Oscar Lee Burnette

Oscar Lee Burnette, son of Samuel Pride Burnett and Millicent Virginia Overton, was born in Loganville, Walton County, Georgia on January 12, 1874. His parents had 14 children—John William Burnette, Thomas Terrell Burnette, C. B. Annbelle Burnette, Abijah Winkfield Burnette, Oscar Lee Burnette, Mathew E. Burnette, Laura Jane Burnette, Frances Elizabeth Burnette, Mattie Lou Burnette, Benjamin Franklin Burnette, Virginia O. Burnette, Joseph Benjamin Burnette, Mollie Mae Burnette, and one unknown child. Oscar is my 2nd great-uncle.

Just like my Lankford/Langford lines with the “k” and “g”, the “e” in “Burnette” comes and goes. You see that here with the spelling of Oscar’s and his father’s last name. It seems Oscar’s family used the “e” consistently.

On June 18, 1880, the Burnette family lived in the Harbins District of Gwinnett County, Georgia. Oscar’s father and brother John and Thomas were farm laborers, his was mother keeping house. The census enumerator left a check mark in the box “Is the person [on the day of the Enumerator’s visit] sick or temporarily disabled, so as to be unable to attend to ordinary business or duties?” so apparently Oscar’s father, John, and Thomas were all three sick that day. He did not list what illness each had though.

1880 Soundex Card for the Oscar L. Burnette family

Oscar married Lou Ella J. Peters, daughter of James Marion Peters and Lucinda Julia Andrews, in Gwinnett County, Georgia on October 2, 1898. Their marriage ceremony was performed by T. A. Pate, Justice of the Peace. The couple had eight children together—Clarence Lyman Burnette, Gordon Lee Burnette, Grover William “G. W.” Burnette, Samuel “Pleamon” Burnette, Essie Mae “Mamie” Burnette, James Rowdes Burnette, Simmie “Sim” Courtland Burnette, and Curtis “Matibel” Burnette.

Oscar and Lou Ella's marriage certificate

Sometime after their marriage, Oscar and Lou Ella moved to Walton County, Georgia where the census enumerator found them living in the Vinegar Hill District on June 22, 1900. Oscar was working as a farmer. Lou Ella was enumerated as having had one child, Clarence (age nine months), who was living in the home. Oscar was unable to read or write, while Lou Ella could do both. Oscar and Lou Ella’s second son, Gordon, was born in December 1902. Sadly, he passed away, cause unknown to me, on October 28, 1903. They buried Gordon at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville, Walton County, Georgia.

Oscar was listed on the “Veteran and Descendant Registered Voters” list in Walton County on March 26, 1910. Living in Loganville at the time, he worked as a farmer. His brother Abijah was also on the list. 

On April 28, 1910, Oscar and his family lived in the Buncombe District of Walton County. He and Lou Ella had been married for 11 years. Oscar worked as a farmer on a general farm. Sons Clarence and William were both farm laborers on the home farm. Lou Ella was enumerated as having had six children, five of which were living. Oscar’s mother died in Georgia on January 10, 1916. She was buried at Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Loganville. On September 12, 1918 at age 45, Oscar registered for the World War I draft. He recorded his address as #4 Loganville, Walton, Ga., and his wife “Ella” as his nearest relative. He also listed his birth year as 1873, a year earlier than would be recorded on his death certificate and tombstone. Oscar was of medium height and build. He had gray eyes and hair. As far as I can tell, Oscar never served during the war. His son Clarence registered for the World War I draft on the same day and listed his father as his nearest relative.

Oscar's WWI draft registration card

On January 19, 1920, Oscar and his family lived at Lawrenceville and Monroe Roads in the Buncombe District of Walton County. Oscar continued to work as a farmer on a general farm while sons Grover (age 17) and Pleamon (age 14) both worked as laborers on the home farm. The only child going to school at the time was Essie (age 12). Grover, Pleamon and Essie were all able to read and write. James (age 10) was not attending school at the time, nor was he able to read or write.

On April 3, 1930, Oscar and his family lived in the Buncombe District of Walton County. Three children were still living in the home—Pleamon, Simmie, and Matibel. Matibel (age 15) was the only one of the three attending school. Oscar worked as a farm operator, running the day-to-day business of the farm. Pleamon and Matibel both worked as farm helpers, while Simmie worked as a farm cropper. 

Oscar (age 64) died from heart lesions at his home in the Split Silk community of Walton County on October 29, 1938. According to Kenneth Krakow, Split Silk was “a small community located between Between and Loganville” and “was reportedly given this name when a girl accidentally tore her silk dress in front of the C. L. Ivey General Store.” Oscar had been attended by a physician for three months. He was buried at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville on October 31 following a funeral service officiated by Rev. Weyman Fields at the church. 

Oscar was survived by his wife, sons Clarence, Grover, Pleamon, Simmie, and James; daughters Essie and Matibel; three sisters; and four brothers. According to his obituary, Oscar was a “well known Walton county citizen.” He “spent the greater portion of his life” in Walton County and “was a devoted member of Bay Creek Baptist church and a man of loyal friendships and fine christian character, and occupied a high place in the public esteem.”

Five of Oscar’s children—Grover, Essie Mae, James, Matibel, and Samuel (1948)

References

• Clarence Lyman Burnette, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Curtis Mattie Smith, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38841661/lucinda-julia-peters: accessed 31 October 2023), memorial page for Mrs Lucinda Julia Andrews Peters (20 Nov 1857–23 Mar 1930), Find a Grave Memorial ID 38841661, citing Friendship Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Snellville, Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Quietly Resting (contributor 47077524).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43349662/james-marion-peters: accessed 31 October 2023), memorial page for James Marion Peters (17 Oct 1845–9 May 1902), Find a Grave Memorial ID 43349662, citing Friendship Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Snellville, Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA; maintained by HTH (contributor 47002328).
• Krakow, Kenneth K., Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins, Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 210, 1975; http://www.kenkrakow.com/gpn/s.pdf. 
• Mr. Oscar Burnette Died Last Saturday, Walton Tribune, Monroe, Georgia, November 3, 1938.
• Oscar Burnet and Lou Ella Peters, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Oscar L. Burnette Certificate of Death no. 29672, State of Georgia, Georgia Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• Personal memories and family photo provided by Priscilla Burnette.
• Personal visit to Bay Creek Cemetery, Loganville, Georgia.
• U.S. Federal Census, Buncombe District, Walton County, Georgia, 1910, 1920, 1930.
• U.S. Federal Census, Cates, Gwinnett County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Harbins District, Gwinnett County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Vinegar Hill, Walton County, Georgia, 1900.