SWEET CRUMPETS

by Theresa Ann Titus-Lawson

FAM•I•LY (noun) [fámməlee] A group of people who are closely related by birth, marriage, or adoption. All the people who are descended from a common ancestor.

CRUM•PET (noun) [krúmpət] According to Encarta’s dictionary, a crumpet is a griddle cake with a slightly elastic texture and small holes that is made from a batter risen with yeast. Crumpets are usually eaten toasted with butter.

I’d like to add a little sweet jam to mine, with my memories of Crump family members. You could say that each family member adds to the sweetness just by his or her existence. There is nothing like FAMILY!.......................and ours is so sweet you have to be careful you don’t get a toothache!

I am the daughter of Henrietta Crump-Titus. She was the youngest born to Junius Lightfoot Crump and Annie Lee Richardson. Her siblings were James Arthur, Junius Lightfoot, Jr., Lucille Lee, Martha Ann, Eli Eldridge, Charles Baker and John Franklin.

My mom and dad gave me my Grandmother’s first name as my middle name and my sister, Vivian’s middle name is Lee. I like the fact that we each carry a part of her name. I’m sure there are other family members that have “Ann” or “Lee” in their names also. If you do, let us know with a “family message”.

First, I would like to thank Phil Chance for taking the Crump Chronicle to a new level. He realizes, like I do that we are all so blessed to have each other. Through this site, we will all get to know each other more, because you are free to put your thoughts, ideas, feelings and memories here.

Phil, I am so grateful for your presence and I appreciate all that you do for our FAMILY. Phil has posted the very first three Crump Chronicles that were written and distributed through snail mail, in case anyone missed them.

One of the memorable things we have done as a family since the last Crump Chronicle was the family weekend cruise to “no where”. If you look under the tab “Reunion Update”, you will see a picture of us all in our smart looking tee shirts that Phil designed and had made for us. I believe Renée, Dee Dee and Robin Crump were responsible for the co-ordination of that wonderful trip. The rest of the pictures are in the slide show.

I have the privilege to be in possession of a letter written by my grandmother and for some of you, she is your great grandmother and some yet, great, great grandmother; Annie Lee Crump. My mom gave it to me when we were going through her papers. She told me that her mom wrote it to her when she was 17 years old and had her first job away from home as sleep-in domestic help. Phil has it posted under “family letters”. Check it out! It was written in lead pencil and has lasted all these years. I especially like the advice she gave my mom, like “Keep everything neat and clean around you” and “Don’t forget to pray” and the best one of all at the end “And don’t be running around!” I think we should all listen to Grandma! (smile)

Until next time family, I wish you clarity--clarity in your vision of who you want to be, clarity in your vision of what you want out of life, and clarity in your vision of how you can contribute to this world. With a clear sense of who you are and what you're doing, you can contribute truly wonderful things to your community and to the world as a whole, as long as you're willing to put yourself out there and take the risks necessary to do so.

See you at the Bar-B-Q, July 7th!!

Love you all,

Theresa Ann Titus- Lawson