Bernice Opal Hensarling

Notes:

Opal trained and worked as a beautican. Her first priority was always as a wife and mother. Opal is an artist. She has given many of her oil paintings to relatives, who display them with great pride. Opal and her sister-in-law Velta Rawson McLemore were cousins.

Her obituary from the Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors website:

Funeral Services for Mrs. Opal Hensarling McLemore 94, of Nacogdoches, Texas will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, January 27, 2012, at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home in San Augustine, Texas followed by internment at Liberty Hill Memorial Gardens. Mrs. McLemore was born January 10, 1918, in Denning Community, San Augustine County, to the late Abram Hensarling and Vivian Garrett Hensarling. She passed away Monday, January 23, 2012, in Nacogdoches, Texas. Opal had an active interest in gardening, painting and cooking. First and foremost, she was a Christian woman with deeply embedded Christian values. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be missed tremendously by her family and friends. Opal was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Ira "Ray" McLemore in 1991. She was also preceded in death by their daughter Linda Ann McLemore Jackson in 1985. Opal is survived by her son Vernon Earl McLemore and wife Brenda McLemore of Nacogdoches, Texas. Grandchildren Larry Jackson and wife Fannie of San Augustine, Texas; Varron McLemore and wife Rae Janette of Nacogdoches, Texas; Sarah McLemore Hudgins and husband Todd of Olive Branch, Mississippi. Angela Strong and husband Curtis of Bryan, Texas; Michelle Strong and husband Barry of Flower Mound, Texas; and Melissa Crabtree of Bryan, Texas; 15 great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter.

Having resided in Nacogdoches for the past 36 years, visitation will be held from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Thursday, January 26, 2012, at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Home, Nacogdoches, with services Friday at 10am in her hometown of San Augustine. Opal's Nephew, Dr. Henry McLemore will be officiating.

Bernice married Ira Ray McLemore on 9 May 1937 in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas. Ira (son of Vessie Eugene McLemore and Nina Ophelia Fuller) was born on 1 Dec 1918 in Bronson, Sabine County, Texas; died on 14 Feb 1991 in Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried on 16 Feb 1991 in Liberty Hill Memorial Garden, San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They are listed in the Shelby County, Texas marriage index. Perhaps this is where their license was obtained.

1. Vernon Earl McLemore was born on 19 Jun 1938 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas; died on 19 May 2018 in Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Hill Memorial Garden, San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas.
2. Linda Ann McLemore was born on 14 Nov 1941 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas; died on 1 Jul 1985 in Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Hill Memorial Garden, San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas.

Notes:

(Research):Census Listings:

1920 Federal Census
ED #177, Precinct #2, San Augustine County, Texas
#201-201
Hensarling, Abram M W 25 Texas Mississippi Mississippi
Hensarling, Vivian F W 24 Texas Texas Texas
Hensarling, Arlis M W 4 1/12 Texas Texas Texas
Hensarling, Opal F W 2 Texas Texas Texas

1930 Census
not located

Joseph married Vivian Garrett. Vivian (daughter of James Garrett and Mattie Gilbert) was born about 1896 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 8 Jan 1992 in Nacogdoches County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She is a sister of Vera Garrett, and was a descendant of Jacob Garrett, who was Alcade of San Augustine in the 1830s.

Notes:

Assumed that this is the James Garrett that married Mattie Gilbert by the process of elimination. He and Mattie were both unmarried in 1880, and both still living in their parent's home. This is confirmed by examining the 1920 census, where James parents were both shown as born in Tennessee, and his brother Claiborne was living with him. The obituary of his son, Milton Garrett confirms this.

The only other possible candidate living in San Augustine in 1880, was a J.A. Garrett, born ca 1856 in Mississippi. This J.A. Garrett was also unmarried in 1880, living in prencinct 2, household #88-92 with his 60 year old widowed mother from Alabama. J.A. Garrett's father was listed as being born in South Carolina. The aforementioned "J.A. Garrett" appears to be unrelated to the other Garrett's in San Augustine, and as such would not be a direct descendant of Alcade Jacob Garrett of Tennessee.




(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 census,
Texas, San Augustine County
ED #177, Precinct #2
#199-199
Garrett, James Head M W 61 M Texas Tennessee Tennessee Farmer
Garrett, Mattie Wife F W 52 M Texas Texas Texas
Garrett, Milton Son M W 18 Texas Texas Texas
Garrett, Anna Daug F W 17 Texas Texas Texas
Garrett, Mattie Daug F W 13 Texas Texas Texas
Garrett, James P Son M W 11 Texas Texas Texas
Garrett, Murry Son M W 8 Texas Texas Texas
Garrett, Clabe Brother M W 64 S Texas Tennessee Tennessee


They were living near Willie Garrett, Jack Garrett, and two households away from Abram Hensarling, who was married to their daughter Vivian.

James married Mattie Gilbert on 18 Jul 1887 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas. Mattie (daughter of William Gilbert and Sophronia ???) was born about 1868 in Texas; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Settled on the east side of the Attoyac River, about nine miles west of the Ayish Bayou. He moved into a hand hewn log house and remained there for the rest of his life. The old log house still stands today. Owned by Milton Garrett's descendants, it is located on the south side of the Old San Antonio Road on top of the hill, one mile east of the Attoyac River. (Noble, San Augustine Tribune "William Garrett Plantation Was Near Town" 6 April 1995)

Per the 1860 census, he was a Farmer with $6,219 in real estate and $37,650 in personal property.

He was not listed on the 1870 census, presumably having died. His widow and all of his children were still living on the farm, which was now valued at $5,000, with $2,000 in personal property. Bill and Francis Harrison, a black couple with two young children were living with them as well, as household servants. Also living with them was 24 year old S.D. Horton from Alabama, a white farm laborer. By 1880, only Sam, Claiborne and James were still living at home.

Milton married Elizabeth Hamil. Elizabeth was born about 1816 in Tennessee; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In 1860, his occupation was listed as "overseer" and he owned real property valued at $1,500 and personal property valued at $530.

William married Sophronia ??? before 1854. Sophronia was born about 1826 in Texas; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]