52 Ancestors – no. 41: Julia Lee Lankford – (week 25)

Julia Lankford Hazlett

Julia Lee Lankford, daughter of James C. Lankford and Mary Ann Wilson, was born August 1875 in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia. She was the 3rd child of 10—Homer J., Alice Beman, Julia Lee, Jessica Corinne, James Vason, Mary Corrine, Nathan Lawrence, Vincent Thomas, Oliver Wilson, and Lillie Della Lankford.

On June 10, 1880, Julia and her family lived in Falling Creek, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Her grandparents, James Meriweather and Caroline (Hobbs) Lankford lived next door.

Julia married John Dawson Hazlett, son of James Hazlett and Ellen Mullins, on August 14, 1895 in Greene County, Georgia. Together they had three children—Mary Ellen (1896), Jessie Dell (1900), and Minnie Lee Hazlett (1903).

On June 19, 1900, Julia and John, along with daughters Mary and Jessie, rented a home in Woodville, Greene County, Georgia. John was a farmer.

Julia’s father James died on January 21, 1908 in Greene County, Georgia. He was buried at Penfield Cemetery in Penfield, Greene County, Georgia.

By April 29, 1910, Julia and her family had moved to Kingston, Morgan County, Georgia. John was enumerated as a farm laborer on a general farm. Both Julia and daughter Mary were enumerated as a farm laborer on a home farm.

Julia’s mother Mary Ann died in Penfield on March 26, 1919. She was buried beside her husband in Penfield Cemetery.

On January 16, 1920, Julia and her family lived on Larenby Street in Stag Hall, Warren County, Georgia. Their oldest daughter Mary no longer lived in the home. John had left farming behind and became a car inspector for the Georgia Railroad. Julia was able to read and write.

Julia died in Wilkes County, Georgia on September 2, 1924 at the young age of 49 from an enlarged spleen caused by leukemia. She was buried at Resthaven Cemetery in Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia on September 3.

Several years ago, I connected with another researcher who inherited a box of photos, mainly from the Penfield area. The picture of the three women below was in that box. The researcher didn’t know who these three women were but luckily someone had labeled them Mrs. Hazlett, Mrs. Barnhart, and Mrs. Callaway. That told me right away who they were. They were three Lankford sisters—Mrs. Hazlett was Julia Lee Lankford Hazlett; Mrs. Barnhart was Jessica Corinne Lankford Barnhart; and Mrs. Callaway was Alice Beman Lankford Callaway, my great-grandmother. I already had a photo of Alice, but didn’t have one for Julia or Jessie so you know how exciting it is to receive a photo and be able to put a face to a name!

Julia Lankford Hazlett, Jessica Lankford Barnhart, and Alice Lankford Callaway

Photo of tombstone from David Slaton, Find A Grave Memorial #39090204