Sisters Meet 50+ Years After Birth, Adoptions
Ever wonder what it would be to grow up an only child…only to find out you’re not? Or maybe grow up with a brother, and always wish you had a sister?
Well for adopted women Angie Williams of Monticello and Trenet Mullins of Eads, Tenn., that pretty much sums up their childhoods. Both always knew they were adopted, and neither had much interest in finding their biological parents. It never occurred to them that those biological parents might have other children. Trenet grew up with a brother, and Angie grew up an only child. Then two days before Mother’s Day this year, they found out about each other.
Trenet had signed up for Ancestry.com some time ago at the urging of her children. “Don’t you want to know your heritage,” they asked. She said, sure. That was about five years ago. She had quit paying any attention to it. Then two days before Mother’s Day this year, everything changed. Angie contacted Trenet, her half-sister on their mother’s side, and they hit it off right away.
Trenet’s husband had wished she would develop a close friendship with someone, as she was home alone much of the time now that her boys are grown. He never dreamed it would be a sister. Both Angie and Trenet said they love each other like they’ve known each other all their lives. They started off comparing physical characteristics, and moved on to comparing everything. They both went to college, both married and had children, both were raised in supportive, loving adoptive families. When they first talked, they discussed earlobes, height, eye color, toe length, you name it. Then they progressed to real conversations, and haven’t stopped talking. The first conversation was two days before Mother’s Day. They’ve spoken on the phone or been together every day since then but one.
After they bonded on the phone, they decided it was time to meet in person. Trenet and her husband, Jeff, were planning a vacation to Destin, Fla., and had a spare room in their vacation condo. So Trenet and Jeff enjoyed the first few days of their vacation, then Angie joined them, and they really enjoyed it!
Angie’s story is really interesting as an aunt, married to her biological uncle, facilitated her adoption and she grew up down the road from the aunt and uncle, knew them and had a relationship with them. She just didn’t know they really were her aunt and uncle. So she grew up with actual cousins, but didn’t know it.
Both ladies’ adoptions were private. Trenet, 14 years Angie’s senior, was adopted at birth from Jacksonville, Fla. Angie lived with her biological mother for more than four months before she was given up for adoption. She was born in Anderson, S.C.
They learned upon talking that they spent several years not living too far apart. Trenet attended McEachern High School in Powder Springs, and at the time Angie lived not far from there.
Last weekend was Trenet’s first visit to Monticello, and she and Angie were going last weekend to visit the area where Angie grew up, and to meet more siblings on their maternal side and Angie’s father’s side
Trenet said her faith has always been important to her, and she feels blessed to have met Angie. She said God has a bigger plan. Angie echoes that sentiment.
In some ways, the ladies couldn’t be more different. Angie is an extrovert, and Trenet is more reserved. They are 14 years apart, and grew up in different environments, but they sure love each other. It’s evident from a brief conversation with them. Trenet flew in for the weekend. When Angie visits her, she will likely drive…she drives a lot in her job involving social work.
The two of them spend hours on the phone each week and are thankful to have found each other. Now that they have, they are trying to make as many memories as they can. They don’t have the past, they say, but they have the future.
