Source: Rita and Rebecca Gray
From previous posts, I have shared what I have learned about B.B. and Ellen Gray of Pinebloom GA. Theirs is a fascinating story which would not be complete without a follow-up about their 14 children. One would think that with 14 children, there should be a boat load of information about them. Well, not so fast. It has been an exercise leaving more questions than answers. Even though B.B. and Ellen were, um, shall we say quite fertile, their children were not and the family line has kind of fizzled out over the years, leaving very few descendants.
The following is an account of each child and what is known to date. Some biographies will be lengthier than others, but a small picture of their history can be painted. I will also state that I am only going to detail the children of B.B. and Ellen and their children, if any. Otherwise, this would be a really long story. Here's what we know as of now about the Gray Children.
Benjamin Benchley Gray
Born March 4, 1871 Died as an infant on April 18, 1871 in
Brunswick, GA. Cause of death is unknown.
Edward F Gray
February 18, 1872 -August 26, 1927
Edward was born in Brunswick,GA and lived in Millwood according to the 1880 census. The 1900 census shows him living with his family in Coffee County, probably at the Pinebloom home. His occupation is listed as a mechanic. No other documents can be found until 1920 when Edward is living with his parents, still a mechanic, and his marital status is divorced. No marriage records have been found to this point, so it is unclear when or if a marriage took place or if there were any children.
Edward is buried in the Willacoochee Cemetery.
Edward is buried in the Willacoochee Cemetery.
Benjamin William Gray
February 10, 1874 - March 19 1957
Ben married Marcia Lucile Briggs in 1901.
They lived in Douglas Georgia.
Ben was a master carpenter and quite skilled with his craftsmanship.
A photo of Ben's craftmanship at the Ashley-Slater House in Douglas, GA
photo source: Ashley-Slater House website
photo source: Ashley-Slater House website
Link: Ashley-Slater House
Consider this, Ben lost his left hand and part of his arm in a sawmill accident, yet still managed to produce beautiful work. A 1902 news article states he had visited Waycross to recover from an operation. The type of operation is not detailed so it is unclear if it had anything to do with his arm injury.
1902 Waycross newspaper notation
WWI Draft Registration Card showing loss of left hand. Source: familysearch.org
Lucile was a Librarian in Douglas for many years. Sadly, they only had one child who died as an infant. Lucile's obituary lists no other children from the marriage. Ben and Lucile are buried in the Douglas City Cemetery. Their infant is buried in Willacoochee City Cemetery.
source: findagrave.com
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Lucile Gray's Obit. Source: Rebecca Gray
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Mary Lucinda (Mamie) Gray
February 3, 1877 - November 8, 1954
Mamie was married to Edward Crawley Henderson on December 18, 1907. The 1920 census states that Mr Henderson was a manager of dry goods store. They would have 4 children: Carolyn, Bennie Estelle, Edward C. Jr. and Harold Myers.
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| 1920 US Census |
By 1940, Edward lists his job as a timekeeper/asst. engineer in the highway industry. This census also shows Harold still at home with a job at a filling station
Edward Crawley Henderson source: Rebecca Gray
Mamie and Edward are buried in the Willacoochee Cemetery.
Their children have some interesting stories, so I will briefly touch base on them as I know folks from Willacoochee have some fond memories of the Henderson family.
source: Rebecca Gray
She retired from SGC in 1981.
In a local newspaper article announcing her retirement, the following comments were quoted about Carolyn:
"Mrs. O'Berry is someone to trust and to take advice from when mothers are not there to help."
"Her understanding and compassion will always be remembered."
Source: Rebecca Gray |  |
Bennie
Bennie married William Osborne Christopher. She was an artist known for beautiful ceramics. Bennie and William had two sons, Bill and Ben.
Bennie and William are buried in Douglas City Cemetery.
source: findagrave.com
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Edward served in the Army during WWII.
He would live with his wife, Dortha in Duncan Oklahoma.
Edward and Dortha are buried in Oklahoma
source: findagrave.com
Harold Myers
Harold married Virginia Dare Paulk. They died within one month of one another in 1998.
Harold and Virginia are buried in Willacoochee.
Source:findagrave.com
Henry Pendleton Gray
March 29 1877 - November 8 1934
All available census records show that he remained at home with his parents, BB and Ellen. A WWI draft registration card states that he was "known to be mentally deficient". Whether he had a learning disability or some sort other of disability is not known. He died of stomach cancer in 1934. He is buried in the Willacoochee Cemetery.
Henry's death certificate. Cause of death Gastric Carcinoma
Henry's WWI draft registration
John H. Gray
November 28 1880 - August 1956
John is a bit of a mystery. A July 5th article in the Tifton Gazette states that he married Miss Louise West in 1905. The 1910 Census shows that he moved to Westlake Florida to work in a sawmill and listed his marital status as single, not divorced or widowed. By 1930, he was living with his mother and brother Henry at Pinebloom. My guess is he was the only child available to take care of them as BB had passed away by this time. No further information can be found except that at some point, he moved back to Florida and is buried in
St. Petersburg with a very simple grave marker.
St. Petersburg with a very simple grave marker.
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Katherine Sophia (Katie) Gray
February 3 1883 - March 11 1916
Katie never married or had children. She died at the age of 33 and is buried in Willacoochee. Sorry, that's all I've got for her. Kind of sad.
Charles E Gray
June 19, 1884 - Unknown
Of all of the Gray children, Charlie is the only one in which we have no date of death or place of burial. We do know that he was treasurer of the Ocilla, Pinebloom and Valdosta RR Corp. In 1909, he married Virginia "Jennie Ruth" Parker of Thomasville, Ga.
Marriage Certificate for Charlie and Jennie 12-27-1909
Marriage announcement in the Tifton Gazette.
In 1914, OPV filed for bankruptcy. After this time, Charlie and Virginia cannot be found in any records. It is not known where they lived or where they are buried. A headstone in the Willacoochee Cemetery shows that the couple did have an infant who passed away. No year or gender listed.
Headstone of infant child of Charlie and Jennie Ruth
As for Charlie, the assumption is that he died between 1926 (the year his father died) and 1936 as he is not listed as a surviving member of the family in his mother's obituary. One thing that we can figure out from his picture is that he must have loved motorcycles.
In 1914, OPV filed for bankruptcy. After this time, Charlie and Virginia cannot be found in any records. It is not known where they lived or where they are buried. A headstone in the Willacoochee Cemetery shows that the couple did have an infant who passed away. No year or gender listed.
As for Charlie, the assumption is that he died between 1926 (the year his father died) and 1936 as he is not listed as a surviving member of the family in his mother's obituary. One thing that we can figure out from his picture is that he must have loved motorcycles.
Mollie Estelle (Stella) Gray
July 14, 1886 - December 8, 1974
Stella eloped with Mr. James Cochran in 1904 under objections of her parents. James worked as a cashier for the Willacoochee Bank.
 | Popular Young Couple Elope and Wed at Willacoochee Douglas Ga, Feb 4 - News has just reached here of the romantic marriage of Mr. James Cochran, cashier of the Willacoochee bank, to Miss Estell Gray, the beautiful and accompished daughter of Mr. B.B Gray, the mill man. There was some objections on the part of the young ladies parents and they had just time enough to stop in at Mr. Ludlowis and the ceremony performed and quickly pass on. Mr. Cochran is a nephew of Mr. Oberry, the turpentine man, near Willacoochee where the young couple are stopping at present. They come from two of the best families in South Georgia, and their many friends wish them a long and happy life. Waycross Journal 1904 |
Stella's parents must not have been too upset because they built a lovely home for the couple which still stands today in Willacoochee. The home was built from lumber provided by the Gray lumber mill and was handpicked so that no knots are in any of the pieces used in the home. The house was bought by John Fletcher, who happens to be my gg grandfather on my father's side. The house was then passed down to his grandaughter and her husband, Dr. Henry and Margaret Moore. The home is still owned by the Moore Family descendants.
James and Stella had 3 children: Mary, James L., Jr., and Price. James Jr. and Price both served in the military during WWII. No details of Mary's life have been uncovered.
Stella Gray Cochran
photos source: findagrave.com
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James Lee Cochran
Price Cochran. WWII Veteran
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September 9, 1888 - May 4, 1936
What is known is that in 1920, the family lived in Valdosta with Mabel's mother Sarah. At that time, there was an all girls college, Valdosta State. It may be assumed that Mabel obtained her teaching license here. George is still listed as an auto mechanic. By 1930, the family moved back to Willacoochee. George was a dentist and Mabel a school teacher.
George and Mabel would have 4 children: Benjamin Benchley II, Elizabeth, George and Imogene.
 
Elizabeth's daughter, Priscilla is standing
L-R: Imogene, B.B. and Elizabeth
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Elizabeth Gray
Imogene Gray
Elizabeth and B.B.
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In 1936, George would be killed in an automobile accident at the age of 48, leaving Mabel to raise the four children on her own.
Death Certificate of George W Gray
Mabel(seated) with children: BB, Elizabeth,
Imogene and George
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4 generations of Gray-Callahan
Mabel seated next to her mother Sarah
Standing L-R: Grace, wife of son George, George holding BB III, son of BB II, Tilley, wife of BB II, Elizabeth, and Imogene.
2 little girls are Priscilla, and Harriet, daughters of Elizabeth
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As if that wasn't hard enough, upon her retirement, the bank which housed Mabel's entire retirement savings, folded, leaving her with nothing. Mabel would then move to Bradenton,Florida to live her final years with daughter, Elizabeth & son-in-law, Buddy Gibbs
Mabel and George are buried in Willacoochee.
Mabel and George are buried in Willacoochee.
I could really expand on this branch of the family tree, as this is my direct lineage, but I will leave it at this for now.
To read more about my grandmother, click this link:
Arthur L. Gray
March 2, 1891 - May 5, 1921
Arthur was a mechanic who married Nora Tanner in 1916. According to the 1920 census, they had two sons, Arthur Jr. and Ben W. Sadly, Arthur died of tuberculosis in 1921. He is buried in Willacoochee. It is unclear what happened to the family after his death.
Death Certificate of Arthur Gray
Frederick Oliver Gray
September 13 1894 - July 4 1964
Fred and first wife Ethel. Child Unidentified
Fred married Ethel Wilson in 1923. Yes, Fred and Ethel.... He had a career in the military which took him to Ft. Bliss TX. It is not known if Fred and Ethel divorced or if he was widowed, but he did marry for a 2nd time to Jessie Moon. No children have been found from either marriage. None are listed in census records.
Fred and Jessie are buried at the Ft. Bliss Cemetery. Ethel's place of burial is unknown.
Fred Gray headstone, Ft. Bliss, TX
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WWII Registration Card
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Death Certificate for Fred
William A (Willie) Gray
September 8, 1894 - June 6, 1914
Never married and no children. Buried in Willacoochee. Wish I could tell you more. Even his obit doesn't have much information except that he died after a long illness at the age of 20.
Edna E. Gray
October 5, 1895 - January 18, 1980
Edna eloped with her first husband, E.R. Bullard, in Ocilla GA in 1913. They married in Ocilla because once again, B B and Ellen objected to the union. It's funny how the girls seemed to elope and the boys married elsewhere. Hmmm. What was that about?
Tifton Gazette Announcement
Edna and Ed had one son, E. R. Bullard, Jr. They lived in Varnville SC. Matriarch Ellen Gray lived with Edna when she died in 1936. Edna's husband, Ed Sr. died in 1940. Edna would remarry Frederic Joseph Ziegler, who died in 1957. Edna died in 1980 and is buried in Varnville.
We made it! This brings to a close the stories of B.B. and Ellen Gray's children. It still amazes me that not many descendants are around, but there are a few and I hope that one day they will stumble across this little blog of mine and fill in any blanks.
Until next time.....happy hunting in your genealogy pursuits
Melody
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