Strange Family Folklore

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.

I invited one of my first cousins, Michael Strange, AKA "Universe," to reminisce about the year he lived with our grandparents, affectionately known as "Mama Bea and Papa."

Once again, Mom took time out of her busy schedule to share her favorite Uncle Daniel, AKA Uncle Down, stories. 

In June 2021, we Stranges celebrated our 80th continuous family reunion during which, my Cousin Ted entertained us with seemingly larger-than-life stories of Uncle Daniel AKA "Uncle Down," who was Great-Grandfather Jesse's third child.