Blackwell/Cook Family Reunions Video - 1959-1963, 1991   willbraffitt.org

Last update 05-Jan-2002
05-Jan-2002 - add updates from Del Bentley Pounds
25-Dec-2001 - correct some scene descriptions

The Blackwell/Cook Family Reunions Video runs about 30 minutes and covers many Blackwell/Cook reunions and gatherings from 1959-1963 and 1991 and a few miscellaneous other things.  The portion of the video covering 1959-1963 was copied by Don Braffitt from home movies mostly shot by Jim Braffitt.  Those home movies included much additional material on the Braffitt family, so what I tried to select from those movies were scenes which mostly included other Blackwell, Cook, and Braffitt family members beyond the Braffitt immediate family.  Even though Jim Braffitt shows up rarely in the movies from 1959-1963, he is almost always shooting the movies.  I think there are copies of the video in Atlanta, Charlotte, and Framingham. The dates are approximate.  Send any corrections or additions to the scene descriptions to Don Braffitt don@willbraffitt.org.  My memory of 1959-1963 is far from perfect.

Here's an overview of the cast of characters and some of the nicknames for the period 1959-1963.  What I've done below is start with a mostly complete descendant list for Daisy Mae Cook (Mother Cook).  Not all of these people show up in the video, but this gives the viewer of the video a start at following how all these people are related.

(1) Givens "Gib" Erwin Coker
& Daisy Mae Blackwell
|  (2) Mary Gib Coker
|  & Richard Everett Pounds
|  |  (3) Richard Gib Pounds
|  |  & Mary Rachel Crumbly
|  |  |  (4) Richard Gib Pounds Jr. - Rick (Ricky in the 1960s)
|  |  |  & Dianna Johnson
|  |  |  |  (5) Ryan Anthony Pounds
|  |  |  |  (5) Shawn Matthew Pounds
|  |  |  |  (5) Lauren Pounds
|  |  |  (4) Richard Gib Pounds Jr.
|  |  |  & Del Bentley
|  |  |  |  (5) Richard Gib Pounds III
|  |  |  |  (5) Olivia Delano Pounds
|  |  |  (4) Charles Randall Pounds
|  |  |  (4) James Russell Pounds
|  |  |  & Linda Michelle Bone
|  |  |  |  (5) Russell Howard Pounds
|  |  |  |  (5) Jacob Michael Pounds
|  |  |  (4) Mary Robin Pounds
|  |  |  & Steven Chad Cochran
|  |  (3) Ronald Sylvester Pounds
|  |  & Angel Camille Davenport
|  |  |  (4) Rhonda Lee Pounds
|  |  |  (4) Ronald Sylvester Pounds
|  (2) Mary Gib Coker
|  & James Arthur New - Jim
|  |  (3) Patricia Ann New - Patti
|  |  & Joe Harvey Sitz III
|  |  |  (4) Joe Harvey Sitz IV
|  |  |  & Anna Jordan
|  |  |  (4) Rebecca Susan Sitz

(1) Charles Cleaborn Cook - Daddy Cook
& Daisy Mae Blackwell - Mother Cook
|  (2) Charles Willard Cook
|  & Mary Lou Hughes
|  (2) Dorothy Nadine Cook - Dot
|  & James Matthew Braffitt Jr. - Jim
|  |  (3) Donald James Braffitt - Don (Donny in 1950s and 1960s)
|  |  & Rebecca Will
|  |  |  (4) Sarah Elizabeth Will
|  |  (3) Julie Anne Braffitt
|  |  & Joseph Luther Southworth
|  |  |  (4) Grace James Southworth
|  |  |  (4) Anna James Southworth
|  (2) Thomas M. Bell Cook
|  & Mary Emily Harkey
|  |  (3) Mary Elizabeth Cook - Beth
|  |  & Larry Ross Frick
|  |  |  (4) Preston Dean Frick
|  |  |  (4) Trevor Thomas Frick
|  |  |  (4) Marybeth Margaret Frick
|  |  (3) Cynthia Joyce Cook - Cindy
|  |  & III Victor Barton Higgins
|  |  |  (4) Amy Melissa Higgins
|  |  (3) Jeffrey Thomas Cook
|  (2) Loy Earl Cook
|  & Dorothy Dean Frizzelle
|  |  (3) Linda Dean Cook
|  |  & Davey Sherman Cochran
|  |  |  (4) Angela Rene Cochran
|  |  |  (4) Nicole Lee Cochran
|  |  (3) Victoria Lynn Cook
|  |  (3) Loy Earl Cook
|  |  (3) Alan Scott Cook
|  (2) Betty Jean Cook
|  (2) Barbara Ann Cook
|  & Robert Uldrich Beiter - Bobby
|  |  (3) Carol Diane Beiter
|  |  & James Rudolph Radford
|  |  |  (4) Cristi Leigh Radford
|  |  |  (4) James Chadwick Radford
|  |  (3) Robert Uldrich Beiter - Bo
|  (2) James Mathew Cook - Jim (Jimmy in the 1950s and 1960s)
|  & Sarah Imogene Chambers
|  |  (3) Jennifer Leigh Cook
|  |  (3) James Mathew Cook - Jim
|  |  & Keri Boulus
|  |  |  (4) Caroline Amelia Cook
|  |  (3) Julie Elizabeth Cook

Scene 1 - 1959 - Florida
 Jim Braffitt
 Dot Braffitt
 Don Braffitt
 Julie Braffitt
 Jimmy Cook
 Don Braffitt and Jimmy Cook fishing (Jim Braffitt taking movies)
 Jim and Julie Braffitt in pool
 Jimmy Cook driving away
 Dot, Don, and Julie Braffitt swinging at beach

Scene 2 - Mother and Daddy Cook home on School Street, Chamblee, GA
 Daddy Cook and Julie Braffitt

Scene 3 - Pool near Chamblee, GA
 Don Braffitt
 Beth and Cindy Cook
 Thomas and Emily Cook

Scene 4 - Kitty and Paul German house in Brookhaven, GA
 Don Braffitt
 Paul German Jr.

Scene 5 - Mother and Daddy Cook home
 Mother Cook
 Dot Braffitt
 Julie Braffitt
 Beth Cook
 Don Braffitt

Scene 6 - Charles and Mary Lou Cook home in Roswell, GA
 Don and Julie Braffitt feeding horse
 Mother Cook
 Dot Braffitt
 Beth Cook
 Charles and Mary Lou Cook

Scene 7 - 1959 - Christmas - Mother and Daddy Cook home
 Jimmy Cook (in dark coat)
 Mother Cook
 Daddy Cook holding Julie Braffitt
 Don Braffitt
 Dot Braffitt
 Daddy Cook inside preparing food
 Jimmy and Imogene Cook entering dining room
 Angel Pounds
 Bobby Beiter
 Mary Gib New
 Ronald Pounds holding daughter Rhonda (born 1959)
 Barbara Beiter, Thomas Cook, Dot Braffitt, and Mary Lou Cook getting food
 Richard Pounds and Bobby Beiter sitting and eating
 Carol Beiter and Don Braffitt eating
 Julie Braffitt probably watching Rhonda Pounds then Cindy Cook enters
 Patti New and Cindy Cook
 big crowd - Emily Cook; Jim New in corner chair by fireplace
 Daddy Cook shaking package
 Angel Pounds with Rhonda Pounds with Carol Beiter nearby
 Mary Lou Cook handing package
 Barbara Beiter

Scene 8 - 1960 - Mary Gib New home - Chamblee, GA
 Julie Braffitt
 Dot Braffitt
 Don Braffitt falling up stairs

Scene 9 - Braffitt family car trunk at Mother and Daddy Cook home

Scene 10 - Braffitt family home in Birmingham, AL
 dogs
 Ada Mosher Braffitt (Grammer)
 Julie and Don Braffitt

Scene 11 - Mother and Daddy Cook home
 Julie Braffitt with cat

Scene 12 - Miniature golf near Chamblee, GA
 Beth and Cindy Cook
 Don Braffitt
 Carol Beiter

Scene 13 - Pool near Chamblee, GA
 Beth and Cindy Cook
 Don Braffitt
 Thomas Cook
 Carol and Bobby Beiter?

Scene 14 - Mother and Daddy Cook home
 Julie Braffitt with Carol Beiter and Cindy Cook
 Don Braffitt riding bike
 Ricky Pounds and Julie Braffitt throwing ball
 Don and Julie Braffitt and Carol and Bo Beiter
 Richard and Rachel Pounds, Daddy Cook, and Dot Braffitt rocking somebody on front porch
 Ricky Pounds and Julie Braffitt going down front porch stairs

Scene 15 - Thomas and Emily Cook home on School Street in Chamblee, GA
 Thomas Cook looking under car hood

Scene 16 - Zoo
 Don and Julie Braffitt outside animal cage

Scene 17 - Beiter family home in GA
 Mary Gib New
 Don Braffitt and Carol Beiter
 Rachel Pounds
 Imogene Cook
 Dot Braffitt holding another baby (Bo?)
 Bobby Beiter grilling
 Julie Braffitt looking at baby
 Jimmy Cook

Scene 18 - Pool near Chamblee, GA
 Don and Julie Braffitt
 Beth and Cindy Cook
 Emily Cook
 Thomas Cook
 Don Braffitt diving

Scene 19 - Mother and Daddy Cook home
 Don and Julie Braffitt washing car
 Ricky Pounds
 Bo Beiter
 Bobby Beiter and Richard Pounds
 Don Braffitt and Barbara and Carol Beiter
 Richard and Ricky Pounds
 Dot Braffitt rocking another baby on front porch
 Daddy Cook with tree

Scene 20 - Thanksgiving at Braffitt family home in Birmingham, AL
 Mother and Daddy Cook
 Jim and Dot Braffitt
 Don and Julie Braffitt
 Don and Dot and Julie Braffitt on couch

Scene 21 - Braffitt family home in Birmingham, AL
 Jimmy and Imogene Cook
 Jim and Dot Braffitt
 Don and Julie Braffitt
 Don and Julie Braffitt on couch

Scene 22 - tent
 Carol Beiter
 Don and Julie Braffitt

Scene 23 - Stone Mountain railroad in Stone Mountain, GA
 Barbara Beiter holding Bo Beiter
 Carol Beiter
 Don and Julie Braffitt
 Dot Braffitt
 Beth and Cindy Cook

Scene 24 - Braffitt family home in Birmingham, AL
 Mother and Daddy Cook
 Jim and Dot Braffitt
 Don and Julie Braffitt

Scene 25 - Braffitt family home backyard in New Orleans, LA
 Carol and Bo Beiter
 Don and Julie Braffitt

Scene 26 - New Orleans waterfront
 Bobby and Barbara Beiter
 Carol  and Bo Beiter
 Jim and Dot Braffitt
 Don and Julie Braffitt

Scene 27 - Callaway Gardens, GA
 Mary Gib New
 Dot Braffitt
 Patti New

Scene 28 - Mother and Daddy Cook home
 Carol Beiter and Mother Cook
 Nell Blackwell and her husband and Emma Bell Blackwell (Mammy) and Mackey
 Mary Gib New and Dot Braffitt
 Jimmy and Imogene Cook
 Don and Julie Braffitt
 Dot Braffitt probably holding Jennifer Cook
 Barbara and Bobby and Bo Beiter
 Barbara Beiter holding golf club
 Carol Beiter holding Jennifer Cook

Scene 29 - 29-Dec-1991 Jimmy and Imogene Cook home in Chamblee, GA
 Julie Braffitt Southworth and Joe Southworth and Mary Ross Southworth just left
 note that the sound on the original videotape copy is now a little sporadic for scenes 29 through 33

Scene 30 - 1991 - inside Jimmy and Imogene Cook home
 Living room
 Family room  - Jimmy Cook watching Sarah Elizabeth Will; Julie Cook

Scene 31 -1991 - outside Jimmy and Imogene Cook home
 Rebecca Sitz and Joe Sitz IV

Scene 32 - 1991 - inside Jimmy and Imogene Cook home
 Living room

Scene 33 -1991 - outside Jimmy and Imogene Cook home
 Rebecca Sitz and Joe Sitz IV and Patti Sitz
 Jimmy Cook and Carol Radford
 Bo Beiter saluting
 Jimmy Cook and Barbara Beiter on porch
 Jeffrey Cook with girlfriend?

Scene 34 - 1960s - Greer family - Framingham, MA
 Dick and Dotsie Greer
 First cousins of Don and Julie Braffitt on father's side of family

Scene 35 - about 1962 - Christmas at Braffitt family home in New Orleans

Scene 36 - 1962? - New Year's Eve snow at Braffitt family home in New Orleans
 My memory is that my Boy Scout troop got to go to the Sugar Bowl the next day
 to brush snow off the seats.

Scene 37 - 1963? - Mardi Gras on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans
 This was outside the Addressograph-Multigraph office where Jim Braffitt worked.

[end of video]