Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 3:58:59 AM

Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 6:27:18 PM

Today, August 26, 2011, 10:10:24 PM(good old man classes, the good old man show)Hurricans and Earthquakes

How did I get here:

My name is Tia Brantley and I am a 45 year old black female and I reside in Mine Hill, New Jersey. I was born in Bridgeport, CT - My father is Mr. Wardell Brantley and mother, Mrs. Nancy Brantley (her maiden name is Vereen). My father's parents (Connie Brantley, Annie B. Haley) moved to CT from Jackson, Mississippi when he was 10 years old. At the time, my grandfather worked for and retired from Carpenter's Steele (http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Carpenter-Technology-Corporation-Company-History.html) - My grandparents on my father's side had 4 children - 2 boys, 2 girls - my father is the 3rd child. I am not sure where or if my grandmother worked, but I will be reseaching to find out if she is related to Alex Haley. Related well-known family members on my grandmother's side of the family are Charles Haley, Harvey Lee Catchings, and Tameika Catchings. 

My mother was born in Conway, South Carolina to Stacy and Elizabeth Vereen (my grandmother's maiden name is Green). I never met my grandparents on my mother's side - they passed away when my mother was 16. My mother is the youngest child out of 12 children - 3 boys and 9 girls. She graduated from Whittemore High School  with honors and was valedictorian of her class. She moved to Bridgeport, CT when she was 18 years old to attend the University of Bridgeport. She was a school teacher, nurse and worked for GE (http://www.ge.com/). Related well-known family members on my mother's side of the family include Ben Vereen and a host of other family members who are entertainers such as singers, producers, artists, comedians, choreographers and writers.

When my parents met, my mother had a 2 year  old son (Kai Hunter) and when they married had 5 other children (a total of 3 boys and 3 girls) - I am the 3rd child, born on July 31st, 1966.

When I was born in 1966 and the first 7 years of my life my parents lived in Bridgeport and New Haven CT. We moved to my mother's home town in SC when I was age 7. While in CT, my mother home schooled me and I attended my 1st and 2nd year of school at the Muhammad Mosque, Temple #40 (#44?) in CT. My mother also taught Arabic at the school. During the day, girls went to school - in the afternoon - the boys attended - my 2 older brothers also attended (there were only 3 of us born at the time). When my parents met, my father was a truck driver, but they were introduced to Islam and my father quickly became what was called, "The Fruit" of Islam - he was a recruiter and he later on became a leader and after moving to South Carolina opened his own mosque. While in CT my father was responsible for teaching Muhammad Ali about the nation of Islam. Muhammad Ali and his wife frequented our home when I was a toddler and were very good friends with my parents. My parents also knew Malcom X and his wife very well - my mother was his assistant secretary and he named my brother (the 2nd eldest) Hakim. After the death of Malcolm X - my parents decided to move South to her home town in Conway, SC. There my father continued to work as a truck driver for the town's paving company - to which he was responsible for initiating the paving and naming of many of the small town dirt roads. My mother worked for Waccamaw EOC (Economic Opportunity Council) where she worked as their accountant and headed the emergency housing assistance program - she was responsible for many individuals receiving funds for homes in need of renovations. Both of my parents always became very well known in the communities we lived in and recognized by the people for their leadership and involvement of making communities a better place to live. 

At some point throughout my childhood and teenage years, My parents also had their own companies. My mother is a seamstress and at one time owned her own sewing shop - she can make everything from valences and slip covers to coats and jeans. I remember her making my school clothes until I entered junior high school...I had to ask her to please let me buy some store brought clothing! Looking back now, she was the best designer and I wished I had some of the clothing with her name tags on them - I wished I had picked up where she left off. Slowly she went out of business because she did not have the type of assistance needed for the workload. My father at one point owned his own sanitation company with clientele in Myrtle Beach until Waste Management (http://www.wm.com/index.jsp) came in and brought him and all of the other small companies out. My father was asked to take over in Scranton, PA and when his contract was up in 5 years, he could move back downsouth and still earn the same pay...this is how I ended up in New Jesery. By the time this all happened - I had 3 other siblings (my 2 sisters and baby brother) and they were still in high school and wanted to move closer to NYC...so my father moved to Lake Hiawatha, NJ. When his contract was up, my parents and siblings moved back south, I fell in love with my partner Timothy Edmonds, stayed and lived in Morris County ever since.

When my parents owned their businesses, everyting from a Mosque to vacuum cleaners (Electrolux) and household products (Amway) - I always helped in some way - whether it was with finance, marketing and advertising or doing the actual labor...and I loved it. One thing my parents always told me, "if you're not happy working for someone, then work for yourself." Everytime I felt myself even beginning to complain, I hear those words and I shut up and I continued to work on my goals of becoming a business owner.

Today, after 5 siblings, 1 child (now 30) my life-partner, 1 step-child and 2 grandchildern later...I must say the influence of my parents have had (and continues to have) a tremendous effect on my upbringing. I have love and respect for all people and their religous or non-religous beliefs. Although I grew up as a Muslim, after moving to South Carolina I attended church with my relatives, joined a church when I married (and divorced). Today, I do not visit mosques or church unless invited...or if there is a special occassion. I do not believe in appeasing via religion and I am fair when it comes to business and my personal life.

This all brings me to what I want to do and why. Since I was child I always always involved in music.

Tia B. Happy