The Marriage of Lucy Pearl Deese

Lucy Pearl Deese, daughter of John Calvin Deese, was the only one of my grandparents that I knew. My other Grandmother and both grandfathers died before I was born in 1942.
Grandma Pearly lived until 1970 giving me many years to enjoy her company and presence in my life. She also had a sister and three half-sisters that lived a long life along with Grandma Pearly.

Grandma Pearly (Lucy Pearl Deese) married my Grandfather James Francis “Jim” Purvis abt 1910. To this union were borne 7 children of which six lived to adulthood, married, and had families of their own. Jim and Pearly’s firstborn, a daughter by the name Levina, passed away as a baby.

For many years I searched for a marriage date for my Grandparents without success. I located a Family Bible of my Great Grandparents but it contains no entry for the marriage of their son to Lucy Pearl Deese.

For many years the closest I could nail down a date of marriage was before 14 March 1908. This date is the date of the Last Will and Testament of  John Calvin Deese, father of Lucy Pearl Deese.

• Item 5, of John Calvin Deese Will, reads: 
• Item V. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Lucy Pearly Purvis, the sum of One Dollar ($1.00).

Lucy was married to Jim Purvis before John Calvin Deese wrote and signed his Last Will and testament on 14 March 1908.

I never gave up on finding a marriage date for my grandparents and that objective was rewarded when I subscribed to Newspapers.com. The 12 March 1908 edition of The Messenger and Intelligencer (Wadesboro, North Carolina); Thu, Page 1, col 6.

Morven News
Miss Pearly Dees and Mr. James Purvis were married Sunday [8 Mar 1908]. Owing to the objections to the match by the parents of the bride, they used the South Carolina Ceremony. [The Messenger and Intelligencer (Wadesboro, North Carolina)12 Mar 1908, Thu, Page 1, col 6.]

I now know they were married on 8 March 1908 in Chesterfield, South Carolina. I had no knowledge that there were objections to the marriage by Lucy's father and step-mother. 

• Owing to the objections to the match by the parents of the bride, they used the South Carolina Ceremony.

 Regardless, the marriage was a lasting one until Lucy lost her husband in February 1936. She never remarried and passed away in 1970.

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[1] Anson County, North Carolina, LDS FHL microfilm #018161: page 423 Will of John Calvin Dees; Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
[2] "Miss Pearly Dees & Mr. James Purvis," Marriage, The Messenger and Intelligencer (Wadesboro, North Carolina), 12 March 1908, Page 1, col 6.; Digital On-Line Archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/ : viewed & copied 6 May 2020); https://www.newspapers.com/.

Tombstone Tuesday~Elizabeth Deese

 

Elizabeth Deese Streater

b. Sep. 10, 1893

d. Jun. 18, 1980

bu. Morven Cemetery

Photo Courtesy of Bill Foster

Winnie Elizabeth Deese was one of seven daughters born to John Calvin Deese and his two wives. Elizabeth’s mother was Sarah Frances Gathings, the second wife of John Calvin Deese. She had two other full sisters and four half-sisters, of which one died as an infant.
Elizabeth and Joseph Vernon Streater were married about Sept 1920. To this union were born 5 children, 4 sons and 1 daughter. Three of the sons died as infants or small children. 

Growing up in rural North Carolina we lived about a mile from Aunt Liz and her sister Aunt Cora. This was in the early 1950’s and all their children were leaving home. Aunt Liz and Aunt Cora lived on a small farm located on what is know today as Diggs Road. Their house were surrounded by pecan trees.

A short distance out the back door was a deep well with a rope and bucket for delivery of  the water. We were always admonished “Don’t go near the Well.” Many spankings was received for ignoring this admonishment.

Many a time Grandma Pearly would go with us or be there when we arrived. Grandma Pearly was one of Aunt Liz and Aunt Cora’s sisters. She was also my Grandmother. Her last living child passed away last year. All that remains are the grandchildren and great grandchildren and the memories.

I have many good memories of times at Aunt Liz and Aunt Cora, at their home on Diggs Road.  

Winnie Elizabeth Deese Streater is my grand Aunt. 

52 Ancestors: #29, Grandma Pearly

 

Amy Johnson Crow of No Story To Small has started a challenge of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.
From her blog “The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. Not only should this get me blogging more, but also to take a deeper look at some of the people in my family tree.”

The focus of My blog posting today is my paternal Grandmother Lucy Pearl “Pearly” Deese Purvis



Lucy Pearl Deese was the first born child of John Calvin Deese and Louvena Huneycutt. John Calvin and Louvena were married on 9 April 1884. Lucy Pearl was born 17 January 1885, 9 months and 8 days later. She was the first of 4 children, all girls, born to John Calvin and Louvena. Louvena and the last born child, a daughter also called Louvena perished due to complications related to childbirth.

This left John Calvin, a farmer, in a major predicament. Three young daughters to raise and the demands of being a farmer. Needless to say John Calvin went looking for another wife marrying Sarah Frances Gathings on 4 February 1892. This marriage took place just a little over two years after the passing of his first wife and baby daughter on 18 October 1889.

John Calvin and Sarah Frances would also have three daughter. No sons were born to either of these unions.

John Calvin wrote his Will on 14 March 1908. Within the Will, item 5 relates to his daughter Lucy Pearl Purvis; so we know that Lucy Pearl was married prior to 14 March 1908. No marriage license has been found.

Lucy married James Francis “Jim” Purvis, son of William James Purvis and Mary Hulda Previtte. James Francis was born 7 November 1885, Together Lucy and Jim would have 7 children,  3 boys and 4 girls. Their first born, a daughter, died at birth. The remaining children lived to adulthood.  Grandpa Jim died on 21 February 1936 leaving Grandma a widower with six children to raise. Grandma would remain a widow for the next 34 years until her death on 23 April 1970.

Grandma Pearly was the only one of my grandparents that I knew as a child growing up. We saw her quite often and were delighted to be with her. She was small in statue with a big heart and was a great cook. She worked with us in the fields and cooked after a full days work. The last 10 years of her life I was away from home serving in the Air Force, only seeing her occasionally while home on leave. She was a wonderful person and continues to be missed by those who shared their lives with her here on earth.


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Tombstone Tuesday~Grandma Pearly

Grandma Pearly was the only grandparent that I knew. My other three grandparents had already passed away before I was born.  Grandma’s husband James F. “Jim”  Purvis died in February 1936; Grandma was 55 years old. She remained a widower until she passed away in April 1970 at the age of 85. She out lived her husband by 30 years. 

National Grandparents Day

National Grandparents Day

 

 In Remembrance  

 

Paternal Lines -  James Frances Purvis & Lucy Pearl Deese

Maternal Lines -  Julius Johns & Mamie Catherine Brock