Sunday Obituary Geneva Scott Smith 1928-2015

Geneva Smith, 88, of Grand Rapids went to be with her Lord on Sunday, November 22, 2015. She will be lovingly remembered by her children Lula Faye Smith, Lois (David) Foster, Doris Smith and Brenda Smith Cunningham, son Charles Smith; thirteen grandchildren, forty one great-grandchildren, a host of family and friends.

How does she connect to my family tree?
Geneva was the daughter of Frank Scott and Mary Lou McDaniel
Frank Scott was the son of James Pearly Scott and Catherine M Markham
Catherine Markham Scott and my great grandfather, Monroe Markham, were siblings.

Sunday Obituary Maggie Lean Smith 1927-2015

Maggie Lean Scott was born on December 26, 1927, in Caseyville, Lincoln County, Mississippi. She was the first born child of Rev Perlie Scott and Fannie Thomas Scott. Zion Chapel AME Church was where the family worshiped. The church also served as one of the elementary schools of the community. As a rural farming area, Caseyville children could only go so far educationally. In her early years, the family joined the Triumph Holiness Church where her father became a minster and later the pastor.

At the age of 16, she married her childhood friend and neighbor, Robert Lee Smith. She recounted that as they played together as little children, Robert would pull her hair and say to her, "When we get grown, I'm gonna marry you." After marriage, they moved 40 miles away to Natchez, Mississippi, where they lived, worked and purchased a home. Maggie worked as a domestic housekeeper and cooked at a local restaurant while Robert worked at a mill. No children were born to this union, but many sisters, nieces and nephews "married out of their house." They were a couple who totally loved, honored and took care of each other. They ere friends from childhood to the end.

In 1953, Robert and Maggie moved from Natchez to Racine, Wisconsin, where they lived and worked until moving to Chicago. In the Windy City, Maggie worked at various jobs in the shoe and garment industries. Later she worked at Allied Radio and then at the Mason Elementary School (Chicago Public Schools) from which she retired.

In 1954, Maggie joined Holy Temple Church of God in Christ under the pastorate of Bishop E Lenox. She served the congregation in many capacities including kitchen coordinator and chairperson of the beautifying committee. Sister Maggie, as she was called, was also instrumental in the establishment of a fund to assist and aid assistant pastor, Elder Ardail Allen, who was gravely ill, and his family. This support continued several years after his death.

Sister Smith remained active and loyal to the church throughout the ministries of Pastor James E Lenox and Pastor Lamont Lenox. While unable to regularly attend church services due to illness in the last few years of her life, she continued to faithfully pay her tithes and fervently pray for her pastor and the entire congregation.

One of her greatest passion was working in her community on Chicago's west side. She served as the President of the 4200 West Cullerton Block Club Council. As a dedicated community activist, she initiated and participated in countless activities ti improve her neighborhood and beyond. Maggie Smith worked diligently for the campaign to elect her godson, the later Alderman Jessie Miller to the Chicago City Council. Her heartfelt love and concern for family, church, and community was evident in her words, thoughts and deeds. Her loving presence will bee missed.

Maggie was preceded in death by her loving husband, Robert Lee Smith; parents, Rev Perlie Scott and Fannie Thomas Scott; her sister, Pearlean Williams; grandson, James E Scott, Jr, and her brother, Jimmy Scott. She was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 30, 2015 around 6pm leaving to cherish and carry her legacy: loving son, Elder James E Scott, Sr (Loretta); two granddaughters, Caretta and Ashley Scott; great granddaughter, Ruth Scott; three sisters, Gladys Fulton (Chicago), Margie R Alston (Chicago), and Fanny Mae Bracey (Brookhaven, Mississippi); one brother, Cent Elmer Scott (Kansas City, Kansas); godchildren, Jure Mae Blakley (California), Cyrus Mitchell (Natchez, Mississippi), Martin Luther McNair (Indiana), Yvette Wilson (Savannah, Georgia), Ruth Rice (Chicago); The Greater Holy Temple Love Family and a host of other relatives and friends.

How does Maggie connect to my family tree?
Maggie's father was James Pearlie Scott, Jr.
James Pearlie was the son of James Pearlie Scott, Sr., and Catherine Markham.
Catherine Markham Scott and my great grandfather, Monroe Markham, were siblings.
Maggie was my maternal 2nd cousin 1x removed.

Sunday Obituary Claudine Culver Aultmann 1921-1985

Mrs Claudine Culver Aultmann was the second of four children born to the late Grover C Culver and Mrs Kathleen T Culver. She was united with Kynett United Methodist Church at an early age and continued in the service of the Lord and humanity throughout her life.

She was united in Holy Matrimony to Rudolph V Aultmann on June 24, 1956. Their only daughter preceded her in death.

She was a graduate of Alexander High School and Jackson State University.

Claudine taught in Brookhaven Separate School District for seventeen years. She served as a Buyer of Grain for the state of Illinois Agriculture Department. She was Librarian for Oakley Training School, Raymond, Mississippi, for sixteen years.

She was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and educatoe, an affilate of Gamma Beta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, a compassionate family member, devoted church member and a light to the lives she touched.

She leaves to cherish sweet memories: a loving and devoted husband, Rudolph V Aultmann; a mother, Mrs Kathleen Culver; one foster son and daughter, James and Janet Fason, Indianapolis, Indiana; five granddaughters, Tiffany Nicole Stamps and Katrina Deanna Stamps, Jackson, MS; Rane, Michelle and Jamie Fason, Indianapolis, Indiana; one sister abd two brothers, Mrs Lyntine Lenoir and Sterling E Culver, both of Brookhaven, Mississippi; John A Culver, Prentiss, Mississippi and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives , and friends.

How does she connect to my family
Claudine's sister, Lyntine Culver, married Lamar Lenoir, my maternal 2nd cousin once removed

Photograph used with permission from
Lincoln-Lawrence-Franklin Regional Library
100 South Jackson Street
Brookhaven, MS 39601
601-833-3369
http://llf.lib.ms.us/index.htm

Sunday Obituary Matilda Stackhouse Demyers Brown 1868-1974

Matilda Stackhouse Brown, the older of two children born to the late John and Mary Stackhouse, was born in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, on March 31, 1868. She joined the church at an early age while in Mississippi

Matilda met and married Print Brown. The family moved to Chicago in 1900. Upon their arrival in Chicago the family joined the Olivet Baptist Church under Reverend L T Williams and continued under the present pastor Reverend Joseph H Jackson. To this union were born seven children, Hugh Brown, Maybelle Shannon, Lucinda Spanks, Dora Demyers, Josephine Best, Eula Mae Demyers and Elson Demyers deceased.

She was a member of the Willing Worker's Circle at Olivet Church until poor health prevented her active participation in her latter years.

We loved our beloved Matilda, but God loved her best...Sleep in, dear Matilda, and take your rest. Matilda departed this life Sunday morning, June 2, 1974 at her home at 7:30 a.m.

She leaves to mourn her passing: One son Hugh Brown; five daughters, Maybelle Shannon, Lucinda Spanks, Dora Demyers, Josephine Best and Eula Mae Demyers; one daughter-in-law, Bertha Brown; one son-in-law, Benny Best; ten grandchildren, forty seven great grandchildren, twenty great great grandchildren, three great great great grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.

How does she connect to my family?
My 2nd great grandmother Alice Demyers Overton Usher had a brother
John T Demyers who had a son
Isaiah Demyers who married Matilda Stackhouse.

Photograph courtesy of Matilda's direct descendant Katherine Addison Evans.
Matilda is the one in the long coat with her daughter Dora Reeves and the little girl is unknown.

Matilda Stackhouse married Charles Mathes(Matthews) 03 Jan 1893 in Copiah County.
Matilda Stackhouse married Isaiah Demyers 24 Dec 1902 in Copiah County, MS.

Sunday's Obituary A Well Known Negro Passes Away

Eli Hilson, Sr., who had lived in Lincoln County for over 40 years and was a familiar figure to a great many of The Leader's readers, died at the home of his son in McComb City on Dec. 20th, at the advanced age of 92. Before the war Eli belonged to the Weathersbys, of Amite county, and was a faithful and trusted servant of his old master and his family. He raised five sons and five daughters in this county, all of whom survive him except Eli, Jr., who was murdered in Dec 1903. He was thrifty and industrious and up to a few years ago when he became enfeebled by age, always made a good living for himself and family and enjoyed the confidence and respect of his white neighbors. For the last four years, he lived with his children. The body was brought from McComb to Brookhaven and buried in the church yard at Mt Olive, near which the old man lived for so many years.

Eli Hilson's burial is at Greater Mount Olive MB Church of Brookhaven, MS.
Direct descendant Carolyn Betts is standing in front of church

Eli Hilson's grandson Stanhope Harris married maternal cousin Luella Markham.
Eli was born about 1820 in North Carolina per census records. He died Dec 20 1904.

Newspaper article from Brookhaven Leader, Jan 04, 1905, page 4.
Photograph is courtesy of Carolyn Betts.

Sunday's Obituary Mrs. Luella Markham Howard

Mrs. Luella Markham Howard was born in Lincoln County, Mississippi, August 16, 1885. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Markham

She was converted at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church at an early age--later uniting with the Galilee A.M.E. Church.

She was married to Elijah Howard May 14, 1924. After moving to Brookhaven she united with the Avery Chapel A.M.E. Church where she served as a faithful member until she became disable.

Her favorite songs were--"Give me my Flowers" and "I'll be Somewhere Listening for my Name."

She departed this life Sunday, May 8, 1966, and leaves to mourn her passing--five sisters, two brothers, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral held at Avery Chapel A.M.E. Church in Brookhaven, MS
Interment--Carver Heights Cemetery
Williams Mortuary of Brookhaven, MS handled the arrangements.

I remember Aunt Lou Ella. She was tall with a warm, friendly face who liked to give hugs. She wore long dresses, laced shoes and stockings that didn't match her skin coloring. When we visited, her husband Elijah would go to the grocery to buy ice cream. Elijah died in 1964, Aunt Lou Ella went to live with her sister Beatrice. Lou Ella died of dementia. Aunt Lou Ella was my mother's aunt.

Obituary from the personal collection of the late Jessie Mae Markham.

You may enjoy reading Our White House on Washington Street where Aunt Lou Ella lived before her marriage and after the death of her husband.