Descendants of Uriah Melton Gibson

 

 

Generation No. 1

 

1.  URIAH MELTON1 GIBSON  (AMOSA, ZEDEKIAH R.B, JAMESC) was born October 03, 1860 in Rapides Parish, LA, and died December 06, 1898 in Harrison Co. (now Stone Co.), MS.  He married MINERVA WILLIAMS September 05, 1878 in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, LA, daughter of LEWIS WILLIAMS and CATHERINE TERRELL.  She was born April 06, 1857 in Harrison Co., MS, and died December 18, 1921 in Bond, Stone Co., MS.

 

Notes for URIAH MELTON GIBSON:

The following is recorded in the 1880 Federal Census for Jasper County, Texas, Precinct 4, page 162C, household 59:

Gibson, Uriah, W, M, 20, self, Works at Saw-logs, 10 months unemployed this year, BP LA, Father's BP NC, Mother's BP AL

Gibson, Minerva, W, F, 22, wife, Keeping house, cannot read or write, BP MS, Father's BP MS, Mother's BP MS

Gibson, Emer. E., W, F, 11/12 July, daughter, BP LA, Father's BP LA, Mother's BP LA

Black, William, W, M, 47, boarder, Teamster, BP SC, Father's BP SC, Mother's BP TN

 

 

He was a Deacon at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Stone Co., MS. 

 

In the Bond-Harvison Memorial Park in Wiggins, MS is his tombstone inscribed as follows:

"Death is the gate of endless joy

And oft we dread to enter there.

U. M. Gibson

Born Oct. 3, 1860

Died Dec. 6, 1898"

 

According to Loretta Morgan Breland, Uriah was cutting trees with Wash Johnson and a tree fell on him and killed him.

 

 

More About URIAH MELTON GIBSON:

Burial: Bond-Harvison Memorial Park, Wiggins, MS

Occupation: 1880, Works at Saw-logs

 

Notes for MINERVA WILLIAMS:

According to Eva Mae Gibson in a testimony on November 1, 2001 to Howard Baulch, Minerva died in 1921. She had eaten parched peanuts, talked and laughed with family until 2am. Everyone told her not to eat so many peanuts, but she kept on eating them. She died in her sleep that night.

 

The 1870 U.S. Census for Pass Christian, Harrison Co., MS, page 388 lists Minerva Williams at age 14 living with her sisters Elizabeth and Ophelia (ages 12 and 9, her mother Catharine Terrell Williams Gammill, her stepfather Benjamin, and her half-siblings.  According to Dimple Ferrell, Minerva had two sisters named Elizabeth and Ophelia, so this must be the three of them. Minerva's death certificate confirms that Catherine is her mother.

 

The 1860 Census should reflect Minerva Williams at age 4, Elizabeth Williams at age 2, Catherine Williams at age 27, and Lewis Williams. A search in this census for Harrison, Perry, and Jackson counties brought no matches. Hancock county is not online, so it has not been searched.

 

The death certificate for Minerva Williams Gibson is on record at the Mississippi State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Her 1921 certificate is number 21709. On that certificate it is recorded that she died on December 18, 1921 in Bond, Stone County, Mississippi. She is listed as female, white, and widowed. Her birth is recorded as April 6, 1857 in Mississippi. Her father is listed as Lewis Williams of Mississippi, and her mother is recorded as Catherine Terrell, also of Mississippi. The cause of death is recorded as "hemorrhage from gastric ulcer." The burial is noted to be in Wiggins on 12-19-1921. The informant was A. (Abner) Gibson of Bond, Mississippi.

 

More About MINERVA WILLIAMS:

Burial: December 19, 1921, Bond-Harvison Memorial Park, Wiggins, Stone Co., MS

Cause of Death (Facts Pg): December 18, 1921, Hemorrhage from gastric ulcer

 

Marriage Notes for URIAH GIBSON and MINERVA WILLIAMS:

The State of Louisiana, Parish of Rapides.

To Obediah Johnson, Esq.

Who is Authorized to Celebrate Marriages in and for the Parish of Rapides--Greeting:

YOU ARE HEREBY LICENSED and permitted to unite in the Bonds of Matrimony, according to law Mr. Uriah Gibson and Miss Minerva Williams

GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of Office as Clerk of the District Court, in and for the Parish of Rapides, the 4th day of September, 1878.

James H. Rausdell, Clerk.

--------------

State of Louisiana, Parish of Rapides.

Be It Remembered, That on the 5 day of September 1878, Mr. Uriah Gibson and Miss Minerva Williams personall appeared before me Obey Johnson, Justice of Peace in and for the Parish of Rapides, together with Balis Goldmon, W. S. Braddy, S. H. Smith all witnesses of full age, and resident in the said Parish, and then and there the said Mr. Uriah GIbson and Miss Minerva Williams having produced the License required by law, signified their desire and intention, before us, the said Justice of Peace and witnesses, to be united in the State of Matrimony.

Whereupon, after due proclamation made, and no impediment being suggested, they, the said Mr. Uriah Gibson and Miss Minerva Williams were by the said Justice of Peace, in the presence of said witnesses, Joined in Wedlock, according to the laws of the State of Louisiana, and by me, the said Justice of Peace duly pronounced to be Husband and Wife.

In Testimony Whereof, the parties to the said Marriage hereunto affix their signatures, together with me the said Justice of Peace, and the aforesaid witnesses, on this 5 day of September 1878 at S. H. Smith La., in the Parish aforesaid.

WITNESSES:

W. S. Braddy

B. E. Goldmon

Sherrod H. Smith

Uriah Gibson

Minerva {her mark} Gibson

Oby Johnson, Justice Peace

 

       

Children of URIAH GIBSON and MINERVA WILLIAMS are:

2.                i.    EMMA ELLEN2 GIBSON, b. July 1879, Jasper Co., TX; d. Bef. 1930, Harrison Co., MS.

3.               ii.    ABNER W. GIBSON, b. June 15, 1881, Rapides Parish, LA; d. September 04, 1970, Hattiesburg, Forrest Co., MS.

4.              iii.    ALICE GIBSON, b. June 15, 1881, Rapides Parish, LA; d. June 09, 1949, Forrest Co., MS.

5.              iv.    OPHELIA CALDONIA GIBSON, b. April 15, 1885, TX; d. January 22, 1965, New Augusta, Perry Co., MS.

6.               v.    SUSIE GIBSON, b. December 16, 1891, Rapides Parish, LA; d. July 13, 1967, Forrest Co., MS.

7.              vi.    JESSIE MARCELLUS GIBSON, b. January 29, 1894, MS; d. February 09, 1978, Wiggins, Stone Co., MS.

8.             vii.    RUTH CATHERINE GIBSON, b. February 26, 1896, Wiggins, Harrison Co., MS; d. June 24, 1974, Perry Co., MS.

 

 

Generation No. 2

 

2.  EMMA ELLEN2 GIBSON (URIAH MELTON1, AMOSA, ZEDEKIAH R.B, JAMESC) was born July 1879 in Jasper Co., TX, and died Bef. 1930 in Harrison Co., MS.  She married VERNON MONTGOMERY WEDGEWORTH January 31, 1899 in Harrison Co., MS, son of JOEL WEDGEWORTH and MINERVA TERRELL.  He was born November 25, 1873 in Saucier, Harrison Co., MS, and died Aft. 1930 in Harrison Co., MS.

 

More About EMMA ELLEN GIBSON:

Burial: (unconfirmed) Saucier Cemetery, Harrison Co., MS

 

More About VERNON MONTGOMERY WEDGEWORTH:

Burial: (unconfirmed) Saucier Cemetery, Harrison Co., MS

       

Children of EMMA GIBSON and VERNON WEDGEWORTH are:

                   i.    GUSSIE3 WEDGEWORTH, b. 1901, Harrison Co., MS.

                  ii.    JESSE WEDGEWORTH, b. Abt. 1904.

                 iii.    BERTIE WEDGEWORTH, b. January 24, 1906, Success, Saucier, MS; d. January 15, 1990, Harrison Co., MS; m. DACIDE SIDNEY CUEVAS, July 30, 1927, Gulfport, Harrison Co., MS; b. November 07, 1896, Gulfport, Harrison Co., MS; d. July 28, 1977, Biloxi, MS.

 

More About BERTIE WEDGEWORTH:

Burial: January 17, 1990, Wolf River Cemetery, Harrison Co., MS

 

More About DACIDE SIDNEY CUEVAS:

Burial: July 30, 1977, Wolf River Cemetery, Harrison Co., MS

 

                 iv.    DAVID C. WEDGEWORTH, b. May 19, 1908, MS; d. December 08, 1990, Saucier, Harrison Co., MS; m. (1) EVA DENNING, December 10, 1927, Harrison Co., MS; b. Abt. 1915, MS; m. (2) BESSIE SAUCIER, December 26, 1932, Harrison Co., MS; b. March 06, 1916, MS; d. April 15, 1992.

 

More About DAVID C. WEDGEWORTH:

Burial: McHenry, Stone Co., MS

 

More About BESSIE SAUCIER:

Burial: Possibly Wiggins, Stone Co., MS

 

                  v.    GENEAVE MARCIA WEDGEWORTH, b. Abt. 1910; m. LLOYD JOHNSON.

                 vi.    LAVADIA M. WEDGEWORTH, b. January 04, 1915; d. April 04, 1976; m. RANDOLPH PIPKINS; b. November 21, 1916; d. February 14, 1983.

 

More About LAVADIA M. WEDGEWORTH:

Burial: D. C. Wedgeworth Cemetery, Harrison Co., MS

 

More About RANDOLPH PIPKINS:

Burial: D. C. Wedgeworth Cemetery, Harrison Co., MS

 

                vii.    WILMER WEDGEWORTH, b. April 09, 1919; m. ELMER LEE; b. April 30, 1912; d. September 29, 1986, Perkinson, Stone Co., MS.

 

More About ELMER LEE:

Burial: Perkinston Cemetery, Stone Co., MS

 

               viii.    RUDOLPH V. WEDGEWORTH, b. November 18, 1924; d. August 07, 1985, Saucier, Harrison Co., MS; m. EARLINE SAUCIER; b. December 29, 1924, Harrison Co., MS; d. July 27, 1993, Saucier, Harrison Co., MS.

 

Notes for RUDOLPH V. WEDGEWORTH:

As it was told, he was an excellent carpenter before he retired. Also told that he shot himself in the mouth on his back door step, for personal reasons.

 

 

More About RUDOLPH V. WEDGEWORTH:

Burial: Wedgeworth Cemetery, Saucier, Harrison Co., MS

 

More About EARLINE SAUCIER:

Burial: Wedgeworth Cemetery, Saucier, Harrison Co., MS

 

 

3.  ABNER W.2 GIBSON (URIAH MELTON1, AMOSA, ZEDEKIAH R.B, JAMESC) was born June 15, 1881 in Rapides Parish, LA, and died September 04, 1970 in Hattiesburg, Forrest Co., MS.  He married (1) HATTIE BOUNDS.    He married (2) ROSA LEE December 24, 1903 in Pearl River Co., MS, daughter of THOMAS LEE and ELIZABETH WILLIAMS.  She was born April 04, 1881 in Poplarville, Marion Co., MS, and died March 04, 1933 in Wiggins, Stone Co., MS.

 

Notes for ABNER W. GIBSON:

Lived in Alexandria, LA as a child.

 

From his World War I Registration Card, serial number 354, order number A58:

Name: Abner Gibson

Address: Bond, Stone County, Miss.

Age: 37

Date of Birth: June 15, 1881

Race: White

U.S. Citizen: Native Born

Present Occupation: Farmer

Employer's Name: Self

Place of Employment: Bond, Stone County, Miss.

Nearest Relative: Rosa Gibson, Wife

Height: Medium

Build: Medium

Color of Eyes: Gray

Color of Hair: Light Brown

Signature of Registrar: J. R. Davis

Date of Registration: 9/12/18

Stamp of Local Board: Local Board for the County of Stone, State of Mississippi, Wiggins, Mississippi.

 

According to the 1920 U.S. Census for Stone County, Mississippi, Beat 1, Supervisor's District Number 6, Enumeration District Number 140, Beat 1, Sheet Number 4B, enumerated on the 15, 16, and 17 day of January, 1920 by Lela A. Batson, transcribed by Howard Baulch from census image, the household of Abner Gibson (house 69) was recorded as follows:

Name, Relation, Sex, Race, Age, Marital Status, Birthplace, Father's Birthplace, Mother's Birthplace

Abner Gibson, Head, M, W, 28, M, Louisiana, Louisiana, Mississippi (Home owned free)

Rosa Lee, Wife, F, W, 28, M, Mississippi, Mississippi, Mississippi

Burrel E. Gibson, Son, M, W, 11, S, Mississippi, Louisiana, Mississippi

Eva M. Gibson, Daughter, F, W, 9, S, Mississippi, Louisiana, Mississippi

Mittie R. Gibson, Daughter, F, W, 3 4/12, S, Mississippi, Louisiana, Mississippi

Maybell Gibson, Daughter, F, W, 7/12, S, Mississippi, Louisiana, Mississippi

 

From http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ms/county/perry/cemeteries/ebeneezer.htm, Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Highway 29 South, Perry County, MS. Compiled by Robert J. McSwain, Sr. and Robert J. McSwain, Jr. To get to this Cemetery, from the intersection of Highway 98 & 29 in New Augusta, go 27.6 miles on Highway 29 South to Ebenezer Baptist Church. The Cemetery is on the left side of the Church. Buried there are Abner, wife Rosa Lee, and daughter Mittie Ruth.

 

Abner's obituary was published in the Daily Herald Biloxi-Gulfport, Mississippi on September 5, 1970 as follows:

     "Abner Gibson, 89, 1202 West Elmer St., Wiggins, died Friday in a Hattiesburg hospital. He was born June 13, 1881, in Louisiana, and was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church in Wiggins.

     Survivors are three daughteers (sic), Mrs. Eva Mar (sic) Johnson and Miss Mittie Ruth Gibson both of Wiggins, and Mrs. Jim Baulch, Slidell, La.; one son Ernest Earl Gibson, Gulfport; one sister, Mrs. Katherine Johnson, and one brother, J. M. Gibson, both of Wiggins. Ten grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren also survive.

     The body will be taken to the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Wiggins Saturday, at 10 a.m. where it will lie in state until the funeral service at 11 a.m. Rev. Chevis Gibson, Rev. Tommy Mize and Rev. Hollis Smith will officiate. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

     Dees Funeral Home in Wiggins is in charge of arrangements."

 

More About ABNER W. GIBSON:

Burial: Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

Religion: Baptist

Social Security Number: Bef. 1951, 427-20-2600

 

More About ROSA LEE:

Burial: Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

Religion: Baptist

       

Children of ABNER GIBSON and ROSA LEE are:

                   i.    INFANT SON3 GIBSON, b. Abt. 1905, Bond, Harrison Co., MS; d. Abt. 1905, Bond, Harrison Co., MS.

                  ii.    INFANT SON GIBSON, b. Abt. 1906, Bond, Harrison Co., MS; d. Abt. 1906, Bond, Harrison Co., MS.

                 iii.    BURL EARNEST GIBSON, SR., b. March 07, 1908, Bond, Harrison Co., MS; d. May 04, 1971, Gulfport, Harrison Co., MS; m. (1) LOTTIE BELL WHIGHAM, October 29, 1926, Bond, Stone Co., MS; b. March 23, 1912; d. July 03, 1929; m. (2) HAZEL ELIZABETH BLACK, March 16, 1932, Pearl River Co., MS; b. September 03, 1914; d. December 09, 1992, Gulfport, Harrison Co., MS; m. (3) MAE ?, Aft. 1944; m. (4) ALICE MARIE BULLOCK, Abt. 1968, Gulfport, Harrison Co., MS; b. June 18, 1936, Woodsworts, LA; d. July 17, 1978, Gulfport, Harrison Co., MS.

 

More About BURL EARNEST GIBSON, SR.:

Burial: unmarked grave in Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

Social Security Number: 427-20-0295

 

Notes for LOTTIE BELL WHIGHAM:

Lottie was killed in an automobile accident.

 

More About LOTTIE BELL WHIGHAM:

Burial: Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry County, MS

 

More About ALICE MARIE BULLOCK:

Burial: Evergreen Cemetery, Gulfport, Harrison Co., MS

 

                 iv.    EVA MAE GIBSON, b. May 16, 1910, Bond, Harrison Co., MS; d. October 31, 2002, Wiggins, Stone Co., MS; m. LEWIS VAN BUREN JOHNSON, SR., August 08, 1935, Poplarville, Pearl River Co., MS; b. June 16, 1913, Perry Co., MS; d. June 30, 1999, Gautier, MS.

 

Notes for EVA MAE GIBSON:

The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Mississippi), Friday, November 1, 2002:

 

"Eva Johnson's kindness won the kids

By KAT BERGERON

THE SUN HERALD

 

WIGGINS - The neighborhood kids loved Eva M. Johnson. She was always there for them, but best of all, she let them take away candy when they didn't have the cash to pay. Her little grocery store on Magnolia Drive in Wiggins was a safe haven - and a stash of goodies.

 

"We'd be playing in the woods, run over to the store to buy candy and a soft drink, then we'd go back to playing," said Susan Lott, the Stone County comptroller who grew up in the piney-woods neighborhood.

 

"She'd keep a ticket on each of us and at the end of the month let our parents know how much it was. Sometimes we'd have her slice up just a couple of pieces of lunch meat and we'd take it home to make a sandwich. When I think back on those times, they really were incredible."

 

"Miss Johnson," as the neighborhood politely called her, died Thursday at 92. Although Johnson's Grocery closed two decades ago, those who grew up with its friendly proprietor in the 1950s through the 1970s never forgot her kindness.

 

"She was a sweetheart," Lott said.

 

Johnson is also remembered for her strong faith. Until age slowed her, she taught Sunday school and was faithfully involved in the women's league at Vardaman Street Baptist Church.

 

"She believed in teaching the Bible to all of her friends and anyone who would listen," said her daughter, Eva "Dimple" Ferrell of Wiggins.

 

"Her upbringing was the key to her personality. Her mother died when she was a teen-ager so she quit school to take care of the other children. She never resented or regretted it.

 

"She lived the Christian way and set a good example."

 

An obituary appears below.

 

Eva Johnson

 

Service: 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Moore Funeral Home in Wiggins.

 

- WIGGINS - Eva M. Johnson, 92, died Thursday, Oct. 31, 2002, in Wiggins.

 

Mrs. Johnson was a retired owner of Johnson's Grocery in Wiggins and was a member of Vardaman Street Baptist Church.

 

Survivors include a daughter, Dimple Ferrell of Wiggins; a sister, Madie Baulch of Franklin, Tenn.; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

 

Visitation will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Moore Funeral Home in Wiggins. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home chapel, with burial in Ebenezer Cemetery."

 

More About EVA MAE GIBSON:

Burial: November 02, 2002, Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

Religion: Baptist

 

More About LEWIS VAN BUREN JOHNSON, SR.:

Burial: Serene Memorial Gardens, Escatawpa, MS

 

                  v.    INFANT DAUGHTER GIBSON, b. Abt. 1913, Bond, Harrison Co., MS; d. Abt. 1913, Bond, Harrison Co., MS.

                 vi.    MITTIE RUTH GIBSON, b. August 22, 1916, Bond, Stone Co., MS; d. November 13, 1998, Gulfport, MS.

 

Notes for MITTIE RUTH GIBSON:

Mittie Ruth was never able to support herself independently. She lived with her father, Abner Gibson, or her sister, Eva Mae Gibson Johnson, most of her life, until her care requirements necessitated living in a nursing home. She died in a nursing home in Gulfport, Mississippi. Her obituary read as follows, "Mittie Ruth Gibson, 82, of Gulfport, died November 13, 1998, in Gulfport. She was a member of Vardaman Street Baptist Church in Wiggins, and a native of Stone County. She is survived by two sisters, Eva Mae Johnson of Wiggins and Madie Baulch, of Franklin, Tennessee; and a number of neices (sic) and nephews. Services were held November 15th at Moore Funeral Home in Wiggins, with burial at Ebenezer Cemetery in Wiggins."

 

 

More About MITTIE RUTH GIBSON:

Burial: November 15, 1998, Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

Religion: Baptist

 

                vii.    MADIE GIBSON, b. May 14, 1919, Bond, Stone Co., MS; m. JAMES HOMER BAULCH, April 13, 1940; b. December 18, 1915, Gallatin, Sumner Co., TN; d. November 24, 1992, Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, LA.

 

Notes for MADIE GIBSON:

Madie was given the name Maybell at birth, but her sister, Mittie Ruth, could never pronounce it right and called her Madie. Eventually she legally changed her name to Madie and dropped any reference to Maybell. She was raised in Bond, Mississippi and attended Harrison-Stone-Jackson Agricultural High School and Junior College (later known as Perkinston Junior College).

 

The following is her wedding announcement contained in a local newspaper:

"Mr. Abner Gibson announces the marriage of his daughter Miss Madie Gibson to Mr. James H. Baulch, son of Mr. G. N. Baulch of Gallatin, Tenn. The groom is a graduate of Bowling Green Commercial Law School of Bowling Green, Kentucky and has been bookkeeping instructor and business manager at Perkinston Junior Colege (sic) for two years when he resigned to take a position in Tennessee. The bride is a graduate of Perkinston High School. The young couple left as soon as his work was completed at the Junior College. They will be at his home in Gallatin, Tenn."

 

Madie was an accomplished seamstress, making clothes for her children and thirteen grandchildren. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church, having held numerous positions on church boards and committees. One of her greatest gifts is her contributions to the Altar Guild and, more directly, the talent she has with the flower arrangements for the church services. When Jim entered semi-retirement, they enjoyed travels to West Germany, Austria, England, Canada, and Brazil. Life was difficult for Madie after Jim died in November 1992. In September 1997 she moved from Slidell, Louisiana to Morningside Assisted Living in Franklin, Tennessee.

 

More About MADIE GIBSON:

Religion: Aft. 1940, Methodist

 

Notes for JAMES HOMER BAULCH:

The middle name of Homer came from the man who delivered James into this world, Dr. Homer Reese. Raised and schooled in Tennessee, he spent his grammar school years at the Salem School building where he laughingly claimed he "was the smartest one in the eighth grade ... and the only one!" He attended Spartanburg Textile & Industrial Institute (l.k.a. Spartanburg Junior College), University of Tennessee, and Bowling Green College of Commerce. After graduating from college, he became an instructor and business manager at Harrison-Stone-Jackson Agricultural High School and Junior College (l.k.a. Perkinston Junior College), where he met a student, Madie Gibson, who became his wife. He and Madie moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where he was a bookkeeper and instructor for Carolina Business College. He later joined his brother, Ernest, as schoolmaster at "Baulch Junior School for Boys" in Park City, Kentucky until 1949. From there they moved to Hopkinsville, Kentucky where he was Business Manager for Hopkinsville Lincoln-Mercury and bookkeeper for Hopkinsville Auto Parts until 1958. He was then recruited by Oak Motors of Nashville, Tennessee to be Assistant Business Manager. In 1959 he was recruited by Jim Burke Buick of Birmingham, Alabama to be Business Manager. In 1964 he followed his doctor's advice to find a less stressful job and moved to Slidell, Louisiana to be Business Manager and part owner of John Brown Olds (later Tom Brown Olds-Buick, Del Williams Motors, and Bill Ward Motors), Slidell, Louisiana until his retirement in 1986 (excepting for a brief return to Birmingham, Alabama to help out Jim Burke Buick in 1971).

 

James Baulch was received into membership of the Salem Methodist Church, north of Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee in October 1929 by his brother, Rev. Ernest F. Baulch. He remained an active member of the United Methodist Church his entire life, holding numerous positions on its boards and committees and taught an Adult Sunday School Class for over 30 years. He was an ardent believer in maintaining a healthy body, engaging in a variety of exercise programs, particularly those centered around running. He won numerous awards for finishing top in his age group for 10K and 5K runs through age 76. Having been raised on a farm, the "farmer blood" never left him. He maintained a vegetable garden wherever he lived and helped his children establish ones for them.

 

Largely due to his active life style, he looked and acted younger than his years. He was admired and respected by his friends and family for his physical, mental, and spiritual strength. He was the epitome of reliability: if he promised he would do something, he did it as committed and did it well. While quite introverted, he was a friend to anyone who needed him, often selflessly sacrificing himself in support of others. Friends and family knew they could count on him.

 

He and his wife, Madie, lived a beautiful fifty-two years together. They were always committed to each other, to their family, to their church, and to their friends. They were both victims of a tragic car accident (being hit broadside by a one-ton truck that ran through an inoperative red light) in May 1992 and were hospitalized for over a month. With two brain hemorrhages and numerous broken bones, recovery was slow and physical therapy was difficult. Six months later, a massive stroke put him in a deep, irreversible coma. With no hope of a functional life, his family followed his often repeated request if such an occasion arose. He was taken home and removed from life support systems. He died on November 24, 1992, two days before Thanksgiving. It was as he would have liked it: he was at home in his own bed, kept warm by the quilt made by his mother that had been a wedding gift to Madie and him, and surrounded by his family. Madie, all three children, and all their spouses were there, singing hymns from the United Methodist Hymnal. It was during his son Howard's singing of "How Great Thou Art" that he breathed his last breath here on earth. His son-in-law, Floyd Duvall, fittingly read the Twenty-Third Psalm as he joined the angels in heaven.

 

Originally, Jim was placed in a mausoleum in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Slidell, Louisiana. After Madie moved to Franklin, Tennessee in September 1997, he was moved to his final burial place in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville, Tennessee, near his parents and his brother, Nelson Howard Baulch.

 

More About JAMES HOMER BAULCH:

Burial: 1997, Woodlawn Memorial Park, Nashville, TN

HS Education: Raised and schooled in Gallatin, TN

Religion: Methodist

 

 

4.  ALICE2 GIBSON (URIAH MELTON1, AMOSA, ZEDEKIAH R.B, JAMESC) was born June 15, 1881 in Rapides Parish, LA, and died June 09, 1949 in Forrest Co., MS.  She married ANDREW PEARCE Abt. 1900.  He was born November 07, 1863, and died July 10, 1950 in Forrest Co., MS.

 

More About ALICE GIBSON:

Burial: Brooklyn Cemetery, Forrest Co., MS

 

More About ANDREW PEARCE:

Burial: Brooklyn Cemetery, Forrest Co., MS

       

Children of ALICE GIBSON and ANDREW PEARCE are:

                   i.    JERUSHA3 PEARCE, b. November 14, 1901; d. March 30, 1980; m. JOE HORACE MOODY; b. January 26, 1896; d. March 22, 1964.

 

More About JERUSHA PEARCE:

Burial: Clear Creek Methodist Protestant Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

More About JOE HORACE MOODY:

Burial: Clear Creek Methodist Protestant Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

                  ii.    DAVID AQUILLA PEARCE, b. January 12, 1904; d. January 07, 1993; m. LOIS B., August 10, 1930; b. September 19, 1910; d. August 10, 1994.

 

More About DAVID AQUILLA PEARCE:

Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Wiggins, Stone Co., MS

 

More About LOIS B.:

Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Wiggins, Stone Co., MS

 

                 iii.    AMOS LORENZA PEARCE, b. 1905; d. October 19, 1954, Perry Co., MS; m. EULA MAE BRELAND; b. August 14, 1913; d. December 15, 1997.

 

More About AMOS LORENZA PEARCE:

Burial: October 21, 1954, Brooklyn Cemetery, Forrest Co., MS

Cause of Death (Facts Pg): Murder

 

More About EULA MAE BRELAND:

Burial: Brooklyn Cemetery, Forrest Co., MS

 

                 iv.    ALMEDIA PEARCE, b. November 29, 1906; d. August 20, 1940; m. JESSIE H. HAYES; b. August 21, 1899; d. March 1975.

 

More About ALMEDIA PEARCE:

Burial: Brooklyn Cemetery, Forrest Co., MS

 

More About JESSIE H. HAYES:

Burial: Brooklyn Cemetery, Forrest Co., MS

 

                  v.    WILLIAM COMMODORE PEARCE, b. February 21, 1910; d. June 1975; m. DORIS HAND.

 

More About WILLIAM COMMODORE PEARCE:

Burial: Palestine Cemetery, Picayune, Pearl River Co., MS

 

                 vi.    CASMUS THEODORE PEARCE, b. September 29, 1912; d. May 21, 2001, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY; m. CORA LEE.

                vii.    OLLIE LEOTHA PEARCE, b. September 12, 1919; d. October 19, 1954, Perry Co., MS; m. AVIS MARGUERITTA BERRY, November 07, 1947, Lucedale, George Co., MS; b. November 04, 1925, Broome, George Co., MS; d. October 19, 1954, Perry Co., MS.

 

Notes for OLLIE LEOTHA PEARCE:

TSgt in Company 17 Infantry, WWII BSM-PH.

 

From Page 1 of The Hattisburg American, Wednesday, October 20, 1954:

PERRY COUNTY TRAGEDY

Bad Feeling in Slayer's Head Only Clue to Six Shootings

by Elliott Chaze

Photo 1 - "One of the Guns - O. L. Pearce used this 22 rifle to shoot his oldest child, Charles, 6. He put the rifle on this table on the porch and killed four other persons and himself with a shotgun."

Photo 2 - "Pearce Home - The O. L. Pearce home is located about five miles east of Brooklyn on the road to Janice. It is in Perry County."

Photo 3 - "Bloodstained Wrappings - Strips of cotton cloth and a tarpaulin were found in the trunk of Pearce's car where he had placed the bodies of the three children after they were killed."

       "Perry County Sheriff Dee Hammett said today he had not found a really believable clue as to why 35-year-old O. L. Pearce ran amuck Tuesday, killing his wife, their three small children and his brother and then took his own life.

       The death weapons were a .22 caliber rifle and a rusty old 20-gauge shotgun which was borrowed the night before the slayings.

       Victims of what the sheriff described as 'a horrible exhibition of controlled insanity,' were: Mrs. Avis Pearce, 29; Charles, 6; Elaine, 4; Freida, 3; and Lorenzo Pearce, 49. Charles died of a bullet wound from the rifle, the others from shotgun wounds. Apparently all met death between 8 and 10:30 a.m., none suspecting until the final moments of terror that the Soil Conservation worker planned their destruction.

       When discovered at noon Tuesday, the bodies of O. L. Pearce and his wife and children lay in a bedroom of their home five miles east of Brooklyn on the Janice road.

       Note Gives Location

       A clearly written note in the bedroom gave the exact location of the body of the brother, approximately 12 miles from the Pearce home, in the woods off Highway 29. The hand-written note said: 'Lorenzo is at the old John Howard place down the old road where the old field has just been cleared. He is to the right in the woods about 150 feet from the old road.'

       Sheriff Hammett said the evidence indicates Lorenzo Pearce was slain first.

       The sheriff said after talking to neighbors that this appeared to be the sequence of events which led to the tragedy:

       Monday night, shortly before dark, O. L. Pearce visited the home of a Negro, George W. Fairley, who lived nearby.

       Fairley had been working for him seven years as a general handyman, helping with the cows and chickens.  The white man told the Negro: 'I want to borrow your shotgun. There's a fool dog been keeping us awake.'

       Fairley thought nothing of it, but said later: 'He didn't act noways strange. But the day before he told me out in the yard his head felt funny. Said it felt like it was maybe goin' to hemorrhage.'

       Around 8 a.m. Tuesday Pearce told the Negro, who had come to tend the cow: "I'm going over to see my brother's and settle a debt." Pearce then climbed in his car and drove the quarter-mile to the home of Lorenzo Pearce. They were seen a short while later driving toward the old John Howard place where Lorenzo met his death.

       Took Child From School

       O. L. Pearce then returned home and picked up the two younger children, driving to the Janice school house and asking for Charles, the only one of the children of school-age. The father told a teacher: "Charles was sick in the night. Want to take him to the doctor for a good checkup."

       He drove the children to the woods, killed them, placed their bodies in the trunk of the late-model sedan and returned home. Bloodstains were found later in the luggage compartment and there were pine needles clinging to the bodies of the children. Also found was a blood-smeared tarpaulin in the luggage compartment.

       At this point Pearce apparently entered the house and shot his wife who lay, fully dressed, on the bed. Blood soaked the bedding beneath the brown-haired, blue-eyed woman.

       After this Pearce must have brought into the house the bodies of the children, still wrapped in the tarpaulin. He arranged a small palette on the floor, making it of faded blue blankets and placed the small bodies on it in a neat row, each child lying on its right side. They lay near the foot of the large double bed which held the body of their mother.

       Pearce then climbed into the double bed and lay down beside the body of his wife. The barrel of the shotgun was short enough to allow him to reach down and trigger the final blast. When the bodies were discovered the shotgun was on his body.

       The room otherwise was in perfect order.

       Shoes In Line

       Pearce had placed his own shoes beneath the edge of the bed, beside those of his wife. Side-by-side on the under-ledge of a bedside table were two pairs of small red little girls' shoes, still bright with newness.

       The mother lay on her back in the big bed, as did Pearce, his head turned slightly to the left. Both had been shot in the head. All three children died of head wounds and so did Lorenzo Pearce.

       State Highway Patrolman H. A. Murphy described the bodies in the bedroom as "the worst sight I've even seen."

       County Attorney John M. Dunnam, who was a member of the party which located Lorenzo Pearce's body at 2:30 p.m., said: "He was lying on his back, one hand still in his pants pocket. The charge of shot entered at the base of the skull. Plenty of powder burns. Point blank range. The shot ripped loose part of his hat band."

       By the time Lorenzo Pearce's body was brought by ambulance to the yard of the O. L. Pearce home, the yard was filled with a quiet throng of neighbors. They smoked and talked in hushed tones as Coroner John Box held the inquest. They nodded solemnly when the coroner's jury agreed with Sheriff Hammett's statement that it was a matter of five murders and a suicide. One sunburned farmer told a reporter: "Mister Pearce had himself a heap of financial worries. I was right close to him and what I'm telling you is the truth."

       Sheriff Hammett said several other neighbors told the same story of Pearce's financial troubles.

       Was Standing By Bed

       George Fairley, the Negro who was interviewed earlier by Hammett, now returned to the yard, head bowed, holding his stained hat in trembling hands. He told a reporter: "After Mister Pearce left for his brother's this morning, Miz Pearce told me something strange. Said about 2 a.m. she woke up and saw her husband standin' over her. She said it look like he had a long stick in his hands. Said she asked him what was the matter and he said he didn't feel good; that maybe he ought to take a walk."

       Fairley said Mrs. Pearce told him she went back to sleep after a while and didn't know if her husband took a walk.

       Sheriff Hammett said one of several puzzling factors in the case was use of two weapons. The automatic rifle was found on a table on the back porch of the house. Next to it was Pearce's wide-brimmed cattleman-type hat.

       A neighbor testified she saw Pearce and all three children in the family car shortly after 9 a.m.

       A remarkable aspect of the tragedy is that although six persons died, two of them in the house, not a single neighbor reported seeing anything which looked suspicious and no one told later of hearing the noise of the shotgun.

       The bodies were found by Fairley during a routine visit to the house.

SERVICES THURSDAY FOR SHOOTING VICTIMS

       Funeral services will be held Thursday for the six victims of the shooting.

       Joint services will be held for Mrs. O. L. Pearce and her three children. Separate double services will be held for Lorenzo Pearce and O. L. Pearce.

       Services for the 29-year-old Mrs. Pearce, her son, Charles, 6, and her two daughters, Margaret Elaine, 4, and Freida, 3, will be at 10 a.m. at Pine Grove Methodist Church in Jackson County. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery.

       Mrs. Pearce is survived by her father, L. C. Berry of Perkinston; two brothers, Willard Berry of Perkinston and Harrell Berry of Winnie, Tex.; and a sister, Mrs. Art O'Neal of Perkinston.

       Services for Mrs. Pearce's husband, Ollie Leother, 35, and his brother, Amos Lorenzo, 49, will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Clear Creek Methodist Church at Janice in Perry County. Burial will be in Brooklyn Cemetery.

       Lorenzo Pearce is survived by his wife, a daughter, Della Pearl of Brooklyn, and a son, Gordon Everett of Brooklyn.

       Both men leave three brothers, W. C. Pearce of Shelby, D. A. of Wiggins, and C. T. Pearce of the U. S. Army; one sister, Mrs. J. H. Moody of Brooklyn, and a number of nieces and nephews.

       Hulett Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for both services."

 

More About OLLIE LEOTHA PEARCE:

Burial: October 21, 1954, Brooklyn Cemetery, Forrest Co., MS

Cause of Death (Facts Pg): Suicide

Occupation: Soil conservation worker

 

More About AVIS MARGUERITTA BERRY:

Burial: October 21, 1954, Pine Grove Methodist Church Cemetery, Jackson Co., MS

Cause of Death (Facts Pg): Murder

 

 

5.  OPHELIA CALDONIA2 GIBSON (URIAH MELTON1, AMOSA, ZEDEKIAH R.B, JAMESC) was born April 15, 1885 in TX, and died January 22, 1965 in New Augusta, Perry Co., MS.  She married WILLIAM ISAIAH MARTIN December 25, 1902 in Perry Co., MS.  He was born October 01, 1880 in MS, and died June 18, 1950 in New Augusta, Perry Co., MS.

 

More About OPHELIA CALDONIA GIBSON:

Burial: New Augusta Cemetery, Perry County, MS

Social Security Number: 428-76-9185

 

More About WILLIAM ISAIAH MARTIN:

Burial: New Augusta Cemetery, Perry County, MS

       

Children of OPHELIA GIBSON and WILLIAM MARTIN are:

                   i.    ESTHER C.3 MARTIN, b. December 24, 1904, Brooklyn, Perry Co., MS; d. February 1966; m. NOLLIE P. FAIRLEY; b. March 15, 1908, Brooklyn, Perry Co., MS; d. April 1975.

                  ii.    GERTRUDE P. MARTIN, b. October 28, 1905; d. February 14, 1964; m. JOHN T. MORGAN; b. January 27, 1906; d. June 20, 1965.

                 iii.    LINUS BAXTER MARTIN, SR., b. May 10, 1908, Perry Co., MS; d. November 06, 1994, New Augusta, Perry Co., MS; m. MYRNIS AMMONS; b. 1911; d. January 26, 2004, Gulfport, Harrison Co., MS.

 

Notes for LINUS BAXTER MARTIN, SR.:

Linus Baxter Martin, Sr., and his father, William Isaiah, were both sheriffs of Perry County, MS.

Linus was a Lt. Col. in the U. S. Army and served in World War II.

 

 

 

More About LINUS BAXTER MARTIN, SR.:

Burial: New Augusta Cemetery, Perry County, MS

 

Notes for MYRNIS AMMONS:

From the Hattiesburg American, Wednesday, January 28, 2004,

"New Augusta - Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of New Augusta for Myrnis Ammons Martin, 92, of New Augusta, who died Jan. 26, 2004, at Gulfport Memorial Hospital.

Burial will be in New Augusta Cemetery.

Mrs. Martin was a retired school teacher and a member of First Bapatist Church of New Augusta.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Linus B. Martin Sr., and a son, Linus B Martin Jr and a grandson, Jonathan M. Martin.

Survivors include a daughter, Margaret Martin Baucum of New Augusta; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5:30-9 p.m. today at Jones Funeral home of Richton."

 

More About MYRNIS AMMONS:

Burial: New Augusta Cemetery, Perry County, MS

 

                 iv.    ELMORE E. MARTIN, b. May 20, 1910, Perry Co., MS; d. June 27, 1974, New Augusta, Perry Co., MS; m. (1) HORTENSE ?; m. (2) MAMIE ?; m. (3) IDA ?.

 

More About ELMORE E. MARTIN:

Burial: New Augusta Cemetery, Perry County, MS

 

                  v.    BOAZ C. MARTIN, b. September 03, 1912, Perry Co., MS; d. February 04, 1993, New Augusta, Perry Co., MS; m. KATHLEEN KIRKLAND; b. November 18, 1916; d. August 1999.

 

More About KATHLEEN KIRKLAND:

Burial: Hattiesburg, Forrest Co., MS

 

                 vi.    GRACE E. MARTIN, b. October 19, 1914; d. February 24, 1997; m. PHILLIP MARTIN SWARTZFAGER; b. March 13, 1912; d. July 1980.

                vii.    LEO N. MARTIN, b. January 29, 1917; d. June 1971, Perry Co., MS; m. GEORGE TYLER HADDEN; b. 1912; d. 1972.

 

More About LEO N. MARTIN:

Burial: New Augusta Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

More About GEORGE TYLER HADDEN:

Burial: New Augusta Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

               viii.    TOMMIE MARTIN, b. April 21, 1919, Brooklyn, Perry Co., MS; d. November 08, 1975; m. (1) DOROTHY S. SMITH; b. July 16, 1929; d. October 11, 1980; m. (2) FREDA TRUELOCK; b. January 23, 1918, Nevada; d. July 21, 1978.

 

Notes for TOMMIE MARTIN:

Uriah G. Martin legally changed his name to Tommy.

 

Staff Sgt. Army Air Force WWII.

 

 

 

More About TOMMIE MARTIN:

Burial: New Augusta Cemetery, Perry County, MS

 

More About DOROTHY S. SMITH:

Burial: New Augusta Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

                  ix.    JOVIDA H. MARTIN, b. Abt. February 1928, Perry Co., MS; m. MARTIN T. MOUL.

 

 

6.  SUSIE2 GIBSON (URIAH MELTON1, AMOSA, ZEDEKIAH R.B, JAMESC) was born December 16, 1891 in Rapides Parish, LA, and died July 13, 1967 in Forrest Co., MS.  She married RILEY PETTIS September 25, 1913 in Forrest Co., MS, son of LIZZIE ?.  He was born December 25, 1888 in Escambia Co., AL, and died January 31, 1966 in Forrest Co., MS.

 

More About SUSIE GIBSON:

Burial: Maxie Methodist Church Cemetery, Forrest Co., MS

 

More About RILEY PETTIS:

Burial: Maxie Methodist Church Cemetery, Forrest Co., MS

       

Children of SUSIE GIBSON and RILEY PETTIS are:

                   i.    ISAAC3 PETTIS, b. July 31, 1914; d. July 20, 1952, Forrest Co., MS.

 

More About ISAAC PETTIS:

Burial: Maxie Methodist Church Cemetery, Forrest County, MS

 

                  ii.    JACOB PETTIS, b. July 31, 1914; d. December 04, 1942; m. EDITH ?; b. November 05, 1914.

 

More About JACOB PETTIS:

Burial: Brooklyn Cemetery, Forrest Co., MS

 

                 iii.    ERNEST WILLIS PETTIS, SR., b. May 25, 1919, Forrest Co., MS; d. October 05, 1991; m. MARION CLEMINTINE ROBERTSON; b. February 26, 1923; d. March 05, 2004.

 

More About ERNEST WILLIS PETTIS, SR.:

Burial: Crest Lawn Memorial Park, Ocean Springs, MS

 

                 iv.    HOUSTON PETTIS, b. April 15, 1921, Forrest Co., MS; d. July 03, 1972; m. FLORENCE ?; b. Guam.

 

More About HOUSTON PETTIS:

Burial: Gulfport, Harrison Co., MS

 

                  v.    ELDRIDGE R. PETTIS I, b. October 21, 1923, Forrest Co., MS; d. September 07, 1994, Brooklyn, Forrest Co., MS; m. ETHEL GUNTHER; b. October 01, 1927.

 

More About ELDRIDGE R. PETTIS I:

Burial: Grace Chapel Church Cemetery, Brooklyn, Forrest Co., MS

 

                 vi.    GEORGAN A. PETTIS, b. November 26, 1927, Forrest Co., MS; m. (1) ERNEST MCBROOM; b. April 13, 1921; m. (2) ROBERT BURLESON; d. August 05, 1990; m. (3) GEORGE DAVIS HENNIS.

                vii.    GEORGE PETTIS, b. June 15, 1931; d. August 11, 1990.

 

Notes for GEORGE PETTIS:

George was born with Down's Syndrome and never married.

 

 

More About GEORGE PETTIS:

Burial: Maxie Methodist Church Cemetery, Forrest Co., MS

 

               viii.    WILLIS PETTIS.

 

 

7.  JESSIE MARCELLUS2 GIBSON (URIAH MELTON1, AMOSA, ZEDEKIAH R.B, JAMESC) was born January 29, 1894 in MS, and died February 09, 1978 in Wiggins, Stone Co., MS.  He married (1) DRUSILLA PEARCE June 12, 1915 in Perry Co., MS, daughter of ANDREW PEARCE and EMMA HOGAN.  She was born September 28, 1893 in MS, and died April 17, 1941.  He married (2) NETTIE SMITH July 24, 1941 in Stone Co., MS, daughter of ROBERT SMITH.  She was born September 04, 1911 in MS.

 

More About JESSIE MARCELLUS GIBSON:

Burial: Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry County, MS

 

More About DRUSILLA PEARCE:

Burial: Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry County, MS

       

Children of JESSIE GIBSON and DRUSILLA PEARCE are:

                   i.    LORENA3 GIBSON, b. May 24, 1916, MS; m. MELVIN MORGAN, December 03; b. July 14, 1911, MS; d. May 11, 2002.

 

More About MELVIN MORGAN:

Burial: Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

                  ii.    CHEVES CLIFTON GIBSON, b. February 27, 1919, MS; d. April 21, 1999, Red Bay, Franklin Co, AL; m. OLIVE RAYBURN, December 12, 1942, Stone Co., MS; b. September 25.

 

Notes for CHEVES CLIFTON GIBSON:

Newspaper clipping possessed by Dimple Ferrell reads as follows:

"Rev. and Mrs. Chevis Gibson will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, December 12, at the Ten Mile Baptist Church. The 4:00 o'clock p.m. renewal of vows ceremony will be performed by Pastor Thomas Foster. The Gibson's were married December 12, 1942. Attendants for the ceremony will be daughter Rhonda and husband Steve, grandsons Brandon and Blake Elliott, from Red Bay, Alabama. Their eldest grandson, Air Force Lt. Keith M. Gibson, the son of their late son Dennis Gibson, and his wife Dana, from Bossier City, LA. A reception hosted by their daughter and her family will follow in the Church Fellowship Hall. Friends and relatives are cordially invited to share in this happy celebration with us."

 

 

More About CHEVES CLIFTON GIBSON:

Social Security Number: 427-26-1027

 

                 iii.    NETTYE GIBSON, b. October 19, 1921; d. June 08, 2004, Perry Co., MS; m. VERNON COCHRAN; b. September 09, 1921.

 

Notes for NETTYE GIBSON:

From the Biloxi Sun Herald on June 10, 2004, "Nettye Cochran, 82, of Brooklyn, Miss., died June 8, 2004. Visit: Thurs., Moore Funeral Home. Service: 2 p.m., Friday, Cyprus Creek Bapt, Burial: Ebenezer Cemetery."

 

 

More About NETTYE GIBSON:

Burial: Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

                 iv.    CORNELIUS SPRIG GIBSON, b. February 13, 1925, Perry Co., MS; d. March 16, 1996, Wiggins, Stone Co., MS; m. (1) MILDRED R. COLVILLE, April 27, 1946, Wiggins, Stone Co., MS; b. May 29, 1926; m. (2) WILLIE CALDWELL, October 28, 1977, Stone Co., MS; b. April 19, 1922; d. March 27, 1995.

 

Notes for CORNELIUS SPRIG GIBSON:

Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery records the following:

 - Gibson, J. M., Born Jan. 29, 1894 Died Feb. 9, 1978

 - Gibson, Drusilla, (Wife of J. M.), Born Sept. 28, 1893 Died April 17, 1941

 - Gibson, Cornelius "Sprig", PFC, US Army, WWII, Born Feb. 13, 1925 Died March 16, 1996

 

 

More About CORNELIUS SPRIG GIBSON:

Burial: Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry County, MS

 

More About WILLIE CALDWELL:

Burial: Taylor Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

 

8.  RUTH CATHERINE2 GIBSON (URIAH MELTON1, AMOSA, ZEDEKIAH R.B, JAMESC) was born February 26, 1896 in Wiggins, Harrison Co., MS, and died June 24, 1974 in Perry Co., MS.  She married FRANKLIN WASHINGTON JOHNSON 1912, son of CALVIN JOHNSON and ALMEDIA ?.  He was born March 12, 1880 in MS, and died July 22, 1965 in Perry Co., MS.

 

Notes for RUTH CATHERINE GIBSON:

Obituary clipping possessed by Dimple Ferrell for Mrs. Ruthie Johnson reads as follows:

"Mrs. Ruthie Catherine Johnson, 78, Rt. 3, Box 202, Wiggins, died Monday at 12:45am at Stone County Hospital.

 

Mrs. Johnson, born Feb. 26, 1896, in Wiggins, was a member of Cross Road Baptist Church.

 

She is survived by seven sons: Louis (sic) Johnson, Pascagoula, Louie Johnson, Gautier, Paul B. Johnson, Richton, J. B. Johnson, Brooklyn, Miss., Elton Johnson, Warren, Ariz., Arthur Johnson, Wiggins, and A. J. Johnson, Freeland, Mich.; a stepson, Luther Johnson, McNeil, Miss.; three daughters, Mrs. Ira L. Easterling, Petal, Mrs. D. C. Ivy, Cumberland, N.C., and Mrs. Elizabeth Ballard, Wiggins; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Mack McKissack, Odessa, Texax; a brother, Marcellus Gibson, Wiggins; 21 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren, and 11 step-grandchildren.

 

The funeral service will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Cross Road Baptist Church, Wiggins. Officiating at the funeral services will be her grandson, Elder Lonnell Johnson, and Rev. Donnie L. Allums."

 

 

More About RUTH CATHERINE GIBSON:

Burial: Cross Roads Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry County, MS

 

Notes for FRANKLIN WASHINGTON JOHNSON:

From LDS Site, BLack Creek, Perry, MS Census of 1880, p. 315B:

 Calvin JOHNSON   Self   M   Male   W   34   MS   Farming   GA   SC

 Almedia JOHNSON   Wife   M   Female   W   32   MS   Keeping House   SC   SC

 James E. JOHNSON   Son   S   Male   W   13   MS   Works On Farm   MS   MS

 Misourie JOHNSON   Dau   S   Female   W   12   MS      MS   MS

 Wm. H. JOHNSON   Son   S   Male   W   10   MS   Works On Farm   MS   MS

 Printice M. JOHNSON   Son   S   Male   W   8   MS      MS   MS

 George W. JOHNSON   Son   S   Male   W   6   MS      MS   MS

 Catharine S. JOHNSON   Dau   S   Female   W   3   MS      MS   MS

 Frankling W. JOHNSON   Son   S   Male   W   3M   MS      MS   MS

 

 

More About FRANKLIN WASHINGTON JOHNSON:

Burial: Cross Roads Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

       

Children of RUTH GIBSON and FRANKLIN JOHNSON are:

                   i.    LEWIS VAN BUREN3 JOHNSON, SR., b. June 16, 1913, Perry Co., MS; d. June 30, 1999, Gautier, MS; m. (1) EVA MAE GIBSON, August 08, 1935, Poplarville, Pearl River Co., MS; b. May 16, 1910, Bond, Harrison Co., MS; d. October 31, 2002, Wiggins, Stone Co., MS; m. (2) HELEN VANCE, Bet. 1955 - 1957; b. April 17, 1929, Harrison Co., MS.

 

More About LEWIS VAN BUREN JOHNSON, SR.:

Burial: Serene Memorial Gardens, Escatawpa, MS

 

Notes for EVA MAE GIBSON:

The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Mississippi), Friday, November 1, 2002:

 

"Eva Johnson's kindness won the kids

By KAT BERGERON

THE SUN HERALD

 

WIGGINS - The neighborhood kids loved Eva M. Johnson. She was always there for them, but best of all, she let them take away candy when they didn't have the cash to pay. Her little grocery store on Magnolia Drive in Wiggins was a safe haven - and a stash of goodies.

 

"We'd be playing in the woods, run over to the store to buy candy and a soft drink, then we'd go back to playing," said Susan Lott, the Stone County comptroller who grew up in the piney-woods neighborhood.

 

"She'd keep a ticket on each of us and at the end of the month let our parents know how much it was. Sometimes we'd have her slice up just a couple of pieces of lunch meat and we'd take it home to make a sandwich. When I think back on those times, they really were incredible."

 

"Miss Johnson," as the neighborhood politely called her, died Thursday at 92. Although Johnson's Grocery closed two decades ago, those who grew up with its friendly proprietor in the 1950s through the 1970s never forgot her kindness.

 

"She was a sweetheart," Lott said.

 

Johnson is also remembered for her strong faith. Until age slowed her, she taught Sunday school and was faithfully involved in the women's league at Vardaman Street Baptist Church.

 

"She believed in teaching the Bible to all of her friends and anyone who would listen," said her daughter, Eva "Dimple" Ferrell of Wiggins.

 

"Her upbringing was the key to her personality. Her mother died when she was a teen-ager so she quit school to take care of the other children. She never resented or regretted it.

 

"She lived the Christian way and set a good example."

 

An obituary appears below.

 

Eva Johnson

 

Service: 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Moore Funeral Home in Wiggins.

 

- WIGGINS - Eva M. Johnson, 92, died Thursday, Oct. 31, 2002, in Wiggins.

 

Mrs. Johnson was a retired owner of Johnson's Grocery in Wiggins and was a member of Vardaman Street Baptist Church.

 

Survivors include a daughter, Dimple Ferrell of Wiggins; a sister, Madie Baulch of Franklin, Tenn.; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

 

Visitation will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Moore Funeral Home in Wiggins. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home chapel, with burial in Ebenezer Cemetery."

 

More About EVA MAE GIBSON:

Burial: November 02, 2002, Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

Religion: Baptist

 

                  ii.    LOUIE DANIEL JOHNSON, b. May 20, 1916, Perry Co., MS; d. August 19, 1990; m. JOSIE FAIRLEY; b. September 11, 1918; d. June 1989.

 

More About LOUIE DANIEL JOHNSON:

Burial: Cross Roads Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

More About JOSIE FAIRLEY:

Burial: Fairley Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

                 iii.    PAUL B. JOHNSON, b. June 16, 1918; d. October 25, 1996, Richton, Perry Co., MS; m. (1) ARCOLA BREWER; m. (2) VIVIAN MAXINE BREWER; b. February 10, 1935.

 

More About PAUL B. JOHNSON:

Burial: Mount Zion Cemetery, Richton, MS

 

                 iv.    J. B. JOHNSON, b. August 05, 1920, MS; d. April 08, 1991; m. (1) BIRDIE BULLOCK; m. (2) HENRITTA STEEL; b. October 17, 1926; d. December 15, 1998.

 

Notes for J. B. JOHNSON:

His tombstone reads "CPL, U.S. Army, World War II."

 

 

More About J. B. JOHNSON:

Burial: Clear Creek Methodist Protestant Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

More About BIRDIE BULLOCK:

Burial: Probably Columbia, Marion Co., MS

Cause of Death (Facts Pg): Suicide

 

More About HENRITTA STEEL:

Burial: Clear Creek Methodist Protestant Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

                  v.    ELTON ADEN JOHNSON, b. May 09, 1922; d. January 10, 1998, Brooklyn, Forrest Co., MS; m. (1) ELEASE BREWER; m. (2) MARGIE ?.

 

More About ELTON ADEN JOHNSON:

Burial: Cross Roads Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

                 vi.    ARTHUR JOHNSON, b. February 26, 1924; d. February 01, 1990; m. GERTRUDE WALKER; b. March 16, 1922; d. January 05, 2000, Wiggins, Stone Co., MS.

 

More About ARTHUR JOHNSON:

Burial: Cross Roads Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

More About GERTRUDE WALKER:

Burial: Cross Roads Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

                vii.    RUTHIE MAE JOHNSON, b. October 12, 1928, Perry Co., MS; m. IRA LEE EASTERLING, July 25, 1950; b. September 07, 1926, Runnelstown, Perry Co., MS.

 

Notes for IRA LEE EASTERLING:

An Ira Easterling is in the SSDI as born 19 Oct 1894, died Sep 1984 in Hattiesburg, Forrest, MS. This may be Ira's father.

 

 

               viii.    A. JAY JOHNSON, b. July 16, 1932; d. June 22, 2002; m. (1) EVELYN LYONS, Bef. 1953; m. (2) PHYLIS ?, Aft. 1960; m. (3) HAZEL TONEY, Aft. 1961; b. July 31, 1933.

 

More About A. JAY JOHNSON:

Burial: Cross Roads Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Perry Co., MS

 

                  ix.    BETTY RUE JOHNSON, b. August 30, 1938; m. D. C. IVEY, December 21, 1958; b. December 19, 1933.

                   x.    ELIZABETH JOHNSON, b. July 11, 1934; m. (1) JAMES PAUL BALLARD; b. March 21, 1933, KY; d. May 10; m. (2) BENNIE DAWSEY; b. 1931; d. August 25, 2002; m. (3) RUBEN HINTON, Abt. 1949.

 

Notes for JAMES PAUL BALLARD:

KY AZC US Air Force Corps.

 

 

More About JAMES PAUL BALLARD:

Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Wiggins, Stone Co., MS

 

More About BENNIE DAWSEY:

Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Wiggins, Stone Co., MS

 

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