Edith (Vann) Espy

far right (with all but two of her siblings!)

#12

Edith (R) with her neighbor/cousin Lorene Solomon

Uncle Curt Solomon's backyard, and John White's garage

Deedee was what we called my paternal grandmother, Edith (Vann) Espy.

Four Generations: Melanie (a first cousin), Aunt Marilyn, Deedee and Grandmother Vann

All the artwork behind them was more than likely painted by Deedee herself.


with my sister, Leslie.

In a relaxed mode

The kitchen backdrop is ideal for my grandmother, Edith. She was a master of cooking. I loved her date rolls, boiled custard ice cream and brownies!

Aunt Marilyn supplied a few of Deedee's recipes.

Mother's Date Nut Roll

3 cups sugar                1 cup milk

1 box chopped dates      6 chopped cherries

1 cup chopped pecans    1/2 stick oleo

Bring milk, sugar, dates & cherries to a boil, stirring as needed to dissolve sugar.  When it comes to a boil, turn the heat down and cook until it forms a soft ball.  (To determine this, drop small drop of thickened candy into a cup of water; roll between fingers and it forms a ball).  Add oleo and set aside to cool, about 5 minutes.  Add the chopped pecans and beat by hand until stiff and it loses its shine.  Pour onto a wet tea cloth and roll cloth around it forming a log.  After roll hardens (sets up firm) unroll, dust with confectioners' sugar, slice and serve.  ENJOY!

   Boiled Custard for Homemade Ice Cream

   (Amount would fill a 4-5 quart freezer)

 

4 cups sugar                             12 eggs

½ gallon milk*              12 oz. can pet evaporated milk

2 TBLS vanilla

 

 

Beat eggs well.

Add milk and sugar.

Cook on Med. High, stirring almost constantly; cook until it coats a metal spoon.

DO NOT BOIL.

Cool and pour through a strainer (large).

Add vanilla.  If you choose to add cut up fruit (2 cups or so) do not add vanilla.

 

 

                                    (Smaller amount to drink)

 

2 cups sugar                             6 eggs

1 quart milk*                            6 oz. can pet evaporated milk

1 TBLS vanilla

 

Procedure is the same.

 

*whole milk probably works best, but I have used 2%.

 

Note:  This is so creamy and good.  Not many people “cook” homemade ice cream, but it is so much better than the stir & freeze type.  It is time consuming, but worth it to many.  Mother used to make this when we were sick; Aunt Grace still does make it.  Mother also used this for her banana pudding; she just layered vanilla wafers, bananas and poured this custard over.

And here's the brownie recipe written out by the late Bonnie Willis of Headland, and shared by her son, Marc.

1988

The Major Espy Family

Jan 1939

May 1939

Daddy's and Mother's first home was where the SE AL Gas Co. is now.  Daddy got the design for the Main Street home while at the 1939 New Yok World's Fair.  There was a section on housing and he brought back plans. - Watty Espy

Major Espy House

Main Street -  Headland, AL

Major Watt Espy, Jr. (from Major's first marriage to Mary Jordan Scott)

Edith Vann Espy (my grandmother) with Mark (Dad) and Marilyn

Mila, Mark and Marilyn

Mark, Marilyn, Major Sr., Mila, Major Jr. (Watty)

all nine of the grandkids

Arguably the best portrait the family has of Major and Edith. I believe this was taken for the First Baptist Church Directory in the mid to late 70's.

Samuel Richard Vann, Sr.

Granddaddy Vann, Born June 23, 1878 - Died October 10, 1933
Sam R. Vann, Sr.

  above: (L-R) Jack, Grace, Jim, Sam Jr., Emily, Bumps (Felix), Edith 

 below: Kate Helen (L) and Mary Owens (R)

Seven of the nine Vann children were born in this home (above) (The Vann Home as I call it), which still stands at 105 W Church Street in Headland. Uncles Jack and Sam, Jr. were born in the first Vann home, on Railroad St. We're still searching for a photo of the Railroad St. residence. That home itself no longer exists.

Granddaddy Vann purchased The Vann Home in 1917. Today, the Vanns refer to their old home as "the Covington House," after the family that once lived in and then later sold the home to Granddaddy Vann. Be sure to click the image above that shows the succession of owners of the property. Incidentally, the current owners of this home also own the building on the Headland square that was once Vann Dry Goods, a business owned and run by Granddaddy Vann. It's now the coffee shop, Koinonia Kaffe.

more pics of the Vann home

My grandmother Edith (Vann) Espy painted this portrait of The Vann Home. I believe she painted one of these for each of her siblings. I also found this sketch, which was more than likely her guide for the painting.  Just recently, Uncle Jim (the cute little baby boy on the table in the above photo) led me on a tour of the grounds of The Vann Home. After you finish exploring this post, click here to enjoy that video.

Click this image to enlarge and read Sam R. Vann's obituary. The one above is also an obit (from The Abbeville Herald).

Uncle Sam told us that he carried a copy in his pocket "during the War" until it fell apart.  - Mike Vann

The Dothan Eagle

Wednesday, October 11, 1933

(L-R) Mary Owens, Edith, Bumps, Kate Helen, Jack, Grandmother Vann, Sam Jr., Grace, Jim, Emily

Uncle Jim also recently led a tour of the Headland United Methodist Church Cemetery, where Granddaddy Vann and numerous other relatives are buried. To see the video, click here.

Uncle Jim, Aunt Grace, Dad, Bill Vann and Sam Vann III were all very helpful in gathering this information and providing descriptions.