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Help with the ancestors of Robert Hawkins who married Elizabeth Curtis would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you have pictures of William Curtis Hawkins or any of these ancestors, please share them with us.
 

Palmer Hartwell Hawkins line through Juliet Hartwell Palmer (Mrs. Stephen).

Hawkins

John Hawkins
  
 
We are searching for Hawkins surnamed males to participate in the HAWKINS Worldwide DNA Project. The purpose of the project is to establish the many Hawkins family history lines. Currently 15 distinct lines have been established.
 
Please check out the Freeman website at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hawkinsdnaproject/.

Alabama Records v 101 Early Newspapers
:  "Robert Hawkins of Warrenton died November 14 at Courtland, Alabama."  (Raleigh Register Dec. 10, 1829.  Could this be Robert Hawkins who married Elizabeth Curtis? 
 

Thomas Andrew Jackson Hawkins and Margaret Winifred Adams Hawkins (Civil War) Alpheus Walter Hawkins Alice Lindsey Hawkins Hawkins children Margaret and Hilda Hawkins Hilda and Robert Ramsey, Ruthie Guillot, Robert Guillot, Alice Lindsay Hawkins, Janis and Ralph Moseley, et. al.  
TAJ Hawkins Alpheus Walter Hawkins Alice Lindsey Hawkins hawkins children Hilda and Margaret Hawkins Hilda Robert ruthie  

Descendants of Robert Hawkins

We would appreciate assistance in locating the ancestors of this Robert Hawkins!

Generation No. 1

1. ROBERT2 HAWKINS (DRURY1 HAWKINS?). He married ELIZABETH CURTIS August 21, 1806 in Hancock County, Georgia, daughter of CURTIS.

Notes for ROBERT HAWKINS:

The Hancock County records mention only a Drury Hawkins and a Hardress Hawkins. Interestingly , after finding those two names in records in Hancock County, I glanced back over records I ha d collected and found a document from the will Book V V 1776-1784 which mentions a Robert Hawkins, St. Mark's Parish, Craven County. Wife: Jane, formerly Jane Davis, 1/2 estate, then to son . Son: Thomas, under 19 years, other half estate. Brother: Drury Hawkins. Mentions: Thomas an d Robert, under 18years and William Hawkins, sons of my brother. Exors: Wife; Samuel Little; David Guelyard. Wit. Sm. Little, Thos. Sumter.

d: 29 May 1775. P: nd. R:nd. P. 181

Notes for ELIZABETH CURTIS:

I believe your Elizabeth Curtis is my Elizabeth Curtis. Elizabeth married Michael Horn in Warren county,Ga.about1796.They had two children Richard Whitehead Horn and Emily. Emily married John W. Johnson. They moved to Clark county, Al. Richard also moved to Al. but to a different county.  An entry in Clark county records states that Blundell Curtis, Elizabeth Hawkins, and John Johnson have been given power to sell land in Washington and Hancock counties Georgia for the min or Richard Horn.  I can't remember the year but I think it was around 1806.Would like to share an y information on Elizabeth Curtis you have.

Rachel Turner

redscali@aol.com

tsoalice@intcomm.net

Hi Sharman and Rachel,

I think I have some information on your Elizabeth Curtis. She is my 4thgrt grandmother and the daughter of Blundell Curtis, mother unk. I am her descendant by way of her first child, John Douglas Curtis, who seems to have been illegitimate. I know she later married a Horn.

Since this story is a little lengthy and am going to E-mail it to you.

Regards, Gary Cloud

 

Children of ROBERT HAWKINS and ELIZABETH CURTIS are:

i. MALINDA3 HAWKINS, m. SALTER.

ii. EVELINE AMANDA HAWKINS, m. SOLOMON.

2. iii. WILLIAM CURTIS HAWKINS, b. 1807; d. 1835.

 

Generation No. 2

2. WILLIAM CURTIS3 HAWKINS (ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born 1807, and died 1835. He married ESPA GOODING HILL, daughter of LEWIS HILL and MARY WILLIAMS.

Notes for WILLIAM CURTIS HAWKINS:

William C. HAWKINS

Estate Settlement Extract (1835): Pike County, Alabama, Book 20, pages559-578

Adm: Lewis HILL and Epsa (Espa?) G. HAWKINS, appointed on 13 October1835. Sigining the bond a s sureties were Daniel SARTOR and Bartley/Bartlet TUCKER.

The estate owed James H. PONDER $50 for medical services from 30 May - 25June 1835.

The estate owed James M. STAGGERS of Millville, Butler County, Alabama$29.92 on funeral expenses for black cloth, black silk, bleached homespun, and coffin tacks purchased there on 26 Jun e 1835 by Lewis HILL.

The estate owed B.M. TUCKER & Co. for purchases for November 1834 - 29June 1835: whiskey mostly and rum, cigars, tobacco, coffee, one fine tooth comb, one almanac, a tin bUcket, two spelling books, shoes, and a pair of long-waisted stockings.

The estate also owed money to John S. FOWLER (?), John WHITE, AbijahRICHBURG, Robert SIMS, E . GODWIN, W. Futrill, and others.

Property of the estate was sold on 18 November 1835 by Lewis HILL. Some of the purchasers were James M. STAGGERS, B.M. TUCKER, Archibald SHAW, Asla G. Hill, David CLEMENTS, Hugh LINTON, Bartholomew STAGGERS, Daniel SARTOR, Angus CURRIE, James H. PONDER, and David ROLLIN.

Source: Papers of the Pike County Historical and Genealogical Society (Troy Alabama), Vol. XXX IX, Nos. 3 & 4, 2000. Abstracts from GeneralEstate Books 20-25, 1823-1880.

I'm interested in furthur information on this William C. Hawkins. I believe he is the brother of Malinda Hawkins who married Daniel SARTOR. William and Malinda evidently are the children of Robert Hawkins and Elizabeth Curtis. Is anyone else researching this line??

Thanks! Ann

Ann Chernow chernow@mindspring.com

Sharman,

Thanks for the information. Years ago, I got some information from those

Adams who were mentioned in your notes. I see a definite list of who Epsy's

father was supposed to be, but isn't it curious that she was listed as a Goodman

in Mandy Hawkins DuBose's Bible? But at least that will give me something to

check on. I had seen the Gooding notation before, as I said, but never with any

proof attached. I would like to put that matter to rest, once and for all.

Something is off about those different names, and I would really like to know

the truth.

I meant to mention that my best friend here has Ramseys in her line, and I

told her about your site. She has already been in contact with you or your

husband, I think. She is originally from Wesson, MS. Sharron Baird has worked

on a DAR line through someone like William Ramsey. Small world.

Going back to the information on the DuBoses and the two Hawkins sisters,

Mary Elizabeth and Amanda Evelinah. Go back and check those dates for the

sisters. Mary Elizabeth died in childbirth in 1845, and it was Hezekiah, not

her, who died in 1902. The dates I quoted yesterday came from their tombstones

in the Marlin Texas City Cemetery, and are verified by obituaries and funeral

cards. I am personally certain of those dates. Mary Elizabeth's son was

William Joel DuBose, not William Joseph. I also see that someone had William

M. Gray as my great grandmother Epsy Ann DuBose's husband. His name was William

Garrett Gray. Her sister Melissa Jane DuBose married William Garrett's brother,

Clinch Marzette Gray.

More later....I want to look at the Hawkins possibilities in the 1790 SC

census when I get a chance.

Anita

> To: "Sharman Ramsey" <style@southern-style.com>

> Sent: Monday, March 05, 2001 3:29 PM

> Subject: Re: Hawkins Family in Alabama

> > Sharman,

> > I was killing some time the other night, just idly typing some of my

surnames into a search engine. When I typed "DuBose," the Hawkins site

came

up. I scrolled down to see if anyone looked familiar, and there was my family! I was so excited to see William Curtis Hawkins listed, as I have

been unsuccessful in finding anything on him. I know he was said to be  murdered at an early age, and that his wife was pregnant with a daughter;

the daughter was William Epsy Hawkins, which has confused descendants ever since!

> >

I would be very grateful if you could tell me anything about William Curtis and his wife, Mary Epsis Goodman. Your site shows her as Mary Gooding

 Hill - would you mind telling me where you found her listed as that? I can not find documentation proving their marriage or her name, but my family

has always known her as a Goodman. We also knew that the Hill surname was involved, but thought that she remarried after the murder of William

Curtis.

I also knew nothing about Robert except for his name. I did not know his wife's name, though. I think Robert was in Sumter County, SC. in 1800.

This is just a guess, but right now, that is all I have.  Anything you would be willing to share with me would be wonderful. I am

more than glad to reimburse you for any costs for copying and postage. I am so glad to make contact with a new "cousin," and I look forward to hearing

from you. Thanks so much!

Anita Nail

 

Sharman Ramsey wrote:

 If only we could find the parents of Robert Hawkins and Elizabeth Curtis!  They are truly elusive. I am glad to have someone join in the search!

Sharman Ramsey

 

From: "Anita N. Nail" <nail@tecinfo.com>

To: <style@southern-style.com>

Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2001 5:09 PMSubject: Hawkins Family in Alabama

Sharman Ramsey wrote:You have told me much more than I knew before! Murdered? Do you know more about that? How could we find out? Do you know where you came up with the

information about Sumter County, South Carolina? That is quite helpful. > I'll do a search there. As for the Gooding, it was included on a list of names my husband's Aunt Janis gave him. Maybe if we

get the names right we can find who we're looking for Thanks, Sharman

 

Children of WILLIAM HAWKINS and ESPA HILL are:

3. i. MALINDA MELISSA4 HAWKINS.

4. ii. MARY ELIZABETH HAWKINS, b. 1826; d. 1902.

iii. ROBERT LEWIS HAWKINS, b. 1828; m. MARTHA GOODING.

5. iv. THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON HAWKINS, b. August 02, 1829, Luverne (Valington), Pike County, Alabama; d. July 05, 1889, Headland, Houston County, Alabama.

6. v. EVALINA AMANDA HAWKINS, b. 1832; d. 1893.

7. vi. WILLIAM EPSA HAWKINS, b. 1836; d. 1925.

 

Generation No. 3

3. MALINDA MELISSA4 HAWKINS (WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?). She married JAMES WATKINS.

 

Child of MALINDA HAWKINS and JAMES WATKINS is:

i. AMANDA5 WATKINS, m. P. F. STEARNES.

4. MARY ELIZABETH4 HAWKINS (WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born 1826, and died 1902. She married HEZEKIAH M. DUBOSE.

 

Child of MARY HAWKINS and HEZEKIAH DUBOSE is:

i. WILLIAM JOSEPH5 DUBOSE, b. 1845; d. 1864.

5. THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4 HAWKINS (WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born August 02, 1829 in Luverne (Valington), Pike County, Alabama, and died July 05, 1889 in Headland, Houston County, Alabama. He married (1) MARGARET WINIFRED ADAMS, daughter of LEWIS ADAMS and ALICE ALBRITTON. He married (2) SUSAN BURCH HARDY December 16, 1852.

Notes for THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON HAWKINS:

1 AUTH Also Lewis N. Adams and Fabian W. Adams

1 AGNC Census of Confederate Veterans 1907

1 DEST Perryville, Kentucky

1 MEDI Battle of Chickamauga

1 CORP

2 DATE 19 May 1865

2 PLAC Honorably discharged

1 GEDC Enlisted in company K, 16th Alabama Infantry Regiment, CSA

 

Letter from State Department of Archives and History, Montgomery, Alabama:

Mrs. Virginia E. Cook

314 S.E. "K" Street

Grant's Pass, Oregon

....T.A.J. Hawkins was a pensioner from Barbour County, Alabama, in1899. He stated he serve d as a private in Co. K, 39th Alabama Infantry, enlisted 7 April 1862, at Eufaula, and was discharged 19 May 1865. He further stated that he was wounded at Chickamauga, Atlanta and Missionary Ridge. He gave his age as 70 years. The name of his parents is not shown, nor is any other data given.

 

Archives to Virginia E. Cook, 21 March 1963:

Dear Mrs. Cook;

With reference to your letter of March 14, 1863, requesting information concerning the Confederate military service of Thomas Andrew Jackson Hawkins enlisted in that organization on that d ate with the grade ofPrivate. He was 31 years of age.

A muster in roll of Company K, 39th Alabama Infantry Regiment, C.S.A., dated May 154, 1862, shows that Thomas A. J. Hawkins enlisted in that organization on that date with the grade of Private. He had evidently ransferred from one organization to another, which was not at all unusual.

During the Census of Confederate Veterans in 1907, Thomas A. J. Hawkins certified to the Tax A ssessor of Henry County that he had served in Company K, 16th Alabama Infantry Regiment, C.S.A ., and also, in Company K, 39th Alabama Infantry Regiment, C.S.A. His address in 1907 wasHead land, Henry County, Alabama.

Thomas Andrew Jackson Hawkins drew a pension for his service in the Confederate Army. He firs t applied for the pension in 1899, and, at that time, he was living at Elamville, Barbour County, Alabama. His pension application certifies that he was wounded three times while inservice--at Chicamauga, Atlanta, and at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee. After his death on July 6, 1909 , his widow, Mrs. Margaret Winford Hawkins, drew a Confederate widow's pension. She certified that she and Mr. Hawkins were married in Barbour County in October 1868. She gave the name o f her father as Lewis N. Adams.

The Confederate military service of Thomas A. J. Hawkins, as set out, has been verified by the Office of the U.S. Adjutant General in Washington, D.C.

Brewer's History of Alabama contains a sketch of each Alabama regiment that participated in the War between the States and we also have folderswith information about the different regimen ts. We are not sufficientlystaffed, however, to type up all this data. We would be glad t o make itavailable to you if you could visit this department.

Name of his Colonel: Clayton and Michell

Name of his Captain: Copeland and Flewellen

Written by Winston Adams' father:

T.A.J. Hawkins

Thomas A. J. Hawkins was born August 2, 1829 and died July 5, 1909. He was the son of Mr. an d Mrs. Williams and Epsey Hawkins and was born in Valington, Alabama, where the town of Luverne now stands. At the age of12 he moved with his parents to Log Town (now Eufaula) where he lived until 1857 when he moved to Kansas only living there four years when he moved back to Eufaula, Alabama where he lived until 1862 when he enlisted in the army against the North, joining Co. K 39th Alabama Regiment of the Eufaula Rifles. At the age of 19, he joined the Methodist church at Epworth near Eufaula, Ala. and since that time he has ever been loyal to his Church . It may well be said of him that he was a man that went about doing good wherever he had an opportunity, not only waiting opportunities to come his way, but he sought them. He had a burning desire to see men saved and to help them find the way to salvation and to encourage them after they had found it. He was also a great Sunday School man and in this department of the Church work he had great success. The writer knows of one Sunday School where he was Superintendent out of which came seven preachers and many other cases similar to this one.

As stated above, he enlisted in the Army against the North to help in the lost cause and to stand for what he verily thought to be the right. In this as in all things else, he was always found at this post of duty, ready to fight and die if needs be for his grand old country. H e was faithful until the surrender, receiving only a slight wound in the hand.

Mr. Hawkins was married twice, first to Miss Susan Hardy in 1852 and to them six children were born. She died early in the Spring of 1868. The second time he was married to Miss Margaret Adams in 1868, to them seven children were born. Of this number nine are still living, also his second wife.

In December, 1904, this good man moved to Midland City where he lived and worked for three year s. Afterwards moving to Headland where he died with acute indigestion after only a few minute s illness. The end came as a shock to all the family, for only a few minutes before his death , he sat on his front porch and read his paper.

On Tuesday P.M., a number of his relatives and friends followed him to his last resting place where he was interred amidst tears and sorrow. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. J.A . Peterson of Dothan in the absence of his Pastor, Rev. J. H. Williams. To the bereaved relatives and friends we would say--look to the God he served for comfort and be assured that you can find him in Heaven shouting the praise of God and the Land.

W.E. Middlebrooks

/this appears to be the obituary of Thomas A. J. Hawkins written by his grandson, Rev. W.E. Middlebrooks.

 

 

Children of THOMAS HAWKINS and MARGARET ADAMS are:

i. W. ALCY5 HAWKINS, b. February 15, 1870; m. CARRIE E. LOCK.

ii. LEWIS ANDREW HAWKINS, b. July 06, 1871; m. LUDIE WEST, November 05, 1896.

iii. MARY CLIFFORD HAWKINS, b. September 26, 1872; d. 1941, Brantley, Alabama; m. JUNIE L. RICHARDS.

iv. CLARA C. HAWKINS, b. June 10, 1874; d. 1943, Blue Springs?, Alabama RFD#1; m. (1) LEON C. LEWIS; m. (2) THOMAS F. BEAMON.

8. v. ALPHEUS WALTER HAWKINS, b. June 27, 1881, Sandy Point, Al. (Eufaula, Alabama); d. June 27, 1947, Dothan, Alabama, Houston County.

vi. BIDIE HAWKINS, b. October 19, 1885; d. 1965; m. SAMUEL OSCAR LEE, January 20, 1906.

Children of THOMAS HAWKINS and SUSAN HARDY are:

vii. M.W.5 HAWKINS, b. November 20, 1848; m. UNKNOWN, October 27, 1868.

viii. SUSAN FRANCES HAWKINS, b. 1855; m. (1) JESSE ALLEN ADAMS; m. (2) I. E. EDWARDS.

ix. ACTON NASH HAWKINS, b. 1857; m. NANNY WORTHINGTON.

x. ELIZABETH HAWKINS, b. 1859; d. 1904; m. WILLIAM WEST.

xi. ELLA VILULA HAWKINS, b. 1862; m. JOHN A. MIDDLEBROOKS.

xii. THOMAS CORINE HAWKINS, b. 1864; d. 1904; m. THOMAS LEWIS ADAMS.

6. EVALINA AMANDA4 HAWKINS (WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born 1832, and died 1893. She married HEZEKIAH M. DUBOSE.

 

Children of EVALINA HAWKINS and HEZEKIAH DUBOSE are:

i. JAMES WESLEY5 DUBOSE, b. 1846; d. 1912; m. NANCY SHAW.

ii. MARY ELIZABETH DUBOSE, b. 1848; d. 1893; m. ALFRED J. DAVIS.

iii. THOMAS WIMBERLY DUBOSE, b. 1851; d. 1912; m. TAYLOR.

iv. EPSEY ANNIE DUBOSE, b. 1852; d. 1944; m. WILLIAM M. GRAY.

v. MELISSA JANE DUBOSE, b. 1854; d. 1921; m. C. M. GRAY.

vi. ARDILLA ALABAMA DUBOSE, b. 1857; d. 1939; m. W. T. HOLLAND.

vii. HORACE MELLARD DUBOSE, b. 1858; d. 1858; m. (1) ROSA CHANEY; m. (2) GERTRUDE V. AMIS.

viii. AMANDA MISSOURI DUBOSE, b. 1860; m. JOHN H. D. TERRAL.

ix. OLIVER ELVION DUBOSE, b. 1862; d. 1940; m. MARY COMBS.

x. ALICE DRUSILLA DUBOSE, b. 1864.

xi. WILLIAM JOEL DUBOSE, b. 1867; d. 1945.

xii. EDGAR LEE DUBOSE, b. 1872; d. 1917; m. MARY FRANCES RICHEY.

7. WILLIAM EPSA4 HAWKINS (WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born 1836, and died 1925. She married (1) ELISHA DURDEN. She married (2) ELVIN BRYANT ADAMS.

 

Children of WILLIAM HAWKINS and ELISHA DURDEN are:

i. EVALINA AMANDA5 DURDEN.

ii. SUSAN FRANCES DURDEN.

iii. GEORGIA ANN DURDEN, b. 1862; d. 1925; m. LEWIS COLUMBUS ADAMS.

Children of WILLIAM HAWKINS and ELVIN ADAMS are:

iv. OCRAN OSCAR5 ADAMS, b. 1870; d. 1944; m. ALICE BEAMON.

v. MINNIE FLORENCE ADAMS, b. 1872; d. 1903.

vi. MARGARET ROSE ADA ADAMS, b. 1875; d. 1925; m. ESAU HUTTO.

 

Generation No. 4

8. ALPHEUS WALTER5 HAWKINS (THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4, WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born June 27, 1881 in Sandy Point, Al. (Eufaula, Alabama), and died June 27, 1947 in Dothan, Alabama, Houston County. He married ALICE OLIVE LINDSAY May 09, 1909, daughter of EDGAR LINDSAY and MARY OATES.

 

More About ALICE OLIVE LINDSAY:

Cause of Death: alzheimers

Children of ALPHEUS HAWKINS and ALICE LINDSAY are:

i. ELSIE6 HAWKINS, d. June 28, 2002; m. JOHN CANNON.

ii. MARGARET HAWKINS, b. February 1910; d. September 1914.

9. iii. HILDA PEARL HAWKINS, b. November 18, 1912, Headland, Alabama; d. January 26, 1988, Dothan, Al..

10. iv. JANIS CLAIRE HAWKINS, b. October 31, 1914, Headland, Alabama.

11. v. WALTER JEROME HAWKINS, b. October 17, 1917; d. 1960, Memory Hill, Dothan, al.

vi. LYNN HAWKINS, b. January 20, 1920, Headland, Al; d. January 27.

 

Generation No. 5

9. HILDA PEARL6 HAWKINS (ALPHEUS WALTER5, THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4, WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born November 18, 1912 in Headland, Alabama1, and died January 26, 1988 in Dothan, Al.2. She married JOSEPH ROBERT RAMSEY May 03, 1935 in Dothan, Al., son of RICHARD RAMSEY and CORA DOWLING.

Notes for HILDA PEARL HAWKINS:

1 AUTH Last residence: 36303

1 AGNC State of issue: AL

1 DEST Teacher, Ran the Restaurant at Houston Hotel

 

[Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 2, Ed. 3, Social Security Records:U.S., SS Death Benefi t Records, Surnames Beginning with R, Date ofImport: Jun 19, 1996, Internal Ref. #1.112.3.457 21.91]

Individual: Ramsey, Hilda

Birth date: Nov 18, 1912

Death date: Jan 26, 1988

Social Security #: 418-60-3895

Last residence: 36303

State of issue: AL

In 2001 the Ramsey brothers, Joe, Ed, Bill and Phil donated land that had once been part of the Murphy Estate bought by J. Robert Ramsey to the city for a park memorializing their wonderful parents. Dr. J. Paul Maddox, pastor Emeritus of the First Baptist Church delivered the Invocation and Minister's tribute. We thank Thee, oh God, for the memory of two of Thy choice an d most devoted servant, Robert and Hilda Ramsey. Their marriage must have been made in Heaven , for they were so devoted to each other and to Thee. How proud they were of their sons, an d those they chose to be their brides. How wonderfully blessed they were with grandchildren of whom they were so very proud.

We pray that The Ramsey Park may be a focus of joy and a blessing for many citizens of Dothan in all the years to come. Just as the Ramseys dedicated their lives to making Dothan a better place, may we here today dedicate ourselves to their high ideals and to a renewed faith in God.

We thank Thee that their good name is on this monument, and we pray that the Scripture inscribed on it will be a source of blessings for generations to come.

This we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Minister's Tribute

Very soon, with the unveiling of this monument, this park will be dedicated to the memory of Robert and Hilda Ramsey, but they and their sons would want it primarily to be dedicated to the glory of God.

I consider it a great privilege to have a part in these ceremonies of dedication of The Ramsey Park. Nearly fifty years ago, when I was pastor of the First Baptist Church, I had no more faithful church members or friends than Hilda and Robert Ramsey.

How appropriate is their choice of the Scripture which has been inscribedon this monument, found in Proverbs 22: 1, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold." All through the years, the Ramsey name has been such a respect ed and honored name in all of this area. What a heritage Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey left to their son s and their families!

Joseph Robert Ramsey was born on July 26, 1906, on Lena Street in Dothan, Alabama. He was the third of four children born to Richard H. Ramsey and Cora Dowling Ramsey.

Hilda Pearl (Hawkins) Ramsey was born on November 18, 1912, the second child of Alpheus Walter Hawkins and Alice Lindsay Hawkins.

Robert Ramsey was graduated from the Dothan High School in 1924. He was a cheerleader of hi s school, president of his literary society, and President of the Senior Class. Hilda was graduated from the same high school in 1930.

Robert obtained his L. L. B. degree from the Law School of the University of Alabama. He was a member of the Pi Kappa Phi social fraternity, and the manager of the baseball team. Hilda attended Montevallo College for one year and then Troy State, where she obtained a teaching certificate.  Her first teaching job was a one-room school, Flowers Chapel. She subsequently taught at Ardilla.

Robert practiced law in Dothan from 1929-1979, retiring only a few months prior to his death o n November 20, 1979. He was a hard worker, very frugal, and gained the respect of everyone with whom he had contact. He was a credit to his profession, serving as President of the Houston County Bar Association, and as Bar Commissioner for the 20th Judicial Circuit. He considered his practice to be his "calling" from God.

He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Dothan Boys Club, the City NationalBank, th e Haven, and served as President of the Dothan Rotary Club. He was also President of the Cit y Realty Company and of the Houston Hotel in Dothan.

Joseph Robert Ramsey fell in love with a very beautiful lady named Hilda Hawkins, and they were married on May 3, 1935, during the great Depression. They lived on Pettus Street in Dothan when their first son, Joseph Robert Ramsey, Jr. Was born in 1938. The Ramseys moved to 112H erring Street in 1939 where their other sons were born; Philip was born on April 20, 1940; Edward was born on December 9, 1941, just two days after Pearl Harbor; Joel was born on May 3, 19 47, and William, on August15, 1948. Their first born, Bob, died of cancer in 1946. In 195 1 they moved to 800 North Cherokee where they lived until 1978, when they moved to #3 Danmor Pl ace.

Mrs. Ramsey was the disciplinarian of the family, and Mr. Ramsey was the breadwinner. Mr. Ramsey was a soft-spoken man, who tended to be a peace maker. He rarely lost his temper or raise d his voice. Mrs. Ramsey's principal vocation was rearing her children, and their sons tell m e that she was more than equal to the task. She was especially strict on the behavior of their sons at church on Sunday mornings. Their grandchildren were the love of her life. She was not strict with them. She couldn't stand to see any of her grandchildren spanked. Mrs. Ramsey loved to read, but her favorite social activities were spending time with her friends, he r church groups, and her luncheon club.

Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey loved to socialize with their friends through their bridge club and other activities. They loved trips to Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery, Compass Lake, and Panama Cit y Beach.

Mr. Ramsey was a loving husband and father. He came home for lunch almost every day. He was always there for his wife and each of his sons. He acquired the majority interest in the Houston Hotel in the early '60s. Those were days in which the traveling public was turning from downtown hotels to motels. Mrs. Ramsey managed the Hotel Restaurant, and operated it profit ably enough to keep the hotel going. The restaurant was famous for its Shrimp Salad and lemon Ice Box Pie. She was loved and respected by her staff. She never worried about spending money as long as her husband was alive. However after his death, she became much more conservative . Unfortunately her final years were marred by the slow but steady progression of Alzheimer s Disease.

I will always remember the Ramseys because of their great faith in God and love for their church. It would be impossible for me to describe how much Hilda and Robert meant to First Baptist Church during the years I served as pastor. They were great encouragers of the pastor and c hurch staff. Serving the Lord through their church was the joy of their lives. During several years Mr. Ramsey was Chairman of Deacons. Mrs. Ramsey was active in the work of Baptist Women. For a number of years she taught a Sunday School class of girls. She was a gracious hostess, and it is a joy to remember the Christian hospitality of the Ramseys.

I believe that the greatest success for parents is to see their children become Christians, and then make their lives a blessing to those whose lives they touch. Measured by this high standard, if you want to know how well the Ramseys succeeded, just look at their sons, their wives, and grandchildren!

The Ramsey sons know that they inherited from their parents a very good name. No wonder the y have chosen these words from Proverbs to be inscribed on the back of this monument, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold ."

How I thank God for the privilege of knowing such wonderful people, and that their memory is being perpetuated by a park in our city named, The Ramsey Park!

God bless the Ramsey sons and their families as this monument is dedicated, and will now be un veiled!

Linda Hawkins Woodruff, niece of Hilda Ramsey (her brother Jerome's daughter) spoke at the dedication of the park:

I am honored to have the opportunity to briefly reminisce about my aunt, Hilda Hawkins Ramsey . Those of you here today who knew Aunt Hilda knew her to be a gracious charming Southern lady. You will remember how important her family, her church, and her friends, and her community were to her. She enjoyed time spent with family and friends at home, at church, and in the community.

As a teacher in public schools and in Sunday school and with her sons, her grandchildren, her nephews and her nieces; Aunt Hilda demonstrated her love for children. The only admonition I recall her giving to us was that we "play pretty." Aunt Hilda was a wonderful hostess. S he enjoyed entertaining and she always made each guest feel welcome, as if he or she were the guest of honor.

Aunt Hilda would be delighted with this park, a place where families and friends can enjoy time together as she enjoyed time with her family and friends and where children can play. I can see her now, smiling and reminding them in her soft Southern voice to "play pretty" and treating them, their families, and their friends as very special guests at Ramsey Park.

Note from daughter-in-law Sharman Burson Ramsey: Mom and Dad were always loving and generous . When I would express my thanks for their help Mom's response was always "It was my pleasure ." I can only pray that attitude of gratefulness for the privilege of "being able to be there " for my children will be as evident for them as it was for me when Mom expressed those feelings. I was their first "daughter" and enjoyed the warmth of their love and that of Joe's brothers. Our favorite activity is being together as a family laughing...oh the laughter!!! One brother plays off the other brother and soon everyone is sidesplitting with laughter. Were blessed to live in the North Cherokee home where we have raised our children. Brooke was the first baby brought home to this house. It is here we gather as a family for weddings and funeral s. We are blessed. Truly...ours is a "goodly heritage."

 

More About HILDA PEARL HAWKINS:

Cause of Death: Alzheimers, complications of Pneumonia

Notes for JOSEPH ROBERT RAMSEY:

1 AUTH son Joel joined him in law firm

1 AGNC died of congestive heart failure as Alzheimers was progressing

 

Written by son Joel Wardlaw Ramsey:

JOSEPH ROBERT RAMSEY Born July 26, 1906, on Lena Street in Dothan, Alabama, son of Richard H . and Cora (Dowling) Ramsey. He was the third of four children (siblings Cassie, R.H., Jr., and Frances).

One of Dad's earliest recollections was his first taste of a red pepper. It burned his mouth s o badly that he had to get up from the table and runaround the house (today his parents would undoubtedly be charged with child abuse). Despite this bad first experience, Dad always liked to eat peppers, radishes and other items too spicy for the rest of us.

Dad liked to tell us about how poor his family was when he was growing up (in an effort to make us appreciate how fortunate we were). He had to sell milk from his wagon in the colored section of town. When the cow "went dry," he had to drive it to the Dowling's farm in Pinckard where it could be put out to pasture. Once on his way back to Dothan he stopped to fish in a stream and actually caught a fish, but when he took it off the hook it flipped back to the water and got away.

Dad was so excited about going to school that his first day in the first grade (in a building that still stands and was last used as a hosiery mill) he exclaimed: "oh Boy, oh joy, where do we go from here!?" Unfortunately his principal, Claude Pepper (later elected to Congress from Florida), overheard the remark, called it insubordination, and "nipped it in the bud" by taking him to the office for a spanking.

The next teacher who mistook Dad's sincerity paid a high price for it. While he was still in grade school, he got sick one day and asked to be allowed to be allowed to go to the restroom . Instead his teacher made him come and sit in her lap and ridiculed him in front of the class by pretending to comfort him with remarks like "poor little baby doesn't feel well?" Young " Joe Robbie" soon proved that he REALLY didn't feel well by throwing up all over her dress (presumably this was a learning experience for the teacher).

Fortunately most of Joe Robbie's school experiences were much happier than that. Obviously he was a good student and popular, although not an athlete. In high school he was a cheerleader and president of his literary society and his senior class (the class of 1924).

J. Robert attended the University of Alabama from 1924 through 1929, when he earned his L.L.B . degree. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and served as manager of the baseball team, thus earning membership in the "A" Club (which gave Dad a high priority for football tickets on those rare occasions when he ordered any).

Dad practiced law from 1929 to 1979, retiring a few months before his death. Characteristically, Dad waited for his law license to expire on Sept. 30th (he wasn't going to quit without getting the full benefit of that annual license). He had a general and varied practice. Including practically whatever came in the door. Of course, Dad had an excellent practice, since h e really was "an honest lawyer." He could sincerely say, when asked what he had done that day , "Just tried to do a little good in the world."

I'm not sure, but I think that during most of his legal career Dad was a sole practitioner . However, his first law partner was probably Oscar Tompkins, a colorful and cantankerous fellow who Dad first knew as one of his teachers. He was also a hobo (better known in those day s as "a bum") who "rode the rails" to see the country and " cowboyed," among other things. How ever, to the extent that Oscar Tompkins is remembered at all in the Houston County Bar Association, it is for his speech: "S.O.B.s I have known in the Houston County Bar Association." Unfortunately, I was not privileged to have heard that speech, but I doubt he mentioned Dad. While they were practicing together, they decided that they would close the office early on Saturdays (the usual closing time was noon) and go for rides in the country. Reportedly that policy lasted four weeks (long enough for them to travel in each direction).

Fortunately for us, Mother noticed Dad and "set her cap" for him. She" just happened to be walking by" his office at quitting time enough to get him to take her to get a Coke; after that he undoubtedly never had a chance. Ironically Dad's first experience with Mother's father w as not a pleasant one: Dad foreclosed the mortgage on the family home (probably the one on the corner of Orange and Powell Streets). However, to his credit, Mr. Hawkins had no hard feelings over that, although he didn't consider Dad worthy of Hilda Pearl.

Despite Mr. Hawkins's misgivings, J. Robert and Hilda were married in herparent's home on Ma y 3, 1935. They first resided with Uncle Richard andAunt Lucille before obtaining their firs t home at 112 N. Herring. All 5of their sons were born while they lived there, and their old est, JosephRobert Ramsey, Jr., (Bob), (1938-1946) died there after a protractedstruggle wit h cancer. (kidney, ed. note)

The Ramseys built a beautiful new home in what was then still mostly woods, at 800 N. Cherokee, in 1950-51. They lived there until all of the boys were grown and married, in 1978. Mother  finally convinced Dad to build a new home, at 3 Danmor, and they moved into it in November o f that year.

Getting back to Dad's legal career, his first case was the collection of a two dollar account . His fee was $1, of which he gave 10 cents to the church.

Dad worked hard on his practice, and he tried to be sure we all understood that money was hard  to come by, so we had to save and be frugal. However Phil soon got tired of hearing that sermon. He noticed that every day when they picked Dad up in the car after work, he would firs t go across the street to the Post Office to mail his correspondence. After hearing one more time how tight money was, Phil finally told him: "Dad, if you would really work, instead o f just writing letters all day, we would have some money."

Despite having a successful law practice, lawyers (and doctors) did not get rich in those days . Dad rarely billed by the hour (his top rate was$25 an hour in 1979), instead he just tried to figure what his services were worth, and "what the traffic could bear." He had no complaints that I know of.

Dad acknowledged that he made most of his money from his real estate deals. His principal real estate acquisition was the "Murphy Estate." This transaction was somewhat involved. One of Dad's Mother's sisters, Lottie Dowling, married Charles D. Murphy, Sr., a successful businessman but not much of a family man. In fact, he was so mean that when he died he left most of his estate (which was considerable) to the local Masonic Temple. The family retained Dad to file a will contest, and the best lawyers in town became involved on each side. Finally the Masons proposed a settlement: the family could choose either the money or the land. Dad urged the Murphys to take the land, and they did. However, once the case was over with the Murphy s had second thoughts, since they couldn't spend the land and it did not produce much income . Dad searched for a buyer, and offered it to everyone who was interested, including his high school classmate, Harry Hall (who invested heavily in Dothan real estate, and subsequently made enough money to start a savings and loan business). However times were hard and no one was interested in buying the land. Therefore Dad agreed to purchase it for the amount of the cash the Masons kept, provided the Murphys agreed to finance the sale, which they did. Thus Dad obtained the land where most of Cloverdale Subdivision was developed, and numerous other tracts of land in the city and county. More than half of this property Dad transferred o City Realty Company, which we continued until after Mother's death.

Dad was an old fashioned father. He saw his role as the bread winner, and generally left the child rearing to Mother. She was equal to the task, and believed in the Proverb "spare the rod and spoil the child." And her spankings never hurt her more than me. However Dad rarely raised his hand to us. On one occasion when Ed had exhausted Mother's patience, Dad intervened and said: "Let me handle this Mother." Whereupon he gave Ed a stern lecture. Ed learned from that experience. The next time Mother got ready to send Ed to get a switch, Ed said : "Let's let Dad handle this, Mom." (I doubt that worked, although Ed did get away with a lot , since he was always Mother's favorite).

A lot of our recollections are centered on the kitchen table, where we took our family meals together. Dad almost always came home for lunch (except for Mondays, when he went to the Rotary Club). We would wait awhile for Dad and then go ahead; invariably he would drive up once we started eating.

On one occasion Dad decided to cure Phil and Ed of gluttony. After he got tired of hearing them repeatedly ask for more dessert, he gave them all the candy that he could find in the house . However when they got sick that night, Mother was the one who got up to see about them. Dad never tried that with Bill and me.

We all had our regular places at the table. Bill sat to Dad's right. Once Dad brought a business acquaintance home to eat with us, and the gentleman made the mistake of sitting in Bill' s place. Bill warned him ""You better not sit there; he (Dad) will eat off your plate."

Dad enjoyed good health most of his life, and was rarely sick. However when we were in Birmingham for Dick Moseley's wedding sometime during the winter of '78-'79, Dad slipped on some ice while walking up an incline at the Ramada Hotel and fell, breaking some ribs. After his retirement he had cataract surgery. Nevertheless he seemed to be in good health until Monday, Nov ember 20, 1979. Dad said he didn't feel well, and missed the Rotary Club meeting, which was very unusual for him. That evening he walked over to our house, but I was at a Boy Scout meeting. When I got home Sharman and I went over and visited with him and Mother for awhile. After midnight, Mother called to say that Dad couldn't catch his breath, but the paramedics were t ending to him, and they were going to the hospital. She was sure everything would be OK, and she would call me from there. When she did, Dad was gone.

 

More About JOSEPH ROBERT RAMSEY:

Cause of Death: congestive heart failure

Children of HILDA HAWKINS and JOSEPH RAMSEY are:

i. JOSEPH ROBERT7 RAMSEY, b. 1938.

More About JOSEPH ROBERT RAMSEY:

Cause of Death: childhood onset tumor on kidney

12. ii. PHILIP HART RAMSEY, b. April 20, 1940.

13. iii. EDWARD LAWRENCE RAMSEY, b. December 07, 1941, Dothan, Alabama Houston County.

14. iv. JOEL WARDLAW RAMSEY, b. May 03, 1947, Dothan, Houston County, Alabama.

15. v. WILLIAM ALLEN RAMSEY, b. August 15, 1948, Dothan, Alabama Houston County.

10. JANIS CLAIRE6 HAWKINS (ALPHEUS WALTER5, THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4, WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born October 31, 1914 in Headland, Alabama. She married RALPH MOSELEY.

 

Children of JANIS HAWKINS and RALPH MOSELEY are:

i. CLARK7 MOSELEY, m. SUE.

ii. DOUGLAS MOSELEY, b. 1947, Dothan, Aabama, Houston County.

16. iii. RICHARD MOSELEY, b. 1947, Dothan, Aabama, Houston County.

17. iv. JAN MOSELEY, b. 1949, Dothan, Alabama, Houston County.

11. WALTER JEROME6 HAWKINS (ALPHEUS WALTER5, THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4, WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born October 17, 1917, and died 1960 in Memory Hill, Dothan, al. He married JEAN HOLLIS.

 

Children of WALTER HAWKINS and JEAN HOLLIS are:

18. i. DAVID7 HAWKINS.

ii. LINDA HAWKINS.

 

Generation No. 6

12. PHILIP HART7 RAMSEY (HILDA PEARL6 HAWKINS, ALPHEUS WALTER5, THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4, WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born April 20, 1940. He married PATRICIA PRENDERGAST.

Notes for PHILIP HART RAMSEY:

1 AUTH graduate of Georgia Tech

1 AGNC served in Peace Corps in Nigeria

 

 

Children of PHILIP RAMSEY and PATRICIA PRENDERGAST are:

19. i. CATHY THEOPHILUS8 RAMSEY.

ii. ROBERT THEOPHILUS RAMSEY.

13. EDWARD LAWRENCE7 RAMSEY (HILDA PEARL6 HAWKINS, ALPHEUS WALTER5, THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4, WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born December 07, 1941 in Dothan, Alabama Houston County. He married (1) PAMELA THUSS in Episcopal Church, Birmingham. He married (2) NANCY.

Notes for EDWARD LAWRENCE RAMSEY:

1 AUTH Birmingham attorney

1 AGNC Judge in Birmingham

 

 

Child of EDWARD RAMSEY and PAMELA THUSS is:

i. MATTHEW EDWARD8 RAMSEY, b. April 25, 1975.

14. JOEL WARDLAW7 RAMSEY (HILDA PEARL6 HAWKINS, ALPHEUS WALTER5, THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4, WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born May 03, 1947 in Dothan, Houston County, Alabama. He married SHARMAN JEAN BURSON November 08, 1969 in Dothan, Alabama Houston County, daughter of ELKANAH BURSON and JEAN GILLIS.

Notes for JOEL WARDLAW RAMSEY:

1 AUTH Sons of the Confederate Veterans

1 AGNC graduated from the University of Alabama law school

1 DEST President of Houston County Bar Association

1 MEDI Pi Kappa Phi social fraternity

(HILDA PEARL6 HAWKINS, ALPHEUS WALTER5, THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4, WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born August 15, 1948 in Dothan, Alabama Houston County. He married JOYCE WALKER in Methodist Church, Fayetteville, Ga..

Notes for WILLIAM ALLEN RAMSEY:

1 AUTH coach of all of Elizabeth's teams, basketball, softball, tennis, etc.

1 AGNC Worked hard on Atlanta Olympics

(JANIS CLAIRE6 HAWKINS, ALPHEUS WALTER5, THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4, WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born 1947 in Dothan, Alabama, Houston County.

 

Children of RICHARD MOSELEY are:

i. DARCY8 MOSELEY.

ii. CHRISTIAN MOSELEY.

17. JAN7 MOSELEY (JANIS CLAIRE6 HAWKINS, ALPHEUS WALTER5, THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4, WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born 1949 in Dothan, Alabama, Houston County. She married JIM BENTLEY.

 

Child of JAN MOSELEY and JIM BENTLEY is:

i. LAURA LINDSAY8 BENTLEY, b. Gadsen, Alabama.

18. DAVID7 HAWKINS (WALTER JEROME6, ALPHEUS WALTER5, THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4, WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?).

 

Child of DAVID HAWKINS is:

i. LISA8 HAWKINS.

 

Generation No. 7

19. CATHY THEOPHILUS8 RAMSEY (PHILIP HART7, HILDA PEARL6 HAWKINS, ALPHEUS WALTER5, THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4, WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?). She married JOSEPH ABRAMSKY.

Notes for CATHY THEOPHILUS RAMSEY:

1 AUTH Employed by M and M

 

 

Children of CATHY RAMSEY and JOSEPH ABRAMSKY are:

i. JOSEPH9 ABRAMSKY.

ii. ALLISON ABRAMSKY.

20. CECILY CATHRYN8 RAMSEY (JOEL WARDLAW7, HILDA PEARL6 HAWKINS, ALPHEUS WALTER5, THOMAS ANDREW JACKSON4, WILLIAM CURTIS3, ROBERT2, DRURY1 HAWKINS?) was born May 02, 1974 in Dothan, Alabama, Houston County. She married STEPHAN ALLAN BUTTERWORTH May 05, 2001 in 17807 Hwy. 98, Panama City Beach, Florida.

Notes for CECILY CATHRYN RAMSEY:

1 AUTH Theta Tau social and professional fraternity, University of Alabama

Electrical Engineer / Computer Engineer

 

 

Notes for STEPHAN ALLAN BUTTERWORTH:

BA Journalism Troy State University

Sports Editor: Enterprise Ledger

 

Child of CECILY RAMSEY and STEPHAN BUTTERWORTH is:

i. LILY CLARE9 BUTTERWORTH, b. June 17, 2002.