Readers, I find it hard to write this "Weaver Wednesday"'s installment of Family Trails without taking a look back at our last week together. Minutes after publishing last week's edition, the "Weaver Family" learned that our dear family member, Robert Cooper Weaver, had passed away. Uncle Robert was an extraordinary man who did ordinary things that changed people's lives. Many family and friends and colleagues came to his service to honor Robert because he had touched their lives, and they are better because of him. His devotion to the children at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind over the years is hard to sum up in a little family blog.
 |
| Robert standing in front of his grandparents' parlor fireplace. |
 |
| "Mr. Weaver…the Ice Cream Man" |
 |
| Street sign dedicated in Robert's honor on the campus of AIDB |
Uncle Robert was famously known as The Ice Cream Man to the children at the AIDB. We can all imagine the looks on the children's faces when Mr. Weaver arrived to scoop up ice cream for them. But in all the years past, he has met many larger challenges that the children faced every day. He started youth sports leagues; he coached; he traveled with the children so that they could attend a college sporting event; he taught Bible classes and Sunday School lessons. In these seemingly small acts of kindness, what he was really doing was helping children with disabilities realize that they could reach any goal that they set for themselves in life!
Why then, is the Red Goose shoe sign on this post? Some readers who are new to our Weaver ways may not recognize this sign, but it is an ICON in our family history! This sign has remained lit in the Wood-Weaver Shoes storefront for years! I do not know how many years this sign has been in the shoe store, but in my memory, at least as long as the early 1960's.
Uncle Robert and his father, Kiser Weaver, owned and operated this shoe store.
At Robert's funeral, some people in attendance came forward to tell how their parents were never turned away if they could not afford shoes for their children.
 |
| Uncle Robert and his Godchild, Rebecca |
So it is a tribute to Robert and his father that the florist shop owner on the square has offered to keep the sign lit in her window in honor of them. The next time you are in Talladega, be sure to look for Uncle Robert's Red Goose sign lighting up the Talladega Square!
(Future post story, for sure! )
For the Family Trails history enthusiasts, did you know that there was a ship that served in our Navy's fleet, named the USS Talladega! A few years ago, Uncle Robert made sure that all who visit Talladega know about this ship and the men who served our country aboard this ship. Robert designed and had made a bronze monument that stands on the courthouse square in Talladega. I 'll share a few pictures today of us seeing the monument just a few years ago with Robert. But rest assured, readers, I will post more about the USS Talladega in a future post.
 |
| Robert and his great-cousin, Patrick |
Lunch on the square in Talladega with cousins!
**************************************************************
Seasoned With Love
by Lucretia Malone Mount Davenport
Well, Family Trails readers, let's have a short introduction to our family cookbook! What a blessing this book has been to our family for the past 30 years! Seasoned With Love was written by our Aunt Lucretia. As you can see by one of my copies below, it is VERY well loved! Lucretia put many long hours of love and research into writing this cookbook. Seasoned With Love is filled with generations of favorite recipes, menus from eventful family gatherings, family tree information, and poems and stories about growing up in the young and emerging town of Talladega, Alabama. The cover of the book is Lucretia's own painting of the family home place at 305 Oak Street. 
This may seem very sad to you to see a book in this condition, but I assure you that it is from lots of use. (I have the cover!) I love to try the recipes in this book, but I definitely have my favorite
"GO-TO" recipes.
The cookbook has gone through a few revisions, adding new genealogy and recipes. Here are 2 pictures showing new editions. The picture on the left shows the book when it was bound like a book. This is a great edition for the bookshelf because the title is on the spine of the the book. The picture on the right is the newest edition. We love this spiral binding. This edition can be obtained by going to zulu.com. INSERT A VERY IMPORTANT NOTE HERE: this is not the website, called Zulilly…. Two different sites! The books are printed on demand and only take about 2 or 3 weeks to arrive at your door. You will enjoy going to zulu.com and reading about Aunt Lucretia too. I am so thankful that Lucretia has joined forces with Zulu to insure that this book will continue to be available. (I just have to share a secret! But I can't say too much…not yet… I may have found a bookstore that wants to carry our family cookbook. More to come later….. Shhhh!)
A very big thank you to Lucretia for writing this treasure for our family! And especially for allowing all of us to call Seasoned With Love "our cookbook."
No comments:
Post a Comment