Uncle Freddie
By Denise Mickel Russell
March 12, 2022
Our grandparents, Abe and Nahia Mickel, came to WV when their first born son, Mitchell, my dad, was just a baby. After settling in Williamson, WV, they had three more children. Alex - my cousin's Sherry, Sandy and David's dad, Gloria who is the mother of Kevin and Thomas and Fred whose daughters are Debbie, Pam and Tonya. Uncle Freddie as I have always affectionately called him ran the store, Mickel's, in Williamson. I did not live in WV until my junior high school years which may have been one of the first times I had ever really gotten to know Uncle Freddie.
My dad and I would travel to Williamson to see our family and one of the first stops we would make would be at the store. Uncle Freddie would welcome us in with open arms and he always liked to give me dollar bills without my dad knowing about it. I remember getting a soda and a snack at the store and getting a chance to look at all the magazines that her had for sale. And there was always a cigar involved for both my dad and Uncle Freddie.
My Uncle Freddie had a special name for me. He liked to call me DeeCee and I always liked this nickname. I don't know who started this, but I would like to think that he did. It was a nickname that only family knew about.
Whenever I talked with him, he loved to ask me about my children and what they were up to and I think he was especially interested in my son, Garrett who is a musician. When Uncle Freddie and Ray Abraham came to Virginia for a visit several years ago, they both wanted to go listen to Garrett who was playing guitar and singing at a local coffee shop. I could tell they both really loved live music and enjoyed the show. He told me once that his favorite song was "What Can I Do" by the Ink Spots.
Uncle Freddie and Ray were best of friends. I still remember when the two of them came to Richmond and got so excited about all of the homemade Lebanese food that my cousins and I had made. Uncle Freddie really loved good music, good food and being with family. He was a special uncle and he will always be in my heart.
By Denise Mickel Russell
March 12, 2022
Our grandparents, Abe and Nahia Mickel, came to WV when their first born son, Mitchell, my dad, was just a baby. After settling in Williamson, WV, they had three more children. Alex - my cousin's Sherry, Sandy and David's dad, Gloria who is the mother of Kevin and Thomas and Fred whose daughters are Debbie, Pam and Tonya. Uncle Freddie as I have always affectionately called him ran the store, Mickel's, in Williamson. I did not live in WV until my junior high school years which may have been one of the first times I had ever really gotten to know Uncle Freddie.
My dad and I would travel to Williamson to see our family and one of the first stops we would make would be at the store. Uncle Freddie would welcome us in with open arms and he always liked to give me dollar bills without my dad knowing about it. I remember getting a soda and a snack at the store and getting a chance to look at all the magazines that her had for sale. And there was always a cigar involved for both my dad and Uncle Freddie.
My Uncle Freddie had a special name for me. He liked to call me DeeCee and I always liked this nickname. I don't know who started this, but I would like to think that he did. It was a nickname that only family knew about.
Whenever I talked with him, he loved to ask me about my children and what they were up to and I think he was especially interested in my son, Garrett who is a musician. When Uncle Freddie and Ray Abraham came to Virginia for a visit several years ago, they both wanted to go listen to Garrett who was playing guitar and singing at a local coffee shop. I could tell they both really loved live music and enjoyed the show. He told me once that his favorite song was "What Can I Do" by the Ink Spots.
Uncle Freddie and Ray were best of friends. I still remember when the two of them came to Richmond and got so excited about all of the homemade Lebanese food that my cousins and I had made. Uncle Freddie really loved good music, good food and being with family. He was a special uncle and he will always be in my heart.