Alabama

<BODY BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" LINK="#FFCC99" ALINK="#009D74" VLINK="#FF9966"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#CC3300" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Browns</B></FONT>     |   <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Browns"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U>About Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Latest News and Photos"><U>Latest News and Photos</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="These 2 started it all!"><U>These 2 started it all!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Back in the day.."><U>Back in the day..</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Seattle"><U>Seattle</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Denver"><U>Denver</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tucson"><U>Tucson</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Phoenix"><U>Phoenix</U></A>   |   <B>Alabama</B>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Los Angeles"><U>Los Angeles</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shreveport"><U>Shreveport</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Friends and Relatives"><U>Friends and Relatives</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="05e58020.png" border=0 width="600" height="2" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Alabama</div> <div> Our family is based out of Docena, Alabama (affectionately called "The Old Mining Camp").  Both mom and pop were raised in the small mining community just northwest of Birmingham.  Many of these small mining commuties have all but disappeared and detailed histories of them do not exist.  Docena lives on and a number of our relatives still reside there.  The Birmingham Public Library provided me with a brief history (it's all the information they have) on Docena.  It is extracted from Marjorie White's book, "The Birmingham District: An Industrial History and Guide".</div> <bR> <div> The coal mine at Docena and others near Birmingham were owned by the Tennessee Coal and Iron (TCI) company.  Development of coal mines at Docena, Edgewater and Bayview began in 1908 and continued through World War I.  By 1912, these mines had become the largest employers and producers in the district, eclipsing earlier mining operations at Pratt City, Wylam and the Blue Creek fields.  In 1912, when TCI stopped using convict labor, industrial management had already realized that attractive mining camps were a prerequisite to retaining skilled mine workers.  As part of U.S. Steel's modernization and expansion of all TCI operations following the takeover in 1907, new mining camps were designed as "model" villages.  Attention was directed not only to new technology but also to overall community design, housing variety, street paving, sanitary conditions, landscaping and provisions for education and social amenities such as stores, churches, kindergartens, teachers' cottages, parks, playgrounds and social halls.  The TCI Department of Roads and Buildings staff supervised layout and building of the mines and mining camps.  A growing sophistication in community design can be seen in comparing the plan for No. 12 Camp at Docena (1912) - basically an existing grid plan developed before 1912 to which open space for recreation areas and community buildings was attached - to the radially symmetrical plan for Bayview (1915), in which open spaces and community buildings form the central elements of the design, which conforms to unusual natural contours.</div> <bR> <div> Population and production at the three mining villages rose steadily until World War I and peaked in the mid-1920s after Hamilton Slope had been added to production.  TCI's 10 coal mines produced 3.7 million tons of coal in 1926.  Production remained strong through World War II.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Docena</B></div> <bR> <div> First of the new mining villages to be built was Docena.  Previously it was the site of Booker City, a black community organized around educational facilities established about 1905 by the Colored Methodist Church in Alabama.  In 1907, the church exchanged the site for 30 acres in Vinesville (now Fairfield) and in 1908 reorganized the school as Miles Memorial College, in honor of Bishop William H. Miles.  Until 1912, a stockade for convicts who worked at the No. 12 Pratt mine was located on what is Second Street today.  Old-timers vividly recall seeing the convicts march in straight columns up to the Frisco Railroad stop and board trains for Sloss' Flat Top mine.  This was 1912, when TCI discontinued the practice of convict leasing.</div> <bR> <div> Development of the Docena (derived from the Spanish word for the number 12) mine began in 1907.  By 1912, 70 miners were employed there and 237 others worked in positions outside the mines.  By 1918, wartime demand swelled the labor force to 825 persons, most of whom lived in the community with their families.  In the early 1940s, as many as 1,228 persons were employed at the mines.</div> <bR> <div> Docena Village, referred to in the TCI "Key to Progress" photograph of January 3, 1912, as the No. 12 mine camp layout, is designed adjacent to a large central park and playground.  Located on the park were a commissary (called a mercado in keeping with the Spanish name of the village), a schoolhouse, a church shared by Baptists and Methodists, teachers' cottages and residences for the store manager, superintendent and chief accountant.  Miner houses were located along a regular grid between First and Sixth Streets, with blacks living on Sixth Street and on the fringes.  A clubhouse and masonic meeting lodge was situated on a high knoll at Eighth Street.</div> <bR> <div> The earliest houses constructed were the four-room square-tops intended for one and two families.  As the community grew, bungalows of varied design and two and three-bedroom doubles were built throughout the community.  In 1918, major portions of older houses were reconstructed and running water and interior toilets installed in some.</div> <bR> <div> Docena Village was sold to John W. Galbreath and Company in the 1950s.  When the mine was closed in 1962, many people moved to find employment, but others purchased their homes remained in the well-defined, isolated and attractive "model" mining village.</div> <bR> <div> <B>DOCENA SITES</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Old TCI Commissary-Mercado (1912)</B></div> <div> Now grocery and post office</div> <div> In Civic Center Park at Circle and 3rd Streets</div> <bR> <div> <B>TCI Residences for Store Manager, Superintendent and Chief Accountant</B></div> <div> Circle Street, across from Commissary</div> <bR> <div> <B>TCI Teachers' Cottages (1926, 1928)</B></div> <div> Circle Street</div> <bR> <div> <B>Site of TCI White School</B></div> <div> At Civic Center Park</div> <bR> <div> <B>Old TCI Medical Dispensary</B></div> <div> Circle Street, to west of Civic Center Park</div> <bR> <div> <B>Site of No. 12 Docena Mine (1908-1961)</B></div> <div> West of Civic Center, at end of Circle Street</div> <bR> <div> <B>Docena Baptist Church                                                      </B></div> <div> Originally the TCI Community Church</div> <div> 192 4th Court</div> <bR> <div> <B>Site of TCI Black Clubhouse and Masonic Lodge (burned 1980)</B></div> <div> 8th Street, on hill</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="5f500ce0.jpg" border=0 width="512" height="718" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="5f7f3ce0.jpg" border=0 width="499" height="718" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> THIS IS A BIG FIND!!!  These are photos of our great-grandparents on the Willoughby side.  These are Cecil Willoughby's (mom's father) parents.  The quality of the photos is not very good, but you can plainly see the genetic makeup of the gentleman on the right.  These two were actually MARRIED back then!  Talk about brave!!  I'll have more information on these folks when I get it.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="497f9bc0.jpg" border=0 width="505" height="700" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="49900bb0.jpg" border=0 width="512" height="699" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Eunice "Hess" (Kelly)-Brown.  Born: April 22, 1916 in Brookside, AL.  Passed: Februrary 9, 1976 in Birmingham.</div> <div> William Morris "Red" Brown.  Born: July 19, 1912 in Cardiff, AL.  Passed: December 4, 1993 in Birmingham.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="48357e00.jpg" border=0 width="855" height="480" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The First Brown Family Reunion in July 2000.  These are the children of Hess and Red Brown (10 total).</div> <div> Standing: Vannessa Hannah (#9), Joanne McClendon (#8), Betty Williams (#6), Eunice "Gigi" Brown (#5), Rochelle Banks (#10) and Charles "Spud" Brown (#2).</div> <div> Seated: Wanda Griffin (#3) and William "Jodie" Brown (#7).</div> <div> Not Pictured: Minnie White (#4) and Carl Kelly (#1).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4ab2f2e0.jpg" border=0 width="303" height="558" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="4acc62d0.jpg" border=0 width="454" height="557" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Mom's Parents</div> <div> Annie Bell (Congress)-Willoughby.  Born: August 27, 1917 in Flat Creek, AL.  Passed: July 18, 1985.</div> <div> Cecil Willoughby.  Born: June 20, 1905 in Fort Deposit, AL.  Passed: June 10, 1952.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1db9dbe0.jpg" border=0 width="669" height="446" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="57553ba0.jpg" border=0 width="339" height="442" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="57631ba0.jpg" border=0 width="305" height="442" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="6bc5fc70.jpg" border=0 width="607" height="455" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> These are the children of Annie and Cecil Willoughby (8 total).</div> <div> Top Photo (taken in the late 1970's): Mary Brown (#1), Alma Love, Alton Willoughby (#3 and #4: they're twins), Lois Harris (#2) - Born: February 22, 1940 in Birmingham, AL.  Passed: July 1990 in Perris, CA. and Annie Willoughby (#6).</div> <div> Lower Photos: Ezzard Charles Willoughby (#7) and Patricia Willoughby (#8) - Born: August 25, 1953 in Birmingham, AL.  Passed: November 23, 1979 in Los Angeles, CA.</div> <div> Claude Willoughby (#5) - Born: July 5, 1943 in Birmingham, AL.  Passed: Summer, 1951 in Birmingham.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="32718680.jpg" border=0 width="536" height="360" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Grandpa "Red" Brown in Tucson - December 1992</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="295e20c0.jpg" border=0 width="482" height="268" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Great Grandma Kelly, Pop and Grandma Hess</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="32637c80.jpg" border=0 width="311" height="456" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Grandpa Brown and David - 1963</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1ec866d0.jpg" border=0 width="390" height="365" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Grandpa Brown and Wayne - Easter 1960</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4926a300.jpg" border=0 width="618" height="560" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> upper left: Pop Brown, three of his sisters, his mom (Hess) and his Grandmother (Corinth "Mouse" Kelly)</div> <div> upper right: Grandma Hess</div> <div> lower left: Grandma Hess</div> <div> lower right: Grandma Hess and her sister (Mildred "Mua" Richardson)</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="16177840.jpg" border=0 width="375" height="388" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Joanne and Vanessa in High School</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1620e800.jpg" border=0 width="270" height="384" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Vanessa, Gigi and Joanne</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="163583c0.jpg" border=0 width="344" height="316" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Carl Kelly (Pop's older brother) - Vietnam 1968</div> <div> Carl was born on November 18, 1935 in Brookside, AL.  He passed on July 2, 1993 in Tampa, FL.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="325dcb20.jpg" border=0 width="220" height="434" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Frank and Wanda Griffin - wedding day - 15 April 1960</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5b0066c0.jpg" border=0 width="262" height="364" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Val - 1956</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="168b6610.jpg" border=0 width="438" height="353" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Jodie and Sharon Brown - July 1981</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="16a1a140.jpg" border=0 width="282" height="276" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="31c560f0.jpg" border=0 width="342" height="271" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  </div> <div>                                                                                        Johnita, Rochelle and Lynn                                       Johnita and Lynn - 1998</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="32450530.jpg" border=0 width="336" height="339" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Wayne, Chuck and Val in Docena - 1962</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1ef21630.jpg" border=0 width="289" height="355" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Photo of Wayne taken at Docena Jr. High - 1959</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="32352530.jpg" border=0 width="338" height="339" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Aunt Mattie (Grandma Willoughby's sister) and ?</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="49387fe0.jpg" border=0 width="391" height="510" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Docena - 1962</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="49431800.jpg" border=0 width="305" height="384" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Uncle Jack Ware (Pop's uncle by marriage to his Aunt Louise)</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2c9143d0.jpg" border=0 width="532" height="317" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Rochelle, Chuck and Val - 1961</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2e8d8a20.png" border=0 width="472" height="418" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Sherry, Terry and LaNita Williams</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="31e74bb0.jpg" border=0 width="372" height="443" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="4a1b8ba0.jpg" border=0 width="440" height="442" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Carolyn Rochelle Brown, age 6 - 1962 and high school graduate - May 1974</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="31f2d080.jpg" border=0 width="301" height="264" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Granpa "Red" Brown with his coal buckets and "Nellybelle" the car</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="321c3650.jpg" border=0 width="195" height="357" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Great Grandma Corinne "Mouse" Kelly.  Hess' mother.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="3a0df7b0.jpg" border=0 width="223" height="379" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Rochelle and Cindy</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="32ad96c0.jpg" border=0 width="217" height="364" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Mom and Val - 1955</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4a5ce080.jpg" border=0 width="462" height="520" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Pop and his uncle, Jack Ware</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="489f3930.jpg" border=0 width="243" height="403" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Mom, Chuck and Wayne in Docena - 1960</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2e737ae0.jpg" border=0 width="311" height="430" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> LaNita Williams (daughter of Terry and Sherry)</div> <div> Finishing the 8th Grade on 05/23/03 (Alabama)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="3bf7ca10.png" border=0 width="380" height="417" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Pam Griffen graduating from college - 2001</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4803aa30.jpg" border=0 width="1082" height="419" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> This was a great find!  Read this article from the Birmingham News in February of 1984</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="48841df0.jpg" border=0 width="833" height="479" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Sherrie Williams, "Pet" Dabbs, Cindy Cottrell and Pam Griffen-Mapp - July 2000</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="48b98090.jpg" border=0 width="408" height="521" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="48d6d070.jpg" border=0 width="365" height="519" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Carl Kelly in Vietnam - February 1967 and January 1968</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="48f47bb0.jpg" border=0 width="583" height="443" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Christina Banks (daughter of Rochelle and Robert) - July 2000</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="49063570.jpg" border=0 width="611" height="599" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Great Grandma Kelly and Grandma Brown with a bunch of their offspring - Docena in June of 1963</div> <div> I can identify Val, Wayne, Chuck, David and Rochelle.  Anybody know the rest?</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="495823e0.jpg" border=0 width="642" height="574" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Greta (in the back, center) met her family in Docena - 1983</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="49b84410.jpg" border=0 width="388" height="577" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Joanne Maclinn - July 2000</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="49f93390.jpg" border=0 width="403" height="569" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="49e83390.jpg" border=0 width="387" height="569" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Vanessa Arlene Brown - age 9, grade 4 - May 1962 and graduate of Tuskegee Institute - May 1974</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4a363fc0.jpg" border=0 width="355" height="508" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Raymond Ware (son of Jack and Louise and Pop's cousin) and Theresa "Toots" Ware</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4a72e070.jpg" border=0 width="302" height="519" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Frank Griffen - July 2000</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="6c268e00.jpg" border=0 width="360" height="480" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> One of the Birmingham clan (no pun intended) visiting Arizona in January 2006.  Pam Griffen-Mapp at Chuck and Joy's house in Glendale.  Check out the outfit!  Girlfriend took to the southwestern look in no time!   :-)</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="6df15a00.jpg" border=0 width="277" height="416" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="6de0da00.jpg" border=0 width="269" height="416" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="6e32e9f0.jpg" border=0 width="302" height="415" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="6e1219f0.jpg" border=0 width="289" height="415" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> Diamond Gates, 7th grade softball team pitcher.  Diamond is the daughter of Mark and Makenna Gates.  Pleasant Grove, Alabama.  2006</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="6e48b3f0.png" border=0 width="395" height="575" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Makenna and Mark Gates - Pleasant Grove, Alabama - 2006</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="79cf5380.jpg" border=0 width="757" height="568" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Pop (Spud) Brown with his Aunt Nuchie (Mildred Richardson).  Nuchie is Hess Brown's (Pop's mother) last living sibling.  Nuchie is also known as "Muh".  2-28-2008.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="79ebecf0.jpg" border=0 width="958" height="719" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> This is a great find!  These are hand drawn renderings of Pop's great grandparents (my great-great grandparents).  Their names are Lula Burns and James Burns.  They were both born and raised as slaves.  Lula was born and raised in Alabama.  James was born and raised in Georgia.  They are the parents of Pop's grandmother, Corrine (Mouse) Kelly.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="7a001410.jpg" border=0 width="769" height="577" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Pop with two of his cousins.  James (Big Boy) Webster (on the left) and Billy Payne.  2-28-2008.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="7a22a600.jpg" border=0 width="810" height="608" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> We had a fish fry at Anita Streeter's (Pop's cousin) home in Docena.  From the back to the front: Anthony Smith, Lil Joe Williams, Juanita Griffen, Wayne, Pam's daughter, Pam Griffen-Map, Vanessa Hannah and Pop.  2-28-2008.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="7a97adc0.jpg" border=0 width="634" height="476" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Birmingham was once a booming steel and coal town.  Most of that industry has faded away and all that remains are abandoned reminders like this old steel mill seen from the viaduct that connects Birmingham to Docena.  2-28-2008.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="7ad279d0.jpg" border=0 width="551" height="413" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="7af279d0.jpg" border=0 width="551" height="413" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The viaduct connecting Birmingham and Docena.  A small sign pointing the way to the Ol' Mining Camp.  3-1-2008.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="7b185e40.jpg" border=0 width="645" height="484" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Mom Brown's younger brother, Ezzard Charles Willoughby.  He still lives in Docena.  3-1-2008.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="85fcea60.jpg" border=0 width="462" height="678" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Hess and Red Brown - 1972</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="85ce1b70.jpg" border=0 width="481" height="695" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Wanda was the eldest female child of Hess and Red Brown.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="88262ca0.jpg" border=0 width="610" height="458" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Vanessa Hannah - March 2009</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="88568ce0.jpg" border=0 width="616" height="462" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Pop Brown, Mark Gates, and cousins - Alabama - March 2009</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="8a44f200.jpg" border=0 width="591" height="544" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Diamond Gates and her Prom date - Birmingham, Ala. - April 2010</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </BODY>