Growing Up BBQ: The Roots of Sunday Dinner at Uncle Clarence BBQ

Growing up as a child, my father and mother shared a strong family bond that deeply shaped who I am. Sundays were sacred — not just for rest, but for connection. My father and his brother, Uncle Johnny, lived not too far from us. And while I didn’t know many relatives on his side, I was very close to my mother’s family. Uncle Elton, Aunt Audrey, Uncle Carl — each one played a role in what made Sundays so special.

Food was at the center of it all. Not just what was on the plate — but who was gathered around it.

We’d come together over fried chicken, baked mac and cheese, collard greens, sweet potato pie — and of course, barbecue when the grill was hot. The adults would gather around the table, and we kids would sneak in to listen. Those conversations? They covered everything — politics, neighborhood drama, who hit the numbers that week, work stories, and family memories. There was laughter. There was learning. There was legacy being passed in every sentence.

I grew up in a community that believed it truly takes a village to raise a child. That village for me was made up of my aunts and uncles, my parents' friends, and those Sunday dinner conversations. My Uncle Don, a Republican from Texas and a German by heritage, once told me, “There’s more to life than the ten blocks you live on.” That stuck with me. He challenged me to explore the world, to travel, to understand cultures different from my own. And because of people like him — I did.

My parents didn’t just cook food — they nurtured values. My mother, a faithful Christian woman, said her prayers every night and never missed church. My father, equally spiritual, led our family with a calm strength. God was always first in our home. That belief grounded everything we did.

Now, as a father myself, I find myself passing on those same traditions to my son — with even more intention. I want him to grow up in a community rooted in love, legacy, and laughter. One that pours into him the way my family poured into me. One that says, you belong here.

Barbecue, to me, has never just been about what’s on or off the grill. It’s bigger than the meat. Bigger than the smoke.

It’s about the music that plays while folks line up for seconds. The strangers who turn into friends after sharing a plate. The joy that spreads across faces when a sauce hits just right. At every barbecue — whether it’s a competition, a block party, or a family reunion — the most important thing you’ll see isn’t the ribs. It’s the connection.

That’s why Uncle Clarence BBQ exists. That’s why Sunday Dinner matters.

Because when the food is done, and the music fades, and the night winds down — what people remember most isn’t what was served. It’s who they shared it with.

So thank you — for joining this journey. For pulling up a chair. For being part of something real.

Stay humble. Stay blessed. And never forget:
This table is for you.