Eighty-Five years ago today, a little red headed boy was born to his parents on the coast of Florida, down in Wakulla County.
How can it be that long?
Since you all seem to have fallen in love with him, I thought you might like to know a little more about the man I call Dad.
The years are flying by and I can’t let today go by without talking about the man who has had the most impact on my life than just about anyone else (except my mama!). I have the most wonderful parents in the world. Not perfect parents, but they certainly are close to it. We had an idyllic childhood growing up. We were not wealthy by any means, in fact bordered on downright poor in my younger years, but we didn’t know that, my sister and I. We were blissfully unaware of our social status.
We were rich with love from our parents and those were the memories that mean the most to me. Not what we had or didn’t have. I always thought I had just enough of everything.
Dad was born down in Wakulla County, FL and grew up on the coastal waters, fishing and oystering as a young boy, with his large family. With 10 children in the family, they were poor and lived off the land. His dad got sick when my dad was around 12 and they moved to Panama City, FL where his older sisters had settled after marriage and that’s where he spent the rest of his young life growing up. Back in 2008, our whole family took a trip down to my dad’s birth place to see it all, since we girls had never been down there. That link above will take you to one of the posts I did from that trip, a very memorable one for all of us. We are so glad we took the time to do the trip and see where my dad was born and raised, a place etched in his memory and shared with all of us over the years.
I got my crazy unruly, thick hair from his side of the family.
He met my pretty mama, also a native of Florida in the Plant City area. They both attended Bible college in Lakeland, FL, (my sister and I also attended) where they fell in love and got married in 1953. Mom got her MRS degree and has put that thing to good use. 🙂
This pic was in my mom’s home church in Durant, FL, 1953 when they got married. Weren’t they a handsome couple? Dad is a tall drink of water at 6’5”, red headed and full of life. He can tell a good story and entertain crowds. When we were young, I loved sitting around the table with the grownups, listening to them tell funny stories. As a pastor for 40 years, the people (most of them, anyway) loved him and still do. He’s thoughtful and kind-hearted, opinionated and stubborn, all wrapped up into one loveable person. We have butted heads more than once over this house renovation and I don’t imagine it will stop anytime soon.
Our family around 1960 or 61. This pic was taken at a photography studio in Plant City, FL. I was supposed to be a boy. I was such a tomboy and this pic makes everyone laugh, since I sort of look like a boy. My hair was pulled back in a ponytail. I was full of life and climbed on everything, including tall trees. My life was spent outside having fun as a youngster, barefoot and loving life. Mom was in her mid 30’s here. My, haven’t we all changed our ways of grooming over the years. That bun makes her look at least a decade older and check out the flower pin that she made herself. She was a crafter back in the day! You can be sure that she made those dresses we are wearing too. She was and is a homemaker extraordinaire.
My 2 years older sister, Renee, was born a brunette and I was always the blonde. Now we both are.
I love these people who raised me!
My dad’s family was a scrappy clan, fussing and fighting and not the classiest bunch around. He determined when he got married that he wasn’t going to continue that in his own family and we certainly did not. There was not fussing and fighting in our house and I never got used to anyone yelling and screaming to get their point across. He was one of 2 preachers that came out of his large family and I think that was a shock to most of them.
Here you can see my dad surrounded by his girls. These pics were taken around 1987 at Easter, when Lauren was about 5. You can see she is the apple of his eye and still is. She still sits in his lap and he adores her. She quickly wrapped him around her little finger and almost 30 years later, that’s still the case.
Big hair ruled and in those days, my unruly hair was quite in style. Renee had to get a perm to get hers big. Mine was all natural curl.
Here’s that little girl, all grown up now. The almost 30 year old is never too big to sit in her granddaddy’s lap.
Here he is surrounded by all the people he loves last Thanksgiving. And we love him dearly. He’s our daddy and grandaddy and there is not another one who does a better job loving his family than he does.
We are having a cookout today, celebrating 85 years of a good life lived by this man we call Daddy. Lauren is home with her hubby and we’ve invited some of their long-time church friends over to help us honor him and celebrate this big day.
He’s been known to call folks who are close to his age “old people”, as if he has not yet reached that far-off milestone. And we laugh as we always do at his funny remarks.
Here’s to many more years of laughter.
Happy Birthday, Daddy! We love you!
Sandy A says
Please extend Happy Birthday Blessings to your Daddy! How wonderful to have such close and loving family so near you…
Margaret says
Happy Birthday to your Daddy. Wonderful tribute. made me miss mine as well. Red hair runs in our family as well.
Angie says
You are so right, I have fallen in love with him. I love the recent pic of him with his tomatoes! Please tell him Happy Happy Birthday! Thank you for sharing him…..
Felecia says
A great way to honor your Daddy, you both are lucky to have each other! Happy Birthday!
Beth says
Enjoy your day with you special family. Happy Birthday to your sweet Dad!
Rachael S. says
Rhoda, you’re so blessed!!!! Reading about your parents has become one of my favorite things about your blog. Happy Birthday to your Daddy!
Ann says
Rhoda,
You are certainly blessed with not only a wonderful father but mother as well. I lost my father when I was 20, there is no replacement for a girl’s dad. Give him a big hug for all of us who have fallen in love with him through your blog. I bet he never thought that HE would be the one with fans when you started blogging!
Glenda/MidSouth says
What a nice tribute to your father. Happy Birthday to him!
Melanie says
Extraordinary man– beautiful tribute.
Sandy says
Happy birthday to a sweet and loving man, father and grandfather! I really enjoyed reading about your family. Southern dads are the greatest! My Daddy would be 91 this month. He was born and raised in Bainbridge, GA married my Mom (a Northener born and raised in Detroit. You are so blessed to have your parents with you and in such good health. Mine have been gone for 18 and 21 years. Have fun celebrating with your lovely family. A very sweet post!
Shauna Howington says
What a beautiful post! Happy Birthday to your sweet daddy, hope it’s a wonderful day!!
Margaret Kearns says
Happy Birthday to your wonderful Dad from South Africa.
Darleen~ Places In The Home says
Happy Birthday to your daddy on his very special day! I especially lean toward your “daddy & mama” posts & know first hand how a special relationship with parents can deepen when circumstances find you all living together again at this stage in our lives. Trying at times, but the memories being made that will have more meaning than ever expected one day are priceless. It is never out of style to have a loving & close relationship with your daddy, and to be very proud of it. Mine is my champion & dear, dear friend who is always on my side & the first to support all my endeavors. I still think of you & your parents each time we eat tomatoes! Southern daddy girls love their tomatoes almost as much as they love their daddy.
Hope you all enjoy the man, the father, & his the celebration of his special day together.
Eva says
Happy birthday to Rhoda’s daddy!
Rhoda…loved your big hair picture! Have a wonderful weekend!
Joyce Carr says
You are truly blessed.
Peggy in TN says
Happy Birthday Mr. Vickers! You are truly an inspiration to many.
Theresa says
Please tell your famous “DAD” happy birthday, hope it is a wonderful day for your family. It is amazing that he can do much work at 85!
I appreciate all the picture, especially like the one of your Dad with tomatoes.
Beth says
Please give your dad my best wishes for the happiest of birthdays.!I know it will be great fun for him today, as well as all of you. Your tribute is very touching and made the tears fall. I’ve admired your father from afar since your first comment about him. You and your family are SO fortunate to have him. I know you know it, but without experiencing anything less it might sometimes be hard to realize just *how* fortunate. What a loving and lovely man.
KS says
My dad turned eighty-five this week too. Happy birthday and many happy returns to Rhoda’s pastor dad! : )
Christina @ The Frugal Homemaker says
Wow, Rhoda and he does all that work on your house! That probably helps keep in young.
Happy Birthday to your dad!! 🙂 Spoil him good today!
(oh, and I love the picture of you with big hair 🙂