Vassie Verlin Lankford

Vassie Verlin Lankford, daughter of Oscar Olan Lankford and Joanna “Anna” E. Pace, was born March 17, 1901 in Gwinnett County, Georgia. She was the second of three children born to Oscar and Joanna—Loy Olen Lankford, Vassie Verlin Lankford, and an unnamed infant. She went by Verlin and is my 3rd cousin 3x removed. Our nearest common relatives are Nathan Lankford and Marion Caldwell (married about 1790 in Rutherford County, North Carolina), my 5th great grandparents.

On May 11, 1910, the Lankford family lived at Lawrenceville and Decatur Roads in the Berkshire District of Gwinnett County. Verlin’s grandparents, John Bailis and Clara A. (Minor) Lankford and uncle John Marcus “Mark” Lankford lived next door. Verlin’s father was a farmer on a general farm. Her parents had been married for 12 years. Her mother was enumerated as Anna, the mother of three children, two of which were living.  

Verlin married Walter Augustus Carroll, son of John Thomas Carroll and Lovely Ann Loucecily McCurdy, on April 26, 1919 in Fulton County, Georgia. Her first name was spelled “Verland” on the marriage license. Verlin and Walter were blessed with four children—John Walter Carroll, James “Eugene” Carroll, Betty Anne Carroll, and Mildred “Charlotte” Carroll. 

On January 26, 1920, Verlin and Walter lived with his parents and brother Mark in the Berkshire District. Walter worked as an automobile machinist. Verlin was 18 and Walter 19 years old. By 1925, the couple had moved to a house located at 67 Lowry Street in Atlanta. Walter had changed jobs and now worked as a roofer. 

On April 3, 1930, the Carroll family (Verlin, Walter, John, Eugene, and Betty) lived in a home located on Trinity Place in Decatur. Verlin and Walter owned the home, valued at $4500. The census record shows they also owned a radio. Walter worked as a policeman for DeKalb County. John and Eugene were both attending school. 

About 1935, Walter became a policeman for the city of Decatur in DeKalb County, Georgia. This was reflected in the 1936 Atlanta, Georgia City Directory, showing they had moved to a house on Lockwood Terrace in Decatur.

On April 13, 1940, Verlin, Walter, son John, and daughter Betty still lived in the Lockwood Terrace home. Verlin was enumerated as “Verlyn.” Her name would be spelled the same way in daughter Charlotte’s 2021 obituary. Betty’s age was inaccurately enumerated as one year old, with the fifth grade being the highest completed. Walter was a city policeman. 

When Verlin’s husband Walter registered for the World War II draft on February 16, 1942, he recorded Lockwood Terrace as his home address. Verlin was recorded as the person who would always know Walter’s address. Walter worked for G. S. Swords at Decatur’s City Hall.

Walter's World War II registration card

Verlin died at home on December 1, 1943. She was buried at Decatur Cemetery on December 3 following a service at Trinity Chapel officiated by Rev. George M. Acree. Verlin was provided an honorary escort by the Decatur Police Department. She was survived by her husband, sons John and Eugene, daughters Betty and Charlotte, parents, and brother Loy.

Photo used with permission of Joe Stoner, Find A Grave ID 47793749

Sadly, Verlin’s husband Walter died on New Year’s Eve 1944 leaving their four children orphans. At the time, John (24) was living in Houston, Texas, and James (22) in the military. Walter’s obituary noted that their son Sgt. Eugene Carroll was serving “with Gen. Patton’s Army during all the invasions” of World War II when Verlin died but was home on leave when Walter died. Both underage at 15 and 14 respectively, Charlotte and Betty were still living in Georgia. Charlotte’s 2021 obituary notes that she “left Decatur and moved to live with her aunt in Houston, Texas, but soon came back to Georgia to be raised by her aunt in Avondale Estates, Georgia and finished school in Decatur.” I do not find a record to show that Betty also moved to Houston. It appears she was attending Decatur High School in 1945 so if she did move, like Charlotte, she did not stay long. Betty would eventually move to Houston though where she lived a full and happy life as a wife, mother, grandmother, and educator.

References

• Atlanta, Georgia, City Directory, 1925, 1936.
• Betty Murdock obituary; https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/houstonchronicle/name/betty-murdock-obituary?id=48908342. 
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77419565/vassie-verlin-carroll: accessed 23 June 2023), memorial page for Vassie Verlin Lankford Carroll (17 Mar 1901–1 Dec 1943), Find a Grave Memorial ID 77419565, citing Decatur Cemetery, Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Larry Wynn (contributor 47256286).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/252692650/mildred-charlotte-smithmier: accessed 26 June 2023), memorial page for Mildred Charlotte Carroll Smithmier (27 Jul 1930–29 Sep 2021), Find a Grave Memorial ID 252692650, citing Decatur Cemetery, Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Sujava (contributor 47686977).
• Funeral Notice, Mrs. Walter A. Carroll, The Atlanta Constitution, December 2, 1943.
• Mrs. Walter A. Carroll obituary, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, December 3, 1943.
• Obituary of Mildred Charlotte Smithmier, Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home; https://charlottememorial.com/tribute/details/5135/Mildred-Smithmier/obituary.html. 
• U.S. Federal Census, Avondale Estates, DeKalb County, Georgia, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Berkshire, Gwinnett County, Georgia, 1910, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia, 1940.
• U.S. Federal Census, Militia District 531, DeKalb County, Georgia, 1930.
• U.S. Federal Census, Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia, 1880.
• Verland Lankford and Walter A. Carroll, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• W. A. Carroll, Decatur Officer 9 Years, Is Dead, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, January 1, 1945.
• W. A. Carroll, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1898–1929.
• Walter Augustus Carroll, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.