Mam-ma's Southern Family

Pansy’s youngest brother was born Elda Wayne Lancaster in 1927. By the time he was born, she was fourteen years old and got much practice taking care of him, as her mother was ill. Her mother had developed Parkinson's disease.  Wayne played football and basketball and ran track for Stephenville High School and Tarleton College. Yearbook photos and newspaper articles help answer this question. In the 1944 yearbook when he was a junior, Wayne signed someone's book as Looch on the page where he was listed as a Junior favorite. He was Junior class president and signed the book as Looch. On the juniors page, he signed his photo, "Lots of Love, Teensy." On the football team photo, he was Teensy. On another football photo, he's Looch. On the track team photo, he's Looch. In the 1945 edition, all the football players had nicknames listed in the text next to their photos. Wayne was Looch and captain of the team, as well as the quarterback. However, his senior class wri...

Fourteen years ago, I attended a California Genealogical Society class on creating a blog which was taught by member, Craig Siulinski. Fellow blogger, Janice Sellers, was also in the class and we started our blogs on the same day. Since that time, I have written 249 blog posts (counting this one). I do not write as many for this blog as the topic is finely defined. Mam-ma is my grandmother and this bog is about her ancestors, though occasionally I’ll write about my grandfather’s ancestors.  Last year, I wrote 21 posts: 9 posts were for 52 Ancestors 4 posts were holiday greetings 6 posts for Saturday Night Genealogy Fun 2 posts about southern families The most viewed posts were: John Coor of Copiah County Made an Agreement with Joel Hoggatt Using the Attendees at Lela Ann (Loveless) Lancaster’s Funeral to Discover Residences This post was highlighted on 52 Ancestors' weekly blog, Linda Stufflebean’s Friday Finds, and the California Genealogical Society’s Blog: John Coor of Copiah Co...

This is the start of a new series on this blog. I have so many records of my grandparent’s southern ancestors and will highlight them as I answer genealogical research questions. Even though some of these records are not of people in my grandmother’s line (thus they are not all her southern ancestors), placing these small proofs or research reports here keeps them together in one place. Question: When did John Thomas, husband of Mary Ann Haley, of Rankin Co, Mississippi, die? Background. Mary Ann Haley married John B. Thomas on 23 October 1834 in Rankin County, Mississippi.[1]  She is the daughter of Thomas Haley and his wife, Elizabeth, though this has not yet been proven here. Thomas & Elizabeth Haley are my 4x-great-grandparents, my maternal grandfather’s 2x-great-grandparents.  John Thomas did not appear in the Simpson County household headed by Mary Ann Thomas in 1850. The children living with her were: Craft H, age 14,  Elizabeth A, age 11,  John B, age 8,...

Copyright © 2024 by Lisa S. Gorrell, Mam-ma's Southern Family, All rights reserved.

I wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers. I I am very thankful for my family, our health, and the wonderful ancestors I get to research daily.  The card below was purchased from one of the wonderful postcard collectors. I wish I had cards sent to my ancestors and am envious of those who do have them. What wonderful treasures. Copyright © 2024 by Lisa S. Gorrell, Mam-ma's Southern Family, All rights reserved.

Calling All Genea-Musings Fans It's Saturday Night Again -  Time For Some More Genealogy Fun!! Our assignment from Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings tonight is to: 1)   Today's challenge is to "Share something you learned from a probate file or will that you wouldn't have otherwise known about." [thank you to Linda Stufflebean for suggesting this topic!]  Here’s mine: I have a will written by Bryan Kethley of Copiah County, Mississippi on 5 June 1890. Bryan Kethley is the son of John Kethley and Elizabeth Whitfield, and the husband of Sarah Jane Butler, the daughter of Luke Butler and Patience Coor. He is my 4x-great-granduncle, the brother of my 4x-great-grandmother, Ann Kethley, who married John Coor. John and Patience were siblings. I think I need to draw a diagram of that! Synopsis of Will Bryan’s will stated he wanted his estate after all debts and funeral expenses paid, divided in six equal parts. He wanted his three living sons and their heirs to each get a s...

Calling All Genea-Musings Fans: It's Saturday Nigh t Again -  Time For Some More Genealogy Fun!! Our assignment tonight from Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings is to:  1)   "Write a 100-word life sketch of one of your 2x-great-grandparents."  [thank you to Linda Stufflebean for suggesting this topic!]  Here's mine: A one-hundred-word story is not very long, but here goes. I did not use AI. Reuben Mack Johnston, born 18 April 1841 in Alabama,  son of Samuel and Elizabeth Johnston, lived in Mississippi as a boy and moved to Titus County, Texas when twenty.  He married twice, first to Catharine Skull and they had four known children. He married second to Olivia Jane Jones on 23 Dec 1879 in Comanche County. They had 13 children. Rueben worked as a farmer, growing Indian corn, cotton, flax, and potatoes, and raising swine, poultry, and cattle.  He died on 4 May 1924 at 83 years. The paper said “Uncle Mack” had been of feeble health and he was “not a me...