Sol and Della

Once a long time ago Solomon Sandifer married Della Mayfield and they had 11 children.  Those that remember this couple always mention, at least in my hearing, that they had 11 children but there was many more children than that to be found around their home.  They were a very generous and caring couple and were often watching other people's children.  It was said that if you were anywhere around when meal time came you were always invited to stay and that were usually an additional 5 or 6 children beside their own around the table.

The older 'girls' of the 11 children started a yearly family reunion I do not know how many years ago.  But Mike and I attended our first one this last Saturday when one of the 'girls' as their brother Woody called them, turned 100.

Woody Sandifer, one of the younger of the original 12 siblings and Mike. 

We learned more about Aunt Jay at the reunion when we played 20 questions about her life.  The winner got 10 of them right but then we found out she had breakfast with at Jay at McDonalds that morning when they were discussing the quiz.

Anyway,  Aunt Jay loved her elementary school years and her first school friend was a boy named Hubert whose last name I cannot remember but Aunt Jay did.  (Mike says it is Cantrell.) . Her eyes are brown, she was and is a flirt as evidenced by the fact that her first kiss occurred before she was 16.  Her favorite game to play with her sisters is Bingo and her largest win was $5000.  It should have been $25000 but the purse had to be split between all of the winners.  She was fifth in line of the twelve children and when asked her tip for her longevity she said it was God's will.

Aunt Jay celebrating her 100th birthday with Mike.

Mike, his mother Lois and I attended the reunion because Mike is the descendant of of one of the girls, Granny Violet.  She was the oldest daughter.  We were part of the total attendance of 107.  As were Mike's dad's sister Rose and her husband Jerry.  When she introduced herself to the crowd she explained her relationship to the Sandifer's by calling herself Violet's baby.  I like Rose's style.  

Jerry and Rose

We enjoyed a potluck lunch but left before the Bingo game.  We might have to go again next year just to see what more of Mike's family history I can learn and to see if Mike's luck at Bingo is as good as Aunt Jay's.