52 Ancestors – Elizabeth Jones (week 44 – 2015)

Elizabeth Jones Burnette

Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Henry Clayborn Jones, Sr. and Sarah Elizabeth Tuck, was born on October 21, 1872 in Loganville, Walton County, Georgia. She came from a large family of 11 children of which I only know the names of 10—Henry Clayborn Jones Jr., Martha Jane Jones, Elizabeth A. Jones, Bartow Jones, Midda A. Jones, Susanah A. Jones, James William Jones, Scion Jones, Elizabeth Jones, and Mary Jones. The 1900 census record for the Vinegar Hill District of Walton County recorded Elizabeth’s mother Sarah as the mother of 11 children, 10 of which were living. This has been the only record I’ve found for this child so I don’t know whether it was a boy or a girl or what its name was. Elizabeth went by Lizzie and she was my great-grandmother.

On June 8, 1880, Lizzie and her family lived in the Lindleys District of Walton County. Her father was a farmer and her mother was keeping house, common occupations for that period.

Lizzie married Thomas Terrell Burnette, son of Samuel Pride Burnette and Millicent Virginia Overton, on December 10, 1893 in Walton County. The ceremony was performed by W. J. Bennett, Walton County’s Justice of the Peace. Together they had 13 children—Luther Terrell Burnette, Eva Drucilla Burnette, Floria Mae Burnette, Jesse Burnette, twin to Jesse, Willie Loyd Burnette, Prince Albert Burnette, Claudia Burnette (twin), Maudie Burnette (twin), Henry T. Burnette, Eleanor Estelle Burnette, Samuel A. Burnette, and Julia Virginia Burnette. She was recorded as Miss Lizzie Jones on the marriage record.

 

On June 26, 1900, Lizzie and her family lived in the Vinegar Hill District of Walton County. She and Thomas, a farmer, had been married for six years. The census enumerator recorded Lizzie has having had five children and that all five were living. However, there are only four children listed in the census record—Luther, Eva (enumerated as Ever), Flora, and a son named Jesse (age 1, born January 1899 in Georgia). According to my father, Lizzie had two sets of twins. One set survived (Claudie and Maudie) but one set died at the age of one. This census record is the only time I find a child named Jesse listed. Where is the fifth child? Is that child Jesse’s twin? If the family history is true, Jesse would have died shortly after this census was taken.

Lizzie and her family attended a Jones family reunion in 1908. The group photo below was taken that day.

They took advantage of a photographer being available and also took an individual family photo.

Thomas Terrell Burnette family, ca. 1908

Lizzie’s father Henry died at the age of 78 in Between, Walton County, Georgia on January 7, 1909. Just over a year later, her mother Sarah died at the age of 79 in Walton County on January 21, 1910. Both were buried in the Jones Cemetery in Between.

On April 28, 1910, Lizzie and her family lived in Greshamville, Greene County, Georgia. Her husband was enumerated as Tom and was still farming. The enumerator recorded Lizzie as having had 10 children, 8 of which were living. This leads me to believe the twin story is true. Still at home are Luther, Eva (again enumerated as Ever), and Floria; they’ve added five more children to the family—Willie, Prince (enumerated as Price), twins Claude and Maud, and Henry.

By February 13, 1920, the family had moved to the Walkers District of Greene County. Thomas was still farming on a general farm. Ten children now lived in the home. Two years after Henry was born, Elizabeth gave birth to Eleanor, followed by Samuel (enumerated as Sammie), and rounding out the family was Julia. As often happens, her father-in-law Samuel, age 78 and widowed, now lived with the family. Her son Luther and his wife Etta Belle lived next door.

Lizzie’s brother Henry died in the Vinegar Hill District on February 9, 1921. He was buried at New Hope United Methodist Church Cemetery in Between. Her brother Bartow died on November 22, 1925, in Walton County when Lizzie was 53 years old. He was buried at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville.

Lizzie and her daughter Floria Mae Burnette Lankford (my grandmother)

On April 14, 1930, Lizzie and her family still lived in the Walkers District. Only three of their children lived in the home now—Henry, Sam, and Julia. Everyone in the house was able to read and write. Her son Luther and his family still lived next door and had added two daughters to their family—Hazel and Francis. Thomas was still farming and now had Henry as a helper.

Lizzie’s husband Thomas died at age 71 on February 6, 1940 in Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia. He was buried at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery in Greensboro. His death certificate listed the cause of death as chronic myocarditis, an inflammation of heart muscle.
On April 26, 1940, a widowed Lizzie lived on Veazey Road in the Walkers District. Only two of her children were left at home—Henry and Julia. Lizzie had no occupation listed but both Henry and Julia were laborers on a farm.

Lizzie’s sister Susanah A. Jones Wade died in 1948 when Lizzie was 76 years old. She was buried at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville.

Lizzie’s brother James William (Will) Jones died on June 1, 1952, in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia leaving Lizzie and her brother Scion as the surviving members of the Henry Jones family. Will was buried at New Hope United Methodist Church Cemetery in Between.

Her son Henry died on December 31, 1955, in Putnam County, Georgia. He was only 47 years old. Henry was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery in Eatonton, Putnam County, Georgia.

Lizzie died on December 2, 1956 in Greensboro. She was buried beside her husband at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery in Greensboro.

Lizzie’s brother Scion, the last member of the Henry Jones family, went on to live to the ripe old age of 99. He died on April 24, 1970 in Walton County.