1927 .... in the face of tragedy.... The Sipuel Family

 

I'm thankful to Granddad . . a man who made provisions for his family....

 

Seated is Dad Sipuel, he face stern and serious as always.  He is full chested, a large seemingly healthy man of about 50 years old....   Where there may be only 6-8 pictures of him, Granddad is most often seen wearing a three piece suit... are those lace up boots or shoes.  In from of him.... almost endearingly.... stands his son!!!  How proud he must have been to become a father at the age of 44 !!   Travis Bruce Sipuel gave his own middle name to his son...... Lemuel Travis (b. 1921/ abt 6 yrs old) and his first-born daughter Ada Lois (abt 4yrs)....

 

Then standing -- holding their youngest 2 yrs old baby daughter named Helen Marie....Mrs. Martha Belle Smith Sipuel (b 1885) about 42 years old.....

 

Seeking to study the clothing..... as suggestions of the Sipuel Family financial standing... in a time when many Negroes didn't have money.   This is a cropped picture of a church destroyed...??? by fire/nature or maybe a discriminatory act again Granddad???

 

Each of the Sipuel Children are wearing shoes, a nice little dress, socks and undergarments on Ada, pants fit nicely on Lemuel -- the shirt is light colored w/matching pants... Notice the little church boy nearby is barefooted..... with Short pants and brown-like shirt.   Baby Helen has on little sandals and a little girly dress.

 

Mrs Sipuel looks strong in her body, built rather large in stature....

 

Going where black folks go...... Little Lemuel and Lois bear a light brown complexion like their father.... and Helen's skin color is light.... though not at all CLEAR--Big Mama was without a color tint in her skin!!

 

 

If I guess-estimate that this picture is about 1945 . . .   Dad Sipuel is still looking stern in his three piece suit with a watch hanging....   Belle dress is classy...  Granddad would now be aged 68 --- Big Mama just turned 60 --- and had grown children....

Lemuel has military stripes on his clothing as a handsome young man....abt 24, with Ada (a more confident, beautifully styled hair) @ 22 and Helen (looking young) at age 20 yrs...   STILL A WELL-DRESSED FAMILY..... THANKS TO DAD SIPUEL AND HIS WORK EFFORTS IN THE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST.