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WILLIAMS FAMILY STORY CONTINUED (August 2024)
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This album is an extension/addition to the website George W. Williams created in early 2000. It was reactivated for two years by Aaron Rose with his generous donation. (Nannie was the daughter of his great grandfather, John Robert Bowles.)
Irma Divine has added the 2024 reunion and a few photos of past reunions. Help with some names would be appreciated in comments or sent to msirmadivine@gmail.com.
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a new year. 2026 (January 5, 2026)Looking forward to additions to our family website |
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Posted 2025 (Late 2024 and 2025)Family happenings and additions 2024 and 2025
geneology chart as of Feb 4, 2025 |
| 478 Visits
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August 2,3,4 2024 Memories (August 2024)Displays-Memories-Recognitions-
and Obit of John Robert Bowles, great grandfather of us 1st cousins |
| 627 Visits
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PAST REUNIONS (August 17, 2024)STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS.
I think these are dated correctly, however correct me and help with names by email (msirmadivine@gmail.com) or entering in the comment section. |
| 561 Visits
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thewilliamsclan (June 25, 2003)Welcome one and all. This project has been some time in the making and has had many twists and turns on it's road to existence. I chose this method after viewing a similar site. The title MorganandNannie, was chosen because they, Morgan and Nannie Williams, my parents, are the focal point. I will try to give a history of the albums as you view them, to the best of my ability.
William Morgan Williams was born 30 January 1892, the son of William Harrison Williams and Rachel Ann Christopher Cromer. Morgan was an identical twin to Harvey Lawson Williams. On 13 August 1912, Morgan married Nancy Elizabeth "Nannie" Bowles. She was born 5 July 1895, the daughter of John Robert "Bob" Bowles and Ollie Ward.
Morgan and Nannie were married over 49 years when Dad died on 10 March 1962. Mom died 28 March 1974.
Fourteen children were born of this marriage, eleven lived to adulthood. Three sons died in infancy. |
| 1959 Visits
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Mom's Ancestry (July 1, 2003)| Mom's ancestry was almost unknown to me as I grew up. I did know her two sisters, and an uncle and aunt, but that was about it. Since then I have delved into it a bit more. These are the few pictures that I have. |
| 2835 Visits
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Dad's Ancestry (July 1, 2003)These are a few of the pictures of Dad's family. This album has been growing since I started this. I knew Dad's family much better than I did Mom's. Most of them lived locally and we visited more often.
I still did not know Aunt Ethel's or Aunt Mary's family very well though. |
| 881 Visits
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Rev. Morgan & Nannie Williams (July 1, 2003)| These are some pictures of Mom & Dad over the years. If anyone can add to what I know of these pictures, please do. |
| 1111 Visits
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Ethel Pearl Parsley (July 2, 2003)Pearl was the oldest, born in May 1913, she just celebrated her 90th birthday. She was an educator first & foremost. She was the family leader, a dynamic talent. I loved all of my siblings, but I looked up to Pearl more than any other.
She married George B. Parsley and had three children, Irma, Elaine and George William.
Pearl died September 7th, 2005 at the age of 92. |
| 570 Visits
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Lella Mae Beckner (July 2, 2003)Lella was born May 1918 & died November 2002.
Lella had an inner beauty that I cannot describe, you had to know her. Her God and her family was paramount in her life.
She married Walton Beckner and had three children, Mona Lee, Carolyn Sue, and Walton Thomas. |
| 1506 Visits
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Mary Etsye Simmons (July 2, 2003)The planner, the organizer, the one who fought to keep the family together. She will always be remembered for the family reunions she hosted.
She married Ray Simmons and they had five children, Donna Lynn, David Ray, Roy Edward, Randall Keith, and Mark Jamison.
Etsye died 12 May 2004, two months short of her 84th birthday. |
| 934 Visits
48 Images
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Thomas Denver Williams (July 2, 2003)The only brother I ever knew. The other three were all dead before I was born. Ecology, the outdoors and aviation were his loves. The age distance (19 years my senior) prevented us from being close until I grew up.
He married Aileen Saylor and they had five children, Debbie, Karen, Paul Dean, Marisa and Rex. |
| 612 Visits
62 Images
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Flora Kathryn Kidd (July 9, 2003)1925-1997
Quiet, not as out going as most of the other sisters. She loved family and friends, and I loved her.
She married Henry D. Kidd and had five children, Connie, Cathy, Steve, Diana & Jeff. |
| 599 Visits
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Bertie Jewel Overbey (July 26, 2003)Truly a free spirit, she marched to her own drummer. I remember so well her political/religous debates with Dad. They both were passionate in their beliefs, and I think they enjoyed the verbal duels.
She married Kenneth Overbey and had five children, William Martin (Bill), Linda, Becky, Susan and Tim. |
| 808 Visits
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Zuma Louise Barnard (July 26, 2003)Zuma Louise Williams 1930-2000
I have never seen a faith like hers. To witness her faith in the face of death, made me doubt mine.
Devoted wife, mother and loving sister.
She married John Hubert Barnard, they had three children, Rhonda Jo, Richard & Rosalind |
| 752 Visits
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Zula Marie Barnard (July 26, 2003)A wonderful sister. She never had a family of her own, but loved her extended family. She shares my love of dogs.
She first married Ray Maiden. They were divorced. She married Marvin Herrin. She married John Barnard. Zula had no children. |
| 797 Visits
29 Images
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Lois Pauline Cloyd (July 26, 2003)Meticulous to a fault, the ultimate manager. She dedicated her life to family and her role as educator.
She married Larry Calvin Cloyd and had four children, Brent, Brenda, Beverly & Bryan.
Lois died February 8, 2016. |
| 864 Visits
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Janet Faye Sparkman (July 26, 2003)The closest to me in age, we played together, we fought together. I remember her protecting me from a bully at school once. A passion for writing, she spearheaded the probe into family geneaology and sparked my interest in the subject.
Jan married William Walden "Tim" Sparkman. They had three children, Alan, Allison & Amy. |
| 788 Visits
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George Walton Williams (July 1, 2003)Well, it's my web site and I can be an egotist if I want to. Just thought I would share some of the days of yore with you. I was born last, the youngest of the 14 children. Mom was 46 years old when I was born. I was named after the two brother-in-laws that I had at that time, George B. Parsley and Walton Beckner. I have always been proud to have been named after them.
Married Barbara Jean Gilliam and had one daughter, Tammy Sue. |
| 1574 Visits
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The Brothers (July 3, 2003)| I never knew my three little brothers that died in infancy. They were all gone before I was born. But I heard a lot about them, and somehow felt that I knew them. I was always saddened by the loss. A few years ago, I spearheaded an effort to put new and more definitive stones at their graves.I just wanted to be sure they were not forgotten. |
| 437 Visits
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In Memory of Austin Michelle Cloyd (April 30, 2007)On April 16th, 2007, a tragedy stuck the campus of Virginia Tech University. This tragedy became very personal when Austin Michelle Cloyd was identified as one of the victims. This album is intended as a monument to and a celebration of her life. Though just short of her 19th birthday, it is safe to say that Austin touched more lives than many of us will ever do in a normal lifespan.
May she rest in peace, and the family find comfort in knowing that her memory will live on by the deeds she performed and the happiness she gave to others. |
| 1752 Visits
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Family Reunions (July 2, 2003)| My sister Mary Etsye, the fourth born child of mom and dad, held family as a sacred entity. In 1955 she organized and hosted the first of many family reunions. She loved doing it and though the sites changed, we always knew that late July meant great food, fun and gospel music. |
| 761 Visits
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Williams Reunion 2005 (August 1, 2005)July 29th, 30th and 31st, 2005 will stay in my memory as long as I live. I hope it will be one your treasured memories also. The reunion was suggested by two or three of the Morgan and Nannie's grandchildren when I went home when Etsye died in May, 2004.
So plans were made to hold the reunion in London, Ky at the Levi Jackson Wilderness road state park.
The format was expanded to include cousins on both sides of the family, in addition to the descendents of Morgan & Nannie.
On Friday morning two fifteen passenger vans left the Sleep Inn in London to tour Mom's old home places in Jackson and Clay county. Jan and I acted as tour guides as we attempted to give a family history/geneaology lesson to three generations of Bowles and Ward offspring. We visited burial sites of numerous relatives and even found one live distant cousin, Daniel Sexton.
Friday night after dinner, we all gathered at the campground in Levi Jackson park for a fireside visit while the youngsters roasted marshmallows. What a wonderful night.
On Saturday morning we needed three vans to carry the load as we toured Laurel county to visit the several places mom and dad lived while we were growing up. We also passed where several of the grandchildren had either been born, or had lived as children. On Saturday night more than 100 (final count still pending) members of the Williams clan met at Levi Jackson State Park for a catered picnic and several hours of visiting with family, and of course many, many pictures were taken.
The three day reunion ended with a bang. Sunday morning the family, with representatives from Morgan's family leading the way, was joined by members of the Jarvis Williams family, the Harve Williams family and the Sarah Elam family to attend morning worship services at St. John's Reform Church where dad had pastored for more than 25 years.
The sermon was shared by three of Dad and Mom's Grandsons who were ordained ministers. After singing hymns written by Dad, the three grandsons gave a wonderful message.
Following the services, the family travelled to Snuffer Cemetery where five generations of the Williams family is buried. There we had a brief memorial service and then left to return to our own hectic pace with what I hope will be treasured memories and a greater sense of family. |
| 1086 Visits
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Family Reunion 2008 (August 4, 2008)Another family reunion in the record books. I would like to start by giving a big thank you to two people who really contributed their time, hard work and I suspect some money to help make the reunion successful. Susan Burgess and Jan Sparkman, I salute you!
The attendance was not what I had hoped for, but the spirit was there and I believe everyone had a great time. The talent show was a "hoot", and the winners were the audience who got to enjoy the array of talent displayed.
Anyone who has photos you would like to share, send them to me and I will add them. |
| 565 Visits
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The Home Places (July 1, 2003)| We rented when I was growing up. In my 18 years at home, I think we lived in 8 different houses. As we moved from place to place, we always "named" the houses, so we could distinguish which one we were talking about. Usually, they were named for the person we rented from, or perhaps something referring to the location. Each house had it's own personality, and thusly, a place in my memory. As you view these, if you are of the generation that remembers visiting "grandpa & grandma" some of these might seem familiar. |
| 536 Visits
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Places In The Heart (October 9, 2003)| This album is the brainchild of Irma Divine. I mentioned to her that there were some pictures which just did not fit into any of the other categories and she suggested something along the lines of "Where We Have Been" or words to that effect. So here is an album that will be dedicated to scenes that bring back memories, laughs or maybe a few tears. It is open to any of you that care to contribute pictures of places that hold a special place in your heart. |
| 1212 Visits
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John Cromer Revolutionary Memorial (July 1, 2003)| In 2002 a DAR chapter in Indiana located the burial site of my great great great grandfather John Cromer, and placed a permanent memorial in his honor. Of course, Jan & I had located the gravesite years ago, I don't know what took the DAR so long. Lois, Jan and myself attended the dedication of the monument. |
| 500 Visits
7 Images
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Family Cemeteries (July 1, 2003)| Not to be morbid, but I have never known anyone with an interest in geneaology that did not enjoy brousing through old cemeteries. I have spent hours on end reading old tombstones. Here are a few that represent generations of our ancestors. |
| 643 Visits
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Lore and Legend (July 3, 2003)| This album is under construction. It will be used to share stories from personal experience or tales that were passed down from Dad or other family members. If you have any that you would like to share, you may email them to me and I will add them to the album. My only condition is, that they are true stories (or were told to you to be true) and that they relate to a member or members of the great Williams clan. |
| 898 Visits
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Songs of Rev. Morgan Williams (July 9, 2005)| Dad loved music and he loved the church. He had a natural ability to write poetry, a trait which can be found in many of his descendants. Over the years he penned many songs which were published in numerous hymnals. Most of us are familiar with his most popular song, "It won't Be Very Long" but probably only vaguely familiar with any of the others. This album is designed so that the younger descendants who only know of Morgan Williams as a distant ancestor will be better able to know him as a Christian and an artist. |
| 799 Visits
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Yesterday's Wine (August 20, 2008)Willie Nelson once wrote in a song "we're fading with time, like yesterday's wine". Thus the title of this album. Several of my nieces and nephews have mentioned how tales of the family past needs to be preserved, the stories need to be told. So this album is my effort to do that.
But before I begin, let me tell the story of the three blind men who wanted to know what an elephant was like. The three of them went to the local circus to find out. The first man walked up and felt of the elephants leg and stated, "an elephant is quite like a tree". The next man approached and felt of the huge side of the elephant and left believing an elephant was very much like a wall. The third approached from the rear and got the elephant by the tail. His description was "very much like a rope"
So by telling these tales, you will only have my perspective of what growing up in the Williams family was like. And what I remember is very different than the experiences of the older siblings. We each felt a different part of the elephant.
Read and enjoy. These are some of my memories and an attempt to pass on stories related to the family.
This will be an ongoing project, so check back from time to time to read more stories. |
| 524 Visits
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Viet Nam Experience (August 2, 2003)| I spent two full tours of duty (1 year each) in South Viet Nam. I made some good friends there and lost some good friends there. This album will show you some experiences I had, and some of my favorite snapshots. |
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AMERICA (July 5, 2006)| This album may not appear to have anything to do with the family, but I just wanted to share some of the beauty of this great nation that I have had the privilege of seeing and photographing. All of these pictures in this album were taken by me, and in my mind represent the remarkable wealth of our country and our heritage. |
| 505 Visits
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