Strange times unfold before our very eyes. We managed to survive four years with a madman in the White House. He waged a full scale attack on our democratic institutions and values. Things like rule of law, truth, honor, civility and integrity, for instance.
And now sanity returns to the White House. Praise be to God!
March 30, 2021: My cousin, Betty Millican Barnes, sent a packet of old family photos. I’ve been scanning them and trying to figure out who’s who. To see what we’ve scanned so far, click on the “Family Photos” link in the menu above; or click here.
I’ve created blog entries for some of the scans, so readers may comment on them; hopefully you can identify some of the photos we’re not sure about. Please do.
Have fun!
In late April of 2021, my mother had a debilitating stroke. She lived until May 11, 2021. Sherry and I moved into her home – setting the official move-in date as October 1, 2021. We made several trips over during the time between mother’s being stricken and our making the final move to Tipton County, Tennessee. Because of the circumstances, I’ve had to put the picture scanning on hold.
Blog Posts
Jesus on the Wall
As far back as I can remember, the picture hung on my grandmother's wall in her living room. Jesus holds a little lamb in one arm, and a shepherd’s crook in the other hand. Sheep gather around, and one looks up at Jesus (Like he knows him and trusts him?). My first...
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2023
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart October 5, 2023 – Houston Chamber...
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2019
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart December 31, 2019 – Tony DeSare...
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2017
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart December 26, 2017 – Sounds of the...
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2016
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart November 29, 2016 – World AIDS...
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2017
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart December 26, 2017 – Sounds of the...
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2017
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart December 26, 2017 – Sounds of the...
Quarter Beer Night
Most of us have heard at one time or another a hair-raising tale about an event which was so harrowing that it caused the storyteller’s “whole life to flash before” him. I’m not sure I’ve ever had such a “flash before me” experience; at least not one which involved my...
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2020
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart...
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2023
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart October 5, 2023 – Houston Chamber...
Sam’s Houston Press Article – 2022
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart December 28, 2022 – ECHO...
Norma and Nita
Norma and Nita Kuykendall - July, 1959 - Forbes family gathering.
Jack & Jane with Stanley Forbes
Uncle Jack, Aunt Jane, and their first son Stanley. That is most likely Vicky Millican on the right.I don't recognize that pick-up truck behind the swing set, but that Ford looks like Uncle Clyde Kuykendall's. That swing set looks like one we had in our backyard on...
Billie, Vicky and Betty
We often referred to them as "The Girls." I believe they may have referred to us as "The Boys." Three sisters, Billie, Vicky, and Betty. Oh, how we love these cousins of ours.We're still trying to figure out where this picture was taken and when. We know the date...
Who Is Tommy Moore?
An unusual springtime snowfall canceled Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s plans for a March 22, 1968 protest. More than 16 inches fell: the second largest snowfall in Memphis history, and well beyond the city’s yearly snowfall average of 5.6 inches. But Thomas Moore, an...
Quarter Beer Night
Most of us have heard at one time or another a hair-raising tale about an event which was so harrowing that it caused the storyteller’s “whole life to flash before” him. I’m not sure I’ve ever had such a “flash before me” experience; at least not one which involved my...
The Mayor and I
There once was a county clerk in Memphis, by the name of Dick Hackett. He was a hard line fundamentalist right winger who required female employees to wear bras. I wrote him and volunteered to be the county bra “inspector.” Needless to say, I didn’t get the job.His...
Vicky, Anita, Billie, Norma & Betty
The Millican girls and two of the Kuykendall girls pose at this family gathering. Betty says she believes it was taken in Daddy Forbes's back yard. The date stamp on the photo reads "July 1959."
Scanning Family Photos
March 30, 2021: My cousin, Betty Millican Barnes, sent a packet of old family photos. I’ve been scanning them and trying to figure out who’s who. To see what we’ve scanned so far, click on the “Family Photos” link in the menu above; or click here.I’ve created blog...
The Four Byrds at the Backyard Gathering
Randy, Bobbie, Sam, and Billy Byrd - pose for this one at gathering in backyard.Click here to comment or to view comments.
Bigger Group Picture of Backyard Gathering
More from a gathering in the back yard in Munford. Sam Byrd; unidentified woman (perhaps Vicky Millican?); Solomon Harris Forbes (Daddy Forbes) with back turned; two unidentified women seated on glider (Perhaps the one on the right is Jane Forbes.); woman in white...
Forbes Family Gathering
Sam & Billy Byrd; Jane & Stanley Forbes. Solomon Harris "Hap" Forbes; and maybe Jack Forbes with back turned?To view larger image, click here.
Daddy Forbes and Hat in Back Yard – July, 1959
Daddy Forbes sits in a lawn chair. Woman in white looks like she may be Billie Billings.
Our Move to Houston
ack in 1998, we were invited by Houston Baptist University to come to Houston.1998She received her call on Monday, June 29, and they flew the two of us down on Wednesday, July 1, 1998. They made their offer to hire on...
Norma & Betty
Betty Millican and Norma Kuykendall
Sam & Bill Byrd; Jane and Daddy Forbes – July 1959
A gathering of the Forbes Family, believed by Betty Millican Barnes to be in Daddy Forbes's back yard. She also indicated she believed it was a birthday gathering for Uncle Joe. An obituary, though, indicates that Uncle Joe died in June, 1959. The picture is dated by...
Trump vs Puerto Rico
ccording to "The Lancet," Trump and his administration exhibited open and relentless "hostility toward Puerto Ricans.""The Trump administration’s unremitting hostility toward Puerto Ricans was also reflected in its 2019 proposal to cut “excessive...
Border Crisis
id the increase of children arriving at the border start under Trump or Biden? Answer: Under Trump. Biden had nothing to do with it. The fact-checkers had a look. https://tinyurl.com/34em9ytv ...
Rioters and Money Problems
ashington Post investigators found that nearly 60 percent of Trump's insurrectionists "had prior money troubles, including bankruptcies, bad debts and tax liens." https://tinyurl.com/38bfj2sv
Kavanaugh Was Not Exonerated
says it's a LIE that her witnesses refuted her allegation. "WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and his Senate supporters misrepresented the record when they stated that three witnesses refuted Christine Blasey Ford’s...
Trump Depleted Vaccine Reserve for Biden
According to Kate Riga and Josh Kovensky of Talking Points Memo, Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary Azar gave “health officials the impression that their stockpiles would grow and allow them to dramatically expand the vaccination effort. ““That promise turned...
Lancet Commission on Public Health
rom "The Lancet" - The premier British medical journal examined Trump's conduct. The Lancet Commission on Public Policy and Health examined Trump's actions and assessed their impact on public health. Among the actions by Trump cited by the...
LBJ’s Voting Rights Speech
ydon Johnson's address to Congress in support of voting rights should be required reading for all Americans today. ________________ “And We Shall Overcome”: President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Special Message to Congress Forward by someone at GMU:...
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2021
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart December 14, 2021 – Behind The...
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2021
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart December 14, 2021 – Behind The...
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2020
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart November 20, 2020 – Houston...
“Loneliness”
Is There a Medical Cure for Loneliness ? With older Americans at higher risk for social isolation, science may have a treatment From AARP - The Magazine Genomics Researcher Steve Cole had never really thought much about loneliness and the pain it causes until he...
“Portable Man”
My friend, Delmark Goldfarb, wrote and produced this CD. I was living in Conway, Arkansas at the time, I visited Memphis to lay down some overdubs at Keith Sykes studio. In some quarters, you will see my harp parts credited to John Sebastian. When I first heard...
GoDaddy Back-Ups
1) Log-in2) Sherrybyrd.com >>> Manage3) Sherrybyrd.com >>> Manage Hosting4) Sherrybyrd.com (Web Hosting with CPanel)5) cPanel
Patrick Hall Moves on to Epiphany
ews from your Missioner This is the letter Patrick Hall sent to Autry House congregants - announcing his answering the call from Church of the Epiphany.________________________________________ Dear Autry House, It has been...
Volkswagen Bug
One of my favorite memories of driving a "Bug." Running out of gas, but then coasting into the next gas station. One of my WORST memories of driving a "Bug." Stepping on the brake only to find the entire pedal assembly falling over like a line of dominoes...... ...
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2019
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart December 31, 2019 – Tony DeSare...
Where Is Todd’s Creek?
Greetings from River City! I grew up literally on the bank of a bayou back in Memphis, Tennessee. Of course, we didn’t call it a “bayou.” We called it “The Ditch.” It’s real name was “Todd’s Creek,” which I sometimes call just “Todd Creek” (leaving out the...
Beto for Senate!
eto O'Rourke for Senate!
The Magician’s Assistant
Once, at a Gridiron Show cast party, the magician’s assistant made a play for me. I wasn’t interested and tried to dodge her. She persisted.One of the other acts was a lady barbershop quartet. They saw what was going on. They liked me too; but weren’t at all...
Hindman’s Ferry Road
My brother, Dwayne, my Nephew, Jeff, and I have been having a discussion about Hindman's Ferry Road. We're not sure which of today's roads (if any) was Hindman's Ferry. Jeff decided to ask Vance Lauderdale, Contributing Editor of Memphis Magazine, about it....
Reaper Bookmarks
Some bookmarks I've collected. Most have to do with Reaper (Digital Audio Work Station). Recording from Scratch Getting Started Drum Loops Bass Guitar Acoustic & Electric Guitars Virtual Instruments Vocals Mixing from Scratch The Static Mix Mix Buss...
Nice Recording
I like this sound; recorded on the TASCAM DP008EX. https://youtu.be/GIjUTMyAWeo?t=1m30s ________________________________________ "Southern Nights" I use an 8 track digital recorder that is no larger than a cigar box. While it has 8 separate tracks...
$350 Studio?
https://youtu.be/XLXSqan3Jcs?t=49s Not sure about this; and I know the items are pricier now than when this guy recorded this; but for what it's worth, here it is. Audio interface: Focusrite Scarlett Solo: $99 (Has 1 Mic Preamp. and 2nd Input for guitar, keyboard,...
Jacob Collier Grooves
How about this guy, eh? https://youtu.be/DdGszmpQMd8?t=1m37s
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2018
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart December 20, 2018 – Decorations...
Sgt. Peppers – Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kj1jJrbTQU
Dodging the Flood
Randal Byrd | August 31, 2017 | Storytelling We dodged a bullet! This picture was sent to us at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning (August 27, 2017). It was taken by our across the street neighbors. Our neighborhood became a river and a lake. Not one drop of water, though,...
Murals at Palmer
I just love these two murals by friends of ours from Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church. They are the collaborative works of Jackie Campbell, Kaytee Esser, and Kelly Bourgeois. The murals each are about 20 feet wide. What spectacular work. Thank you, Kaytee, Kelly, and...
Statue Weary
Here's a thought experiment for you. Do you have any idea what was going on in the south in 1964? Remember the 60s civil rights struggle? Remember the church bombings? Remember the police turning fire hoses on civil rights demonstrators? Then think of this. Why is it,...
Blessing for Peggy and Steele
rom June of 1996 until July of 1998, we worshiped with the good people at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Conway, Arkansas. After we moved to Houston, I entered into an arrangement by which the weekly sermons would be sent...
Sam’s Houston Press Articles – 2017
Sam Byrd is a freelance contributor to the Houston Press who loves to take in all of Houston’s sights, sounds, food and fun. He also loves helping others to discover Houston’s rich culture. PS - Sam also contributes to Outsmart December 26, 2017 – Sounds of the...
Record Jobs Growth; Thank You, President Obama!
Yes there are records for jobs growth. From "The Atlantic" -- November, 2016 "When Barack Obama took office, the unemployment rate was passing 8 percent on its way to 10 percent. But US unemployment has now been at 5 percent or below every month for a full year. The...
Inform Your Face
This is a piece I wrote years ago at the behest of our rector. He challenged me to write an Evangelism article for our monthly newsletter. I struggled for weeks, writing, rewriting, trashing my draft, and then writing again. Then, it hit me in a flash, and I dashed...
Coming to Houston
ack in 1998, we were invited by Houston Baptist University to come to Houston.1998She received her call on Monday, June 29, and they flew the two of us down on Wednesday, July 1, 1998. They made their offer to hire on...
