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Farming For A Better Future, page 170
death of a worthy COLORED MAN
John W. Turnley was lorn on the EJth day oi February, l&sl. and died it his home near Sniilhsonia. Ala,. March 4th, 1910. He had been an act ive and useful citizen, was a credit to Ilia race. His motto was to set a good example and admonish those with whom he associated to make upright and useful citizens. He never lost an opportunity to ro-opcraic with every influence to establish his people on a higher and firmer basis oF usefulness and good citizenship. For thirty-sc ven years he was a eon-si st eat member of the A, M. E. Church, filling any responsible place to which he was assigned. He leaves a wife and three children io mourn his loss. A good and true man ha* gone to lifs reward. We cherish his memory.
J. B. THOMPSON.
University in Huntsville for a B.S. in Elementary
Education and a Master's in Counseling. She worked as a teacher for the Lauderdale County and Florence City Schools for 38 years. She was a member of
numerous social clubs and organizations and integral
to the African American community of Florence and
the “Bend of the River.”
(Left) Obituary for John W. Turnley, Originally Published March 5th in the Florence Times (Findagrave.com, User Wanda Quinn Bradford) (Below) Excerpt from the 1920 Census Showing Leslie and Annie Pride Living Next Door to Madge Parker Turnley (National Archives and Records Administration via Ancestry.com) (Bottom) Excerpt from the 1940 Census Showing Leslie and Annie Pride with Daughter, Hattie Pride Smith (National Archives and Records Administration via Ancestry.com) (Right) Image of Ms. Hattie Pride Smith (Findagrave.com, User Joy Favors)
Besides John W. Turnley and his legacy of
landownership, Ms. Anita's great-grandmother, Louise Parker, was also the daughter of landowners Berry “Tut” Parker (1833-1904) and Catherine
(1843-1933). The Parkers' grave
memorial proudly declares
Tut and Catherine as
“Slaves, Sharecroppers, Landowners, Parents of 15 children.” All
of their children are listed on the stone: Moses, Hannah, Martha, Annie, Isom, Tommie, Madgie, Mary
Frances, Louis,
Richard, Berry, Jr., Wylodine, Cornelia,
Ellis, and Nelson.
The only census records for Berry Parker are from 1880 and 1900. The 1880 census does not record whether or not someone owned their land. The 1890 census has been lost to a fire. The 1900 census clearly states that Parker rented his farm, although these records have been proven to be wrong before and the elaborate grave marker proclaiming the Parkers to be landowners disputes the records. It is possible that Tut and his wife were able to buy the farm in the last years of his life.
(Opposite Top) Excerpt from the 1880 Census Showing Berry Parker and Family (National Archives and Records Administration via Ancestry.com) (Opposite Middle) Excerpt from the 1900 Census Showing Berry Parker and Family (National Archives and Records Administration via Ancestry.com) (Opposite Bottom) Photograph of the Parker's Grave Memorial at Mt. Zion Cemetery (Findagrave. com, User Joy Favors) - (4698)