• Brothers Walter and Augustus Johnson, undated; photographer unknown

Susie Marshall

• Susie Marshall. 1962. Photographer Unknown.

Susie Marshall served over 41 years, from 1937 to 1978, as an educator in Oxford and Lafayette County. She was a Jeanne Supervisor for 26 African-American Lafayette schools from 1952 to 1964. She graduated from Rust College in elementary education in 1952 and received a Masters Degree from the University of Mississippi in 1972. She served on the Oxford Housing Authority. She has been a member of Second Baptist Church and has taught Sunday School for over 40 years and a choir member for 60 years. In addition, she has been active in the Oxford Development Association and the Retired Teachers Association as well as the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. -- Author Unknown

Martin Family

Oresta Martin, the second son of the late Alex and Bertha Jones Martin; Grandson of Commodore and Susie Toles Martin, was born on a part of the farm in Taylor Community Lafayette County, Ms. owned by my ancestors.

Grandfather Commodore Martin came from South Carolina; married to Susie Toles by 'Jumping the broom' during reconstruction after the Civil War--1867. His wife bore him seven sons named: William, Tommy, Moses, Perry, Alex, Elisha, and Duff. Seven daughters: Mary, Oddie, Emma, Geanie, Eula, Addie & Frenchie. The Commodore Martin family tilled the soil, while raising their fourteen children. They also raised chicken and farm animals. The Martin Family was devoted to the Christian Church. Father Alex, the fourth son of Commodore and Susie Martin married Bertha Jones. The family tree of the late Alex and Bertha Jones Martin: Family Reunion, July 28-30, 1995 provides the names of five sons: Horace deceased, Oresta, Alex, James, Ardia Mae, Clara & Cleora, Robertha & Edna.

The children were raised on the farm didn't have much, being raised in a shack. Alex and Bertha trained their children to be thankful to the Lord for what they had, little or much. Mother Bertha was a friendly, cheerful person, the memory of her being here will not be forgotten. Both parents were hard workers, trying to break the chain of segregation. The children school years was ranked the best years of their life. All completed high school and most of them completed college: made right choices for their careers: teachers, business, etc.

Father Alex followed in the footsteps of his father and slept with his ancestors June 25, 1967 was buried in Yocona Cemetery N. Hopewell Taylor, MS. Mother Bertha died March 19, 1976 & slept with husband Alex.

Oresta took for a wife Mary Etta Mitchell, daughter of the late Berkley Mitchell and Millia Hewlette Mitchell. Mary Ella has borne him 2 sons, Walter & [Sterlin] & 2 daughters

Millia Martin and [Eulashne] Martin Thompson. This Martin family lived on a 380 acre farm in the Taylor community. The family is noted for raising cattle, truck farm and following in the footsteps of their parents doing what is right in the sight of the Lord.

Walter Martin, the first born son of Oresta and Mary Ella Martin was an honorable member of the family whose death April 21, 1996 was swallowed up in victory. Leaving being a wife of 35 years & 3 children, older son a M.D.

Oresta and Mary Etta Martin and the more than 500 Martin descendants major source of training and strength was & is the family and the church. -- Martin Family History by Oresta Martin

Mitchell Family

• Ruben Mitchell, circa 1910. Photographer Unknown.

Ruben Mitchell was freed from slavery after the Civil War and recalled that the Master had said: 'You all's free. We ain't got nothing to do with you all no more. Go away now, you all don't belong to us no more.' Many former slaves got sick and died. Most started out with little more than a nickel and a nail in their pocket. Ruben Mitchell was the father of Williams B. Mitchell.

Virgie Fox Mitchell, born in 1896, worked side-by-side with William Mitchell as sharecroppers in Lafayette County. Her parents were Joseph Edward and Lucy Jane Fox. Before Virgie Fox second school year at Rust Normal School, she eloped with William Mitchell on Sunday evening in a borrowed surrey from the Harrisonville Missionary Baptist Church, Lafayette County, to the St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church, Panola County, where they were married, October 3, 1910.

After many years of sharecropping and moving from farm to farm, the Mitchell family left their Clear Creek farm for Oxford so their children could go to school. Their seven children included Lampton, Susie Lee, Bessie Mae, Lucy Jane, Earnistine Louise, William Jr., and Rita Katherine. Today, Ruben Mitchell has over 300 descendants. -- Author Unknown

Belma Mitchell Family

My name is Mary Etta Mitchell Martin, the grand-daughter of Belma Mitchell and Cynthia Morgan who were married by 'jumping the broom,' an African custom in the late 1800's... Both were born in Lafayette County near the southwest corner of Thacker Height Community. Belma, the son of a slave, begat six sons: Henry, Berkley, Olonzo, Johnny, Hosea & child 6; and five daughters: Rosa, Addie, Narciss, Tennessee (Tinmie) and Odessa... A large family of children was desired for economic reasons--to help with farm work. The children were taught by their parents since there was very little formal training in schools. The children were carried to church in wagon regularly each first Lords day of the month: it was there they were reinforced to be honest, and respectful and to love everybody.

My father, Berkley Mitchell, the second son of Belma and Cynthia Mitchell, had three wives: Sally Carethers, Millia Hewlett and Mama [Miller]... Sally Carethers bore him 5 sons: Prentiss, Albert, Ernest, Berkley, Jr., and Obie. Four daughters: Christine, Laura, Cynthia, Inet. Berkley Sr. bought a 180 acre farm in Taylor Community, built a dogtrot style house for the farm family with large garden, outhouses for chickens, meathouse, pig pen, etc. He also raised his sisters two sons: Lawrence and O.D.

His wife, Sally died in 1900: Berkley married Millia Hewlette in 1908. Millia bore him five sons: Clifton, T.Z., R.D., James, Berkley Jr. daughters: Mary Etta, Margurite & Girlie.

Mary Etta married Oresta Martin. She bore him two sons: Walter, deceased (1996) and Sterlin and two daughters: Millia and Eulastine.

African-American education was somewhat improved in the 1940s and 1950s, 2 college grads.

Family members who migrated: James to Los Angeles, Margurite and Girlie to Detroit, Ernest, Larie, Inet also to Detroit.

Berkley Mitchell, the father of 19, did like his father before him--did that what was right in the sight of God; died 1960 buried in Cypress Grove Church Cemetery, his church membership and deacon for half a century. -- History by Mary Etta Mitchell Martin

Morgan Family

Grandfather Soloman Morgan was brought to Panola County as a slave in 1863. He worked on a plantation, married wife Pearl and begat 7 children. His first major achievement was purchasing a small farm and building a better house for his family. He practiced the Golden Rule as a guide for his family.

Johnnie Morgan, Soloman's oldest son was a share-cropper in Panola County. His wife, Lena Henderson was a rural school teacher they had 4 children. In rearing their children they followed the custom of their foreparents.

Willie Mathers Morgan, the youngest son, worked at the I.C. Railroad ship in Water Valley, MS. He bought a large farm in Yellowbushy County MS. Ioda Bishop Morgan is the homemaker for her husband and 7 children. Their goals for the children was for them to get an education, go to college. The Willie Mathers Family followed the traditions of Church attendance like that of foreparents. The celebrations of the family reunion is the best experience of the Willie Mathers Family. The adventurous personality of the children cause them to travel to other states for desired jobs. Martha and Ioda are growing together with one son and his family nearby, who occupy the land and manage it for them." -- Author Unknown

Frank Chalmers Neilson

Frank Chalmers Neilson was born and raised in the late 19th century near Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He completed his education at Philander-Smith College in Little Rock and began teaching in the rural schools of Arkansas. At the turn of the century, he was offered a position in Lafayette County, moved to Oxford, and taught at Galilee School. When a new school, Rosenwald Junior High, was built in Oxford, Neilson was invited to become the Principal.

Neilson married Harriet Wiggins. Harriet was the daughter of Lucretia Pulley Wiggins who was born a slave in Coffeeville in 1837. After the Civil War, Lucretia moved to Water Valley and married Harkless Wiggins in the late 19th century. Eventually the Wiggins' bought a farm in Taylor.

Of Frank and Harriet Neilson's eight children, two became teachers in rural Lafayette County. Frank loved mathematics, history, and geography. Frank Neilson died in 1930 after over 20 years of teaching and inspiring students to complete their education. -- Author Unknown

Owens Family

Jim Owens, Tom Owens, and John Owens were born of Indian descendants and lived in a small area located in Taylor, Mississippi, a community a few miles from the town of Oxford, MS. In the late 1930s, 1940s most of the Owens' families migrated to Chicago, IL, Missouri, Michigan, Tennessee, Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, Iowa, New York, and Wisconsin.

The Jim Owens family members were and are religious, most of them became preachers, pastors, evangelists, or missionaries. Also some are artists that include: the gift of singing, musicians, painters, and we have our own judge, the Great Grand-daughter of Jim Owens.

The second annual Jim Owens Family Reunion was celebrated June 14-16, 1996 at John W. Kyle State Park, Oxford, MS. Chairperson Argola Lee (Pie) reared by Grandmother Olevia Penamon, daughter of Jim and Callie Owens. -- Author Unknown

Penamon Family

• Photograph of Mary Penamon to recognize her 107th birthday from unidentified and undated newspaper article.

Mrs. Mary Penamon's father left his family when she was 3 years old. Her mother Emma Bradley Sweeney married a man named Jones. Said she remembered carrying brush to burn for light to study by. Coal oil was 10c a gallon you couldn't afford it. About the 15 July when hoeing was finished they would have two months of school. Then there were two more months of school in winter. She attended Salem and Burt schools and a little bit at Spring Hill. She said they walked two miles to school. She was the oldest of 14. There was a creek to cross, and my grandmama's oldest boy Johnny Slate carried her across. There were no grades in her day, and the children stopped school around the sixth grade. She said when they had lunch they ate tea cake made with sorghum, and when they came from school they didn't go into the house until they had done their chores. They always had cows and chickens. They had milk, butter and molasses for breakfast

Mary Penamon married Andrew Penamon who died in 1926 age 56 and left her to raise 9 children, several were under age.

When her husband died he had bought the farm in West Spring Hill community. She said that she put those children to work, planted cotton and corn and everything else; sold pigs to pay the tax.

Mary Penamon help in raising four generations of the C.H. [Coffee] children, who grew up near her. She lived to nurse two of Wilma [Coffee] Bunch and A.T. Bunch's children. She considered herself a part of the family. For more than 35 years Wilma baked Mary Penamon's favorite birthday cake. When asked the secret of her longevity she remarked, 'You have to learn to give.'

Six generations were present when Mary Penamon celebrated her 113th birthday on October 18, 1993. More than 20 relatives came to Oxford for her birthday party. Mary was also honored by having her birthday mentioned during NBC's Today Show broadcast. -- Author Unknown.

W. R. Redmond, Jr.

The Reverend W.R. Redmond, Jr., served as pastor of the Burns United Methodist Church. In 1945, he organized the Oxford Training School football team. In 1971, he became the first African-American member of the Oxford School Board. A scholarship was founded in his memory to assist local African-Americans to attend medical school. -- Author Unknown

Burl Roberson/John Wesley Johnson Family

Great grand-father, Burl Roberson, Sr. came from Georgia to Panola County, Mississippi. He worked as a sharecropper on a plantation. He married Lillie Dickens and begat four sons and five daughters.

Burl Roberson II married Nettie J. Roberson, the fifth of thirteen children of John Wesley Johnson and Adeline Burt, born April 1, 1892 in Lafayette County, Mississippi. Nettie and Burl Roberson II had two children, Ella Quay Flowers and Little Burl Roberson III. This family lived and worked on the Dillard Farm as renters.

In the 1920s and the 1940s, ten of thirteen Roberson migrated North, East, and West in the United States of America. Robert Johnson, age 89, remains in Lafayette County, Mississippi.

In 1974, Nettie J. Roberson Canton went to live with her daughter, Ella Quay Flowers, who resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. -- Nettie Roberson Canton

Roberts Family

Great grandmother, Polly Clark said to have been sold as a slave and brought from South Carolina around 1840 or 60 with five boys, names: John, Luke, Jim, Henry, and Horace and two girls, Harriet and Charlotte. Horace married Phylis McDonnell Clark, had two children, Mary Elizabeth, and James Samuel Clark. Grand Ma, Mary Elizabeth married Everett Roberts around 1895, 17 children were born into this family. Children: Henry, Horace, Annie, Cornelia, Sarrah, Bessie, Martha, Thamon, Gracie, Lincoln, James Alonza, Maggie, Lorena, Ruby, Elixabeth, Willie, Everett, and John Hill Roberts. -- History by Myrtle Parker

Rogers Family

• Reverend Will Rogers. Date unknown. Photograph from unidentified newspaper article.

• Date and photographer unknown.

Elifus Rogers, grandfather, was born in South Carolina, a slave in 1832. His mother, Anna, was a slave woman with seven children-4 boys and 3 girls. Father, Will McDuffin Rogers, was 12 years old when they moved to Mississippi and settled in Punkin Creek on Yellow Leaf Farm in Lafayette County. He and wife, Katie Oliver, married in 1916 and begat four boys and three girls. Most of his life, the Reverend Missionary Baptist Will Rogers farmed his own land. About 20 of those years he worked on the Illinois Central Railroad from Water Valley to Memphis and into Illinois. In 1941, the farm boy turned railroad man quit the railroad and lived in Pontotoc County with his family. When his wife died, he lived with his twin daughter, Mrs. Allean Pearson and her family in the house off the road behind the Kiamie Pool Facility.

For recreation, all he cared for then was to play his banjo and his older sister played the guitar. He said that he was up in years when he was called to preach.

He served as the clerk for the Tallahatchie-Oxford Missionary Baptist District Association. He said that he wasn't a preacher for long. He lived with the Pearson family for 13 years. He died and was buried in Yellow Leaf Cemetery.

Five generations of Will McDuff Rogers and Katie Oliver Rogers consist of eight children: Ollie, Hollie, Callie, Eddie, Edric, Sultan, William, and Alma. One child died an infant. -- Author Unknown

Taylor Family

• Mary Avant Taylor. Date and photographer unknown.

• Mr. Tommy Wendell Taylor. Date and photographer unknown.

The union of Mary Avant and Thomas Taylor was in 1889... Mary was born to Mary Ruffin and Fred Avant on the 1st of April in the year 1868. Thomas was born to Marandi and Wiley Taylor sometime during the year 1853. Thomas' parents were born slaves. Thomas was also born a slave, and did not gain his freedom until the year 1865...Mary's parents were born during slavery, yet Mary was born free. Mary's father (Fred Avant) was sold out of Richmond, Virginia before the Civil war. He came to the Taylor, Mississippi area, where he met Margaret Ruffin (Mary's mother). Margaret was from Oxford, Mississippi.

Thomas Taylor's father, Wiley Taylor, was from Baltimore, Maryland. He was sold to someone from Taylor, Mississippi...Wiley lived with a white man, whose last name was Taylor, and as was the custom in those days, when he became a free man he took the name of the white man he had been living with as his own...

Mary and Thomas Taylor reared their children in Oxford, Mississippi somewhere off of Highway 6 out in Lafayette County... The house no longer stands... Thomas and Mary worked on their farm. They were not 'share-croppers' but rather 'renters.' Renters did not own the land that they farmed, they only lived there, and had their own stock and tools. Rent was anywhere from $100 to $300, and was paid to the owner each year... The family attended church on a regular basis at Salem Methodist Church... In those days, the Methodists went to church each Sunday for Sunday school, but church was only held on the third Sunday, when the pastor was in attendance. Most pastors had four churches, and would travel to each on a different Sunday.

Thomas Taylor is buried at the Yocona Cemetery near Taylor.. .Mary Taylor is buried at Salem Cemetery... Thomas Taylor departed this life in June of 1925 and Mary Taylor in September of 1964." -- Excerpts from transcribed oral history of Tommie Wendell Taylor by Richard S. Griffin

Thompson Family

Descendants of John Botany (white): Carter Thompson, Dread Eldridge Thompson, Carter Braxton. From these roots grew vines, branches and fruit. Great-grandfather Carter Thompson, a slave had two sons: Dread Eldridge Thompson married grandmother, Roby Davis, who gave birth to eight children; Carter Braxton Thompson and first wife, Lucy Avant Thompson, had one son, Charles Earl Thompson. Carter Braxton (1876-1957) and wife Baulah McGii Davis (1887-1976) begat eleven children--deceased: Willie, Charlie, Ernest, Jessie, Joel, and Gladys Thompson (deceased 9/24/98). Children living: Lonnie, Robert, Edna Thompson Buford & Annie Mae Thompson Brassell... Thompson Family history submitted by Annie Mae Thompson Brassell and daughter, Patricia N. Brassell. -- History by Annie Mae Thompson Brassell and daughter, Patricia N. Brassell

Nick Tyson Family

My parents are Logue Tyson and Margaret Lockhart Tyson. My grandfather on my father's side is Nick Tyson, brought a slave from VA, settled in Winona, MS before the Civil War 1863; settled in Lafayette County, Taylor, MS after the war. Married Elmira Holeman who had 7 children: 3 boys Logue, Ish, Hamp and 4 girls: Nanny, Minnie, Briget, Marie (acquired 400 acres of farm land). My father Logue Tyson married Margaret Lockhart of Taylor, MS; my brothers are: Alfred Tyson, who married Eva Toles; Preston Tyson married Elmira Brown; Larnell Tyson married Mattie Galiday; Floyd Charles married MAry Smith; Skylo (Jack)-Samuel Tyson married Annie Lee Egerson; Hezekiah Tyson married Marie Rockett; Warren Tyson married Cherrie Narphlet; my sisters: Emma Tyson , Mary Tyson Armstong, 4 children., Elvira, Tyson Campbell 2 boys.

Magnolia Tyson Agnew--my children: Margret Marshall & Debra Moore, my grandchildren are: Erica Marshall, KiKi and Jonalyn Moore and Shamika Marshall (by adoption). -- Written by Magnolia Tyson Agnue

C. B. Webb

Clifton Bondurant Webb began work on the University of Mississippi campus at the age of thirteen during the 1910s. He worked at the University for 56 years as a baker creating cakes and bread. Webb was active in a wide variety of community affairs including the Masons and St. Paul C.M.E. Church.

As a Board Member of the Oxford Housing Development Commission, Webb was interested in improving African-American housing in Oxford at affordable rates. He was instrumental in providing public housing to the community. Today, the C.B. Webb Housing Complex is named after him. -- Author Unknown

White Family

Cornell Matthew White: Born April 26, 1926. Parents: Katie Mae Robertson & Sam White. Resides: Batesville, MS. Mr. White married Thelma Ree Bridgeport-Avant in March 1944-Just celebrated their 50th Anniversary in Mary 1994. God blessed their union with 13 children, 35 Grandchildren and 11 Great Grandchildren and some on the way. Thelma Ree Avant-White. Born: May 29, 1929. Parents: Ethel Mae Hines and Sylvester Bridgeport-Avant... Reatha Mae White-Butler. Born: January 9,... John (deceased). Born: December 19. Children: (8) James W. King, Bradford White, Shelia K. Webb. Pamala White, Velma Leonale White, Valarie White, Kevin White, and Michael. He married Bernice King. They have a total of eight children and nine grandchildren. James Y. White. Born: September 22. Resides: Oxford, MS. Married Rutha Owens. He is employed with Emerson Electric. He and his wife have four children: Jammie Young, Latoya, Melissa and James Jr. Ethel G. White-Price. Born: December 25. Children (2) April Rochelle and Eric. Ethel for many years was what you call the back bone of our entire family...

“Mary White-Wilson. Born: January 18. Married James E. Wilson, a retired sergeant from the U.S. Army. They have 2 children: Willie James and Fernado Shantel... Levarne White Jones. Born: February 21. Reside: Oxford, MS. She has four beautiful and handsome children: Latanya Denise, Charles Edwards, Darrell Trymain, and Morris Contrell... Hiburnia Lee White-Anderson. Born: May 4. Reside: Oxford, MS. Married with two children Sache and Dalia. She obtained an Associate Degree from Northwest Junior College in 1987... Margaret Marie White-Burnett. Born: June 18. Resides: Batesville, MS. Married Ronnie of College Hill with two children Dovonté and Sherré. Margaret obtained an Associate Degree from Lawton Christian College in 1989... Leon White. Born. April 11. Reside: Oxford, MS. Married Vickie with two children Derrick Antonia, Jr. and Leonudra... Emma J. White. Born: February 27. Divorced with one child, Larry Wilson, Jr. Emma has successfully obtained a career in Banking Management for a well established Financial Institution...

Connell Matthew White, Jr. Born: February 17. Married Lisa with three children Demetrius, C.M.III and Tenisha...Velma Ree White-Gray. Born: June 5. Resides in Denton, TX. Married Jackie Don Gray of Tulsa, OK. They have one child, Veronica Desiree. Velma is currently employed by the City of Denton for well over ten years and writes the “Dear Velma” column for the only black owned newspaper in Denton “The Ebony News Journal.”...Calvin Lee White. Born: August 21. Reside: Oxford, MS. Married Lois Ann. Calvin the baby of the 13..." -- Excerpts from The White Family Tree

Wiley Family

Three Wiley brothers, Hence, Stan, and Walker came from Memphis to farm in Lafayette County after the Civil War. Hence Wiley built the first African-American cotton gin in the country. In 1918, when Walker Wiley died, Lessie Bannister Wiley with her four children moved to Freemantown in Oxford. One of the children, W. R. (Russell) soon found work at a local shoe shop owned by Robert Boles on the square. In 1969, Russell purchased the shoe shop on the Square from the Boles family and today his children continue the shoe business. -- Author Unknown