Condolences for John Henry Stewart

In an earlier message we reported that John Henry Stewart, husband of Carrie Stewart passed away Saturday morning (Dec. 5th) after a lengthy illness.

Those wishing to send condolences can send do so as indicated below:

ON THIS BLOG - Post as a comment to this announcement - See Below.

BY E-MAIL: E-mail condolences to admin@hansiesolomon.org

BY U.S. MAIL: If you need Carrie's mailing address, send request for her address to admin@hansiesolomon.org.

Homegoing Arrangements may be viewed at http://www.family.successisyou.org/page17.html.

Happy Thanksgiving & Inspirations for 11-27-2009

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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Inspirations for Fri., Nov. 27, 2009

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The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone
in your heart - this you will build your life by, and this you will
become.

James Lane Allen (1849-1925)
American Author

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Very often a change of self is needed more than a change of scene.

Arthur Christopher Benson (1862-1925)
Writer

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To me success means effectiveness in the world, that I am able to carry my ideas and values into the world--that I am able to change it in positive ways.

Maxine Hong Kingston
Writer

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Northeast Ohio Residents:

Buying a computer for Christmas and need some help setting it up for maximum performance? Check out http://www.biz.successisyou.org

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Photos from Ronald Andrews Ordination

Several weeks ago we were blessed with the good news that Ronald “Ronnie” Andrew had been Ordained as a Deacon at New Testament Deliverance Church.

Yesterday (11-23-09) the church staff was kind enough to share several photos taken during that Ordination Ceremony. Those photos have been added to a slide show that you can view at http://www.family.successisyou.org/page16.html Included in the photos are Pastor Scott, family members Glenwood “Tamp” Williams, John Williams, and of course Ronald. There are also two gentlemen we do not know, but we thank them all for their service to The Lord and for sharing Ronald’s special day with us.

Inspirations Including Aundria Hawkins Ford

Inspirations for Mon., Nov. 23, 2009

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Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.

Leo F Buscaglia

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People of character do the right thing, not because they think it will change the world but because they refuse to be changed by the world.

Actor and Author of Michael Josephson
Radio Commentator

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If you have seen this before, please forgive us but we want to make sure we don’t miss anyone. There is an “Off The Hook” (in a good way) young lady taking the FACEBOOK and WRITING community by storm. Her name is Aundria Hawkins Ford and you can check her out at http://www.aundriahawkinsford.successisyou.org.

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Thank You to those who were able to participate in BDPA’s Nov. 17th Community Meeting in Cleveland. The feedback on the Student Competition awards, the IT Corp global initiative, and the four presenters has all been positive. Meeting comments have already received national recognition and acclaim on FACEBOOK. The meeting generated a level of excitement that should be an excellent catalyst going into 2010. For those who were unable to attend, there are photos and videos available at http://www.bdpa.successisyou.org/file08.html.

The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 6:00 PM. That meeting will also be held at the Dolan Center at John Carroll University. Meeting details will be updated at http://www.bdpa.successisyou.org/file31.html. Meanwhile, your questions and your ideas for upcoming meetings are welcome at info@bdpa-cleveland.org or by calling (216) 773-0700.

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Go Green Swine Flu Video

Check out http://www.gofreegogreen.com/sandranoble

CHECK OUT "Singing Cousins"

THANKS to Barbara Williams for sharing this!

2010 Reunion - Save the Dates

Please Save the Dates (Thursday, July 29 - Sunday, August 1, 2010) for the 37th Annual Family Reunion. This and additional details (when received) will be posted on the Family Web Site at http://www.hansiesolomon.org/reunion2010.html.

Please help SPREAD THE WORD!

Ronald Andrew Ordained Deacon

Ronald "Ronnie" Andrew was recently ordained as a Deacon at New Testament Deliverance Church in Washington, DC. The event was attended by D.C. area family members, friends, and clergy. Details can be seen at http://www.family.successisyou.org/page12.html.

A BIG THANK YOU to Ruth Mitchell and Willa Williams for bringing this important event to our attention, and a BIG THANK YOU to Ronnie for quickly supplying information and a photo that we could share on the web page.

William "Cooney" Spencer Ordained as Deacon

William "Cooney" Spencer has been ordained as a Deacon at East Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. The ceremony took place Sunday evening (10-18) at East Mt. Vernon, and was attended by numerous family, friends, and clergy.

To view photos and videos from the ceremonies, please visit http://www.family.successisyou.org/page09.html

Newest Family Member - Karon Demetrius Beasley Jr

THANKS for Nikita “Nicky” Panton for sharing the good news and a photo of our newest family member. Nicky’s sister Brandi gave birth to Karon Demetrius Beasley Jr. on Wednesday, September 23, 2009. Karon Jr. weighed 6 lbs, 11 oz., is 19 inches long and as you can see, is just too precious. Mom and baby are home and doing well.

A "new" cousin

Hi everyone,

A week ago I had a telephone introduction to a 25-year old great nephew I knew about but have never met. His name is Dontey Davis and I found him on http://www.ancestry.com/ as I was working on our family tree. Dontey's dad is my nephew, Henry Lawrence Ford, "Larry." Larry's dad is my brother, Henry. Dontey is new to Facebook and doesn't know any of our family. I hope you will reach out to him and welcome him to our family and invite other relatives to do the same.

Thanks and love you all,
Jean

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Update from Henry Ford (Sunday, September 27) – Jean sent me this message a couple of days ago (yes sometimes I am slow), and already there has been at least one response. A BIG THANK YOU to Chandre Ford who has already connected with Dontey on Facebook.

Atlanta, GA Area Flood Update

Just a note to let everyone know that I spoke with Peggy Martin and she is doing fine and not directly affected by the flooding in the Atlanta, GA area.

Please however, keep those who are impacted in your prayers.

Henry Ford

Message from Beatrice Vinson-Foster

A BIG THANK YOU to Beatrice Vinson-Foster for sharing the following:

"I think this is another message that should be shared with the family and encourage them to share it with the young adults in our family."

Click on http://www.events.successisyou.org/page062.html for this important and powerful message.

Health Care Summary

Thanks to Jo Ann Ford for sharing this video with us:

Obama's Mideast Trip Photos

If you are interested in seeing photos from President Obama's June Mideast Trip, click
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/sets/72157619421980633/show/

Career Opportunities & Educational Web Site

A BIG THANK YOU to Terri Lynn Taylor who shared the following opportunity with us. In addition to the possible career opportunities, the web site seems to be an excellent inspirational and education tool. Please share with others to whom this may be of interest.

The HistoryMakers a national non-profit educational organization based in Chicago, Ill., has received a significant grant from the National Science Foundation. THM is seeking several dedicated, competent people to fill important positions.

The THM collection represents the largest single archival project of its kind in the world. We have taped over 2,000 stories of known and unknown African Americans, from John Hope Franklin to NASA administrator Julian Earls. Their goal is to complete 5,000 interviews nationwide by 2010.

The Web site is: (http://www.thehistorymakers.com/)

The positions are:
-- Video Oral History Archivist
-- National Science Foundation Project Director
-- Executive Administrative Assistant/Operations Manager
-- Web Designer
-- Science Researcher/Writer
-- Education and Programming Sales Coordinator
-- IT/Video Production Manager

Qualified applicants should send resume and writing samples to:

The HistoryMakers
1900 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL. 60616
(mail to:jlr@thehistorymakers.com)
(No calls, please.)

California Wildfire Update 9-1-09 - 9:59 PM

I spoke with Jean this afternoon, and she reports that some progress had been made in the fire-fighting effort. There is less immediate danger to Jean and Emmanuel's property. Officials advise residents in their area to stay tuned because a change of wind direction could change the outlook.

Jean and Emmanuel thank you for your prayers (keep them coming), e-mails and phone calls.

California Wildfire Update 8-31-09 - 1:52 PM

Message from Emmauel Below:

Hi Henry-
Thanks for keeping the family updated. Jean and I are still fine. The fire's moving east and north now. There's still a lot of smoke but that's better than burning.

California Wildfire Update 8-31-09 - 8:00 AM

No additional news from Jean. Our sympathy and prayers to the families of the two firefighters reported killed yesterday.

California Wildfire Update

Dear Family & Friends,

Thank you for your e-mails and calls inquiring about Jean and Emmanuel and the status of the California Wildfires that are nearby their home. I spoke with Jean around 8:30 PM and the situation is basically unchanged. They are fine and there is an expectation of slightly cooler temperatures tomorrow, which should help the firefighting effort.

Unless something changes dramatically, we will plan to post updates on this blog. That way you will have access to the latest information we have without constant e-mails that might contribute to an "overload" in your INBOX.

Thanks for your prayers and concern, and please keep them coming!

Henry & Dianne

Tribute to Senator Kennedy

Family Affair Viewed Internationally

August 11, 2009

Dear Family & Friends,

If you believe that your success as an individual and our success as a family with 36 reunions behind us is only of interest to us, please visit http://www.family.successisyou.org/page02.html and the links from that page. There you will see documented evidence of people reading The Family Affair and visiting our web site not just across the United States, but in at least five other countries. The several snapshots of web site visitors includes people from Canada, China, two locations in India, South Africa, and even from Ummul Qura University in Saudi Arabia.

While we don’t or shouldn’t need this to confirm us, it doesn’t hurt to know that we are in the spotlight. THANKS to everyone who helped make our latest issue of The Family Affair the interesting (and now international) publication that it has become.

Henry & Dianne

Reunion Photos and Videos Posted

August 10, 2009

Dear Family & Friends,

Even though the “Under Construction” sign is still posted at http://www.hansiesolomon.org/history2009.html, we have completed adding 327 photos and 15 video clips of the 2009 Reunion. The majority of the video clips are approximately five minutes each. You can access all photos and videos from the above link. If you want your reunion photos posted on the web site you may do so by e-mailing them to us at successisyou@yahoo.com or admin@hansiesolomon.org.

Henry & Dianne

The "REUNION RAP" from Sarasota, Florida

Video 01 - Thursday Night, Friday Morning

The next video (02) is scheduled to be added Friday, August 7th

View and Print the "Reunion Rap"

Check out the much talked about "Reunion Rap" by Jean and Emmanuel by clicking on http://family.successisyou.org/ReunionRap2009.pdf where you can view and print.

THANK YOU Florida

The reunion was GREAT!!!!!!! thanks so much Florida Chapter you did a great job. My family loved it.

Jordonna Collins

Message from Dorothy Taylor

The reunion was GREAT! & very HEARTWARMING! I'm not very good with names but my heart does many flips when I see the faces from former reunions and when new ones join with us. I look forward to seeing every one at the next reunion. Start planning and preparing NOW!

Love YOU!
Dorothy Taylor of the DETROIT CHAPTER

First Photos from 2009 Reunion

THANK YOU from The Florida Chapter

August 3, 2009

Family Members and Friends,

We hope all of you have made it back to your respective homes safe and sound. We would like to thank all of you who participated in our 36th Annual Hansie Solomon Reunion in Sarasota, Florida this past weekend. For those family members who were not able to attend, please know that we missed you!

Your Florida Committee enjoyed hosting the reunion this year and providing the opportunity to create new memories to share with each other. We are so thankful, first of all to God who created the most perfect weather that could possibly happen in Southwest Florida this time of year. There were many situations that could have been happening with our weather in Florida at the end of July and the beginning of August. Thank you to all the people who participated in our different events, you know who you are, and thank you to all who offered help throughout the weekend. Our family received many compliments and accolades about how well we conducted ourselves throughout the weekend. It was a great family effort and I know our ancestors are proud of us.

We look forward to seeing you all in Detroit next year and wish the Detroit Chapter the best of luck!

Love and Blessings,
Jo Ann Ford and Rasool Jackson
Bonita Pratt McKoy
Annie Little
Marcus and Gabrielle Pratt

The Gates Controversy - A Professional Opinion

Everyone else has chimed in on the Gates Controversy so why not check out the conclusions of a Constitutional Law Professor at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-winkler/obama-was-right-about-the_b_244888.html, and please don’t blame the messenger!

Thanks to family member Arthur Hunt for sharing the above link.

Remembering The Message - Looking Ahead!

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NEW FAMILY LINE LOCATED!

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July 20, 2009
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Good News from Barbara Williams, Cleveland (Ford-Bryson) Chapter

I was on facebook and decided to wish my paternal cousin happy birthday. After I wrote his birthday salutation on his wall I noticed a familiar last name. Someone by the name of Tracie Brison had also written on his wall. I know from conversations with my mother, Ella Pearl Williams, that throughout the years the Bryson last name has been spelled both with the letter “I” or the “Y”. So the spelling of the last name did not puzzle me. The next thing that I noticed was her network region (facebook language for her home town) which was Warner/Robins, Macon Georgia. Most of my parental cousins live in this area. I thought why not take a chance and send her a private message on facebook.

My message went something like this…are you related to Aaron Bryson/Brison? Do you know Ms. Fannie Pearl Bryson-Solomon that lived on Dolly Street?

Her response was “Yes I AM”. She also commented on knowing Ms. Fannie Pearl.

Then I thought about all the wonderful conversations that I have had with my mother, Ella Pearl Williams and remember her talking about her cousin Lainne. For some strange reason I felt compelled to write and ask Tracie the following question “Are you related to Lainne? Tracie Bryson’s response “Yes, I am the oldest granddaughter of Lainne Bell Gray.

Tracie Brison and I wrote and talked to one another. It appears that Tracie has been working diligently to form a family reunion. She has been searching for her family for years. Tracie has gone to the County records and gathered marriage and death certificates. She also had a family reunion where approximately 30-45 people attended. I listened as she was reading the names of all the relatives that she had on her list and then I realized the magnitude of what was really happening. Tracie is a descendant of Peter Bryson/Brison who was the brother of Aaron Bryson. Aaron Bryson was my great grandfather (the father of my grandmother Willie Mae Bryson- Ford).

Our cousin Tracie Brison is the link that has reunited us with major missing pieces of our family history. We possibly will be able to reunite the descendants of the both Aaron and Peter Bryson.
President Obama’s slogan is “Yes, we can” while the Ford-Bryson slogan is simple “Yes, I am”.

Just in case you missed the questions, here they are:

Are you a descendant of Aaron/Peter Bryson?
Are you a descendant of Henry Ford?
Are you a descendant of Hansie Solomon?

Answer “Yes” to any of the above questions, and your response with chest poked out and head held high is “Yes I Am.”

Editor’s Comments:

Words cannot describe nor can emotions be contained when one reflects on what has just been shared.

Synnia Solomon and other charter members of the founding Ford-Bryson Chapter of our reunion must at this moment be looking down from their Heavenly Home and smiling upon the work that is continuing.

Those who are continuing that work should feel a new-found sense of pride, accomplishment and spiritual renewal in this connection. Whether your connection to the family extends from the Ford-Bryson line is not of consequence. All who have worked through the challenges of the past thirty-six years, and enjoyed the harvest of the good times have yet another reason to celebrate. Even friends of the family (who are still “family”), who are often our biggest supporters can consider our new-found family line as a victory. When you can go to sleep one night and wake up the next morning with 30 – 45 additional family members, all with hopes, and dreams, and stories to share, you have been truly blessed.

Barbara Williams saw past “what is” and imagined what “might be." She refused to let the task at hand (wishing one person Happy Birthday) fog her memory (the conversations with her mother), or cloud her vision or dampen her spirit (the strengthening of family).

As visionaries do, Barbara took the high road, the road filled with imagination, possibilities and hope. As visionaries do, she took the technology that some blame for intrusion, and used it as a tool for inclusion. As visionaries do, she took a tool called facebook, that some see as social networking nonsense, and used it to continue the dream!

Thank you Barbara!

And to our “new” family members, the descendants of Peter Brison.

We don’t yet know all your names, or where you live, or what your stories might be. What we are certain of is that all of that will change, and we pray that it changes sooner rather than later. You are important to us, and we understand that at least one member of your family plans to attend our reunion later this month. We are excited about that probability, and look forward to doing a lot of catching up in the very near future. Thank you Tracie, Ruth, and everyone who has worked tirelessly over the years toward uniting us as a more complete family.

For those who have computer access, we urge you to:
Visit the Family web site at: http://www.hansiesolomon.org/
See the Family newsletter at: www.hansiesolomon.org/familynews200907-00.html
See the Family Blog at: http://www.hansiesolomon.blogspot.com/
Contact the Editor at: admin@hansiesolomon.org

Photos Added to Blog Site

This recently created Family Blog Site has been modified with the addition of photos. A "drop down" slideshow entitled RECENT PHOTOS can be seen at the top of the blog. At the bottom of the blog you will find a slide show entitled "PHOTOS FROM OVER THE YEARS."

While you may have seen most of these photos, having them displayed on the blog site gives the added convenience of having them available on the same page on which you can view recent communications, and if desired, provide feedback to blog entries.

The blog also provides the advantage of "One Click Access" to previous communications. This will become more valuable as more articles are added to the blog.

If you have any photos you would like added, please forward them to admin@hansiesolomon.org.

Thanks again for visiting the blog and providing any feedback you would like.

Welcome to our Family Blog

Welcome to our Family Blog. This blog was established to facilitate communication between family members. This blog is a tool that, along with the Family Web Site at www.hansiesolomon.org, the Family Affair at www.hansiesolomon.org/news.html and the Family Group on FACEBOOK, will hopefully bring us closer and keep us closer.

In the spirit and memory of the founders and early pioneers of our reunion, please join with me in these efforts to spread the love and goodwill that our family enjoys. We have been commended by people from around the world for our accomplishments. My plea to you is "Let us continue" beginning with our upcoming reunion in Sarasota later this month. If you still need details about the reunion you can go directly to www.hansiesolomon.org/reunion2009.html.

Even if you are unable to attend the reunion, please take advantage of the numerous ways in which we can stay together and grow together as a family.

Henry Ford