Carolina Census. She is only one (1) year old.
The following obituary was in the June 12, 1964 Gastonia Gazette: Mrs. Mary
Ellen Dedmond. Bessemer City - Mrs. Mary Ellen Dedmond of Old York Rd.,
Gastonia, R-1, died Wednesday at 9:20 a. M. Born January 24, 1879, she was
85 years old. Her husband, William H. Dedmond, preceded her in death nine
years ago. She was the daughter of the late William and Lucinda Todd, and
died after an extended illness. Funeral services will be held Saturday at
4 p.m. at the Pentecostal Holiness Church on Neal Hawkins Rd. The Rev. Robert
B. Becton will officiate, assisted by the Rev. A. V. Childers and the Rev.
Jerry Lethco. The body will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the
service and will be taken to the home of Mrs. Earl Sams on Old York Rd. today
at 5 p. m. Burial will be in Gaston Memorial Park. Survivors include four
daughters, Mrs. Fred McBee, Mrs. Albert Falls, and Mrs. Earl Sams of Gastonia,
and Mrs. Hubert Enloe of Clover, S. C.; four sons, Ernest of West New York,
Furman of Columbia, S. C., James R. of Gastonia and Haley M. of St.
Petersburg, Fla.; also a brother, Tony R. Todd of Jacksonville; (this isn't
correct, Tony R. Todd lived in Kings Mountain, N. C., Tony R. Dedmond (Mary
Ellen Dedmond's youngest son) lived in Jacksonville, N. C.); a step-daughter,
Mrs. Eva Carroll of Bessemer City and a sister, Mrs. Sally Queen of Charlotte.
Also surviving are 37 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. Sisk Funeral
Home, Bessemer City, is in charge of arrangements.
I, Danny A. McBee, remember my grandmother Dedmond as my mother would take me
with her when she went to visit her mother. Grandmother Dedmond lived in a
little white house on Myers Street in South Gastonia when I was just a kid.
She and grandfather had lived on Hwy 321 close to where Starvin Marvin's
convenience store is now located when I was born. Grandmother later lived
with us and my aunt Martha who lived down the street from us. Grandmother
died in the old Fall's home which has since been torn down and has been the
home of two churches. Grandmother was a very unique person. She enjoyed
fishing and traveling. She lived until 1965. I have many fond memories of
my grandmother Dedmond. She was not a very loving grandmother but she was
very caring of her grandchildren. (Danny A. McBee). Children were:
i.
John Ernest Dedmond(1) was born on
23 Oct 1899. He died in Apr 1974 in Farmville, Virginia. He had Social Security
Number 241-03-6273. Children cannot be assigned to mothers due to insufficient
information-
arbitrarily shown as the children of Grace, pending further advice. Ernest
died in the home of his son Curtis in Farmville, N. C. I, Danny A. McBee,
took my mother to see her brother in death. My wife Belinda went with us. We
took pictures of Uncle Ernest. My mother was very saddened at the death of
her brother. They were close in spirit and love. Uncle Ernest's last place
of residence, North Bergen, Hudson Co., N. J. SSN # 241-03-6273. [Danny A.
McBee, April 18, 1998].
My uncle Ernest got his name from two of his father's brothers, John Franklin
Dedmond and Ernest Dedmond. [Danny A. McBee, April 18, 1998].
J. Ernest Dedmon, age 19, is listed as head of household in the 1920 Gastonia Township, Gaston County, North Carolina Census with wife Icy [Crisp], 17. [Danny A. McBee,
April 18, 1998].
ii.
William H. (Anderson) Dedmond(1) was
born on 7 Jun 1901. He died on 6 Dec 1901. According the conversation I, Danny
A. McBee, had with my aunt Agnes Dedmond
Falls on July 4, 1996, Anderson did not live to be a year old. Agnes was born
after Anderson so she had no direct information on her brother. There is a distinct
possibility that William H. Dedmond and Anderson were two different children as the
middle initial H. probably stood for Haley. My mother, Dorothy Dorthea Dedmond
McBee often spoke of her brother Anderson but never mentioned William H. Dedmond.
This is what made me draw the conclusion that William H. Dedmond and Anderson
Dedmond were the same child. [Danny A. McBee, April 11, 1998].
3 iii.
Dorothy Dorthea Dedmond.
iv.
Furman Clifton "Cliff" Dedmond(1)
was born on 28 Jul 1905 in Cleveland County, North Carolina. He died
on 19 Mar 1993 in Zephyrhills, Pasco County, Florida. He was buried on 21 Mar
1993. The following obituary was taken from the Gaston Gazette shortly after
the
death of my uncle, Cliff Dedmond: Cliff Dedmond. Zephyrhills, Florida - F.
C. "Cliff" Dedmond, 87, 6125 11th St., formerly of Gastonia, died March 19,
1993, at Pasco Center. He was a native of Cleveland County and son of the
late W. H. "Will" and Mary Todd Dedmond. Survivors include his wife, Ethel
Fite Dedmond; a daughter, Donna D. McCaullough of Columbia, S. C.; and three
sisters, Agnes Falls, Martha Sams and Gussie Enloe of Gastonia. The funeral
will be conducted on Saturday at Oakly Funeral Home, Dade City, Florida. Ward
Funeral Home, Gastonia, is in charge of the local arrangements. (Danny A.
McBee).
During a phone call conversation, July 4, 1996, my aunt Agnes Dedmond Falls
(sister of Furman "Cliff" Dedmond) told me, Danny A. McBee, Cliff had all the
girls after him. He was a very handsome young man. Agnes told me Cliff
always kept chewing gum and Hershey candy bars for them when they were small.
He was gone away for four years while in service. He was stationed in China.
Agnes remembers the day he came home, she was working in the cotton mill not
far from their home when someone told her they had seen Cliff come home.
During the lunch hour, from 12 to 1, Agnes ran home to see her brother. He
was back in a field behind the Dedmond home with his brothers Jim and Tony.
He carried Agnes back to the house. Agnes told me Cliff use to jog down
Neal Hawkins Road in Gastonia well before jogging ever got popular. He
carried this over from his time he spent in the Marine Corps. Cliff got a
civil service job and was going to Hampton, Virginia to work in the Veterans
Hospital. He and Ethel married in York, South Carolina. After getting to
Virginia, Cliff and Ethel adopted Donna from an unwed mother. Aunt Agnes
thinks that Cliff could have been the father of Donna as she looks so much
like the family. Agnes thinks Ethel may have adopted Donna to keep her
marriage to Cliff going. (This is just pure speculation on the part of
Aunt Agnes. This is not meant to sound as the truth or to be taken as the
truth. Given the nature of the Dedmond boys and father, it could very well
have been true). Cliff was later transferred to the Veterans Hospital in
Columbia, South Carolina where he worked for years. Also according to aunt
Agnes, Ethel was an excellent seamstress. Ethel never worked outside the home
after her marriage to Cliff. I, Danny A. McBee, remember my Uncle Cliff very
well. I thought very highly of him. He worked hard all his life. He loved
to fish and seemed to enjoy life. My wife Belinda and I went to visit Uncle
Cliff and Aunt Ethel in early 1970s. We were not made to feel welcome by
Aunt Ethel even though she was hospitable. She made us get a motel room down
the road. We were not asked to stay and talk long after we arrived. It was
almost like we were pushed off. That was okay with us. We never had much
contact with Aunt Ethel or Uncle Cliff. I was hurt by the lack of family love
that was shown us on our visit. I spent some time with Uncle Cliff during the
last years of his life. He was a wonderful man. He had a great sense of
humor and loved to laugh. [Danny A. McBee].
Uncle Cliff Dedmond's social security number was 227-20-0397. I, Danny A. McBee,
list this for future genealogist that may want to research our Dedmond family.
[Danny A. McBee, September 18, 1999].
v.
Charlotte Augusta Georgia Dedmond (Private).
vi.
James Roland Dedmond(1) was born on
8 May 1909. He died on 27 Sep 1979 in Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gaston County,
Gastonia, North Carolina. He had Social Security Number 243-05-5112. He was
a Textiles. James R. Dedmond Obituary: James Roland Dedmond, 70, of 2130 S.
Marietta St.
died Thursday in his home. He was a retired textile employee. He is survived
by his wife, Cola Bonds Dedmond; three daughters, Mrs. Frankie L. Cross of
Lonoke, Arkansas, Mrs. Joy D. Stacey of Gastonia and Mrs. Toni I. Welch of
Wrightsville Beach; four sisters, Mrs. Dorothy McBee, Mrs. Agnes Falls and
Mrs. Martha Sams, all of Gastonia and Mrs. Gussie Enloe of Clover, South
Carolina; three brothers, H. M. Dedmond of Inverness, Fla., F. C. Dedmond
of Zephyr Hills, Fla., and T. R. Dedmond of Jacksonville, N. C.; nine
grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be
conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. at South Gastonia Penecostal Free Will Baptist
Church (Little Rock Church, Neal Hawkins Road, Gastonia, North Carolina) by
the Rev. Floyd Sessions and the Rev. Gaither Summitt. The family will receive
friends tonight at Ward Funeral Home from 7 to 9.
I, Danny A. McBee, remember Uncle Jim very well. I was just a young man, 15,
when we moved further down into South Gastonia. My mother's brother Jim
Dedmond moved down with us shortly after. He bought a trailer and got a
pretty lot one house away from us. He would come over and visit alot with
mama and daddy. I remember one special time that Uncle Jim and I went down
to Grier's lake (about a mile from our homes) and went fishing. We didn't
catch much but had a great time. Uncle Jim was as handsome as his other
brothers; he was very distinguished. He had white hair and dark black
eyebrows. My aunt Agnes Dedmond Falls remembers that Uncle Jim would pull
down his eyebrows like he was frowing in a lot of pictures that was taken of
himself. Agnes said he didn't date much. She said aunt Cola, Uncle Jim's
wife, came from George to see an aunt (McClure) and work here during the
depression. Cola met Jim at the Winget Mill, Gastonia, North Carolina. Jim
later broke up with Cola and she went home to Georgia. He dated Lexie Adair
while Cola was in Georgia. Cola came back to Gastonia. She boarded with
aunt Gussie Dedmond Enloe and my grandmother Pricie McBee for a while. She
and Uncle Jim married shortly after. They lived with Grandmother Dedmond and
later with aunt Gussie Dedmond Enloe. (All of the above information was part
of a conversation I, Danny A. McBee, had with my aunt Agnes Dedmond Falls on
July 4, 1996).
Uncle Jim was given the full name of his grandfather, James Roland Dedmond, by
his father upon his birth. [Danny A. McBee, April 18, 1998].
vii.
Haley Maxwell Dedmond(1) was born on
14 Aug 1910 in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. He died on 25 Feb 1986 in Inverness,
Citrus County, Florida. He was buried in Gaston Memorial Cemetery, Gastonia,
N.C.. He had Social Security Number 265-58-3879. He was a Retired U.S. Marine
Corps. The following obituary was taken from the Gastonia Gazette, February
27, 1986:
Haley M. Dedmond. Inverness, Fla. - Haley M. (Mack) Dedmond, 75, 2803
Jefferson St., died Monday. He was a native of Cleveland County, son of the
late William and Mary Todd Dedmond, was a retired master sergeant in the
Marine Corps, member of Fort Cooper Missionary Baptist Church and Citrus
Masonic Lodge 118. Survivors include his wife, Mildred Gottlob Dedmond;
daughter Jeanette Allen of Inverness; three sisters, Agnes Falls, Gussie Enloe
and Martha Sams of Gastonia; two brothers, F. C. Dedmond of Zephyrhills, Fla.,
and T. R. Dedmond of Jacksonville; and two grandchildren. The funeral will be
conducted by the Rev. George Tuthill at 11 a.m. Friday at Ward Funeral Home,
Gastonia. Burial with full Masonic rites will be in Gaston Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home.
(Danny A. McBee, nephew of Haley Maxwell Dedmond).
I, Danny A. McBee, talked with my Aunt Agnes Dedmond Falls today, July 4, 1996
and she told me the following: Uncle Mack retired from the United States
Marine Corps. He had an operation for a tumor or sisk on his head and
couldn't perform his job as well as before. He took carpentry and photography
after retiring. Aunt Agnes told me her brother Mack was a wonderful brother
and she loved him very much. She said Mack worked at the Winget Mill. He
only went to elementary school at Victory School and quit. He was fired from
his mill job by Mr. Winget because he was selling pints of liquor for Lee
Summitt at the mill. A young boy turned him in and "Old Man Winget" fired him
in the card room. He then went into the Marine Corps. Uncle Mack later said
"the best thing that ever happened to him was getting fired by Old Man
Winget". Uncle Mack came out of the Marines in 1934 during the middle of the
depression. Coming home from overseas he sailed into California. He was
robbed in a card game. They took all his money and wrist watch. He had no
money when he arrived home on the train. Not enough money to pay for his
taxi. He went back in service again because of the depression. He met Millie
in Washington, D. C. He was transferred to Vero Beach, Florida. He later
sent after his "farm girl" (as he described her) and they were married at the
Marine base in Vero Beach, Florida. They went to Miami on their honeymoon.
Uncle Mack was transferred to Hawaai. They stopped in South Dakota and Millie
and Jeanette stayed there for a while. Later, Millie and Jeanette came to
Hawaai to be with Mack. They later came back to Virginia and retired. They
went to St. Petersburg, Florida. Millie worked for the City of St. Pete.
Grandpa Dedmond, Grandmother Dedmond, and Gussie Dedmond Enloe went to Florida
for a visit and grandpa Dedmond wore a pair of bermuda shorts. (All of the
above came from my conversation with my aunt Agnes Dedmond Falls, July 4,
1996).
viii.
Mary N. "Juanita" Dedmond(1)
was born on 7 Aug 1914 in Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gaston County, Gastonia,
North Carolina. He died on 9 Mar 1915 in Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gaston County,
Gastonia, North Carolina. He was buried in Pisgah Presbryterian Cem., Gastonia,
NC. My aunt, Agnes Dedmond Falls, states that Mary N. Dedmond was the child
that
was called Juanita by the family. Aunt Agnes stated that Juanita was born
a year before she was. Aunt Agnes stated the name on the death certificate
should have been Mary Juanita Dedmond (Possibly the N. stood for Nita). I
discussed this with my aunt Agnes, December 21, 1994 and July 4, 1996.
[Danny A. McBee, July 4, 1996].
ix.
Agnes Rebecca Dedmond (Private).
x.
Tony Ray Dedmond(1) was born on 18
Aug 1918 in Gaston County, North Carolina. He died on 21 Dec 1991 in Jacksonville,
North Carolina. He was buried in Onslow Memorial Park Cemetery. He had an estate
probated in Jacksonville, North Carolina. He was a Soldier/civil servant. The
following letter was written by my uncle, Tony Ray Dedmond, to my father,
Fred McBee, after the death of my mother, Dorothy Dedmond McBee, January 3,
1986: 19 Jan. 1986 Dear Fred: I enjoyed talking to you tonight. Glad to
know Gail (my sister, Gail McBee Bell) is there with you. I regret I couldn't
be there. I was glad to hear Pat (my brother, Neal Patrick McBee) had took
the right step & I congratulate him (my brother Pat joined the Masons of which
my uncle Tony Dedmond was associated). I know you are proud of him. I
enjoyed talking to him. You & Dot certainly raised a fine family. Like I
told you on the telephone, Dot would post me on the front porch & I would run
& tell her when I seen you coming to see her. Those were the good ole days.
The picture I've enclosed was made on 25 September 1985, I was taken to
Headquarters Bldg., Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune and then brought back
home. Major General Wilkerson & I were corporals on Guadalcanal (1942 during
the war. Tom (my daddy's brother, Lance Thomas McBee) was a Warrant Officer
then. General Wilkerson is a Tennessee boy. I hope to come up sometime this
year & Hazel and me will come to see you. Take care of yourself and say hello
to all the children for me and Hazel. We love you, Tony. (I, Danny A. McBee,
have typed this letter as Uncle Tony wrote it to my daddy, Fred McBee).
Uncle Tony's social security number was 239-14-8893 which was issued in North
Carolina. [Danny A. McBee, January 20, 1999].
The following obituary was taken from the Gaston Gazette, Gastonia, North
Carolina, December 22, 1991, page C8: Tony R. Dedmond. Jacksonville, N. C.
Tony Ray Dedmond, 73. 523 Forest Circle, died December 21, 1991, at his home.
He was a native of Gastonia and son of the late William Haley and Mary Ellen
Todd Dedmond. He served in World War II and Korea and was a member of Semper
Fidelis Masonic Lodge No. 680AF & AM, the New Bern Scottish Rites and was a
Shriner. Survivors include his wife, Hazel Neely Dedmond; two sons, James C.
Dedmond of Jacksonville and William H. Dedmond of Falls Church, Va.; a
daughter, Susan D. Floyd of Jacksonville; a brother, Cliff Dedmond of
Zephyrhills, Florida; three sisters, Augusta Enloe, Agnes Falls and Martha
Sams of Gastonia; and five grandchildren. The funeral will be conducted by
the Rev. Paul Fowler at 11 a.m. Monday at Jones Funeral Home. Burial with
Masonic rites will be in Onslow Memorial Park. The family will recieve
friends from 7 to 9 tonight at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the
Oxford Orphanage. (Danny A. McBee).
Aunt Agnes Dedmond Falls told me in a conversation on the phone, July 4, 1996,
that Tony Dedmond was in the Civil Conservation Corps after the depression
years. Tony carried the Gazette and sold Grit newspapers when he was a young
man. He was a smart boy. He was a very obedient child. After the CCC, Tony
went to Washington, D. C. and lived with Mack and Louise. While he was with
Mack World War II broke out. Tony joined the Marines for four years. He came
home, went to Evans Business College on Main Street, Gastonia, North Carolina.
He met his future wife Hazel Neely there. Agnes said that Tony told Hazel
"you have cotton in your hair" (and she did). They fell in love and soon
married in York, South Carolina. Tony would bring Hazel to Agnes's home and
she would make them livermush sandwiches. Agnes loved Hazel. Tony and Hazel
lived near her mother, Mrs. Neely on Overhill St., Gastonia, North Carolina.
Tony went into civil service and was sent to Camp Lejuene, Jacksonville, North
Carolina to be over supplies. Tony and Hazel had a very good life. They
never had very much trouble from their children. I, Danny A. McBee, will
never forget my trip to see uncle Tony and aunt Hazel with my two aunts Agnes
Dedmond Falls and Gussie Dedmond Enloe. We drove all day down to
Jacksonville, North Carolina. We stayed there about three hours and then came
home that same day. It was a very good trip because it was the last time that
I saw uncle Tony alive. (Danny A. McBee).
Uncle Tony's social security number was 239-14-8893. This may be of
importance to a future Dedmond genealogist. (Danny A. McBee, April 18, 1998).
xi.
Martha Louellan Dedmond(1) was born
on 3 Jan 1922 in Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gaston County, Gastonia, North Carolina.
She died on 14 Dec 1999 in Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gaston County, Gastonia,
North Carolina. She was a Housewife/Homemaker. I, Danny A. McBee, have known
my mother's baby sister for many, many years. Aunt Martha has been a blessing
to me. I remember how beautiful she was when I was just a child. She has always
been a very loving, tender, and gracious lady. She has such a sweet and lovely
voice. I love to talk with her every chance I get. We did not get to see aunt
Martha alot when we were small, consequently, I never got to know her or her
family very well. I regret not getting to know her, uncle Earl, or the children
very well. [Danny A. McBee, July 12, 1966].
This morning, December 14, 1999, I received a phone call from my childhood friend Audrey "Pee Wee" Farmer Griggs telling me of the death of my aunt Martha Dedmond Sams. I had went by to see aunt Martha December 6, 1999 when she was in the hospital with a possible light stoke. We had a very enjoyable conversation. Aunt Martha, uncle Earl, and my cousin Jean were all together. We talked for an hour. I talked with my cousin Jimmy Sams last night, December 14, 1999, when he came to see his wife Gwen [Gwen works with me at SAM'S Club}. Jimmy said aunt Martha was in the intensive care ward and I could get in to see her. I didn't get off until 5:45 p.m. I was going to go. However, I changed my mind in the parking lot because I was getting sick with the flu. I came home and took some medicine. I slept for over four hours. I got up for two hours and fell back asleep for six more hours. I am so sorry now that I did not go to see her. She knows that I loved her. I will always remember her. She was always so beautiful and loved to dress up. She wore a wig in her older age but she had beautiful hair. Aunt Martha will be missed. [Danny A. McBee, December 15, 1999].
Martha D. Sams GASTONIA — Martha Luellen Dedmond Sams, 77, 2112 S. Gardner St., died Dec. 14, 1999, at Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gastonia.She was a native of Gaston County, daughter of the late William H. and Mary Todd Dedmond, member of First Wesleyan Church, Bessemer City, homemaker. SURVIVORS: Husband of 50 years, Earl Sams; sons, Michael S. Sams Sr., George T. Sams, Jimmy M. Sams, C. Earl Sams, E. Perry Sams, Gastonia; daughters, Jean Evans, Weddington, Pam Wyatt, Gastonia; sisters, Gussie Enloe, Agnes Falls, Gastonia; 16 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren FUNERAL: 11 a.m. Friday, Greene Funeral Service, Rev. Dick Whitener BURIAL: Gaston Memorial Park, Gastonia VISITATION: 7-9 tonight, funeral home, other times at the home PALLBEARERS: Butch Evans, Jack Falls, C. Earl, E. Perry, Jimmy and Michael Sams
*$$2085.txt
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