GRIGSBY

Clyde Lowell Grigsby, of Houston, TX passed February 17, 2001. He was born March 4, 1932 in Tatum, TX.

He was a member of the congregation at Unity Baptist Church, a member of the YMCA-NW, VFW, and served in the armed forces during the Korean War.

He is survived by his sons, Kenneth Roy Grigsby, Richard Lowell Grigsby and wife Deborah, and Randall Craig Grigsby all of Houston, TX; his mother, Oleda Grigsby, of Houston TX; brothers, Billy V Grigsby, of McQueeney, TX. Bobby A Grigsby of Ft. Worth, TX; a sister, Linda Grigsby Adams of Humble TX; nephew, Matthew Adams; nieces, Amy Adams, Elizabeth G. Howell, Ellen G. Weaver, Terrie Grigsby, Michael Grigsby, Mitchell Grigsby; and a host of other friends.

Viewing will be held Monday, February 19, 2001 from 5 PM until 9 PM for family and friends, with the services at 12 Noon on Tuesday February 20, 2001 at Rosewood South Chapel.

Houston Chronicle, February 19, 2001, Monday page 28A. Submitted by Sally Pinkos Brantner.

In Memory of Jessie Raymond Gibson

Services were held at Brookside Funeral Chapel 11:30 A.M., Monday November 16, 1998. Interment Brookside Memorial Park.

Survivors Lenora Jones Gibson

Daughters Bettie Guilliams, Bobbie Plocheck

Son Jarrell Gibson

Eight Grandchildren

Seventeen Great Grandchildren

Preceded in death by his great granddaughter Angel Plocheck

Officiating at the funeral for Jessie Raymond Gibson was Rev. Kenneth Myers.

Source: Jerilyn Jones Yates.

William Lafayette "Bill" Garrett was born May 31, 1893, near Franklin, Robertson County, Texas, to William Enoch Garrett and Mary Catherine "Polly" Smith. By 1900 William Enoch Garrett had moved his family to Currie in Navarro County and had bought a farm in that community.

The Garrett family's interesting family history can be traced back to their ancestor, Jeremiah Garrett, 1774-1835, who moved into Georgia from South Carolina between 1809-1820 and took part in the Georgia Land Lottery of 1820. His first wife was Annie Miller who died about 1821 and left Jeremiah with ten children to raise.

His second marriage was to Mary King and in 1822 the family moved to Pike County, Alabama. In 1830 the family was enumerated by the census taker as having five boys and five girls. Sometime between 1830 and 1840 Jeremiah Garrett was murdered by a band of Creek Indians while he was plowing his land near the Pea River in Pike County, Alabama. This location is near present-day Troy, Alabama.

Robert Milligan Garrett, youngest child born to Jeremiah and Annie Garrett, was born July 10, 1822, in Pike County, Alabama and married Emily Frances Matthews in Pike County, Ala. in 1841. Robert M. and Emily moved to Texas in 1851 and settled eight miles west of Grapeland, Houston County, Texas. Two of the sons born to this couple, Elijah and James Arthur Garrett, lost their lives fighting for the Confederate States of America.

Other children born to this couple included Sarah Ann who married James Henry Kolb; Martha Ellen married H.L. Smith; William Enoch married Mary Catherine "Polly" Smith; John Frank married, first, Nanny L. Mathisand second, Cora Alice Shofner; Malinda "Linnie," married a Smith and Robert J. married Vianna Childress.

William Enoch and Robert J. Garrett moved to Robertson County, Texas, in the 1870's and by 1881 had moved their families into Navarro County near Currie and lived there for the remainder of their lives. Children born to William E. Garrett and Mary Catherine "Polly" Smith (see Isham A. Smith family in Vol. I Freestone County history) included the following: Boyd E. married Nellie Matlock; Lucy Ava married Roy Ragsdale; Arthur D. died 1897; Clarence S. married Mattie Brown; Fred married Emma Chapman and William L. married Myra Belle Murphy. (See Murphy family in Volume I of Freestone County History).

William L. "Bill" Garrett and Myra Belle Murphy were married in Wortham on December 24, 1914. The first few years of their married life were spent on a farm near Currie. In 1925 Bill sold the farm in Navarro County and moved to Wortham to operate a variety store on the main street of Wortham for several years. In 1932 he sold his store to become city secretary for the City of Wortham and remained in this position until his retirement in June of 1968.

Three sons were born to this couple, two of whom reached maturity, Leroy Garrett and W.L. Garrett, Jr. Leroy was graduated from Wortham High School in 1936 and Bill, Jr. in 1938. Both sons served their country during World War II, Leroy serving in the Army Air Force and Bill, Jr. serving in the U.S. Navy.

Bill, Jr. Garrett married, first, Barbara Boyett, and the children from this marriage were Melvin and Billy Garrett. Melvin married Patricia Gough and they have a son, Mark. Billy Garrett married Wilma Elaine Miller, and they have two children, a daughter, Kellie Elaine, and a son, Robert Ryan. Bill, Jr.'s second marriage was to Virginia Evans Arnold, and they live in McLean, Virginia.

Bill and Myra were active members of the First Presbyterian Church of Wortham, where Bill served as church secretary for many years. They were both active in Order of the Eastern Star, Bill serving as Worthy Patron and Myra as Worthy Matron. Bill held a lifetime membership in the Longbotham Masonic Lodge.

Myra died July 31, 1965, and Bill died October 6, 1979. Both were buried in the Wortham Cemetery.

Source: "History of Freestone County, Volume Two, 1989" by Freestone County Historical Commission, Hunter Publishing Company, Winston-Salem, N.C.

DAVID C. GREENLEE

Breckenridge: DAVID CLARENCE GREENLEE, 87/88 (article is difficult to read for age), died Tuesday [14 April 1959] at 9:40 a.m. at the home of his son, ROSS GREENLEE here, of a heart attack. He had not been in poor health.

Born in Hickory [Newton County], Mississippi, Nov. 20, 1871, he married CARRIE LISENBEE in Meridian [Lauderdale County], Mississippi in 1894. They came to Texas that year and settled in the Wayland community near Breckenridge. Mrs. Greenlee died in 1951. Since then he had lived with his son here.

Mr. Greenlee was active in farming and worked as a farmer or carpenter for several years.

Funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the First Methodist Church here with Rev. LEROY BROWN, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Wayland Cemetery directed by Melton Funeral Home.

Survivors include seven sons, ROSS of Breckenridge, RAY and CLARK, both of Wayland, LESLEY of Abernathy, CLAUDE of Stanton, ALBERT of Pasadena and ARTHUR of Odessa; two daughters Mrs. F. W. KING of Throckmorton and Mrs. CLARENCE SCHUMANN OF Berkley, Michigan; 21 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Source: Abilene Reporter News, April 15, 1959, via http://www.txgenweb2.org/txstephens/LeslieGreenlee.htm (Submitted by: Anita Emberlin)

LESLIE GREENLEE

Breckenridge: Funeral for LESLIE E. GREENLEE, 73, Stephens County native, was to be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Chambers Funeral Home chapel in Abernathy. Mr. Greenlee died Tuesday morning [25 Feb 1969] in a Lubbock hospital. He had been in ill health for three years.

In 1925, he married REBA BROWN in Stephens County. They farmed there until moving to Abernathy in 1943. He retired from Phillips Petroleum Co. five years ago.

Survivors include his wife; one daughter Mrs. GEORGIA RUTH BRANTLEY of Abernathy; two sisters, Mrs. OLA KING of Throckmorton and Mrs. ANN SCHUMANN of Cleveland, Ohio; six brothers, CLARK, RAY, ROSS and ALBERT of Breckenridge; ARTHUR of Odessa and CLAUDE of Mineral Wells; and one grandchild.

Source: Abilene Reporter News, February 26, 1969, via http://www.txgenweb2.org/txstephens/LeslieGreenlee.htm (Submitted by: Anita Emberlin)

ARTHUR GREENLEE

Breckenridge: ARTHUR L. GREENLEE, 75, of Odessa, Stephens County native, died shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday [26 Jan 1965] in Odessa Medical Center. Funeral is pending with Satterwhite Funeral Home in Breckenridge.

Born July 15, 1897 in the Wayland community [stephens County], he married OLLIE BELL CHRISTESSON May 30, 1922. They lived here until 1953 when they moved to Odessa. She died in 1964. Mr. Greenlee was a member of the Church of Christ.

Survivors are one daughter Mrs. BETTY SUE MICKLE of Odessa; four brother, ROSS and ALBERT, both of Breckenridge;, CLARK and RAY, both of the Wayland community; two sisters Mrs. OLA KING of Throckmorton and Mrs. ANNE SCHUMANN of Cleveland, Ohio; and two grandchildren.

Source: Abilene Reporter News, January 29, 1965, via http://www.txgenweb2.org/txstephens/LeslieGreenlee.htm (Submitted by: Anita Emberlin)

AB GREENLEE

Breckenridge: Ab GREENLEE, 68, of the Wayland community [Stephens County], died at 5:40 p.m. Saturday [19 Nov 1977] in the Stephens Memorial Hospital after a long illness.

Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Satterwhite Chapel of Faith. JIMMY COX, Elliott Street Church of Christ, will officiate. Burial will follow at Wayland Cemetery.

Survivors include three brothers, ROSS, RAY and CLARK all of Breckenridge; two sisters, OLA KING of Throckmorton and ANN SCHUMANN of Fort Worth; and several nieces and nephews.

Source: Abilene Reporter News, November 21, 1977, via http://www.txgenweb2.org/txstephens/LeslieGreenlee.htm (Submitted by: Anita Emberlin)

Juanita Gregg Nunn of Lubbock passed from this life Oct. 20, 2007, in a local hospital. She was born to Herbert Gregg and Jewel Prescott Gregg Jan. 21, 1926, in Vernon. At nine months of age, her mother died and she was then adopted and raised by her uncle and aunt, Earl B. and Jesse Norman Gregg. She attended school in Graham and graduated from Post High School in 1943. She graduated from Bethany Nazarene College, now Southern Nazarene University, with a degree in business education and was active in women's sports.

Nita taught in the Abernathy Independent School System for 31 years. She coached girls' tennis and basketball, then later taught fourth grade.

On June 4, 1950, Nita married Henry Gean Nunn of Abernathy. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Abernathy for many years and a member of Oakwood United Methodist Church at the time of her death. She also held membership in the Texas State Teachers Association.

She is survived by her husband, Gean of Lubbock; three sons and their wives, Jimmy and Mary of Lubbock, Dan and Sandra of Celina, and Bill and Leslie of Hiram, Ga.; six grandchildren, Kellie, Chrissa, Jaime, Michael, Brittany and Riley; two brothers, Herbert Gregg of Florida and Jack Gregg of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and many special relatives and friends.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, at Oakwood United Methodist Church, 2215 58th Street, Lubbock, TX, with Rev. Eddie Marcum officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Oakwood or Abernathy churches, or to an organization of your choice.

To send online condolences, log on to www.AbellFuneralHome.com.

Source: LubbockOnline.com. Tuesday, October 23, 2007 (Lubbock Avalanche Journal)CRB)

The Death of Robert Milligan Garrett (Author unknown)

The subject of the following brief sketch was born in Wilkerson Co., Ga., July 10, 1822. Died at his home in Grapeland, Houston County, Texas, June 18, 1890, at 2 p.m., of typho malaria. Hence, at his death was 68 years, 11 months and 18 days old.

The greatest early misfortune to which a child is heir befell him in that his blessed mother who gave him birth, gave also her life; a sacrifice that he might live; he was thereby left a motherless infant only a few days old. Fortunately he fell into the careful hands of a pair of good people who nurtured him as one of their own; and he lived with them, obeying them as though they had been his parents.

From Georgia he moved with these good people and his father, about the year 1831, to Alabama, which at this time was comparatively a new country, still inhabited by savage Indians. In 1834 or 5, his father was killed by a party of them while he and a few other men were trying to locate a squad. Hence, when he was about 12, he was an entire orphan. He received from his forebears a keen sense of personality and was an honest and upright youth.

At the age of 19, he was married to Miss Emily F. Matthews in Pike County, Ala. This lady was his equal in all the essentials for a true and devoted helpmate, and they lived together happily.

He was reared under the religious influence of the Primitive Baptist Church (Predestinarian) and entered that communion about 1845 and lived consistent with that religious body perhaps one-half of his religious life.

He came to Texas about 1850 and spent most of his life in this county engaging mainly in rural pursuits. By his first wife, he reared eight children to maturity; all in honor to him. Six of them survived him. All had families, except his youngest daughter, Miss Linnie, who was with him until his death; a lady of superior merit who remains at the homestead with her stepmother, Mrs. E. A. Garrett.

During the War between the States he lost his first wife by death, and shortly after the war closed, was married to Miss E. A. Matthews of this county, a lady of excellence, and with her he was happy and contented, often expressing that among his many misfortunes, he had been fortunate in the privilege of enjoying the conjugal relationship of two of the purest and best women.

In 1879 he heard the Gospel, he thought, in apostolic simplicity, as presented by the late lamented Alexander Campbell, and in it was genuine, zealous and steadfast. He died firm in faith.

He served in several public trusts, at the hands fo people with whom he was identified; was ever honest and impartial in enforcing and sustaining the dignity of the law. Though he had a high type of honesty and integrity as a man, yet like all other men he had his faults; no one was more cognizant of the fact than himself, and none so ready as he to acknowledge them.

He lingered long and suffered much, believing all the while that he was sick unto death; but was till patient and resigned, expressing frequently an anxious desire to be relieved in death, if it were the Father's will.

He leaves to his wife and daughter a comfortable home in town and the benediction of a kind husband and indulgent and loving father. His mortal remains rest in the Ben Davis cemetery, four miles east of Grapeland, where they were tenderly borne, and laid away by tender and devoted hands of many friends and relatives, to witness the last solemn rites, where they shall rest and await the "Glorious Resurrection".

We will, dear friend and brother, drop the broad mantle of charity over your faults, and forget them. But we will cherish, and daily try to emulate your many virtues until it is ours to share with your mortal remains the cold embrace of death, and with your redeemed spirit.

Source: Excerpt from "History of Houston County, Texas, 1687-1979," contained in Mack and Madeline Mullins' "The Garrett Family." Transcribed by Ron Brantner.