Eliza Ann Jones White & the Union Medical Doctor

Louroue Sutton Lee told the following story to Bud Hammond during a phone call on Friday, July 31, 2009.

General Sherman and his army came through Chesterfield County in March 1865 destroying everything as they passed. A Union officer while passing the Thrashley White farm noticed that Eliza Ann was pregnant and her delivery date was obviously close. The officer asked Thrashley if he would like a Union Army Medical doctor to call on Eliza, and offered the doctor’s services should Eliza go into labor. Thrashley took the offer to Eliza. Her response passed down through the years was, “I’d rather die than have a damn Yankee doctor work on me.”

Our records show that William Franklin White was born on April 27, 1865 and I might add without help from a Yankee doctor.
[The Lineage: Louroue Sutton Lee’s husband was Richard Rudolph Lee, the son of Perdie Ellison Lee, the son of John William Lee, the son of John Thomas Lee who married Sara Jane White.]
Submitted by: Leon F. (Bud) Hammond Jr.

Sherman and the Bantam Rooster

My Aunt Emma Rae Hammond Eskridge relayed the following story at the White Family Reunion July 26, 2009 at Pine Grove Church. Aunt Emma Rae heard this story directly from her Great Aunt Sara Jane White Lee, the daughter of Thrashley White and Eliza Ann Jones. Sara Jane White Lee’s birthday was June 7, 1854 and Aunt Emma Rae’s mother Lissie Arie White Hammond’s birthday was June 7, 1894. Sara Jane and Lissie Arie shared the same birth day, June 7th. Aunt Emma Rae remembered Momma Hammond (Lissie Arie White Hammond) having Aunt Sara and Uncle Thomas Lee over for dinner on June 7th for many years to celebrate their joint birthday. Aunt Sara Jane told many stories but the one Aunt Emma Rae remembered was one about the bantam rooster and Sherman’s troops. Prior to the Civil War, Chesterfield held one of the first secession rallies in the South, encouraging the state to secede from the Union. Sherman remembered this in March 1865 as he marched through the uplands of South Carolina and viewed the event as an act of treason justifying retribution. Sherman’s troops burned barns, destroyed crops and gardens, killed livestock, plundered, and ate anything they wanted included chickens. Sara Jane was 10 years old when Sherman came through and she had a prized pet bantam rooster. She was afraid the Union troops would catch and kill her pet rooster. Her dad, Thrashley White removed a board from the ceiling of their house and put the rooster into the attic to hide him from the troops. The troops entered the farm and they destroyed the early spring garden, destroyed all they could, but did not find the bantam rooster. Sara Jane was afraid the rooster would crow and give away his hiding place but he remained quiet. The rooster survived the close call and was retrieved from the attic healthy and whole. Aunt Emma Rae remembers seeing Uncle Thomas and Aunt Sara Lee drive up in their bright yellow car. Aunt Emma Rae said she remembered this story because she also had a pet bantam rooster at the time.
[The Lineage: Thrashley White & Eliza Ann Jones White – James Heywood, Sara Jane, John Ervin, Henry Wiley, Lucy hardy, William Franklin, Ellison Thrashley. Henry Wiley & Emma Hudson Eddins had 8 children one of whom was Lissie Arie White. Lissie married Absalom (Bub) Hammond and they had 5 children. One was Emma Rae Hammond who married Ernest Randolph Eskridge; Lissie and Bub had 3 sons. One was my dad Leon Fay Hammond]
Submitted by: Leon F. (Bud) Hammond Jr.
August 2, 2009

Frankie White on the Reunion

I was so pleased with this year's White Reunion. The attendance was the best it had been in several years. I have been worried that the reunion would die out from a lack of interest, but maybe this year started a turnaround. I agree that we should give Anne Amos and Betty Hurst a hearty word of thanks for all they've done. Also, let's thank Bud Hammond for bringing copies of his research and for making such an interesting talk. Bud has done a great deal of research into the family genealogy, and as a good historian, is careful to document.

I always enjoy the White Reunion and have been to all but two of them.The reunion gives me an opportunity to see far-flung relatives that I so seldom get to see, and I always learn something new about the family. And then there's the food... Lord, the Whites can cook! I ate so much I was miserable most of the afternoon, and there were desserts that I didn't even get to sample. Not that I didn't want to, but I simply could not hold another bite of anything. Nobody can make a tomato sandwich like Bobbie Freeman. I don't know what she does, but hers tastes better than any I make. Someone once said, "I'd just as soon have one of Bobbie's tomato sandwiches as strawberry shortcake," and I agree.

My brother, Michael, makes the best chicken 'n' dumplin's. I thought they were especially good this year. As one cousin dipped in the pot, he said to me, "This is my third helping." And I can always count on some okra cooked in the old-timey way just as my grandmothers' used to cook. Someone brought a bowl of potato salad that was about the best I've ever tasted. I believe it had homemade pickles in it.

The only think lacking to make it a true White dinner was fried fish and catfish stew, but since I don't like fried fish — how can I be related to the Whites?— and since catfish stew doesn't rank high on my list of favorites, I'm willing to let them pass in favor of another potato casserole rich with cheese and sour cream or another plate of deviled eggs dressed up with paprika.

I guess my assessment of this year's reunion can be summed up in the old adage, "... and a good time was had by all."

Reunion Today

The White family reunion was today, and had better attendance than was expected. Without knowing the specific number, my estimate is that approximately 50 people attended. A few people were there for the first time - from the Sara Jane White Lee branch of the family. The reunion will be held at Pine Grove Baptist Church again next year - Linda and Wilson Polson are making arrangements already. I think attendance will always be better at Pine Grove. I said in an earlier post that Pine Grove is the heart of the White family - so much history and so many memories are there for our family.

I could write a long post about the people who were there, but I'll save that for another time. I do want to mention a couple of things that are important.

We should all be thankful for the years that Anne Amos has served as President. Seven years is a long time and now her father is somewhat ailing and she is worn out from carrying the load. I know she will continue to be involved. Michael White and I have taken some of the administrative duties off her and Linda and Wilson will be doing some of the logistics for the reunion also. Thanks Anne!!!!! Your service to the family will always be remembered and our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family - especially your father.

Betty White Hurst has been the Treasurer for the family since the reunion's beginning. We could have found no better or more loyal family member to serve in this post for the past 30 + years. Apart from her long service, Betty is one of the sweetest, kindest people I have ever met. On August 4, Betty will be undergoing a very serious heart operation. I would ask that anyone who reads this post to remember Betty in your prayers for the next few days as her operation approaches and for the next weeks and months as she recuperates. Betty is a very special member of our family.

Thanks to all who attended and for those of you who missed this year, we hope to see you at the reunion next year.


Jackie Hammond

White Family Reunion

The White family reunion will be held on Sunday, July 26, at Pine Grove Baptist Church. The reunion will start at 1:00. As most of you know, Pine Grove is the center of the universe for the White family with too many members and memories to count attached to the church and the cemetary.