Monday, May 23, 2011

Relatives at the Jehu S. Sawyer Funeral - Amanuensis Monday

Thanks to John at Transylvanian Dutch who originated the Amanuensis Monday meme, providing a framework (and nudge) for transcribing family records, news clippings and other treasures.

I recently found two booklets from my great-grandfather Jehu Stokley (Gee) Sawyer's 1940 funeral services in the boxes of papers taken from his house in 1996 after the death of his last surviving child. The funeral was held 21 January, 1940 at the Warrensburg Baptist Church (Greene County, TN). He was buried later that day at Oak Grove Cemetery in Greeneville, TN. Included in one of the booklets was a list of relatives attending the services. 

Memorial Record  

Jehu Stokley Sawyer

Relatives Attending

Lillian & Herbert Haun
Clevel & Hardin Luttrell
Bob & Iva Sawyer
Emma & Selma Sawyer
Mary Kathryn & Winston Sawyer
Bur & Connie Haun
Paul Haun
William & Gerline Haun
Joan & Carolyn Sawyer
Lass Sawyer
Joe Sawyer
Lillie Sawyer Holdway
Julia Sawyer Jones
George Sawyer
Joe Sawyer
Bessie Holdway
Belvia White
Vina Fox
Bill Green
Gert, Reba, June, Clemmie & Kenneth S (awyer)
Marie & Margaret Sawyer
Claris, Zora, and J.C. Holdway
Alva Jones - Iva Sawyer
Gussie and Jerome Sawyer
Mary Sawyer & Ruth S. Campbell

Notes

This list was written in one hand at some point following the services and appears to have been drawn from the list of those signing the guest register. It is a subjective list, for there are relatives who signed the register who are not on this list, though they were more distant connections. The first entries - through Joan & Carolyn Sawyer are children and grandchildren. The remaining entries are children and grandchildren of Gee's brothers and sisters. 

My great-grandfather was apparently named for a neighbor and prosperous citizen of Cocke County, Jehu Stokely. To date there is no evidence of any direct relation to the Stokely family. Gee's name was written multiple ways during his life - J.S., Jehu or Jehue, John, Stokley or Stokely. And of course, Gee or G. I have used Stokely to this point as my preferred spelling, but having reviewed the funeral home booklets will change my records to Stokley.