Richmond County NC History & Genealogy

10/05/2021

Anson Times (Wadesboro NC) issue of Thursday, October 14, 1886 Page 2 - Anson Times Newspaper shared this news article from the Rockingham Spirit Newspaper dated October 9, 1886, which was in reference to the passing of John Leach who actually died in Richmond County NC

10/05/2021

Are you a descendant of the Pankey Family of Richmond County NC? Thanks to Ms. Nickie Newberry for providing GPS coordinates to this old abandoned cemetery;

09/27/2021

Richmond County Daily Journal (Rockingham NC) issue of Friday, September 24, 2021 ;

As we continue this week with some folklore of the P*e Dee River area, we find that in earlier times a lot of folks used the ford to cross the river just above Grassy Island.

As the white settlers were moving in, the local American native tribes had died out or moved westward. But you know it’s strange how that many local legends still seem to hang on in certain sections.

So, it was with the ghostly music around Grassy Island. Why, it seemed every time a thick fog moved in on the river, folks could hear the sweetest flute music coming from both sides of the riverbank. At first the new settlers thought it was just the wind blowing through the trees, but some old timers said not, that it was part of an old native legend they had heard many years back, but they couldn’t remember exactly how it happened.

A few years went by, and to their surprise some of the settlers, that lived on the eastern bank of the river, observed a small band of natives crossing the ford on foot. Leading the party was a native shaman dressed in full native attire.

Naturally suspicious, the settlers wanted to know why the natives had crossed the river and what were they up to. What the native shaman told them was enough to raise the hair on a dog’s back!!

Using broken English, the shaman said that they had come to appease the wandering spirits of two of their own people.

To the settlers this was just native nonsense, but they left the natives alone while they held their native ritual.

As the natives seem to be wrapping up their ritual a flute was played. Most of the settlers said the music that came from the flute was so beautiful that it seemed as though the angels in heaven were listening.

As the natives were about to cross back across the river a young white man asked the shaman exactly what had just taken place.

The shaman replied – young buck, many years ago a young Indian brave, son of a great chief who lived on the other bank, and a young Indian maiden that lived on this side of this great river were deeply in love. For some reason their fathers didn’t get along and so the young lovers had to meet in secret. When they couldn’t cross the great river to see each other they would each play a flute across the river for the other to hear.

As many moons went by, said the shaman, the two parties of Indians were at war with each other over the fishing and hunting rights to the land and river. Many young braves were killed but it still didn’t take away the love the young couple had for each other. With only the sounds of their flutes from opposite sides of the great river did these two communicate.

It was on a real foggy morning and the river was running high, that as the young brave heard the sound of his lover’s flute across the river, he could not resist his love for his maiden anymore.

Braving the rushing waters, the young Indian brave made his way toward the middle of the river all- the while heading toward the arms of his lover. But it was not to be, said the Shaman, for as he reached the

depths of the river, he lost sight of the stepping stones and the strong current swept him off his feet, down the river, never to be seen again.

Word soon spread that the young brave had drown and his body had vanished beneath the great waters.

The death of the chief’s son seemed to bring an end to the war, but the young maiden never got over the death of her lover. For days she would make her way to the bank of the river to play her flute hoping the spirit of her lover would return.

It was on a foggy morning, after the maiden had played her flute for what seemed the last time, that she heard the most beautiful flute music coming from the opposite side of the river. These were the same notes that her young lover had played to her in times gone by.

Without hesitation the maiden jumped into the rushing waters of the river and headed toward the music on the opposite shore.

Sadly, the maidan also vanished beneath the great waters only to reunite with her lover in another world.

As the shaman finished telling the old story to the young man, a great fog seemed to appear over the waters of the river and the heavens seem to be alive with sounds of flutes.

The band of natives had come to appease the spirts of the young lovers of their tribe, but it seems no man on earth could take away the affection the two lovers had for each other.

It was said that even today, as you paddle around Grassy Island on a foggy morning, you can also hear the mournful music of flutes coming from both sides of the mighty river.

J.A. Bolton is author of “Just Passing Time,” co-author of “Just Passing Time Together,” and recently released his new book “Southern Fried: Down- Home Stories” all of which can be bought locally or on Amazon. Contact him at [email protected]

09/27/2021

Richmond County Daily Journal issue of Tuesday, September 21, 2021 - Until the early 1900s’ the P*e Dee River ran free and clear from the North Carolina mountains to the South Carolina coast with no man-made structures to hinder its flow.

The Native Americans built fish traps out of rock in the river, but none interfered with the natural flow of the mighty river.

The natives not only used the fish and mussels for food but also the river provided fresh water for drinking, bathing and transportation. Along the river- bank grew stands of bamboo, river cane, and tall grasses that they used in their daily lives. Why, the natives even used the river rocks and mud that lay on the bottom of the river.

The natives were very proud and thankful for all that the river provided. Many stories of battles and hunts along the river were told around the native campfires. All-while, rituals and festivals were held thanking the great spirts for the waters of the river.

Seems while all these rituals and ceremonies were going on, the sounds of musical instruments like drums, rattles, and flutes were played. These instruments were a big part of Native American culture. The sound of the drums could indicate war or danger on the horizon. The sound of the rattles was sometime used for healing and dance purposes. Native flutes seemed to tell a story and were found to even lower the heart rate and relieve stress.

An old native legend tells how the flute might have come into being. It says that woodpeckers pecked holes in hollow branches while searching for insects. Seemed when the wind blew along the holes, people nearby heard the sweet music coming from the hollow branches.

The natives soon learned to use bamboo or other types of hollow branches to make their own flutes. By trial and error, they learned that hand drilling more holes and different sizes in the wood would make different sounds come from the instrument when blowing into it.

Soon, the flute made its way into native culture. In fact, though out the world, the flute is associated with fertility, birth, life, and death.

As I said earlier, when a good musician plays the flute, the beautiful music tells a story. It seems to pe*****te and sooth the spirt. In native culture, the flute tells the story of lovers and even seems to bring the spiritual world alive, which was a big part of native culture.

In today’s world we might refer to spirits as ghost, but in past times they were called apparitions, phantoms, haunts, or even spooks. The natives used words like bhoot or bhuta (Sanskrit). These were supernatural being, usually the ghost of deceased humans or animals.

An old P*e Dee River story tells us that as the first white trappers and hunters came up the river from Cheraw Hills, now known as Cheraw, SC, some returned and gave reports of mysterious flute music along the river section now call Grassy Island section of the P*e Dee. It soon became known as an area to quickly pass through or to avoid altogether. Now, I don’t know if the story was just to keep fellow hunters and trappers out of a good hunting area or, as some might say, the place is haunted.

A little history is in order about the Grassy Island section of the river. Most of the islands were formed after Blewett Falls Dam was built in the early 1900. Seems the water back-up, spreading the water out to form a lake. In some places like Grassy Islands, some higher ground became islands and the water ran in different places surrounding these islands. Just above these islands was a shallow and rocky area of the river which was used by the natives and early settlers as a crossing or ford. “Sara” was what the natives may have called what we call Grassy Island today. The word means “A place of high weeds.”

As our river story continues, it seems that the weary trappers were paddling their canoes up -river several miles from what now is called Blewett Falls when they would encounter a heavy fog. The fog would be so thick that the boatmen couldn’t tell which way to go. They paddled their boats as close to the shore as they dared. Tall river grass seemed to be growing everywhere along the edge of the river, but the trappers felt safer close to the edge of the river.

As the trappers continued to paddle, they could hear the rushing water coming over the rocks at the ford. But, above the noise of the river, they seemed to be surrounded by mysterious music made by someone or something playing a flute. The haunting music seemed to be coming from both sides of the river, in every direction, just above the water. Now, these were tough men who thought they had seen or heard just about everything in their time, but this strange phenomenon they were encountering made the hair on their necks stand straight up.

J.A. Bolton is author of “Just Passing Time,” co-author of “Just Passing Time Together,” and recently released his new book “Southern Fried: Down-Home Stories” which can be purchased locally or on Amazon. Contact him at [email protected]

06/21/2021

I hear it quite often when folks say they wished they had taken notes of every word that came out of the mouth of their older relatives, when they wanted to tell the family about their history from days gone by.

02/13/2021

The Anson County Historical Society in Wadesboro NC is open today (Saturday) 9am to 1pm or later if needed. Also open by appointment.

Give me a call. Our office phone # is 704 694 6694. We are located at 206 East Wade Street in Wadesboro NC 28170 so make plans to visit. In our research room are over 1200 files of local black history & also two bookcases of family history books & county history books & four filing cabinets packed with not only Anson County family histories but also of the surrounding counties of Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Stanly & Union & also the South Carolina counties of Chesterfield, Darlington, Florence, Marlboro & Williamsburg.

If planning to spend several days in Anson County, then I would recommend staying at our Dream Inn Bed & Breakfast. Melanie & her husband Julian will treat you like royalty. Posted here is their page – https://www.facebook.com/The-Dream-Inn-769789693121686/

Our 110 year old Victorian home offers 3 rooms upstairs each with a private bath. Prices include a Southern-style breakfast and relaxing Carolina charm.

01/01/2021

Miscellaneous Records of Anson County, NC – A History of Morven, NC – In the late 18th Century there came to America a Scotch couple & with their descendants have contributed an important & interesting role in the history of Anson County.

Just when Duncan McKenzie & his wife Esperan Cameron McKenzie left Morven, Argyllshire, Scotland & when & where they arrived in America is not known but according to tradition, Esperan Cameron was of nobility, the daughter of Lord Cameron of the Scotch Highlands, but she incurred the displeasure of her father by marrying Duncan McKenzie who was a commoner, who was probably from the Lowlands & she was disinherited & so they decided to seek their fortune in America & after a hazardous & heart breaking voyage of three months they arrived in America but during the voyage their baby daughter died.

It is probable that the McKenzie’s landed at Charleston, SC or Wilmington, NC & eventually came to Anson County & settled in what is now known as the Bethel Community whereas the first deed recorded by Duncan McKenzie was to Charles Jordan for a tract of land on the P*e Dee River in 1803. The children of Duncan McKenzie were Hugh born 1792, John, Jane, Jennett born 1808, Nancy & Mary. John McKenzie married Jane McNeil & moved to Mississippi. Hugh McKenzie, the founder of Old Morven, married Eliza Lucas who was an orphan from nearby Cheraw, SC & they had one daughter named Cornelia. Jane McKenzie married Murdock McRae. Jennett McKenzie married Daniel May in 1825. Mary McKenzie married Thomas Hardison. Nancy McKenzie never married.

Mary McKenzie who married Thomas Hardison were the parents of Thomas Jefferson Hardison who married Sarah Flake & John Hardy Hardison was never married & their only daughter Elizabeth who married first Phillip Huntley & secondly to Buck Tice.

It’s not known under what circumstances or in what year Hugh McKenzie left his father’s community & sought a new home but on March 20, 1823 a post office was established at the intersection of the Hailey’s Ferry & Camden Roads & the Sneedsborough & Wadesborough Roads whereas Hugh McKenzie became the first postmaster & he named the community “Morven” in honor of his mother’s native homeland. According to the official records at Washington, DC Hugh McKenzie held the position of postmaster until his death in 1830.

Old Morven developed rapidly into an important trading center. The soil in this section was & still is desirable for farming purposes & much of it supports a heavy growth of long leaf pine. About five miles to the east of Morven lay the fertile lowlands of the P*e Dee River & on the hills overlooking these lowlands, there lived many prosperous farmers who did considerable trading at Morven. About five miles to the south lay the village of Sneedsborough, which was situated at the head of navigation on P*e Dee River.

According to recorded deeds it seems that Hugh McKenzie owned large tracts of land did much trading in land as well as trading in products of all kinds & lending considerable amounts of money. Hugh McKenzie was killed by a runaway horse between Morven & Lilesville & thus ended a life that gave promise of a most successful & noteworthy career. He was buried near his home in what is now known as the Old Scotch Graveyard located between Morven & Old Morven. The in what is now known as the Old Scotch Graveyard located between Morven & Old Morven. The inscription on his tombstone states the following, “This Tomb is Erected to the Memory of Hugh McKenzie, Esquire, Who Departed This Life on September 5, 1830, Aged 38 yrs & 10 days” – Hugh McKenzie’s widow married Francis Wilson & with her daughter Cornelia moved to Lowndes County, Alabama.

Joseph Medley qualified as Administrator of Hugh McKenzie’s estate & Cornelius Robinson qualified as the guardian of Cornelia McKenzie. The record states that for a period of 10 years following the death of Hugh McKenzie, his estate was in litigation between Eliza L. McKenzie Wilson & Francis Wilson against Cornelia McKenzie & her guardian Cornelius Robinson. In 1840 the following receipt is recorded from Cornelia McKenzie, “Cornelia McKenzie, of Lowndes County, Alabama has received from Joseph Medley, Administrator of Hugh McKenzie from Francis Wilson, the sum of $12,927.13 in full satisfaction & payment of all such sums of money owing to & belonging to Cornelia McKenzie whereas she releases all claims & also the administration of Joseph Medley with the exception of a note of $5,000 given by Joseph Medley to Cornelia McKenzie on November 2, 1840.”

Among other families who contributed to the progress & development of Morven were the Covington’s, Bennett’s, Pratt’s, Parson’s, McQuage’s, & Irwin’s. Doctor JC Smith, uncle of CH May owned the old McKenzie homeplace & sold it to the Kilgo Family & was later sold to the George A. Martin Family.

About 1800 or earlier, William Covington & wife Mary Hicks Covington arrived from Boston & settled in Old Morven where they owned & operated a tavern. Mrs. Covington died June 7, 1805 & William Covington died August 12, 1817 at the great age of 92 years, 2 months & 2 days.

Prior to 1822 Vincent Parsons ran away from his home in Maryland & came south to Old Morven. He stopped at the Covington tavern & met Mary Burton Covington who soon became his wife & upon the death of her father, the tavern along with all the household & kitchen furniture, were willed to Mary Burton Parsons. Mary & Vincent Parsons sold the tavern to Major James Bennett in 1822 or 1823 & moved to the P*e Dee River but several of their children died of fever & because of this they returned to Old Morven & repurchased the tavern. Mrs. Parsons died there in 1832 & sometime after her death the tavern burned. Another tavern was built by Major James Bennett who had again acquired the property. Flora McDonald was one of the taverns famous visitors.

At some time prior to 1767, George Martin emigrated from Morven, Scotland & landed at Roanoke Island. He came to Fayetteville by way of Cape Fear River & then settled at Blewett’s Fall where he married Sallie Wall. Their son George W. Martin purchased various tracts of land in the P*e Dee & Cairo Communities. Before the Civil War, he moved to Old Morven & purchased Doctor McCaskill’s property. The Parson Family sold the tavern to Major James Bennett who gave it to his daughter Eliza & her husband Doctor McCaskill. Dr. McCaskill practiced medicine for a number of years & then sold out to GW Martin & moved to Mississippi about 1855. Also, at this time the Parsons Family sold the rest of their property at Old Morven to Governor Alston of South Carolina & moved to Alabama.

After the close of the Civil War, the railroad from Darlington, SC to Wadesboro, NC was built, passing 1 ½ miles west of Old Morven & upon the completion of this railroad, it was quite natural for the greatest part of business to exist along the railroad & so Morven moved to its present site. The post office was moved February 24, 1880 & the name given the new community was Morven. So, the original crossroads with its past & traditions has faded into history & is remembered as Old Morven

12/29/2020

My history report from October 14, 2011. Do you remember one of my mama's best friends by the name of Maxine Henley Childs? She passed away in 2016. I searched for her family history back then. She was a descendant of the Smith family of Montgomery County NC & the Stone family of Richmond County NC & the Billingsley & Teal families of Anson County. Her Henley connection came from somewhere else so I never worked on that branch of the family.

Hello Nettie Maxine Henley Childs, (October 14, 2011), It looks like your ancestor Joseph Smith was possibly from Montgomery County NC since he was living there in the 1840 & 1850 census & then moving to Richmond County by 1860 & it looks like your great grandpa Billingsley moved his family to Rockingham in the 1880’s to work in the cotton mills since the death certificate of his daughter Lucy Billingsley Covington states she was born in Rockingham in August of 1884 so posted below is the 1900 census data of Sidney Billingsley’s family living in Rockingham with your grandma Nettie listed as a cotton mill weaver.

1840 Census – Montgomery County NC – West P*e Dee River Township – Joseph Smith Household – 2 males under 5 years of age – 2 males between the ages of 5 to 9 years – 1 male between the ages of 30 to 39 years – 1 female under 5 years of age – 1 female between the ages of 30 to 39 years of age

1850 Census – Montgomery County NC – No Township Listed – Microfilm page 116 – August 13, 1850 - Household #207
Joseph B. Smith age 39 Born NC – occupation tailor
Nancy G. Smith (wife) age 33 Born NC cannot read or write
Rachel G. Smith (daughter) age 13 Born NC – in school
Charles C. Smith (son) age 11 Born NC – in school
Agnes J. Smith (daughter) age 7 Born NC – in school
Thomas J. Smith (son) age 9 Born NC – in school
Sarah A. Smith (daughter) age 5 Born NC – in school

1860 Census – Richmond County NC – Steele District Township – Microfilm page 339 – June 21, 1860 - Household #102
Joseph Smith age 49 (born 1811) Born SC – Farmer – value of personal estate $150
Delina Smith (wife) age 43 (born 1817) Born NC – Housekeeper
Jane Smith age 17 (daughter) (born 1843) Born NC – Housekeeping
Sarah A. Smith age 16 (daughter) (born 1844) Born NC – Housekeeping
Alexander Smith (son) age 10 (born 1850) Born NC
Elizabeth Smith (daughter) age 7 (born 1853) Born NC
Nancy Smith (daughter) age 3 (born 1857) Born NC

1870 Census – Richmond County NC – Rockingham Township – Microfilm page 573 – July 18, 1870 – Household #60
Joseph Smith age 58 Born NC – Keeper of Poor House
Nancy Smith (wife) age 54 Born NC – Housekeeper – Cannot read or write
Mary Smith (daughter) age 17 Born NC – at home
Nancy Smith (daughter) age 12 Born NC – at home

1900 Census – Richmond County NC – Rockingham Township – North & West of Hitchcock Creek – P*e Dee Village – Microfilm page 93B – June 5, 1900 - Household #27 –
Sidney C. Billingsley Born April 1850 (age 50) Born NC – Married 25 years – cotton mill employee - rents house – can read & write
Mary J. Billingsley (wife) Born January 1857 (age 43) Born NC – 9 children born, 8 children living – cotton mill employee – can read & write
Coryondon Billingsley (son) Born May 1879 (age 21) Born NC – cotton mill employee – can read & write
Nettie Billingsley (daughter) Born May 1882 (age 18) Born NC – cotton mill weaver – can read & write
Lucy J. Billingsley (daughter) Born August 1884 (age 16) Born NC – cotton mill spinner – can read & write
Sallie E. Billingsley (daughter) Born December 1888 (age 12) Born NC – at home
Edmond F. Billingsley (son) Born April 1891 (age 9) Born NC – at home
Minnie L. Billingsley (daughter) Born October 1893 (age 7) Born NC – at home
Zebulon D. Billingsley (son) Born March 1897 (age 3) Born NC – at home

According to the death certificate of your great grandfather Alexander Martin Smith (his nickname was Sandy Smith) was married to Martha Jane Stone, daughter of Fred Stone. Census information gives him name as Samuel Fred Stone which would be your great-great grandfather

1850 Census – Richmond County NC – Rockingham District – Microfilm page 286 – September 6, 1850 – Household #518 –
Samuel Stone age 26 Born NC – occupation mechanic
Martha Stone (wife) age 20 Born NC – Housekeeper
Unnamed female Stone age 2 years (this would be their daughter Elizabeth would later marry Sandy Smith)

1860 Census – Richmond County NC – Wolf Pit District – Microfilm page 374 – August 14, 1860 – Household #624
Samuel F. Stone Age 42 Born NC – occupation wheelwright – value of personal estate $75
Martha Stone (wife) age 31 Born NC – housekeeper
Elizabeth Stone (daughter) age 11 Born NC – in school (would marry Alexander M. Smith whose nickname was Sandy Smith late 1860’s)
John Stone (son) age 10 Born NC – in school
Martha J. Stone (daughter) age 8 Born NC – in school
Rosa Stone (daughter) age 6 Born NC
Susan Stone (daughter) age 3 Born NC

1870 Census – Richmond County NC – Blackjack Township – Microfilm page 519 – July 25, 1870 – Household #14
Samuel Stone age 53 Born NC – occupation miller – cannot read or write
Martha J. Stone (wife) age 45 Born NC – housekeeper – cannot read or write
Rosa Stone (daughter) age 15 Born NC – at home – cannot read or write
Susan Stone (daughter) age 13 Born NC – at home – cannot read or write
Kate Stone (daughter) age 12 Born NC – at home – cannot read or write
James Stone (son) age 5 Born NC – at home
Emma Stone (daughter) age 3 Born NC – at home
Archy Stone (son) age 1 Born NC – at home

Your great-great grandpa Samuel Fred Stone died in the 1870’s because his wife Martha Stone is listed as a widow in the 1880 Census

1880 Census – Richmond County NC – Rockingham Township – Microfilm page 290 – June 24, 1880 – Household #306
Martha Stone (widow) age 50 Born NC Parents born NC – Housekeeper
James Stone (son) age 15 Born NC
Emma Stone (daughter) age 14 Born NC
Archy Stone (son) age 10 Born NC

1900 Census – Richmond County NC – Rockingham Township – South & East of Hitchcock Creek – Microfilm page 75B – June 13, 1900 – Household #246
James Stone Born November 1864 Born NC Parents born NC – married 12 years – cotton mill employee – cannot read or write – rents house
Minnie Stone (wife) Born Dec 1867 Born NC – 5 children born, 3 children living – can read & write
Luther Stone (son) Born Nov 1890 Born NC – in school
James M. Stone (son) Born April 1895 Born NC
Ethel M. Stone (daughter) Born September 1899
Martha J. Stone (mother) (widow) Born March 1829 Parents born NC – 9 children born, 7 children living – cannot read or write

1910 Census – Richmond County NC – Rockingham Township – Microfilm page 156 – April 27, 1910 – Household #313 –
Minnie L. Stone (widow) age 42 – was married 21 years – Born NC – cotton mill employee
Mitchell Stone (son) age 15 Born NC – cotton mill employee
Ethel M. Stone (daughter) age 10 Born NC – at home
Martha J. Stone (mother-in-law) age 80 Born NC – was married 59 years – 9 children born, 5 children living –

Death certificate of Lucy Jane Billingsley Covington born in Rockingham on August 7, 1884 & died in Rockingham on August 21, 1965 & was buried at Eastside Cemetery . She lived at 605 Airport Road in Rockingham. The cause of death was heart disease which she had for years & then a sudden stroke the day before her death. She was the widow of Wade H. Covington. The informant was Mrs. J.J. Henley of East Rockingham NC. Parents were Sidney J. Billingsley & his wife Mary Jane Teal.

Social Security Death Index – Jack J. Henley Born July 23, 1899 Died October 9, 1989

Death certificate of Zeb David Billingsley born in Rockingham NC on March 11, 1897 & died in Rockingham on November 8, 1963 – Age 66 years – Cause of death was heart attack - He was buried at Richmond Memorial Park on highway 74 in Rockingham. He lived on Biltmore Drive . His job was caretaker at the federal building - His wife was Virgie Brigman Billingsley. Parents were Sidney & Mary Billingsley –

World War I Draft Card of Zeb Billingsley who enlisted into the Army on June 5, 1918 while he was a resident of Polkton NC

Death certificate of Sallie Elizabeth Billingsley Tyson born in Anson County on December 21, 1889 & died in Wadesboro on July 12, 1963 from the effects of heart disease. She was the widow of Benjamin Franklin Tyson & her parents were Sidney & Mary Teal Billingsley. She was buried at Red Hill Baptist Church.

Edmond F. Billingsley born in Rockingham on April 24, 1891 & died in Wadesboro on November 27, 1974 - Parents were Sidney & Mary Teal Billingsley – Buried at Mount Vernon Church

1910 Census – Richland County SC – Columbia Township – April 22, 1910 – Microfilm page 143B – Household #108 Corrandon Billingsley age 29 Born NC – (unmarried) – retail grocery store – rents house

Death certificate of Coy Coleman Billingsley who died in Columbia SC on May 14, 1942 at the age of 62 years 11 months & 17 days from the effects of a cerebral hemorrhage – He was born in Anson County on May 27, 1879. He was an employee of the railroad – His wife was Lora Porter Billingsley – His parents were Sidney & Mary Teal Billingsley – He was buried at Mount Vernon Church Cemetery – His home address was Polkton NC & the informant was Mrs. C.C. Billingsley of Polkton.

World War I Draft Card of Corrandon Coleman Billingsley who enlisted into the Army on September 12, 1918 while he was a resident of Polkton, NC . He was a railroad foreman of the S&L Railroad in Hamlet NC.

Minnie Billingsley Horne born in Rockingham NC on October 5, 1893 & died in Charlotte NC on March 15, 1972 from the effects of heart disease – Parents were Sidney & Mary Jane Billingsley – Buried at Peachland City Cemetery – informant was Mrs. Harold Collins of Marshville NC

March of 2016 (Anson Record) Wadesboro NC – Mrs. Maxine Henley Mabry Childs, 84 years of age, of Nashville, Tennessee and formerly of Wadesboro, NC entered into eternal rest on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at Mary Queen of Angels Assisted Living in Nashville, TN.

It was with the utmost grace and dignity that Maxine faced the challenges life had offered her, especially in recent months. She proved to her family in Tennessee, again, her bravery and courage in the midst of adversity. Surrounded by her new friends and fond memories of her friends in North Carolina, Maxine’s last chapter of her life was both meaningful and peaceful.

Maxine was born April 19, 1931 in Anson County, NC, a daughter of the late Marvin and Beulah Smith Henley. She was a graduate of Wadesboro High School and Watts Hospital in Durham, NC. She continued hospital work for many years and loving the people with whom she came into contact with. Her signature gift of joy, shown through her constant and uplifting attitude will never be forgotten.

Maxine was a life-long member of First United Methodist Church in Wadesboro where she was active in the ministries of the church prior to moving to Nashville. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed sharing plants from her garden as well as being the recipient of plants from her friends to add to her gardens. She indeed felt closer to God in her garden and found a deep peace in God's promise of rebirth and hope of the resurrection in admiring the beauty of flowers and the gardens. Maxine loved the mountains and the sea, and through all creation she recognized God’s handy work. She once said to her son, “I look at nature and I see God.”

Surviving are her children, Stan Mabry and wife, Mary Cash Mabry of Nashville, TN and New York City, NY and Vanessa Mabry of Wadesboro; her grandsons, Adam Mabry of Wadesboro and Blake Lathan of Nashville, TN; her sister, Edna Dula of Charlotte; her step-daughters, Debbie Castigno of Florida and Brenda Shaffer of South Carolina and her special friend and companion, Rick Carter of Nashville, TN

Also surviving are many dear and special friends in her life. She often remarked at how blessed she was with many friends who were much like family to her.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Fred Mabry and Wade Childs and daughter, Nancy Lathan.

Maxine will be remembered for her unwavering devotion to her family and friends. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and sister.

The family wishes to thank all of those who cared for her during her last few months, and all her new and old friends who meant so much to her. She cherished their friendship.

In lieu of flowers, it was Maxine's request for memorials to be made to Compassionate Friends of North P*e Dee, P.O. Box 1019, Wadesboro, NC 28170, of which she was a member, or The First United Methodist Church, 118 E. Morgan St., Wadesboro, NC 28170.

Funeral service will be 11:00AM Thursday, March 24, 2016 in the Chapel of Leavitt Funeral Home in Wadesboro with Rev. Sarah Kalish and Rev. Irvin Thompson officiating. Interment will be at 3:00pm in Evergreen Cemetery in Charlotte.

The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.