grandfather, who settled in the Big Cove Community in 1904. Josie was a seventeen year old native of Grundy County, Tennessee, who had settled in the Big Cove Community sometime around 1900, with her parents, Alton Elmor Hunter and Rachel Elisabeth Bass.
Wiley and Josie, who shared the same birthday – May 21, Wiley in 1893 and Josie in 1894 – became the parents of ten children – Walter Lee*, Isaac Daniel, Thomas Ozro*, Edna Rocine, Leonard Nolen*, Virgil Odell*, Opal Estelle, James Willard, Rachel Louise*, and Lester Glenn. (* = deceased)
Wiley Virgil Bird passed away on June 9, 1947, at the age of fifty-three. Willie Ann Josephine Hunter Bird survived her husband by more than thirty years, having never remaired. She died on September 4, 1977. Both are laid to rest in the Neal's Chapel Cemetery in Big Cove, Alabama.
One hundred-years after their marriage, the family is numbered in the hundreds – with forty-two grandchildren, eighty great-grandchildren, and an ever growing number of great-great-grandchildren and so on.
Today we honor the good name of our ancestors and the hard work and dedication they made to their family, which has helped shape us into who we are today.

Happy Birthday, Mackenzie...

I cannot believe that Mackenzie is nine years old today! It's her last year in the single digits! So much time and so many events have gone by that at times, I can barely even remember her being a baby. How sad. Especially now that we have Maddie-Klaire and are going through baby days again. It's like I sit there and think, "When was Mackenzie ever this little?" Where in the world has time gone? We've had her for nine years (that have flown by) and if the next nine years fly by this quickly, she'll be eighteen years old! Graduating high school, and possibly talking marriage with some little punk (I hope you're praying now, whoever you are!!)! :)

At any rate, Mackenzie has grown into a beautiful little girl - inside and out. She's pretty much Hurricane Mackenzie most days; but she's just who she is - and I love her so much just that way! What can I say, she's really just a chip off the old block! :) I told her the other day that if it seems like we're getting onto her all the time, it's just because we're trying to shape her into a good person. But honestly, I don't think she's going to have any problem with that. She has a natural goodness to her that I adore. And she's smart, she's funny, she's creative - and those are just the traits she inherited from me! Ha, ha - just kidding. I'm enormously proud of her and I hope that she always, always, always knows that I love her very much - "to the sun and the moon and back" as she used to say when she was a "little girl"!

I love you girl -you'll always be my baby!

-DADDY

Happy Birthday, Alvie!

Alvie Clyde McKenzie
10/17/1959 - June 3, 2008

Maddie-Klaire...

Madelyn-Klaire Emory Byrd was born Monday, September 5th, at 11:14 EDT. She weighed-in at a whopping 6 lbs, 10 ozs, and measured 19" long. She's doing GREAT and as you can see, she's absolutely gorgeous! I had to run home from the hospital for a few minutes and wanted to share a couple of snapshots before heading back up there to cuddle her up some more! Will post more later!

Thanks for all of the well wishes!

-BYRD

Labor Day...

Well, tomorrow is Labor Day. A day that I normally don't pay a whole lot of attention to, aside from the fact that I'm off work (thankful, yes). But this year, it's going to take on a whole new meaning! THAT day has finally arived! We're going to the hospital first thing in the morning; and around 11:00 a.m., Madelyn-Klaire Emory Byrd will be making her appearance! I can't believe it's already time. The last nine months have flown by. I don't know if I'm nervous, scared, excited, or all of the above - I haven't had time to even think about. All I know is that within 24 hours, I'll be the proud daddy of the three most beautiful girls in the world! I'm not going to take the time to gush tonight - I'll save that for later. Just wanted to let you all know that it's time!

I'll have pictures posted as soon as I can!

Say a prayer for the Byrd's!

-BYRD

Looks Who's One!

My beautiful niece - Addison! She is so precious; and she loves her Uncle Byrd!!! Addison turned one year old on July 29. One year ago, she was born - WAY early (32 weeks) and WAY small (3 pounds, 9 ounces)! But that didn't keep her down! This little Byrd (okay, technically, her last name is Shockley; but I'm claiming her as BYRD) caught right up where she needed to be quick; and after a very short, uneventful hosptial stay, she went home and has been fantastic ever since! Here are a few of the shots we did for her one year session and one of her hospital pics from just after she was born. You've come a long way, baby!

First Day of School...

I've been a horrible blogger lately - especially when it comes to shoots that I've done lately. I've had a couple of weddings and a few youngin's, including my niece, Addison, who turned one! I've got to get some stuff up here soon! Baby Byrd is scheduled to be taken three weeks from today! Ironically, it's Labor Day!

But the big news for today is that we sent both kids off to school this morning! Mackenzie is in third grade, which I totally forgot! While I was standing in her classroom listening to her teacher, she said, "Now this is third grade, so we're going to be doing a lot more work!" And I was thinking, "Third grade? What happened to second grade?" Time is just doing cartwheels in my mind!

And poor little innocent Makayla was thrown to the wolves today as a kindergartener! So hard to believe my babies are growing up! She did so great and was ready to get started when we left her!

Here's a few pics from before we left this morning; and I hope that everyone else had a great First Day!

Maw-Maw Godwin

Kellie's great-grandmother, Dimple Mae Smith Godwin, passed away suddenly today at the age of eighty-seven years old. Maw-Maw Godwin was the last of our great-grandparents; and she will be sorely missed. She was a very special woman, who had treated me like one of her very own ever since I first met her twelve years ago. Mackenzie was Maw-Maw's first great-great-grandchild; and she just happened to have been born on Maw-Maw's 79th birthday! How special is that?! She was a beautiful woman who had a beautiful smile; and though we will all miss her so much, she leaves us with many special memories which will linger near for many years to come! We love you Maw-Maw!

Good-bye, Bro. Dennis...

You will be sorely missed; but go on to your reward - your work here is over!

-BYRD

Alvie C. McKenzie

October 17, 1959 - June 3, 2008.

We still miss you, Alvie!

Katie & Matt

I haven't posted in a LONG time! I've been SO busy, I guess I've just lost track of blogging. We're in the middle of a HUGE kitchen renovation; and I can't wait to get it finished and post some pictures here! I was off work last week to work on the kitchen - pretty much ALL week; and I didn't hardly know if I'd survive at times!
Anyhow, last Saturday, I got a quick break and drove over to the quaint little city of Ringgold, Georgia, where I had the priviledge of photographing Katie and Matt, who were on their way to the Ringgold High School Prom! They looked great; and we had a fun time down at the old railroad depot in downtown Ringgold! Thanks, Katie & Matt, for including me in this special day; and I hope you guys had a great time at prom! Here's a couple of sneak peeks (click on the pics to enlarge)!

-BYRD

Back up!

That's what happens when you let your domain expire! Yikes! Anyhow, we're back up and running! Proceed!

-BYRD

website down...

My website is down, maybe for a few days. If you need me, email shannondbyrd@gmail.com, or call or txt 423.802.9314.

This Day in History...

92 years ago today, December 29, 1918, my great-grandparents, Ira Emmett Hinshaw and Nannie Helen Jacks, became man and wife in a civil ceremony in Lincoln County, Tennessee. The story goes that Emmett "stole" (as her mother put it) seventeen year old Nannie from her bedroom window and the two eloped across the state line from Paint Rock Valley to Lincoln County, Tennessee, to marry. Their marriage would produce nine children - Etta Epsie (Bird), Mary Jane (Long), John Lawson, Lester Donald, Opal Ernestine (Craig), Bertie Lou (Stapler), Alvin Ray, Shirley Fay (Lohenitz), and Helen Dean (Young). Sadly, Nannie died hours after the birth of her youngest daughter, Dean. She passed away at the age of 43 years old at the family home on Alpine Street in Huntsville, Alabama, and was laid to rest in the Neal's Chapel Cemetery in Big Cove, Alabama, where the family had settled around 1922. Emmett moved to Florida a few years later and finished raising his family with help from the older children, a few of whom had already married. He eventually returned to Madison County in the mid-70's, settling near New Market, Alabama. He passed away January 22, 1982, at the age of eighty-five. He survived Nannie by thirty-seven years; but never remarried. Emmett was laid to rest in Big Cove, Alabama, beside of the wife he loved so dearly, Nannie.

This photo is of Emmett and Nannie Hinshaw and was taken in Big Cove, Alabama, around 1941. The little boy running in the side of the picture is their son, Ray.

Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

I hope you all have a wonderful WHITE Christmas!!

-BYRD

This Day in History...

I'm sure I'll post something about Christmas morning sometime tomorrow; but while we're busy getting ready for Santa Clause, I wanted to take a second to mention that 200 years ago on Christmas Day, my great-great-great-great-grandfather, Dr. George Lee Bird, was born near Crawfordville, Georgia. He was the son of a wealthy plantation owner, and had a fairly affluent lineage and had but one child with his first wife, Salina Chivers. That son was George Marshall Bird, who left Crawfordville shortly after his father's death and just before the Civil War. It was this George Marshall Bird who eventually settled in the Big Cove Community in 1904.

Kellie and Mackenzie and I took a trip to Crawfordville back in 2003, just before completing the book I wrote about our lineage. There, we were able to visit Dr. Bird's house, which still stands on the Taliaferro County square, adjacent the courthouse, as well as Dr. Bird's grave - a story Kellie loves to tell - ha, ha! I blog about that later.

Off to finish our Santa prep's - Merry Christmas everybody!

-BYRD

This Day In HIstory... John Elbert Adams

Seventy-five years ago today, my great-grandfather, John Elbert Adams, passed away at the young age of only forty-two years. He was born August 24, 1892, in Roanoke, Alabama (Randolph County) , and was the third child of James Thomas Adams and the former Miss Martha Eldorada Butler . As a very small child, John relocated to Marshall County, Alabama, with his parents and siblings; and eventually settled in nearby Madison County.
John married Rosie Lee Winkles on February 10, 1910 , in Huntsville, Alabama. Rosie, whose name can also found listed in some media type as Rosa , was born September 19, 1896 , and was only thirteen years old when she married John, who was then seventeen. Rosie was the daughter of James Winkles and the former Miss Ann Brumbalow, and was an orphan at the time of her marriage to John.
Over the next eighteen years, John and Rosie became the parents of thirteen children. Four of these children – one girl and three boys – died shortly after or at birth. Their names are unknown; however, their graves are marked in the Moon Cemetery near Owens Cross Roads. The nine surviving children were Rachel M. (1912), Albert Lonzo (1913), Bertie Lorene (1914), Ruby Nancy (19--), James Walter (1919), John Junior (1920), Sammie Ligie (1922), Rosie Virginia (1926), and William Jasper (1930). All of these children were born near Owens Cross Roads, Alabama.
John Elbert Adams died December 17, 1935 , at his home in Owens Cross Roads, Alabama. According to his death certificate, his death came almost five months after undergoing a nephrectomy (surgical removal of a kidney). The actual cause of death and minor contributory thereof is not clearly legible on the certificate; however, the cause is listed as “(unclear word) of left kidney”. The death certificate also indicates that John was a forty-two year old farmer (he was actually forty-three), lists his parents as J.T. Adams and Martha Butler, and lists his surviving spouse as Rosa Adams. The informant is listed as S.F. Adams, which is John’s youngest brother, Santford Adams.
John was buried in the Moon Cemetery in Owens Cross Roads, on December 18, 1935.

The photo below is of John Elbert Adams "Poppa", and Rosie Lee Winkles Adams "Granny".

Give the Gift of MUSIC!

Still looking for some great (or maybe just "good") stocking stuffers?!? Give the gift of MUSIC! We have the following CD's still available for sell:

• The Alvie McKenzie Family: Not Another Tear ($15)


• The McKenzie's: Volume II ($15)
  
• Chosen: Power in Believing ($10)


• Christmas With... (an all NEW Christmas CD featuring several of your favorite groups... and us!) ($15)


• New Harmony: The Journey (some of our friends from Huntsville) ($15)

If you're interested in any of these projectss, give us a shout and we'll hook you up We'll even do FREE shipping for the rest of the month!

-BYRD

This Day in History...

On this day in history, December 8, 1964, my great-great-grandmother, Mattie L. Black Stapler, passed away at the age of 85 years. My mom, who was raised out of state, remembers seeing her great-grandmother a time or two growing up; but of course, she passed away before my time. Grandma Stapler was laid to rest in the Green Valley Cemetery in Big Cove, next to her husband, Willias Silas Stapler. Here's a couple of pics of her. One of her as a young woman, and the other is of Grandma with her sister, Leona Hodges.

-BYRD

Weekend...

I don't know why, but for some reason, it seems like we can fit more activities into a two day weekend than we do the other five days of the week. Saturday, we photographed my niece, A.J., for pretty much all day. We were going to do pics of my girls that evening for our Christmas card, but it was rainy all day, so we didn't get around to it. We went to church Saturday night, and rescheduled our pics for Sunday. I try not to ever miss church on the account of pictures; but I knew if I didn't get something done yesterday, we weren't going to have cards this year. So Sunday morning, we get the kids all dolled up and took them to Chattanooga for pics. First, we had to run to the mall to finish-up their outfits; but we finally got over to the downtown area; and what do you know - it starts SNOWING! Not much, but it was spitting snow. That's how cold it was! We were freezing - especially the girls; and so we barely got enough pics for me to build a card with. We came home; and I built the cards and got them ordered. Kellie and the girls went to church at Higdon; and as soon as I got finished with the cards, I took off to the funeral home at Huntsville. When I finished there, I went to church at Big Cove, and then went to visit my parents for a few minutes afterwards, and got home at midnight. So there's my quick weekend update; and here's one of the pics we got Saturday. We hope to do a full session with them if we can catch a warmer day in the coming weeks!

-BYRD