Ralph Millard Epps, son of Oscar Swain Epps and Nellie Lou Epps, was born in Madison County, Georgia on May 10, 1925. He was the 5th child of 6—Nezzie L. Epps, Louise Epps, Robert L. Epps, Stella Mae Epps, Ralph Millard Epps, and Martha Epps. He is my uncle, husband of my aunt Floria “Lucile” Lankford. We have no common relative.
On April 3, 1930, the Epps family lived on Park Avenue in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. The home, a rental, was valued at $800. Ralph’s widowed uncle Luther Epps and his children, a daughter named Wreatha and a son named Wesley, lived in the home as well. Everyone employed outside of the home worked at the cotton mill. Ralph’s father was a picker, sisters Nezzie and Louise spoolers, uncle Luther a carder, and cousin Wesley a quill cleaner. None of the children were attending school. Ralph’s parents, siblings Nezzie, Louise, and Robert, and cousins were able to read and write. By 1935, the family had left Athens and moved to Penfield, Greene County, Georgia.
On April 23, 1940, the census enumerator found the Epps family still living in Penfield. Ralph and his sister Martha were both attending school. His brother Robert, now married to Viola, lived in the home as well. Robert and Viola had a seven-month-old son named Robert Epps Jr. Ralph’s father worked as a farmer; his mother and brother Robert both worked as farm laborers.
Ralph’s World War II registration card, dated May 21, 1943, shows he was 18 years old and lived in Union Point when it was filled out. Ralph listed his father as the person who would always know his address and that he was employed by J. T. Conger in Penfield.
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WWII registration card |
Ralph married my aunt, Floria “Lucile” Lankford, daughter of Carroll Harvey Lankford and Floria Mae Burnette, on June 18, 1944 in Union Point, Greene County, Georgia. The ceremony was performed by Mr. B. D. Watson and witnessed by Ruth Wray and Elmer Harrington. They had three children together—Linda Lucile Epps, Nancy Wanda Epps, and a third daughter whose name I will not share here because she is living.
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Ralph and his wife Lucile (Lankford) Epps |
Ralph enlisted with the U.S. Army at Fort McPherson in Atlanta on July 12, 1944. His enlistment record shows he had a grammar school education. He was admitted to a station hospital in April 1945 with a case of dysentery. Ralph was discharged from the Army on August 29, 1946 with the rank of Private First Class.
On April 24, 1950, Ralph, Lucile, Linda, and Nancy lived in Penfield. Ralph worked as a tractor driver on a farm. He had worked 55 hours the week before the census was taken. The census enumerator did not record an occupation for Lucile so we can assume she was a housewife. They lived three houses from the James E. George family, who connects to our Lankford and Hobbs families. At some point after the 1950 census was taken, the Epps family moved to Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, about six miles from Penfield.
In September 1969, my grandma Lankford was diagnosed with cancer which led to her and grandpa Lankford moving from their home in Penfield to a nursing home. They hated it there so Ralph and Lucile welcomed them into their home where Ralph was able to help Lucile take care of them. When my grandparents needed money to pay medical expenses, my father hired a local lawyer to transfer their Penfield property from grandma’s name to Ralph’s, who then sold the property in lots to pay grandma’s medical expenses. Grandma lost her battle with cancer on March 3, 1970 and was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery, just down the road from the Epps home. The photo below was taken the day of her funeral.
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Ralph Epps, his brother-in-law Sam Lankford, nephew Michael Lankford, brother-in-law Clark Lankford, and father-in-law Carroll Lankford |
Grandpa lost his will to live after grandma died and told Ralph he was ready to join her “up on the hill” on a visit to her grave. He died from a stroke on May 7, 1970 a few days later and was laid to rest beside her at Bairdstown Cemetery.
In addition to driving a tractor on a farm (per the 1950 census), Ralph worked for Mary Leila Cotton Mills and Union Manufacturing Company during his lifetime. He and his family attended Bairds Baptist Church there in Bairdstown. I remember going to a homecoming with the Epps family at the church once when I was younger. I have very fond memories of visiting the Epps home which was in a very rural area. It was quiet and peaceful. The home had big rooms and a long front porch, at least from what I remember. His third daughter and I are the same age and I once spent a week there when I was a teenager. Growing up in Atlanta, it was a bit of culture shock for me, but I remember having a good time.
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Ralph at my daddy's retirement party |
Carroll and Floria Lankford had eight children and every September held a family reunion at their homeplace in Penfield to coincide with grandpa’s birthday. The reunion was moved to Ralph and Lucile’s after the death of my grandparents.
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Lankford siblings left to right: Carroll Jr. (Sport), Grover, Betty, Lucile, Sam, Liz, Clark, and Alice (photo taken at the Epps homeplace) |
Ralph died in Greene County, Georgia at the age of 70 on October 4, 1995. He was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery on October 6 following a graveside service officiated by Rev. John Lance. He was survived by his wife, three daughters, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
References
- Personal information provided by family members.
- Personal visit by Denise Murphy to Bairdstown Cemetery.
- Ralph M. Epps obituary, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, October 6, 1995.
- Ralph M. Epps, Georgia Deaths, 1919-98.
- Ralph M. Epps, U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.
- Ralph M. Epps, U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010.
- Ralph M. Epps, U.S., World War II Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954.
- Ralph Millard Epps, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.
- U.S. Federal Census, Athens City, Militia District 216, Clarke County, Georgia, 1930.
- U.S. Federal Census, Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia, 1920.
- U.S. Federal Census, Penfield, Greene County, Georgia, 1940, 1950.
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007.
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