The children are: – Back row, left to right, James Albert, Martha Belle “Mattie”, Nancy Jane. Front row, child on John’ knee is my father Barney Vinyard, Robert Franklin “Frank”, Sarah Elizabeth on Margaret Matilda’s lap and Mary Ann Lawson.

This is a picture of my grandparents, John Vinyard and Margaret Matilda “Tilda” (Henson) Lawson. John, the oldest son of Albert G. and Nancy (Randolph) Lawson, was born on January 30, 1870, in the Pleasant Grove area of Walker County, Alabama, and passed away on November 16, 1932, at Norwood Hospital in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. Tilda was born on October 7, 1867, in Walker County, Alabama, and died on April 23, 1950, in Carbon Hill, Walker County, Alabama.

The picture was taken around 1902 or 1903 and included all of their children, except my father, Barney V. Lawson, as he had not yet been born. After his birth, they had the picture retouched by adding a photo of Barney, placing him on my grandfather’s knee to complete the family.

This picture was taken of John and Tilda sitting on the front porch of their house in Springhill, Walker County, Alabama. All of their children were born in this home, and all but two of my brothers and sisters were also born in this house.

John and Tilda had a picture taken with two of their grandchildren. The baby is my sister, Margie Jean, and the young boy is my brother, James Vinyard Lawson. The picture was taken shortly before John’s death.