WILLIAMS FAMILY NEWS

REVIVING THE REUNION!!

107 Williams Family Reunion – October 3, 2009TH

The weather was beautiful; the food, scrumptious; the music uplifting; the kids enjoyed the “Moon Walk”;and the Williams family fellowship, indescribable! As usual, cousins from near and far attended. Frances Block was recognized as our cousin who traveled furthest, from Harrah, Oklahoma. But,Chuck and Jackie Williams arrived from Anaheim, California a little too late to be recognized. DorisRuland, 94, was the oldest person in attendance (two years in a row!) And, six-month-old (almost) LilyGrace Money, was the youngest.

The following was part of the benediction that Jon Steverson offered just before “dinner” at the Reunion.At the Friday night Reunion planning meeting, Jon had requested that we sing “When the Roll is CalledUp Yonder” as the last song on the program. After hearing his inspirational benediction, we understoodwhy that hymn was “special.”

Author Al Burt visited the 78 Williams Reunion. He chronicled his visit with the following comments in the book,th

Becalmed in the Mullet Latitudes.

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder – it’ll be a big surprise if there are not a lot of Williamses present. They singthe old hymn as if it were written for them. They pat their feet in the red dirt, tilt their heads back with mouths openwide, and belt it out for the Lord. When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there – from them, it sounds like apromise.

On a cool, fall day each year, the Williamses hold a family reunion near Graceville. It is Florida’s longest-running,most-honored family event. If the sociologists who preach doom for the family as a lifestyle could ever attend, theywould flat out faint, and then revive to the tune of “Love Lifted Me.”

The Williamses have become a live memorial to the days when necessity created families, interdependence heldthem together, and, out of it all, grew a cementing love. They are the biggest family in Florida and a treasure in

what they represent.

If you weren’t there, you missed a good one! Plan, now, for next year’s reunion scheduled for October 2, 2010.Manley Cummings is Chairman of the 108 Reunion; more about the Reunion in the next issue of the News.th

Volume One Hundred Seven October, 2009

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WILLIAMS FAMILY NEWS

WILLIAMS FAMILY NEWS(Supported by your contributions)

EditorGloria Baragona3288 Baragona Acres RoadTallahassee, FL 32303Phone: (850) 562-4779; Cell: (850) 212-1771Fax: (850) 562-5193Email: gloriabaragona@hotmail.com

TreasurerJim V. Williams5395 Battleship ParkwaySpanish Fort, AL 36527

HistorianE. L. “Boe” WilliamsP. O. Box 2006Valdosta, GA 31601

MeetingsThe annual Williams Family Association Boardof Directors meeting, in conjunction with theReunion Planning meeting is held on the firstSaturday in May. The annual WILLIAMSFAMILY REUNION is held on the first Saturdayin October at Galilee United Methodist Church,between Chipley and Graceville, on Florida StateRoad 77.

(In the event of extreme weather, the Reunion will be

postponed until the second Saturday in October.)

‘BRANCH’ REUNIONS?

Lamar Faircloth told me about a reunion of LutherMonroe Williams’ (Joseph Daniel Williams, AndrewElton and Patsy Brett Williams) descendants, heldrecently. The reunion will be held again in 2010immediately following the Spring Board meeting onthe first Saturday in May.

This gave me an idea! What if there were ‘branch’reunions for the descendants of all of Andrew Elton’schildren, but, open to anyone who wanted to attend?Or, the reunions could be “geographic” – there couldbe a west coast reunion, a midwest reunion, and anortheast reunion. Most of our family who attend theOctober reunion are from Florida, Alabama, orGeorgia, but, we have cousins all across the country.We send the News to cousins in 33 states! (Hey!Texas! You could have your own “state” reunion;there are at least 23 Williams cousins in Texas.)Many folks can’t attend the October reunion, but ifthere were ‘branch’ reunions scattered about thecountry, then Williams cousins could attend reunionscloser to their homes, and fellowship with at leastsome of their cousins.

If anyone is interested in organizing ‘branch’reunions, I can help by providing mailing labels,phone numbers, and email addresses (whenavailable). These reunions could be held any time,but perhaps the best time would be in the Spring, sothat they could be featured in the News that goes outjust before the October reunion.

The idea of ‘branch’ reunions is not intended todiscourage attendance at the October reunion.Rather, branch reunions would be one way forWilliams family members who can’t attend theOctober reunion, to stay “connected” to family.

We are a large family – it has been estimated thatAndrew Elton Williams has had at least 20,000descendants; in fact, there are about 17,500 directdescendants listed in the book, Andrew EltonWilliams: Ancestors, Contemporaries, Descendants,and Allied Families, according to co-author SissyHowell. We need to do whatever it takes to continueour long tradition of “reuniting.” Do you have otherideas for keeping our family “connected?” Let meknow; I’ll spread the word! The Editor

**REMINDERS**(1) The Williams Family News is supportedentirely by contributions. Please send yours toJim Williams – address above. Please makeyour check payable to “Williams FamilyAssociation”.

(2) The Editor needs your email address!Send note with “Williams” as the subject togloriabaragona@hotmail.com.

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SARAH ELEANOR WILLIAMS HINSON(1850-1935)

Sarah Eleanor Williams Hinson was known for her happy and cheerful Christianity. She loved her church and wasconcerned about the welfare of the souls of friends and family. When greeting someone, she would ask: “Are youa Christian? Do you love the Lord?” She was a great witness and practiced what she preached.

Sarah was the third child and oldest daughter of Andrew Elton and Melissa Cerena Underwood Williams. She wasborn in Jackson County, Florida, June 30, 1850. Her parents’ nearest neighbors were her grandparents, Aaronand Sarah Underwood, who lived nearby.

She married Harrison Hinson, Jr. on November 15, 1865, in Holmes County, Florida. He was the son of Harrisonand Martha Hinson. Harrison Hinson, Jr. was born in Alabama on April 9, 1846, and served in the Civil War ona limited basis. He operated a ferry on the Choctawhatchee River delivering supplies for the Confederate Army,but he never was involved with regular service and was not in any battles. He later drew a Confederate pensionfrom the State of Florida for his service. Sarah was granted a widow’s pension after his death.

Sarah’s father gave her 10 cows and calves, and a horse and saddle as a wedding present, something he did foreach of his daughters on their wedding day.

After marriage, Harrison and Sarah lived on their farm located north of Graceville near her brother, Jasper NewtonWilliams. In 1870, they moved to Butler County, Alabama with her father and most of her siblings. While inAlabama, her sister, Carrie Jensie Williams, married Harrison’s brother, Joshua. These two couples remainedvery close until parted by the deaths of Jensie and Joshua.

Andrew Elton died in 1873, and most of his children returned to Florida, but not at the same time. By 1880, Sarahand Harrison were living in Holmes County, a few miles from Salem Church in Jackson County, where they farmedand raised livestock. The Hinson brothers seemed to be more involved in hogs than the other family members,but still had cattle and sheep. About 1887, they moved to western Washington County near the ChoctawhatcheeRiver and Holmes Valley and were granted some land. The story is told that they went to this area and releasedsome hogs to see if they would survive. They came back after a brief time and the hogs were doing well, so theybuilt homes and moved their families to the new place. A community soon developed and was called Hinson’sCross Roads. Andrew Elton Williams was living somewhere in this area in 1845, when his first wife died.

It was at Hinson’s Cross Roads that the two families reared their children. Sarah and Harrison Hinson were theparents of 14 children, according to the 1900 and 1910 censuses. The names of eight are known; only sevenlived to maturity. Since Sarah and Harrison were married in 1865, and the oldest known child was born in 1872,it is speculated that there were older ones who died young or at birth. The known children were William Green(married Mattie Ella Davis); Elvira Jane (married Gadi Jeremiah Parish); Wiley (no other information); JamesHarvey (married Annie Elizabeth Parish and Josephine Worthington); Mamie (married Jesse Albert Bowen); FoyPleasant (married Frances Latha Pippin and Pearl Williams); Robert (married Elizabeth Parish); and Melissa Mae(married John Willis Bevis).

Harrison died on March 10,1925, after which Sarah lived near her children. The highlight of her year was theWilliams Family Reunion. She loved her family and had pride in her heritage. Her granddaughter, Polly BevisGrant, said Sarah was a tiny lady, and very sweet. Sarah died on February 18, 1935, in Dothan, Alabama whereshe was living with her daughters, Elvira Jane Parish and Mamie Bowen. She is buried next to her husband, andvery close to Joshua and Jensie, at Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church in Washington County, Florida.

WILLIAMS FAMILY HERITAGE

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WILLIAMS FAMILY LIFE EVENTS

BIRTHS

Gabriella Williams was born September 23, 2009, in Savannah, Georgia to Dana and KrissyCiechanowski Williams (Donnie Williams and Mary Ellen Gibbs; Donald and Ethel Butler Timm Williams;Dewey and Annie Mae Hinson Williams; George Franklin (Bud) and Minnie Lee McCrary Williams, Jr.;George Franklin and Pharaby Davis Williams, Sr.; Andrew Elton and Patsy Brett Williams). Gabriella isalso twice descended from Frederick and Arribecah Goff Williams as their seventh-great granddaughter.

Sydney Reese Corbin (David and Wendy Davis Corbin; Marsha Tanton Davis; Orene Hinson Tanton;Harvey Hinson; Sarah Williams Hinson; Andrew Elton and Melissa Underwood Williams) was born July21, 2009. Sydney’s big brother is five-year-old Davis Alan Corbin. Sydney and her family live inCottondale, Florida.

John Ross Green (Marcus and Leah Creel Green; Rhonda Kolmetz Creel; Wilton Kolmetz; Cora HinsonKolmetz; Harvey Hinson; Sarah Williams Hinson; Andrew Elton and Melissa Underwood Williams) wasborn September 2, 2009. He has a big sister, Marley Isabell, age 3.

ENGAGEMENTS and WEDDINGS

Haley Justine Hinson (Leonard F. Hinson, Jr.; Leonard F. Hinson, Sr.; Theron Green Hinson; OscarElton Hinson; Joshua and Carrie Jensie Williams Hinson; Andrew Elton and Melissa UnderwoodWilliams) and Daniel Blake Medley were married August 15, 2009, in Bonifay, Florida. Haley was the2006 Williams Family Scholarship winner. Haley and Daniel live in Tallahassee, Florida.

Adam Hulon Williams and Renee Poore are planning a September 5, 2010, wedding in the Georgiamountains. Adam is the son of Patrick Hulon and Marianna Genaw Williams (Hulon Andrew Williams;Andrew Malone "Coot" Williams; Andrew Elton Williams, II; William W. Williams; Andrew Elton and PatsyBrett Williams).

OBITUARIES

(The page number from the book, Andrew Elton Williams: Ancestors, Contemporaries, Descendants,and Allied Families, on which the family of the deceased is listed, is at the end of each obituary. )

Emily Nepper Williams (Pauline Williams Nepper; John Wesley Williams; Henry Williams; Andrew Eltonand Patsy Brett Williams), 88, died June 25, 2009. Mrs. Williams’ husband was Ray Burres Williams(David Lee Roy Williams, James Monroe Williams, Wesley David Williams, Andrew Elton and MelissaUnderwood Williams). She is survived by a son, Ray Williams; and two daughters, Cindy Shelton andKim Adcock. Survivors also include five grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. (527)

Mildred Gray Kimbrough, 84, died June 26, 2009. Mrs. Kimbrough’s first husband was John QuincyAdams (Phala McCrary Adams; Mary Josephine Williams McCrary; George Franklin Williams; AndrewElton and Patsy Brett Williams). She is survived by two daughters, Debbie Adams Parrado, and PhaleciaAdams Birge. (435)

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OBITUARIES...continued

Lynn Alford died June 27, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Martha Williams Alford (Daniel Mark Williams;Warren Fredrick Williams; Joseph Daniel Williams; Andrew Elton and Patsy Brett Williams); three sons, Mark,Glynn, and Lynn Alford; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. (375)

Marcia Genelle Williams Foster (D.V. and Erma Williams; Dock Stanley Williams; William Ashley Williams;Henry Williams; Andrew Elton and Patsy Brett Williams) died July 15, 2009. She is survived by her husband,Ronald Foster; two children, Michael and Susan; and a granddaughter, Haley. Marcia served as Secretary of theWilliams Family Association for several years. (406)

Sadie Adams Mason (Grady and Ruby Toole Adams; Mittie Alma McCrary Toole; Andrew Franklin McCrary;Rebecca Williams; Owen Williams, uncle to Andrew Elton) 85, died July 23, 2009. Survivors include a son Gerald;two sisters, Ouida Farris, and Grace Mercer; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. (182)

Nancy Lacy Vaughan (Stephen Council Smith, Nancy Melissa A. Williams; Andrew Elton and Melissa UnderwoodWilliams), 75, of Old Town, Florida died August 19, 2009. (621)

Mary Helen Anderson Hood (Claudia Lee Anderson; “Bama” Hinson Lee; Joshua and Carrie Jensie WilliamsHinson; Andrew Elton and Melissa Underwood Williams) died August 28, 2009. She is survived by her husband,Clyde Hood; her children Clyde Wayne Hood and Lisa Scruggs; and a sister Annette Porter. (592)

Lola Pearl Williams Smith Elkins (Ernest Sheldon and Lela Eugenia Cook Williams; Luther Monroe Williams;Joseph Daniel Williams; Andrew Elton and Patsy Brett Williams), 87, died August 31, 2009. Mrs. Elkins ispreceded in death by her husbands, Quinton Smith and Eugene Elkins; a son, Devon Smith; four sisters; and threebrothers. She is survived by one son, Kenneth W. Smith; three sisters, Lela Mae Taylor, Evelyn Whitaker, andAnnie Thompson; two brothers, Tom Williams and Ray Williams; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.(338)

Blondell H. Hinson, 92, widow of Marty J. Hinson (Harvey Hinson; Harrison Hinson, Jr. and Sarah WilliamsHinson, Andrew Elton and Melissa Underwood Williams) died September 17, 2009, in Chipley, Florida. She waspreceded in death by a son, Larry Joe Hinson. She is survived by two sons, Marty and Jerry; nine grandchildren;and fifteen great-grandchildren. (563)

Justin Aaron Mobley (Angela Mobley; Diane Williams Mobley; James Buckner Williams; Andrew Elton Williams,II; William W. Williams; Andrew Elton and Patsy Brett Williams), 18, died October 2, 2009, as a result of anautomobile accident near Milton, Florida. The loss of Justin's life saved the lives of eight others through organdonations. He was buried at Austin Cemetery in Pearl River, Louisiana. (225)

Martha Elizabeth Watford Garner (Sanders Harvey and Annie Miller Watford; Dempsey and Rachel ElizabethWilliams Watford; William W. Williams; Andrew Elton and Patsy Brett Williams), 92, died October 5, 2009. Shewas preceded in death by her husband, Early Garner; five brothers; and one sister. She is survived by twochildren, Mary Ann Moore and Wallace Earl Garner; a brother, Doyle Watford; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. (249)

Linda Diane Wilson (Opal Paul Wilson; Lena Williams Paul; Andrew Elton Williams, II; William W. Williams;Andrew Elton and Patsy Brett Williams), 62, died October 9, 2009. She is survived by her mother, Opal Paul

Goodwin; two sisters, Rita Horner and Joyce Ditto; and two brothers, Joe Wilson and Gary Wilson. (215)

WILLIAMS FAMILY LIFE EVENTS

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WILLIAMS FAMILY WEBSITES

Several of our Williams family members have internet websites for their businesses or other interests. One ofthese is Steve Burns (Pounce Burns; Shines Brinkley Burns; Effie Mae Williams Burns; Melissa Isabel SyfrettWilliams; Martha Jane Williams Syfrett; Andrew Elton and Patsy Brett Williams). Steve’s website,www.veteransinfo.org, is dedicated to military veterans. The site has links to forums, discussion groups, PTSDand TBI, videos, past war stories, music, and cook books.

Kim B. Williams (Hugh Elton Williams, Jr.; Hugh Elton Williams, Sr.; George Franklin Williams, Jr.; GeorgeFranklin Williams, Sr.; Andrew Elton and Patsy Brett Williams) has two businesses, Marpan and Marpan Recycling.Marpan (www.marpan.com) provides rental and sales of commercial containers. The company also has a lampcontract with the State of Florida. Marpan Recycling (MarpanRecycling.com) is a recycling plant that handlesconstruction and demolition material, as well as yard waste. Marpan is “Doing Our Part to Keep Tallahassee-LeonCounty Beautiful!”

Columbus Fire & Safety (www.columbusfire.net) owned and operated by Thomas, James, and David Williams,(David Wayne Williams; Dewey Williams; John Anderson “Bose” Williams; Joseph Daniel Williams; Andrew Eltonand Patsy Brett Williams) was established in 1971. Today, with offices in Columbus, Georgia, Lawrenceville,Georgia, and Auburn, Alabama, Columbus Fire & Safety is one of the largest fire protection companies in theregion. Thomas, James and David live in Columbus, Georgia.

Edgar Barcus, III (Nell Frances Miller Barcus; Claudia Unice Brown Miller; Mary F. Harrell Brown; RebeccaWilliams Harrell; Andrew Elton and Patsy Brett Williams) first opened the doors to his company, Edgar Barcus& Company (www.barcusdie.com) in 1951 in an Audubon, New Jersey garage. Shortly thereafter, he movedinto a larger facility in Westville, New Jersey. His company manufactures laser steel rule dies and was one of thefirst die companies in the country to provide laser dies to its customers.

And, don’t forget our “official” Williams Family website, www.williamsclanofgalilee.org. Kay Kerns (WilliamRobert Williams; Robert Wade Williams; William Henry Williams; William W. Williams; Andrew Elton and PatsyBrett Williams) says she has spent a lot of time updating the "Archived Newsletter" page of the website, addingold newsletters. etc.

OUR WILLIAMS FAMILY Y-CHROMOSOME DNA PROJECT

The following article is contributed by E. L. “Boe” Williams, Jr. (E. L. Williams, Sr.; George NewtonWilliams; Jasper Newton Williams; Andrew Elton and Melissa Underwood Williams).

We have had tremendous success using Y chromosome DNA in proving our Williams ancestry when combinedwith genealogical research. Using this tool, I’ve confirmed our descent from Garrett Williams who died in 1735 inIsle of Wight County, Virginia, in that my DNA matches six people in the Family Tree DNA project who are hisproven descendants. The Y chromosome is inherited only through males from father to son.

Recently, I was informed by Family Tree DNA that I have a perfect, 67-marker match with a young man who livesin California, indicating that there is a 90% chance that his father and I are at least first cousins. This was

surprising, because I don’t have a male first cousin named Williams, and he knew almost nothingabout his family! How could this be? We managed to trace him back to Texas, to Kentucky, to North

WILLIAMS FAMILY NEWS

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Y-CHROMOSOME DNA PROJECT...continued

Carolina, and finally back to Garrett Williams in Virginia, so that our nearest common ancestor was ninegenerations removed from me and ten from him, meaning that neither of us had a mutation in our Ychromosome in almost three hundred years! Normally, mutations occur randomly over time, but in thatmany generations, there should have been several mutations, maybe four, five, six, or more at the 67-marker level. This explains why I have almost 200, twelve-marker matches, which are the slowest tomutate. Most of these are with people not named Williams, which means that the common ancestor pre-dates the adoption of surnames.

The Welsh originally used a form of the patronymic system for surnames similar to that used by theScandinavians, and the present form was not adopted until relatively recently. King Henry VIII issued adecree in the 1500s commanding the Welsh to adopt the English surname system, but this didn’t comeinto general use until the 1600s. These DNA results may indicate that our ancestor, Garrett, was theoriginal Williams in our family. It is even possible, but not probable, that he was born Garrett ap William(Garrett, son of William) and when he came to Virginia, he fixed his name as Garrett Williams. If not, theDNA indicates that he was not too far removed from the origin of our Williams surname.

BRETT and UNDERWOOD DNA

We would like to find a direct male descendant of John Watts Brett, brother of Patsy Brett Williams andson of John Brett, and the same for a descendant of Aaron Underwood, father of Melissa UnderwoodWilliams. If found, and they would be willing to have their Y chromosome tested through Family TreeDNA, it would be very beneficial to our history. While the Brett ancestry of Patsy has pretty well beenproven, the ancestry of Aaron Underwood is unknown. Melissa had two proven brothers, John Newtonand George Washington Underwood. Go to familytreedna.com or contact me (Boe Williams) atccshoes@bellsouth.net; 229-242-0522; or P. O. Box 2006, Valdosta, Georgia 31602.

HEY, TEENS!! WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

The Williams family is not just about “old” folks. We want to involve more young people in our family, becauseour young adults, teens, and younger children are truly the family’s future. And, in order to stay “connected” andassure that our family traditions are continued, we need to use every means available. This includes “socialnetworking” websites such as Facebook and MySpace. Since many teens and young adults (and, even some ofus “old” people) use these websites to communicate with their friends, it is logical for the Williams Clan to takeadvantage of this means of communication. Ideally, many, “young” Williams family members would join thesediscussion groups, share experiences, develop friendships, develop a greater sense of family “unity,” and, thereby,a greater sense of responsibility for maintaining the family.

If you are willing to “host” a page on Facebook, MySpace, (or whatever you want to use) fordescendants of Andrew Elton Williams, let the Editor know. (I suggest that a requirement of becominga “friend” on the space, is providing the applicant’s lineage back to Andrew Elton.)

WILLIAMS FAMILY NEWS

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100 BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!th

Lois Mullins Parish celebrated her 100th birthday, May 27, 2009, in Dothan,Alabama. She is the daughter-in-law of the late Elvira Jane Hinson Parish,(Sarah Williams Hinson; Andrew Elton and Melissa Underwood Williams.)Included in the celebration were five generations of her family. (Photo leftto right: Martha Nell Pybus, Lois’ daughter; Brooke Moore, her great-granddaughter; Becky Pybus Martin, her granddaughter; and Lois, holding

Blake Moore, her great-great grandson.)

** WESTERN STARS **

Kynley Jade Braxton, age 7, and Anna Lauren Braxton, age 4, participated inthe 2009 Western Star Beauty Pageant in September in Bonifay, Florida. Kynleywas selected Young Miss Western Star Queen; Anna was First Runner-Up in theTiny Miss Western Star competition. They are the daughters of Scott and Jill MorrisBraxton of Vernon, Florida. Grandparents are Jack and Angia Hinson Morris(Arthur Hinson; Harvey Hinson; Sarah Williams Hinson; Andrew Elton and MelissaUnderwood Williams.) They have two big sisters, Kendall Braxton and MeaganAdams.

Williams Family Newsc/o Gloria Baragona3288 Baragona Acres RoadTallahassee, Florida 32303

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WILLIAMS