MY KINFOLKS OF KY & BEYOND
STORY TELLERS
Page 3
Flossie Jones
Life Was Too Short
by: Chris Jones
(To send Chris an e-mail, click on his name.)
May 12, 2005
Flossie Jones (to see a photo, click on her name) died at the age of fifteen on October 25, 1930. I wondered about her and how John and Tavy was all she had in the world. Flossie Jones was born August 1, 1915 to Gabriel Jones and Doannie Thomas Jones. Gabriel and John Franklin, as well as Grandpa Rev. Jackson Jones were all brothers. Flossie's mother, Doannie, died in 1917 from Typhoid Fever. Little Flossie was only two years old. Dellia Jones Barnes told me some odd years ago that when Doannie died, Uncle Gabriel just about grieved himself to death and turned to the bottle and just sobered up enough to get drunk again crying for Doannie. Being in no shape to raise a baby girl, Flossie went to stay with old Grandpa George Jones (Jackson's dad). He had lost his wife, Lavinia, also in 1915, the year Flossie was born. He was old but willing to care for the child. Louannie (Margaret Thomas' sister) told me as a child she remembers going up to old George Jones' home and staying all night with Flossie, who was one of her best school friends. Her and Flossie would snuggle under the quilt on the old feather bed and talk as little girls do. Before too long Grandpa George became sick and had to stay with Aunt Elizabeth. He died when Flossie was nine years old. It was decided that, for some reason we don't know, Flossie would go and live with John Franklin Jones and his wife, Octavia Witt, who had no children. Apparently, Gabriel didn't object and Flossie went to live in Laurel County away from the mountains of Yocum Creek. At the tender age of 15 she died from Tuberculosis. I can only imagine the heartache of John and Tavy, as I have been told they loved her dearly. Flossie was a very pretty girl with long wavy hair.
John, Tavy, as well as Flossie, have stones in Laurel County. They are buried at McDaniel's Cemetery. I feel it is just sad Uncle John died alone, Flossie was taken at such a young age, and was kind of moved pillar to post with her mother dead. I reckon as the story goes, Gabriel finally got over Tavy and remarried Narcissus Madden and had one other son, Olin, whom I know and love well. Olin lives in Harlan.
|
