Vesta Bell Lankford

This blog post is another in a series connecting the dots in my tree to the souls buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.

Vesta Bell Lankford, born on August 12, 1898, in Stephens, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, was the daughter of William Mell Lankford and Nancy Ella Young. The Lankford family had nine children: Grover Bennett Lankford, Howard Young Lankford, Annie Lou Lankford, Robert “Chester” Lankford, Masina Elizabeth Lankford, Vesta Bell Lankford, Pauline Lankford, William Reese Lankford, and Otis Elmore Lankford. Vesta is my 2nd cousin 3x removed, with our nearest common relatives being Charles L. Lankford and Miss Moore, my 4th great-grandparents and her great-grandparents.

On June 21, 1900, the family, including Vesta (enumerated as Vester), lived in Fluker, Greene County, Georgia. Her father worked as a farmer, her brother Howard was a farm laborer, and sisters Annie and Masina were in school. Vesta’s maternal uncle, Jim Young, also lived with them and worked as a farm laborer. The census recorded that Vesta’s mother had eight children, seven of whom were living, accounting for the death of Vesta’s brother Grover, who passed away as an infant in 1885 before Vesta was born. Her parents had been married for 17 years.

By April 20, 1910, the Lankford family had relocated to a rented farm on Bowling Green Road in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Vesta’s mother had given birth to another child since the 1900 census. Her father continued to work as a general farmer, and her brother Chester worked as a laborer on the home farm. Vesta, Pauline, William, and Otis were all attending school. Everyone except William and Otis could read and write.

On the night of December 28, 1914, in Bairdstown, a tragic incident occurred involving a group of boys engaged in mischief. Hugh Arnold, a local young man, fired his pistol aimlessly to scare the boys, accidentally hitting Vesta’s 14-year-old brother, Otis, in the head. Otis succumbed to his injuries a few hours later. Arnold, shocked by the unintended consequence, claimed he had no intention of harming anyone. He was later bound over to the Superior Court under a $400 bond. Otis was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery.

In the fall of 1914, Vesta took part in a subscription contest organized by The Athens Banner newspaper in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia. Contestants earned points by securing payments for new newspaper subscriptions. Additionally, they could submit coupons published in the newspaper to earn votes, provided they adhered to strict submission guidelines. The Banner awarded over $2500 in prizes and cash commissions to more than 100 young women.

In June 1917, Vesta and her sister Masina, residents of Bairdstown, traveled to Athens to visit Miss Ida Power, repeating the visit in September. Athens is roughly a 30-minute drive from Bairdstown. By 1918, Vesta had started her career as a schoolteacher in the community of Dorsey, Morgan County, Georgia. She attended the University of Georgia’s summer school that year while living in Stephens. In April 1919, Vesta and her sister Pauline, also a teacher, took a weekend trip to visit Mrs. W. E. Monroe, attending both the Minstrel and the Teachers’ Institute. Later, in July 1919, Vesta visited friends in Stephens, and attended a Masonic barbecue in the town of Bostwick, nearby in Morgan County, Georgia.

On January 6, 1920, the Lankford family resided on Lexington Road in Bairdstown. Vesta’s father owned the home outright. Alongside 24-year-old Vesta, three of her adult siblings lived there: Masina (28), Pauline (22), and William (20). Their single, 62-year-old paternal uncle, Charles F. Lankford, also lived with them. Uncle Charles worked as a house painter. Vesta’s father and brother William both worked as farmers on the home farm, while Vesta was a common school teacher, and Pauline taught high school. A common school teacher was an educator who taught in a “common school” during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Common schools were the earliest form of public schools in the United States, offering free education to all children in the community. These teachers were responsible for teaching a variety of subjects to students of different ages and skill levels, often in a single classroom setting.

Next door, Vesta’s brother Robert lived with his wife Mendie (Hayes) and their eight-month-old son Robert. Robert, too, was a farmer on his own farm. The census was enumerated by William M. Langford, possibly Vesta’s father, despite the slight variation in spelling (Langford vs. Lankford).

On January 30, the Madisonian reported that Vesta, residing in Dorsey, was visited by her brother ‘Willie’ from Stephens. In February 1920, Vesta attended a ‘popcorn popping’ at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Bailey in Dorsey.

Vesta, described as “a popular teacher of the county” by the Madisonian, visited Madison in Morgan County, Georgia, in September 1921. She also made a trip to Athens with her sister Annie and a Mrs. Stephens. During the 1921–1922 school year, Vesta taught at Greenwood School in Morgan County, boarding with Mrs. Jim Thomas. In November 1921, she was appointed to a Harris district committee of the Morgan County Relief Association.

In 1923, Vesta lived briefly in Union Point, Greene County, Georgia, where she renewed her newspaper subscription to the Madisonian. By the mid-1920s, several Lankford family members, including Vesta, relocated to Gary, Lake County, Indiana. Vesta’s brother Howard had moved there earlier, likely prompting the family’s move. In 1925, Vesta, her parents, brother William, and sister Pauline lived at 457 Fillmore Street, while Howard and his wife resided at 408 Fillmore Street. Vesta worked as a clerk, her father as a bricklayer, William as a millworker, Pauline as a stenographer, and Howard as an assistant superintendent at the United States Steel Corporation.

Vesta returned to Crawford, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, by August 1927, attending a wiener and marshmallow roast at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Crawford. During the 1928–1929 school year, she taught at a Bibb City School in Muscogee County, living in a boarding house at 96 40th Street in Bibb City, owned by Eva Gardner.

Vesta continued to reside at Eva Gardner’s boarding house as of April 5, 1930, while teaching at a public school. The boarding house was quite large, housing 15 other boarders, mostly teachers, with one social worker. During the holidays, Vesta visited Misses Sara Anderson and Jean Walker at Winnie Griffith’s home. She spent another week with Winnie in June 1931 before returning home to Crawford.

In June 1932, Vesta was an honored guest at a bridge party hosted by Mrs. E. H. Griffith. The home was beautifully decorated with summer flowers, and an ice course, likely including ice cream or frozen sherbet, fruit salad, and ice-cold beverages, was served after the games. Vesta taught grammar school in Watkinsville, Oconee County, Georgia, during the 1933–1934 school year.

Vesta's mother, Ella (Young), passed away at her home in Crawford on December 9, 1933, after a short illness. She was laid to rest at Bairdstown Cemetery following a funeral service at the Crawford Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Alton Glazier, a Presbyterian pastor, and assisted by Rev. F. J. Hendrick, a Baptist pastor. At the time of her mother’s death, Vesta was living in Crawford.

In January 1934, Vesta attended a dinner at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Shannon Elder in Watkinsville. In March, she spent a weekend visiting Laura Ware in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia, and made a shopping trip to Athens. In May, Eliose Sewart spent the weekend with Vesta in Crawford. In July, Vesta visited friends in Watkinsville. During the 1934–1935 school year, Vesta taught 7th grade classes and served as the principal of a grammar school in Watkinsville.

In August 1934, Vesta visited Winnie Griffith in Butler, Taylor County, Georgia, likely to attend a bridal kitchen shower for Wynnita Taylor at Mrs. S. B. Liggin’s home. Guests wrote recipes for a cookbook for the bride-elect, followed by gift openings and lunch. Vesta also spent a day in Athens with her friend Connie Hopkins. Later in August, Vesta attended a bridge party for bride-elect Dorothy Little at Connie’s home in Crawford, where she won top score. Guests enjoyed a salad course after the game. In December, Vesta, her sister Masina, and friend Connie spent the Saturday before Christmas shopping in Athens.

In March 1935, Vesta attended a dinner party at the home of Mrs. Harvey Downs in Watkinsville. In July, she spent several days with Mr. and Mrs. Jim Jones, also in Watkinsville. That same March, she served on the Library Committee for Oconee County High School. In August, Vesta went on a shopping trip to Athens with her sister Pauline and friend Connie Tomkins.

Vesta attended a bridge party hosted by Connie Hopkins in honor of her sister Pauline, who was visiting from Indiana. Connie’s home was adorned with summer flowers, and guests enjoyed a salad course after playing 12 hands of Contract Bridge—a competitive game where scoring is based on the contracts bid and fulfilled by players.

In September, Vesta and her sisters Masina and Annie hosted a bridal shower for newlywed Mrs. Ernest Rice. The event included a game of bridge, the opening of gifts, and a salad course. The Lankford sisters decorated the home with a variety of floral arrangements.

In February 1936, Vesta attended a miscellaneous shower hosted by Mrs. R. E. Rice and Connie Hopkins in Crawford, celebrating her nephew James Howard Mayo’s new bride, Mary Helen Smith. James was the son of Vesta’s sister Annie, who married John Francis Mayo. The home was adorned in valentine colors, and guests enjoyed a variety of games. Vesta won a prize for preparing and packing the bride’s traveling bag, while her sister Masina won for composing the best limerick of good wishes. After the games, a delightful salad feast was enjoyed. A few days later, Vesta hosted James and Mary for dinner at her home.

In February 1937, Vesta attended a finance committee meeting of the Watkinsville Civitan Club, featuring guest speakers Track Coach Weems Baskin, world champion hurdler “Spec” Towns, and sprint artist Bobby Packard. Baskin was a legendary track and field coach at the University of South Carolina from 1948 to 1969 and an outstanding hurdler at Auburn University. Forrest Grady “Spec” Towns, a Georgia native, was a renowned American track and field athlete who won the gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles at the 1936 Olympics and set the world record three times, winning more than 60 consecutive races during his prime.

Later that month, Vesta attended another bridal shower, this time in honor of Mrs. Ferdinand Johnson and hosted by Mrs. Albert Elder. The event featured a game of bridge, followed by the bride opening gifts, which were presented in a special ceremony by a young girl and boy dressed as a bride and groom, marching in to a violin rendition of the wedding march played by Eloise Stewart. After the gifts, guests gathered in the dining room for refreshments, with the home decorated in silver and white.

In May 1936, Vesta was appointed as one of the Oconee County grammar school heads. In April 1937, she represented Oconee County at an event in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. By December 1937, Vesta, who had been teaching in an Atlanta school, resigned her position to accept a new role in Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia.

Vesta’s brother, Chester, who suffered from heart disease, passed away in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 22, 1938. His body was returned to Georgia, and he was laid to rest three days later at Bairdstown Cemetery following a funeral service at Bairdstown Baptist Church.

On December 5, 1939, Vesta attended a Watkinsville Civitan Club meeting aimed at organizing support for new uniforms for the Oconee High School girls’ basketball team. In 1935, Vesta lived alone in a rental home in Watkinsville and continued to live there when the 1940 census was taken on April 4, 1940. She remained a public school teacher during this time.

In August 1944, Vesta received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Georgia and became a member of Kappa Delta Pi.

Vesta’s father, William, passed away at his home in Crawford on October 6, 1944, after a short illness. His obituary described him as “one of the best known influential men in Oglethorpe County.” William was laid to rest on October 8 at Bairdstown Cemetery, following a funeral service at the Crawford Baptist Church.

In mid-October 1944, Vesta and her sister Masina visited Athens. Vesta’s brother William, who lived in Gary, Indiana, visited her in August 1946, and she accompanied him to Athens. In late November 1946, Vesta attended a Clarke County Georgia Teachers’ Association meeting at the Holman Hotel in Athens. She visited Athens again in August 1947.

Sometime between late 1947 and early 1950, Vesta lived in St. Louis, Missouri. By early August 1949, she was back in Georgia, visiting her sister Pauline in Athens.

On April 4, 1950, Vesta lived in Crawford with her sister Masina, who was head of the household, and her sister Annie and Annie’s husband John. Vesta was a county high school teacher, Masina an elementary school teacher, and Annie a grammar school teacher. John, Vesta’s brother-in-law, was the city police chief.

In April 1951, Vesta co-organized the Winterville PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) birthday meeting. Attendees were asked to bring a dish for supper, and they gathered in the school gym for an evening of food, fellowship, and fun. Participants were seated at tables according to their birth month. Pennies were collected for each year of an attendee’s age, with the funds intended to help send two outstanding members of the school patrol on an annual trip to Washington, DC, as school representatives.

In May 1955, Vesta assisted James Coile in creating a backdrop for a piano recital for his mother’s students. The backdrop featured a black background with Mount Fuji at its center, viewed through the Prayer Gate of a Shinto Temple. Red gladioli adorned the tops of the two pianos, while potted palms flanked the stage entrance.

The 1955–1956 school term began on September 6, 1955. Back in 1906, the portion of Winterville in Oglethorpe County was transferred to Clarke County. However, in August 1955, the Clarke County school superintendent announced that Winterville students residing in Oglethorpe County would need to transfer to schools within their home county. Vesta and her sister Masina, who were assigned to Winterville Grammar School, were affected by this change. For the 1956–1957 school year, both Vesta and Masina were assigned to Winterville Elementary School.

In April 1957, both Vesta and Masina received approval to continue teaching the following year. While they were currently assigned to Winterville School, their assignments for the next school year were subject to change.

In late June to early July 1958, Vesta embarked on the trip of a lifetime, traveling to Southampton, England, on what appears to be a school-sponsored trip abroad. The RMS Queen Mary’s passenger list for the return journey, arriving in New York on July 8, 1958, included multiple teachers and students. While in London, Vesta stayed at the Bonnington Hotel.

Incoming passenger list for the RMS Queen Mary, 1958

In March 1959, Vesta, along with several family members and approximately 170 other guests, attended the golden wedding anniversary reception for Judge and Mrs. W. W. Armistead in Athens. The home was beautifully adorned with an array of floral and candle arrangements. Refreshments were elegantly served on silver platters. The highlight of the celebration was a three-tiered wedding cake, decorated with lily of the valley and topped with a bride and groom. Even the cake knife was beautifully adorned with ribbon and lilies.

In early November 1959, parents and students were encouraged to attend a Winterville School PTA meeting, where Vesta gave a presentation on her European travels. She shared color slides, highlighting the memorable experiences from her summer trip.

On January 23, 1960, Vesta joined family and friends for a luncheon celebrating the golden wedding anniversary of her brother Howard and his wife, Alma (Webb). The event was held at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education in Athens, affiliated with the University of Georgia. The tables were decorated with yellow mums and King Alfred jonquils, and the centerpiece was a three-tiered wedding cake featuring a white and yellow theme.

Vesta dedicated 44 years to teaching in Morgan, Clarke, Oglethorpe, Fulton, and Rockdale counties. In June 1961, the Winterville school community honored Vesta, her sister Masina, and Connie Hopkins for their remarkable combined teaching service of nearly 100 years.

Masina, Vesta, and Connie Hopkins (photo from Athens Banner-Herald,
REM Studio, 1961)

In June 1963, Vesta was a patient at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens. She passed away on Christmas Day 1963 in Oglethorpe County. Vesta was laid to rest on December 27 at Bairdstown Cemetery, following a service at Crawford Baptist Church officiated by Revs. Hoyt Miller, William Gafford, and Dan Jordan. She was survived by her sisters Masina, Annie, and Pauline; brothers Howard and William; sister-in-law Mendie (Hayes) Lankford; and several nieces and nephews. Vesta was a member of Lexington Presbyterian Church.

Lankford family plot, Bairdstown Cemetery

In a will filed in June 1958 in Oglethorpe County, Vesta bequeathed her entire estate to her sister Masina, whom she also named as the executrix.

References

• 100 to Finish at University, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, August 20, 1944.
• Around the County, The Taylor County News and the Butler Herald, Butler, Georgia, June 14, 1963.
• Bishop News, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, August 9, 1934.
• Columbus, Georgia, City Directory, 1928.
• Coming Events, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, November 1, 1959.
• County Schools Set Opening Date, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, August 31, 1955.
• Death Takes Mrs. Ella Lankford at Home in Crawford, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, December 10, 1933.
• Dorsey Social News, Madisonian, Madison, Georgia, July 25, 1919, January 30, 1920, and February 20, 1920.
• Dr. Stump, Guest Speaker at Clarke Teachers Meeting, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, December 4, 1946.
• Education Board Approves Teachers for Next Year, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, April 17, 1957.
• Forrest Towns; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_Towns.
• Funeral Notices, Lankford, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, October 23 and 24, 1938.
• Gary, Indiana, City Directory, 1925.
• Goldstein, Evelyn, The Public School in the United States: A Documentary History, 2001.
• Gordon, Felton, Schools Opened at Watkinsville: Three Hundred and Thirty-Two Enrolled as Term Opens Monday, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, September 5, 1933.
• Greene County, Eatonton Messenger, Eatonton, Georgia, January 8, 1915.
• Grover B. Lankford tombstone, Bairdstown Cemetery, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
• History of Winterville, Georgia; https://www.cityofwinterville.com/history. 
• Judge and Mrs. Armistead Celebrate Golden Anniversary, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, March 22, 1959.
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• Miss Little Guest at Bridge Party: Miss Connie Hopkins Entertains Bride-elect at Crawford Home, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, September 6, 1934.
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• Morgan County Relief Association, Madisonian, Madison, Georgia, November 25, 1921
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• Mrs. E. H. Griffith Honors Visitors, The Butler Herald, Butler, Georgia, June 16, 1932.
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• Oconee County High School: School Bits, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, March 17, 1935.
• Oconee School to Open Next Monday: Phillips Announces Opening Exercises at Watkinsville for Monday, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, August 27, 1934.
• Otis Lankford Dead from Pistol Wound, newspaper and date unknown.
• Our Honor Roll, Madisonian, Madison, Georgia, February 16, 1923.
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• Out in Society, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, September 21, 1917.
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• Personal visit to Bairdstown Cemetery, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
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• Prof. Roy David Elected Superintndent [sic] of Oconee County High School at Recent Meeting of Watkinsville School Trustees, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, May 3, 1936.
• Reynolds Department, The Butler Herald, Butler, Georgia, December 6, 1928, December 4, 1930, and June 18, 1931.
• Reynolds Department: Shower for Bride-Elect, Butler Herald, Butler, Georgia, August 23, 1934.
• Robert Lankford, Missouri State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death no. 36755, 1938.
• Rocked by Boys, Kills One; Is Held for Trial, The Atlanta Georgian, Atlanta, Georgia, January 8, 1915.
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• U.S. Federal Census, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1910, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Bibb City, Muscogee County, Georgia, 1930.
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• U.S. Federal Census, Fluker, Greene County, Georgia, 1900.
• U.S. Federal Census, Watkinsville, Oconee County, Georgia, 1940.
• Vesta B Lankford, Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919–1998.
• Vesta Bell Lankford, Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records (1958, Oglethorpe County), 1792–1992.
• Vesta Lankford, Southampton, England, 1958; UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878–1960.
• W. M. Lankford Dies Home Friday Funeral Held Today, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, October 8, 1944.
• Watkinsville News, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, July 1, 1934, March 31 and July 21, 1935, February 20, 1936.
• Watkinsville News: Mrs. Johnson Honored, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, February 2, 1936.
• Watkinsville Social News, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, April 25, 1937, and December 12, 1937.
• Watkinsville, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, January 24, and March 25, 1934.
• Watkinsville, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, May 2, 1934.
• Weemie “Weems” Baskin, USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame Special Inductee; https://cahof.ustfccca.org/award-winner/weems-baskin-ustfccca-special-inductee. 
• White School Teachers: Morgan County, GA, 1921–1922, Madisonian, Madison, Georgia, November 18, 1921.
• Winterville PTA Plans Supper Meeting Thursday, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, April 10, 1951.
• Winterville School Community, The Athens Daily Herald, Athens, Georgia, June 27, 1961.
• Winterville, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, September 21, 1917.
• Winterville, The Athens Daily Herald, Athens, Georgia, June 15, 1917.
• Woods, Sam, Visitin’ With the Watkinsville, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, December 10, 1939.
• Woods, Sam, Woods Covers Two Dinner Meetings: Banner-Herald Writer Enjoys Kiwanis and Civitan Meetings Wednesday, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, February 3, 1937.