Mississippi
West Wind Newsletter from West Junior High School, Gulfport, Mississippi #1 of 3 Issues
Enlarged photos and transcription of entire newsletter follows full digital copies of newsletters. Published circa 1970. No date on copy. Entries are entered exactly as written in the original newsletter by the students who were on staff for the paper – no corrections or additions were made. My mother, Jane Morris Estrada, was a teacher at West Jr. High the years I attended school there. Read the rest of this entry »
Martha M (Park) Wright 1826-1909
When Martha M. (Park) was born on June 17, 1826, in Athens, Georgia, her father was Baptist Park and her mother was Frances. She married James P. Wright in 1845 in Jackson, Butts, Georgia when she was 19 years old. They had one child, Frances M. “Fanny” during their marriage.
In 1840, when Martha was 14 years old, her mother, Frances “Fanny” (Chandler) Park, died.
In 1845, Martha married James P. Wright. She was 19 years old. January 8, 1845 brought Martha a daughter in Georgia whom she named Frances “Fanny”.
According to an 1850 Census: Martha lived in Jackson, Butts County, Georgia – Subdivision 45. The census lists Baptist Park 50 as a farmer, Martha M. Wright 22, Frances V. Parks 20, Nancy C. Parks 18, Frances M. Wright 5.
Read the rest of this entry »
My Grandmother’s Mississippi Driver’s Manual
I have no idea what year this handbook was distributed. My grandmother, Rosie (Smith) Morris, told me she was given this to study if she wanted to get her driver’s license. Her husband was owned and operated a car dealership and he gave her a car. After she took the car on a test drive, and she ran off the road, she refused to drive it from then on. She never got her license, by the way. She preferred to ride the bus or take a cab. — T.Rose
Stella Goes to Washington
Biloxi Daily Herald
1 Jun 1917
Miss Stella Harkness leaves tonight for Washington, where she will attend the annual reunion of the United Confederate Veterans and Sons of Veterans.
Things Seen in Biloxi
Biloxi Daily Herald
June 24, 1928
Main St. Methodist Church Choir Watermelon Cutting
The choir of the Main Street Methodist Church enjoyed a watermelon cutting at the home of H. B. Rickey in Bay Terrace, following choir rehearsal last Friday night. A very gay time was had by these choir members, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Barbour, Miss Laurine Barbour, Miss Nelson, Miss Irene Morris, Miss Martha Morris, Mrs. Adams, H. B. Rush, Miss Helen Rush, Miss Stella Harkness, Miss May Harkness and Miss Naomi Lockett.
THINGS SEEN IN BILOXI
(Q. Q. McIntryre)
Last Friday evening the choir of the Main Street Methodist Church met for rehearsal, after which they motored out to the beautiful home of H. B. Ricky in Bay Terrace where one least sees any sort of disturbance. Soon after the arrival of the first division H. B. Rush came with a bountiful supply of luscious watermelons that would tempt a Southern darkey to spend his last nickel.
These were sliced so as to give each one a full feed. Everything was calm and serene. In fact you would have suspected nothing but perfect harmony, but such was not the case. The evidence of war were to be seen. The smoke of battle was beginning to appear. Suddenly W. L. Barbour and Mr. Rush were the victims of an attack. This they could not stand. The call to the front was made instantly. Rush, Barbour and Rickey were in line of battle, eyes distended, teeth tight, fists clenched, ready for the fray. This was met by the second line, with Miss Naomi Lockett, the Morris sisters of Mobile, who are visiting their aunts, the Misses Harkness, assisted by Miss Helen Rush who acted as spy to the enemy. The battle raged. Soon all army rules were forgotten, the borders of the battlefield were enlarged, ranks were broken, no respect for lines. It was a hand to hand fight with H. B. Rush claiming the victory in the first skirmish and retired with a look of serene satisfaction. The ammunition was the cold juicy, red meat of the watermelon. All during the long battle, Miss Stella Harkness of the post office, remained neutral and with the utmost indifference, wielded her fork steadily. Much damage was done to clothing and permanent waves, but all were forgiven and the jolly, fun loving pastor, the Rev. W. M. Sullivan, poured oil on the troubled waters, as all good preachers should, and with both sides claiming the victory, all declared Mr. Rickey to be a wonderful host and were sorry that they trampled his spacious and well kept lawn.
Bola Lafayette “Bolie” Smith 1888-1970
Laurel Leader Call
August 10, 1970
DEATHS
B. L. SMITH
Funeral services for B. L. Smith, 82, 860 South Magnolia, were held Monday at 11 a.m. from the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home with the Rev. Tom Sumrall officiating. Burial was in Crestview Cemetery.
Smith died Saturday in a Laurel hospital after a short illness. He was born in Neshoba County, Mar. 28, 1888. He was a member of Magnolia Street Baptist Church, and a retired carpenter.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Tama Aultman Smith; three daughters: Mrs. J. T. McKinney, Gainsville, Fla; Mrs. Elson Boutwell, New Orleans, La.; and Mrs. Franklin Rhoades, Hobart Ind.; two sons: Dick Smith, Ellisville; and J. W. Smith, Decatur, Ala.; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; six sisters: Mrs. Josie Harris, Jackson; Mrs. Betty Harper, Collins; Mrs. Rosie Morris, Mrs. Mattie Bell Robertson and Mrs. Bama Grayson, all of Gulfport; and Mrs. Bertie Quinn, Pascagoula; and three brothers: Levi Smith, Crossett, Ark.: Sylvester Smith and Bradie Smith, both of Laurel.
Was my great-uncle…
mother of Bola Lafayette “Bolie” Smith
daughter of Mary Jane RICE
daughter of Rosa Anna Elizabeth “Rosie” SMITH
the daughter of Janie Lucille MORRIS
1960’s Social Life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
Before Hurricane Katrina hit the Coast, this house was located right on Highway 90 directly across the street from the Gulf of Mexico. It was on a corner. I don’t know if it survived the storm. I know it survived Hurricane Camille because this photo was taken in the 1990’s on one of my visits home. I took this photo while riding past the home when Momma was driving.
“Boots” and Helen Mason owned and operated Mason’s Interiors in downtown Biloxi in the 1950’s. Helen was an interior decorator. She was a devout Methodist having been a member of first United Methodist Church in Biloxi. Boots was a retired U. S. Marine.
Below is a photo of my grandmother, Rosie Smith Morris (from the left), Millard Ayres “Boots” Mason and my grandmother, Helen Hoagland Mason out for supper at the popular restaurant, the “White House” on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, now long gone.
D.E. Morris Purchases 40 Lumber Railroad Cars for Dantzler Mills
1912-10-14 Daily Herald – Gulfport, Mississippi
40 CARS FOR DANTZLER MILLS
D.E. Morris Purchases Cars to Be Used In Moving Lumber of Big Company’s Mills
Gulfport, October 14
D.E. Morris, manager of the Dantzler Foundry, returned last night from Chicago, where he went to buy 40 lumber cars for the Dantzler Mills. The deal for these cars was practically closed, but it is not known when they will come forward. “The big truck line railroads,” says Mr. Morris, “are getting freight cars to relieve the congestion of freights along their lines. In the pursuance of this practice they will get cars which are billed to the roads owning and operating them, and convert them to their own use. Not in the history of railroading in the west has there been such a wild scramble for cars with which to move the grain crop to the exporting centers. The movement of the cotton crop also is creating an additional demand for cars.”
(My great-grandfather)
son of David Edmund “D.E.” MORRIS
daughter of John Harkness MORRIS
1955 Perkinston Junior College-Perkettes Featuring Gulfport Baton Twirling Champion
Beatriz Zuniga Dónde Estás?
The Tenderly Rose Collection 