Happy Birthday, Ansonia Walls

Even though there is very little chance that she will ever read this, I want to make sure that I wish my grandmother Ansonia Walls a happy birthday.

If I recall correctly, she was actually born Stephia Ansonia Walls, in Anderson, NC. My great-grandfather wanted to name her Andersonia, but my great-grandmother vetoed that idea and she became Ansonia instead. I remember being in my twenties when I found out that her first name was actually Stephia (which I may be spelling wrong), but since she didn’t like it too much, she never used it.

This is actually a trend for her and her children. My mother’s first name is Lillian, but she goes by Bonnie, which plays off of her middle name Bonita. My aunt’s first name is Lydia, but she usually goes by her middle name Cheryl. My uncle’s real name is Adolphus Vaughn Walls, but he goes by Vaughn for people who don’t call him by his nickname Skip.

I only halfway follow that trend. Most people who are introduced to me call me Derek, but only family and very few childhood friends call me Chris. In fact, if I’m only used to you calling me by one name I will not answer to the other.

Anyway, she was born on January 10, 1927 in Anderson, NC and currently lives on the East Side of Detroit.