This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: pittsjerry Surnames: Pitts Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.pitts/467.717.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am thinking we may be from a different set of Pitts but would love to be able to trace back further if you have any other information. I have only been able to trace our family tree back to my great grandfather, "Jeff Pitts". My father said he thinks he moved to Copiah County from Alabama. He was shot and killed by the Copiah County Sheriff after being caught moonshining. My Grandfather's name was Clyde Pitts Sr. He was killed in a head on collision with an 18-wheeler in Byram back around 1977. He married my grandmother Mary Davis from Hazlehurst. Her father was Willie Davis. Most of the Davis family is buried at Bethel Baptist Church here in Hazlehurst where I live. My grandfather had two sons Clyde Pitts Jr. who is 70 or 71 now and my father Jerry Pitts Sr. who is 66. They are life long country music musicians. My uncle Clyde is in the Mississippi Country Music Hall of Fame. My uncle lives in Brandon, MS and my dad in Jackson, MS. I am happy to report that neither ended ! up with a drinking problem. I guess that died with my grandfather. I was hoping to discover something good from the past. The only ties I have been told was what I listed above and that we were kin to Charlie Pitts who was part of the Jessie James gang. My father tells a story of Jessie James at my great-great grandmothers house but I have no family line to verify that, just stories told and passed through the generations. So as you can see not a lot of good family background to brag about. Oh, and on my mothers side we are supposedly kin to Mary Surratt (first woman hung). My mothers maiden name is Sarrett. I was told the spelling was changed due to the family embarrassment. But at least I know on my mothers side I am part French but have no idea on my fathers side. If you have any further details that could help me trace my fathers side please let me know. By the way I know there are at least two sets of Pitts who live in Crystal Springs. Billy Pitts and Elden Ray Pitts. I am the only one that I know of here in Hazlehurst but I am not originally from here. I was born and raised in Jackson. I married a woman (Janice Rutledge)from Hazlehurst in 1989 and built a home here in 1990. I did not know that my family was from here until my great grandfather (Willie Davis) passed away in 1992 and we buried him at Bethel Baptist Church in Hazlehurst where he was a life-long member. He was 97 when he died and had lived with my grandmother in Jackson for many years before his death so I never made the connection. He had actually lived in Suntag all the years I was growing up so I never knew about the Hazlehurst connection. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.