Some Notes on a West Alabama Family by Laura Vonceil Duckworth, Reform, Alabama.


This is second in a series of four postings on the family and ancestors of Laura Vonceil Duckworth, a descendant of Christopher Holyman (1618 - 1691) of Isle of Wight, Virginia.

"My ancestor, Charles Holliman migrated to Fayette County, Alabama with his two brothers, Warren and Cornelius, from the family home in Lancaster, South Carolina of their father, James Grantson Holliman (1850 – 1836) in 1836.

Elijah’s Civil War record would take pages to tell.  For now, I continue to share my family tree below with several photographs. My great grandmother, his second wife, Permelia Gibson Holliman, was the 6^th child of Tillman Gibson of Fayette, Alabama. 

My grandmother, Laura Jannie Holliman (29 August 1873 – 6 December 1936) married Virgil Constantine Clemmons, son of Woodson Clemmons and Rebecca Reece Clemmons.  Jannie is buried at Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery, Reform, Alabama, Pickens County along with her husband.  These are my grandparents, Jannie and Virgil Clemmons.  Their photographs are below.                      

Their children are Melinda Elizabeth ‘Lizabeth’ Clemmons (1893 – 1895), William Edward Clemmons, Thomas Tillman Clemmons, Elvin Elijah Clemmons, Charlie Dennis Clemmons, Minnie Lee Clemmons and Mamie Lou Clemmons.

On July 12, 1935, the extended family gathered in Lamar County, Alabama for Elijah Holliman’s 96^th birthday.  He was the oldest Confederate veteran in his county when he died May 11, 1937. 

  Above the family of Elijah Holliman, center for his birthday in Reform, Alabama in 1935.  Assistance is sought from his family to identify persons in the photo above. Please contact glennhistory@gmail.com, a close family member or leave a comment below.

                                             

Above at the 1935 reunion are front row left to right, Elijah Holliman, his great, great grandson, Sonny Cunningham and Mary Elizabeth Holliman, Elijah's daughter by his first wife, Mary Shaw.  Back row, left to right are grand daughter, Pattie Holliman Whaley and great granddaughter Mary Sue Whaley Cunningham.


One of the children of Virgil and Jannie Holliman Clemmons was my mother, Mamie Lou Clemmons (14 August 1918 – 13 January 1984) who married my father, Dewey Delmer Bonner on 29 December 1937.

Their seven children were Dewey Max Bonner (13 June 1939), Laura Vonceil Bonner Duckworth (18 December 1941), Shelby Marie Bonner McDaniel (13 June 1944), Johnnie Mae Bonner Babb (20 January 1946), Jimmy Keith Bonner (25 November 1950), Clayton Gregory Bonner (5 November 1953), and Frances Marilyn Bonner Elmore (12 March 1956)."

Next week, another posting of Vonceil Duckworth's family tree....