LETTIE ANN KENNEDY
Lettie Ann Kennedy, daughter of Neal Kennedy and Martha Ann Hicks was born September 6, 1858 and died July 1, 1940 (see attached copy of her Obituary). She married Absalom Clark on January 29, 1879. The ceremony was performed by Rev. William DeWitt at the bride's home (see attached Marriage Certificate).
Absalom was born June 18, 1853, the son of William Campbell Clark and Jane Kirk. Absalom died April 6, 1912 and was buried in Pine Crest Cemetery, Jackson, AL (see attached account of his Obituary). Lettie is buried in West Everreen Cemetery, Jacksonville, FL.
There were eleven children born to Lettie and Absalom:
1. Thomas Matthew Clark
2. Addie Belle Clark
3. Carrie Pearl Clark
4. Lora Ann Clark
5. Clark Infant
6. Erma Levonia Clark
7. Lula Mae Clark
8. Lillian Augusta Clark
9. Neal Lamar Clark
10. Jessie Gray Clark
11. Thelma Octa Clark
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OBITUARY of ABSALOM CLARK
one of the saddest events which has occurred in Jackson was the sudden and unexpected death of Mr. A. Clark, which occurred at his home in Jackson early last Saturday morning. Mr. Clark had been a sufferer from heart trouble for some time but it was not thought that there was any immediate danger. Mr. Clark laid down Saturday morning feeling slightly indisposed and when a member of the family approached him a short while later he was dead.
Monday morning a large number of friends followed the body from the home to the M. E. Church, where funeral services were conducted by Rev. W. R. Bickerstaff, and from thence to Pine Crest cemetery where the last rites were paid the dead. The grave was covered with many beautiful floral designs.
Mr. A. Clark was born near Lower Peach Tree, Wilcox County, Alabama, June 18th 1853 and was reared on the farm with limited opportunities, but was blessed with a Christian mother and father who taught him the way of life while young, and as he grew older he did not depart from it.
After he grew to manhood he was happily married Miss. L. A. Kennedy. After several years of toil and hardships in the lime hills of Wilcox he moved to Clarke county, first to Nettleboro, then to Fulton, and from thence to Jackson.
Mr. Clark loved his children and for this reason he came to Jackson to educate them. He loved his church also and had been a faithful member of the Methodist church since his boyhood. He was a devoted husband and father, a good citizen, a good neighbor, a friend to all and no respecter of persons.
He leaves a heart-broken wife and nine children, two of whom were in Little Rock, Arkansas at the infirmary and did not return home in time to see their father buried.
Those that came from out-of-town to attend the funeral were John C. Clark, a brother from Mobile and Eugene F. Davis, a nephew, also from Mobile; Mrs. W. T. Clark, sister-in-law, and two sons, Hollis and Brooks Clark from Atmore, Ala. and also Mrs. S. J. Davis from Mobile.
The respect in which Mr. Clark was held by our town was shown by the sympathy and kindnesses shown the bereaved family and the profusion of flowers has rarely been seen at the Jackson Cemetery. Truly a good man has gone to his reward. Weep not loved ones, for if you are faithful like he was you will meet him again where parting will be no more.
Signed: A Friend
Copied from The South Alabamian, Jackson, Alabama
Friday, April 12, 1912
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ABSALOM CLARK AND LETTIE ANN (KENNEDY) CLARK
ABSALOM CLARK of Wilcox County (Alabama) and LETTIE ANN KENNEDY of Clark(e) County were married January 29, 1878 at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Neal Kennedy, by Rev. William DeWitt.
Mama was 20 when she married and was said to be a beautiful young woman, with dark hair and eyes. She made her own wedding dress. After the wedding, they went on horseback to their small farm home near Lower Peach Tree, Alabama. Mama cooked on a fireplace and remembered - with a faraway look in her eyes - that she had a rose vine which was called "The Seven Sisters". (She had six sisters and she made the seventh daughter.) Tom, Belle, Carrie and Lora were born while they lived at this their first home. Levonia, Lula Mae and Lillian were born at Lower Peach Tree, Alabama, and Lamar, Jessie and Thelma were born at Nettlesboro, Alabama.
Papa was 25 when he and Mama married. He was of Scotch descent, with sandy-colored hair and blue eyes. He was a hardworking, God-fearing and God-loving man. He exacted obedience and respect from his children without harshness. He had family prayers every night before going to bed, with Papa reading from the Bible and all the family kneeling for prayer.
Papa was too young (only 12) to serve in the War of the Confederacy. He was born on a farm and farming was the way he and Mama started out on their own to make a home and raise a family. The devastation and depression which hit the South as a result of the war was still taking its toll and it became more and more difficult for them.
When Papa was 49 and Mama 44, with a large family, they sold the home in Nettlesboro, Alabama, and moved to Fulton, Alabama a nearby town. Incidentally, except for vague impressions of our life in Nettlesboro, my first real memory is of the trip to Fulton the day we moved. I was three and Thelma was just a few months old, wearing the long white infant's dress of those times. I remember I had a new pair of shoes and sat in the foot of the buggy and Mama held Thelma in her lap!
As I think back over the years, several other fond memories come to mind. one was how the family would gather around the fireplace at night (before prayers) and ask Papa to "tell us a story" - or sing to us. Another thing I recall very vividly was when "Sister Lora" (as the younger children called her)was married in Fulton in 1906. But to me, the most important incident was when we had a boarder in Fulton. His name was Mr. Gray, and I recall asking him one day while he was recuperating from an illness, if he would teach me to read! I was, I
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imagine, four or five at the time. He did teach me and must have done a pretty good job as I have been an avid reader since then!
From Fulton, the family moved to Jackson, Alabama. The home Papa bought is still there. Since moving to Mobile, Anne and
I have driven to Jackson several times. We always go to the old home (which has been kept in an excellent state of repair) and to the cemetery to visit Papa's grave. He died at the age of 59. The inscription on his grave stone reads: "His many virtues form the noblest monument to his memory". He was buried on April 6, 1912.
Mama died and was buried in Jacksonville, Florida in 1940 at the age of 82. The inscription on her grave stone is "Love never faileth".
They were wonderful parents and I have shared with you my little trip down memory lane with a feeling of sadness –yet one of thanksgiving for the beauty of their lives which is our heritage.
October, 1975
Jessie Clark Bamford
CLARKE RITES ARE SET FOR TOMORROW
Mrs. Lettie Ann Clark, 81, died yesterday in the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. A. Rodeheaver, 269 West Sixty-Second street. The Rev. D. H. Rutter will officiate, assisted by the Rev. Wilburn H. Clevelend of Springfield Presbyterian church.
Mrs. Clark was a native of Peachtree, Ala. She had lived In Jacksonville since 1938, when she came here from Little Rock, Ark.
Surviving Mrs. Clark are seven daughters. Mrs. B. E. Bibby and Mrs. Rodeheaver of Jacksonville, Mrs. C. C. Conner of Little Rock, Mrs. W. H. McCormlck, Mrs R. E. Richardson and Mrs. Irma Smith of Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. J. C. Bamford of Brooklyn, N. two sons, Tom Clarke of'Laurel Miss. and Neal L. Clarke of Kansas City, and one sister, Mrs. M. E. Wilson of Dickinson, Ala. She is also survived by 18 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren
Funeral arrangements are in charge of the Elliott Funeral home.
Burial wlll be in West Evergreen cemetery.
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THOMAS MATTHEW CLARK
Thomas Matthew Clark, oldest child of Absalom Clark and Lettie Ann Kennedy, was born February 24, 1880 in Wilcox County, Alabama. He died in Laurel, Mississippi on May 20, 1955. "Buddy" married Alice Hestle of Pine Hill, Wilcox County, Alabama. She was born August 31, 1885 and died December 18, 1978. They had three children.
1. Thomas Matthew Clark, Jr., born in Jackson, Alabama February 27, 1912. Died in 1968.
2. Elizabeth Clark, born November 14, 1913. Married Joseph Owen Scoggin, born on August 20, 1912; died July 5, 1973. Joe was the son of Joe Clark Scoggin and Rebecca Hurst. Elizabeth and Joe have two sons, both born in Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi.
A. Joe Clark Scoggin, born July 5, 1935. He is a physician and he and his wife have two children.
a. Joe Clark Scoggin, Jr., born December 9, 1957.
b. Allyson Ann Scoggin, born October 29, 1960. She is married to Sid Ishee.
B. Donald Thomas Scoggin, born September 15, 1936. He is a pharmacist, and he and his wife have three sons.
a. Donald Thomas Scoggin, Jr., born August 12, 1962. Married Donna Kay Grantham, born January 22, 1962. Two children:
(1) Darren Thomas Scoggin, born August 25, 1987.
(2) Daniel Ryan Scoggin, born May 2, 1990.
b. Jack Myers Scoggin, born April 5, 1965.
c. Patrick Lee Scoggin, born July 12, 1970.
3. Jewell Lockett Clark, born April 10, 1915; died May 5, 1919.
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ADDIE BELLE CLARK
Addie Belle Clark, born at Pleasant Hill, Clarke County, AL on October 8, 1881. She married in Little Rock, Arkansas on January 25, 1907, Thomas Malachi Cook. He was born in Lower Peach Tree, Wilcox County AL on November 29, 1878, the son of Thomas A. Cook and Nancy Jane Stabler.
Thomas A. Cook was a brother to Samuel Bernard Alexander Cook who married Ada Byron Davis (see chapter on Johnson Davis in the Davis Section of this book). The parents of Thomas and Alex were Dorus H. and Dolly A. Cook.
Addie Belle died in Brooklyn, New York on June 11, 1931. She was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida. Thomas died on December 16, 1947, Hollywood, California, and was also buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
Addie and Thomas had four children.
1. Thomas Charles Cook, born in Jackson, Alabama on August 18 1913. He married in Mobile, AL on October 27, 1940, Jewel Almira Evans, born on April 28, 1921, in Bolinger, Choctaw County, AL. She is the daughter of Albert Henry Evans and Omer Purcell. Thomas and his wife reside in Palm Desert, California. They have four children.
A. Craig Evans Cook, born in New Rochelle, Westchester County, NY on November 20, 1944. He married Victoria Kappan on December 12, 1985.
B. Thomas Barry Cook, born in Brooklyn, King County, NY on April 30, 1947. Married Linda Adams in May, 1979.
C. Stephen Scott Cook, born in Burbank, Los Angeles County, CA on May 28, 1949. Married Cheryl Truss September 5, 1987.
D. Virginia Ann Cook, born in Glendale, Los Angeles County, CA on February 15, 1959. She was a finalist in the Junior Miss Pageant in 1977 in Mobile, Alabama, representing California. She married Daniel Patrick Knowles on December 11, 1982.
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2. Helen Clarice Cook, second child of Addie Belle Clark and Thomas Malachi Cook, was born in Andalusia, Covington Co. Alabama on February 8, 1915. She died July 27, 1915.
3. Harry Clarke Cook, third child of Addie and Thomas, was born in Andalucia October 10, 1916; died June 24, 1917.
4. Marjorie Celle Cook, last child of Addie and Thomas, was born in Selma, AL on November 23, 1918; died July 24,1920.
CARRIE PEARL CLARK
Carrie Pearl Clark, born December 6, 1882, Wilcox County, AL. She died May 5, 1974, Little Rock, Arkansas, where she is buried. Carrie married on November 12, 1924, Curtis C. Connor, born in 1886 in Kansas City, Missouri. He died December 18, 1930 in Little Rock and is buried there. Carrie and Curtis had no issue but he had a son by a former marriage who came to live with his father and step-mother when he was seven years old.
A. David Connor, born April 28, 1920. Married on August 9, 1969, Lee Buttons.
LORA ANN CLARK
Lora Ann Clark, born September 24, 1885 in Wilcox County, AL. She died March 22, 1976 in Jacksonville, FL. Married August 29, 1906 in Fulton, AL, Bert Edwin Bibby. Bert was born in Wausau, Wisconsin on March 9, 1878 and died in Lake City, FL on April 18, 1955. His parents were William Edwin Bibby and Josephine DeLacey. Lora Ann and Bert are buried in Jacksonville, FL.
1. Bert Cecil Bibby, born in Fulton, AL October 12, 1907 and died June 16, 1969. Married Helen Parnall.
A. Bert Cecil Bibby, born in Jacksonville, FL February 6, 1935. Married first to Camille Lewis by whom he had three children. Married second, Judy Powell. Married third, Patricia A. Pascoe on February 21, 1975. She
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was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 30, 1938, daughof Milford W. and Mamie E. Pascoe.
a. William C. Bibby, born February 30, 1958, Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.
b. Rebecca A. Bibby, born in Jacksonville, FL April 24, 1960. Married Donald A. Gold on February 13, 1988.
c. Terrie C. Bibby, born in Jacksonville on December 10, 1964.
B. Robert Allen Bibby, born September 28, 1936. Married first to Lisa Schlekenmyer of Germany, by whom he had three children.
a. Robert Bibby, born in 1961.
b. Marianne Bibby, born in 1962.
c. Wendy Bibby, born in 1963.
Robert married second, Kathy Hill, by whom he had two children.
d. Tonya Bibby
e. Christopher Bibby
C. William C. Bibby, born October 20, 1937. He married Susan Ryan.
a. Mark Bibby, born in 1965.
b. Tracy Bibby, born in 1968.
2. Edith Lora Bibby, born at Sylacauga, AL on September 17, 1909 and died in Brunswick, Georgia May 3, 1985. Buried on St. Simon's Island, GA. Edith married April 25, 1936 in Jacksonville, FL, David Shier McLean, born in Edinburgh Scotland on July 2, 1911. He was the son of Lachland McLean and Ann Frazer Shier.
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A. Katherine Ann McLean, born in Atlanta, Fulton Co. GA on August 1, 1941. She married Donald Coldwell Fuller on September 1, 1970.
B. David Shier McLean, Jr., born September 1, 1944 in Jacksonville, Duval County, FL. He married Frances Wright Smith on January 6, 1983.
3. Carolyn Ann Bibby, born in Wetumpka, AL on June 28, 1918. Married James Edgar Herring on October 5, 1940, the son of Charles Lester Herring and Pearl Monk. Carolyn and her husband reside in Jacksonville, FL. They have two children, both born in Jacksonville.
A. Lora Ann Herring, born May 25, 1943. Married to Frank Thomas Holsenbeck on June 20, 1964.
a. James Howard Holsenbeck, born in Gastonia, North Carolina on December 17, 1966.
b. Nancy Elizabeth Holsenbeck, born in Columbia,South Carolina on April 12, 1971.
B. Timothy Patrick Herring, born April 8, 1948.
4. Erma Bell Bibby, last child of Lora Ann Clark and Bert Edwin Bibby, was born in Kansas City, MO September 5, 1922. Married on September 25, 1954, Wilson Willard Briggs, born June 7, 1914, Columbia, SC, the son of David Coleman Briggs and Jessie Willard. Wilson died June 27, 1968 in Jacksonville and is buried there.
A. Linda Joy Briggs, born August 2, 1955, Jacksonville. Married Scott Warren Allison on July 24, 1976.
a. Matthew Scott Allison, born in Ft. Myers, FL July 14, 1981.
b. Stacey Elizabeth Allison, born in Ft. Myers December 1, 1984.
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CLARK INFANT
The fifth child of Lettie Ann Kennedy and Absalom Clark was born November 8, 1889. Died the same day.
ERMA LEVONIA CLARK
Erma Levonia Clark, born at Lower Peach Tree, AL on February 81 1891; died in Little Rock, Arkansas April 17, 1976. Erma married K. B. Smith.
1. Kenneth W. Smith
LULA MAE CLARK
Lula Mae Clark, born in Wilcox County, AL August 9,1892; she died on October 13, 1971. Married in 1913 to Robert E. Richardson, born in 1895; died May 25, 1969. Both are buried in Kansas City, Missouri.
1. Carl Lamar Richardson, born in Jacksonville, FL August 20 1918. Married Ann Ahlen, born in Kansas City, MO March 31, 1918; died December 6, 1988. She was the daughter of Albert and Anne Marie Ahlen. Carl and Ann had two children, both born in Kansas City, MO.
A. Carla Ann Richardson, born September 8, 1948. She married Larry D. Wiseman on June 29, 1964.
a. Warren O. Wiseman, born on September 29, 1977.
b. Wendi A. Wiseman, born May 19, 1979.
B. Robert Edward Richardson, born on may 19, 1958. He married Debbie A. Wiseman on May 31, 1981.
a. Jessica Richardson, born on August 16, 1986.
b. Austin Richardson born on January 26, 1988.
2. J. C. Richardson
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LILLIAN AUGUSTA CLARK
Lillian Augusta Clark, born in Lower Peach Tree, AL August 15, 1894; died August 4, 1963, Kansas City, MO. Married William H. McCormick, born in 1895; he died January 4, 1964, Kansas City. Lillian and William are buried there.
1. Jean McCormick; married William Ahlstrom; divorced.
2. William E. McCormick
3. Marilyn McCormick; deceased.
NEAL LAMAR CLARK
Neal Lamar Clark, born April 20, 1896, Nettlesboro, Clarke Co. AL. He died September 11, 1980 in Kansas City, MO, where he is buried. Married Grace Lyman on October 3, 1923, daughter of Edward Sherman Lyman and Florence May Nabors. Grace was born at Montevallo, AL on April 15, 1897 and died September 25 1989 in Kansas City; she is buried there also. Neal and Grace had four children, all born in Kansas City.
When Mary Neal Clarke Fields returned the Family Group Sheets, she had spelled their name with an "e".
1. Mary Neal Clarke, born July 29, 1924. Married on February 21, 1946, John Matthews Fields, born February 21, 1923 in Binghampton, New York, the son of Leslie Earl Fields and Pamela Matthews. Mary Neal and Jack live in Rochester,NY.
A. Robert Donald Fields, born on August 22, 1948, Englewood, New Jersey. Married on May 29, 1970, Jacquelyn Ruth Crumrine. Robert is a physician.
B. Barbara Leslie Fields, born in Rochester March 7, 1950. Married Gary Arthur Williams on August 29, 1970.
C. John Clarke Fields, born in Rochester September 8,1953.
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Married Lisa Florence Martin on August 15, 1987.
D. Pamela Matthews Fields, born in Rochester September 1, 1959. Married Jamal Joseph Rossi on June 26, 1982. Jamal is a physician.
2. Edward Lamar Clarke; married Theda Rose Nelson; divorced. Three children:
A. Edward Samuel Clarke, born September 23, 1962.
B. Ida Rose Clarke, born December 22, 1963; deceased.
C. Patrick Michael Clarke, born on September 6, 1965.
3. Elizabeth Clark; married E. J. Corpenny.
4. Robert Lacey Clarke, born in Kansas City on June 13, 1931. Married Barbara Jean Callen in 1923, daughter of Lloyd Arthur Callen and Bernice Vontelle Cloud. Barbara was born in Scott City, KS on December 16, 1934. She and Robert have four children.
A. Mary Elizabeth Clarke, born January 4, 1958, Kansas City, MO. Married Chad Cayton and they have one child.
a. Clarke Thompson Cayton
B. Catherine Jean Clarke, born in Kansas City December 23, 1959. Married Michael Banes; they have two children.
a. Michael Callen Banes
b. Katelyn Banes
C. Robert Lacey Clarke, Jr., born in Kansas City October 13, 1964.
D. Neal Callen Clarke, born in Pittsburgh, PA March 23, 1971.
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JESSIE GRAY CLARK
Jessie Gray Clark, born June 23, 1899, Nettlesboro, AL. Died in Mobile on December 22, 1979, where she is buried. Married on December 5, 1925, in Jacksonville, FL, Arthur Anton Bamford, born March 4, 1888, Wichita, Kansas; died April 26, 1962, Keystone Heights, FL and was buried at Nahunta, Georgia. Jessie and Arthur were divorced May 5, 1932. One daughter:
1. Anne Bamford, born August 8, 1930. Lives in Mobile.
Jessie Clark Bamford is the author of the two-page history of her parents (see attached).
THELMA OCTA CLARK
Thelma Octa Clark, born in Nettlesboro, AL on July 18, 1902; died September 9, 1961 in Jacksonville, FL. Married September 17, 1932, William Aaron Rodeheaver, born on August 31, 1906.
1. William Ray Rodeheaver, born in Tallahassee, FL on July 11, 1939. Adopted in July of 1943 by Thelma and her husband.
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SOURCES FOR LETTIE ANN KENNEDY
Clarke County Marriage Records
Writings of Jessie Gray Clark Bamford
Clark Family History compiled by Anne Bamford, October 1975
Newspaper clippings
Family Group Sheets completed by relatives
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HENRIETTA AMANDA KENNEDY
Henrietta Amanda Kennedy, youngest daughter of Neal Kennedy and Martha Ann Hicks, was born December 11, 1860. Married February 3, 1884, at her parents' home, Samuel Johnson Davis, son of Enoch Davis, Jr. and Sarah Hawkins (see chapter on Enoch Davis, Jr. in Davis Section). Samuel was born July 7, 1862.
Amanda and Samuel had eight children. Their names and birthdates were recorded in a Bible owned by Samuel Johnson Davis and copied by J. L. Cullen, presumedly at the time he completed a booklet on a portion of the Davis family.
The date of Amanda's death is unknown, but it was after April 6, 1912. That was the date of Absalom Clark's funeral in Jackson, Alabama and Amanda was listed as one of those attending his funeral. Absalom was the husband of Lettie Ann Kennedy, sister of Amanda.
Amanda died after 1912 and before 1924, as Samuel Johnson Davis married Cecil Jane Newberry on May 3, 1924.
Amanda and Samuel had eight children.
1. Samuel Alfonzo Davis, born January 5, 1885.
2. Virginia May Davis, born May 3, 1886. Family members state that she married George McLean.
3. Enoch Elmore Davis, born August 29, 1888. Deceased before February 16, 1902, the date of his sister ElizaAgnes' death. The attached copy of her obituary mentions "Little Elmore, who preceded her".
4. Noel Stanley Davis, born December 31, 1890. I was told
by family members that he "drowned as a young man". The attached copy of his obituary confirms that he did drown, and was buried in the Pine crest Cemetery, Jackson, AL.
5. Cora Lee Davis, born March 2, 1893. Again, I was told by family members that she was the first manager of Morrisonis Cafeteria in Mobile, Alabama. I have been unable to verify this, or determine if she married.
6. Florence Ethel Davis, born April 15, 1895.
7. Elizabeth Agnes Davis, born January 22, 1898; died February 16, 1902. Buried in Kennedy Cemetery, Chance, Alabama. See attached copy of her obituary.
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SOURCES FOR HENRIETTA AMANDA KENNEDY
Davis Booklet compiled by J. L. Cullen
Newspaper clippings
Personal knowledge of family members
Cemetery records and tombstones
843A
THOMAS JEFFERSON KENNEDY
Thomas Jefferson Kennedy, son of Neal Kennedy and Martha Ann Hicks, was born February 5, 1863 and died January 6, 1905 (see attached copy of his Obituary). He married Lula Octavia Davis on January 13, 1886 at the home of W. M. Davis (see copy of Marriage Certificate). Lula, the daughter of Howard Covington Davis and his first wife, Sarah Agnes Pine, was born February 5, 1868 and died April 6, 1937 (see attached copy of her Obituary). Thomas and his wife are buried in the Kennedy Cemetery, Chance.
Thomas and Lula lived in Chance, where their four children were born. After Thomas' death, Lula moved with their children to Lower Peach Tree, so the children could attend school there. This was told to me by Belle Steele Cobb in the spring of 1990 when I visited her in Mobile.
Thomas and Lula had four children:
1. Strother Eddie Kennedy
2. Lily O. (Octavia?) Kennedy
3. Howard Lindsey Kennedy
4. Lola Kennedy
STROTHER EDDIE KENNEDY
Strother Eddie Kennedy, oldest child of Thomas Jefferson Kennedy and Lula Octavia Davis, was born October 21, 1886; died July 9, 1960. He married Ethel Virginia Garrick on December 27, 1914. She was born June 20, 1895 and died April 10, 1988. Ethel was the daughter of Bryant Alexander Garrick and Laura Virginia Rachel. Eddie and Ethel are buried in the Kennedy Cemetery in Chance, Alabama.
1. Ernestine Kennedy, born in Chance on December 16, 1916. She married in Grove Hill on April 4, 1937, William Lamar Rotch, born on December 14, 1910, at Winn, Clarke County, AL. He was the son of Richard Clark Rotch and Oneta Pugh. Ernestine and Lamar live in Chance, Clarke County, Alabama.
A. William Lamar Rotch, Jr., born in Chance on September 21, 1939 and died on October 28, 1980. He married Elizabeth Ann Mathis on December 22, 1968. They had two children.
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a. Allison Leigh Rotch, born January 4, 1976.
b. Jessica Lynn Rotch, born July 11, 1977.
B. Charles Michael Rotch, born in Mobile, Alabama on September 18, 1945. Married November 5, 1966 Minnie Marie Bradford, born on October 24, 1946. Marie is the daughter of Clayton Bradford and Louise Larrimore, and the granddaughter of Watt Bradford and Minnie Duke.
Mike and Marie are divorced; they had one child.
a. Holly Nikole Rotch, born April 7, 1974.
Mike married Susan Kim (Brady) Parker May 22, 1987. Kim was born July 4, 1960. She has two children by her former marriage.
a. Ryan Keith Parker, born May 18, 1979.
b. Rachael Leigh Parker, born August 8, 1981.
C. Peggy Linda Rotch, born in Thomasville, AL on September 25, 1948. She married first, Charles David Smith and had two sons.
a. Troy Keith Smith, born September 27, 1969.
b. Jason Heath Smith, born December 1, 1970.
Peggy and Charles were divorced in October of 1971 and she married John William Thomas, Jr. of Tuscaloosa. John and Peggy are both descended from Enoch Davis, Sr. (see Davis Section of this book).
Peggy and John have one son.
(1) Jeffrey Wayne Thomas, born May 13, 1975.
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2. Edd Kennedy, Jr., second child and oldest son of Eddie and Ethel Kennedy, was born August 14, 1918. He married on June 10. 1951, Susie Kimbrough, born on September 18, 1930. She was the daughter of Dr. William Edward Kimbrough and Louise Rawls.
Susie is descended from William Davis who came to Alabama and settled in the Suggsville area of Clarke County in 1834. It is believed that this William was a brother to our Enoch Davis, Sr. of Halifax County, North Carolina. Enoch was already in Clarke County when his brother arrived. Further explanation will be found in the Davis Section of this book.
Edd Kennedy, Jr. died on June 3, 1990 in Mobile and buried in the Kennedy Cemetery in Chance. Before he became ill, he was making plans for an access road into that cemetery, and a new fence to be installed.
I regret that Edd Jr. did not live to see the completion and publication of my book. He was so interested in it, and anxious to assist me in my research.
Edd and Susie's children are listed as follows:
A. Edd Kennedy, III, stillborn on July 27, 1952. Buried in Kennedy Cemetery.
B. Carolyn Louise Kennedy, born April 28, 1954.
C. Edd Kennedy, III, born December 22, 1955.
3. Thomas Bryant Kennedy, second son of Eddie and Ethel Kennedy, was born on October 8, 1927. Married on November 19 1955, Lorena Ann Bush, daughter of William Adlai Bush and Lorena Ann Pleasant. Ann was born December 4, 1929, Jackson, Alabama. She and Tom live in Monroeville and have three children.
A. Thomas Adlai Kennedy, born July 14, 1959.
B. Gretchen Kennedy, born July 10, 1963.
C. Patricia Ann Kennedy, born July 23, 1964.
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4. Martha Helen Kennedy, second daughter of Eddie and Ethel Kennedy, was born July 31, 1929. married on June 29, 1949 Frank Donald Echols, born June 24, 1922.
Frank's sister, Carolyn Echols, married Elbert Cecil Carver, grandson of Margaret Isabella Kennedy and Elbert Fisher Davis. Margaret and Thomas Jefferson Kennedy were sister and brother.
Martha and Sonny have recently moved from Birmingham back to Chance. They are living in and renovating the family home, which holds many fond memories for me because of the hours I spent there as a child.
Our home was about a mile from "Cousin Eddie's" and every day my sister Miriam and I would walk down to the main road to our mailbox. From there to "Cousin Eddie's" was not far, especially since they had a nice collection of books. And Sister and I loved to read - then and now. Also, Martha and I spent many hours playing dolls and making doll clothes.
Martha and Sonny had a son and two daughters, all born in Tuscaloosa.
A. Frank Donald Echols, Jr., born on April 2, 1951. married on June 12, 1982, Susan Diane Draper, born December 19, 1956. Don and Susan had two daughters, both born in Birmingham. They were divorced in December of 1987.
a. Priscilla Nell Echols, born October 30, 1984.
b. Felicia Diane Echols, born October 28, 1986.
B. Charlotte Echols, born on July 12, 1952. Married Ray Wilbur Carlisle July 12, 1980. He was born in Alexander City, Tallapoosa County, AL on October 3, 1951 the son of Wilbur Herman Carlisle and Marie Maurin. Charlotte and Ray had two children, both born in Alex City, and were divorced in September of 1988.
a. Courtney Echols Carlisle, born December 16, 1982.
b. William Maurin Carlisle, born November 9, 1984.
C. Julia Ann Echols, born March 31, 1956. Married Stephen Montgomery Duffee on December 19, 1981. He was born in Montgomery, AL December 4, 1951, the son of Cecil
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Gravlee Duffee and Mary Frances Montgomery. Julie and Stephen have two children.
a. Mary "Mimi" Martha Duffee, born in Opelika, Lee Co. AL on May 29, 1984.
b. Virginia "Ginny" Adele Duffee, born in Birmingham on November 25, 1988.
5. Ethel Jane Kennedy, last child of S. E. Kennedy and Ethel Virginia Garrick, was born in Chance on November 27, 1933. She married Norman Nolly Loper on December 20, 1953. Nolly was born on February 27, 1932, the son of Henry Clifford Loper and Idell Harvison. Jane and Nolly live in Thomasville and have two children.
A. Debra Lynnette Loper, born June 24, 1956. Married on April 19, 1975, Allen Denny Smith; divorced in August of 1978.
B. Randall Keith Loper, born August 16, 1959. Married to Anita Lynn Parker on September 19, 1981.
LILY O. KENNEDY
Lily O. (Octavia?) Kennedy, second child of Thomas Jefferson Kennedy and Lula Octavia Davis, was born at Chance September 11, 1888. She was one of many persons who taught at the Cane Creek School in Chance. Both of my parents were taught by her.
Lily married Philip Wood Lett (Baptist minister and educator) on September 3, 1913. He was born in Clarke CO. Alabama on August 8, 1886, the son of Henry Hunter Lett and Carolyn Goode King. He died July 22, 1961 and Lily died May 25, 1983. They are buried in the Kennedy Cemetery at Chance. Lily and her husband had one son.
1. Philip Wood Lett, Jr., born in Newton, Dale Co. AL on May 5, 1922. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University, a Master's degree in Science from the University of Alabama and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.
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He also received a post doctoral Sloan Fellowship from Massachusetts Institute Of Techology that led to a Master's degree in Industrial Management.
Phil married Katy Lee Howell on June 26, 1948. They have three children, all born in Detroit, Michigan.
During the Desert Shield/Storm conflict of late 1990 and early 1991, there was much publicity regarding the Ml Tank which performed so admirably at that time. Dr. Philip W. Lett is generally considered to be the "father of the Ml Tank", probably the world's foremost tank.. Of course, Phil, being the modest, unassuming man that he is, is quick to point out that he was not the only person involved in designing the Ml.
When I first became aware of Phil's involvement with the Ml Tank I asked him to send me some information I could use in my book. He obliged by sending me a copy of an article by Alan P. Capps which was published in Defense & Diplomacy. This dealt with the past and future of tank development and Phil's involvement in the design of the tank. Condensing the article would be an injustice to both Phil and Mr. Capps. Suffice it to say that the family is very proud that Phil is one of us!
A. Kathy Elizabeth Lett, born July 1, 1955. She married Michael Mills Clark on August 25, 1979. They have one child and are expecting another in August. Kathy is a civil engineer/architect.
a. Christopher Dean Clark, born January 14, 1985.
B. Phillip Warren Lett, born November 29, 1956. Warren is an advertising executive.
C. Lisa Ann Lett, born April 26, 1959. Lisa is a lawyer.
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HOWARD LINDSEY KENNEDY
Howard Lindsey Kennedy, third child of Thomas Jefferson Kennedy and Lula Octavia Davis, was born February 21, 1891; died May 12, 1944. Married Willie Gray Rikard January of 1916. She was born January 25, 1893 and died August 14, 1985. No issue.
LOLA KENNEDY
Lola Kennedy, last child of Thomas Jefferson Kennedy and Lula octavia Kennedy, was born April 13, 1897. She died December 10, 1901 and is buried in the Kennedy Cemetery, Chance.
You will note that she is called "Nola Mae" in the attached copy of her Obituary. Evidently this was her nickname.
Tuesday Dec. 10, 1901, the messenger of Death came to the house of Brother and Sister Thomas Kenneddy and summoned their little "Nola May" to her heavenly home. She was born April 13, 1897, and died December 10, 1901. Weep not, father, mother, sister, brotber while her place is vacant and her prattling voice will be heard no more on earth, she is safe in the arms of Jesus, safe from pain, sin, ,sorrow and care, an occupant of the celestial city and with angelic notes is praising her Redeemer.
May God Comfort and console the bereaved by His grace.
C. H. MORGAN.
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SOURCES FOR THOMAS JEFFERSON KENNEDY
Cemetery records and tombstones
Conversations with relatives
Family Group Sheets completed by relatives
Personal knowledge
Newspaper clippings
Clarke County Marriage Records
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