Seagulls on a Mountain Lake in February

On a dreary gray day, I took Rocky to the lake for a walk. We were quite alone there except for the lovely gulls flashing white above the icy water. Although I saw my first seagull on Lake Chatuge in 1995, I'm still amazed to find these birds so far from the coast.
I closed my eyes and for a moment I stood on the beach in Panama City, Florida. The sounds of the birds as they flitted and dived, soared and sang their piercing notes, took me back to 1965. I smelled the coconut tanning lotion, the slightly fishy odor on the wind.
Lapping waves broke the mountain silence, sweeping sand into the sea.


Mountain Seagull

Mountains stretch like layers,
Payne's Grey parchment,
growing fainter
as they reach toward
pale cerulean sky.

The Bald pokes its head
up through a cottony mist.
Lake Chatuge wraps the mountains,
lapping love, cool in coves
tucked tightly between peaks.

Sailboats, triangles, red and yellow
wrapping paper, swiftly blow
before the wind that rustles
maples, locust trees
where songbirds rest.

My spirit soars above the scene
a seagull far from home,
yearning to embrace
and build a nest.


from Now Might As Well Be Then, poems by Glenda Council Beall

Council Family Reunion

Descendants of John Cecil Council will gather in Wakulla County, Florida the weekend of october 10-11 for the annual Council Family reunion. I had planned to attend, but found I can't this year.
They have a big fish fry on Saturday night along with a cake walk which is enjoyed by adults and children as well. My cousin Sandra called me this week to see if I'm going and to ask me to stay with her. She lives in Tallahassee where she and her late husband Billy, lived many years  after building a successful business there. Beverly Council sent out the letter to all of us to remind us of this special day. My memories of this reunion go back to when I was in high school and my family attended.
Each year certain members of John Cecil's family are recognized. This year Sandra's family will be one of those. I would love to be there to hear the stories told about Eugene Council and his family. John Cecil was married twice and had two sets of children, so his decendants are numerous.
As we get older these family reunions come to mean more than just a nice meal and talking with a few relatives.
If you are a descendant of John Cecil Council, a very early pioneer of north Florida, who was captured by the Union Army and held on Shipp Island off the coast of Lousiana, then you should come and meet this family.

John Cecil Council, Confederate War Veteran, POW at Shipp Island

John Cecil Council, born in Barbour County, Alabama in 1833, was my great grandfather. He was the son of Temperance Weaver Council. John, in 1845, was one of the first settlers in Wakulla County Florida. He, along with his mother, his sister Susan Council Lott and her husband either traveled with the Pelts and Poseys or arrived about the same time and settled in Crawfordville, Florida. John Cecil acquired a good bit of land around the county. He married Frances DeLaura Posey who birthed a large family before she died.

John then married Missouri Redd. She was referred to as Miss Missouri. The two of them raised a second large family.


At the age of 28, and with children at home, John joined the Florida Militia during the Civil War. He was captured off the coast near his home while fishing to provide food for his unit. The Union ships took him and others captured with him to Shipp Island, off the coast of Louisiana.

When the southern prisoners first arrived on Shipp Island, there were no barracks, only tents, no protection from the wind, rain and large mosquitoes that carried disease. John Council took a leadership role among the prisoners and set about building their own huts and shelters.

Back home Fanny, his wife, along with a black woman helper kept the farm going and raised the crops and hogs and cattle. She picked the cotton and had it bailed. Fanny's first born was a daughter, Georgianne Council. Like her mother, Georgianne was strong and resilient. She knew how to use a gun and tramped through the thick woods to kill game for the family.

She lived a long life. A one hundredth birthday party was held for her and written about in the Wakulla County newspaper, but I hear from cousin Sandra that her birthdate might be in question. No matter. Aunt Georgianne was a real pioneer woman who could do the work of any man and actually the work of more than one man from what I've heard. More about her later.

John Cecil Council was highly respected in his community. He helped found a church and was a leader of the church. He lived a long life and fathered his last child when he was in his early seventies.

Over the years I've researched this great grandfather of mine, and I met his youngest daughter as well as hundreds of his descendants. I have copies of his military records, his pension papers, his last will and testament. I've collected stories I've heard about him and hope to one day put them together for my family members.

John Cecil's oldest son, Tom, was my grandfather. Tom and his wife Sarah (Sallie) head the family I write about in Profiles and Pedigrees, Thomas Charles Council and his Descendants.

In this marriage, Tom died young and left Sallie to carry on without him. Tom and Sallie raised ten children, Mae, Charlie, Maude, Oleo, Horace and Hortense (twins), Lillian, Annie, and Coy. Another son, John Henry, died at the age of fourteen from malaria.

I have cousins in Tallahassee and in Crawfordville who I hope will come to the mountains this spring so we can catch up on all the family stories.



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