Showing posts with label William J. Sullivan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William J. Sullivan. Show all posts

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Sunday's Obituary: Laura and Will Sullivan

Sunday’s Obituary is a daily prompt at Geneabloggers asking bloggers to share old obituaries and other information about an ancestor.

From The Page News & Courier edition of 7 August 1947 page 8 column 1
Obituary Laura Jollett Sullivan The Page News & Courier edition of 7 August 1947 page 8 column 1  https://jollettetc.blogspot.com
Click on image
to enlarge
Death of Mrs. Laura E. Sullivan

Mrs. Laura E. Sullivan, 82, died at her home Wednesday evening about 10 o’clock after an illness of eight months.

She was born on May 30, 1865, a daughter of the late Franklin and Lucy Jollett, of Greene County. She was united in marriage with William J. Sullivan, who preceded her in death several years ago. She was a charter member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church which was organized in 1895, and was an active member of various organizations in the church until her health failed.

Her kindness and love won for her a place in the community and church that will always be remembered.

She is survived by the following daughters: Mrs. J. W. (Minnie) Breeden, Roanoke; Mrs. C. V. (Pearl) Strole, Shenandoah; Mrs. C. H. (Floral) Merica, Shenandoah; Mrs. L. G. (Elta) Farrar, Portsmouth, Va.; Mrs. F. S. (Leota) Racey, Dayton, Va; one sister: Mrs. Mollie Davis, Harrisonburg, Va.; six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and a number of nieces and nephews. Four brothers and four sisters preceded her in death.

Funeral services were held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock from the Evangelical United Brethren Church with her pastor, the Rev. P. W. Fisher, in charge, assisted by the Rev. L. A. Racey and Elder E. L. Cave. Burial took place in the United Brethren Cemetery.

Pallbearers were nephews of the deceased, Millard M. Davis, Russell Coleman, Owen Sullivan, Leonard Clift, Clyde Knight, and Alfred Roberts.

The ladies of the church carried flowers.

Those attending from a distance were: Mrs. A. H. Woodring, Martinsburg, W. Va.; Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Billingsley, Mr. and Mrs. Owen Sullivan, Gary Sullivan, Russell Coleman, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Karnes, Mr. and Mrs. Tommie Bern, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Secrist, Mrs. Julia Gilmer, of Washington; Mrs. A. L. Maiden, Mr. and Mrs. Lew Morris, Mrs. Mabel Shifflett, Mrs. Buey Snow, Mrs. Eugenia Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Knight of Stanardsville; Mrs. Bessie Aleshire, of Luray; Mrs. Irvin Monger and daughter, Betty, Mrs. Minnie Long, of Elkton; Mrs. Mattie Hensley and son, Stephen, of Dayton; Mr. and Mrs. Hill, Mrs. Marie Wilson, Misses Florena Swank, Carolyn Caricofe, Jane Keiler and Mildred Hanna, of Shenandoah College; Rev. and Mrs. John Sowyer, of Staunton; Dave Sullivan, of Swift Run; Mrs. Mollie Davis and daughter, Mrs. Violetta Ryan, of Harrisonburg; Mrs. Sadie Jollett and Mrs. G. A. Steppe and son, Jollett, of Dahlgren, Va.

Card of Thanks
We wish to express our deepest appreciation to our friends, neighbors and relatives for their many acts of kindness during the illness and at the death of our mother, Mrs. Laura E. Sullivan.
The Daughters
 
Obituary of William J. Sullivan  https://jollettetc.blogspot.com
Click on image
to enlarge

SHENANDOAH NEWS
Death of W. J. Sullivan

Funeral services for W. J. Sullivan were held from the Shenandoah United Brethren Church Sunday afternoon at two o’clock. Services were conducted by his pastor, Rev. Vernon Rogers, assisted by Rev. L. A. Racey and Rev. E. L. Cave. Interment was in the United Brethren Cemetery. The I. O. O. F. Verbena Lodge No. 42 attended the funeral in a body.

Mr. Sullivan, age 76, a well known Shenandoah city merchant, died unexpectedly of a heart attack Friday morning at 1:30 at his home. Mr. Sullivan had been a resident of Shenandoah for 55 years and for the past 38 years operated his grocery store in the northern end of Shenandoah. He managed his grocery until the time of his death.

Mr. Sullivan took a keen interest in civic affairs, serving several terms on the town council and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank for a number of years. He also served several terms on the Page County school board. Mr. Sullivan was a charter member of the Shenandoah United Brethren Church and for [?] years was Superintendent of the Sunday School.

On January 14, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Laura E. Jollett, who survives him. To this union were born five daughters, all of whom survive.

He is survived by the following children, Mrs. J. W. Breeden, of Roanoke; Mrs. C. V. Strole and Mrs. C. H. Merica, of Shenandoah; Mrs. L. G. Farrar of Portsmouth and Mrs. F. S. Racey, of Verona. Also six grandchildren survive. There are also one sister, Mrs. J. M. Billingsley, of Washington, and two brothers, Kennie Sullivan, of Shenandoah, and Dave Sullivan, of Greene County, surviving.

Active pallbearers were: Alfred Roberts, Lewis Jollett, J. T. Long, Monroe Owen and Hugh Sullivan, nephews of the deceased. The members of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank and the members of the I. O. O. F. Verbena Lodge carried flowers.

Wendy
© 2016, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Wedding Wednesday: Sullivan Golden Anniversary

Wedding Wednesday is a daily prompt at Geneabloggers that invites bloggers to display their ancestors’ old wedding photos, wedding invitations, and wedding announcements.


Laura and Will Sullivan Anniversary 1936 https://jollettetc.blogspot.com
Doris Jean Strole, Laura and Will Sullivan, Jimmie Morris

A visit with my mother’s 2nd cousins Mary Lee Upton and Phyllis Carruthers, daughters of Elta Sullivan Farrar, solved the mystery of this photo. I had thought these were Sullivan grandchildren but they were not. The children were dressed to represent Laura and Will on their wedding day. The occasion was the Sullivans' 50th anniversary, an event that warranted detailed coverage in the local newspaper, The Page News and Courier. 


courtesy of
Mary Lee Upton
Golden Wedding

The adult Bible Class of the United Brethren Church, Shenandoah, Virginia, gave Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Sullivan a surprise celebration in honor of their golden Wedding anniversary at the church January 14, 1936.

The couple were met at the church door by a youthful bride and groom, Doris Jean Strole [niece of Pearl Sullivan Strole] and Jimmie Morrison [possibly Jimmie MORRIS, Laura’s great nephew], who escorted them to their seats to the strains of Mendelsohn’s Wedding March and sang “Put On Your Old Gray Bonnet.”

The choir then sang “Love’s Old Sweet Song.”

“Down By the Old Mill Stream” was beautifully rendered by Maxine Strole [g
randdaughter].

A reading, “Why We Go To Church,” was given by Miss Frances Knipple.

“When you and I Were Young, Laura,” was sung by the choir.

The couple’s Love Story was told, closing with Riley’s lovely poem, “That Old Sweetheart of Mine,” by Miss Fannie Louderback.

“Silver Threads Among the Gold” was sung by Mrs. Miller Davis and Mrs. Forest Racey [
daughter Leota].

A beautiful family Bible, a gift from the Sunday School, was presented with an appropriate speech by Rev. Lee E. Sheaffer.

Then everyone was invited to the basement, where refreshments were served. The tables were artistically decorated, carrying out the color scheme of white and gold in the bride’s cake, candles, and favors.

Rev. Sheaffer made a jolly little speech and called on many others who responded with cheer and good wishes to the couple. Mr. Sullivan expressed his thanks and appreciation for the happy evening.

Many merry jingles were sung and time passed all too quickly bringing the parting hour.

Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan (nee Miss Laura Jollett) were born and reared near Swift Run, Virginia.

They were married fifty years ago, by Reverend Garrison at the bride’s home near Swift Run, January 14, 1886.

Their four children are: Mrs. J. W. Breeden, Roanoke; Mrs. Lewis Farris [should be FARRAR], of Shenandoah, Mrs. Forest Racey, of Rockingham, and Miss Floral Sullivan at home. [there were 5 children – Mrs. Clyde Strole was omitted]

Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan have lived many years in Shenandoah where they are loved and respected by a host of friends.


Wendy 
© 2016, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Tombstone Tuesday: The Sullivans

Tombstone Tuesday is a daily prompt at Geneabloggers that asks bloggers to include an image of a gravestone of one or more ancestors along with a brief description of the image or the ancestor.


Tombstone Laura and Will Sullivan  https://jollettetc.blogspot.com

Laura Jollett and Will Sullivan are buried in Coverstone Cemetery in Shenandoah, Virginia where they had lived for over 50 years. Three of their daughters are buried there too.

Tombstone Minnie Sullivan Breeden  https://jollettetc.blogspot.com
John Wesley Breeden is buried between his two wives:
Minnie Sullivan Breeden and Margaret Lucas
Coverstone Cemetery

Tombstone Pearl Sullivan Strole  https://jollettetc.blogspot.com
Pearl Sullivan Strole
Coverstone Cemetery

Tombstone Floral Sullivan Merica https://jollettetc.blogspot.com
Floral Sullivan Merica with her husband Cletus
Coverstone Cemetery

Tombstone Elta Sullivan Farrar https://jollettetc.blogspot.com
Elta Sullivan Farrar and husband Lewis
Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Chesapeake, Virginia

Tombstone Leota Sullivan Racey  https://jollettetc.blogspot.com
Forrest Racey is buried between his two wives:
Leota Sullivan and Hazel Gilmore
Mt. Hebron Cemetery Winchester, Virginia

Wendy
© 2016, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

Monday, July 4, 2016

James Franklin Jollett's Kids: Laura Sullivan

As part of my “Genealogy Do-Over” efforts AND to force myself to get crackin’ on my James Franklin Jollett book, Jollett Reunion, I will be researching and writing brief biographies of James Franklin, his wives, and his children.
 
Laura Jollett calling card  https://jollettetc.blogspot.com
Laura E. Jollett's calling card
courtesy of her granddaughters Mary Lee Farrar Upton
and Phyllis Farrar Carruthers
Child #3 of James Franklin and Lucy Ann Shiflett Jollett was Laura Etta, born May 30, 1865 in Greene County, Virginia. When she was 21, she married her childhood sweetheart, William J. Sullivan. Will’s sister Louisa had married Laura’s brother Burton Lewis just a few years before.

Laura and Will’s love for one another inspired their friends and family. On their 50th anniversary, their Sunday School class surprised them with a lavish anniversary party. Part of the program included a reading of their Love Story, written by one of the most popular school teachers in Page County, Miss Fannie Louderback. Three of the stories must have been memories shared with their children and family members over the years.

Supposedly Laura and Will, growing up on neighboring farms, played housekeeping games with Laura as wife and Will as husband. She claimed her favorite flower was Sweet William and his was the Laurel.

The simple life of students attending a country school is revealed in a story about how they enjoyed attending spelling matches. When a word was given to Will to spell, he responded, “L-A-U-R-A”; she blushed and hung her head.

Not long before they were engaged, Will came calling but apparently stayed too long for Laura’s father. When the clock struck ten, James Franklin called out, “Close the door from the outside, young man.” Laura handed Will his hat, and he sneaked a kiss.

Laura and Will were married in her home on January 14, 1886. The first three of five girls were born in Greene. By 1899, they were well-established across the mountain in Shenandoah, Virginia. Will was working as a drayman, an older term for someone who drove a flat-bed wagon pulled by horses or mules to deliver all kinds of goods.

The Sullivans about 1893  https://jollettetc.blogspot.com
Laura and Will Sullivan
daughters Minnie and Pearl
about 1893 or 1894

Will was as smart as he was ambitious. For a time, he was Assistant Secretary of the YMCA; in other words, he helped manage the comings and goings of those who worked there or stayed there on a temporary basis. He also became a respected retail merchant running his own store.
 
4 of the Sullivan girls about 1900 https://jollettetc.blogspot.com
Minnie Sullivan
Pearl, Elta, and Floral Sullivan
(about 1900 since Leota is not pictured)
Meanwhile Laura stayed busy as a mother of five daughters and as a volunteer with the Gleaners, a woman’s society in the United Brethren Church, where the Sullivans were charter members. She likely played an important role as “the woman behind the man” when Will stepped into the political arena. He served several terms on the town council and on the Page County School Board. He was a member of the Board of Directors at First National Bank.

Will died in 1942 and Laura in 1947.

Mary Frances Jollett Davis, Laura Jollett Sullivan, Sallie Jollett Clift 1923 https://jollettetc.blogspot.com
My grandaunt Velma Davis Woodring
captioned this photo "The Three"
Top: Sallie Jollett Clift
Seated: Mary Frances Jollett Davis and Laura Sullivan

Laura Etta JOLLETT (30 May 1865 Greene Co, VA – 30 Jul 1947 Shenandoah, Page Co, VA) and William Jackson SULLIVAN (13 Jan 1866 Greene Co, VA – 22 May 1942 Shenandoah, Page Co, VA) married 14 Jan 1886 Greene Co, VA
  1. Minnie Belle SULLIVAN (21 Feb 1887 Greene Co, VA – 5 Jan 1952 Harrisonburg, VA) and John Wesley BREEDEN (15 May 1880 Rockingham Co, VA – 8 Aug 1961 Harrisonburg, VA) married about 1905
  2. Lula Pearl SULLIVAN (9 Jun 1891 Greene Co, VA – 29 May 1986 Annandale, VA) and Clyde Vernon STROLE (4 Feb 1893 Page Co, VA – 198 Mar 1951 Harrisonburg, VA) married 11 Jun 1913
  3. Floral Mae SULLIVAN (4 Mar 1895 Shenandoah, Page Co, VA – 14 Feb 1987 Chesapeake, VA) and Cletus Homer MERICA (23 Feb 1899 Elkton, VA – 11 Oct 1971 Elkton, VA) married 16 Sep 1941 Verona, VA
  4. Elta Gladys SULLIVAN (3 Aug 1899 Shenandoah, Page Co, VA – 14 Jan 1991 Chesapeake, VA) and Lewis Granville FARRAR (6 May 1898 Shenandoah, Page Co, VA – 13 Nov 1970 Portsmouth, VA) married before 1920
  5. Leota Clarice SULLIVAN (24 Dec 1901 Shenandoah, Page Co, VA – 26 Jan 1981 Winchester, VA) and Forrest Sheldon RACEY (9 Jun 1902 Hampshire Co, WV – 8 Jun 1988 Winchester, VA) married 3 Dec 1930 Page Co, VA

Wendy
© 2016, Wendy Mathias.  All rights reserved.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Sentimental Sunday: Jollett Reunions

Sentimental Sunday is a daily prompt at Geneabloggers that asks us to discuss a sentimental story or memory about an ancestor, or maybe even a family tradition.


To Mary Frances Jollett Davis, the family reunion was the most important event of the year.  In fact, when her son-in-law came running to proclaim the news that the war (WWII) had ended, she just glared at him and said, “Don’t you know that TODAY is the Jollett reunion?”  It would take more than some armistice to rain on her parade!

The number of photos left behind by aunts and grandparents are proof positive of the special place that the reunion held in the hearts of the Jolletts.  Also there is the following newspaper article:

Shenandoah, Sept 5, 1929 - -
The fourteenth Jollett Reunion was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James F. Jollett, near Harriston, VA, on Sunday September 1st in honor of James F. Jollett’s 94th birthday.

The members of the family began to gather around the large and beautiful spring about and continued to come until and it was indeed a great pleasure to see Mr. Jollett greet each of his relatives as they began to gather in and as it has always been in the past they were greeted with a smile and many kind and loving words spoken to them and many talks of olden time were told to each with each hand clasp.

At lunch was spread with GrandFather Jollett offering up praise and thanks to God for the wonderful repast set before him and for sparing his life and each one present so that they may again enjoy the company of each relative and friend.

Business meeting was called to order by President Millard Davis at and it was decided to hold the Reunions yearly at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James F. Jollett as long as the Lord spared Mr. Jollett’s life and permitted him to be present.  The meeting opened with the song “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” after which Miss Virginia Maiden of Dayton College, Va, gave a reading followed by Prayer by Mr. W. J. Sullivan.  Mr. James F. Jollett and Dr. A. L. Maiden of Dayton College each gave an address and from the expression on the faces of those present they more than enjoyed each of their remarks.  The meeting then came to a close by singing “God be with You Until We Meet Again” after which the crowd began to wind their way to their respective homes each promising to meet the other at the next reunion and each promising to try and make the next reunion as near 100 percent in attendance as it is possible to do so.

Here are some photos from various reunions.  Click on the picture to enlarge it.
Arthur Maiden,
James Franklin Jollett,
Emma Jollett Coleman

1919 in Harriston, Virginia
James Franklin Jollett surrounded by his children
and their spouses

Ulysses Jollett, Victoria Breeden, Sallie Clift,
Mary Frances Davis, Leanna Knight, Laura Sullivan,
Emma Coleman, Burton Lewis Jollett, James Franklin Jollett


1919 - James Franklin Jollett's grandchildren


Jollett grandchildren and great-grandchildren