Living

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living

Living married Jimmie Nell Adams Jimmie (daughter of James Wallace Adams and Fannie Gertrude Leamons) was born on 7 Feb 1938 in Grapeland, Houston County, Texas; died on 18 Oct 2022 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Hill Cemetery, Bland Lake, San Augustine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

SAN AUGUSTINE TRIBUNE 14 March 1996 (page 1 w/photo)

LIONS CLUB - Jimmie Nell McLemore, Teacher, Sculptor, Painter, Artist, Exotic Cook-etc, presented a program to the Lions Club Thursday at Doodles Restaurant on wood carving in which she displayed a number of her carvings to the Club. Dr. C. R. Haley, right was program chairman for the month of March.

Obituary

Jimmie Nell Adams McLemore, a longtime resident of San Augustine, Texas, died peacefully on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. She was born on February 7, 1938, to the late James Wallace and Gertrude (Leamons) Adams in Grapeland, Texas. She was a Christian and a member of the Ratcliff church of Christ.

"Miss Jimmie," as many knew her, is survived by her husband of 64 years, Dr. Henry E. "Doc" McLemore of San Augustine, Texas; three sons, Clay (Kathy) of Hallsville, Texas, Michael (Gwyneth) of Huntsville, Alabama, and Marty (Karen) of San Augustine, grandchildren, Amanda (Jared) Jimison, Jonathan (Crystal) McLemore, Jennie (Bryan) Garlock, Timmy Black, Cynthia (Chris) Draper, Emily (Trenton) Barksdale, along with ten great-grandchildren; a brother, Robert Adams of Houston; and a sister, Patricia Adams Spivey of Georgetown.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Gertrude Adams, and her son, Kristopher.

A visitation will be held at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home (316 W. Columbia Street, San Augustine, Texas) on Thursday, October 20, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and a funeral service Friday, October 21, at 1:00 p.m. at the Wyman Roberts Chapel followed by interment at Liberty Hill Memorial Garden, Hwy 147 N. San Augustine, Texas.

Jimmie Nell was born in rural Houston County in the home of her maternal grandparents, Mattie Ann and William Duke Leamon. Her father was a burgeoning young evangelist widely used in the region by local churches of Christ. She quickly became accustomed to moving from place to place as required by her father's work. Jimmie McLemore was an outstanding student achieving many academic honors. She graduated from Beaumont High School in 1956. She attended San Antonio College before transferring to Stephen F. Austin State University, where she met her future husband and lifelong companion, Henry E. McLemore, at Mound and Starr church of Christ. The two wed in 1958 in Idaho, then honeymooned for the summer above the timberline in Oregon. They lived in a lookout house spotting for the U.S. Forest Service while Henry studied for his entrance exams to medical school.

Miss Jimmie completed her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at Stephen F. Austin and East Texas State University, certifying her to teach Art, English, and History. She began her career in education at the Houston ISD, working to support her husband until he completed Dental School at the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston. She taught her first love, Art, and Latin at Lanier Junior High School. The McLemores returned to Henry's native home of San Augustine in the summer of 1963, where they established his dental practice on Maple Street, serving the community for more than fifty-six years. Jimmie worked as a reading specialist for San Augustine ISD for three years until she was forced to take an eleven-year hiatus from her beloved profession because of a severe medical condition. During that time, she continued her graduate courses in education. Mrs. McLemore returned to teaching in 1977 as the eighth-grade history teacher at San Augustine Middle School. Later she moved to San Augustine High School, where she taught in the GT program, then taught Senior English until her retirement. In retirement, Miss Jimmie returned to the high school to teach Art and Graphic Design in SAISD's technical program for another ten years. She touched thousands of young lives and positively impacted hundreds of colleagues.

Many in our community knew Miss Jimmie from behind the counter at the dental office. She operated a lab where she used her artistic talents to aid Dr. McLemore in making many dental devices enjoyed by thousands of people from all parts of this region and the country. Her abilities were admired and appreciated by those who sought repairs to their dentures at the most inopportune times. She was always happy to oblige and quickly help.

"Miss Mac," as some lovingly referred to her, was also a master chef. Her Texas Bar-B-Que and Mexican food, especially her Hot Tamales, are famous throughout the area. Jimmie McLemore was a treasure to this community, beloved by all. Wife, Mother, Mamaw, Teacher, Artist, Chef, and Friend all are descriptive of our sweet Miss Jimmie. She will be missed by all.

Visit www.WymanRobertsFuneralHome.com for memories and condolences.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wyman Roberts Funeral Home in San Augustine, Texas.

Notes:

Vessie McLemore didn't see the importance of naming his children immediately after they were born. He was content to simply call them "baby" until a name seemed to fit. Percy remained Baby for several years, until his parents began to call him "Baby Percy" after a bottle of Patent Medicine popular at the time. His middle initial was shown as "C" on the 1920 census.

Percy started helping his father on the ranch at a very young age. Evon remembers him going on a freight train with cattle to Kansas City, by himself, when he was only 14. He also became a rancher, as well as operating a cotton gin that had been his fathers. He also kept bees as a hobby.

Percy married Elma Callie Smith on 19 Apr 1936 in San Augustine County, Texas. Elma (daughter of Henry Clayton Smith and Alice Hines) was born on 14 Mar 1914 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 23 Oct 2001 in San Augustine County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Hill Cemetery, Bland Lake, San Augustine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary Sabine County Reporter Wednesday, October 31, 2001

Elma Callie McLemore

Elma Callie McLemore, 87,of San Augustine, died Tuesday, October 23, 2001 at Memorial Medical Center in San Augustine.

Mrs. McLemore, born March 14, 1914, in San Augustine as a daughter of the late Alice (Hines) and Henry Clayton Smith, was a homemaker and a member of the Ratcliff Church of Christ.

Survivors: a son, Dr. Henry Eugene McLemore and wife Jimmie Nell of San Augustine, [daughter, Evelyn Sanders] a brother Kirby Smith of San Augustine; grandchildren Norman Clayton McLemore, Michael McLemore, Mary McLemore, Jeffrey Todd Sanders, and Ferrall Kurt Sanders; and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Percy McLemore, and grandson, Kris McLemore, and a son-in-law, Fred Sanders.

Funeral services were held Oct. 25 at the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel in San Augustine with George T. Jones officiating. Interment followed at Liberty Hill Memorial Gardens in San Augustine County.

Obituary San Augustine Tribune Thursday, October 25, 2001

.....Funeral will be held at 10:00 am Thursday at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home with George T. Jones and Mike McLemore officiating. Burial will follow in the Liberty Hill Memorial Gardens...Survivors include a son, Dr. Henry McLemore of San Augustine, daughter, Evelyn Sanders of San Augustine.....

Notes:

From an article posted at:

http://www.truthmagazine.com/archives/volume31/GOT031318.htm

"Marking Them That So Walk:" In Honor Of James W. Adams

Randy Harshbarger Mt. Pleasant, Texas

Brethren, by ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample" (Phil. 3:17). Taking to "heart Paul's divine injunction to "mark" ("behold, watch, contemplate," Vine, Vol. 3, p. 43), those faithful men who provide examples worthy of imitation, we use this opportunity to call attention to the life and work of James W. Adams. For fifty plus years, brother Adams has devoted his life and energies to the proclamation and defense of the Truth. His concern has ever been for the spiritual health and prosperity of God's family. Such an example needs to be noted. Such I believe, will help encourage those who have lived during the same time and under some of the same circumstances as brother Adams; it will also help inspire younger preachers and younger Christians everywhere to press on faithfully in the Lord's cause. Several years ago, Cecil Willis wrote an article, "Putting Old Preachers on the Shelf" (Truth Magazine, Vol. XVII, No. 5, pp. 3-6). Among other things, brother Willis pointed out the tendency of some brethren to reject certain preachers solely upon the basis of age. This in my judgment is a mistake. It is sad and alarming to hear some second and third generation preachers (and other Christians) deride and criticize those of the past. Faithful men who fought many battles for truth are rejected and their preaching is criticized as being out of date. With this attitude present in too many, I am afraid we are headed in the wrong direction. In brother Adams' own words:

What churches of the Lord need is not technical experts to streamline their activities and oil the wheels of complicated organizational activity, but men thoroughly schooled in the gospel of Christ and dedicated to the salvation of the souls of eternity-bound men and women ... Instead, give us more John the Baptists, schooled in the rude wilderness of study, prayer, and meditation, clothed in camel's hair and eating locusts and wild honey, but animated by holy fire from off the altar of purity and truth (from Timberland Drive church of Christ bulletin, November 2, 1985).

Early Life

James Wallace Adams was born August 27, 1914, in Brawley, California. His parents were Felix A. and Mary Roberta (Mittie) Adams. In 1920 the family moved to Texas. Some of brother Adams' ancestors were early settlers of Texas. His grandfather, R.L. Bates was a pioneer preacher of the gospel. Brother Adams graduated from high school at La Pryor, Texas (1931), and later attended Freed-Hardeman College, Henderson, Tennessee. Brother Adams obeyed the gospel in 1926. Being encouraged to preach by Walter Leamons, he preached his first sermon on December 31st, 1933. Dedicating himself to the Lord's cause, he has never looked back. For over fifty years, James W. Adams has been preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ. When brother Adams started his life's work, he preached for several churches in the Hill country of Texas (Menard, Brady), but he considers Vivian, Louisiana, as his first located work.

James W. Adams was married to Gertrude Leamons of Grapeland, Texas, on July 30th, 1936. Brother and sister Adams have three children', two daughters and a son. Jimmie Nell McLemore and her family live in San Augustine, Texas. Patricia Spivey resides in Lufkin, and Robert L. Adams lives in Humble, Texas. With great pride (but pardonable!), brother and sister Adams speak of their children and grandchildren often (especially the grandchildren!).

Brother Adams has done local work in the following places: Temple, Longview, Beaumont (twice), San Antonio, Baytown, Nacogdoches (twice), Huntington, Center, Henderson, Terrell (all in Texas); Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Paducah, Kentucky; Selmer, Tennessee; and Senatobia, Mississippi. As you can see, brother Adams has been primarily a "Texas" preacher. Meeting work has carried him into some twenty-five states. In 1975, he and Foy Vinson made a preaching trip to Italy. For many years the Pruett and Lobit church in Baytown, where brother Adams preached in the early 1970s, has supported preachers in Italy and Sicily. Brother Adams continues his interest in the work in Italy.

Retiring from local work in 1983, brother and sister Adams moved back to Lufkin. They are members of the Timberland Drive church of Christ. Of course, brother Adams hasn't really retired. He continues to teach a Bible class at Timberland Drive and preaches when needed. At the present time he is driving every Sunday to Broaddus, Texas, to preach for the church there. Timberland Drive has had a two-preacher arrangement for some years, in which a younger man can work with an older, mature preacher, thus gaining much needed experience and instruction. Brother Adams helps with this program. What a great benefit to those who can learn from him!

As A Preacher and Writer Gospel Guardian

Others will look at the preaching and writing of James W. Adams in this special issue, but permit these few observations. Believing the printed page to be an effective medium for teaching vital truths of God's word, brother Adams began writing for papers published by brethren in the mid 1930s. However, it was not until the mid 1940s that he stepped up his writing efforts. In fact it was at the insistence of Foy E. Wallace, Jr., that brother Adams began writing regularly for the Bible Banner, being being made an associate editor in 1947. While brother Adams has never sought controversy for its sake alone, neither has he ever turned away from any issue, when truth was at stake. Controversy has often been thrust upon him. Due to his keen intellect and diligent preparation he has addressed himself time and again, to live issues that have sought to destroy and harm the Lord's church. Hence, his writings in The Bible Banner were of a controversial nature, dealing mainly with efforts of some to get the college into the budgets of churches, and premillennialism. Clear and precise in his writing (as in his preaching), brother Adams can get to the heart of a matter, and bring pertinent passages to bear on whatever subject he might be discussing.

Even now, brother Adams is working on a book dealing with hermeneutics. After many years of study, he is certainly able to write such a book. It will be a welcome addition to those who love the truth and desire to understand and apply it properly. Too, he is working on a devotional type book, that will contain short articles of an inspirational, reflective nature.

I have had the privilege of hearing brother Adams preach many times. I have many of his sermons on tape. After hearing him preach, you know you have heard a Bible-filled, true-to-life sermon. With little sympathy for watered down, soft-soap "sermonettes," brother Adams is first and last a preacher of the gospel! His sermons are filled with Scripture after Scripture, properly used and applied. What an example to this generation of preachers!

A Personal Note

My friendship with brother Adams goes back some seventeen years. He performed the wedding ceremony when Marilyn and I got married. Since that time we have been in contact often. When I first started preaching (in Alto, Texas), brother Adams was living in Beaumont, but soon moved to Lufkin, and was editing The Gospel Guardian. I sought his advice and counsel many times. He was always willing to instruct, study with, and guide me in some decisions that had to be made, or some problems that often faced younger preachers. Bother Adam has always been willing to help younger men, just staring out as preachers, in spite of the immaturity displayed by some. For this I will ever be grateful.

James Adams is sometimes depicted as cold and aloof. Nothing could be further from the truth. He is a serious man, who carries himself with assurance and dignity. However, he appreciates the lighter side and good human as much as anyone. Of course, his humor is never coarse or out of place. And no, he doesn't always wear a tie (but it would be alright if he did)! One day we went out fishing for catfish on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. It was time for lunch, I inquired about some soap to get the "stink bait" off my hands. Brother Adams replay was, "Go ahead and eat, and ask no question for conscience's sake." A man of the Book, even on the lake. I have heard brother Adams preach with great emotion, concerning the death of our Savior. With great tenderness I have heard him speak of days gone by, of former friends who have departed from the faith, and of fellow soldiers of the cross, who hand in hand fought valiantly in the Lord's army. A few years ago, I listened for some three hours as he detailed the institutional controversy from beginning to present. It brings great pain to his heart to remember once faithful preachers who have turned away from the truth. All of this is my way of saying, that there is another side to James W. Adams that many perhaps have not seen. This is a shame.

I have been in brother and sister Adams' home many times. I have always felt "at home" and have appreciated the warm hospitality extended to me. Sister Adams has ever been a source of strength and encouragement to brother Adams. This past July 30th, they celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. Their love for each other is strong and unspoken, but seen by all. Sister Adams has always encouraged me in my efforts to preach and I am thankful for her friendship and counsel.

When not in meetings or preaching elsewhere brother and sister Adams are at home at 1402 Robinwood Drive, Lufkin, Texas 75901. My prayer is for their continued good health and well being. While inadequate, I say thank you for your friendship, your life, your example.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 23, pp. 712-713 December 3, 1987

James married Fannie Gertrude Leamons on 30 Jul 1936 in Texas. Fannie was born on 6 Mar 1914 in Texas; died on 18 Oct 2004 in Lufkin, Angelina County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

SAN AUGUSTINE TRIBUNE Thursday, October 21, 2004

Gertrude Leamons Adams

Services for Gertrude Leamons Adams, 90, of Lufkin, will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the Gipson-Metcalf Funeral Home Chapel, Lufkin, with Dee Bowman and Mike McLemore officiating. Interment will follow in the Sunset Memorial Park in Nacogdoches.

Mrs. Adams was born March 6, 1914, in Smyrna, Texas, the daughter of the late Mattie Ann Morehead and William Duke Leamons. She passed away Monday, October 18, 2004, in a local nursing facility.

Mrs. Adams was a homemaker and a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She married James W. Adams on July 30, 1936, and they were married for more than 68 years. She was a member of Timberland Drive Church of Christ.

Survivors include her husband, James W. Adams of Lufkin; daughter and son-in-law, Jimmie Nell and Henry E. McLemore of San Augustine; daughter, Patricia Adams Spivey of Lufkin; son, Robert L. Adams of Houston; sister, Sylvia Lively of Sweeney; grandchildren, Clay, Mike and Marty McLemore, Kevin and Colin Adams, Angel Spivey Brondel and Honey Spivey Habingreither; and seven great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Adams was preceded in death by her grandson, Kristopher McLemore.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the Gipson-Metcalf Funeral Home.

Gipson-Metcalf Funeral Directors of Lufkin

Notes:

Vessie McLemore grew up on his parent's farm in the first precinct of Sabine County. The adjoining farm was owned by his Uncle, Henry Strickland White, Jr. The 1900 census indicates that Vessie, who was 15, could read and write, and that he has attended three months of school that year, as had his brothers Rufus and Earnest. His daughter Evon has a class picture of Vessie from around this period. Evon said that Vessie didn't have much of a formal education, and probably stopped attending school altogether around this time. Vessie's wife, Nina, told her granddaughter Melinda that he even taught school for a time, however Evon doubts that this was so. The 1940 Federal Census indicates he had graduated from the Seventh Grade. His wife, Nina, had made it through only Six years of schooling.

When Vessie was 22, he married Nina Fuller,who was 16. On the 1910 Sabine County census they were shown living on a home farm in precinct six, near both Joe Fuller (Nina's father) and John and Jane Fullen (her mother's parents). Nina was shown as being the mother of two children, neither of them living. Nina's first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, and her next three babies died shortly after they were born. Her first child lived only 10 weeks. Evon said that Nina and Vessie's baby slept in their bed with them, as was the custom of the time. One morning when they woke up, the baby was dead. Tera Fuller, Nina's sister, reported that Nina always worried that she had somehow accidentally caused the babies death, maybe by rolling over it. Evon conjectured that the baby probably died of SIDS, which her mother had never heard of. The second baby lived only a day. In 1911, they had a third baby which also lived only one day. The three babies are buried side by side.

In 1913, Nina and Vessie's son Percy was born. Over the next six years, the McLemore's had three more children, daughter Evon and sons' Earl and Ray. Vessie owned a store in Steep Creek, a sawmill village eight miles south of San Augustine. He also raised cattle. He regularly published a small advertisement in the 1918 Sabine County newspaper, offering a reward for any stray cattle returned to him. His brand was VM on the hip. He later adopted the "Running M" as his brand. Evon remembers her father buying a Brahma Bull, in an effort to improve his herd. Most of the ranchers in Sabine County didn't fence in their cattle, they allowed them to freely roam about to forage for food. Evon remembers people being afraid of the "Brimmer." He wasn't a particularly mean bull, he was just so different from the east texas scrub cattle that everyone raised. Tom McLemore, Evon Tisdale and Melinda Strong had a conversation in November, 2002 with Vance Hargrove that came around to the subject of Vessie's missing cattle. Vance was a neighbor of the McLemore's when they lived in Bronson, and a good friend of Percy's. He said that Vessie asked he and Percy one day to go looking for several cattle that were missing. They found evidence that some of the laborers in the nearby saw mills had been poaching from Vessie's herd. They told Vessie they had found cattle bones in the yards of some of the workers, workers who looked to be half-starved. Vessie said they probably were half-starved, and told the boys not to report their findings to the sheriff.

A son of Enlow Birdwell relayed a similar story to Tom McLemore in September, 2007, at the funeral of Lynn McLemore. He recalled that Enlow had killed one of Vessie's cows and was taking it home to feed his family. He was caught in the act by Vessie. He confessed to what he had done, and said that he was only doing so because his family had done without for a long time, and were starving. Vessie told him to take the beef home and use it as he intended, but added, "let this be the last one of my cows that you steal." It was. When times became more prosperous, Enlow began raising a small herd of cattle of his own. He went to Vessie to borrow some money to get a start. Vessie gave him one of his checkbooks, and told him to simply use it as he needed, he trusted Enlow and knew together they could keep an accurate accounting of what he borrowed. Enlow often told his family that Vessie was the one who helped him get a start in life, and that he especially valued the trust he showed in him.

Vessie's older children attended their primary grades in Sabine County, but had to commute to San Augustine for High School. Evon says that during the winter, she and her brothers boarded with the family of Dr. Davis, who lived nearby the school. In the late 1920s, the family moved to San Augustine. Evon remembers that her mother suffered another devasting miscarriage, which nearly killed her. A few years later, Nina's youngest children were born, son Tommy in 1931 and son Lynn in 1933. They lived in a house Vessie renovated just off Main Street, and had a small home farm. Evon remembers her father first built a garage, and they slept and cooked in this until he had finished with the house. Their home was still standing in 1997. Even the roof is the same one Vessie laid. It is now the second house on the left, on present day Whitton street. It is a block away from the local elementary school. Tom remembers an indigent Civil War veteran, in his late eighties, who his father took into their home. Tom vividly recalls the stories he told about the war each night at dinner.

In the December 21, 1939 issue of the San Augustine Tribune, V.E. McLemore offered a $5.00 reward to anyone who found his dun muley cow branded "M" on the left loin. Around 1940, Vessie sold their house in the city, and bought some ranch land several miles outside of town.

Vessie's brothers and sisters used to say, admiringly, that "Vessie could stand on the corner and make money." He was an industrious man, with a strong enterpreneurial bent. His first job was working in the sawmills, with his brother, Rufus. But Vessie hated working for others, and saved up enough money to buy a general store in Steep Creek. This was around the time of World War I. It was a rough part of town, and he had both black and white laborers from the sawmills as customers.

The sheriff was a frequent visitor to the store. Evon remembers him always having a kind word and a piece of candy for her. He had a reputation for brutality however, and she recalls that he and a brother were eventually sent to jail after being convicted of murder. One day, the sheriff came to the store asking about a particular Negro laborer. Vessie said he hadn't seen him in days. The sheriff asked Vessie to call him the next time this man came in, telling Vessie he intended to kill him. Vessie went home and discussed the sheriff's threat with Nina, worrying about what he should do. In the middle of the night he got dressed, and tracked the man down in his home. He warned him of the sheriff's threat. The man pawned his pocket watch to Vessie, then and there, and used the money to flee town. He succesfully escaped the sheriff and was never heard of again. Vessie later gave the pocket watch to his son Earl. After Earl's death, his children gave this watch to their Uncle Tom, and Tom eventually passed this keepsake down to his eldest daughter, Melinda. It was a brass plated Studebaker watch from the South Bend Watch Company, and widely sold by mail order in the 1920's. These watches were sold on credit, and could be purchased with a down payment of $1. With the onset of the Depression, the company found itself with many delinquent accounts and was forced to close. (http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/histories/southbend.html)

After the mill near Steep Creek closed, Vessie was also forced to close his store. His family feared that they'd soon be in the poorhouse. But Vessie continued to prosper. He worked as a rancher primarily, leasing and operating land in Pearsall, Garwood and in various sites throughout South and East Texas. He operated up to 20,000 acres at any given time. He also owned and operated a cotton gin and a meat processing plant. He involved his children in all these ventures. He was well known in the community for his willingness to extend credit or make loans to poor families, black or white. Tom McLemore recalls from looking at a lot of the notes he had drawn up that he charged from 6% to 10% compound interest. He was good fried to Will Wade, proprietor of the City Cafe, and W.J. (Wade) McClanahan, Deputy Sherriff of San Augustine.

Vessie felt a strong committment to provide for his family. Before he died, he built a home for each of his eldest four children, as well as giving them each 50 acres of land. He left his homestead and 400 acre ranch, jointly, to his two youngest sons.

When Vessie was in his forties, he was gored by a bull on the ranch. The wound was just under his left eye. He suffered from nearly incapacitating headaches for the rest of his life. In 1950, he had several massive strokes, and was unable to function normally after that. His wife nursed him at home until he died from a brain aneurysm in 1952.

Although Vessie didn't have much formal education, he was an extremely intelligent man. Tom and Evon remember that he read widely. Vessie's daughter, Evon, was the first of the family to graduate from college. She attended Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, where she received a degree in education. She remembers coming home one weekend from college, and her father asked her to check something he had prepared. He had calculated the compound interest that was due on a loan he had made. She told him she didn't know how to do this. "What am I sending you to college for" he grumbled, "if they can't even teach you to calculate compound interest."

His obituary was published in the local papers, as well as in the January 23, 1952 issue of the Houston Post.

Written by Melinda McLemore Strong, granddaughter, circa 1995 and revised periodically

(Research):
Census Listings:

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr 6
Enumerated 11 May 1910
SD 2 ED 133 Sheet 32A
209-209
McLemore, Vessie Head M W 24 M1 2 Tx US US Farming Home Farm
McLemore, Nina Wf F W 18 M1 2 2/0 Tx Ga Tx

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 6
Enumerated 2 Jan 1920
SD 326 ED 173 Sheet 1A
Bronson Road
2-2
McLemore, Vessie E Head M W 34 M Tx Ga Tx Farmer
McLemore, Nina O Wf F W 28 M Tx Ark Tx
McLemore, Percy L Son M W 6 S Tx Tx Tx
McLemore, Evaughan V Dtr F W 5 S Tx Tx Tx
McLemore, Earl Son M W 3 3/12 S Tx Tx Tx
McLemore, Ira Son M W 1 4/12 S Tx Tx Tx

(Medical):artherio sclerosis, hypertension

Vessie married Nina Ophelia Fuller on 7 Nov 1907 in Many, Sabine Parish, Louisiana. Nina (daughter of Joseph Thomas Fuller and Viola "Ola" Fullen) was born on 15 Sep 1891 in Rosevine, Sabine County, Texas; died on 8 Jul 1980 in Lufkin, Angelina County, Texas; was buried in Rosevine Cemetery, Rosevine, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Nina Fuller was a striking. She was nearly six feet tall and slender. When she unwound her hair from the bun she usually wore, it cascaded down her back almost to her feet. She enjoyed gardening and quilting, growing most of her own vegetables. She was a thrifty woman. She continued to make her own soap from lye, pine rosin and "fat cracklings" even when she could just as easily purchased a bar at the store.

Being the oldest daughter, Nina helped her mother daily with the household chores. She remembers that when she was quite young, her parents went to the State Fair in Dallas by horse and buggy. They came home with a washboard and a box of packaged laundry soap. Nina claims they were the first family in Sabine County to have a washboard, and remembers neighbors coming by on wash day just to see how it worked. The 1940 census indicates she had attended school for six years.

She was a staunch member of the Rosevine Church of God. She truly believed in doing good works, and never turned away anyone in need. Her son Tom remembers that their home was on the "hobo circuit" during the depression. He often passed men asleep on a spare mattress in their garage on his way to school. She fed everyone who came to their door hungry, and made regular visits to the local nursing home to take food to friends and relatives.

Nina Sue Wade, who was a backdoor neighbor to the McLemore family when they lived in town, recalls that her mother relied on her more experienced neighbors parenting advice. The Wade family had several young children, mainly very active boys, with Nina being the oldest. Mrs. Wade worked hard to keep her rambuctious children in line, to no avail. Mrs. McLemore advised her to ignore the minor infractions. Nina Sue recalled her mother often quoting a saying Mrs. McLemore told her, "When your children are young, they step on your shoestrings. When they get older, they step on your heartstrings." She would go on to advise her to cherish her children while they were young and full of spirit, because she would miss them sorely when they were grown and on their own.

Nina McLemore was an independant woman, living alone in a house her brother Lonzo built for her after her husband died. She lived next door to her son Percy, and her grandson's Dental Office was directly behind her home. She was able to live at home and care for herself until she was in her mid 80's, when she went to live with her daughter Evon.

Written by Melinda McLemore Strong, granddaughter, circa 1995 and revised periodically

(Medical):cerebral arteriosclerosis

Notes:

Married:
Nina's mother died six months after Nina's Fifteenth birthday. As the oldest girl, and second of eight children, all the day to day household tasks of caring for their large family immediately fell to her. To make matters worse, Nina's father had relatives who had moved to the fertile lower Rio Grande Valley to farm. They encouraged him to move down there as well. He had made several trips down to visit them, and to inspect land. Nina was desperately afraid of leaving her beloved east Texas.

About this same time, Nina met Vessie McLemore met at a church revival. They enjoyed each other's company, and began secretly corresponding with each other. Vessie soon proposed, and in November 1907, they snuck across the river to Many, Louisiana and eloped. Nina had turned sixteen years old not quite two months earlier. Nina told her granddaughter, Melinda, that she and Vessie had only seen each other twice in person before their marriage. A photo exists that appears to be their wedding picture. Vessie is wearing a dark suit with a white shirt and white bow tie, and Nina in a white dress, with a large flower in her hair.

Witnesses at their wedding were, H. E. White, presumably Henry Ernest White--Vessie's first cousin-- and A. McGown [likely either Albert or Andrew McGown, brothers who lived nearby the young couple in Geneva, Texas].

The license was filed for record on 14 July 1908 in Volume 3, Page 272 of the Marriage Records of Sabine Parish, Louisiana by W. E. McNuly, clerk, oper J. J. McNuly, Deputy.

Joe Fuller was not pleased with his daughters elopement. For at least several months after their wedding, the young couple avoided him. Rumors abounded that he might shoot Vessie on sight. Jan Tisdale, another granddaughter, remembers similar stories. Jan said that Nina's younger sisters were especially saddened by the hasty marriage. They lost both their mother and older sister in less than a year.

Written by Melinda McLemore Strong, granddaughter, circa 1995 and revised periodically

Notes:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J668-9XK
name: Henry Clayton Smith
death date: 08 Aug 1971
death place: San Augustine, San Augustine, Texas
gender: Male
race:
death age: 92 years
estimated birth date: 1879
birth date:
birthplace:
marital status:
spouse's name:
father's name: Prince Albert Smith
father's birthplace:
mother's name: Sarah Elizabeth Collins
mother's birthplace:
occupation:
place of residence:
cemetery:
burial place:
burial date:
additional relatives:
film number: 2223314
digital film number: 4169338
image number: 1106
reference number: 59478
Collection: "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," Henry Clayton Smith, 1971

(Medical):Arthero sclerosis, senility

Henry married Alice Hines before 1907. Alice (daughter of Blaney Hines and Callie Dale) was born on 7 Feb 1881 in North Carolina; died on 3 Dec 1964 in San Augustine County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Hill, San Augustine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Medical):Diabetes Mellitus