If you read my siblings page, you discovered that I am one of seven children – six girls and one boy. My mother was also one of seven children – six boys and one girl. I cannot imagine what it was like growing up in the 30’s as the only girl in that household.
In time, I’ll introduce you to each of my uncles, but today I’ll pick on Bill. William Melvin Dukes was the sixth child of James and Jenny Dukes. My mom called her brother “Melvin” while the rest of the world called him “Bill.”
All my uncles served in some branch of the military as did my grandfather. Two of my uncles are pictured here in uniform. Melvin and Paul, the youngest of the seven. This photograph was probably taken around 1964. Click for larger view.
Melvin served in the Coast Guard until his retirement several years ago. He chronicled his travels by photographing the different places he visited and the people he met along the way. My sisters and I enjoyed his photographs – people from the various islands whose lives were so different from us – little girls living in the deep South.
This man has such a sense of humor – even today at 70 years old he constantly finds something to laugh about. We loved his visits home – the laughter – the jokes – and the way my grandmother looked at him. He was tall – good looking – and had a smile that made the angels sing – and his mother very proud. It was dark and gloomy around her house for days after he left. I look back now and know in my heart, those days were the happiest for my grandmother. Click for larger view.
Melvin married a wonderful gal from Texas and when he brought her home to meet the family, I knew he had found his soul mate. Joanne was perfect – it was obvious they loved each other very much. I took to her right away – not only was she beautiful, but had her own sense of humor. I was about 12 or 13 and she was like my big sister. Joanne and Melvin are still married, have three children, a host of grandkids and still live in Texas.
Over the years, my Uncle Melvin and I kept in touch. When I was chosen homecoming queen in high school – he came home from Texas – brought his movie camera, and has probably shown that float being pulled by a John Deere tractor to anyone who would sit still for fifteen minutes.
My uncle and I e-mail frequently sometimes daily and we try to talk on the phone at least once a month. Not only is he my uncle but my best friend. I just wish he lived closer. I have more photographs which I’ll add as time permits. Stay tuned. . . . . .
