Celeste

by Celeste Graves

I was born into the family of William Julius and Emilie (Baudat) Gayle on August 30, 1919 They decided to name me Luella Celestine for my two grandmothers...Luella Love (Sanders) Gayle and Celestine (Pichon) Baudat. I did not like the name and was very happy that they decided to call me “Celeste.” At the time of my birth, my brother Milton was almost two, having been born September 2, 1917. Unfortunately, he died with Diphtheria on December 11, 1921, when I was only two. Mom and Dad had previously lost a son, Dalton, who died April 13, 1915 at the age of 16 months. He was born December 8, 1913. I was born in my parents’ home on Melton Street in Magnolia, Texas. The house was demolished in 1988. Ty (grandson) came over and told me about it and he thought it was terrible that they were tearing down a landmark where his grandmother was born. Mom was very proud of her little home as evidenced by notes she had written on the back of pictures she had taken to send to her friends and relatives. My Dad was depot agent and telegrapher for the Missouri Pacific Railroad at the time of my birth, and retired in that position. He was truly a “railroad man” and couldn’t stay in the house when he heard a train whistle.

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2020