Conversations with Nina Williams Cook on Williams and Stafford Families
(C. Avis Catalog entry #4)
Nina's parents, James Franklin Williams and Lucinda Elizabeth Stafford, were born in Pinegrove, Miss. They came to Texas from Mississippi in covered wagons with oxen, with several other families. They were married 4-3-1892 at Grosebeck, TX. He was a farmer.
James Franklin Williams had high blood pressure and was some overweight and died of a cerebral hemorague on 9-19-1945 at Maypearl, TX. He had brothers Tom and George.
James' parents were George Williams and Nancy Greer. They are buried at Pt. Enterprise Cemetery near Mexia, TX or Mt. Antioch Cemetery near Mt. Calm, TX. Nina never knew them.
Lucinda Elizabeth Stafford Williams was blind from glaucoma from about 1930 on. She went into a coma and died on 1-5-1942 in Maypearl, TX. The doctor said she was older than her age due to 14 kids. She had brothers Jim (did not marry), Oliver and Ben (who married a Hillsboro) and sisters Rebecca (married Bacon) and Edna (married Fowler), plus step-sisters. She was in possession of the family Bible.
Lucinda's parents were Franklin Stafford (a farmer) and Mary Rhodes. They are buried at Pt. Enterprise Cemetery near Mexia, TX or Mt. Antioch Cemetery near Mt. Calm, TX. Nina never knew them. Lucinda's mother died early and her father married a widow with children and they had more kids.
Nina said that her grandmother Mary Rhodes had a sister who married an Autry. A son of this marriage was Gene Autry the 'Singing Cowboy'.
Nina was born in Ellis Co., TX and married in Dallas, TX.
Information on her brothers and sisters:
Her sister Lillie Mae died in Miami, FL.
Her sister Ida Ollie died in Pennsylvania. She had been married to D. R. Spurlin and later to Mr. McElhenney.
Her brother Joseph Oliver died at Forest Hill, TX. He was born 7-22-1897 and died 10-23-1975.
Her sister Dollie Agnes died in Waxahachie, TX.
Her sister Evalyn Lenora married T. H. Selman 8-23-1935 and later married Clarence Medford 4-2-1941.
Her sister Lillie Mae married H. C. Spurlin, and her sister Ida Ollie married his brother D. R. Spurlin.
Her sister Ruby Alice Floy married E. J. "Happy" Smith.
Her sister Tennie Betty married Riley Russell ("Uncle Son").
Her sister Edna Elizabeth married James Tinsley Chenault on 12-15-1919 in Waxahachie, TX. They had a daughter, Mildred, who married James L. Tosh 9-11-1938.