Genealogy Corner: Day #3

Today was a slow day for me.  I scanned the ten death certificates I received a few days ago.  I cropped them and saved them to my hard drive.

As I was organizing my room I found the photo of my Paternal Grand Aunt, Hattie Bunn Criner, my grandmother’s younger sister.  I met Hattie for the first time in 1989 at my grandmother’s funeral.  I was really in awe because she looked so much like my grandmother Helen.

Hattie Bunn

I thought I would get some reading in today, but I got a call to go to a Christmas Party, and had only ten minutes to get dressed…so….no reading for me tonight.

Right before I went out the door, One of my dearest friends sent me a Youtube Video she created of the Walter J. Porter Portrait Unveiling. It was spectacular so I thought I would share. Thank You Tracy for your friendship and putting Love into it!!

Unveiling of Dr. Walter J. Porter Portrait-Part#2

     The unveiling of Dr. Walter J. Porter was a very spiritual and symbolic event for me. It opened my ears and my heart to want to continue in my father’s legacy, and continue the Porter Foundation in San Diego to benefit the children of Title I schools in the Southeastern part of the city.  The artist Clarence “Pencilman” Pointer and I unveiled the portraits to the Walter J. Porter Elementary School’s children, parents, teachers, and community members of the San Diego Community.

I did a prior post a few days ago of the event. To read click: Unveiling of Dr. Walter J. Porter Portrait: Part #1.

Pencil Masterpiece Portraits of Dr. Walter Porter

Here are some of the photos that were captured of some of the 5th graders receiving Principal Awards before the unveiling event.  Photos by Mike Norris of San Diego.

Mr. Ruben Ortega’s 5th Grade Class Receiving Principal Academic Awards

Speaking to the Students about Walter Porter

Dr. Maxine Sherard, me and Philip Liburd

Dr. Shirley Weber and Ms. McMillian (principal)

Dr. Maxine Sherard, me and Vira Williams

Rev. Ikenna Kokayi & Dr. Caroll Waymon

Vira Williams, Dr. Shirley Weber, me & Tracy Allen

Tracy Allen & Dee Sanford

Teacher, Ms. McMillian, Ms. Moore Pencilman (artist), me & Dr. Weber

Principal Ms. McMillian

Porter Panthers 5th Grade Students

Porter Panthers Clapping as the Artwork is Unveiled

Smiling as I introduce Artist

Me and Clarence Pointer “Pencilman”

Pencilman speaking to the youth Encouraging them to use the talents that God gave them

Original Artwork of Dr. Walter J. Porter Unveiled

Pencilman, Ms. McMillian, Dr. Shirley Weber

More of the Porter Panthers

Posing with Artwork

Posing with Artwork Mike Norris Photographer in this pic

Vira Williams in School Library with Artwork

Dr. Maxine Sherard

Makena Hayes-Gargonnu Speaking about the mentorship of children

Dr. Willie Blair speaking about his Mentor Dr. Walter J. Porter

Discussing with attendees of the reception that the Porter Foundation will continue in the Legacy of Walter Porter.

Unveiling of Dr. Walter J. Porter Portrait-Part#1

     I loved and admired my father Walter J. Porter dearly.  The San Diego community respected and liked “Wally” as well.   Walter Porter was a community activist, and a highly respected educator in the City of San Diego.  It is my love of my father that I continue in my father and mother’s legacy as they both were educators.  Betty Porter was an elementary school teacher for over 30 years in the San Diego Unified School District as my father was a Dean for the San Diego Community College District.

     In 2003, I started a campaign to have a new school built under proposition MM to have my father’s name on it.  We were blessed not only to have one school named after my father, but the former Kennedy Elementary School in San Diego, which was also rebuilt named after my father.  They are both one school but they are called the North and South Campus.

     When the South campus was dedicated and  the ribbon cutting ceremony was held, I donated a painting of my father from the 70’s to be placed in the South Campus office.  The painting of my father was the only one the school had.  Many of the children did not know who Walter Porter was, and they did not know that he had been an advocate for education and for the youth. 

   

Invitation Flyer to the Unveiling

Dr. Walter J. Porter

Walter Porter with his dummy “Jody” Ventriloquist in the 50’s & 60’s in Los Angeles

     The Portraits above were revealed on Friday, December 9, 2011. The Porter family and community had two Masterpiece Pencil  Portraits that were made by Clarence “Pencilman” Pointer.
     Clarence captured the spirit of my father through his eyes in the solo photo.The North Campus auditorium was filled with at least 100 students, many parents, and community members to see the unveiling.  The students were receiving awards for their outstanding  academic achievements.


       During the unveiling, Dr. Shirley Weber, an educator at San Diego State University, former board member of the San Diego Unified School District, spoke about the life of Walter Porter.  She spoke to the children letting them know that even though Wally had not been a President of the U.S.,  a Senator, or someone that had a big National position, he did have big dreams, and he advocated so that these students would have a future.  Wally’s spirit can be felt today by all the things Wally cared about.

     The Porter family and community had two Masterpiece Pencil  Portraits that were made by Clarence “Pencilman” Pointer.  Clarence captured the spirit of my father through his eyes in the solo photo.

Holding two of the Portraits that were unveiled

     After the ceremony, a reception followed:  More pictures to come of the unveiling and the children receiving awards.

Walter & Betty Porter Burial at Sea Ceremony by U.S. Navy: Veterans Day Posting

Walter J. Porter 23 years old Fort Ord Military Base May 1951

     There are so many individuals who have served our Military of the U.S.A.  They have fought for our freedoms and liberties. They have protected and served us.  Today is Veterans day and there is no way I could do justice in presenting a post that is so worthy of what they have done for us.

     I decided today I would take the time and present my parents burials at Sea Ceremony.  As my father served in the Army, and had requested that upon his death that he (have his ashes) buried/scattered at sea.  My mother had not made any particular wishes. She basically left it up to me. I adored my mother and I knew how much she loved her husband, so I knew the right thing to do was to have a burial at Sea as that would be her final resting place along with my father.

     My parents also loved cruises, so what a way to spend eternity on the wide open seas.

My father Walter Porter was born on September 11, 1929 and he died August 7, 2001.  My mother and I were mourning the death of my father and we had decided to celebrate his life and do something special on his birthday.  Well, when I woke up on 9/11/2001, the plans of doing something special changed.  My father had been dead for a month, and what happened next shocked the World, and especially the United States.  We were all in shock from the terrorist attacks upon the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the great loss of life.  America began to mourn.  I felt, at that moment that I had no right to mourn over my father’s death because our Country was in turmoil, anger, and sadness.  What right did I have to only think about my father and mother and our family?  It was really no time for that; to think only about our own grief.

Our Military went out and did what had to be done.  The first responders answered the call and many lost their lives, like many of our military soldiers.  This was a time in history when Americans UNITED, and even with that there was a lashing out at the wrong people.  The pointing of fingers, of which was not righteous. Life had changed on 9-11!

My mother received a call that my father’s burial at Sea was going to be postponed for another month as it was not the right time for a ceremony when our country was in turmoil.

Then October 24, 2001 arrived and my father was given the Burial at Sea that he had wanted.  My mother Betty was sent a letter from the Department of the Navy after the ceremony.

Letter to Betty Porter, wife of Walter Porter USS RENTZ Description of Ceremony

The ceremony for my father was video taped.  I hope to one day have it copied on DVD.

Burial location of Walter J. Porter and Betty Mae Porter

Betty Porter was born on November 17, 1926 and died on January 5, 2004.
When my mother was to be given to the Sea, I received the letter below.

Letter to Daughter re: Betty Porter USS BENFOLD Description of Ceremony

A couple of photos of Betty Porter’s Burial at Sea Ceremony

Betty Porter’s Ceremony at Sea #1

Betty Porter’s Ceremony at Sea #2

Sometimes I wish I could go to a cemetery and place flowers at my parents headstones.  I was sad that I could not memorialize at the location that they were resting.  The consolation is that my parents are in the wide open sea.  They loved to travel and they loved the idea of going places they have never been.  So now every year, I go to the ocean in San Diego on their birthday’s and drop flowers into the ocean.

Walter & Betty Porter Vacationing on one of their many cruises together

Walter J. Porter does have two San Diego City Schools named after him and this is a testament of how important education was to him.  So when I think of the fact that he has no headstone…I laugh and say, “Hey Dad, You have two schools in your name!”  What more can you ask for to be remembered? 

Remembering 911

Me at the United Nations, 2010

      September 11th was a tragic day in America’s History.  September 11 is the day  we memorialize those who lost their lives to terrorism. It is a day that will never be wiped away from our memories, nor from our Country’s mind.  I pray for all those that lost their lives, and the families and friends that had to endure the loss.

     On this day September 11, 2011, I celebrate my father’s life as this was the day he was born.  He is no longer with us, but I must remember the good times and the wonderful lessons he taught me.  Daddy, I miss you tremendously, and you are always in my heart.

Me & My Father, Walter Porter

     This is my 101 post today!  It has become a habit now that I post daily, and it is almost second nature for me.  One of the things I wanted to do was to write daily and I told myself I would do this daily until it became a habit.  I am proud of my persistence.  One thing for sure my father said to me is that I could do and would do anything I put my mind to do, and he was correct.  I think now I will not feel guilty if I take a day or two off from blogging once in awhile.

     Anyway, I am giving myself a break today from writing and will be sorting and organizing my papers instead of writing.  Sometimes it is just good to relax and take it easy and that’s what I will do.

     I hope you all have a wonderful day.  Let’s keep our country in prayer and spend time with our families, because they are most important.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Copyright

The material, both written and photographic on these pages is the copyright of Yvette Porter Moore unless stated. Material on this site may be used for personal reference only. If you wish to use any of the material on this site for other means, please seek the written permission of Yvette Porter Moore

© 2010-2011

Those Places Thursday: Jazz from Copenhagen, Denmark to San Diego, California

Every year Henry Hodge, my father’s best friend from St. Louis, Missouri would go to Copenhagen for the Jazz Festival, spend time with his girlfriend, and Jazz Artist Friends.


Henry has a collection of the yearly Copenhagen Jazz Festival Postcards, so I decided to post a few of them as there are too many to share.

While in Copenhagen, Henry Hodge met Jazz artists such as Ed Thigpen.  An American drummer that played with Oscar Peterson Trio and many other greats.  Ed moved to Copenhagen in 1972.


Ed Thigpen’s Obituary


Ed Thigpen was born December 28, 1930 and died January 13, 2010.

Richard Boone was another artist my uncle, Henry Hodge met and socialized with in Copenhagen.  Richard Boone was also an American Jazz artist and a Scat singer that moved to Copenhagen.  


Richard Boone was born February 24, 1930 and died February 8, 1999.


More about Richard Boone

My Father Dr. Wally Porter, Richard Boone, Ed Thigpen, Henry Hodge Photo from the San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper

Ed Thigpen & Richard Boone

Ed Thigpen & Richard Boone came to San Diego a few times to visit.  I distinctly remember one Summer when they came to visit Henry Hodge at his home in the the late 80’s.

It was customary for Henry to have a Summer gathering, and these were his special guests.  I was familiar with Ed Thigpen and Richard Boone as I would hear conversations among my parents and Henry.  My father Wally Porter and Henry Hodge had been entertaining jazz artists in their homes through the years, and I am so appreciative that I have been exposed to this.

Ed Thigpen & my mother Betty Porter

Henry Hodge, Richard Boone, unidentified gentleman

Copyright

The material, both written and photographic on these pages is the copyright of Yvette Porter Moore unless stated. Material on this site may be used for personal reference only. If you wish to use any of the material on this site for other means, please seek the written permission of Yvette Porter Moore

© 2010-2011

Talented Tuesday: Lyrics & Music

When I reflect on my parent’s lives, I think, “Wow! They really knew how to live.”  There was never a dull moment, and if there was, it was because we were asleep, and even then, there was noise, as my father snored so loud you would think a train was running through the house!

I remember my parents always coming up with a tune, a beat, some words, and making their own music.  There was always something being created at home.  Our home was always lively, yes, and there were only four of us that lived in the home.

Below are some songs my parents created.

THE WONDERER

LYRICS & MUSIC

BY

WALTER J. PORTER & BETTY M. PORTER

I WONDER WHY MY BABY LEFT POOR ME/repeat 4 times

I WONDER WHERE COULD MY BABY BE/ repeat 3 times 

I WONDER WHY MY BABY LEFT POOR ME

I WONDER WHO IS HOLDING HER TIGHT/repeat 4 times

I WONDER WHY MY BABY LEFT POOR ME

BRIDGE

WHO WHERE WHY, WHY, WHERE WHO

FEELING SO LONESOME FEELING SO BLUE

ONLY HER LOVE CAN EASE THIS PAIN

ANOTHER NIGHT WITHOUT HER WILL DRIVE ME INSANE

I WONDER WHEN IS SHE COMING BACK/repeat 3 times

I WONDER WHO, WHERE, WHY, WHERE CAN MY BABY BE

COPYRIGHT 1990

LADY BLUES/MR. BLUES

LYRICS AND MUSIC

BY

WALTER J. PORTER & BETTY MAE PORTER

LADY BLUES/MR. BLUES MAY BE INTERCHANGED IN THE SONG/MALE OR FEMALE VOCALIST

LADY BLUES IS MY CONSTANT COMPANION

WALKS WITH ME EVERY NIGHT AND DAY

LADY BLUES IS MY CONSTANT COMPANION

ASKED ME WHY DID YOU GO AWAY

LADY BLUES IS MY CONSTANT COMPANION

ASKED ME WHY DID OUR LOVE GO WRONG

LADY BLUES IS MY CONSTANT COMPANION

ASKED ME WHY DO I SING THIS SONG

BRIDGE

I TOLD HER I WILL NEVER KNOW THE REAL REASON WHY

THAT YOU ENJOY INFLICTING ALL OF THIS PAIN ON SUCH AS ME

I TOLD HER THAT I WILL NEVER KNOW THE REASON WHY

EXCEPT THAT MAYBE SOME LUCKY HAS CAUGHT YOUR EYE

LADY BLUES I KNOW SOMEDAY WILL LEAVE ME

SOON I HOPE SHE WILL SET ME FREE

CAUSE MY HEART WON’T KNOW PEACE OR CONTENTMENT

TIL SHE BRINGS HER LOVE BACK TO ME

COPYRIGHT 1990

Copyright

The material, both written and photographic on these pages is the copyright of Yvette Porter Moore unless stated. Material on this site may be used for personal reference only. If you wish to use any of the material on this site for other means, please seek the written permission of Yvette Porter Moore

© 2010-2011

Military Monday: Letter to a Son

Marshall Walter Porter U.S. Air Force March 1985

(6 Years Later)

[transcribed]

Jan 14, 1991

Dear Marshall:

I want you to know that you are kept in my prayers.  I want you to know how proud I am of the way you are taking on the responsibility of a service person who might go to war.

I was in your position during the Korean War.  I was called upon to go into service and I did.  I trained and could have been sent to fight, in a place I knew very little.  I had the good fortune to be stationed in California, so I did not have to fight.

As an adult, you will be called upon to do things for which you have strong feeling against doing, but duty calls.  You will be asked to go into battle and you might not know the reasons for fighting, but duty calls.

There is a certain amount of fear involved in going into the unknown.  Feel the fear, because it is natural.  Just don’t let the fear interfere with doing the things for which you have been trained.

I called my Congressman today in Washington, to let him know that I think that America should not rush into war.  I wanted him to know that we should wait on the sanctions to have an effect on the life of the people in Iraq.  The sanctions could end the conflict without a war.

War may come, and you may be caught up in it.  Keep the faith.  Know that we love you and will do whatever we can for your family if something should happen to you.

God bless you, and may his light shine upon you and keep you safe,

Love,
Dad

Saturday, we had the Martin Luther King Parade downtown.  A big group of people demonstrated for peace.  Today, the largest peace demonstration was held since the Viet Nam War.

Copyright

The material, both written and photographic on these pages is the copyright of Yvette Porter Moore unless stated. Material on this site may be used for personal reference only. If you wish to use any of the material on this site for other means, please seek the written permission of Yvette Porter Moore

© 2010-2011

Family Friends Friday: Dolores D. Wharton "Duncan"

     Family Friends Friday is a prompt that highlights friends who have contributed to the history of our family, ancestors and their decedents.  Our families are not on an island of their own, and I believe that understanding the lives of their friends, gives opportunity to understanding and appreciating our own families.  As we have seen, sometimes our friends are closer than family, and many times this is where we get our stories.

Clifton & Dolores Wharton, Betty & Walter Porter Visit to the White House

     I wrote one of my mother’s dearest childhood friends, Dolores “Duncan” Wharton, requesting to have the opportunity to interview her during my family research trip in New York.  My request was graciously accepted. I had the opportunity to meet with Dolores along with my daughter Vanessa at her NY apartment.  Our meeting was an unforgettable occasion.


     When we arrived, we were greeted at the entrance by a doorman, and led to the front desk.  Once the receptionist cleared us we were directed to the Wharton’s apartment.  As we rang the bell, Dolores a stunning woman whose years have been good to her opened the door and greeted us with hugs and welcomed us inside.  Dolores handed me an envelope which revealed a 3 page letter, then escorted us to her elegant living room which showed off wall to wall white carpeting, and furniture to match.  Dolores directed us, “You sit here and read the letter I prepared for you while Vanessa and I talk about her future plans.  Clifton and I are leaving for our other home this afternoon, as we do every year staying until the winter.  I think this letter will be more helpful to you and then we can spend some time visiting and not worrying about interviewing as we are short on time.”  With that, I agreed and read my letter.

Dolores & Betty visit in New York

Dolores writes….
(pg #1)


June 10, 2010


     I am pleased to respond to your inquiry regarding my impressions of your Mother, Betty Peters Porter, during our lovely old friendship, the basis of which goes back some 65 years!  Given my now 80-plus years my details have long been forgotten.  But herewith lies the essence of our friendship as I remember it today.


     We were introduced in Marian Anderson’s home, Mariana Farms in Danbury Connecticut.  Betty had accompanied her Mother, Agnes Peters, a most prominent New York City seamstress, who was there for several days to remodel some of Miss Anderson’s concert gowns.  My family was neighbors of Miss Anderson and her husband, Orpheus “Razzle” Fisher.  My mother knew both quite well–Miss Anderson in high school and Mr. Fisher socially as teens back in the old Philadelphia days with its community of prominent Black families.


     Betty and I clicked instantly!  My invitation to Betty to visit me at our home on Lake Kenosia some five miles away was the beginning of one long, extended conversation that continued for decades.  During subsequent trips when Betty’s mother, “Auntie Peters,” returned to Danbury to sew for Miss Anderson, Betty would come along to spend over nights in my home where we two young teens discussed how we might tackle the pursuit of happiness in a complex world.


     A couple of years followed with Betty studying at NYU as I was preparing to begin my freshman year at the college.  She was rich with advice for my arrival at the Washington Square campus.  We met occasionally on and off campus for lunch where we compared notes on our respective classes, classmates, and university life in general.  With our residences located in different parts of the City, our travels to and from NYU rarely overlapped.  Betty lived in Manhattan’s “Sugar Hill” and I on the Grand Concourse, a major boulevard in the upper Bronx. I boarded with a Jewish couple whose son was a treasured friend of my family and author of children’s books.  But when my Mom was in New York from Danbury to have Auntie Peters make some costumes for her, I popped in to see her at the Peter’s studio/apartment where, thereafter, I was always fondly welcomed. That visit was the beginning of another episode for Betty and me to continue our extensive conversation.
     
  (Pg #2)


     Agnes Peters was in many ways a magician in accommodating her small apartment as an embracing home for her adored daughter, Betty, as well as a working studio where she grew a vibrant business.  She was in huge demand among her clients.  “The ladies” were everyone, women of considerable wealth and achievement–teachers, lawyers, performers, wives of millionaire husbands.  Agnes Peters had been gifted with the genius to design and fashion wonderful clothes.  Without any patterns to guide, her scissors would fly swiftly through handsome fabrics to create amazing suits, coats, and dresses for her famous clients.  I once asked Auntie Peters how she cut so perfectly without any pattern.  In her always softly toned voice, she said, “I don’t know’ I suppose I just do it instinctively.”  the apartment hummed with sounds of sewing machines and Betty’s and her friends’ chatter and laughter to “swing” music in the background.


     Now, within this lively environment Betty grew and stretched into a tall (at least 5′ 7″), slender, winsome young lady.  Were I to combine several celebrity personalities to capture Betty’s multi-faceted self, it would be:



1. The movie star Rosalind Russell for her sophisticated, stylish, and delightfully quick tongue.



Rosalind Russell Pictures


2. Bea Arthur of “The Golden Girls” fame who always portrayed a mature, comically frank, and a woman genuinely dedicated to friends and colleagues.





3. Whoopi Goldberg–minus her vulgarity–in expressing anger over the hurdles confronting racial intolerance in America with the ability to “tell it like it is!”


Given the characteristics of these colorful analogous types our conversations flourished!  We considered the trials and tribulations of politics, the advantages of the GI Bill for veterans returning from World War II, modern dance-we both attended evening classes in a school in midtown Manhattan called the New Dance Group, modern art, health care, foods, and certainly the best and worse of the young men in our respective lives.


Page #3


     Then, not unexpected, time and events changed the dialogue.  Given my totally engaging marriage with my valiant prince and life-time hero coupled with our travels to different worlds in and out of the United States, our conversation shifted accordingly.


    Over the years we were consistent in making the effort to stay in touch.  On one return trip from our home in Singapore our travel plans were arranged to have us change planes in Los Angeles allowing for a quick visit with the recently wedded Porters.  Clif and Walter took six year old Clifton 3rd to Disney Land. Betty and I chatted quietly while eighteen month old Bruce napped before our ongoing flight to Boston.  During a second trip to southern California, I took a break from a Phillips Petroleum Board meeting in San Diego to drive to the Porter residence where we met you, Yvette.  You were almost–if not–a teenager by that time.  Your Mom called you out of your garden pool to meet Cif and me.  You were off to an engagement so our time with you was brief.  These were all charmed moments within your home.

Me in front (from L to R) Dolores and Clifton Wharton Betty and Walter Porter

Then for Clif’s and my fiftieth wedding anniversary, Betty and Walter paid us a huge compliment by flying to New York specifically for the occasion.  Separate from the anniversary festivities Betty, Walter, Clif and I enjoyed several delightful outings in the City.  These were the last celebrations we had together.  Walter died, and Betty not long after having suffered from terminal cancer.  I am left with memories of a steadfast and unique friendship shared with a dear old buddy.  It is a pleasure to think back on these times.  Your mother was a highly intelligent, highly principled individual who spoke easily to her concerns about society.  Our times together were filled with fun and substance.  It is splendid of you to research a study in Betty’s name.  Surely she would be very proud to have you do so.


I hope this letter is helpful.


Affectionately,


Dolores

Who are the Wharton’s?  Click on link to left (National Visionary Leadership Project)

Copyright

The material, both written and photographic on these pages is the copyright of Yvette Porter Moore unless stated. Material on this site may be used for personal reference only. If you wish to use any of the material on this site for other means, please seek the written permission of Yvette Porter Moore

© 2010-2011

Military Monday: 1,298th recruit Brigade Review San Diego Naval Training Center

My Father was the Guest of Honor for the 1,298th Recruit Brigade Review at the Naval Training Center of San Diego on Friday, March 11, 1977. He was representing the NAACP, San Diego Branch as the President.

Dr. Walter James Porter (Far Right)

Dr. Walter Porter Representing NAACP

Program

Program

Walter Porter receiving a gift

Copyright

The material, both written and photographic on these pages is the copyright of Yvette Porter Moore unless stated. Material on this site may be used for personal reference only. If you wish to use any of the material on this site for other means, please seek the written permission of Yvette Porter Moore

© 2010-2011