Why were you invited to this newsletter?   Everybody comes from somebody! This is what all of us have in common.    In the early stages of the website some very interesting family history was included. It took us back to the early 1780's with Charles and Sarah Marshall, the parents of Mathew Marshall Ford who was Enslaved. It went on to tell us how Jane Ford a free woman married a slave and so Mathew took on her Surname. Jane and Mathew had 17 children. And finally, it explained our Early beginnings in what is known as Culpeper, Virginia. 

  You may not have been a history buff, but Culpeper was the sight of the most military battles in the Civil war.  Why is this important to Our family?  Jane and Mathew (a former slave) ran a commissary for the Union Army in the midst of the war.  Less than a mile away from the homestead was a military jail. 

  You have to ask yourself: What kind of People were Our Family!  Some of our new readers may still ask: Why  is Jane and Mathew important to us. Well Jane and Mathew fathered Richard Ford who married Sarah and had Mary T who in turn married Dock Stroud.  Well, hold on, Dock  and Mary had 5 daughters who eventually moved to Mount Vernon, N.Y and married into the Haden, Tucker, Michael,  Ford and Wyatt Family.  Need I say more?

 151st Edition

Blessings in Abundance Family

 Habari Gani ?  What's the News

Today the last day of Kwanzaa you respond saying : Imani   Which means Faith.

Keep the Faith Family! At the end of the day you will say 7 times Harambee.  Which means by working together,

     2025, where do we go from here?

  Very often we believe we have time until the day comes and we wish we had more. If not more time; but that we had used it better! This is not to say that we have squandered what the Most High has given us, but was there something we should have made time for.   My mood is off today after hearing our Matriarch Jean Osborne Tucker Grant made her transition after 98 magnificent years of life. We really couldn't ask for more, yet we wish she could have  honored her at our Family Reunion.  It would have been a highlight of a life well lived.  However, it was a missed opportunity.  

   With so much going on in the world today allow me to encourage each of you to make room and take time to stay connected to a family member outside of your immediate family.  With the loss of an elder, very often family connections are loss. Don't let the loss of our Matriarch be the loss of our connection.  The struggle has always been to bring pride to the Tribe, no matter how scattered and torn we have been. 

    Can we Factor family into your 24 hours, seven days and 12 months?  Pick up the banner our Matriarch has passed on. Be bigger than any argument, stronger than any financial status and better than any addiction. Let no missing father, missing mother or broken promise keep you from enjoying what makes us proud members of this Stroud Family!

               Much love to each of you in 2025  

The messages in this news letter are to offer hope, encouragement  and acknowledgement.  So I trust you will reach out to one another and share your victories, desires and needs.  We can only hope you will find this newsletter worthy of your time and take a moment to read and share your news with us.  Please send any thoughts, messages or history to fullergail@hotmail.com or give me a call at 646 8515247; I'll answer. 

Please know we need your help in making this newsletter more significant to everyone.  Send us your updates, let us know how we can support you, your businesses and your children.

Good News:

There's no better feeling than seeing unconditional love between a Father and daughter. I had to share this photo of Wayne Richburg and his only daughter  Lyndon.  Without words it  brings a smile to ones' face. So for those who need a smile Thank you Wayne and baby girl for this photo. Wayne is the son of Doreen Chesson Richburg. He is the grandson of the late Charles Sr. and Dorothy Tucker Chesson  and the Great Grandson of the Late Harry Sr. and Helen Stroud Tucker.  After 4 boys, blessed with a girl.

Happy Thirteenth  to Benjamin Simmonds. Benjamin is the Son of Gimeno and  Deandre Jones Simmonds. Benjamin is the grandchild of  Melvin and Denise Grant Jones and the Great Grand of the Late Jean O Tucker Grant.

Living life with Purpose, family lets give a resounding applause to Lawrence "Beau" Kershaw.  

"Beau" - Lawrence Kershaw, son of the late  Leo Kershaw and Victoria " Vicky" Grant Kershaw,  has touched and influenced the minds, heart, and actions of thousands in the more than 20 years he has been with the Carmel Central School System. After working for many years at Westchester Airport, Beau with the title " Building Lead", directed, supervised, and performed janitorial services at Matthew Patterson Elementary School. He just recently retired after years of exemplary service.

Beau is respected and revered by many in Carmel, N.Y. and surrounding areas. To recognize Beau's inspiration and contributions, as well as, the effect of Beau's unselfish,  untiring and life-changing actions, the Carmel Central School System Board of Education gave Beau the ultimate honor. Mid-December 2024,  the  Mathew Patterson Elementary School library's name was changed to "Larry' s Library" because of Beau's dedication to the school and students and the impact he has made. 

The Board wanted to ensure that Beau's' contributions were recognized and that his legacy lives on. Beautiful accolades were expressed by Beau's colleagues.  Some include:

"Just like Larry (Beau), the library will inspire and nurture minds and heart!" 

 "Larry (Beau) is a bright light that illuminates the lives and hearts of all."

Congratulation to Beau and his wife April who both truly help make a difference in the lives of others!

You can see the Tribute & Dedication to Larry Kershaw at:  (the dedication begins at 26 on the video meter)

 https://carmel.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Embed.aspx?id=64652456-3964-4446-95ea-b24b0130cf85

Wider Horizon Book Club

Congratulations to the Wider Horizon Book Club who celebrated their 5th year of existence at their Poetry, Prose and Preseco Book  club meeting on Saturday Dec.28th   I can honestly say you missed a great opportunity to get together and enjoy the spoken word.

  

  So join us next month on the last Saturday of the month at 4:00  January's book will be Eight Hundred Grapes by laura Daves. So join us at our virtual book Club meeting.  The date Jan. 25th   at 4:00 EST

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82796419692 Passcode: HORIZONS

Prayer Warriors:  

Family, we need all the Prayer Warriors to go into their war rooms and cover our family with their prayers.  Our Beloved Matriarch's sister is the last surviving Tucker daughter; Elizabeth "Betty" Tucker Scotland.  Elizabeth is the remaining child of Harry P Sr. and Helen Stroud Tucker.  As we prepare to bid farewell to our 98 year old  Matriarch Jean O Tucker Grant keep the family lifted up in your prayers.

Please keep lifted Cousin Denise Haden in Atlanta Georgia, who had hip surgery on Dec.23rd. Although in a great deal of pain right now she is encouraged by the fact that she finally got the process started. Denise faces additional surgery on her other hip. 

The following is a must read. Take a moment a review a lasting memory 

We received word from our DNA Culpeper Cousin Faith Johnson Crumbly on her brother Roy's condition. The family has created a living manuscript to cover Roy's life; at this time she is asking that we send him a card or note letting him know he is cared about. Here's the letter followed by his mailing address and a link to view the manuscript.  It is well worth your time!

My brother, Roy, has been battling bone cancer and has determined not to have a funeral or memorial service. So I prepared the magazine captioned in the subject line for him to share his blessings and smell the roses with family members. 

Please feel free to share the magazine PDF  with other family members. If anyone wants to purchase a paper copy, they can text me, 301-710-8402.  Please text me to let me know that you have been able to access the pages.  

We are also doing a card shower for Roy:  Christmas, Thinking of You, Fill-it-in, Etc. Just want to keep that mailbox cover clicking -- with family connections and comments on his testimony.

 

Roy Johnson

3210 Pine Avenue

Erie, PA 16504

Happy Holidays to each of you and to your family.

Cousins and  Faith Johnson Crumbly

301-710-8402

 GRATEFUL PDF.pdf

The Closing of another Chapter

    Jean Osborne Tucker Grant born Sept 9, 1926 in Mount Vernon New York to Harry Parnell Tucker and Helen Stroud Tucker.  Jean was the 4th child of 10 born to this family.  Jean was married to Joseph Mathew Grant Sr. Nov 6, 1943 in Mount Vernon, N Y.  Jean was predeceased by two children, a son Joseph Mathew Grant Jr and a daughter Susan Grant Wilson. Jean has 4 daughters who took great care of their mother.

    Before becoming incapacitated Jean was known as Ms. CAG short for Community Action Group.  She was a constant change maker in the city of Mount Vernon.  She was known for making waves and creating change.  Walking through Mount Vernon could take a couple of hours with Cousin Jean. Mainly because she knew everyone and everyone knew her.  On her walks she was apt to solve 3 or 4 problems for someone who saw her,  Thus the title, Ms. CAG !   Jean gained her wings on Dec. 27, 2024.

   Share with your children, not only her longevity but how "Purposefully " she lived her life

 Why were you invited to this newsletter?   This is what all of us have in common.    In the early stages of the website some very interesting family history was included. It took us back to the early 1780's with Charles and Sarah Marshall, the parents of Mathew Marshall Ford who was Enslaved. It went on to tell us how Jane Ford a free woman married a slave and so Mathew took on her Surname. Jane and Mathew had 17 children. And finally, it explained our Early beginnings in what is known as Culpeper, Virginia. 

  You may not have been a history buff, but Culpeper was the sight of the most military battles in the Civil war.  Why is this important to Our family?  Jane and Mathew (a former slave) ran a commissary for the Union Army in the midst of the war.  Less than a mile away from the homestead was a military jail. 

  You have to ask yourself: What kind of People were Our Family!  Some of our new readers may still ask: Why  is Jane and Mathew important to us. Well Jane and Mathew fathered Richard Ford who married Sarah and had Mary T who in turn married Dock Stroud.  Well, hold on, Dock  and Mary had 5 daughters who eventually moved to Mount Vernon, N.Y and married into the Haden, Tucker, Michael,  Ford and Wyatt Family.  Need I say more?

 150th Edition

Peace and healing Blessings,

   I have to stand on this greeting.  Thanksgiving has come and gone, but it was hard this year going through all kinds of emotions.  I know I can't be the only one so I extend to everyone Grace as we maneuver  through life.  Adjusting through the many changes of losses, position, and attitudes is not easy. We have been doing our best to find our way and for the most part we didn't do to bad.  However, some of us have been feeling this season more than others.  It's like nothing wants to come together but we refuse to break.  As a family we can offer ourselves as a buffer to those who find themselves weak at the moment.   Hold on family, the road is rocky, but just hold on!

     I'm grateful that the family can find reason to celebrate and shine at this time.  We have many who have made some milestone accomplishments.  We're going to discuss them a little later in this newsletter, but for now let's embrace the fact that we are all here today.  Our existence today is our Victory and so sincerely we can Give Thanks!

May Happiness abide with you during this holiday Season.  And Much love Always

Please find time to email or call to share your news with the family.  We want everyone to stay in the loop and know they are appreciated and thought of. 

The messages in this news letter are to offer hope, encouragement  and acknowledgement.  So I trust you will reach out to one another and share your victories, desires and needs.  We can only hope you will find this newsletter worthy of your time and take a moment to read and share your news with us.  Please send any thoughts, messages or history to fullergail@hotmail.com or give me a call at 646 8515247; I'll answer. 

Please know we need your help in making this newsletter more significant to everyone.  Send us your updates, let us know how we can support you, your businesses and your children.

Good News:

Can you feel the sense of accomplishment when a letter in the mail says:

Dear  Victor Fuller,

We are pleased to inform you that you have completed all of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science with an area of study in Nuclear Energy  Engineering  Technology for the December 13,2024 graduates. Your diploma has been ordered.

Well Family, congratulations goes out to Victor Fuller who has had this goal on his mind since day one.  Life, delayed the achievement but didn't stop the success.  Victor retired from the United State Navy as Chief officer after 20 years of service. He is a father, a husband and a grandfather.  Victor is the son of Ronald and Gail Haden Fuller and grandson of Luther James and Josephine Haden Coley.  He is the Great Grandson of lloyd Sr. and Jannie Stroud Haden.  We extend our warmest regards for staying the course. 

                                     

                                                                                   

                                           

 Some news come by mail others receive a phone call.   On November 21st Jasmine Jennings received a call from her Alma Mater the University of Rhode Island that she was going to be inducted the schools Hall of Fame.  Jasmine writes this about her accomplishments:

I received a phone call last week from University of Rhode Island Athletics. On March 8th, 2025, I will be inducted in the University of Rhode Island Hall of Fame

As I look back on my accomplishments I achieved 15 years ago. I can do nothing but think about how grateful I am for the support of the University. I am a humble person and it's hard to talk about myself sometimes. I thought about what I have accomplished and I have to give kudos to the young Jasmine. That young Jasmine laid the foundation to the person I am today. You are a All-Star

College Achievements Highlights

The First Division 1 All-American to come out of the Women's Track & Field program

Earned a Full Athletic scholarship to URI

Still hold the indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer throw record

Still hold a few top 10 all time performances of throws for indoor and outdoor

Won Penn Relays in college

Was ranked top 100 in the world in 2008

Missed qualifying for the Olympics trails by a 1/2 inch but was still happy about it

Was the first URI Women's hammer thrower to win Regional Championships. On the plane ride back someone told the captain about my achievement and he announced it over the intercom. The whole plane of passengers clapped and cheered for me. I was pleasantly surprised

Competed at the NCAA Division 1 Championships twice

Was NJCAA Division III All-American at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and transferred to a Division 1 program, then became a Division 1 All-American

During high school, was a All-star softball player, club team volleyball player and shot put state champion

The most important lesson to success is to "Enjoy the Journey".

 What Jasmine left out is she attended the Paris Olympics as a Coach.

Jasmine is the daughter of Wilbur Jennings and Theresa Haden Boone . She is the granddaughter of the late Clarence Stroud Sr and Barbara Glover Haden.  She is the Great Granddaughter of LLoyd Sr. and Jannie Stroud Haden.

                 

                                                                          
                             

     

                                            

blob:https://www.facebook.com/abe48991-4063-4cf2-9e07-089a69a65190

Milestone Birthdays 

Sweet 16 was celebrated by Milan Kelley on Nov 18th .We watched Milan as a child model, an exemplary student and honored her for her compassion for others.  Happy Sweet 16 and many Blessings.  Milan is the daughter of Fatima Michael .  She is the granddaughter of  Theodore  Riley and Monica Micheal.  Milan is the Great Granddaughter of the late Robert Michael and the late Lorraine Crosby. She is the Great Great Granddaughter  Michael and Rachel Stroud Michael.

Prayer Warriors: 

We thank you for your continuing Prayers for our Elders and our Family.  We ask that remember all those who have open wounds from recent losses. We ask that you cover yourselves as we go into a new month and new season.  

Prayers are being requested for family members who are facing surgery this month.  We pray for healing.

Please Help

Thank for helping get to this round! Task before Thursday is to remain in 1st or 2nd place! Can you help me with the free daily votes???

I’m grateful if you share as well.

Michele

greatestbaker.com

Is Michele Harris-Dixon the Greatest Baker? You decide!

One baker will take home the title, a feature in Bake From Scratch Magazine, and $20,000!

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