Strange Family Folklore

For this episode, I thought it would be a wonderful idea to interview the oldest living descendent in the Strange family, Walter “Thel” Strange while taking an intergenerational hayride. Let’s just say, I got an abundance of riches in the form of interweaving conversations, enveloped within a bouquet of sounds.

Once again, Mom and I were busy in the kitchen, when she started dropping some delicious details from her childhood. I’d heard different stories about her learning how to drive, but she added some curious flavor to this retelling.

My Cousin Percy Martin had been a practicing artist for 72 years and had been interviewed so many times that for the first time ever, this interview started without me asking an initial question.

During this year’s Strange Family Reunion, we honored 12 second freeborn generation elders. My mother, Velma Mae Roberson, was one of the honorees, along with two of her older brothers. I managed to pull my Uncle Herbert aside for a short interview.

I had the honor to talk with my 93-year old uncle, Floyd Strange, Jr., son of Floyd and Beatrice Strange, and my mother's oldest brother.

The history of the Stranges has been preserved through oral tradition, court records, and DNA. In this episode, my cousin, Dionne Clark, granddaughter of Jessie Strange, the second oldest of The First Freeborn Generation, explains her genealogy research methods.

Cousin Pleas "Blue" Wilson, son of Catherine and Pleas Wilson, interweaves his coming of age stories with older relatives who shaped him into the man he is today.

Cousin Gwen Strange, daughter of Joe and Margaret Ann Strange, shares stories about her grandfather, Jessie Strange, second child of    Jesse with his second wife, Lucy Strange.

Olander "Charlie" Strange, Jr is one of my first cousins. His namesake, Olander, was one of my maternal uncles.