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BLACK SUPER HEROES

Nevaeh Grace Six Months Later...

One look at this little girl and you instantly smile. If you're not smiling, you're a mean one, Mister Grinch is all I'll say. Little Nevaeh Grace became a member of the Cooley Clan on April 27, 2010. Nevaeh is the youngest of Grandpaw Larry's grandchildren. More than six months later we see baby girl is coming along just fine. She's happy, healthy and beautiful. This young Cooley has a very successful life ahead of her. Nevaeh is going to make her mark on the world in a big way. Remember, you heard it here first.

Dideo and Bessie's Boy

Marvin and Bessie Cooley were blessed with two children; Marlene and Cheryl. Their daughter Marlene and her husband John were blessed with one child; Brandley DeForrest. He was welcomed with open arms into the Cooley Clan on November 26, 1978. Young Brandley was born two years after the death of his grandfather, Dideo. Many have said and the pictures prove it, Young Brandley looks very much like young Grandpaw Marvin. Brandley shows an interest in and has some knowledge of the Cooley family history. I'm certain what Marlene didn't tell him he learned from his Grandma Bessie and his aunt, the UNRULEY one. Young Brandley can perform a memorable RASTA remix of the hit, "Meeting In The Ladies Room." Handsome, intelligent, talented AND a Cooley. With these great features and so much more, this young man has a very successful life ahead. Happy Birthday, Brandley!

Happy Anniversary Mr & Mrs Cooley

Ninety-five years ago today, November 24, 1915, Ethyl Mae Johnson married Edward Marvin Cooley. It was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the high for the day was a record 65 degrees! Reverend Bolling of the Mount Olive Baptist Church performed the ceremony in the home of Ethyl's uncle, Frank Johnson. "Ethyl and Edward lived with us when they were first married," Aunt Lizzie told me years later. The family welcomed Ethyl and prepared the Thanksgiving feast for the next day. A job with the Norwood White coalmine moved the young newlyweds to Des Moines in 1916. Ninety five years later, some Cooleys are preparing their Thanksgiving feast. The more things change the more they do stay the same. Happy Anniversary Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpaw Cooley.

Looking Out...

For quite a few years the family gathered on this weekend to enjoy The Cooley-Johnson Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner in Des Moines. Two weeks before Thanksgiving the Cooleys and Johnsons would come together for a big feast. The food at these dinners would consist of many delicious, traditional favorites. One year something new was served at dinner - ELK. Cousin Jenny and her husband prepared this additional side meat for the family. Tony had a large HUNK of it on his plate. I had turkey and dressing with a pile of greens on mine. There was no room for the "roast beast" on my plate.We enjoyed the dinner and talked with the cousins not seen in a while. Cousin Marc asked Tony, "Hey Cuz, how do you like that roast?" Tony replied, "Aww man, this is good." That's when Marc asked if he ever, "had ELK before or was this the first time?" Tony's eyes grew WIDE open! It seems he didn't know that "roast beef" was ELK. Tony looked at me and asked, "Why didn't you tell me this was ELK, Timmy?" He's funny! We had a good laugh about it and my brother continued to eat and enjoy the ELK. I thought about that family gathering when I looked out the window this morning and saw the SNOW. This is the weekend we'd be together in Des Moines. Seeing the snow makes me happy to be home chillin this year.

Ethyl Mae Johnson Cooley

There was a time I worked with a woman that made my workday hellish. One day in particular, she made things very difficult for me. In a heated moment, I allowed my reply to this woman to be peppered with profanity. I came close to cussing her completely out, but I didn't. It's not something to be proud of, but I felt I had been pushed to the point. My supervisor suggested I take a longer than usual lunch break to calm down. I decided to go home and take a nap. While I was asleep, my great grandmother paid me a visit. I felt the bed go down when she sat on the side. Great Grandma Ethyl patted my hand and told me I knew better than to act the way I had been acting. I tried pleading my case, thinking she'd understand my point. She wasn't having any of that. Great Grandma Ethyl suggested I would, "...most certainly know this isn't acceptable behavior." She looked at me and smiled. I was told to behave and that she'd see me later. About the time she stood up is about the time my dog Bud barked. I woke up and looked around the room for her. Bud continued to bark and wag his tail. I believe Ethyl's presence was felt by Bud as well. The rest of my workday went without an issue or problem. I wanted to share MY personal story of Ethyl on her birthday. We've not physically met, but I assure you we're connected. Happy Birthday, Great Grandma!

Long Ago And Oh So Far Away...

I had been "out to the farm" several years ago. I attended the 2005 Cooley Johnson Family Reunion with Tony and we decided to make a quick stop on our way home. Traveling north on Interstate 35 we exited on Oralabor Road. As we made a left and headed west this place, this area felt familiar. I told Tony, "This is it, this is where Grandpaw Johnson's farm was located." Tony asked, "How do you know this is it?" I said, "I just KNOW it is - this is the land." Over the years I've heard conflicting reports of the location of Ed Johnson's farm. I knew one person to ask was his daughter Ethyl's daughter, Maxine. Aunt Mac had spent a lot of time on the farm when she was a little girl. She gave me instructions to locate the farm and stated if it was as "clear as mud", she'd try to make it easier for me to understand. Her instructions were on point. I found the area without any problems. I pulled the car into a parking lot of one of the businesses on the land and parked. I wanted to take a few pictures of the land. I found myself walking to the beginning of the property line. "Gramp's Farm was bordered by the railroad tracks on the West, Oralabor Road on the South..." is what she wrote in an email. I repeated the words to myself as I took each step. I thought about all the people that had taken those same steps, had walked in the same place. People like Great-Great Grandpaw Edward Johnson and his wife Orpha; Frank Johnson, Edward's brother and Frank's wife, Anna; Edward and Pinky's children: Ethyl, Helen and Rex; Edward and Orpha's children: Henry, Beatrice, Edward Jr and Hardin; Ethyl's children: Veltirea "Punkin", Marvin "Dideo", Eugene "Eckie Bud" and Doris "Mac". All of these people, our family had/have traveled that route. When I stood on the land it was easy to imagine what used to be. To know about one hundred years ago it was all farmland. "This IS it." I was standing on Ed Johnson's land. I know it's no longer in our family, but I'm proud. Proud that once upon a time, a little less than long ago, a Black Man owned all that land in Iowa. I am the Great-Great Grandson of that man and I am proud of his accomplishments.

Happy Birthday Tyra

I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.









Tyra Lynn Fowler

Happy 5-0 Tony!!

My "kid" brother is fifty years old today. WOW! That man is getting older and sure ain't gettin no prettier! That's a joke we share with each other. We get a good laugh when I say it to him. It's good to laugh with my brother, my friend. Tony is a cool, laid back and pretty easy going man. There is the time when he gets very excited and yells. When he watches a football or basketball game it's not a quiet occasion. This brotha gets completely involved in the game, yelling at the television as if he's at the game. The same is true if you call him on the phone. If a point is scored or there's a bad call on the play, the man is LOUD in your ear! Once the game is over, it's all quiet again. Make some noise Tony! You're fifty and that's a blessing. As you celebrate turning another year older, wiser and better, I wish you much peace, much love and a bounty of blessings too many to count.

All That I'm Giving

I don't think many people knew Bessie Cooley was a big fan of the Isley Brothers. Her favorite song was, "For The Love Of You." I'm diggin it, Aunt Bessie.

Bessie's Birthday

Some people go about life quietly doing "their thing." Never one to complain, upbeat, optimistic, offering advice and encouragement to everyone. These people enjoy giving a warm smile or sweet laughter when needed. That would describe Bessie Virginia Colbert, born on this day ninety-one years ago to James and Josephine (nee Robnett) Colbert. Bessie would marry her high school sweetheart, Marvin Cooley. They had two daughters; Marlene and Cheryl, the "UNRULEY" one.
Aunt Bessie could make you feel so comfortable, so at ease. If it was your first time meeting or if she had known you for years, she always greeted you with her beautiful smile.
"Both of my brothers married women that reminded them of momma," is what my grandmother Veltirea said many times. Being compared to Ethyl Cooley would be a high honor. Happy Birthday to Bessie Cooley. One of the kindest, gentlest, cool as a cucumber members of the Cooley Clan.

Cooley Cousins

Cousin Robbie deserves a shout out. The brotha made it to Des Moines! Yep, Robbie was there on Saturday. When he called and said, "Hey Cousin Timmy, I will see you in Des Moines." I believed him. We've not seen each other since 2002. It was time to reconnect. I told him I would see him on Saturday, October 23rd. Our paths crossed at Donna and Harry's home. It was nice having the chance to catch up. We've changed a little in the eight years that have passed. We're older, but we're still looking good. Ugly doesn't swim in our family gene pool. Rob and his wife Anita brought along their children for the day trip to Des Moines. Rob and Anita tried to see as many of the family members as they could. They saw quite a few in the many hours they were in town. It is true, time flies when you're having fun. We had a good time this weekend. Whether in Iowa or Minnesota, we'll have to do it again before an additional eight years passes.
Cooley Siblings Veltirea and Eugene; my grandmother and Robbie's grandfather.