There are many descendants of John Thomas Chavers, son of William Chavers, who continue to reside in Covington County. In last week's column, the early ancestors and generations of this family were introduced. Many of the relatives continued to live in Monroe and Conecuh Counties, and others moved to several other states, but many descending from John Thomas settled in Covington County.

Today's writing will feature the descendants of John Thomas's son, Henry T. Chavers and his wife, Mary (Grimes). Their children were identified in last week's column, but their grandchildren will be outlined today. (A correction to Mary (Grimes) Chavers parents: She was the sister of Allen Grimes and not his daughter.)

The oldest son, James T. "J.T.," and his wife, Susanna "Sue" (Grimes), daughter of Allen and JoHanna (Jay) Grimes, had the following children: Erea, m. Tolbert Maynard; Edith, m. Aubrey Smith; Earl, b. 1915, d. 1975, m. Henrietta Mathews; Eldo, m. Lura Beasley; Earnestine, m. James E. Lunsford; and Johnny Sue, m. Johnny Whiddon.

The next son, Samuel D. "Sam," lived in the Beda community and was an active member of the Holiness church. He and his wife, Ellen, had the following children: Lonnie Dawson, m. Bernice Bryars; Burlie, single; and Eunice, m. ? Fowler and had three children.

The oldest daughter, Maggie J., was first married to a Mr. Watkins by whom she had the following three children: Minnie, m. Dee Walker; Ruby, m. ? Taylor; and Tommy, m. Queenie B. ?. Maggie later married Arch Austin, and they had the following two children: Coy, single; and Cody.

The next son, Robert Lafayette "Rob," had children by all three of his wives. The name of his first wife and their daughter is not known at this time. Rob and his second wife, Pearl Elizabeth (Lawson), daughter of William R. and Emma (Battle) Lawson, had the following children: Gladys Elizabeth, b. 1914, d. 1993, m. (1) Cecil Rhodes (2) Bob Lindsey (3) Ethan Smith; Vera Estelle, b. 1916, d. 1987, m. Albert Easley; Voncile, b. 1919, d. 1988, m. Samuel Thetxkre Palmer; Wilburn Malachi "Buddy," m. Violet Owens; Willard Malcolm "Cutter," b. 1923, m. Juanita Aughtman; Wilford Maxwell "Max," b. 1925, d. 1982, m. Margie ?; and Robert Lafayette Jr. "R.L.," b. 1927, d. 1993, m. Linda ?.

Robert Lafayette and his third wife, Cassie Mae Rhodes, had the following three children: Mary Elizabeth, b. 1929, m James Edward Gantt; Willie Cecil "Bo," b. 1932, m. Opal Moore; and Lester Hymes, b. 1935, m. Lois Jura Clayton.

The next daughter, Nancy Matilda "Tildy," and her husband Thomas Henry Lawson, had the following children: Daniel L., b. 1912, d. ca 1924; Tinora Mae "Tiny," b. 1914, m. (1) Cliff O'Neal (2) Travis Lee; Lisa Jewel, b. 1915, m. Woodrow Henley; Leslie Bell, b. 1919, m. Ezra Henley; Mildred, m. Lloyd Cauley; Elwood, m. (1) ? Hataway (2) Velma ?; L.D., m. Vilee Hitchcock; and Jeanette, m. Armond Jimmerson.

Henry Allen "Al" Chavers and his wife, Vallie Lee (Hare), reared their family in the Adellum community. They had the following children: Brittle Elijah, b. 1915, m. (1) Gladys Atchison (2) Doris ? (3) Gladys Atchison (second time); Ethel Evelyn, b. 1917, m. James Elton Ganus; Hilton Ray "Buddy," b. 1910, single; Maurice Conwood, b. 1921, m. Fonclee Fuqua; William Clanton "Mutt," b. ca 1923, single; Elon Cranford, b. 1927, m. Margaret ?; A.G., b. 1931, m. Norna Mae Adkinson; and Bobby Wayne, b. 1936, m. (1) Terry Mae ? (2) Betty ? (3) Alice ? (4) Ann ?.

Henry Allen left his first family and moved to Owassa were he reared another family. In addition to the four additional children he fathered, Guy, Homer, Junior, and Vernon, he had two step-children, Frank and Johnnie (female), who took his Chavers name.

Rubble "Rub" Chavers and his wife, Alma F. (Fuqua), daughter of James A. and Ella (Jones) Fuqua, reared the following children: Esther, b. 1919, m. (1) Wilbur Ward (2) Charlie Goodman; Lottie Grace, b. 1922, m. Marshall Bracewell; Lucille, b. 1924, m. Beatsie Mullen; Alcus, b. 1926, m. ? Walker; Mary Bell, b. 1928, m. ? Ham; Ammie LaQuida, b. 1929; and W.J., single.

Elba Catherine

"Abbie" Chavers and her husband, William Edward Lawson, son of William R. and Hannah Jane (Richards) Lawson, reared their family in Andalusia. They had the following children: Willie Henry, b. 1907, d. 1970, m. Dorothy Merle Thomasson; Ethel Lee, b. 1909, m. Turner Drayton Castleberry; Ida B., b. 1912, m. Brazell Peterson; Edlow Wilson, b. 1914, d. 1994, m. Lois Mathews; Epsy D., b. 1916, m. Louie Turner; Effie G., b. 1919, m. (1) Ellie Earnest Kelley (2) Morgan Tindale; Mary Hill, b. 1923, d. 1998, m. (1) Grover Harrelson (2) Roy Windham; and Lorene, b. 1925, m. Joe Boyter.

Betty Mae "Bet" Chavers and her husband, William Harrelson Fuqua, Sr., son of James A. and Ella (Jones) Fuqua, had the following children: Willie Mae, b. ca 1919, m. Bill Franklin; Fonclee, b. ca 1921, m. Maurice Chavers; Thomas James, b. ca 1922, m. Reba ?; Lillie Bell, b. 1923, m. Jessie Lee Henley; Maxwell, b. 1927, m. (1) Christine Holley (2) Veda ? (3) Marie Taylor;

William Harrelson Jr., b. 1929, m. Edna Smith; Delmar Hollis, b. ca 1931, m. Emma Jean Pittman; and Gene Autrey, b. ca 1933, m. Lavonia Macon.

Since many of the above Chavers families reared their children in Covington County, there are numerous descendants currently residing in the area. Several of the above generation shared family records for this outline of genealogy. In addition to the descendants and researchers named last week, the following added information this week: Lillie Bell (Fuqua) Henley, Lois (Blackmon) Castleberry, Mary Jane (Lawson) Mills: and Carolyn (Henley) Jackson.

Since much of the information was collected informally and by telephone, a number of names are possibly misspelled or in error. Anyone who detects errors is requested to contact the writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 21361 Rabren Road, Andalusia, AL 36420 or Email: chthom@alaweb.com

HISTORICAL MEETING:

The Covington Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, in the Andalusia Public Library. In observance of Confederate History Month, Dr. Kenneth Chancey of Enterprise will present a related program. Guests are welcome.