My Grandparents "

 

This is my Grandfather and Grandmother, Jimmy T. and Nellie A. Denham. They are my mother's parents. Today is grandfather's birthday, March 25, He was born March 25, 1884. He died November 24, 1962, at the age of 78. This picture was made a short time before my grandmother died on August 10, 1948. She was 74 when she left us. She was 10 years older than my grandfather. Both had previous marriages. Grandmother was left a widow with three small children, and grandfather was divorced with having one son. After their marriage to each other they had two children, my uncle Lesley Denham, and my mother, Opal Jewel Denham Cope. My parents, and my grandparents always lived close together. I spent almost as much time at my grandparents house as I did at my parents house. I was 12 years old when grandmother died, and I was a long time in getting over it. I still have wonderful dreams of her today. My grandfather was known as an common joker. His favorite pass time was to play jokes on people. He told me so many things that wasn't true, but I believed him. My dad used to tell me don't pay any attention to what your grandfather tells you. But he had such a positive way of making something sound real, then he would swear to it. He was a good man, and would give the last dime he had to anyone who needed it. He took good care of grandmother in her olden days. He did all the cooking, and house cleaning. He made great biscuits, and gravy, delicious beans, and cornbread, and the best chili ever.

Grandfather remarried to his old school friend after grandmother died. They died together in a truck, automobile, accident a few years after they married. I recall many stories my grandfather told me as a child, and I still have trouble not believing them. It was always a spooky thing. My grandmother was able to keep an upper hand on him, but she did tell me one time he won out, and made her leave the house during the night because he actually felt like ghosts were there. They hitched up the team, and got in the wagon, and went to the pasture till daylight. My grandmother was a saint, and was a beautiful woman in her younger days. When she died her hair was just barley gray streaked. It came to her shoulder, and she kept it in a bun. I have slept in her bed beside her many of nights. She was my guardian angel. Grandfather was my ghost fighter, and he did keep us safe.

Happy birthday grandpa, and please be nice to grandma. Remember her birthday next month, April 14. I miss you both so much.

God Bless

Myrtle Jean Sharp