Mack and Minnie Sanders

Mack and Minnie married Christmas day in 1940. He enlisted in the army in November 1943, and was released Feb 1946. They had an even dozen of children, 6 girls and 6 boys, plus they raised three grandchildren as their own.

Mack Neese Sanders was born in 1918, the son of McNeese Sanders and Alice Overton. Minnie was born in 1925, the daughter of William Washington and Rosia Miller. All were from Copiah County, Mississippi,

Minnie died in 1984 and Mack died in 1996. They were both buried in the Greater New Zion Baptist Church Cemetery.

Mack's mother, Alice Overton Sanders, and my grandmother Gertrude Overton Durr were sisters.

Life Continues

If my mother was still with us, she would have celebrated her 87th birthday on Aug 21st. She would have spoiled her great grandchildren with homemade biscuits and peanut butter sandwiches drooling their favorite jam or jelly. Here is a picture of four of Mama's great grands.

Jace, Jory, Zyon, and Genesis

Happy 3rd Birthday

 Today is Miss Jory's 3rd Birthday. Happy Birthday!

The Heart Necklace

For awhile in cousin Ludora Coleman Ball's life. daughter of Smylie Coleman and Joann Benson, the heart necklace was a favorite to wear. If you look closely at the picture below, you can see it around her neck, below the pin on her blouse. Ludora's cousin Elaine also has on the same necklace.

 Ludora Coleman,  Elijah "Puddin" Smith and Elijah's sister Elaine Smith

 

Ludora has on the same necklace in her high school graduation picture of 1946

Here she is again with her husband Mozell Ball and two daughters with the heart necklace.

Ludora Coleman Ball is my 2nd cousin. We share the same great grandparents Monroe Markham and Mary Byrd.

Nite on the Town

We all need a space to relax away the responsibilities of a work week.

1950's Chicago Style with Cousin Sarah Green in the middle.

Dressed for a Chicago night on the town with Cousin Willie Scott and his date.

Howard Divinity's Death Certificate

The article below was found in a local newspaper reporting the death of Howard Divinity of Copiah County, Mississippi.

Howard Divinity Stood by his Principals

Howard Divinity is dead at the age of 108. He was the oldest person in Copiah County, residing near Hazlehurst.

Howard had attained wide renown over the country. He attended every confederate reunion for many years, and once visited the White House in Washington, dining with the servants.

He served during the Civil war as bodyguard for officers.

Howard doubtless is sincerely mourned by his white friends of Copiah county. A long life of faithful devotion to sentiments and principals is just as touching in a servant as it is admirable in a master.

Clarion-Ledger

Jackson, Mississippi

20 Mar 1934 - Page 5

Howard's death certificate is void of the information family historians value, the names and birthplaces of his parents. At the time of his death, 08 March 1934, Howard was listed as 110 years of age. He was supposedly a widower although his wife Susan died four years later in 1938. Census records suggest he was born in the mid 1840s.

1870 - Howard, 27 years old, born about 1843.

1880 - Howard, 30 years old, born about 1850.

1900 - Howard, 55 years old, born about 1845.

1910 - Howard, 78 years old, born about 1832

1920 - Howard, 75 years old, born about 1845

1930 - Howard, 107 years old, born about 1823

https://betweenthegateposts.blogspot.com/2013/01/howard-divinity-of-copiah-county-ms.html

Howard Divinity's Slave Narrative