Jane Catherine Neal

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.

Jane Catherine “Janie” Neal was born October 8, 1846, likely in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, the only child of George W. Neal and Eliza Jane French. Her life began with both promise and sorrow. When Janie was just four months old, her mother died at the home of her brother, Hiram L. French, on February 13, 1846, of what physicians then called “derangement of the bowels,” a severe intestinal illness marked by dehydration and pain. She was only 27.

Although Janie is not a direct ancestor, she connects to my family through a long collateral line—she was the wife of the uncle of the husband of the sister‑in‑law of the first cousin of the husband of my great‑grandmother, Alice Beman Lankford, linking her through the Wilson, Stephens, Mullins, Callaway, and Lankford families.

With her father unable to care for an infant while working, Janie was sent north to Hampton, Washington County, New York, her mother’s birthplace. There, the 1850 census enumerator found her living in a large extended household of French and Neal relatives, including Ann E. French and Alice Neal, women almost certainly connected to her mother’s family.

Her father remarried in July 1850 to Elizabeth “Eliza” Washington Edmondson, and Janie gained a half‑sister, Julia Ann Neal. By 1860, Janie was back in Georgia, living in Bairdstown with her father, stepmother, and half‑sister. George Neal, a Vermont‑born mechanic, owned real estate valued at $2,000 and personal property worth $6,000—a comfortable position for the time.

At 19, Janie married John “Jack” L. Wilson on October 3, 1865, in a ceremony performed by Rev. Patrick H. Mell, one of Georgia’s most influential Baptist ministers. Together they built a family of four children: George “Neal” Wilson, Blanche L. Wilson, Julia Lawrence Wilson, and Ellen “Nellie” H. Wilson.

Marriage record for Jane and Jack

The early years of their marriage were marked by financial strain. Jack was declared bankrupt, and his relative William R. Wilson was appointed to manage his property and debts. Despite these challenges, the couple remained rooted in Bairdstown, where Jack served as postmaster beginning in 1869. By 1870 they had moved to Penfield, Greene County, where Jack worked as a grocer merchant.

Throughout the 1870s and 1880s, Janie’s life blended domestic responsibility with the realities of running a working farm. Although Jack was a merchant, their household managed roughly 75 acres of tilled and woodland by 1880, raising corn, small grains, cotton, and livestock. The farm required hired labor, and tax records show Jack expanded his holdings to more than 300 acres over the next decade. Janie herself owned a small-town lot in Bairdstown.

Her home was also a social center. In January 1886, she helped decorate the church for a local wedding, creating a floral arch admired by all. In July 1893, she hosted a summer gathering illuminated by Japanese lanterns, with music, recitations, and ice cream—an elegant evening remembered fondly by the community.

The mid 1890s brought family milestones. Blanche married Rev. Joseph A. Thomas in January 1895, and Julia married Herbert Emory Choate later that year. By 1898, Janie and Jack had moved to the Fishing Creek community near Woodville, where Janie became active in the Ladies’ Missionary Society.

The turn of the century brought hardship. Jack’s health declined, and he died on September 3, 1901. Janie applied for Georgia’s traditional year’s support, receiving real estate valued at $1,201—including the Bairdstown home, town lots, and farmland. A creditor, William W. Dozier, contested the award, arguing the properties were undervalued and should be used to satisfy Jack’s debts. The dispute moved through the courts for more than a year.

In the years that followed, Janie’s life was shaped by both loss and resilience. She hosted Nellie’s wedding in November 1901, and two weeks later her son Neal married Isabel Burdick Peck in Chicago. In 1903, she spent a period living in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, staying close to extended family and finding steadiness in familiar surroundings as she adjusted to widowhood. But in 1904, tragedy struck: Blanche died, likely in childbirth, and her infant daughter, Annie Blanche Thomas, died five days later.

By 1920, Janie was living in Woodville with Nellie and her grandsons Neal and Albert Evans. Nellie’s husband, John R. Evans, died on June 29, 1913, and in the years that followed she increasingly relied on her mother for support. Sometime before the 1920 census, Nellie moved into Janie’s household, and the two women shared a home as they navigated widowhood together and raised Nellie’s sons. In 1923, Janie signed an affidavit for her son George’s passport application, listing her residence as 10 Park Lane, Atlanta—a home she maintained for several years.

Janie’s signature on George’s passport

During the 1930s, Janie lived as a roomer in Atlanta with her daughter Nellie and grandson Albert, who worked at Rich’s Department Store. For a time, they boarded in the home of the Gersham family, a household that provided stability and companionship during those years when all three were navigating life in Atlanta. In her later years she moved to the Candler Hotel in Decatur, a comfortable residence that offered companionship and routine. By 1940 she was 93, a widow for nearly 40 years.

She spent her final years back at 10 Park Lane NE, living with her daughter Julia until Julia’s sudden death in January 1944. Janie herself died on March 27, 1944, at age 97, after a long illness. She was buried beside her husband Jack at Bairdstown Cemetery.

Bairdstown (or Baird’s) Baptist Church

Born in the antebellum South, Janie lived through the Civil War, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the boll weevil crisis, the Great Depression, and the transformations of World War II. Her life spanned nearly a century of Georgia’s history—from plantation culture to the beginnings of modern Atlanta—and she met each era with steadiness, devotion to family, and a quiet but enduring presence in her community.

References

• An Approaching Marriage, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, November 4, 1895.
• Atlanta, Georgia, City Directory, 1932.
• Attend Chicago Wedding, The Oshkosh Northwestern, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, November 23, 1901.
• Bairdstown, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, July 21, 1893, December 23, 1898, March 29, 1901, September 6, 1901, November 15, 1901, December 6, 1901, and October 9, 1903.
• Echoes by Mail: Fishing Creek, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, January 8, 1898.
• Elizabeth W. Edmondson, Georgia, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1754–1850.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48522540/blanche-thomas: accessed August 7, 2026), memorial page for Blanche Wilson Thomas (25 Aug 1868–8 Jun 1904), Find a Grave Memorial ID 48522540, citing Greenwood Cemetery, Cuthbert, Randolph County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Fat Quarter Quilter (contributor 47229861).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76965413/annie_blanche-thomas: accessed August 7, 2026), memorial page for Annie Blanche Thomas (8 Jun 1904–13 Jun 1904), Find a Grave Memorial ID 76965413, citing Greenwood Cemetery, Cuthbert, Randolph County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Fat Quarter Quilter (contributor 47229861).
• Funeral Notices, Mrs. Herbert (Julia) Choate, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, January 10, 1944.
• George Neal Wilson, U.S., Passport Applications, 1795–1925.
• Gone to Rest: The Soul of a Good Woman Departed This World, Athens Weekly Banner, Athens, Georgia, October 28, 1890.
• Greene County, Georgia, Court Records 1897–1907, images 315–318, FamilySearch.
• Greene County, Georgia, Deeds 1862–1871, image 217, FamilySearch.
• Greene County, Georgia, Homestead Records 1888–1935, 1868–1899, images 175–177, FamilySearch.
• H. E. Choate’s Widow is Dead, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, January 10, 1944.
• In a... Social ... Way, Society Personals, The Topeka Daily Herald, Topeka, Kansas, November 7, 1904.
• In Cupid's Meshes: Two Loving Hearts Willingly Pierced by the Little God's Arrows, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, January 22, 1886.
• Jack L. Wilson, U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832–1971.
• Jane C. Neal, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Janie C. Wilson, Atlanta, Georgia, City Directory, 1927.
• Julia L. Wilson, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Julia Neal, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Married, The Greensboro Herald, Greensboro, Georgia, October 3, 1872.
• Mr. Thomas B. Wilson, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Mrs. Janie C. Wilson Dies in Hospital, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, March 28, 1944.
• Mrs. Janie Wilson, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, March 28, 1944.
• News of the Society World, Gowns Worn at the Wedding of Miss Isabel Peck, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, December 1, 1901.
• Obituary, The Christian Index, Washington, Georgia, p. 71, February 25, 1847.
• Oglethorpe County, Georgia, Court Minutes 1879–1882, image 39, FamilySearch.
• Oglethorpe County, Georgia, Court Records 1881–1897, image 112, FamilySearch.
• Oglethorpe County, Georgia, Deeds 1891–1893, image 281, FamilySearch.
• Oglethorpe County, Georgia, Mortgages 1877–1883, 1869–1877, image 215, FamilySearch.
• Patrick Hues Mell; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Hues_Mell. 
• Thomas-Wilson: Two Noble Young Lives are Happily Blended into One, The Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Georgia, January 4, 1895.
• U.S. Federal Census, Agriculture, District 138, Greene County, Georgia, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, 1930.
• U.S. Federal Census, Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia, 1940.
• U.S. Federal Census, Georgia Militia District 232, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Hampton, Washington County, New York, 1850.
• U.S. Federal Census, Militia District 138, Greene County, Georgia, 1870, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Woodville, Greene County, Georgia, 1860, 1900, 1920. 

Claudia Burnette

Claudia Burnette, daughter of Thomas Terrell Burnette and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Jones, was born in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, on November 23, 1905. The Burnette family had 13 children: Luther Terrell Burnette, Eva Drucilla Burnette, Floria Mae Burnette, Jesse Burnette and his twin, Willie Loyd Burnette, Prince Albert Burnette, Maudie Burnette (twin), Claudia Burnette (twin), Henry T. Burnette, Eleanor Estelle Burnette, Samuel A. Burnette, and Julia Virginia Burnette. Claudia and Maudie were fraternal twins, with Maudie arriving first. Claudia is my great‑aunt, with our nearest common relatives being her parents, my great‑grandparents. Daddy always referred to his twin aunts as Maudie and Claudie—always in that order—so I will use Claudie for the remainder of this sketch.

According to one of Claudie’s grand‑nephews, the twin sisters were named after the two mules their father Thomas kept on the family farm outside Monroe. He fondly recalled his Granny Maudie laughing about the unusual origin of their names. Around 1908, Claudie and her family attended a Jones family reunion in Walton County, where two photographs were taken. In the first, Floria (my grandmother), Eva, and Luther stand in back; mother Lizzie is seated with Henry in her lap; Prince, Thomas holding the twins Claudie and Maudie (though it is unclear which is which), and Willie are also present. The second photo shows the entire Jones family, in which I have identified 39 relatives.

 

On April 28, 1910, Claudie and her family were living in Greshamville, Greene County, having moved from Monroe in a wagon pulled by a horse. Her father was listed as a farmer on a general farm, while siblings Luther, Eva, and Floria were recorded as laborers on the home farm. Claudie’s parents had been married 16 years, and her mother was noted as having borne 10 children, 8 of whom were still living. According to my father, Elizabeth lost a set of twins, which accounts for the two no longer recorded. One of the twins was a boy named Jesse, who appeared in the 1900 census. That record, however, incorrectly states Elizabeth had five children at the time, all living. I have found no records for the other twin, leaving the identity unknown, though Claudie recalled it was a boy. In 1910, Claudie was four years old, and the youngest child in the household was Henry, age two.

The Burnette family felt the impact of World War I when Claudie’s brother Luther entered the U.S. Army on July 24, 1918. His service lasted until August 30, 1919, marking more than a year away from home. By February 13, 1920, the family had moved to the Walkers District of Greene County, where her parents would live out their lives. The 1920 Soundex card recorded her as Claud Burnett. Her father Thomas continued farming, assisted by his 78‑year‑old widowed father, Samuel Pride Burnette, who now lived with them, and 7 of the 10 Burnette children. Claudie’s mother was enumerated as Lizzie. Claudie’s brother Luther and his wife Etta Belle lived next door, both farmers. None of the children were attending school.

1920 Census Soundex cards

Claudie married Jesse “Peek” Bryan, likely in 1929 in Greene County, though I have not located a marriage record to confirm this. Peek was four years older than Claudie. My Daddy once recalled that Peek was a good man, quiet and cheerful. After their marriage, Claudie and Peek settled in Greensboro, Greene County, on Mill Street, according to the April 23, 1930 census. Peek worked as a weaver at the Mary Leila Cotton Mill, a major employer in the area. Mill Street was part of the surrounding mill village, a tightly knit community of about 75 worker houses and an industrial complex northwest of downtown Greensboro. Claudie and Peek likely rented one of these modest homes, typical of mill families during that era. The census also notes that both Claudie and Peek were literate.

Peek and Claudie

Their daughter Lizzie “Ree” Bryan was born in 1930 and Evelyn “Joyce” Bryan in 1936. Claudie had a difficult birth with Joyce and developed epilepsy afterward. Although she underwent extensive testing, doctors were unable to determine the cause, which was likely due to oxygen deprivation. Claudie’s father Thomas died from chronic myocarditis at age 71 on February 6, 1940, in Greensboro, and was buried at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery. By April 22, 1940, the Bryan family was still living on Mill Street, with Jesse now working as a loom fixer at the mill. He earned $724 in 1939, working 40 hours a week. Claudie maintained the home, and their daughters were ages nine and three.

Peek died in 1941 at age 38 in Athens, Clarke County. Other than his tombstone, I have not found records to determine the exact date, cause, or location of his death. Peek’s siblings helped care for Claudie after his death. He was remembered as fun‑loving and kind.

In April 1945, Claudie married George “Frank” Moore in Greene County. Frank was about 10 years older, tall and slender, with light blue eyes and light hair, and missing a finger on his right hand. He had previously married Anna “Annie” Bertha “Berta” Wright in 1918, with whom he had seven children: George Thomas Moore, Emma Louise Moore, John “Jack” Harris Moore, Edna Fay Moore, Mary “Mae” Frances Moore, Ethel Goodwin Moore, and Charles E. Moore. Annie died in 1936 of pulmonary tuberculosis and was buried at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery. Frank’s son George served in the Army in France during World War II, when his wife Hazel gave birth to their daughter Anne in 1945. Hazel, who lived with her father at the time, died a month later, and George’s sister Mae convinced Claudie and Frank to take Anne in until George returned. When he did, Anne remained with Claudie and Frank until she married at 18, having been raised as their own. During wartime rationing, Claudie struggled to obtain formula for Anne, but a friend shared ration cards, allowing her to feed the baby. Anne always called Claudie and Frank “Mama and Daddy.”

Claudie and Frank’s son, Claude “Bo” Franklin Moore, was born in 1949. Near the end of her pregnancy, Claudie had a seizure and fell onto a stove, suffering severe burns to her belly and arm. She was rushed to a hospital in Madison, Morgan County, Georgia, where she gave birth to Bo. Her arm healed with scars that left it permanently drawn. Years later, another seizure caused burns to her hand in a frying pan, and she lost her little finger and part of her ring finger. For the most part, Claudie controlled her seizures with medication, though they tended to occur around the full moon.

On April 8, 1950, Claudie and her family lived in the first house on the right of Appalachee Avenue in Greensboro. Joyce, her daughter from her first marriage, was 13 and still at home. Anne, age 4, was recorded as Claudie and Frank’s daughter, and their son Claude was an infant. Claudie maintained the household while Frank worked as a tractor driver at the county convict camp, part of Georgia’s chain gang system. He worked 55 hours a week. Anne later recalled they lived on Elm Street in 1950, so they likely moved shortly after the census was taken.

On December 31, 1955, Claudie’s brother Henry was accidentally killed while squirrel hunting in Putnam County, Georgia. His companion heard a gunshot and found Henry dead from a head wound. Two nearby fishermen helped carry his body out of the woods. The death was ruled accidental by a coroner’s jury and reported as Putnam County’s first hunting fatality of the year. Henry was buried at Pine Grove Cemetery following a service at Oak Street Baptist Church. Claudie’s brother Sam made the emotional trip to her home to share the news.

Claudie’s mother Lizzie died on December 2, 1956, at Minnie G. Boswell Hospital in Greensboro. She was buried beside her husband at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery. In her final week, Lizzie suffered acute renal failure caused by adrenal insufficiency, following a fractured shoulder. She also had generalized arteriosclerosis, chronic bronchitis, and senility.

Claudie’s sister Eleanor died in 1963 and was buried at Salem Baptist Church Cemetery in McDonough, Henry County, Georgia. Her sister Floria died in 1970 in Greensboro and was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Oglethorpe County. Her brother Willie died in 1974 in Monroe and was buried at New Hope Methodist Church Cemetery in Between, Walton County. Claudie’s second husband Frank died on December 14, 1976 in Greene County and was buried beside his first wife Annie at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery. Her brother Luther died in 1977 and was buried at Greenview Cemetery in Greensboro, and her brother Samuel died in 1983 in Clarke County and was buried at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Claudie died at a nursing home in Union Point, Greene County, Georgia, on October 8, 1988, at the age of 82. At the time, she was living with her son and his family. She was laid to rest beside her first husband, Jesse “Peek” Bryan, at Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery in Greensboro.

Claudie is remembered as kind and loving, as was Frank. Family members who knew Claudie remember her as sweet, quiet, and soft-spoken—traits she shared with her sister Floria. My Aunt Betty once said she loved her Aunt Claudie like a second mama. 

Maudie, Claudie’s twin sister, lived on for just over 13 more years as a twinless twin. In her later years, dementia slowly reshaped her world. She moved into a nursing home in Watkinsville, Oconee County, Georgia, where she passed away on January 16, 2002. She was buried at Greensboro City Cemetery in Greensboro.

Though twins, Claudie and Maudie were complete opposites. Claudie was gentle and soft‑spoken, while Maudie was fiery, cantankerous, and hard to please. For much of her life, Maudie bossed Claudie around, yet when storms gathered—both in the sky and in life—she sought her twin’s comfort. Living nearby, she often walked to Claudie’s house, especially when thunder threatened, knowing her sister’s presence could calm her fears. Maudie—the elder twin by birth—often assumed the role of leader, but even with her cantankerous nature she leaned on Claudie’s quiet strength, finding comfort in the sister who was always her safe harbor.

Maudie herself was taller by six inches. She was known for dyeing her hair jet black, a trademark look that defined her for decades. But in the nursing home, her hair grew out white as snow. Dementia softened her sharp edges, and the once bossy, hard‑to‑please Maudie became unexpectedly sweet, offering a tender final chapter to her life.

References

• Annie Bertha Moore, Certificate of Death no. 16703, Certificate of Death, Georgia Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1936.
• Charles E. Moore, Certificate of Death no. 30-16071, Certificate of Death, Georgia State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1930.
• Claudia B. Moore, Georgia Deaths, 1919–98.
• Claudia B. Moore, Social Security Death Index.
• Claudia Burnett Moore, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
• Eatonton Hunter is Accidentally Killed Saturday, Eatonton Messenger, Eatonton, Georgia, January 5, 1956.
• Elizabeth Jones Burnette, Certificate of Death no. 30983, Certificate of Death, Georgia Department of Public Health, 1956.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58710640/frank-moore: accessed November 18, 2025), memorial page for Frank Moore (1895–1976), Find a Grave Memorial ID 58710640, citing Walker United Methodist Church Cemetery, Veazey, Greene County, Georgia, USA; maintained by: Find a Grave.
• Frank Moore, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• George F. Moore, Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919–1998.
• George F. Moore, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
• Greene County, Georgia, Census Soundex card, 1920.
• Luther T. Burnett, U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850–2010.
• Luther Terrell Burnett, U.S., Lists of Men Ordered to Report to Local Board for Military Duty, 1917–1918,
• Maudie Lord, Oconee County, Georgia, U.S., Probate Death Certificates, 1927–2010.
• Mr. Geo. F. Moore, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978,
• Personal memories of Sam Lankford, Betty Elrod, Mickey Lord, and Anne Garner.
• Thomas Terrel Burnette, Certificate of Death no. 4275, Certificate of Death, Georgia Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1940.
• U.S. Federal Census, Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, 1930, 1940, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Greshamville, Greene County, Georgia, 1910.
• U.S. Federal Census, Walkers District, Greene County, Georgia, 1920. 

Reuben McDaniel Tuck

In the spirit of Halloween, I searched for a family member born on October 31. What I found was a remarkable man who led a full and distinguished life—highly educated, a veteran of World War I, and a pillar of his community.

Reuben McDaniel Tuck, son of James William Tuck Jr. and Ida Cynthia Watson, was born on Halloween in 1887 on his father’s plantation in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia. James and Ida were among the early settlers of Walton County, and Reuben was the eldest of 10 children: Reuben McDaniel Tuck, Troy Chester Tuck, Benjamin Luther Tuck, Clara “Alice” Tuck, Eula Mae Tuck, Mary Lou Tuck, James “Jim” Robert Tuck, John Almand Tuck, Maggie Ruth Tuck, and an unknown child.

Reuben is my 2nd cousin 2x removed. Our nearest common ancestors are Claiborne Tuck and Frances Moore, married in 1827—his great-grandparents and my third great-grandparents.

Although I have not been able to locate the Tuck family in the 1900 U.S. Census, records show that by April 23, 1910, they were residing in the Buncombe District of Walton County, Georgia. James and Ida had been married for 23 years, and Ida had given birth to 10 children, 9 of whom were still living. James owned and operated a general farm. Troy, age 21, worked as a farmer, and Benjamin, age 20, was a laborer on the home farm. Reuben’s widowed grandmother, Lavina Watson, also lived with the family. She had given birth to eight children, five of whom were still living, and her father had been born at sea. Everyone in the household except James, John, and Maggie could read and write. Reuben, age 22, was a full-time college student. Troy, Clara, Mary, and James were attending school, while Benjamin and Eula were not.

Reuben’s early education took place in Monroe, but his academic ambitions led him to the University of Georgia in Athens, Clarke County. There, he joined the Demosthenian Literary Society, a student organization devoted to public speaking and debate. He also played on the university’s football team, though it was later said he did so “more from a sense of duty, perhaps, than desire.” At the time, he was living in Loganville, Walton County. He graduated in 1912 with a Bachelor of Laws degree.

Reuben “Reub” McDaniel Tuck (1912)

After graduation, Reuben briefly practiced law in Winder, Georgia, before moving to Washington, D.C., where he served as secretary to Congressman Samuel J. Tribble from January 1, 1913, to September 14, 1914. Tribble, a fellow Demosthenian and University of Georgia alumnus, had earned his law degree in 1891 and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1910. Their shared academic and rhetorical background likely fostered a natural mentorship between the two men.

Upon completing his work in Washington, Reuben returned to Monroe and joined the law firm Dean & Tuck in 1916, working as the junior partner alongside the Hon. William O. Dean. Their office was located in the Star Building in Monroe.

On June 5, 1917, Reuben registered for the World War I draft in Walton County. He was a single attorney of medium build and height, with blue eyes and dark sandy hair. He listed prior military experience as a private and musician during his three years at the University of Georgia.

 

World War I draft registration card

Reuben was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army after being accepted into the second officers’ training camp at Fort Oglethorpe, which began on August 27, 1917. He was officially called to active duty on November 27 and assigned to the Supply Company of the 52nd Infantry Regiment, part of the 6th Infantry Division. At the time, newly commissioned officers like Reuben were often referred to in newspapers as “embryo officers”—a term that captured their recent transition from trainees to active-duty leaders. A December 1917 report noted his assignment to Chickamauga Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he served alongside other young officers from Georgia and South Carolina. On July 6, 1918, Reuben boarded the White Star Liner SS Belgic at the Port of New York with 43 fellow officers bound for Europe. After arriving in Liverpool on July 17, the group traveled by train to Winchester, a known staging area for American forces. Reuben was listed as a Second Lieutenant IRC—likely indicating an Infantry Replacement Center—and named his father as his emergency contact.

Reuben on the S.S. Belgic passenger list (July 1918)

Reuben’s military service took him to several key locations, including Chickamauga Park and Camp Gordon in Georgia, Camp Upton in New York, and staging areas in Hoboken and Camp Merritt, New Jersey. From July 6, 1918, to June 5, 1919, he served overseas in France and Germany. He returned to the United States aboard the USS Leviathan, arriving in Hoboken, New Jersey, on June 12. Reuben was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on July 8, 1919.

Reuben’s World War I service card

Shortly thereafter, Reuben entered into a law partnership with Colonel James R. Rogers, forming the firm Rogers & Tuck. Their office, located in the Covington courthouse, placed them at the center of the local legal community. Reuben was in distinguished company—Col. Rogers was widely respected for his sharp intellect, disciplined work ethic, and professional success. As a practicing attorney, Reuben frequently appeared in local newspaper announcements related to his legal career.

The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, April 7, 1921

The 1920 census was unreadable in available records. However, a transcription on Ancestry.com suggests that Reuben, listed as “Rublin Luck,” was living in Covington, Newton County, Georgia, as a boarder in the home of W. W. Childs. Despite the transcription error, the details align closely with his known whereabouts and age at the time.

The engagement of Reuben to Louise Littleton Gheesling of Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia was announced by her mother in The Atlanta Constitution on August 15, 1920. Louise was the daughter of Joshua Hillman Gheesling and Emma D. Goodwin. Their wedding took place on October 21 in Greene County, officiated by Charles C. Davison—a minister who was married to Louise’s sister, Elizabeth May Gheesling.

Marriage license

Reuben and Louise had two children: Goodwin “Tuck” Gheesling Tuck, born in 1923, and Reuben McDaniel Tuck Jr., born in 1930. Goodwin was born in Greensboro, Greene County, and his middle name honored both his maternal grandmother’s maiden name and his uncle, Goodwin H. Gheesling. Sometime after Goodwin’s birth, the family relocated to Covington in Newton County, Georgia, where Reuben Jr. was born. Covington, located just under 50 miles from Greensboro, became the family’s long-term home. The Tuck boys attended school in Covington and joined the Covington First Baptist Church.

In early November 1922, Reuben attended a Masonic Convention in Macon, Georgia. That same month, his law partner, Colonel James R. Rogers, passed away at his Floyd Street home. Reuben assumed full responsibility for the firm Rogers & Tuck.

Reuben was an active member of the Newton County Democratic Executive Committee, serving as chairman from June 1924 until at least January 1940. In June 1925, Covington hosted what was described as its biggest and best Chautauqua yet—an educational and cultural event featuring lectures, music, drama, and civic programming. Reuben was among the prominent citizens who pledged financial support to bring the program to town.

On December 16, 1926, Reuben spoke on the future of the Golden Fleece Lodge during the Masonic Lodge’s Centennial Celebration in Covington. He served as secretary of Golden Fleece Lodge No. 6, a position he held until at least July 1958.

In August 1927, Reuben, Louise, and their son visited his mother, Ida, who was gravely ill. She passed away at age 60 on December 13 at a private sanitarium in Atlanta and was laid to rest at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville two days later.

In October 1928, the Tuck home on Floyd Street hosted a lively gathering in honor of Louise’s sister, Samuella Gheesling McGibony of Greensboro. The Night Bridge Club and other guests enjoyed an evening of cards and camaraderie, with the home adorned in vibrant garden flowers and refreshments served after play.

By April 20, 1930, Reuben, Louise, and their son Goodwin were still living on Floyd Street. Reuben owned the home, valued at $10,000, and continued practicing general law. Goodwin, age 6, was attending school.

In January 1931, Reuben was elected to replace Senator R. P. Lester on the Covington Board of Education. By September 1932, he was practicing law independently out of the N. S. Turner Memorial Building.

The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, September 2, 1932

In January 1933, Reuben attended a possum dinner hosted by Dr. S. L. Waites. Out of respect for two preacher friends, the host served sparkling ginger ale instead of the customary highball. Guests exchanged jokes and stories of days gone by.

Reuben was a charter member of Covington’s Civitan Club, organized in September 1933. The club focused on community service and civic improvement, especially in response to the Great Depression. Dr. Waites was elected president.

On January 30, 1935, Reuben joined a group of citizens from Covington and Newton County in signing a telegram to President Franklin D. Roosevelt in honor of his birthday. The initiative raised funds for the Warm Springs Foundation, which supported the fight against infantile paralysis—a cause closely associated with the President. The telegram read:

Jan. 30, 1935

The President

Whitehouse, Washington, D.C.

Happy birthday, Mr. President, I am proud to participate in the sending of this personal greeting to you and thereby help in the fight against infantile paralysis to which you have given such notable leadership.

Just two years later, on March 10, 1937, Reuben’s father, James, passed away at Reuben’s home in Covington following a brief illness. He was 74 years old and was laid to rest beside his wife at Bay Creek Cemetery in Loganville after a funeral service held at his church near the Youth community.

By April 3, 1940, the Tuck family—Reuben, Louise, and their two sons, Goodwin and Reuben Jr.—continued to reside in their Floyd Street home. In June 1942, Goodwin registered for the World War II draft, and by June 1943, he was stationed at the Medical Replacement Training Center at Camp Barkley in Texas.

Goodwin served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in the Philippines during World War II. After his military service, he pursued a medical degree, eventually becoming a doctor and completing his internship in Louisiana. He spent Christmas 1943 at home with his parents before returning to Fort Sam Houston in Texas.

In December 1944, Reuben was elected to the Covington City School Board. The election was quiet, with only 21 ballots cast, as all candidates ran unopposed. Despite the low turnout, the elected officials were respected civic leaders, and their contributions were expected to be significant. Reuben went on to serve as secretary and treasurer of the School Board for 20 years.

In June 1945, Goodwin—now a Staff Sergeant—was awarded a bronze service star for his role in a mandated island campaign, where he performed specialized laboratory work on Saipan.

Reuben remained active in the Masonic community. At a convention of the Eighth District Masonic Lodges held in Covington in August 1946, he was elected deputy warden. In October 1949, he attended a Golden Fleece Lodge meeting that featured a festive program following a picnic-style supper. The evening included music, remarks (including some by Reuben), a roll call, and the presentation of silver pins to members with 25 or more years of service. Reuben was one of 33 members honored. Over the years, he had served as secretary of the Lodge for at least 18 years and held the position of Worshipful Master for five terms—a role similar to that of a president.

By March 31, 1950, Reuben and Louise were still living on Floyd Street in Covington. Reuben continued practicing law, while Louise maintained the home. In June 1951, they attended their son Goodwin’s graduation from the University of Georgia Medical College in Augusta. Following graduation, Goodwin returned to Newton County, where he became a founding physician at Newton County Hospital. That same summer, Reuben Jr. attended the University of Georgia’s summer session in Athens.

The family experienced a series of losses in the years that followed. Reuben’s brother James passed away at an Atlanta hospital on May 15, 1952, and was laid to rest at Melwood Cemetery in Stone Mountain. After the death of his wife Annie in December 1953, Reuben’s brother John moved in with Reuben and Louise. Then, in January 1954, Reuben’s sister Eula passed away and was buried at Corinth Christian Church Cemetery in Loganville. 

That February, Reuben Jr. returned home for a weekend after completing paratrooper training at Fort Benning. He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg and visited again in October and during the Christmas holidays.

In late August 1956, Reuben was hospitalized at Newton County Hospital but recovered in time to attend a family reunion in Loganville. On May 12, 1958, Reuben Jr. married Penelope “Penny” Pegues Irby at Winder Presbyterian Church. The newlyweds settled in Covington, where Reuben Jr. joined his father’s law practice.

Reuben’s brother Troy died at age 70 on January 7, 1959, at his home in Almon, Newton County. He was buried at Lawnwood Memorial Park in Covington following a service at Shiloh Methodist Church.

In April 1960, Reuben spoke at a supper meeting of American Legion Post 32, which he had helped found decades earlier. He reflected on the Post’s early days, recalling the challenges of operating without a permanent meeting place and the determined three-year effort to build the Legion hall. He reminded younger members that the legacy of the older Legionnaires was now theirs to carry forward. Reuben had served as Post Commander from 1927 to 1930 and advised the Newton County Selective Service Board for at least 15 years.

Reuben was honored by the Covington First Baptist Church congregation following his retirement in January 1962 from his long-held position as church treasurer. A member of the church for 42 years, he had served as treasurer for 35 of them. The celebration was a surprise, arranged so that Reuben himself would unknowingly begin the event. As a member of the choir, he opened the ceremony with a solo performance of “How Great Thou Art,” inviting the congregation to join him in the chorus. After the hymn concluded, he was welcomed to the dais alongside his successor and other church leaders, where a formal resolution was read in recognition of his decades of service.

A former Board Chairman then offered remarks, reflecting on Reuben’s unwavering loyalty and contributions to the church. In addition to his role as treasurer, Reuben had served as a deacon since around 1919, taught Sunday School, acted as superintendent, and participated in numerous committees. As a token of appreciation, the church presented him with a silver serving tray. Near the end of the celebration, someone was overheard saying, “To us, you two are Mr. and Mrs. Covington Baptist Church”—a tribute to both Reuben and Louise’s enduring presence and impact. 

Louise and Reuben Tuck (photo from The Covington News,
January 18, 1962)

Reuben’s brother Benjamin passed away in Boynton Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, on January 24, 1964. He was laid to rest at Palm Beach Memorial Park in Lantana.

In April 1964, Reuben was elected president of the Covington Bar Association, which had recently been reactivated after a decade of inactivity. He was re-elected in 1966, continuing to serve as a respected leader in the local legal community.

Photo used with permission of Royce Patch Smith

On January 30, 1965, Reuben’s wife Louise passed away at age 71 in Newton County, following a stroke she had suffered 10 days earlier. A native of Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, Louise was a graduate of the Georgia Normal and Industrial College—now Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. A gifted musician, she taught music in both Greensboro and Covington schools, was a member of the Covington Music Club, and served as pianist and organist at Covington First Baptist Church for nearly 30 years. Her funeral was held at the church and officiated by Rev. Edgar Callaway. She was laid to rest at Southview Cemetery, also known as Covington Cemetery, on February 1.

For Reuben’s 80th birthday in 1967, the First Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir hosted a surprise celebration with coffee and cake. The entire congregation was invited to gather in the church’s educational building following a Sunday evening service, just ahead of his October 31 birthday.

Reuben was a patient at Newton County Hospital during the week of February 12–18, 1968. That summer, the Tuck family gathered for a reunion at the Lions Club Pavilion in July—an occasion captured in a photograph published in The Covington News on July 18, 1968.

Tuck family (left to right): Dr. Goodwin Tuck, Reuben M. Tuck Jr.,
Joanne Ruth (Tuck) Wasdin, John A. Tuck, Clara Alice (Tuck) Gower,
Col. Reuben M. Tuck, Mary Lou (Tuck) Smith, Charlotte (Tuck) Branham,
James Taylor Tuck, Holland Briscoe Tuck, and Harold Gower
(photo from The Covington News, July 18, 968)

On March 2, 1968, Reuben was honored for his 25 years of service as secretary and 7 years as Master of Golden Fleece Lodge No. 6 at a Family Night supper at the Masonic Hall. He was also informed that an annual $500 scholarship for a qualified student from Newton County High School had been established and would be called “The Reuben M. Tuck Scholarship Fund.” Scholarship eligibility was not limited to students attending college, but was also open to those for any training beyond high school, such as nurses training or technical school. 

Less than a year later, on February 5, 1969, Reuben’s brother John passed away at Reuben’s home in Covington. He was laid to rest on February 7 at Melwood Cemetery in Stone Mountain, following a funeral service officiated by Rev. Edward Callaway at Ward’s Glenwood Chapel in Decatur.

Just three months later, on May 20, 1969, Reuben himself passed away peacefully at home. His funeral was held the following day at Covington First Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Edgar Callaway, with the Masons serving as honorary escort. He was laid to rest at Southview Cemetery. Reuben was survived by his sons, Goodwin and Reuben Jr.; sisters Maggie, Mary, and Alice; and sisters-in-law Vecilia (Webb) Tuck Cowan, Rubye (Tanner) Tuck, and Mrs. Gene Amos—whose exact relation remains uncertain.

Photo from Larry Carter, Find A Grave ID 47629977

Throughout his life, Reuben was deeply committed to civic service. He was the first president of Covington Little League, serving for 15 years, and also led the city’s Board of Parks and Recreation. He served as Covington’s city attorney for approximately 25 years. In addition to his involvement with the American Legion and the Masonic Lodge, he was a member of the Knights of Pythias.

Reuben was known for his love of walking and never owned a car. He was often seen taking three-mile strolls around Covington, using the time to reflect, enjoy nature, and connect with neighbors. His quiet presence and steady leadership left a lasting imprint on the community he served so faithfully.

References

• Assignments for Embryo Officers, The Augusta Herald, Augusta, Georgia, November 28, 1917.
• Bar Association Turns Down Jury Recommendation, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 15, 1966.
• Benjamin L. Tuck, The Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, Florida, January 24, 1964.
• Call Meeting Democratic Executive Committee of Newton County, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, June 12, 1924.
• Charter Members Honored by Legion: Past Commanders Share Plaudits at Supper Meeting, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, April 7, 1960.
• Choir Honors Col. R. M. Tuck, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, November 2, 1967.
• Christopher Pegues Irby III, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1898–1929.
• Citizens Cooperate in Sending Telegram, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, February 1, 1935.
• Civitan Club is Organized in Covington, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, September 29, 1933.
• Col. and Mrs. Tuck Entertain in Honor House Guest, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, October 5, 1928.
• Col. J. F. Rogers Died Monday Night, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, November 30, 1922.
• Col. Reuben M. Tuck, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, May 20, 1969.
• Col. Reuben Tuck Honored at First Baptist Ceremony: Served Local Church as Treasurer for 35 Years, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 18, 1962.
• Col. Reuben Tuck in 43rd Year as City Attorney, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, October 28, 1965.
• Col. Tuck Heads Reactivated Bar Assn. in City, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, April 9, 1964.
• Committee Sets Regulations for Coming Primary, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 25, 1940.
• Compton, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, January 11, 1954.
• Covington Lodge Observed Family Night as Tuck, Dearing Honored, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, March 7, 1968.
• Covington Lodge Observed Family Night as Tuck, Dearing Honored, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, March 7, 1968.
• Covington to Have Chautauqua in June, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 25, 1924.
• Demosthenian Literary Society, About Us; https://www.dlsuga.com/about. 
• Demosthenian Literary Society; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demosthenian_Literary_Society. 
• Dr. S. L. Waites is Host to a Number of Friends at Possum Dinner on Thursday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 27, 1933.
• Final Tribute Was Paid Mrs. R. M. Tuck Monday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, February 4, 1965.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249982370/rubye_lucille-tuck: accessed October 1, 2025), memorial page for Rubye Lucille Tanner Tuck (16 Sep 1892–14 Jan 1975), Find a Grave Memorial ID 249982370, citing Palm Beach Memorial Park, Lantana, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA; maintained by George S. Ellington (contributor 15672281).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249982307/benjamin_luther-tuck: accessed September 30, 2025), memorial page for Benjamin Luther Tuck (16 Dec 1889–24 Jan 1964), Find a Grave Memorial ID 249982307, citing Palm Beach Memorial Park, Lantana, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA; maintained by George S. Ellington (contributor 15672281).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110382235/james_robert-tuck: accessed September 30, 2025), memorial page for James Robert “Jim” Tuck (23 Dec 1901–15 May 1952), Find a Grave Memorial ID 110382235, citing Melwood Cemetery, Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Linda Davis (contributor 46609907).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/96704224/troy_chester-tuck: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Troy Chester Tuck (30 Oct 1888–1959), Find a Grave Memorial ID 96704224, citing Lawnwood Memorial Park, Covington, Newton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Larry Carter (contributor 47629977).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44902155/alice_clara-gower: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Alice Clara Tuck Gower (21 Oct 1891–12 Feb 1983), Find a Grave Memorial ID 44902155, citing Bay Creek Cemetery, Loganville, Walton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by TangerineTree (contributor 50855436).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21478289/eula_t-compton: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Eula T Tuck Compton (8 Jul 1894–10 Jan 1954), Find a Grave Memorial ID 21478289, citing Corinth Memorial Gardens, Loganville, Walton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Sarah Locklin Taylor (contributor 46921363).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112315911/mary_lou-smith: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Mary Lou Tuck Smith (12 Sep 1899–10 Jun 1988), Find a Grave Memorial ID 112315911, citing Melwood Cemetery, Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Family Finder (contributor 47978310).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110382235/james_robert-tuck: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for James Robert “Jim” Tuck (23 Dec 1901–15 May 1952), Find a Grave Memorial ID 110382235, citing Melwood Cemetery, Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Linda Davis (contributor 46609907).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/249979982/maggie_ruth-hawkins: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for Maggie Ruth Tuck Hawkins (8 Oct 1908–10 Sep 1984), Find a Grave Memorial ID 249979982, citing Resthaven Cemetery, Decatur, DeKalb County, Georgia, USA; maintained by George S. Ellington (contributor 15672281).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/72962885/james_william-tuck: accessed September 11, 2025), memorial page for James William Tuck (1864–10 Mar 1937), Find a Grave Memorial ID 72962885, citing Bay Creek Cemetery, Loganville, Walton County, Georgia, USA; maintained by SDG (contributor 46878874).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/148970656/reuben_mcdaniel-tuck: accessed September 29, 2025), memorial page for Reuben McDaniel Tuck Jr. (14 Nov 1930–4 Dec 2011), Find a Grave Memorial ID 148970656, citing Lake Eunice Seventh-Day Adventist Cemetery, Detroit Lakes, Becker County, Minnesota, USA; Maintained by Annette (contributor 48158744).
• Gheesling-Tuck, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, August 15, 1920.
• Golden Fleece Names Officers Next Tuesday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 21, 1944.
• Goodwin Gheesling Tuck, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Graduating Class, University of Georgia, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, June 9, 1912.
• Here is List of Georgians Who Have Been Accepted for Second Training Camp, The Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, August 12, 1917.
• Hospital Notes, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, February 22, 1968.
• J. R. Tuck, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, May 16, 1952.
• James W. Tuck Dies at Covington, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, March 11, 1937.
• James W. Tuck, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, March 12, 1937.
• James W. Tuck, U.S., Army Transport Service Arriving and Departing Passenger Lists, 1910–1939.
• John A. Tuck, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, February 13, 1969.
• Knight, Lucian Lamar, A Standard History of Georgia and Georgians, vol. 4, pp. 2205–2206, Lewis Publishing Company, 1917.
• Legion to Cite Selective Service Officials Tuesday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, April 2, 1964.
• Local News Items, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, July 31, 1919, September 4, 1919, November 2, 1922.
• Masonic Convention Attracts 300, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, September 5, 1946.
• Masonic Members Given Pins for 25-Years Service, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, October 27, 1949.
• Miss Irby’s Marriage to Mr. Tuck Announced, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, June 25, 1958.
• Miss Irby’s Marriage to Mr. Tuck Announced, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, June 25, 1958.
• Mrs. Jas. W. Tuck, of Logansville, Dies, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, December 14, 1927.
• N. S. Turner Memorial Building, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, September 2, 1932.
• News Notes from Newton County Hospital, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, August 30, 1956.
• Obituary for Dr Goodwin G. Tuck, Wheeler Funeral Home, Covington, Georgia, 2018; https://wheelerfuneralhome.store.helloflowers.com/obituaries/goodwin-tuck/#!/Obituary. 
• Personals, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, June 3, 1943, December 30, 1943, May 31, 1951, June 14, 1951, February 25, 1954, October 21, 1954, December 16, 1954, and August 30, 1956.
• Professional Cards, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, July 7, 1921.
• Programme, Centennial Celebration Golden Fleece Lodge (December 16, 1926), The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 17, 1926.
• R. M. Tuck, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, May 21, 1969.
• Reuben M. Tuck, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Reuben McDaniel Tuck and Troy Chester Tuck, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Reuben McDaniel Tuck, Georgia, U.S., World War I Service Cards, 1917–1919.
• Reuben McDaniel Tuck, U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 1912.
• Roll Call Feature of Masonic Meet, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, July 24, 1958.
• Samuel J. Tribble; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_J._Tribble. 
• Senator Lester Resigns from School Board, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 9, 1931.
• Sergeant Goodwin Tuck Awarded Service Star, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, June 28, 1945.
• Smith is Elected Masonic Lodge WM, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 10, 1946.
• Social and Personal Mention, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, August 19, 1927.
• Storied Windows, Yearbook, Westminster School, Atlanta, Georgia, 1954.
• Three Councilmen, 3 Board Members Named in Election, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, December 7, 1944.
• Troy C. Tuck Dies at His Home, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 8, 1959.
• Tuck Family Reunion Held Sunday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, July 18, 1968.
• Tuck Funeral Held at Almon Church, Friday, The Covington News, Covington, Georgia, January 15, 1959.
• Tuck, Col. Reuben M. Tuck, Sr., The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, May 21, 1969.
• Tuck, Mrs. R. M., The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, February 1, 1965.
• Tuck, The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia, February 6, 1969.
• U.S. Federal Census, Buncombe, Walton County, Georgia, 1910.
• U.S. Federal Census, Covington, Newton County, Georgia, 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, 1920.

Rebecca “Ree” M. Bryant

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.

Rebecca M. Bryant was born on January 28, 1895, in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, to Eugene Herbert Bryant and Nancy Tallulah “Lula” Bouchelle. She was one of 14 children, with siblings Leroy Bryant, Clinton Bouchelle Bryant, J. Iverson Bryant, Nellie Lynne Bryant, Mamie Bryant, Hugh Crawford Bryant, Herbert Alexander Bryant, Clark Howell Bryant Sr., Clyde Bryant (a female), Emily Elizabeth Bryant, Noel T. Bryant, William M. Bryant, and an unnamed infant son. Nicknamed Ree, Rebecca is my 2nd cousin 3x removed. Our closest shared ancestors are her great-grandparents, Charles L. Lankford and Miss Moore, who are my 4th great-grandparents. Her grandmother, Elizabeth Ann Lankford, was a sibling to my 3rd great grandfather, James Meriweather Lankford.

Before Ree’s birth, the family endured the loss of two children: J. Iverson Bryant passed away in infancy on December 12, 1887, at just 10 months old, and was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery in Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County. Nellie Lynne Bryant tragically died on December 30, 1892, just shy of her fourth birthday, after suffering severe burns. She, too, was laid to rest at Bairdstown Cemetery.

By June 5, 1900, the Bryant family resided in the Falling Creek district of Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia. At that time, Ree’s parents had been married for 18 years. Her mother, Lula, was recorded as the mother of nine children, seven of whom were still living. Eugene, a farmer, owned the family home. Leroy, Clinton, Mamie, and Hugh were attending school, while five-year-old Ree (mistakenly listed as a son) stayed home with her younger brothers, Herbert (3) and Clark (1, mistakenly recorded as Mark). The household also included two black servants, Jurls Kidd (21, a farm laborer) and Hattie Alere (20, a cook), though the names are somewhat difficult to read with certainty.

On November 15, 1909, the Bryant family faced a third devastating loss with the death of an infant son. The tombstone inscription, “Infant Son of E. H. & N. T. Bryant,” suggests he was likely stillborn. He was laid to rest in the Bryant family plot at Bairdstown Cemetery.

By April 19, 1910, Ree and her family remained in the Falling Creek district of Maxeys. At this time, her parents had been married 28 years. The census record listed her mother as the mother of 11 children, all supposedly alive, though this was incorrect. Ree’s father, a farmer on a general farm, owned their home, which was classified as a farm, free and clear. Ree’s brothers, Hugh (17) and Herbert (12), were working as farm laborers on the family farm. Her sister Mamie (19) was neither employed nor attending school. Ree (16) was attending school alongside her siblings Hugh, Herbert, Clark, Clyde, and Emily. Except for Emily, Noel, and William, all the children could read and write. Ree’s widowed grandfather, William Bryant, along with her aunts Sarah and Rebecca, and uncle Jasper lived three doors away. 

Tragically, Ree’s brother Noel passed away on November 27, 1912, at the age of seven. He, too, was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery.

Despite extensive searches on multiple online genealogy sites, I have been unable to locate Ree in the 1920 census. She was no longer living at home or with any of her siblings. However, I did find a news article regarding the Winfield School in Thomson, Georgia, which provided insight into Ree’s early career.

Ree’s entry into the workforce was one of service. When school opened in September 1921, she was teaching the first and second grades. The school offered classes from at least first through eleventh grades and had an enrollment of 66 students. At that time, the school appeared to have only four teachers, each overseeing multiple grades. Ree was living in Maxeys, approximately 53 miles away from Thomson, so it is unclear whether she commuted or lived in Thomson during the school year.

In October 1926, Ree’s name was nominated by a friend for the Athens Popular Lady Contest sponsored by the Northeast Georgia Calf Club and Poultry Show under the Athens Chamber of Commerce. The Banner-Herald in Athens published a list of several hundred young women who were nominated, along with a free voting coupon for readers to submit their votes.

In early January 1930, Ree appeared on a list of shareholders for the Mutual Building and Loan Association, which was published in The Banner-Herald. She was set to receive a seven percent per annum dividend.

By April 2, 1930, Ree was residing as a bookkeeper at Saint Mary’s Hospital on Milledge Avenue in Athens, in Militia District 216 of Clarke County, Georgia. She lived with a 28-year-old female superintendent named Jewel Haralson and 14 female student nurses, ranging in age from 18 to 28. Ree continued to live at St. Mary’s Hospital and work as a bookkeeper in 1931.

In June 1932, Ree slipped while getting out of a car in front of the nurses’ home at St. Mary’s Hospital and broke her ankle.

Ree often spent time in Atlanta with friends, including Joseph “Joe” Carlton Fambro. In September 1932, Ree, Joe, his daughter Edith “Gwendolyn” Fambro, and a friend named Nell Seagraves were there. They made at least two trips there in 1933, in May and August. In October 1934, Ree, Joe, and Gwendolyn spent a Sunday in Atlanta. In September 1935, Ree, Joe, and Gwendolyn once again traveled to Atlanta, accompanying a Miss Jackson, likely a nurse friend of Ree’s, who would be attending training at Grady Hospital.

Ree’s brother, Leroy, a well-known medical doctor in Maxeys, passed away there on September 24, 1932, after suffering from pneumonia. He was buried at Sunset Street Cemetery in Maxeys. In mid-August 1933, Ree traveled to Gary, Indiana, and Chicago, Illinois, to visit relatives. While in Chicago, Ree planned to attend the Century of Progress Exposition, also known as the World’s Fair. In July 1934, Ree went on a vacation in Clayton, Georgia, located in Rabun County and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains.

By April 1, 1935, Ree was living in Athens. In early October 1935, Ree and friends, including Joe and his daughter Gwendolyn, attended a fair in Atlanta. This was likely the Southeastern Fair held at the Lakewood Fairgrounds, a popular annual event featuring rides, carnival games, fireworks, live acts, livestock exhibition halls, and, of course, food. Later, they also held nightly stock car races around a small lake. The home I grew up in Atlanta was just down the street from the fairgrounds, and we attended every fall. If I recall correctly, the school system passed out free passes to all the students. Ree may have even ridden the wooden roller coaster featured, and eventually destroyed, in the Smokey and the Bandit movies.

Ree’s brother, Clinton, passed away suddenly in Athens on June 14, 1935. He was laid to rest at Stephens Cemetery following a service at Prince Avenue Baptist Church.

In late July 1935, Ree spent several days in Atlanta visiting friends and relatives. Coincidentally, Joe and Gwendolyn were also in Atlanta visiting friends. In mid-December, Ree and Joe traveled to Maxeys to visit Ree’s parents. In November 1935, Ree was one of over 400 residents of Athens who subscribed to the Salvation Army’s maintenance fund campaign for 1936.

In January 1936, Ree, along with her brother Clark and his wife Sarah, traveled to Maxeys to visit their parents.

In February 1936, Ree purchased “Iris City” stamps sold by the Tallulah Falls Circle to advertise Athens throughout the country and raise funds for Tallulah Falls Industrial School scholarships. The stamps were used to mail letters and raise awareness about Athens to prospective tourists.

In early July 1936, Ree, Joe, Gwendolyn, and Joe’s sister Sue joined Ree’s parents for dinner in honor of her brother Herbert, who was visiting from Gary, Indiana. Sometime after that visit, Ree traveled to New York, returning home by the end of July.

In mid-September 1936, Ree, Joe, and Sue traveled to Bowersville, located in northeast Georgia in Hart County, near the South Carolina border, to visit Dick Ferguson. While there, they stopped in Royston, Georgia, about seven miles away, to pick up Lettie Burnett, who traveled back to Athens with them. Ree spent a Saturday in mid-November in Atlanta.

Ree’s engagement to Joe, whose parents were Augustus “Gus” A. Fambro and Nancy Emily “Emma” Spinks, was announced in The Atlanta Constitution on December 13, 1936. Before the announcement, Ree spent several days visiting her parents in Maxeys. After at least four years of dating, Ree and Joe were married in Athens on Sunday, December 27, 1936, at 2:30 p.m. in a ceremony officiated by Dr. James C. Wilkinson, pastor. Ree wore a stylish gray outfit with green highlights and matching accessories.

The couple honeymooned in Florida before returning to their home on Oak Street in Athens. A wedding announcement praised Ree, stating, “her genial happy personality is beloved by all who knew her.” Joe was well-known in Athens from a business perspective and was considered “quite popular.” Guests presented the newlyweds with an array of gifts, including silver, china, glass, and personal items.

Joe, a widower, was previously married to Pearl Virginia Dickerson on October 31, 1914, in Athens. Tragically, Pearl passed away just two years later, in September 1916, following a brief illness, leaving Joe to care for Gwendolyn, born in September 1915, alone. At the time of Joe’s first marriage, he worked in the retail grocery industry in Athens.

After Pearl’s death, Joe and Gwendolyn moved in with his parents in Athens. Joe’s 1918 World War I draft registration card described him as of medium height and stout build, with blue eyes and dark brown hair.

Gwendolyn married Jerome Phillips Stovall in Clarke County on February 19, 1939.

On May 16, 1940, Ree and Joe resided in the Princeton Factory community of Athens. Above their entry, the census enumerator noted, “Here begins enumeration of Fair Haven Sanitarium.” Immediately after their entry, he added, “Here ends enumeration of Fair Haven Sanitarium, only [unreadable] are living in nurse’s cottage as caretaker’s sanitarium has been closed 2 years.”

Ree worked as a hostess in the general hospital industry, classified as government work. In the 1940s, a hospital hostess greeted patients and visitors, assisted with paperwork, coordinated meals, maintained cleanliness, and supported nursing staff. The census enumerator recorded ‘40’ in the hours worked column, but ‘0’ in the weeks worked column and ‘0’ in the income column, indicating she had no other income. This suggests that Ree might have been a volunteer rather than an employee. Joe worked a 36-hour week as a salesman at a retail grocery, earning $540 annually. Ree had attended three years of college, while Joe had a seventh-grade education.

On April 15, 1941, Ree’s mother, Nancy, passed away suddenly. She was laid to rest on April 17 at Bairdstown Cemetery following a service at the Baptist Church in Maxeys.

Ree’s husband, Joe (aged 57), tragically died on March 23, 1943, at Athens General Hospital from injuries sustained when he was struck by a police patrol car early on March 21 in front of his Prince Avenue home. The accident occurred as he stepped out of a taxi cab into the path of the police car during heavy rain. Despite efforts to avoid him, the police car swerved and crashed into a telephone pole. Joe’s funeral was held at Oconee Street Methodist Church. According to his obituary, he was buried at Tuckston Cemetery. Joe’s death certificate records his place of burial as Athens, GA/Tuckston. However, Find-A-Grave has a memorial for him at Lester Cemetery, including a gravestone photo, making it difficult to confirm the correct location.

The physician who signed Joe’s death certificate was C. H. Bryant, MD, of Comer, Georgia, who was Ree’s brother, Clark Howell Bryant. As there was no hospital in Comer, he would have used the Athens General Hospital, the primary medical facility in the region. In addition to Ree, Joe was survived by his daughter, Gwendolyn; sister, Sue; brother, Grady; and grandson, James Carlton Stovall. A native of Clarke County and a lifelong resident of Athens, Joe was a beloved figure in the community and had worked in the grocery business for many years. He was also a member of the Elks Club.

Ree’s father, Eugene, passed away at the age of 90 in Atlanta on June 14, 1948. He was laid to rest on June 16 at Bairdstown Cemetery following a service at the Christian Church in Maxeys.

On April 10, 1950, a widowed Ree lived as a roomer, along with six others, in the home of David L. and Vivian Earnest in Athens. Ree worked a 40-hour week as a receptionist in a doctor’s office. At least two others in the home also worked in the health industry. In late August 1951, Ree spent time in the General Hospital for a “continued illness.”

The 1960s were unkind to the Bryant family, with Ree losing four of her siblings. The first was her brother Hugh, who passed away in Greensboro, Greene County, Georgia, on July 27, 1962, following an extended illness. He was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery following a service at Bairdstown Baptist Church. At that time, Ree lived in Maxeys. Ree’s sister Mamie passed away in Lowndes County, Georgia, on January 15, 1965, and was buried at West Hill Cemetery in Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia. Her brother William passed away in DeKalb County, Georgia, on April 17, 1967. He was laid to rest at Decatur Cemetery in Decatur, DeKalb County, on April 19, following a service at Trinity Chapel. Ree’s brother Herbert passed away in Baldwin County, Georgia, on March 15, 1969, and was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery.

Ree passed away in Fulton County, Georgia, on October 23, 1974. She was buried at Bairdstown Cemetery. A retired receptionist, Ree was a member of Maxeys Christian Church.

Bryant family plot, Bairdstown Cemetery

References

• $231,500 Subscribed Capital: Mutual Building and Loan Association Announces First Semi-Annual Dividend Paid January 1, 1930, The Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, January 5, 1930.
• Athens, Georgia, City Directory, 1931.
• Bryant, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, April 18, 1967.
• Dickerson-Fambro, Athens Banner, Athens, Georgia, November 1, 1914.
• Edith Gwendolyn Fambro, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978. 
• Edith Gwendolyn Fambro, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• Engagements, Bryant-Fambro, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, December 13, 1936.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149955706/mamie_l-foster: accessed February 10, 2025), memorial page for Mamie L Bryant Foster (10 Mar 1891–15 Jan 1965), Find a Grave Memorial ID 149955706, citing West Hill Cemetery, Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia, USA; maintained by Mike Borja (contributor 47317107).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83711335/joseph_carlton-fambro: accessed February 9, 2025), memorial page for Joseph Carlton Fambro (26 Jan 1886–23 Mar 1943), Find a Grave Memorial ID 83711335, citing Lester Cemetery, Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, USA; maintained by D.J. (contributor 46939014).
• Funeral on Monday for Dr. Leroy Bryant, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, September 26, 1932.
• Funeral Services Are Held for C. B. Bryant Yesterday, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, June 16, 1935.
• Help Your Favorite Candidate to Win!, The Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, October 21, 1926.
• Hugh Crawford Bryant, Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, August 2, 1962.
• Injuries Are Fatal to Joe Fambro; Services Wednesday, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, March 23, 1943.
• J. Iverson Bryant, Noel T. Bryant, Nellie Lynn Bryant, Herbert A. Bryant, and Infant Son Bryant tombstones, Bairdstown Cemetery, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
• Joe Carlton Fambro, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918.
• Joseph C. Fambro, Georgia Deaths, 1919–98.
• Joseph Carlton Fambro, Certificate of Death no. 91 4597, Georgia Department of Public Health, 1943.
• Lakewood Fairgrounds; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakewood_Fairgrounds. 
• Luce, Cortlandt F., Jr., Southeastern Fair at Lakewood Park, https://dlg.usg.edu/record/geh_athpc_677.
• Mamie B. Foster, Herbert A. Bryant, Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919–1998.
• Maxeys Matters, Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, January 5, 1893.
• Maxeys News, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, December 15, 1935, January 17, 1936, July 5, 1936, December 13, 1936.
• Miss Ree Bryant Weds Mr. Joseph Carlton Fambro Sunday, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, December 28, 1936.
• More Athens Business Firms and Individuals Buy Stamps, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, February 11, 1936.
• Mr. E. H. Bryant, The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia, June 16, 1948.
• Mrs. Joe Fambro to be Buried This P.M.: Died, After Protracted Illness, at Home of Mother at Hartwell, Athens Banner, Athens, Georgia, September 10, 1916.
• Mrs. Nancy Tallulah Bryant, Oglethorpe Echo, Crawford, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, April 24, 1941.
• Mrs. Rebecca Sambro, Augusta Chronicle, Augusta, Georgia, October 24, 1974.
• Nancy T. Bryant, Georgia Deaths, 1919–98.
• Nearly 400 Athenians Aid Salvation Army’s 1936 Maintenance Fund, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, November 3, 1935.
• Pearl Virginia Dickinson, Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• Personal Mention, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, August 20, 1933, September 1, 1933, July 16, 1934, October 9, 1934, September 15, 1936.
• Personal Mention, The Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, June 20, 1932, September 8, 1932, September 22, 1932, May 10, 1933, August 16, 1933, July 29, 1935, September 17, 1935, October 9, 1935.
• Personal visit to Bryant Family Plot, Bairdstown Cemetery, Bairdstown, Oglethorpe County, Georgia.
• Personals, Athens Banner-Herald, Athens, Georgia, July 30, 1936, November 23, 1936, August 30, 1951.
• Rebecca B. Fambro, Georgia Deaths, 1919–98.
• Ree Bryant, Georgia, Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828–1978.
• U.S. Federal Census, Athens Ward 1, Clarke County, Georgia, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Athens, Princeton Factory, Clarke County, Georgia, 1940.
• U.S. Federal Census, Falling Creek, Maxeys, Oglethorpe County, Georgia, 1900, 1910, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Militia District 216, Clarke County, Georgia, 1930.
• Winfield News, The McDuffie Progress, Thomson, Georgia, September 2, 1921.