Thomas Augusta, William and Mary's Oldest Surviving Grandson

On August 23, 2011, I was blessed to have an interesting two hour conversation with my mom's first cousin.  For some unknown reason when my siblings and I were children, we called him Uncle Thomas, but we called all of his siblings Cousin (insert first name).  Now that I'm older I sometimes call him Uncle Thomas and other times Cousin Thomas.  Either way, he's always happy to see me and I feel the same way about him.  He was thrilled to answer the same questions that I recently posed to his first cousin, my Aunt Bea.

How are you related to William and Mary Long?  Their son, Agustus Long, is my father, so I am William and Mary's grandson.   My father died in 1964.  My name is Thomas Augusta Long.  Everybody calls me Thomas, but when I was down south they called me Joe because they said I looked like my Uncle Joe Long (my grandfather’s brother).  (First cousins Bernice and Betty confirmed that Thomas looked like their Uncle Joe!)

What are your parent’s names?  Agustus and Janie Long.  My father had two brothers and three sisters.  I met Uncle Brown (Allan) and my Aunt Gertrude (Big Baby; my cousin Bernice called her Bay Bay).  The other siblings died before I was born.  I think my mom said they died in their 20’s.  My grandparents left Talladega, Alabama in 1929. After I was born, my grandparents went back to Talladega.  I am fourth of 12 children.  The oldest is my deceased brother, William (Bill), followed by Magnolia (deceased in childhood), and Walter (deceased).  I came next followed by Hannah May, Chaney Louise, Sam, twin girls (deceased at birth), Janey May, Doris, and then Rayford (Ray). 

When and where were you born? I was born June 2, 1930 in Gadsden Alabama.  (Cousin Thomas remembered that my brother Arnett's son, Raylee, was also born on June 2; pretty cool for him to remember this.)

Where do you live now? Akron, Ohio.  When I came north, I didn’t know where I was going.  My maternal first cousin came to Alabama to visit and drove me and a friend of mine to Akron in 1951.  I was the first one of my siblings to come north.  My cousin took me and my friend to a union hall.  A guy hired us on the spot. 

I didn’t know my Aunt Julia (my father's sister), who we called Aunty, was in Akron until my mom wrote me a letter and asked how my Aunty was.  I asked her where was Aunty, and my mom gave me Aunty's address.  When I went to see Aunty, she didn’t know who I was, but she knew I was one of her brother’s sons.  My friend and I had $1,800 from the job we were working.  We were working six days a week and couldn’t get to the bank.  So we asked Aunty to keep the money for us until we could get to the bank.  Aunty opened up bank accounts for both of us.   



Lisa



Janice

How many children do you have and what are their names/ages? I have four sons: Thomas Michael (Joe) born in 1954, Thomas Jerome (Jerome) born in 1956, Kenny Wayne (Chub) 1958 and Thomas Augustus (Man) 1977.  Two of my three daughters, Lisa Long Holley, born in 1953, and Janice Long Rivers are deceased.  My youngest daughter, Angela, was born in 1975.  Janice never missed my birthdays or Christmas; she was good to me. 

What are your memories of your grandparents, William and Mary?  I never met my grandmother, as she died when my dad was young.  We called my grandfather Papa William.  When I was around 6 or 7, I stayed with my grandfather for about 6 or 7 months.  I was injured when a mail truck ran over me and was then sent back to my mom in Talladega.  I really didn't know my grandfather too well.  The last time I saw him, I think was in 1943 when I went to pick up his lunch for him when he worked fo rthe rubber company.  I'm not sure if it was Goodyear or Goodrich. 

What do you want to say to the descendants of William and Mary Long?  If you bothered one of my sisters or brothers, you got come by me.  I liked to fight and I was a good fighter, too.  My mom would have me babysit.  I watched my brothers and sisters like a chicken.  I kept a level head.  I didn't drink and party.  Money is made to spend - keep a couple dollars, but enjoy it today - don't worry about tomorrow much.  Enjoy your life. 


Thomas, 2006



What do you want your descendants to know and/or remember about you as your legacy?  My brothers, Bill and Walt, and I were the hardest working boys you ever saw.  Everybody who knew us would tell you that.  We took our money home and gave it to our mother.  We had it hard, but we made it.  We didn't have anything, but we knew how to treat everybody.  My mom came up north by train to visit.  I told her the next time she came north, I would go and get her.  When she wanted to come in 1954, I couldn't get off work.  So I sent my brother Bill and my wife, Emma, with my car to get my mother and drive her back.  I took my mom and my Aunty everywhere they wanted to go.  I never said no.  I enjoyed taking them.