Booker T. Jefferson

Birth:  1907 Parents:  Clark Jefferson and Sylvia Jefferson (born Watson) Siblings:  Emma, Wallace Clark, Clark, Susie, Lovie, Luke, Margaret Peals, Alford L, Mildred Harris, Luise and Royal

Death:  1930

(John Henry’s great-great-granddaughter) was born on 18 February 1970 to Franklin David Jefferson and Dr. Celestine Jefferson Aker [Russell].

Fred Wesley Jefferson was born February 5,1925, in Madison County, MS.  He was the second child born to the late Thomas and Georgia Jones Jefferson. His father, mother, stepmother, Doctcy Elizabeth Jefferson.

Fred joined Fairview M.B Church at an early age.  He attended Cameron Street School in Canton, MS, until he drafted to the U.S. Marine Corps on March 27, 1944.  He served his country as a Marine until receiving an honorable discharge on June 21,1946.  Fred moved to Illinois in the fall of 1946 and later moved to New York in 1952.  There he worked as a self-employed contractor.  Fred met an married the late Cathleen Meningall Jefferson.  Fred and his wife worked as co caretakers for the St. Paul Community Baptist Church Retreat until he retired and moved back to Mississippi in February 1997.

Fred was married to Cathleen M. Jefferson for more than 47 years.  To this union, no children were born.  He was the father of two stepchildren – a stepson, Enoch E.and Elizabeth Meningall of Brooklyn NY. He also had thre step grandson and one step-granddaughter.

Fred departed his earthly life on February 5,2005, at the Mississippi State Veterans Nursing Home in Jackson, Ms.

Hurtsine Jefferson  born August 27,1937

She became Robert Lee Jefferson’s first wife and the mother of Patrice Hubb Jefferson[Hubb]

Hurtsine Jefferson died on October 21, 1962 and is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery

John Jefferson was born October 15, 1865 in MS . He married Lucinda Watson, August 4,1887 who was the daughter George Watson (Born 1830 in Alabama) and Betsy Watson (Birth 1842) along with 7 other siblings : Wallace Watson (1865 – ), Reid Watson (1866 – ), Lucinda Watson (1868 –), Reben Watson (1868 – ), Sylvia Watson (1872 – 1946), Susana Watson (1872 – ), Wiley Watson (1874 – ), and Mary Watson (1876 – )

His occupation was a farmer.

John Jefferson was married to Lucinda Jefferson [Watson] who had 14 children

Andrew Jefferson
1890 – 1956

Luvenia Jefferson
1892 – 1894

Lucinda Jefferson
1894 –

Fred Jefferson
1894 – 1919

Elizabeth Jefferson
1896 – 1922

Fredrick Jefferson
1897 –

David Jefferson
1898 – 1981

Thomas Jefferson
1900 – 1982

Rev. George H. Jefferson Sr.
1902 – 1980

Walter Louis Jefferson
1905 – 1980

Katie Mae Jefferson
1907 – 1984

Joe Jefferson
1909 –

Jonothon Jefferson
1910 – 1935

Lottie Jefferson
1912 – 1978

John Jefferson died in 1952 at the age of 86. He is buried in
Mount Pleasant Cemetery  Gluckstadt, Madison County Mississippi

As Baby

I was born Aug 11 1935 in Canton, MS, to Thomas Jefferson and Elizabeth Jefferson.

Robert Lee Jefferson So where were yo I was born in Madison County west of town of Madison farm called Murry Cox Farm. My dad leased land from Murry Cox to crops cotton and corn. Born August 11, 1935 on a Sunday.

11 children in total 5 girls and 6 boys my dad had 2 wives the first wife was named Georgia Jones, died after having 4 children the rest came Elizabeth Dotsy Peale.

All kids born home. 1939 we moved up from Murry Cox our farm bought a 100 acres of our own land. Through loan from the Farms Home Administration were they built new 4 bedroom house, barn, smoke house, hen house for the chicken, and a outdoor toilet. We lived a old house that on the property while the new house getting built it had bedrooms on both sides house.

About 4 years of age I remember riding on the back of Murry Cox Jr.’s truck that also corn and plow tools on it. You had 6 years of age to start pre primer school at Fairview School. Ms. Faye Kelly was my first teacher, a older,little short, dark lady and I would help her carry her books. ABC from taught from book that were wore and second hand from the white schools.

I stayed in her class till I was in the 3rd grade then Ms. Kelly retired my new teacher was Ms. Dora Brown. Spent early 2 room school house, you went from one room to the other once you made it to the 6 grade. The school only went to the 8th grade. The thing you had to do was get kindling to start a fire to keep the warm. The county was suppose get coal but it was never enough when we needed it. The men from the community had to cut wood for heater to make through winter. No electricity and no water with and outdoor toilet was all we had. School year lasted 6 months which started September in ending March which the start for the planting season.
Most time we got up before the sun came up we had to milk the 4-6 cows, my Dad had about 25 of the at first it would be my dad and I would do this as Arthur he would help. All had to done before breakfast and the off school. Recess at 12 o’clock was about and hour playing games such as: Baseball that rubber or rag and stick for a bat,jump rope and pop the wipe ( where 20 kids would hold each hands were a head guy wipe us round would have run real fast he fall off. About 2:30 pm was the of day where would hurried home to get the work done on the farm from drawing water from the well and fire wood in the house and get the cows put in the barn so they be ready to milked in the morning. 14 years of age so at 7:00 p.m. was homework time with 30 minutes free time. We got electricity in the house in 1948 when My sister Mary was born and I was 15 teens years old.
Madison Rosenwald High School for 5 years in general studies graduate in 1956 at 18 years of age. My first real girl friend was Miss Hurtstine Minor who was in the same class as I. She was smart , beautiful hair had good personality plus she was good Christian girl. I asked her to marry me once could support us. I had to ask her mother first, who was a straight forward woman who kind of made nevus but she gave her blessing and permission to marry once could provide support..
Got my first summer job away from the farm with Clark and Burke Roofing Company for 1 summer which a union job organized by AFLCIO Labor union.
I found a job at Prosto Manufacturing as well worked the farm in the evening for about 9 months after being laid off when the work slowed. My next job was Barn Brothers Nursery putting shrubs and did that about a year.

In 1957, I got a job at Battes Furniture Company as furniture delivery driver for about year.

August 10, of 1958 moved to Markam Illinois with older brother Thomas Jefferson Jr. because I wanted a better opportunity. I lived with him for about year getting Victor Chemicals as labor which entailed a lot of shoveling materials into a loader into hopper.

I took a train back to Mississippi, got marry in Simon Hill Baptist Church fall of 1958. Later return Thomas house in Markem for another year till we were able to get apartment. Hurtstine was domestic worker as a housekeeper, till we saved enough for our first house which 3 bedroom house in East Chicago Heights, Illinois. 1960 Hurtstine gave birth to my first child Patricia Ann Jefferson which was the smallest baby every delivered and lived at St. James Hospital.

Hurtstine had always had problems with her kidneys in 1962 she diagnosed with Kidney failure and her mother Lillian Henderson came up from MS to help take care of her.
All we could do was make comfortable before taking her St James Hospital because she was in a lot of pain. This was fatal slow heartbreaking death back then before dialysis. While this going on Patricia had go to my sister Ann’s house in Maywood Illinois. Hurtstine was brought back MS and buried Semore Cemetery in the Jefferson Plot.

I went back to work alone in house but on of visits back home I had to get some paper work from Rose Scott High School were my old school mate Bernice Trunnell was working there in the office. I got her phone number from brother William McKilney Jefferson who was a student there. I would come home every month we would go to the movies and ballgames then every two weeks.
June 5,1963 courthouse in Canton, witnessed my Burnice’s mother Lula May Turnnell and youngest brother David.
Got married and left the next day to return to Illinois were I later
was promoted to Chemical Operator Victor Chemical which changed it’s name to Stafford Chemicals for about 6 have years.
1963 I joined AFLICO Chemical Union
1965, left Stafford Chemicals went to Wymen Gordon Forging Plant stayed there till 1971. While there I also became a apprentice as welding.
I started as a Green Stock Inspector Inspector or crank shifts Caterpillar, Alice Charm, and John Dear.
We were the first black family Selina Hills Subdivision in Chicago Heights we didn’t have in problem, oh yeah accept the cross burning in our front yard!

In August of 1971, we gave up the house and job because my daughter Patricia was having breathing problems with bronchitis and moved to Jackson MS.

Starting for city of Jackson as a Mechanic helper

2014 Family Trip FAMILY in AL AIN, ABU DHABI

Click to see more images

Walter Jefferson sitting by his swimming pool relaxing

John and Lucinda Jefferson had their 10 child; Walter Louis Jefferson who was born July 29 1905 in Madison, Mississippi. He became a barber and lived Jackson, MS.

Walter married his bride Ruth Williams in 1927 at the 22 years of age in Jackson, Mississippi. He had two daughter Marie (died early) and Willie Francis (“Sister”). They eventually moved to Seattle, Washington.
He married his second wife Allie V Taylor 1950 at the age of 45 also in Seattle, Washington

Walter Louis Jefferson walking his daughter down aisle Frances Jefferson

Wedding Party

L. Allie V. Hodges Jefferson; Walter Louis Jefferson, Frances Louis Jefferson, Robert Terry, Ella Ellis Trice

He died at the age of 74 in Sacramento, California, Jun 30 1980.

Roslyn Smith [Hartwell]’s memory of her Grandmother Elizabeth Jefferson [Peale]: When we visited grandma I notice that she poured her coffee over the brim of her cup, and sipped coffee off of her saucer. She made it looks so good and she seemed content when she did it.  As I drink today coffee today I find myself thinking back to those days.

Cleven Jefferson’s memory of her Grandmother Elizabeth Jefferson [Peale]: I remember grandma fooling me one day, she killed two chickens and I asked her what we’re having for dinner, she told me peas, greens cornbread and everything else, didn’t realize that our uncles and granddad had went hunting that day, so when it was time to eat I ate everything except the chicken, ate rabbit and squirrel. I asked grandma what was so funny, she said”Cleven do you know what you have eaten? “No mame.”She said, Rabbit and squirrel. To this day, I do not eat rabbit or squirrel! !!!!

Tamika Yates’s memory of her Grandmother Elizabeth Jefferson [Peale]: I loved spending time at grandma’s house. Of course the sweet potato pies and tea cakes were a bonus.  If I spent the night and was the only one there with her, I would sleep in the bed with her.  She would have so much cover on her bed and that seemed to make it so comfortable.  I remember washing clothes in the kitchen and water would be everywhere.  She had the washer with the ringer on the top and as a little girl I thought that was so cool.  We would always watch the price is right and her favorite soap opera.  We would sometimes shuck corn or shell peas while watching her shows.  I miss hearing her singing and laughing.  I keep her picture on my nightstand.  I love and miss her dearly.

Sabrina Hubb’s memory of her Great Grandmother Elizabeth Jefferson [Peale]: I remember going to Great Grandma’s house to spend the night and the next day she had me in the front yard playing and picking pecans and talking to me. I also remember sitting in front of the heater on the leather couch watching television with her (can’t remember the show but I knew not to interrupt) .

Carisa Barry Pope’s memory of her Grandmother Elizabeth Jefferson [Peale]: Grandma, the original Diva, always made us smile and laugh but kept us all in line.  ~Every time I would spend the night at her house, I would ask for a butter roll.  Of course, she would get up and make one for me.  NO ONE else can make a butter roll like the ones she made. DELICIOUS!!!!~I remember “helping” her plant corn in the garden behind the clothes line.  I was dropping about 10-15 seeds in each hole.  My thought was the more seeds, the bigger the corn, which I LOVE!  After a few holes, I was totally out of seeds.  When I told her what I was doing, she said, “Gal, you done dropped all my dev’lish seeds!”  OOPS!  My intent was good!      ~ I remember buckling Grandma’s SAS sandals, which she had in so many different colors.  No one can or could ever rock SASs like my Grandma!  ~Three things Grandma always did that I have always wanted to do but never could:  1.  Crack pecans on the rung of a chair.  2.  Shell a handful of peas and keep all the hulls in one hand while still shelling  3.  Smother chicken.  GRANDMA was truly a one-of-a-kind woman!  LOVE and MISS her dearly!!!

Sylvia Jefferson

Birth:  1872 
Children:  Emma, Wallace Clark, Clark, Susie, Lovie, Booker T, Margaret Peals, Alford L, Mildred Harris, Luise and Royal
Death:  1946

Thomas J. Jefferson was a father dedicated to his family. A strong man with a side who desired greater things in life for his children.  A farmer who raised most of what family ate; strived to modernize his farming methods.  A deacon of the church, a Sunday school teacher and a community servant.  Georgia Jefferson [Jones] was his first wife and mother of Hattie Mae, Annie, two younger brothers Fred Wesley and Thomas. Their mother, Georgia, died in the Summer of 1934 at the age of 30.  His second wife was Elizabeth Dotcy Jefferson [Peale] mother of the other 7children. Elizabeth was the oldest of 9 siblings.  The second wife of Thomas Jefferson birth   A loving mother to blended family of eleven children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. An involved church and community servant.

Roslyn Smith [Hartwell]’s

Memory of Roslyn’s grandfather Thomas Jefferson Sr., was when we visited I would be so excited to get a chance to crawl up on his lap and rubbed his bald head while he smiled and laughed.