1824 - 1913
 

William Brinkley Williamson Family Portrait
Front L to R: Carlos Jefferson, William Brinkley, Josephine Amanda (née Powell), Virdie Lela.
Center: Stephen Clinton.
Back L to R: Annie Lou, Henry Franklin, Effie Joella, Zelia Aronna.

Photos

Documents

Headstones

Obituaries
(Newspaper Clippings)

To The Memory of
Old Uncle Bill Williamson

When my mother wrote me that Uncle Bill was dead and that he sang and prayed as long as he could say anything it made my heart rejoice.

I have known him ever since I have know anyone.  He always was true to his church and attended as long as he was able to go.  The last few years of his life he was confined to his home.

I had the privilege of being in his home last July.  Bro. Noel Williamson, his son, and I were on our way to help Bro. Terry in a meeting, and we stopped in to see him.   He was glad to see us.  We sang and prayed with him, and the old fella got real happy and told us he was ready to go.

He was about a hundred years old or more, the father of 24 or 25 children.

He fought a good fight; he kept the faith, and has gone to receive his reward.

I love to think of Uncle Bill in Heaven with his Lord, with my father, and a number of others.

Written by S. E. Gipson

*  *  *  *  *

Alexander C. Miles

Alexander Christine Miles, age 56, died at his home in Collinsville.  Surviving him are his widow¹; two sons, T. E. Miles, Starkville; Odell Miles, Collinsville; three daughters: Mesdames Edna Holcombe, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Marthe² (sic) Fortson;  Miss Helen Miles, Collinsville; one brother, Otis Miles; one sister, Mrs. Lula Ezell, both of Collinsville and four grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements have not been completed.  They will be conducted from the Pine Grove church with the Revs. Gordon Ezzelle, Eugene Stevens and Blanding Vaughan, Baptist ministers, officiating.

Williams Funeral Home in charge.

1 Virdie Lela Williamson
2 Martha

*  *  *  *  *

Mrs. Verdie Lela Collins

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. — Funeral services for Mrs. Verdie Lela Collins, 70, were slated for 2 p.m. today from the First Baptist Church with burial in Cedarlawn Cemetery.  She died Wednesday in the Fathers and Mothers Rest Home.

Ministers were the Rev. Roy Collum and the Rev. Martin Nelson.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Survivors include six stepsons: Preston, Elwyn, Hubert, Excell and Leo Collins, all of Philadelphia, and Dr. I. A. Miles of Stoneville; three sisters: Mrs. Mavis Fortson, New Orleans; Mrs. Edna Holcombe and Mrs. DeWitt Creekmore, Philadelphia; three brothers: Frank Williamson, Meridian; S.C. Williamson, New Orleans; and C. J. Williamson, Collinsville.

McClain-Hays Funeral Home directed arrangements.

*  *  *  *  *

Austin L. Brown

Services for Austin L. Brown of 2609 9th St. were set for 3 p.m. Wednesday in Stephens Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Pine Grove Cemetery at Martin.  Rev. George Smith will officiate, assisted by Rev. Jim Meadows.

Brown, 81, died Monday night in St. Joseph Hospital.  He was a retired employe¹ of East Mississippi State Hospital.

Survivors include two daughters: Mrs. Sue McLaughlin, Austin, Tex.; Mrs. Matrin² (sic) Bailey, Meridian; one son, H. S. Brown, Meridian; two stepdaughters: Mrs. Lola Clay, Collinsville, Mrs.; Johnnie Ezell, Meridian; three stepsons: Hubert, J.C. and Bill Ethridge, all of Meridian; several grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Pallbearers are: H. H. Simmons, Donald Carter, W. F. Parker, W. D. Kinard, Earl Powell and Claude Herrington.  Friends of the family will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. today.

1 Alternate spelling.
2 Martin.

W. B. Williamson
(Jan 18, 1913)

A familiar figured passed out of the Rio community Thursday afternoon when Mr. William B. Williamson died.

Mr. Williamson had reached the advanced age of 90 years, and for many years had been a resident of the Rio neighborhood, making many friends who regret to learn of his death.

Mr. Williamson had carried his age well, and up to a short time ago, was in fine health.

The funeral, which was under the direction of Hopper and Webb was held Friday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock; interment being held at the Juniper Cemetery.

*  *  *  *  *

Death Comes to Mrs. M. W. Anthony, Friday, Nov. 23
Funeral Conducted Saturday Morning At Bloomfield.  Rev. Culpepper In Charge

Mrs. Marcella William¹ [sic] Anthony, age 67, passed away at her home Friday, November 23.

Funeral services were held Saturday morning at 10 o'clock at Bloomfield, conducted by Rev. Culpepper.  Interment followed in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Anthony is survived by nine² children: Mrs. Minnie Gipson, Mrs. Mary Barrett, Crawford Smith, Rubye³ [sic] Smith, Obie Smith, Mrs. Pearl Woods, Mrs. Linnie Barrett.  She is also survived by a number of grandchildren and by ten stepchildren.

Pallbearers were: Hue Lee Barrett, Chester Hall, Lue Smith, Johnnie Hall, Lucky Harris, and Leon King.

1 Williamson Smith.
2 Seven.
3 Ruben.

*  *  *  *  *

J.O. Collins Buried Sunday

John Otto Collins, 73, West Myrtle, Philadelphia, died January 31 following a long illness.  Mr. Collins, a native of Neshoba County in the House community, was an employee of the Henderson-Molpus Lumber Company for a number of years.  He was also an employee of the City Water Works until he retired several years ago.  He was a Baptist, holding membership in the Mount Olive church.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Lela Collins; five sons.

*  *  *  *  *

BROWN—MARTIN

Mrs. Zelia Ethridge Brown, 69, Rt. 2, Collinsville, Martin community, died at 12:05 a.m. Tuesday in the Anderson Infirmary.

A former employe at the East Mississippi State Hospital, Mrs. Brown was a member of the Midway Baptist Church.

She leaves her husband, Austin L. Brown, Martin; four daughters: Mrs. J. V. Clay, Rt. 1, Collinsville; Mrs. A. E. Ezelle, Rt. 2, Meridian; Mrs. Martin Bailey, Meridian; Mrs. R. K. McLaughlin, Virginia; four sons: Hubert I., J. C., and William W. Ethridge; and H. S. Brown, Meridian; 21 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters: Mrs. Julia Rasberry, Meridian; Mrs. Lelia Collins, Philadelphia; three brothers: Frank Williamson, Meridian; Jeff Williamson, Rt. 2, Collinsville, and Clinton Williamson, New Orleans, La.

The body will remain at Stephens Funeral Home until time for the services, which have been set for 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Pine Grove Baptist Church.  The officiants will be the Revs. Shelton Reeves of Midway Baptist Church; Herman Dean, Collinsville Baptist; and James M. Snowden, Pine Grove church.

Top of Page