Lamar Smith's Wife Annie

Lamar Smith and Wife Annie Clark Holloway Smith
Brookhaven, MS
Photograph from Mary Byrd Markham Photograph Collection

Annie's husband Lamar was murdered on the crowded lawn of the Lincoln County courthouse, on 13 Aug 1955, for encouraging African Americans to vote by absentee ballot.

Finding a woman's maiden surname can be confusing if the woman has unknown marriages. What was the maiden surname for Lamar Smith's wife Annie? Take a look at what was found.

Annie was born, Jan 1890, to George Clark and Delphinia Culver. In 1900, ten years old Annie was living with her parents, widowed sister Lizzie Lyons and her two children. Annie could read and write, and the family lived on a rented farm in Caseyville, Lincoln County, Mississippi.

Annie was a Christmas bride. She married Lee (Leiguil) Holloway, 24 Dec 1908, in Lincoln County. In 1910, the young couple rented farm land from Lee's parents, George and Manda Holloway. A son, Willie, was born to the couple on 22 May 1912.

Lincoln County Marriage Records - Book 8C, Page 161

The marriage ended before the beginning of the next decade, how, I don't know. A death certificate for Lee was not found.

Anna Holloway married Lamar Smith, 26 Oct 1919, in Lincoln County after he was discharged from service in World War I. Lamar and Annie were living alone in 1920, still in Caseyville, on land they owned and farmed. The family remained in Caseyville through 1940 per census records.

Lincoln County Marriage Records - Book 13C, Page 4

In the couple's 1930 household was his brother Martin, the couple's 2 years old daughter Earline. By 1940, 8 years old daughter Lola Mae was now a member of the household.

The couple remained together until his death. Annie died 27 Jun 1984. They both are buried in the Mount Carmel Cemetery of Caseyville, MS.

Thank You, Willie

Lamar Smith Civil Rights Activist in the Family

Photograph Courtesy of Wikipedia
On August 13, 1955, civil rights activist Lamar Smith was murdered on the crowded lawn of the Lincoln County courthouse in Brookhaven, Mississippi, at close range. Lamar Smith campaigned against one of two candidates for the county Board of Supervisors. He encouraged African Americans to vote by absentee ballot. Lamar was warned several weeks before that he was too political. He was told to quit or be killed. He was shot by a .38 caliber pistol under his right arm, died instantly.

When District Attorney E. C. Barlow reached the scene of the murder, he first spoke with Sheriff Robert E. Case who told him that he saw Noah Smith leave the scene of the murder with blood all over him. Noah Smith and two other men, Charles Falvey and Mack Smith, were arrested. The men were each released on a $20,000 bond.

Not one witness appeared before the grand jury. The case was dropped and the three men went free. District Attorney Barlow called the lack of cooperation "a gross miscarriage of justice."

Lamar "Ditney" Smith was born March 1893 to Levi Smith and Harriet Humphrey in Lincoln County, MS. He served in World War I and was a local farmer in rural Lincoln County. He was the husband of Annie Clark, father of Earline Smith Thomas.

Lamar Smith's sister Susie Mae Smith married Walter Scott, my mother's first cousin once removed.

See a picture of youthful Lamar and wife here, see a picture of older couple here

Sources:
1900 Federal Census - Lincoln County, MS - Searched for Levy Smith
Brookhaven Leader-Times Newspaper - August 17-19, 1955 - Mississippi Department of Archives and History - Microfilm Number: 31241
Jet Magazine - August 25, 1955 - Jet Magazine - Oct 6, 1955 - Google Books