From: "SHIRLEY JEAN THIGPEN" <sjt@planttel.net> Joyce, Geraldine was married to David Lloyd Thigpen.Her children are Virginia,Dorsey and David.David was a son of Lloyd's from a previous marriage but Geraldine raised him as her own.I think his mom died when he was just a baby. About Dorey,I am his ex-wife Shirley (Spivey)Barnes,Thigpen.We have been divorced going on nine years now,but who knows may be married again in the near future.Ha! I'm not sure but I think they are registered in ancestry.com Look under David Lloyd Thigpen. I will have Dorsey to fill out a page for you if you still need it and take it to the next Rowland reunion. Yes that James is a mess. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks Shirley, Good to meet you and know who you are. What Spivey's are you from? Are you any kin to Otis Spivery, who married Berta Mae Smith, grand daughter of Newton Matthew Rowland and Hester Ann Murray? Berta Mae had a son named Jimmy L. Spivey, Sherrill, Thomas and Johnny. She had daughters Reba, Linda Kay, Sherry, and Betty Jo. Jimmy and Sherry has been to the reunion a few times. I also know a James Leroy (J. L.) Spivey who lives in Blackshear who was 1st or 2nd cousin to Jimmy. I would love for Geraldine's children to go to the Reunion this year so I could meet them. It will be Sept. 22 at Laura S. Walker Park in Waycross at the Family Group Shelter #1. We always have a great time. Would love to see you there also. I'll check out the web and see if I can find Lloyd. Thanks. Joyce

Joyce, Geraldine was married to David Lloyd Thigpen.Her children are Virginia,Dorsey and David.David was a son of Lloyd's from a previous marriage but Geraldine raised him as her own.I think his mom died when he was just a baby. About Dorey,I am his ex-wife Shirley (Spivey)Barnes,Thigpen.We have been divorced going on nine years now,but who knows may be married again in the near future.Ha! I'm not sure but I think they are registered in ancestry.com Look under David Lloyd Thigpen. I will have Dorsey to fill out a page for you if you still need it and take it to the next Rowland reunion. Yes that James is a mess. At 12:49 AM 3/20/01 -0500, you wrote: >From: "SHIRLEY JEAN THIGPEN" >Joyce, >If you know Billy Rowe in Willacoochee and Kat is your first cousin,do you >> know Dorsey Thigpen and is he kin to you? >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >Thanks for the comeback, Shirley. > >Kathlene's sister, Geraldine was married to a Thigpen and at this minute, I >can not rem. his name. Dorsey sounds very familiar, either her son or >hubby. > >Even though Geraldine goes to our Rowland reunion every year, I have never >gotten her to fill out her family page. These are my first cousins but >never got to be around them much when I was younger because Geraldine had >been married for years and gone from her father's house when we would visit. >I was never around any of her children nor her husband. > >Kathlene and Geraldine's brother James , NOW WE KNOW EACH OTHER LIKE TWO >PEAS IN A POD. He is such a NUT! > >I would love to have that Thigpen info being I can't get Geraldine to write >it all down for me. I can't even tell you how many kids she has. That's >awful when she's my first cousin. Her father and my mother were brothers >and sisters. > >I would appreciate any info you could share with me so I can complete that >family limb. > >Joyce > > > >==== GACOFFEE Mailing List ==== >The Coffee County mailing list is a flame free list. Rudeness will NOT be tolerated. If you are having a problem with someone on the list, please contact either Karen or Melody. > >============================== >Create a FREE family website at MyFamily.com! >http://www.myfamily.com/banner.asp?ID=RWLIST2 > > ----------------------------------------------------- Click here for Free Video!! http://www.gohip.com/free_video/

Thanks Clyde for the info on Enos Burkettt. A few more questions if you don't mind. In POWG, Vol. 2 sketch on William Burkett, it states. "His will (William) dated September 12, 1857, was probated May 2, 1858, and bequeathed as follows: Lots 103 and 104, 7th district of Telfair, to his sons Enos and John Burkett; lot 402, 1st district of Telfair, to sons William and Jonas; home place to his wife, Rhoda, with all personal property, and after her death to son Isham. Burkett and daughter, Missouri Burkett." Now, why do you think sons Jonas and Isham aren't listed as his children's in the list of his children. Were they his children or not as the will says they were? Also, who are the parents of Delilah Burkett who married Rev. William Green Tanner? I thought she was a sister of Bartillery. Am I wrong? Do you have any info on her (dates and such) Would appreciate any help you may give me. Joyce

Melody.... when you check with Ira Kirkland....would you please see what you can learn about the Willie ADAMS that Bettie Tanner married lst? I would love to know if he's one of my ADAMSes. Thanks. Nancy in AZ ----- Original Message ----- From: <mmccook@bellsouth.net> To: <GACOFFEE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 19, 2001 3:03 PM Subject: Re: [GACOFFEE] Willie ADAMS/Bettie TANNER > Connie, > John Abraham did indeed marry twice. His children were by Martha Ella > Thomas. > Betty Tanner (Shug) is buried beside John A. All three are buried in the > Douglas City Cemetery. According to Shug Tanner Kirkland's headstone she was > born 3/10/1888 and died 5/8/1942. > That's all I have on her. I need to check with Ira Kirkland, John A.'s > grandson to see if he has any other info on her. > Melody > > > > Would someone be so kind as to comment on the following? > > Did John Abraham Kirkland in fact marry twice and was this the same > > Betty Tanner known as "Shug?" I don't have another marriage for Betty > > Tanner Kirkland, as a matter of fact, I don't have any information on > > her at all other than a name. > > > > > > JOHN ABRAHAM5 KIRKLAND was born April 19, 1876, and died July 1936. He > > married (1) BETTY TANNER. He married (2) MARTHA ELLA THOMAS July 14, > > 1895 in Coffee Co., GA. She was born January 24, 1877, and died > > December 30, 1953. > > > > Notes for JOHN ABRAHAM KIRKLAND: > > John and Martha had 5 children. He was buried at Douglas City Cemetery, > > Coffee Co., GA > > > > ==== GACOFFEE Mailing List ==== > If you would be interested in adopting a GaGenWeb county, please contact Melody at mmccook@bellsouth.net to see which counties are > available for adoption. All counties can beneift from extra volunteers! > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. Go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/subscribe/subscribetrial1y.asp?sourcecode=F11HB > >

The Pharoby (?) Brooks listed below is Pheraby (Burkett) Rooks daughter of John Burkett R.S. She married Vardiaman Rooks probably before they moved from South Carolina. John Burkett R.S. and William "Billy" Burkett are buried in the Burkett Cemetery out from Burkett's Ferry in Jeff Davis Co. John B. Ellis > Joyce Ruis wrote: > > > Thanks Melody and Clyde. Maybe someone will have something on Enos > > Burkett. I have no idea how he connects to the Burkett's of Coffee County. > > > > Joyce > > > > I'm sorry. I sit here about half asleep and miss the questions. I have some information on Enos Burkett. My paragraphs below: > > William Burkett, son of John Burkett, was born circa 1792 in South Carolina. His family is in "Coffee Co.", pg. 68, and "Wiregrass II", 52-53, & VII, 487. His father moved to > Telfair County circa 1810-15 and was living there during the 1820 census. William married first -?-. They had two children, Bartillery and Robert. They were living in Telfair > County during the 1830 census. He married second Rhoda Burkett Jan. 29, 1833, in Telfair County. [She was born circa 1818 in Telfair County and was the daughter of John Burkett.] > Their children are Middleton "Dock"; Williamson; Enos (see below); John "Bud", who died single; Texas; Isle of Cuba; and Missouri, who married Washington J. "Wash" Wright. They were > farming, three houses from Aaron G. Frier, in Telfair County During the 1850 census. Pharoby(?) Brooks, born circa 1776 in S. C., was listed with them. They lived in the part of > Telfair County that became Coffee County in 1854. William died testate circa 1858 in Coffee County. Rhoda was living in Coffee County during the 1860 and 1870 censuses. She was > listed with her son-in-law, Washington Wright, in Coffee County during the 1880 census. > > > Enos Burkett was born circa 1839 in Telfair County. He was listed with his parents in Telfair County during the 1850 census. He married Mary Ann Rebecca Roe Apr. 6, 1857, in > Telfair County. [She was born circa 1838 and was the daughter of Rowan Roe.] Their children are Angeline "Angie", who married Wesley Lewis; John "Jack" (see below); Elizabeth > "Lizzie", who married M. F. George; Emma, who never married; Enos "Tank"; Matthew "Matt"; Monroe; Lee; Estelle, who married Perry Courson; and Margaret. They were living in Coffee > County during the 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses. > > > John "Jack" Burkett was born Feb. 18, 1862 (above). He was listed with his parents in Coffee County during the 1870 and 1880 censuses. He married Ellen Courson July 27, 1890, in > Coffee County, Georgia. Their family is in "Coffee Co.", pg. 70. [She was born Nov. 5, 1870, and was the daughter of William S. and Sarah (Douglas) Courson. See Courson family in > this section, pg. 1218.] Their children include Maggie (see below); Mary, who married Charlie Moore; and John. Ellen died July 8, 1935, and John died Nov. 10, 1935. They are > buried in the Meeks Cemetery. > > > Maggie Burkett was born in 1891 (see above). She married Elisha Andrew Meeks (pg. 158, para. #bbhc). > > Clyde > > > ==== GACOFFEE Mailing List ==== > If you would be interested in adopting a GaGenWeb county, please contact Melody at mmccook@bellsouth.net to see which counties are > available for adoption. All counties can beneift from extra volunteers! > > ============================== > Ancestry.com Genealogical Databases > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/rwlist2.asp > Search over 2500 databases with one easy query! > > John B.Ellis jbellis@altamaha.net

The old Ellis Cemetery is located about one half mile east of Highway 221 south, near the Coffee - Jeff Davis County line. John B. Ellis > Is that the elusive Ward Cemetery? > >I'm sitting here looking through the Huxford POW books to see if there are > >any more cemeteries that may have been missed or people that were buried > >on "the old homeplace" > > > >In vol. 5, page 141, under the sketch of Thomas Ellis of Coffee County, it > >says that he and his wives are buried in the old Ellis Cemetery in coffee > >county. > >I checked the cemetery book and neither he nor his two wives were listed. > > > >I'm also aware that these people may all be buried in unmarked graves, but > >on the off-chance that they're not, I'd like to find them. > > > >**Here's another one** > >Jackson Ward, son of James P & Zilpa (Kirkland) Ward, 1817-1901 > >Had a home and plantation in what was once Telfair but now Coffee The > >homeplace is about 1 1/1 miles west of the "present village of West Green" > >He and his wife were buried on this old homeplace where their graves are > >marked.... > > > >Now we still don't know what they're marked with or even if some farmer > >left them undisturbed. > > > >Anyone have any ideas on how I might go about finding these graves? > > > >Melody > > > > > >==== GACOFFEE Mailing List ==== > >Please visit the Coffee County GaGenWeb site at > >http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5941 > > > >============================== > >Search more than 150 million free records at RootsWeb! > >http://searches.rootsweb.com/ > > > > > ==== GACOFFEE Mailing List ==== > Please visit the Coffee County GaGenWeb site at > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5941 > > ============================== > Add as many as 10 Good Years To Your Life > If you know how to reduce these risks. > http://www.thirdage.com/health/wecare/hearthealth/index.html > > John B.Ellis jbellis@altamaha.net

Is that the elusive Ward Cemetery? >I'm sitting here looking through the Huxford POW books to see if there are >any more cemeteries that may have been missed or people that were buried >on "the old homeplace" > >In vol. 5, page 141, under the sketch of Thomas Ellis of Coffee County, it >says that he and his wives are buried in the old Ellis Cemetery in coffee >county. >I checked the cemetery book and neither he nor his two wives were listed. > >I'm also aware that these people may all be buried in unmarked graves, but >on the off-chance that they're not, I'd like to find them. > >**Here's another one** >Jackson Ward, son of James P & Zilpa (Kirkland) Ward, 1817-1901 >Had a home and plantation in what was once Telfair but now Coffee The >homeplace is about 1 1/1 miles west of the "present village of West Green" >He and his wife were buried on this old homeplace where their graves are >marked.... > >Now we still don't know what they're marked with or even if some farmer >left them undisturbed. > >Anyone have any ideas on how I might go about finding these graves? > >Melody > > >==== GACOFFEE Mailing List ==== >Please visit the Coffee County GaGenWeb site at >http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5941 > >============================== >Search more than 150 million free records at RootsWeb! >http://searches.rootsweb.com/

If you are interested in a lineage on the Byrd Family, look at the database that I maintain on the Jeff Davis GAGenweb pages. If you have any additions or corrections I would appreciate them. You might want to check back in a few days as I will be updating the database. John B.Ellis jbellis@altamaha.net

Joyce Ruis wrote: > Thanks Melody and Clyde. Maybe someone will have something on Enos > Burkett. I have no idea how he connects to the Burkett's of Coffee County. > > Joyce > I'm sorry. I sit here about half asleep and miss the questions. I have some information on Enos Burkett. My paragraphs below: William Burkett, son of John Burkett, was born circa 1792 in South Carolina. His family is in "Coffee Co.", pg. 68, and "Wiregrass II", 52-53, & VII, 487. His father moved to Telfair County circa 1810-15 and was living there during the 1820 census. William married first -?-. They had two children, Bartillery and Robert. They were living in Telfair County during the 1830 census. He married second Rhoda Burkett Jan. 29, 1833, in Telfair County. [She was born circa 1818 in Telfair County and was the daughter of John Burkett.] Their children are Middleton "Dock"; Williamson; Enos (see below); John "Bud", who died single; Texas; Isle of Cuba; and Missouri, who married Washington J. "Wash" Wright. They were farming, three houses from Aaron G. Frier, in Telfair County During the 1850 census. Pharoby(?) Brooks, born circa 1776 in S. C., was listed with them. They lived in the part of Telfair County that became Coffee County in 1854. William died testate circa 1858 in Coffee County. Rhoda was living in Coffee County during the 1860 and 1870 censuses. She was listed with her son-in-law, Washington Wright, in Coffee County during the 1880 census. Enos Burkett was born circa 1839 in Telfair County. He was listed with his parents in Telfair County during the 1850 census. He married Mary Ann Rebecca Roe Apr. 6, 1857, in Telfair County. [She was born circa 1838 and was the daughter of Rowan Roe.] Their children are Angeline "Angie", who married Wesley Lewis; John "Jack" (see below); Elizabeth "Lizzie", who married M. F. George; Emma, who never married; Enos "Tank"; Matthew "Matt"; Monroe; Lee; Estelle, who married Perry Courson; and Margaret. They were living in Coffee County during the 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses. John "Jack" Burkett was born Feb. 18, 1862 (above). He was listed with his parents in Coffee County during the 1870 and 1880 censuses. He married Ellen Courson July 27, 1890, in Coffee County, Georgia. Their family is in "Coffee Co.", pg. 70. [She was born Nov. 5, 1870, and was the daughter of William S. and Sarah (Douglas) Courson. See Courson family in this section, pg. 1218.] Their children include Maggie (see below); Mary, who married Charlie Moore; and John. Ellen died July 8, 1935, and John died Nov. 10, 1935. They are buried in the Meeks Cemetery. Maggie Burkett was born in 1891 (see above). She married Elisha Andrew Meeks (pg. 158, para. #bbhc). Clyde

I have identified at least half a dozen "unmarked cemeteries" in Jeff Davis County alone. In the instance of Thomas Ellis, he and his second wife are buried at Philadelphia Baptist Church Cemetery in Jeff Davis Co. The original headstones were not there so they were to be considered unmarked. About 30 years ago his last remaining granddaughter identified his and his wife's graves and markers were placed on them. Thomas Ellis's first wife is buried in an old church cemetery just south of Bartow, Fla. in an unmarked grave. The old cemetery is still maintained but suffers from constant damage from mowing equipment. John B. Ellis > I'm sitting here looking through the Huxford POW books to see if there are any more cemeteries that may have been missed or people that were buried on "the old homeplace" > > In vol. 5, page 141, under the sketch of Thomas Ellis of Coffee County, it says that he and his wives are buried in the old Ellis Cemetery in coffee county. > I checked the cemetery book and neither he nor his two wives were listed. > > I'm also aware that these people may all be buried in unmarked graves, but on the off-chance that they're not, I'd like to find them. > > **Here's another one** > Jackson Ward, son of James P & Zilpa (Kirkland) Ward, 1817-1901 > Had a home and plantation in what was once Telfair but now Coffee The homeplace is about 1 1/1 miles west of the "present village of West Green" > He and his wife were buried on this old homeplace where their graves are marked.... > > Now we still don't know what they're marked with or even if some farmer left them undisturbed. > > Anyone have any ideas on how I might go about finding these graves? > > Melody > > > ==== GACOFFEE Mailing List ==== > Please visit the Coffee County GaGenWeb site at > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5941 > > ============================== > Search more than 150 million free records at RootsWeb! > http://searches.rootsweb.com/ > >

I show a John William "John Buck" Burkett (DOB 01/18/1878), is the son of Ellen Caroline Burkett (DOB 07/28/1858). She was not married at the time of his birth, and no father is listed, that I have anyway. Ellen Caroline Burkett is the d/o Bartillery Burkett (DOB 07/19/1813) and Lavina Taylor (DOB 10/18/1819). I show John William Burkett m. Annie Surrency. Her parents were John Surrency and Betty ? . I show they had 8 children. I have some info. on their children. Hope this helps. Becki Teston Jones ----- Original Message ----- From: Joyce Ruis To: GACOFFEE-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2001 10:25 PM Subject: [GACOFFEE] John Wesley Burkett Could ANYONE on the Coffee List tell me the parents of John Wesley Burkett who married Annie Surrancy. I have no dates on them but they had a son, Quillian Chester, b. 21 Nov 1914 in Coffee Co. d. 1 Jan. 1968 Cochran, Georgia in car wreck. Q. C, as he was called most times, m. Lettie Mae Ruis, 3 April 1932 in Coffee Co. She was the d/o Alfred Wilson and Minnola Margaret Taylor/Thomas Ruis is still living. They had 3 sons. Also, does anyone have any info on Annie Surrancy? Any help would be appreciated. Joyce ==== GACOFFEE Mailing List ==== The Coffee County mailing list is owned by Melody Moore McCook, who can be reached at mmccook@bellsouth.net and co-maintained by Karen Batten who can be reached at brodeaux@surfsouth.com ============================== Add as many as 10 Good Years To Your Life If you know how to reduce these risks. http://www.thirdage.com/health/wecare/hearthealth/index.html

From: "SHIRLEY JEAN THIGPEN" Joyce, If you know Billy Rowe in Willacoochee and Kat is your first cousin,do you > know Dorsey Thigpen and is he kin to you? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks for the comeback, Shirley. Kathlene's sister, Geraldine was married to a Thigpen and at this minute, I can not rem. his name. Dorsey sounds very familiar, either her son or hubby. Even though Geraldine goes to our Rowland reunion every year, I have never gotten her to fill out her family page. These are my first cousins but never got to be around them much when I was younger because Geraldine had been married for years and gone from her father's house when we would visit. I was never around any of her children nor her husband. Kathlene and Geraldine's brother James , NOW WE KNOW EACH OTHER LIKE TWO PEAS IN A POD. He is such a NUT! I would love to have that Thigpen info being I can't get Geraldine to write it all down for me. I can't even tell you how many kids she has. That's awful when she's my first cousin. Her father and my mother were brothers and sisters. I would appreciate any info you could share with me so I can complete that family limb. Joyce

Joyce, If you know Billy Rowe in Willacoochee and Kat is your first cousin,do you know Dorsey Thigpen and is he kin to you? At 08:20 PM 3/19/01 -0500, you wrote: > >Connie, > >By any chance, are you any kin to Billy Rowe of Coochee, who married >Kathlene Rowland? I need Billy's history and don't have it. Kat is my >first cousin. > >Anyone out there kin to this family? > >Joyce > > >==== GACOFFEE Mailing List ==== >Please visit the Atkinson County GaGenWeb site at >http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lane/3390 > >============================== >Visit Ancestry's Library - The best collection of family history >learning and how-to articles on the Internet. >http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library > > ----------------------------------------------------- Click here for Free Video!! http://www.gohip.com/free_video/

Do you mean Billy Rowe, son of Richard Washington Rowe and Nina Pearl Howard and also, do you mean Willacooche instead of Coochee? Richard was married to Ellen Griner and Fannie Harper, also. This Billy in my files was married twice but not to Kathlene Rowland, unless he married a third time. Anyway, this is my husbands family. Let me hear from you. Need dates. I have trillions of Rowe's from Irwin, Berrien and Rowetown, GA. Joyce Ruis wrote: > > Connie, > > By any chance, are you any kin to Billy Rowe of Coochee, who married > Kathlene Rowland? I need Billy's history and don't have it. Kat is my > first cousin. > > Anyone out there kin to this family? > > Joyce > > ==== GACOFFEE Mailing List ==== > Please visit the Atkinson County GaGenWeb site at > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Lane/3390 > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry's Library - The best collection of family history > learning and how-to articles on the Internet. > http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library

I am not sure if they have them in stock right now or not. They had run out back a few months ago, but were expecting to have more printed. You could give them a call or write to the Historical Society there and/or the Chamber of Commerce and I'm sure someone would know if the have the books back in stock now. Sorry I don't have the phone numbers to pass along!! Luan P. S. I do have both volumes I and II of these books, as well as a copy of the Jeff Davis County Cemetery book and I will be glad to do look ups as I have an opportunity. I have six kids at home so sometimes my time for genealogy gets pushed to the back burner, but I'll do my best to help where I can!! ----- Original Message ----- From: <mmccook@bellsouth.net> To: <GACOFFEE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 19, 2001 11:06 PM Subject: Re: [GACOFFEE] The Byrd family article > > Thanks, Luan for this article. > Are the books still available?? I wan't aware of them. > Melody > > > From: > > Cen-Silver Celebration > > The 125th Anniversary of the Founding of Hazlehurst, GA: > > A Town at the Crossroads - Volume II > > Compiled and Presented by the Hazlehurst-Jeff Davis Historical Society > > 1998 > > Edited by Mary Ann Anderson > > ----------------------------------------------------------

I'm sitting here looking through the Huxford POW books to see if there are any more cemeteries that may have been missed or people that were buried on "the old homeplace" In vol. 5, page 141, under the sketch of Thomas Ellis of Coffee County, it says that he and his wives are buried in the old Ellis Cemetery in coffee county. I checked the cemetery book and neither he nor his two wives were listed. I'm also aware that these people may all be buried in unmarked graves, but on the off-chance that they're not, I'd like to find them. **Here's another one** Jackson Ward, son of James P & Zilpa (Kirkland) Ward, 1817-1901 Had a home and plantation in what was once Telfair but now Coffee The homeplace is about 1 1/1 miles west of the "present village of West Green" He and his wife were buried on this old homeplace where their graves are marked.... Now we still don't know what they're marked with or even if some farmer left them undisturbed. Anyone have any ideas on how I might go about finding these graves? Melody

Thanks, Luan for this article. Are the books still available?? I wan't aware of them. Melody > From: > Cen-Silver Celebration > The 125th Anniversary of the Founding of Hazlehurst, GA: > A Town at the Crossroads - Volume II > Compiled and Presented by the Hazlehurst-Jeff Davis Historical Society > 1998 > Edited by Mary Ann Anderson > ----------------------------------------------------------

From: Cen-Silver Celebration The 125th Anniversary of the Founding of Hazlehurst, GA: A Town at the Crossroads - Volume II Compiled and Presented by the Hazlehurst-Jeff Davis Historical Society 1998 Edited by Mary Ann Anderson ---------------------------------------------------------- Page 107 "The Byrd Family" by Sue Byrd "In the 1800's, one of the large landowners of Jeff Davis and Coffee Counties was Wiley Byrd. He owned land from Snipesville to Coffee County. The house shown in the following photograph still stands today. This is where Wiley Byrd reared his large family of twenty-one children. One of the Byrd's great-granddaughters presently lives in the house. Before Mr. Byrd died, he gave each of his children a lot of land (the lot was four hundred acres) to be their start in life. Only the land where the house stands and some surrounding acerage are still owned by family members. Not far from Mr. Byrd's house, he donated land to establish "Byrd Church", which is now known as Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. This is one of the oldest churches in the county, and there are a large number of the Byrd family members buried in its cemetery." Page 108 "In the photograph, Wiley Byrd is with his second wife, Sempee, and five of the youngest children. The oldest son shown here was my grandfather, A. Warren Byrd. In 1903, at a young age, he was deputy sheriff of Broxton, Georgia for a short time. Broxton is where he and his wife Nona and two children lived. After the birth of their third child, Nona died. A year later, Warren married my grandmother, Vera Andrews. They had fourteen children. Grandpa was one of the first members of Union Springs Baptist Church. Later he became a deacon and he reared his children in the church. Fifteen of these children became members of Union Springs Baptist Church. After they married, all but two moved to other churches. Sons Homer and Benny were the only two lifetime members. My father, Homer, became a deacon at Union Springs Baptist Church in 1905. Now my mother and I are the only ones still attending the church. Union Springs does hold a very rich heritage for me." Page 109 (caption at the bottom of photograph) "EARLY DEPUTY -- This photograph was taken in 1903, two years before Jeff Davis County was formed in what was then Coffee County. In it are Warren Byrd, his wife Nona (both are deceased), and two of their children, Mrs. Lillie Mae Bailey (left) of Darien and Legrande Byrd, deceased. The ribbon on Byrd's lapel was his "badge" as deputy sherriff of Broxton. Byrd had 17 children including Mrs. R. N. Kerns of Hazlehurst, Mrs. C. C. Kerns who owns this photograph of Tampa, FL, and Jesse, Homer, and Bennie Byrd all of Jeff Davis County."

I would like to see it too. Elaine

From: "Luan Harper" <lyh@gate.net> For anyone who is interested, there is a short two page article on The Wiley Byrd family in Volume 2 of the Cen-Silver books from Hazelhurst/Jeff Davis County. This article includes several nice photos of this family. The article is not very long and if anyone would like this information and doesn't have access to the book, I'll be glad to type it out. Just let me know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luan, there maybe several on the list who would like to see this article. I for one would appreciate it. Joyce