52 Ancestors: Sara Snell Stafford

As I begin to share 52 of my ancestors over the next 52 weeks I begin with my sweet Mama. 

Oh, how I miss you, Mama! You are free from sickness and pain. For that I am grateful. Until we meet again.

When I started this blog my very first post was for Mama. 

In another post I shared this, from her funeral:

I will cherish every day I was blessed to have Mama. Her hands tenderly cared for me. Her kisses healed my pain. Her hugs calmed my fears. Her voice was a melody in my ear. Nothing compares to a mother’s love. It guided me through life in my early years and waited in the wings in my adult years. Mama has left us for a little while but her love will always be with us. Close your eyes and open your heart and there you will find her.

In 2012 I installed a Memory Medallion on her headstone. I need to update and add to the data and check it the next time I'm home for a visit.

Memory Medallion

Last month I installed a Memory Medallion on Mama's headstone at Riverdale Cemetery in Columbus, GA. While I haven't uploaded much to the file I am going through photos and noting things I'd like to share about her.

It is designed to share personal stories, photos, video and additional information. From the Memory Medallion site:

Some see a name on a tombstone. We see the stories, and moments, and accomplishments of a life. Some see a date of birth and death. We see all the stuff that happened in between. This is Memory Medallion®, a way to remember our loved ones like never before.

Using a (free) app, on a smartphone, you can scan the QR code on her headstone and see all that I have shared about her.

If you don't have a smartphone you can see the page at this LINK.

[[ part of what I shared at her funeral]]

I will cherish every day I was blessed to have mama. Her hands tenderly cared for me. Her kisses healed my pain. Her hugs calmed my fears. Her voice was a melody in my ear.

Nothing compares to a mother’s love. It guided me through life in my early years and waited in the wings in my adult years. 

Mama has left us for a little while but her love will always be with us. Close your eyes and open your heart and there you will find her.

I miss you Mama.

Is it true?

One of my favorite records to research is the census. They are little time capsules. One of the lessons I learned early on is that you have to prove what you find. Sometimes even in a record.

An example is this 1900 Federal census taken in Dale County, Alabama. While it shows my Great Great grandparents, Wilburn and Mollie Snell, as being married 9 years, which is true, I can tell you those are not her 8 children. I would not know this until I had also documented Wilburn's first marriage. In fact, only the last 4 are from this marriage to my ancestor, Mollie.

And there is my Great grandfather, Jamie Wesley, as a 6 year old. I barely remember him, mostly his funeral, when I was a small child. I always thought of him as old, but there he is, a child himself.

Wilburn H. Snell

My Great Great Grandfather

Willie Levi, Alto Lee & their father: Wilburn H. Snell


Name: Wilburn Helton SNELL

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Birth: 20 Jun 1853 Alabama

Death: 23 Apr 1923 Chipley, Washington County, Florida

Burial: 26 Apr 1923 Glenwood Cemetery, Chipley, Florida

Father: Wesley I. SNELL (1825-1900)

Mother: Mary DUBOIS (1830-1906)

 

Spouses:

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1: Martha Ellen PETERS

Birth: 11 Jun 1860 Dale County, AL

Death: 25 Nov 1889 Dale County, AL

Burial: Asbury UMC, Dale County AL

Father: Josiah "Joe" PETERS (1813-1893)

Mother: Catherine E. JONES (~1814-1864)

Marriage: 11 Jul 1878

Children:

• Era Mittie (1879-1921)
• Willie Levi (1881-1937)
• Alto Lee (1883-1967)
• Della Argussie (1886-1918)
• Donie Mae (1889-1973)

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2: Maryann "Mollie" Rebecca SMITH

Birth: 4 Oct 1867 Alabama
Death: 31 Oct 1911 Alabama
Burial: Tabernacle United Methodist, Geneva County, Alabama
Father: James "Jim" (J. F.) SMITH (1844-1909)
Mother: Frances Caroline "Callie" LAMMONS (1841-1925)
Marriage: 11 Sep 1890 Dale County, Alabama

Children:

• Jamie Wesley (1894-1973) - Gale's Great Grandfather
• Naomi Elizabeth (1896-1972)
• William Elias "Baud" (1898-1980)
• Callie Mae (1899-1974)
• Martha Ellen "Mattie" (1902-1991)

 ----------------------------------------

3: Ella HILSON
Marriage: 18 Jan 1918 Washington County, FL
 

Census / Time Line Notes for Wilburn Helton SNELL

-1860 Dale County, Alabama Census, Newton: "William" H. 7 years old. Born in Alabama.

-1870 Dale County, Alabama Census; Skipperville, 16 years old. Born in Alabama. Can read and write. Works on farm. 1 of 4 children listed.

-1880 Dale County, Alabama Census: listed as 26 years old, born in Alabama. Father born in Alabama, mother born in South Carolina. Wife Martha and daughter Eron (Era)

-1900 Dale County, Alabama Census: listed as 46, born June 1853 in Alabama. Father born in Alabama, mother born in South Carolina. Married 9 years. 8 of 8 children living.

-1910 Geneva County, Alabama Census: 56 years old. Married 19 years. Born in Alabama. Father born in Alabama, mother born in South Carolina.

-1920 Washington County, Florida: 66 years old. Born in Alabama. Father born in Alabama. Mother born in South Carolina. Farmer. Married to Ella. Baud and Mattie live at home.

His Florida death certificate lists his parents as "don't know" by a M. Philips [hard to read]. It was ammended in March 1979 to list his parents, by Ida Holley. It is possible this was done to prove the generation for Creek Indian research. I have been told we have family members that have proven our Creek heritage through the line of Mary DuBois, but they refuse to share with others.

Glenwood Cemetery -  Chipley, Washington Co., FL

Family

It's only appropriate that my first genealogy post be in honor of my Mama. I never could have imagined how she shaped the person I am until she was no longer with me. I miss you, Mama. You left us much too soon.

Mama 1943

Sara Estelle Snell Stafford
b. January 13, 1943 - Columbus, Muscogee Co., GA
d. February 27, 2009 - Columbus, Muscogee Co., GA
buried: Riverdale Cemetery, Columbus, Muscogee Co., GA

1991

May 2007

Mama had 5 daughters. Judine and Joycine died at birth. I am the only daughter living. The rest of my journey will be lonely without them.