Billie Ruth White

Notes:

Obituary|
Billie Ruth Ferguson
(November 25, 1933 - November 14, 2011)

Billie Ruth Ferguson, 77, died in her residence in Milam after an illness. She was born in Hemphill to Carter Arnold and Connie Brown White. Billie Ruth lived in Crockett from 1969 until 1984 when she moved to Jasper. In 2005 she moved back to Hemphill and was a member of the Hemphill Church of God.

She is survived by her mother Connie White of Hemphill, her sons Kenneth Alvin Ferguson and his wife Donna of Milam, Robert Arnold Ferguson and his wife Raven of Jasper, and Ronald E. Ferguson and his wife Julie of Dallas, her sisters Johnnie Mae Smith and her husband Millard of Milam, Betty Jo Webb and her husband Stevie of Center, and Linda Gail Horton and her husband Joe of Hemphill. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Nikki [Ferguson of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho], Zack, and Katy [Ferguson of Jasper].

Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, in the Starr Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, in the Starr Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Hemphill Cemetery.

http://www.starrfuneralhome.com

A more detailed version of this obituary was in the November 16, 2011 issue of the Sabine County Reporter on page 15. It noted, among other things, that she was the eldes daughter of Arnold and Connie White and was raised in the Pine Park community of Sabine County, and they were members of the Church of God in Hemphill. She attended both Bronson and Hemphill High Schools, graduating from Hemphill in 1951, and was married to Alvin Ferguson on Feb. 21, 1953 in Hemphill. They delivered and raised their three sons in Hemphill, moving to Crockett, Texas in 1970, where she worked as a seamstress at Alee Work Clothes. She and Alvin retired to Jasper, and following his death and the circumstances of "Hurricane Rita" she moved back to her hometown to be near her mother and sisters, and doing what she enjoyed most, attending church, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. She often visited relatives in both Sabine County and Lake Charles, LA.

Billie married Alvin Eldridge Ferguson on 21 Feb 1953 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. Alvin (son of Wallace Turner Ferguson and Mildred Josephine Eldridge) was born on 26 Nov 1931 in Sabinetown, Sabine County, Texas; died on 16 Jan 2002 in Jasper, Jasper County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Their children were Kenneth, Robert and Ronald. (White and Toole, p 65).

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living

Notes:

Shown as Carry A on the 1920 census.

Name: Carter Arnold White
Death Date: 03 Jun 1957
Death Place: Hemphill, Sabine, Texas
Gender: Male
Race: White
Death Age: 48 years 6 months 3 days
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 29 Nov 1908
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: J M White
Father's Birthplace: Texas
Mother's Name: Kate Morris
Mother's Birthplace: Texas
Occupation: Carpenter
Place of Residence: Hemphill, Sabine, Texas
Cemetery: Springhill Cemetery
Burial Place: Hemphill, Texas
Burial Date: 05 Jun 1957
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2135738
Digital Film Number: 4163633
Image Number: 1532
Reference Number: cn 33708
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976

Carter married Charles "Connie" Conway Brown before 1933. Charles (daughter of John Henry Brown and Margaret Elizabeth "Maggie" Spradley) was born on 2 Apr 1911 in Vivian, Caddo Parish, Louisiana; died on 24 Aug 2012 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Sabine County Reporter
April 22, 2009, Page 8

Ninety-Eighth Birthday

Ms. Connie White celebrated her ninety-eighth birthday last Sunday with her family and friends. Ms. White turned 98 on April 2. She would like to thank everyone for the cards, beautiful plants, and especially al the friends that came by to visit and share this special time with her. She had one person come all the way from Fort Smith, Arkansas just to help her celebrated. Her four daughters, are Linda Horton of Hemphill, Billy Ruth Ferguson of Pineland, Betty Webb of Center and Johnnie Mae Smith of Milam . She has nine children and 19 great-grandchildren. Grandchildren at her celebration included Darren Webb, Shelia Woods, Angie Fuller, Robert Ferguson, Randy Smith, Kenneth Ferguson, Barry Webb and Eric Williams.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, May 2009)

Obituary

Connie White, 101, died Friday evening in the Hemphill Care Center. Ms. Connie was born in Vivian, LA, to John Henry and Margaret Spradley Brown. She moved to Hemphill 90 years ago where she was a homemaker and a seamstress. Ms. Connie's pride and joy was her flower garden which she maintained by herself until she was ninety-six years old. She was a member of the First Church of God in Hemphill, TX.

She is survived by three daughters; Johnnie Smith and her husband Millard of Milam, Betty Webb and her husband Steve of Center, and Linda Horton and her husband Joe of Hemphill, nine grand children, eighteen great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter Billie Ruth Ferguson.

Visitation will be from 4:30PM until 9:00PM, Sunday, August 26, 2012 in the Starr Funeral Home, 510 Starr St., Hemphill, TX. Funeral services will be at 4:00PM, Monday, August 27, 2012, in the Starr Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Springhill Cemetery near Hemphill.

from the Starr Funeral Home website

A nearly identical obituary was published in The Sabine County Reporter, August 29, 2012, page 14

Notes:

Per OLDTIMERS OF SABINE COUNTY, TEXAS "he was known as the Daniel Boone of his day, never tiring of being in the woods. He hunted wild game at every opportunity, and never was his larder empty of venison, turkey and squirrel. A nephew, A.V. White recalls seeing John and his brother-in-law, George Morris, coming home with two large turkey gobblers, with their feet tied together and a pole between their legs and their heads dragging.

He loves to tell tall tales and was known as somewhat of a joker. He tells of the time his uncle, Jack White, shot a deer and thinking it was dead, ran up and grabbed it by the horns. The deer came up stomping and kicking Jack with its sharp hoofs. "Jacks feet were in pretty bad condition" chuckled John "but he was always getting in trouble. Once he caught a fawn and tied it to a tree with his shirt. When Jack got ready to go home home, it had broken loose and fled, taking Jack's shirt along." A dead pan joker, John White had such a reputation for tall tales that Andrew Lott told a newcomer Tom Pulliam, who started to repeat something John said, "anyone repeating anything John White says has to shell a a half a bushel of peanuts. Once when someone was bragging about his corn harvest, Johh said "Oh that's nothing. I had to haul half of mine into have room to windrow the rest."

The Whites have lived all their married life on their farm in the Pinehill community where they raised their children and where they now have retired in their pleasant little house surrounded by tall pines and beautiful scenery.

There are 23 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren (circa 1964).

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDBJ-C8Q
Name: John Madison White
Death Date: 28 Dec 1964
Death Place: Buna, Jasper, Texas
Gender: Male
Race: White
Death Age: 84 years
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 15 Nov 1880
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: A.V. Vardenon White
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Era Edna Davidson
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation: Farmer
Place of Residence: Hemphill, Sabine, Texas
Cemetery: Springhill Cemetery
Burial Place: Sabine County, Texas
Burial Date: 29 Dec 1964
Additional Relatives: X
Film Number: 2117697
Digital Film Number: 4028381
Image Number: 1099
Reference Number: cn 83352
Collection: Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976

(Research):

Census Listings:

1910 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Pr 1
Enumerated 30 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 131 Sheet 11B
Hemphill and Homer Road
184-186
White, Robert W Head m W 27 m1 7 Tx Tx Ala Farmer
White, Florence B Wf F W 27 m1 7 3/3 Tx Tx Tx
White, A. V. Son M W 6 S Tx Tx Tx
White, William C Son M W 4 S Tx Tx Tx
White, Lafayette Son M W 2 S Tx Tx Tx
185-187
White, Thomas J Head M W 37 m2 7 Tx La Ala Farmer
White, Nettie H Wf F W 39 m1 7 2/2 Ala Ala Ala
White, Francis V Dtr F W 6 S Tx Tx Ala
White, George F Son M W 2 S Tx Tx Ala
186-188
White, John M Head M W 27 m1 2 Tx La Ala Farmer
White, Kate Wf F W 23 m1 2 1/1 Tx Tx Tx
White, Corra Son M W 1 4/12 S Tx Tx Tx
White, Aary A Mother F W 62 Ed 11/7 Ala Ala Tenn
Davidson, Jefferson O Uncle M W 64 Wd Ala Ala Tenn

John married Katie Morris on 24 Oct 1907 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. Katie (daughter of Benjamin Franklin Morris and Sarah Virginia Howard) was born on 2 Feb 1885 in Texas; died on 20 Jun 1969 in Buna, Jasper County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Katie is descended from Gideon Morris, founder of Morristown, Tennessee in the 1700s and from Shadrach Morris, who donated 200 acres, same amount as his ancestor, to found Sabinetown in the early 1800s. Katie is the daughter of Ben and Sarah Virginia Howard Morris, who reared their family on the banks of the Sabine River--both sides." (White and Toole)

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDVL-MJR
Name: Katie Morris White
Death Date: 20 Jun 1969
Death Place: Buna, Jasper, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: White
Death Age: 84 years
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 09 Feb 1885
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Ben Morris
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Virginia Howard
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation: Housewife
Place of Residence: Pinehill, Sabine, Texas
Cemetery: Spring Hill Cemetery
Burial Place: Sabine County, Texas
Burial Date: 20 Jun 1969
Additional Relatives: X
Film Number: 2137445
Digital Film Number: 4029609
Image Number: 2615
Reference Number: cn 43038
Collection: Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976

Notes:

Married:
"On the 24th of October, 1907, John White borrowed a buggy from George Oliphint, gathered up Miss Katie Morris and sallied down to Hemphill where they were married by Judge Henry Maund, the county judge."

Notes:

Said to be the brother of Victoria Brown, her married his wifes brother, John Spradley.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900
TX Panola Co Just Prec1
Spradley Sarah M head Mar 1852 48 mar TX AL AL farmer
Spradley Newton son Jul 1875 24 TX MS TX
Spradley Robert N son Aug 1887 12 TX MS TX
living next door
Brown John H head Jan 1872 28 married 3yrs MS MS MS farmer
Brown Maggie wife Jan 1875 25 mar 3yrs 1 born 0 living TX MS TX

1910 Census
Texas, Nolan County, JP 6
Enumerated 5 Apr 1910
SD 16 ED 180 Sheet 4B
Brown John H head 36 married once 12yrs MS MS MS farmer
Brown Margret E wife 33 married once 12yrs 4 born 3 living TX TX TX
Brown Lyles M dau 8 LA MS TX
Brown Joseph L son 4 TX MS TX
Brown Delmer L son 6/12 TX MS TX

1920
TX Harrison Co Just Prec5
Brown John head 44 wid MS unk unk farmer
Brown Joseph son 13 TX MS TX
Brown Delmer son 10 TX MS TX
Brown Connie dau 9 TX MS TX

http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/surnames.brown/27551.1/mb.ashx

John married Margaret Elizabeth "Maggie" Spradley about 1897. Margaret (daughter of William P. Spradley and Sarah Rich) was born on 30 Jan 1875 in Texas; died on 5 Jun 1912 in Vivian, Caddo Parish, Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was the cousin of Sheriff Spradley of Nacogdoches. (White and Toole, p 65).

Notes:

Enrolled in the District 6 School in Sabine County in 1854.

Civil War Veteren. Company F, 11th Texas Regiment, CSA.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Justice Prect No. 1
Page 23 SD 1 ED 84 Stamped 219
5 and 6 July 1880
202-211 Henry and Laura Carlton
203-212 Wm and Nancy Strickland
204-213
White, Vardeman W M 36 Farmer (La-Crossed thru) Miss Ala Ala
Whie, Atna W F 32 Wf Ala Tenn Va
White, Thomas J W M 6 Son Tx Tx Tx
White, Attalia W F 4 Dtr Tx Tx Tx
White, Martha W F 3 Dt Tx Tx Tx
White, Nora A W F (sic) 4/12 Jan Dau (sic) Tx Tx Tx

Amazia married Ary Adney "Addy" Davidson. Ary (daughter of William Madison Davidson and Martha Claiborne Goodrich) was born on 17 Aug 1847 in Alabama; died on 24 Nov 1910 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Shown as "Alma" on the 1880 census transcription. In 1910, she was living with her son and daughter-in-law, John M. and Kate White, in JP 1 of Sabine County, Texas. Her older brother, Jefferson Oliver Davidson, was living with the family as well.

Notes:

He applied for a Civil War pension, but his application was rejected. (Casagranda, 1850 Census, 79).

Benjamin married Sarah Virginia Howard. Sarah was born on 15 Jul 1850; died on 20 Oct 1917 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On the 1880 Panola County, Texas census, Mary A. Spradley 62 b Tenn. was living with her son and family above. (White and Toole, p 65).

William married Sarah Rich. Sarah was born about 1853 in Texas; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A sister of Sarah Rich, Mary, m an Alsup. Rud Rich was Sarah's brother. (White and Toole, p 65).