Wednesdays Child - Daniel

As a family historian I search to find the stories of our family so that I can share these stories with other family members. These stories are of our ancestors some we knew and loved dearly and others we will never know much about. I know a lot about todays Wednesday Child, he was Daniel James G., my son. Daniel died on Feb 17, 2012 from complications from Leukemia. In the past month since Daniel’s death several of my ancestors keep creeping into my mind, their lives and stories helping me on my journey.

I think of Daniel’s 4th great grandfather Dr. David Adams. When he practiced medicine a  child presenting with signs of Leukemia would have died painfully within weeks, a month or two if the child was lucky. Would Dr. Adams be glad to know that in this day and age this terrible disease can be cured and that Daniel was able to have 8 good months after his diagnosis and these months were relatively pain free due to advances in medicine.

I think of Maggie H Adams Lloyd, daughter of Dr. David Adams, who died June 22, 1884, 2 months after her 7 month old son John Bartow Lloyd passed away. Family history says that both Maggie and her son John were ill after his birth and neither ever thrived. I can believe that passing of John left Maggie so heartbroken that she was never able to recover.

I think of my 4th great grandmother Naomi Ann Cox LLoyd, she bore 18 children. Three of her children died before they reached the age of 6. Three more of her boys lost their lives during the Civil War. People say a mother should never have to bury her child; and they are right. Naomi buried 6 of her children, six children that I am sure never left her heart or mind.

 My grandmother, Juanita Butt Jones passed away December 21, 2005, and so many times I could see her sitting Daniel down and giving him a piece of cake or a cookie. Daniel would have loved to go with her out to her flower garden to enjoy the beautiful roses she so cared for. Daniel enjoyed sitting on the wooden swing beside my grandmother’s garden, and I was saddened that she was never able to sit with him on that swing as she had done with her other grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Mostly I think of my grandfather James Compton Lloyd, who died June 27 2007. Daniel was born 1 year after my Papa died so the 2 never had a chance to meet but I often thought of the wonderful things Daniel and Papa would have done together. My grandfather loved taking walks in the woods; listening to the birds, looking for bugs and snakes under rocks, going fishing, all things Daniel was already enthralled with. I could envision Papa showing Daniel how to put a worm on the hook, pointing to a birds nest in a tree, teaching Daniel how to whistle, and mostly I could always see the love that my Papa would have had for Daniel and Daniel for him. The two of them would have been perfect companions on journeys through the woods.

Daniel is now on a list I never wanted him on; the list of relatives that have passed before me. I will keep our ancestors close while I continue my journey, and I will find comfort knowing that no matter what may cross my path these ancestors and my son will always be side by side in heart.

Daniel James G
Sep 23,2008-Feb 17, 2012
Forever Three, Forever Loved, Forever Missed