Saturday, March 4, 2017

The Callaham Family

Two weeks ago on Bringing Up Bates, Kelly Jo (Callaham) Bates took a trip down memory lane with a visit to her hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina. She met up with her mom (Betty Jo, also known as "Meema"), her two older sisters (Kim and Kay), and Gwen (a gal who lived with the family while attending nursing school).

Kelly, the baby of the family, also had an older brother, Chip Callaham, who passed away at age 53. Her father, now deceased, and mother divorced when Kelly was in third grade. Kelly stayed with her mom in South Carolina, while her father moved with the other children to Tennessee.

When Kelly moved out years later, her mom, then 50 years old, became lonely and decided to adopt a newborn baby, Beth. One year later, Betty Jo adopted another daughter, Beka, so Beth wouldn't have to grow up alone.

Take a look at these old photos, and let us know in the comments section which of the 19 Bates children you think resemble young Kelly and her parents and siblings. (Take a look at the pictures in our header for reference.)

 Kelly Jo Callaham (now Kelly Jo Bates)

The Callaham family

Photos courtesy of UP

32 comments:

  1. Why did Kelly Jo go with her mom and her siblings go with her dad?

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  2. Tori is definitely Kelly jr. I can see a little bit of Ellie, Carlin, and Alyssa but definitely Tori!

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  3. I love seeing old family photos.
    I think Lawson and Isaiah look just like Kelly's dad! Alyssa looks like Kelly's mum, and Ellie and Jeb look like Kelly as a child.

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  4. I think Michaela resembles her a lot.

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  5. katie and addallee look a lot like kelly as a kid and ellie looks a lot like kelly's dad

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  6. I see a little of jeb in her eyes her hair is like addallee. I think she. Looks like a jeb addallee tori warden mix

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  7. Katie and Michaela!!!! so cute

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  8. Tori looks like Kelly Jo. I love old pictures of people.

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  9. Kelly looks like Tori in the first picture.

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  10. Sort of a Tori look, don't you think?

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  11. Addallee looks a lot like her as a child!

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  12. I know this isn't what you asked for, but I really think Betty Jo resembles Jill (Duggar) Dillard! Otherwise, I think young Kelly resembles both Addallee and Michaela.

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  14. Definitely Tori is the one who looks more like her mum!

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  15. Michaela looks just like Kelly when she was a kid! So cute!

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  16. Where are the pictures of the adopted kids? They are part of the family too!

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    1. These were pictures of Kelly when she was little. Betty Jo hadn't adopted them yet the didn't come tell after Kelly moved out

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  17. I'm seeing Tori and a little Alyssa but definitely Tori.

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  18. Tori, Katie, and Ellie are all Kelly Jo Jr.

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  19. Lawson totally looks like her mom!!! Also Tori and Michael!

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  20. I see more of tori and addee in their mom and few others

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  21. 100 percent Lawson looks like Kelly in the top picture of Kelly! I can see Tori too but wow Lawson is definately his mom's twin.

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  22. Several of the children and 1 granddaughter looks like her. I think she is pretty.

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  23. Ellie totally looks like Kelly Jo, and I see a slight resemblance in between Katie and her mom.I think Michael and Carlin look like their grandmother.

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  24. I think Ellie, Tori and Lawson look the most like Kelly Jo. Erin is a perfect mix of Gil and Kelly Jo. Zach and Jackson and Josie look just like Gil. I just love their sweet family ❤️

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  25. Tori looks the most like her Mom Kelly.

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