Forget Me Not: Eliza Jane Brock Smith, 1899 MS

I enjoy reading old obituaries because of the wording. Eliza is called a "gentle spirit." When she died "God’s sweet messenger came and silently beckoned her away." These are not phrases I see today when I read obituaries. 

 Eliza Jane Brock Smith

July 1858 Pike Co., MS - 21 Jun 1899 MS

Wife of Jarratt Cylmon Smith

Jarratt is my 1st cousin, 4x removed

The gentle spirit of Mrs. E. J. Smith was called from earth to heaven June 21, 1899.

 

It is said Death loves a shining mark and the saying was never more plainly illustrated than in the death of Mrs. Smith.  

 

She was born in Pike county, Miss., July 1858, and was 41 years of age when God’s sweet messenger came and silently beckoned her away. She was converted at an early age and united with the Bogue Chitto Baptist church in 1869, and remained a faithful member.

 

She was married to Mr. J. C. Smith, of Dillon, Pike county, Miss., October 3, 1878, where and with whom all her after life was spent until death summoned her away.

 

She possessed a kind and loving disposition, and to know her was to love her. She was a devoted wife and mother, and a true friend, and her death has cast a gloom of sorrow over the entire community. 

 

A while before she breathed her last she spoke of dying. Her faith in Christ was strong, and all that troubled her was leaving her loved ones and friends, and she hoped to meet them all in heaven.

 

She will be missed in the home, in the church, and in the community. She was always ready to visit the sick and distressed. Her life was spent doing good deeds and she was a consecrated Christian. Her doors were always open to orphan children and those that were blessed with her tender care will ever cherish sweet memories of Aunt Eliza. 

 

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Willis Fortenberry.

 

She leaves a husband, son and a host of relatives and friends to mourn her loss. May God comfort them, and while our hearts are filled with grief we feel that our loss is her gain, and may we live as she lived and “some sweet day” we will meet again.

 

Source: Died. (Magnolia, MS: Magnolia Gazette, 12 July 18994; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed May 2022. ) 

Related Posts:

• Smith Family in Maps of Pike Co., MS
• Murder of 2 Smith Brothers
• Jeremiah Smith

 

 

Vintage Photographs : Eldridge Morrison

I am thankful to my distant cousin for these vintage photographs. It looks like they were very well preserved for many years. Of course, having his name on the photograph is a bonus!

 Eldridge Morrison

Born 4 Oct 1863

Son of William Hiram Morrison & Emily Benner

Husband of Mary C. Harper

Photographs from Carole Morrison

Eldridge Morrison & wife, Mary C. Harper

Related Posts:

• Vintage Photograph: Shirley Fortenberry
• Vintage Photograph: Hubert Allen Brown
• VIntage Photograph: Morrison Family

Military Service: Dudley C. Brumfield, US Navy, WWII

I do not think Dudley Brumfield is a common name. However, I have four in my records: Dudley Brumfield, 1896 - 1905; Dudley Atkinson Brumfield, b 1879; Dudley Clarence Brumfield, 1881 -1971; and Dudley Copeland Brumfield, 1909 - 2002. This Dudley was a veteran of World War II.

Dudley Copeland Brumfield

29 May 1909 MS – 28 September 2002 MS

Son of Henry Sims Brumfield, Jr. & Mary Sauls

Husband of Maxine Melton

 

US Navy, World War II

Draft Card image from Fold3

Obituary:

Dudley Copeland Brumfield, 93, a retired school administrator, died Saturday, September 28, 2002, at Hermitage Gardens in Oxford. Visitation is 12:45 – 1:45 p. m. Monday at Waller Funeral Home in Oxford. Graveside services are 2 p. m. Monday in Oxford Memorial Cemetery.

 

Mr. Brumfield was a retired school administrator and the widower of Maxine Melton Brumfield. He was a graduate of Millsaps College and received a graduate degree from the University of Mississippi. 

 

Mr. Brumfield was a veteran of the U. S. Navy having served at Lt. Commander during World War II. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Oxford and past Chairman of the Board of Deacons in Ruleville. He had served as President of the Mississippi Attendance Principals Association, Vice President of the Mississippi School Administrators, past President of Belzoni Lions Club and past of the Ruleville Rotary Club. 

 

Mr. Brumfield enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an all round athlete at McComb High School, Southwest Jr. College, and Millsaps College.

 

He was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine Melton Brumfield.

 

Survivors include: two daughters, Jane Brumfield Henderson of Oxford, Jean Brumfield Denton of Cleveland; son, Robert Dudley Brumfield of Hattiesburg; sister, Sylvia Johnson of Castile, N. Y.; brother, Lyle E. Brumfield of Alexandria, La.; eight grandchildren; and nine greatgrandchildren.

 

Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. 

Source: Dudley C. Brumfield. (Jackson, MS: Clarion – Ledger, 29 Sep 2002) 18; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed Feb.2023. 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Augustus C. Gruissy

 

Augustus Ceaser Gruissy

16 May 1840 OH - 8 Dec 1915 OH

Son of Christian Gruissy & Mary Grorisclauss

My 2nd great grandfather

Married 3 times: 

Mary Ann Everett m. 21 Feb 1861 OH

Esther Barbara Wolf m 6 Dec 1868 OH

Ellen J. m c 1908

Augustus was a farmer. He grew plants that he used to make medicines which he peddled door to door. This advertisement for his 'Queen Oil' says it could cure sore throat, diphtheria, quinsy, pain in the side, breast, back or stomach, cramp or colic.

Related Posts:

• Augustus C Gruissy
• Obituary for Augustus
• Wedding Anniversary

Forget Me Not: Albert Arthur Alford, 1936 MS

 This obituary has a wonderful, personal description of Albert: Esteemed as a neighbor, beloved as a friend, regarded as a leading citizen, and known as a faithful husband and a patient, loving father...

 

Albert Arthur Alford

30 January 1872 MS – 22 June 1936 MS

Son of Ira Newton Alford & Samantha N. Ott

Husband of Lynnie Berryhill

 

My Second Cousin, Twice removed

 

 

Pike Mourns A. A. Alford

Apoplexy Fatal to Well Known Pike County Farmer

 

Magnolia – June 23, Albert A. Alford, 64, a well known farmer, died at his home near Magnolia  on June 22, of apoplexy. His death came asa severe  shock to relatives and friends. 

 

Funeral services are scheduled for 3:30 p. m. today (June 23) from the Baptist Church at Magnolia, with the Rev. F. K. Horton officiating. Interment will d, of Paducah,Ky.; A. D. Alford of New Orleans; L. W. Alford of McComb. be in the Magnolia cemetery.

 

Mr. Alford was a member of a large and prominently connected family. Among the sruvivors are his wife, Mrs. Lennie Dean Alford; four sons, Arthur Alford, D. E. Alford  of Paducah, Ky., A. D.Alford of New Orleans; L. W. Alford of McComb. In addition there are 11 grandchildren.

 

Esteemed as a neighbor, beloved as a friend, regarded as a leading citizen, and known as a faithful husband and a patient, loving father, Mr. Alford will be sadly missed. Sincere sympathy is extended the bereaved.

 

Catchings Funeral Home was in charge of funeral arrangements.

 

Source: Pike Mourns A. A. Alford. (McComb, MS: Enterprise - Journal, 23 June 1936) 4; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed February 2023. 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Report: North and South Carolina Marriage Records

Were your families living in Colonial North or South Carolina? Several of my family lines traveled, over the years, from Virginia through the Carolinas and settled in Mississippi or Louisiana. Some family members stayed in the Carolinas as the others moved further south. I have found some of their  marriages in this book.

 

 

North and South Carolina Marriage Records

From the earliest Colonial Days to the Civil War

 

By William Montgomery Clemens

Published by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.

Originally Published 1927

 

 

“The records of churches, parishes and court houses have been carefully examined for the data contained in this volume, and naturally through the long periods of war and rebellions, many of these have been lost and destroyed.”

 

This book is a testament to thorough and exacting research through early records. It is not a beautiful book with photographs and charts. More importantly, it is well researched and bursting with information. 

 

These are a few of my family’s marriages I found in this book:

 

• OTH, Casper and Mary Stehely, 1752, Orangeburg Co., S. C.
• OTT, Esther and John Heller, 1752, Orangeburg Co., S. C.
• OTT, Jacob and Margaret Fichtner, 3 December 1754, Orangeburg Co., S. C.

 

Those will give you an idea of the information you can find in this book. I suggest you visit your favorite library and find a copy. The surnames are listed alphabetically. Thumb through and see who you can find. 

 

 

 

Do you have a favorite book about North or South Carolina?

Share it in the comments.

MY LIBRARY

At the top of this blog, click on My Library for many more books that I have found useful for genealogical & historical research.

 

 

 

 

 

50th Anniversary, Alford, 3 May 1944 MS

 This couple had their picture on the front page of the newspaper to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. That was back in 1944. 

James Barney Alford

b 1871 MS

Son of Barnabas Seaborn Alford & Anna Rebecca Norman

&

Ettie Warner

8 October 1871 MS - 26 May 1945 MS

The McComb Enterprise

McComb, MS, 2 May 1944, page 1

Newspapers.com