#37 of 52...William T. Ivey...

William T. Ivey.  That name sounds strong to me.  This William T. Ivey is one of  my 2nd great grandfathers.  William T. Ivey was born about April 1875 (or thereabouts) in Georgia.   I truly don't know a lot about this man.  I know that he married Lester Octavia Reid on 24 December 1895 in Carroll County, Georgia.

William T. and Lester Octavia had the following three known sons:

1). Paul Osren Ivey (1897-1972)
2). Robert E Lee Ivey (1903-1979) **My great grandfather
3). William Worley Ivey (1913-1994)

1900  Federal Census dated 5th June finds William age 22 living in Militia District 714, Carroll County, Georgia.  He was the head of the household consisting of wife Lesta (Lester) O. Ivey age 20 and son Paul O. Ivey age 3.  William is listed as being a farmer.

There are several Ivey families living nextdoor to William.  I can assume they are related, but have not investigated further.  There is a William age 52 and Keturah age 51 that are candidates for William T's parents.

There is a George N Ivey age 28 that is a good candidate to be William T's brother. My next step in this research will be to see if these are viable candidates for his relatives.

1910 Federal Census dated 9 May indicates that William age 35 years and Lester O. age 33 living in the same 714 District of Carroll County, Georgia.  William is still a farmer. He can read and write and is renting the farm.  Son Paul O is now 13 and son Robert E. L. is 7 years.
The William Ivey and Keturah F are still living nearby and are now ages 63 and 60.

1920 Federal Census dated 31 Jan 1920 is interesting to say the least.  William is listed as being 41 years old and as being a Widower.  The boys Paul O is now 23, Robert E.L is 16 and William W is 8.  William T is still a farmer.  The interesting this is this fact that he is a widower.  It is not actually true.  I have found Lester Octavia Ivey in 1940 living with youngest son William Worley Ivey.  I also found evidence that she remarried to a man with the last name Boyles and she doesn't actually pass away until 1961.  So why does it say she's dead?  A really interesting mystery there.  Is it telling that they have had three sons and they are spread apart in age?  They are about 6-8 years apart.  I will explore this further.

I do not have a death date for William.  I'm not sure when he passed away. I have some investigating to do.

#35 of 52...Robert E Lee Ivey

Robert E Lee Ivey is one of my great grandfathers.  He was born 21 Feb 1903 in Georgia to William T. Ivey and Lester Octavia Reid.

It is my understanding that Robert. E Lee Ivey was named after "The" Robert E. Lee.  I do not remember him but he did have the opportunity to actually meet me when I was an infant.  I have only seen one or two photos of him and I recall him being sort of tall in the photo.  I wish I had copies of photos of him.

Robert E Lee Ivey had two brothers.
1). Paul O. Ivey (1897-1972)
2). William Worley Ivey (1913-1994)

Robert E. Lee Ivey married Tishie Stapler in May 1925.

Robert and Tishie had 10 children.

1). Fred V. Ivey (1926-1981)
2). John William Ivey (1928-1969)
3). Charles Mayern Ivey (1930-2006)
4). Leonard W. Ivey (1934-1972)
5). Shirley Lucille Ivey (1936-1978) **my grandmother
6). Robert E Ivey JR (1938-2009)
7). Gene Ivey (1941-1989)*twin
8). Imagene Ivey (living)*twin
9) Carolyn Sue Ivey (living)
10). Mary Alice Ivey (died in infancy unknown dates)

I wish I knew more about Robert E. Lee Ivey.  It is my understanding that he was a farmer and worked very hard to keep food on the table for his family.

Robert E. Lee Ivey passed away 8 August 1979 in Carroll County, Georgia

#13 of 52...Shirley Lucille Ivey

Shirley Lucille Ivey was my maternal grandmother.  I never got the opportunity to know her.  I was born in Sept and she passed the following Feb.  I grew up referring to her as Grandmother Shirley.

Shirley was born in Cleborne, Alabama to Robert E. Lee Ivey and Tishie Stapler. I'm named for Tishie sort-of.  My middle name is Latisha because Mama said "Sarah Tishie is just way too country".  My mama always called them Papa and Granny.  Robert E. Lee and Tishie had the following known children:

1).  Fred V. Ivey (1926-1981)
2).  John William Ivey (1926-1969)
3).  Charles Mayern Ivey (1930--)
4).  Leonard W Ivey (1934-1972)
5).  Shirley Lucille Ivey (1936-1978) **my maternal grandmother
6).  Robert Ivey (1938-)
7).  Gene Ivey (1941-)
8).  Imagene Ivey  (living) twin to Gene
9).  Carolyn Sue Ivey (living)
10). Mary Alice Ivey (unknown-passed in childhood)

Shirely Lucille Ivey & Berney Jack Thomason, SR
28 Feb 1954
Wedding Day

Shirley married my grandfather Berney Jack Thomason SR on 28 Feb 1954 in Porterdale, Newton County, Georgia.  They had the following children.

1).   Berney Jack Thomason (1955-2003)
2).   Donna Jane Thomason (1957-2006) My mama
3).  Janet Elaine Thomason  (living)
4).  Beverly June Thomason (living)
5).  Julie Shirlene Thomason (living)

My grandmother Shirley was a stay at home mother most of her life, but did spend time working in a school cafeteria for a while.

She's one of the women I wonder about.  I didn't have the opportunity to know her.  My other grandmother spent some time with her when Shirley was ill with cancer and taking treatments.  My Nana tells me that she made a good pot roast and that she enjoyed eating french bread with cheese slices.  Grandmother Shirley was a beautiful woman.  She had beautiful eyes and long hair.  She was ordinary in that she didn't hold a fantastic position as a career nor did she go to fantastic locations; but she was special and vitally important!  Without her there would not be a me.  She was important to her family; her children.  Even though through out history we mostly hear about the extraordinary, the ordinary are the ones that actually perpetuate our world; make our lives worth living day to day.

Jane Thomason Curran (my mother), Shirley Ivey Thomason, Janet Thomason