Mollie Mae Burnette, daughter of Samuel Pride Burnette and Millicent Virginia “Jinnie” Overton, was born on April 26, 1889, in Loganville, Walton County, Georgia. She was the youngest of 14 children born to Samuel and Jinnie: John William “Will,” Thomas “Tom” Terrell, C. B. Annbelle, Abijah Winkfield, Oscar Lee, Mathew E., Laura Jane, Frances Elizabeth “Lizzie,” Mattie “Lou,” Benjamin Franklin, Virginia “Jennie” Olivia, Joseph Benjamin, Mollie Mae, and one child who died young whose identity has not been determined. Mollie is my second great-aunt. Her parents are my second great-grandparents.
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Mollie, her husband Will, and likely two grand or great grandchildren
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The second “e” in the surname Burnette comes and goes in this family line. For this biography, I have chosen to use Burnette, although records for Mollie and her relatives appear under both Burnett and Burnette.
On June 6, 1900, Mollie and her family lived on a rented farm in the Buncombe District of Walton County. Her father was a farmer, assisted by sons Benjamin and Joseph. Mollie’s mother was enumerated as having given birth to 14 children, 12 of whom were still living. The deceased children would have been Annbelle and the unidentified child. Both of Mollie’s parents and her sister Frances were able to read and write. Her brother Benjamin was able to read but not write. Mollie’s uncle, Abijah Winkfield Burnette, his wife Eugenia, and their daughter Robena lived next door.
Mollie married William Allen, son of Ambus Allen and Mary Knight, in Walton County on August 13, 1908. Together they had four children: Ernest W., Millie Frances, William Wardell, and Junie Herman Allen. One mystery I encountered while researching this family involves their son William Wardell Allen. In earlier census records, he appears as William, but in later records William disappears and a son named John appears in the same place within the household. I believe William Wardell Allen may have gone by the name John as he grew older, although I have not found a record proving they were the same person.
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Marriage license (1908)
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On May 5, 1910, Mollie, Will, and 10-month-old Ernest were living on a rented farm in the Buncombe District of Walton County. Mollie assisted Will with farm work. Both Mollie and Will were able to read and write. They had been married for one year.
Mollie’s mother, Jinnie, died in Georgia on January 10, 1916. She was buried at Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Loganville. Her brother Will died suddenly at the age of 48 on November 28, 1916, after returning from the fields in Liberty Grove, Lawrence County, Tennessee. It was reported that he suffered from stomach sickness, although the cause may have been a heart attack. He was buried at St. Truitt Cemetery in Lawrence County the following day. Mollie’s sister Laura died in Conyers, Rockdale County, Georgia, in 1918.
Mollie was living in Loganville when her son William was born on May 24, 1919.
By January 31, 1920, the Allen family was still living in the Buncombe District and had grown by two children, daughter Millie and son William. Will continued to farm while Mollie cared for the household. Ernest, now 10 years old and attending school, was able to read and write.
Mollie’s father Samuel died on August 27, 1926, at his home in Monroe from endocarditis, a serious condition affecting the lining and valves of the heart. He was buried beside Jinnie at Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Loganville on September 3, 1926.
By April 2, 1930, Mollie and her family had moved to Walnut Grove in Walton County, where they lived on a rented farm located on the Covington and Walnut Grove Road. Mollie and Will had been married for 19 years. Will continued farming with assistance from their son Ernest.
On July 19, 1936, Mollie’s son Ernest, who lived in Snapping Shoals, Newton County, Georgia, was shot in the abdomen during a dispute with his father-in-law, O. D. Harcrow. According to newspaper accounts, the argument began at a store in Snapping Shoals and continued at Harcrow’s home, where the shooting occurred. Ernest was transported to Grady Hospital in Atlanta by family members but died of his injuries the following morning. His death certificate records the immediate cause of death as hemorrhage with surgical shock resulting from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Harcrow surrendered to authorities shortly after the incident, and newspapers reported that the case was expected to be investigated by the Newton County grand jury. Ernest was buried at Corinth Christian Church Cemetery in Loganville on July 22, 1936.
Mollie’s brother Oscar died in Loganville in October 1938 from heart lesions and was buried at Bay Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Her brother Thomas died in Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, in February 1940 from chronic myocarditis, a long-lasting inflammation of the heart muscle. He was buried at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery in Greensboro.
On April 27, 1940, Mollie and her family were living on Conyers Road in the Broken Arrow District of Walton County. The household included Mollie, her husband Will, daughter Frances, and sons John and Junie. I believe the son recorded as John may have been William Wardell Allen, who appeared as William in earlier records, although I have not found evidence proving they were the same person.
The entire household participated in farm work. During the week preceding the 1940 census, Will worked 50 hours, Mollie 16 hours, Frances 20 hours, and John 40 hours. Junie, age 15, was also recorded as a farm laborer, although no hours were listed for him. For 1939, the census reported earnings of $150 for Will, $30 for Mollie, $58 for Frances, $90 for John, and $60 for Junie.
When William submitted his World War II draft registration card on October 16, 1940, he listed his mother as the person who would always know his address. William was still living at home at the time, and the address given was R.F.D. 3, Covington, Newton County, Georgia.
Mollie’s sister Virginia died on December 23, 1943, and was buried at Corinth Memorial Gardens. Her sister Mattie died on January 13, 1948, and was buried with their parents at Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Both cemeteries are located in Walton County.
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Sisters Mattie and Jenny (front); Lizzie and Mollie (back)
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By April 1, 1950, Mollie, Will, and Junie had returned to the Buncombe District. At age 60, Will still farmed on a part-time basis, working 20 hours during the week before the census was taken. Junie carried most of the workload and had worked 50 hours as a farm helper. Mollie was no longer recorded as assisting with farm labor. Her son William lived three farms away.
Mollie’s brother Abijah died in Atlanta on September 16, 1954, and was buried at Mt. Vernon Christian Church Cemetery in Monroe. Her sister Lizzie died suddenly from a heart attack in Walton County on February 24, 1959, and was buried at Bay Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Loganville. Her brother Joseph died on May 6, 1960, and was buried at Bay Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Her brother Benjamin died in Newton County on October 22, 1965, and was buried at Corinth Memorial Gardens in Monroe.
Mollie died at Newton County Hospital in Covington, Newton County, Georgia, on September 27, 1974. Funeral services were held at Corinth Christian Church on September 29, with Rev. Robert Murrell officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery. At age 85, Mollie had spent nearly all of her life in Walton County. She was a member of Gum Creek Baptist Church.
Mollie was survived by her husband Will; daughter Frances; sons John and Junie; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild.
References
- Abijah W. Burnette, Joseph B. Burnette, and Benjamin F. Burnett, Georgia Deaths, 1919–98.
- Burnette family information shared by Austin Landis Burnett.
- Family Row Blamed for Fatal Shooting at Snapping Shoals, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, p. 1, July 20, 1936.
- Funeral Notices, Mr. Abija W. Burnette, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, September 17, 1954.
- Funeral Notices, Mr. Joseph B. (Joe) Burnette, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, May 8, 1960.
- Funeral Notices, Mrs. Frances A. Burnett, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, May 23, 1975.
- Mollie Burnett Allen, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
- Mollie Burnett, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
- Mollie M. Allen, Georgia Deaths, 1919–98.
- Mr. Ernest Allen, Certificate of Death no. 19701 3607, Georgia Department of Public Health, Burean of Vital Statistics, 1936.
- Obituaries, Mrs. Will Allen, Walton Tribune, Monroe, Georgia, p. 13, October 1, 1974.
- Obituaries, Will P. Allen, Walton Tribune, Monroe, Georgia, p. 2, June 28, 1977.
- Oscar L. Burnette, Certificate of Death no. 29672, Georgia Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1938.
- Personal visit to Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Corinth Memorial Gardens, and Bay Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Walton County, Georgia.
- Personal visit to Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery, Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia.
- Sympathy, Mrs. Lizzie Guthrie, Walton Tribune, Monroe, Georgia, March 4, 1959.
- Thomas Terrel Burnette, Certificate of Death no. 4275, Georgia Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1940.
- U.S. Federal Census, Broken Arrow, Walton County, Georgia, 1940.
- U.S. Federal Census, Buncombe, Walton County, Georgia, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1950.
- U.S. Federal Census, Walnut Grove, Walton County, Georgia, 1930.
- Victim of Gunshot in Critical State, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, p. 7, July 20, 1936.
- William Wordele Allen, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
