Al Dark - forever young

Recently I saw somebody that looked similar to an old school chum Al Dart.

Al had his own drummer. He was one of the few at Marietta High School that dressed in a black leather jacket, boots, and, of course, his hair was duck tailed style.

I think Al wore taps on his boots and he took big giant steps. You could hear him coming.

Al had his own sense of humor packaged and had good delivery. For a while his delivery was no punch line at all. He would say something like, “I got a new one. This man walks into a bar and…” (at this point, he would smile like he is ready to hit you with the punch line) “pulls a frog out of his shirt pocket!” then he would laugh and maybe say, “Get it!?” and walk away laughing shaking his head.

Another verbal delivery Al would like to pull was say something with a word dangling with for no reason, like he might say, “Rock! What are you (long pause) doing?”

Or

“Did you see the movie at the Strand about….” And walk off.

The next day he would come up to you and say “China?” (or whatever the movie was about playing at the Strand then).

He was good as Andy Kaufman was delivering jokes, in a warped way. I think Al would plan them out – and plan a sequence to follow.

I think Al lived on Cascade Drive or one of the streets parallel to Cascade. Sometimes on Sunday morning I would drop by there to visit – a lot of times friend spent the night with him in his parents basement where he had a miniature pool table set up. He was pretty good playing pool on it.

After I got out of the Navy I worked three years for Sinclair Refining Company. I haven’t Al in about 5 or 6 years.

Then one day I was walking down the loading platform of the warehouse and up walked Al Dart in a suit. He worked at the Sinclair Building on the other side of Atlanta. We recalled some of the great times we had we parted with smiles, thinking of old times.

He dropped dead shortly after that. I forgot why he died. But I do know he took his own blueprint with him when he went.

Genealogy Ridley - part 9

Near the end of this post is my grandmother, Frances Viola Ridley. Listed below Viola are her children - one of them is my mother.

Generation No. 6

86. TEMPERANCE6 RIDLEY (WILLIAM5, HENRY SR.4, WILLIAM3, MATTHEW2, WILLIAM1) was born 1875, and died 1921. She married HENRY DAVID BEAVERS 03 Dec 1896 in , Murray, Ga26. He was born Abt. 1875, and died Unknown.

Children of TEMPERANCE RIDLEY and HENRY BEAVERS are:
i. ALFRED7 BEAVERS, b. Aft. 1894; d. Aft. 1984.

More About ALFRED BEAVERS:
Burial: Sumac Presbyterian Church, Crandall, Murray Co., Ga27
Lived: 90 years27

ii. CLOTEEN BEAVERS, b. Aft. 1894; d. Unknown.
iii. REECE BEAVERS, b. 1906; d. 1959.


87. LUCY SEREPTHIA6 RIDLEY (WILLIAM5, HENRY SR.4, WILLIAM3, MATTHEW2, WILLIAM1) was born 18 Feb 1879, and died 16 Nov 1952. She married ANDREW GREENVILLE PULLEN 03 Dec 1905 in , Murray, Ga28, son of GREENVILLE PULLEN and ELIZABETH BOOKOUT. He was born 15 May 1862 in , Murray, Ga, and died 13 Feb 1936 in , Murray, Ga.

More About LUCY SEREPTHIA RIDLEY:
Burial: Sumac Cumberland Presbyterian Cem., Crandall, Murray Co., Ga

More About ANDREW GREENVILLE PULLEN:
Burial: Sumac Presbyterian Cemetery - Murray Co., Ga

Children of LUCY RIDLEY and ANDREW PULLEN are:
i. LOUISE7 PULLEN, b. Aft. 1897; d. Unknown; m. BILLIE PRITCHETT; b. Abt. 1900; d. Unknown.
163. ii. MELVIN THOMAS PULLEN, b. 31 Oct 1906, , Murray Co, Ga; d. 14 Jan 1965, , Murray Co, Ga.
164. iii. ELIZABETH "BESSIE" FAYE PULLEN, b. 17 Jul 1908, , Murray, Ga; d. 07 May 1977, , Polk, Tn.
165. iv. SYBIL FRANCES PULLEN, b. 03 Nov 1911, Temple Grove, Murray, Ga; d. 01 Oct 1990, Dalton, Whitfield, Ga.
166. v. WILLIE MAE PULLEN, b. 16 May 1915; d. 05 Jan 1989.


88. LUKE T.6 RIDLEY (WILLIAM5, HENRY SR.4, WILLIAM3, MATTHEW2, WILLIAM1) was born 01 Jan 1881, and died 09 Oct 1951. He married (1) CLEMMIE DILL. She was born 20 Oct 1880, and died 24 Jun 1968. He married (2) EMMA JEAN 'SALLIE' DUNN 29 Dec 1901 in , Murray Co, Ga29. She was born 03 Jul 1888, and died 24 Dec 1946.

More About LUKE T. RIDLEY:
Burial: Sumac Church, Murray Co., Ga

More About CLEMMIE DILL:
Burial: Sumac Church, Murray Co., Ga

More About EMMA JEAN 'SALLIE' DUNN:
Burial: Sumac Church, Murray Co., Ga

Children of LUKE RIDLEY and EMMA DUNN are:
i. L. C.7 RIDLEY, b. Aft. 1901.
ii. CLARENCE K. RIDLEY, b. 30 May 1920; d. 07 Apr 1993; m. VESTA PAIR LEE30; b. 24 Aug 1917; d. 28 Jul 2001.

Notes for CLARENCE K. RIDLEY:
Clarence RIDLEY was on the hospital board in Murray County, Ga.


More About CLARENCE K. RIDLEY:
Burial: Sumac Presbyterian Church, Murray Co, Ga
Military service: PVT US ARMY WWII30

More About VESTA PAIR LEE:
Burial: Sumac Presbyterian Church, Murray Co, Ga

iii. MATIE SUE RIDLEY, b. 06 Aug 1910; d. 14 Jan 1946.

More About MATIE SUE RIDLEY:
Burial: Sumach Presbyterian Church, Murray Co, Ga


89. CORA6 RIDLEY (WILLIAM5, HENRY SR.4, WILLIAM3, MATTHEW2, WILLIAM1) was born 13 Nov 1882, and died 03 Mar 1965. She married JOHN PEDEN 28 Aug 1898 in , Murray, Ga31. He was born Bef. 1882, and died Unknown.

Children of CORA RIDLEY and JOHN PEDEN are:
i. FRED WALKER7 PEDEN, b. 15 Jul 1900; d. 02 Aug 1987; m. NETTIE M.; b. 11 Aug 1905.

Notes for FRED WALKER PEDEN:
1964 - Fred was Secretary of Sumac Masonic Lodge No. 55.

More About FRED WALKER PEDEN:
Burial: Sumac Church, Murray Co., Ga

ii. WADE PEDEN, b. Aft. 1901.
iii. LENA PEDEN, b. Aft. 1901.
iv. CHARLIE PEDEN, b. Aft. 1901.
v. JACK PEDEN, b. Aft. 1901.
vi. PEARL PEDEN, b. Aft. 1901.
vii. CHESTER PEDEN, b. Aft. 1901.


90. MAUDE6 RIDLEY (WILLIAM5, HENRY SR.4, WILLIAM3, MATTHEW2, WILLIAM1) was born 03 Mar 1885, and died Unknown. She married HAMMONDS CAYLOR 21 Dec 1901 in , Murray, Ga32. He was born 1882, and died 06 Apr 1966.

More About MAUDE RIDLEY:
Living: 1975, Still living

Children of MAUDE RIDLEY and HAMMONDS CAYLOR are:
i. THOMAS7 CAYLOR, b. Aft. 1901.
ii. RALPH CAYLOR, b. Aft. 1901.
iii. HELEN CAYLOR, b. Aft. 1901.


91. EFFIE6 RIDLEY (WILLIAM5, HENRY SR.4, WILLIAM3, MATTHEW2, WILLIAM1) was born Abt. 1888, and died 09 Jul 1916. She married JAMES KENDRICK. He was born Abt. 1888, and died Unknown.

Child of EFFIE RIDLEY and JAMES KENDRICK is:
i. LEANA7 KENDRICK, b. Aft. 1907; m. A WEBER; b. Aft. 1907.


92. LAVADA6 RIDLEY (WILLIAM5, HENRY SR.4, WILLIAM3, MATTHEW2, WILLIAM1) was born 15 Jan 1890, and died 03 Mar 1918 in , Polk, Tn. She married CHESTER LEE MANTOOTH33, son of WILLIAM MANTOOTH and NANCY SKELTON. He was born 09 Nov 1885 in , Polk, Tn, and died 23 Feb 1958.

More About LAVADA RIDLEY:
Burial: Dill Cem., Old Fort, Tn

More About CHESTER LEE MANTOOTH:
Burial: Dill Cem., Old Fort, Tn

Children of LAVADA RIDLEY and CHESTER MANTOOTH are:
167. i. BERNICE LEE "BENNIE"7 MANTOOTH, b. 1910.
168. ii. KNOBLE WILLIAM MANTOOTH, b. 30 Jan 1911, , Polk, Tn; d. 17 Jan 1997.
169. iii. ETTA FAYE MANTOOTH, b. 01 Sep 1912.


93. ADDIE JANE6 RIDLEY (THOMAS JEFFERSON5, HENRY SR.4, WILLIAM3, MATTHEW2, WILLIAM1) was born 01 Nov 1882 in , Murray, Ga, and died 18 Nov 1938. She married VIRGIL ENOUCH DAVIS. He was born 23 Jan 1887, and died 15 Mar 1955.

More About ADDIE JANE RIDLEY:
Burial: Sumac Church, Murray Co., Ga

More About VIRGIL ENOUCH DAVIS:
Burial: Sumac Church, Murray Co., Ga

Children of ADDIE RIDLEY and VIRGIL DAVIS are:
i. EMMANIEL7 DAVIS, b. 24 Aug 1911; d. 24 Aug 1911.

More About EMMANIEL DAVIS:
Burial: Sumac Presbyterian Church, Crandall, Murray Co., Ga34

ii. VIRGIL ENOUCH DAVIS, JR, b. 19 Oct 1924; d. 05 May 1944, , , WWII, U.S. Air Corps.

Notes for VIRGIL ENOUCH DAVIS, JR:
Virgil enlisted in the Air Force, he was sent to Texas for training and during maneuvers a bullet ricocheted and hit him in the head and killed him.

His tombstone reads: "Enoch Thomas, son of Mr & Mrs V.C. Davis"

More About VIRGIL ENOUCH DAVIS, JR:
Burial: Sumac Cumberland Presbyterian Cem., Crandall, Murray Co., Ga


94. FRANCES VIOLA6 RIDLEY (THOMAS JEFFERSON5, HENRY SR.4, WILLIAM3, MATTHEW2, WILLIAM1) was born 29 Sep 1885 in . Murray, Ga, and died 21 Jul 1968 in Dallas, Paulding, Ga. She married WILLIAM ELIJAH JOSEPH PETTY 02 Dec 1904 in , Murray, Ga, son of DANIEL PETTY and SARAH GARRETT. He was born 01 Jan 1875 in , Fanning, Ga, and died 11 Nov 1935 in , Whitfield, Ga.

More About FRANCES VIOLA RIDLEY:
Burial: Calvary Bapt Church Cem., Crandall, Murray Co., Ga

More About WILLIAM ELIJAH JOSEPH PETTY:
Burial: Calvary Bapt Church Cem., Crandall, Murray Co., Ga

Children of FRANCES RIDLEY and WILLIAM PETTY are:
i. GEORGIANNE7 PETTY, b. 11 Dec 1906, , Murray, Ga; d. 30 Oct 1966, Chattanooga, , Tn; m. CECIL GRANT; b. 19 Nov 1901; d. 04 Nov 1958, Chattanooga, , Tenn.

Notes for GEORGIANNE PETTY:
Small and frail - spoke in a horse voice.

More About GEORGIANNE PETTY:
Burial: West Hill Cem., Dalton, Ga
Residence: most of all of their married life: Chattanooga, Tn

Notes for CECIL GRANT:

Cecil played the banjo and another string instrument-. He also was a movie collector. He had a little building in the back yard that he had a movie projector and a huge collection of western movies. Hoppalong Cassidy, Tom Mix, Lash LaRue, The Durango Kid, and more.

In the fall in Atlanta had the Southeastern Fair at the Lakewood Fairgrounds. Every year at that time, the Grants would come down from Chattanooga and stay a couple of days. Georgia would stay in Marietta to visit siblings and Cecil would go to the Southeastern Fair alone.

Georgia and Cecil both were very short people. And drove a small car for the times - a Crosby. Cecil was bald headed. Once (during Southeastern Fair season), when they were visiting, I was about four years old, I asked Cecil could I spin my top on his head.

On 4 November 1958, Cecil was on top of his wooden building in the back of the house making repairs to the roof. He had a metal hammer. The nail he hit an electrical wire, and in turn, electrocuted Cecil. He died fifteen days before his fifty-seventh birthday.

More About CECIL GRANT:
Burial: West Hill Cem., Dalton, Ga
Cause of Death: Electricuted when hitting a live wire with a metal hammer on his movie out bldg.
Occupation: Thread Mill

ii. THOMAS JEFFERSON PETTY, b. 03 Oct 1908, , Murray, Ga; d. 24 Dec 1979, Chattanooga, , Tenn; m. MARY JO JOHNS, 12 Nov 1932; b. 08 Sep 1913, , Gordan, Ga; d. Feb 2000, , Gordon, Ga.

More About THOMAS JEFFERSON PETTY:
Burial: West Hill Cem., Dalton, Whitfield Co., Ga
Hobby: Gospel Singer
Occupation: Carpenter & Cabinet Maker

170. iii. WALLACE CHARLES PETTY, b. 09 Sep 1910, , Murray, Ga; d. 20 Jun 2007, Millegeville, Baldwin Co , Ga.
171. iv. OPAL RUBY PETTY, b. 12 Apr 1913, , Murray, Ga; d. 19 Jul 1992, Marietta, Cobb, Ga.
172. v. OSMO CALVERT PETTY, b. 15 Jul 1915, , Murray, Ga; d. 18 Feb 1978, , , Ind.
vi. COSMO PETTY, b. 15 Jul 1915; d. 15 Jul 1915.

Notes for COSMO PETTY:
Protruding hernia

More About COSMO PETTY:
Twin of: Osmo

173. vii. ETHEL AMERICA "JANIE" PETTY, b. 06 Jun 1918, Gillette, Campbell, Wyo; d. 24 Feb 1996, Marietta, Cobb, Ga.
174. viii. WILLIAM LEROY "ROY" PETTY, b. 22 May 1921, , Appomattox, Va; d. 21 Mar 2000, Carmel, , NY.
175. ix. LEONARD FRANCIS PETTY, b. 14 Feb 1924; d. 13 Apr 2001.
176. x. SARAH PETTY, b. 21 Feb 1927, , Whitfield, Ga; d. 09 May 1999, Atlanta, Fulton, Ga (@ nursing home)..

Adam Has the Bull by the Horns

and also Adam, Brandy the Dog, and a neighbor hammed it up before a camping trip... years ago.


and paying for his room and board.

Jay Hunter's (1946-2009) Funeral

We went to my cousin Jay Hunter’s funeral Saturday.

A stack of the above printouts was by the sign-in book for people to take. The title on the front was “Jay Hunter, The Life and Times of a Rascal”. I like that.

Before the funeral in the family room with Jay’s body were many people. And they were mostly related. Jay grew up as the oldest of twelve children. One of his brothers, Rick, I believe, told my sister that from their parents, the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were 67 off-spring. And of a big portion of them have spouses, and of course us cousins and our spouses added up to a room full of people.

I’m sure Jay’s wife Beverly was going through a tough time. I don’t know if surrounded by that many people was good or bad for helping her get though it. All of Jay’s siblings are very positive and supportive naturally, so I’m sure she got through fine.

As we filed into the chapel we walked by the Jay’s body. I noticed the notes the children of Jay’s siblings put in with him the night before were gone. I forgot to look to see if his hat was still there.

Resting on his chest was a book by Louis L’Amour.

The service was beautiful. It had a Native American slant to it. A Native American went up front and played a big long wooden flute. Jay’s sister Patty sung Amazing Grace in the Cherokee language then led us in Amazing Grace in English. His sister Jeanne gave a reading and his brother Chuck told about his relationship through the years with Jay.

Years ago I gave Jay our Hunter pedigree. Our great-great-great grandmother was a Cherokee Native American. Her name was Polly Hogshead. She married Jacob B. Trammell. She drowned in the Little Tennessee River in Macon County, North Carolina, between 1850 and 1860, while tending her fish traps.

I think their marriage worked out for both of them, other than love. Jacob got to acquire more land in the 1820s in North Carolina because he was married to a Cherokee, and later, in the 1830s, if Polly wasn’t married to a white man she would have sent on the infamous “Trail of Tears” to Oklahoma.

Jay told me he took our pedigree printouts that I gave him and visited the Cherokee Indians Reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina. There they collaborated Polly Hogshead Trammell and thus validated that Jay was part Cherokee, which gave him fishing and hunting rights on Cherokee lands.

By the Native American music I think he may have taken it more seriously than just a fishing and hunting privilege.

And, two of Jay’s songs were played. Yes, Jay sung at his own funeral.



Here is a copy of the obituary copied and pasted.


Jay Hunter (James Richard Hunter, Jr.), beloved husband, son, brother, uncle and friend, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 23, 2009.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta, Georgia.

Jay was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts on June 29, 1946. After his father's retirement from the Navy in 1951, his mother and father moved the family back to his father's hometown of Marietta. Jay attended St. Joseph Parochial School, graduated from Marietta High School in 1964, studied at Middle Georgia College, graduated from Georgia State University and earned his Masters Degree from Georgia State University in History and Political Science. During his college years, he traveled across North Georgia with his professor and fellow students, gathering songs and stories that had been handed down for generations. This collection is archived in the Library of Congress.

Jay worked as a Special Education teacher in the Atlanta school system for several years before pursuing a professional career in music. Singer, song writer, and performer. Jay's love of music began as a child and in high school he hosted a "Top 40" radio show on WFOM. Jay was blessed with a rich baritone voice and accompanied himself with acoustic guitar. His wonderful wit and wry sense of humor were evident in the clever lyrics of his songs. During his career, he played at Underground Atlanta, Rockport Music Festival, Newport Music Festival, The King and Prince on St. Simons Island, Cloisters Resort in Sea Island and Piedmont Art Festival. Most recently, to the delight of family, friends and following, he entertained at various Atlanta music venues.

Jay had many hobbies and interests. He enjoyed renovating cars and motorcycles and loved to fly, earning his private pilot's license in the 1980s. Jay also had a natural talent for painting, sketching and wood-working.

Jay was proud of his ancestry, including his mother's French-Canadian heritage and particularly embraced the culture of his Native American ancestry.

In his later years. Jay found the love of his life, Beverly Hunter (formerly Beverly Lopez), and they married in April 2006 in Helen, Georgia. Jay lived the last years of his life enjoying the company of his beloved wife and relishing his role of step-father and grandfather to Beverly's daughter, Laura Crawford, her husband Mark and their daughter Madison and to her son, Richard Lopez, his wife Jamie and their sons Eathan and Sean.

Jay was preceded in death by his father, Dick Hunter (James Richard Hunter, Sr.) former Mayor of Marietta and younger brother Frank.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly; her two children, Laura Crawford (Mark) and Richard Lopez (Jamie) and three grandchildren; Madison Crawford and Eathan and Sean Lopez; his mother, Jeannette Quintal Hunter; brothers, Don, Tom, Chuck (Nancy), Rick, Rob (Jeanne) and Ty; sisters, Rusty Stemagle (Jim), Pattie Bagley (Mark), Jeanne Hunter, and Sherry Kaskie (Ken), as well as his aunt, Ruby Hunter, 18 nieces, 16 nephews, and 19 grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home & Crematory in Marietta in charge of arrangements.

Being a Rat Skat then

As I mentioned before, the Rat Skat Club was sort of a underground fraternity at Marietta High School. Or maybe it was a wannabe fraternity. It was a club for boys to simply have fun and promote the school spirit, in maybe unorthodox ways. None of us wanted to do harm, as a group, anyway.

We had socials like hay rides and Christmas dances. The school authorities thought we were hoodlums. And some parents also thought we were a bunch of hoodlums, street gang, or, well, rats.

At the Pre-Varner Reunion was a guy there with the name Chipper Newport that I didn’t remember. Tonight I looked him up in the Olympia school yearbook and believe it or not, he has changed in the last 49 years.

He called me tonight and we knew the same people, such as the late Larry Holcomb and Paul Roper.

He told me when he was a sophomore in 1960 he was asked to join the Rat Skats. His father found out about it. His father met him at the door when he came home and confiscated his car keys, then told him to pack his bags. He shipped him off in mid Tennessee to live with his grandfather.

I suppose his father heard we were a mean gang and he did what he thought he had to do. I think somebody gave some his father some wrong information. I’m sure I would do about the same if I heard something bad about an organization one of my sons was about to join.

Now, it is all water under the damn.

Sunday Sermon : Mistakes & Double Standards

Everybody makes mistakes. To err is divine, or so the general consensus believe until somebody they don’t like “errs”…. Then it is non-forgivable.

At the postal service when I was a scheme examiner part of my duty was to randomly check clerk’s sorting mail accuracy. They legally were allowed a 5% error ratio. If I found they missed more than that then I would have to work on that with them.

When I worked in the time keeper’s office I remember one time a lady name Catherine, who was being groomed for a supervisor, on the payroll section she was assigned, had a 4% errors and management gave her a cash superior accomplishment award for only having 4% errors. However, when another person did the same section payroll and had 3% errors they tried to suspend him. He had 1% errors less than a person that received an award for not having least amount of errors. When the union representative brought this to management attention they quietly drop the charge against him – but didn’t give him an award.

It matters who makes the mistake whether it is acceptable or unforgiving or not.


When George W. Bush was in the Whitehouse he made many mistakes and the Republicans explained away, covered up, or forgave his blunders while the Democrats jumped up and down screaming bloody murder. Now, the shoe is on the other foot and Obama is making mistakes it is the Republicans are jumping and up and down and screaming bloody murder and the Democrats are on the defensive.

As CBS Sunday Morning Show last week pointed out not all mistakes are bad. The America Continent was discovered on a navigational mistake…. Other great places or things were either discovered or invented on miscalculations.

With that in mind let us think about all the grammar and spelling mistakes have I made on this blog. An’t I divine?

SUNDAY FUNNIES!!

This is MAD #4. I read some place that Editor Harvey Kurtzman and Publisher Bill Gaines did not know how MAD did until MAD #4. It took that long for the sales reports to come back, or unsold comics returned, or however. At MAD #4 time they knew they had a hit on their hands.

Did they know before or after MAD #4 hit the press? It seems that MAD #4 seems a little bolder than previously, with stories attacking SUPERMAN and The SHADOW.

MAD #4 was the first MAD I was introduced to. I was in the 7th grade and I was with my family visiting my grandmother and I went next door to visit a school chum, Archie Richardson. In Archie’s bedroom he showed me a comicbook called MAD. I fell for the comicbook in a big way, and well, haven’t been the same since.

I quickly swooped up that issue and the three earlier issues and studying MAD and here I am many issues of MAD, HUMBUG, TRUMP, HELP, and ANNIE FANNY later.

The cover was by the editor Harvey Kurtzman. As usual, his cover illustration is a plug for one of the stories inside, in this case it was the last story: The SHADOW.


This is the letter page. Interesting one of the letters was by Larry Stark. Larry lived and breathed EC comics. I read someplace that he gave EC critiques so often they finally gave him a lifetime subscription….. unfortunately, EC’s lifetime wasn’t all that long after that.





SUPERDUPERMAN was illustrated by Wallace Wood. His detail work is always good and interesting…. Little bits of people here and there. This story was the first to put me into a MAD spin.





FLOB WAS A SLOB was illustrated by Jack Davis and was a poke at romance comics. It gave it an extra twist of lemon.




ROBIN HOOD was illustrated by John Severin. They took an old story and revived it.



THE SHADOW was illustrated by Will Elder. What can I can say? The art and little details are hilarious.

Rat Skats!

(click on picture for a closer view)

Were you part of the underground Marietta High School fraternity Rat Skats?

The Statue of Limitations has passed, you can step forward now.

At the Varner’s Reunion on Saturday, April the 25th is a time to show off your Rat Skat tee-shirt you just bought. Here is more how to get the Rat logo on your favorite shirt (anybody else too):

1. You must provide own shirt.
2. It takes about 3 days.
3. They charge $12.00 for logo. That includes adding your name and dates.
4. Location: Right down town Cartersville, GA directly across the tracks from the Old
Depot. No. 12 South Wall Street.
5. The lady that owns the place is named Michelle. Phone No. 770-712-1171
6. Mark McGee is also getting a Rat Banner and everyone should wear their shirts.

For more information about the Varner’s Reunion and to buy your tickets click on:

Big Arns

Kurtzman's FUMETTI

I am not sure what Fumetti means. I think it roughly means COMICS in Italian.

In HELP!Magazine Harvey Kurtzman called his photograph stories Fumettis. His Fumettis had the format of comics... the people spoke with balloons coming from their mouth, and it was panel after panel, in sequence.

I think every issue of HELP! had a Fumetti story. I can't think of one that didn't.

Here is a fine example of Harvey Kurtzman's Fumetti. The star of this one is comedian Henny Youngman (1906-1998).

Of course you know to click on each page to make them bigger.... right?

Peek-A-Boo! I See Yoo!

These are slides of my son Rocky, not too after graduating out of the toddler phase. That was almost 30 years ago. Now Rocky is in the marrying phase.

Brandi's World Famous Hotdogs - more

Yesterday I met my cousin Johnny for lunch at Brandi’s World Famous Hotdogs. Now Johnny lives out of town, so Brandi’s is a special treat when he comes back to his home town.

When we met at the front door and went inside the eight or so tables were full. All the stools at the counter were occupied. Maybe as many as eight to ten people were standing waiting to grab the next available table.

There is no lobby or waiting area. You have to stand in between the tables. Man, those hotdogs looks delicious as the waitress delivered trays full of the dogs to the various tables…. And just as they walked by you got a whiff of the meat and chili and a steamy bun…. Umm ummm!

Finally we grabbed a table. We each ordered a hamburger and a chili dog. I got coleslaw on my dog. The chili is spicy and has tiny little onions bits blended in to complements the spices… my sinuses always loose up and I have to dab my nose with a handkerchief … or otherwise, I would look pretty disgusting.

I noticed Brandi had two new ladies working for her. One seemed to be manning the cash register and the takeout orders and the other was the waitress for the tables…. Neither one of them look like they belonged there.

The customers were the same genre as always, the working class – I notice many were wearing service shirts with company logos and there names sewed in above the breast pocket and probably a good percent of them are natives.

Brandi wasn’t there.

Johnny and I both had our Brandi stories and our Ravan stories. Before it was a world famous hotdog dashery it was a barbecue joint owned by Judge Ravan.

We both got into trouble at high school by getting caught for skipping class, leaving campus, and going to Ravan's BBQ for lunch.

Johnny had one up one me on the stories. His grandmother Frasure lived around the corner on Campbell Hill and he used to take his grandmother and Mrs. Ravan trout fishing up in Gilmer County.

When we got ready to leave we were waiting our turn at the cash register to pay up and get out and Johnny mentioned it hasn’t changed since the last time he ate there two or three years ago.

Then I happened to remember the last time I was there picking up some chili dogs to go I heard a hammering and whamming noise in the back left corner near the rest rooms. They called Brandi up to take my money. She had a hammer in her hand – she was doing some type of remodeling herself.

I looked in the same corner yesterday and saw that a shelf had been added with a television blaring. I told Johnny, “Except that!” and pointed to the TV. He agreed.

Then I wondered why a small television in that corner. The only people that could hear it was the last one or two people sitting on stools at the end of the counter and even that, they would be facing the other way.

I wonder if Brandi watches her soap-story after the lunch crowd clears out?

Oh well, I’m sure there is a reasonable reason.

I asked the new lady where Brandi was. She said she took her baby to the doctor. Johnny asked did she had another baby. The lady said not recently, that one was two years old.

Outside in the small parking lot we saw Rupert. Everybody knows Rupert and Rupert knows everybody. We spoke to him and his friend spoke to us also and introduced himself. He was an charming man. His last name was Hood.

When they walked away Johnny told me the Hood guy was head of the Marietta High School Basketball team.

I farted chili fragranced the rest of the day.

Ridley Genealogy 8 continued

Look at about the 5th name down, a man by the name of Walter Likely. Walter was shot by the sheriff for stealing a chicken. He died at a young age (22), so I think he probably was killed when he was shot, although that wasn't pointed out. Look at the year that took place. 1933. That was during the depression when times were bad. There are probably many sad stories of people trying to feed their families during that period of history.


81. DILLIA MYRTLE5 RIDLEY (CHARLES MARTIN4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 23 Feb 1894 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al, and died 28 Jun 1986 in Clovis, Curry, NM. She married (1) JUBE CRAWFORD. He was born Abt. 1894, and died Unknown. She married (2) HARVEY LEE LIKELY 09 Oct 1909 in Plainview, , Tx, son of THOMAS LIKLEY and FANNIE THIGPEN. He was born 11 Aug 1881 in Waco, Roosevelt, Tx, and died 26 Dec 1962 in Portales, , NM.

Notes for JUBE CRAWFORD:
Childhood sweetheart of Dillia.
-Charlotte Ridley Traylor in her RIDLEY book.

More About HARVEY LEE LIKELY:
Occupation: Grady, Curry, NM

Children of DILLIA RIDLEY and HARVEY LIKELY are:
i. WILLIAM6 LIKELY, b. 17 Oct 1910, Plainview, Hale, Tx; d. 12 Jan 1933.

Notes for WILLIAM LIKELY:
He never married.

More About WILLIAM LIKELY:
Lived: only 22 years.

ii. WALTER LIKELY, b. 17 Oct 1910, Plainview, Hale, Tx; d. 12 Jan 1933.

Notes for WALTER LIKELY:
He lived only 22 years.
Family tradition is that Walter was shot by the Sheriff for stealing a chicken.
- Charlotte Ridley Traylor

iii. JOE THOMAS LIKELY, b. 12 Jul 1913, Plasentine, Anderson, Tx; d. 1992, Clovis, Curry, NM; m. RUTH BENNETT; b. Abt. 1913.
iv. RAYMOND LIKELY, b. 20 Sep 1917, Addington, , Ok; d. 1992, , , Ca; m. FAYE M. BAKER; b. Abt. 1917.
149. v. JASPER CLARENCE LIKELY, b. 18 Apr 1925, Plainview, Hale, Tx; d. Unknown.


82. MARGIE NOVELLA5 RIDLEY (JAMES ALLEN4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born Mar 1885 in , Jackson, Al, and died 06 Apr 1960 in Stevenson, Jackson, Al. She married GEORGE WASHINGTON (2) CRAWFORD. He was born 13 Apr 1879, and died 1939 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al.

More About MARGIE NOVELLA RIDLEY:
Occupation: Bridgeport, Jackson, Al

Children of MARGIE RIDLEY and GEORGE CRAWFORD are:
i. HUGH WILSON6 CRAWFORD, b. Aft. 1900; d. Unknown; m. DOROTHY TENPENNY; b. Aft. 1900; d. Unknown.
ii. JAMES LEE CRAWFORD, b. 23 Jan 1905, Stevenson, Jackson, Al; d. 09 Sep 1979, South Pittsburg, Marion, Tn; m. ELMO LEE VINSON; b. 08 Jul 1911, Stevenson, Jackson, Al; d. 15 Jul 1985, Stevenson, Jackson, Al.

More About JAMES LEE CRAWFORD:
Burial: Mt Carmel Cem., Bridgeport, Jackson Co., Al

More About ELMO LEE VINSON:
Burial: Mt Carmel Cem., Bridgeport, Jackson Co., Al

iii. GEORGE VANCE CRAWFORD, b. 30 Oct 1909; d. 22 Oct 1982.
iv. LETHA ELLEN CRAWFORD, b. Aft. 1909.


83. CARRIE A.5 RIDLEY (NAPOLEAN BONAPARTE "N.P."4, JAMES N.3, CHARLES2, WILLIAM1)21 was born Abt. 1860 in , , NC, and died Unknown. She married JAMES M. WILLIAMS21 22 Dec 1878 in , Macon, NC22. He was born Abt. 1858, and died Unknown.

Children of CARRIE RIDLEY and JAMES WILLIAMS are:
150. i. PHILADELPHIA "DELPHIA"6 WILLIAMS, b. 07 Oct 1879; d. 26 Feb 1966.
ii. ELLA WILLIAMS23, b. 1881; d. 1923; m. JACK BUCHANAN23, 19 May 1898; b. 12 Jan 1874; d. Unknown.

More About ELLA WILLIAMS:
Burial: Buchanan Cemetery, Waynesville, Haywood Co, NC

Notes for JACK BUCHANAN:
Jack was living in Marion, NC, at the time of his death.

More About JACK BUCHANAN:
Burial: Buchanan Cemetery, Waynesville, Haywood Co, NC


84. GEORGE WASHINGTON5 RIDLEY (WILLIAM PLEASANT4, ALFRED BURTON3, CHARLES2, WILLIAM1) was born 188924, and died 1982. He married ANNIE GOSSETT24. She was born 1895, and died 1976.

More About GEORGE WASHINGTON RIDLEY:
Burial: Robinson-Kilgore Cem., Murray Co., Ga.

More About ANNIE GOSSETT:
Burial: Robinson-Kilgore Cem., Murray Co., Ga.

Children of GEORGE RIDLEY and ANNIE GOSSETT are:
151. i. WILLIAM "BILL"6 RIDLEY, b. 1911, , Murray, Ga; d. 15 Jun 2005.
152. ii. GORDON LEE RIDLEY, b. Abt. 1915, , Murray, Ga; d. 19 May 2005, Dalton, Whitfield Co., Ga.
153. iii. LEONARD RIDLEY, b. Aft. 1911, , Murray, Ga; d. Bef. May 2005.
154. iv. MINNIE RIDLEY, b. Aft. 1911, , Murray, Ga; d. Bef. May 2005.
155. v. GRADY RIDLEY, b. Aft. 1911; d. Bef. May 2005.
156. vi. DENNIS C. RIDLEY, b. Abt. 1922; d. 08 Apr 2007, , , NC.
157. vii. ELBERT RIDLEY, b. Abt. 1924; d. 01 Nov 2007, Nashville, , Tn.
viii. MARSHALL RIDLEY25, b. Aft. 1911; d. Bef. May 2005; m. JERRI SOUTHERS; b. Aft. 1911.
158. ix. JAMES "CREED" RIDLEY, b. Aft. 1911.
159. x. HENRY RIDLEY, b. Aft. 1911; d. Bef. May 2005.
160. xi. GENE RIDLEY, b. Aft. 1911.
161. xii. LINWOOD RIDLEY, b. Aft. 1911.


85. GEORGE HENRY5 RIDLEY, SR. (JAMES WILEY4, ALFRED BURTON3, CHARLES2, WILLIAM1) was born 1875, and died 1945. He married (1) MATTIE EDMUNDSON. She was born 1870, and died 1964. He married (2) IDA OGLES. She was born Aft. 1910, and died Unknown.

More About GEORGE HENRY RIDLEY, SR.:
Burial: Dug Gap Baptist, Whitfiled Co., Ga.

More About MATTIE EDMUNDSON:
Burial: Dug Gap Baptist, Whitfiled Co., Ga.

Child of GEORGE RIDLEY and MATTIE EDMUNDSON is:
162. i. GEORGE HENRY6 RIDLEY, JR., b. Aft. 1910.

How Could You Go Wrong?

20,679 physicians said Lucky Strikes Cigarettes are less irritating. Is saying something is less irritating an endorsement? How could you go wrong?

Varner's Over-the-Hill Gang, again

Left to Right Back Row.
Gary Fletcher, Gary Harris,Tom Alexander,Paul Roper, David Cain, William Rampley,Don McCall, Ray Denard,James Kirk, Arnold Guest, Bill Underwood, Melvin Denard,Ricky Kendricks,Steve Tolbert, Pat McPherson,Ronnie Knighton, Marvin Shaw,
Neal Lawrence, James Caudell, Horace Armfield.
Front: Chipper Newport, Harry Hansen, Monty Calhoun, Eddie (Rock) Hunter

click on picture to enlarge it.

Here is the picture again of us that hung out at Varner’s,. Thanks to Monty Calhoun for identifying each person.
And thanks to me for stealing the information off Monty’s Facebook.

Monday's Animals

Monday morning Willow and I returned from our walk just before daybreak. As soon as we got into the house she growled, moaned, squealed, and bark wanting in the back yard.

When she pitches a fit like that we know she smells something. I let her out, as I have many times before.

And as usual, I stepped over to the window, thinking any second I will see Willow dash across the yard to the trees that like our back yard and a cat or a squirrel will leap up and make it into a tree just in the nick of time. It happens almost every day.

One time Willow did actually pounce on a cat before the cat had a chance to run or leap. The view was partially obstructed but I know Willow hopped back yipping and the cat jumped over the fence. Willow had a scratched nose. I thought that should have been an educational even for Willow for her but it wasn’t. She didn’t learn a thing.

I didn’t see Willow dart across the yard towards where the cats and squirrels usually hang out. I got closer to the window and looked down. Willow was standing over something that had some white on it.

Out to the back yard I went quickly. Willow was standing over a dead rabbit dumbfounded. It had a long body with a white chest. The poor thing had a broken neck. There was no blood. Only a wet ear where Willow was licking it.

Willow has a rope looking toy that sort of reminds me of a rag-doll. She plays with it by running around with the rope-thing in her teeth jerking it wildly. I thought she was just playing. Now I know she was training to break a poor little creature’s neck.

I took the rabbit, wrapped it in several plastic bags and put it in our garbage can. Luckily, garbage day was the next day.

I wanted to get rid of the evidence, so to speak. My 87 year old neighbor Jim gets very upset when a hawk, cat, or dog tries to get one of his wild “pets”. A cat belonging to our neighbor Bob got a hold of a chipmunk one time and Jim chased it over to Bob’s house. Bob had to explain to Jim that cats and dogs do that – kill animals and eat them, that was their instinct. Jim didn’t accept that, he told Bob the next time he caught him he was going to shoot the cat.

I didn’t want my poor Willow to be dodging bullets out in the yard.

After my wife Anna dealt with AAA and the changing of the bad tire she went to pick up her mother to take her to the doctor. In the middle of her mother’s back side yard was a dead raccoon.

There have been some raccoons locally with rabies. For that reason I didn’t care about picking it up. And, it was dead in the middle of a yard. It wasn’t struck by a car or anything else. It just died, so there was a good chance it had rabies.

Anna called Animal Control and they said they would send somebody out and get it that very day. They didn’t. Nor, did they get it Tuesday.

But they did get it Wednesday.

I wonder how many scavenger animals such as dogs and coyotes dropped by to get them a chew before Animal Control picked it up?

Tire Business

I was to meet a bunch of friends Monday at 10am. Anna was to take her mother to the doctor shortly after that.

I was backing out in the truck when I noticed the Honda had a flat on the back right. It was about 9:30. I hurriedly told her about it and then pumped it up with an electric air pump.

I went on to the meeting with the Varner’s gang. Anna called AAA and they immediately came out and changed the bad tire for the spare donut tire. The AAA man told Anna that the tire had a big bolt in the tire. He also told her he loved his job.

Later that day we drove the Honda to a Discount Tire in nearby Kennesaw.

The person that we thought was the manager looked at the tire in the trunk and said if it was repairable they would fix it free, and hopefully, we would think of them when we were ready to buy new tires.

We sat down in the show room/waiting room and, well, waited. There was a lady sitting in a chair that gave us a big warm smile and spoke. We politely spoke back. Her face looked familiar… but I couldn’t quiet place it.

The manager told us she was buying Michelin Tires. I asked her if she like Michelin and she said yes. I think I told her we did too. If I am not mistaken, they came with the car when we bought it.

We watched the hyped-up we-think-is-manager guy do things to make the place look neat and impressible such as space the displace tires a certain distance apart, maybe straighten an advertising poster, and busily talking to customers when they wandered in.

In between customers and straightening things he told us some very positive things about his company and the sole owner, which he repeated his name several times. The owner lives in Arizona. Once or twice he quoted the owner directly, both complementary, to show the owner was a wise and decent man.

The lady I first noticed said something from time to time. She complemented the guy for putting things so neat, she added that she was a librarian and could appreciate that.

A guy from the car bay area came in and told her car was ready, she could go.

Then another guy came to us and told us the bolt went into the tire crookedly, therefore, could not be repaired.

However, he said, he just put a tire a customer traded in – and he pointed that was sitting with us and said, “There she goes now”. He went on to say they were nice tires and that would get us buy until we were ready to buy. So, again, “No charge – just remember us when you get ready to buy.” Which we will. We are thinking very positive towards Discount Tires.

As she drove away, it hit me where I have seen her. She lives around the corner from us.

I told Anna who I thought it was and she thought that lady that lived around the corner is a school teacher. Maybe a media specialist at a school? We left it at that. Not that it mattered anyway.

This morning in the rain before daylight Willow and I were on a walk when the lady in question, that lives around the corner was backing out of her driveway. I waved and motioned for her to roll down her window.

Now days, how do you motion someone to roll down their window – pantomime pushing a button?

Her windows went down and she pulled up beside me. I asked her was she at Discount Tires Monday getting new tires. She said yes. She has always has a very big toothy very gracious smile. She told me she recognized us when we went in. I told her I didn’t want to make a fool of myself asking her there – so I chose to make a fool of myself standing in the rain in the dark asking her.

I told her we were driving on one of her tires and told her that story, and we had a good laugh… with me and Willow getting soaking wet.

She also told me that day she found out her nephew had a seizure and was now in the hospital. I told her that same day I found out my first cousin had died. We told each other we were sorry.

Small world.

On this Date "My Fair Lady"

On this date in 1976* “My Fair Lady” opened at St. James Theater in New York City and had 384 performances.

I didn’t see the play but did see the movie starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn. I don’t remember much about it, but pretty much got the idea. It was about a professor of phonetics saying he take any wench out of the slums of London and turn her into a proper speaking lady with just a little training…. And I think there might have been a wager involved to make it more interesting… and probably their relationship developed into a romance, which even made it more interesting.

I only remember one line, which impressed me. Eliza Doolittle’s (Audrey Hepburn) father Alfred wanted some quick cash money for the professor to teach his daughter how to speak properly.

Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) said something like, “Good God man! Don’t you have any morals?”

And Alfred Doolittle said, “Morals? What’s that? – never mind! I can’t afford them!”

That is a complicated statement - just think about it.

*originally it first premiered on Broadway March 15, 1956, with Julie Andrews playing Eliza Doolittle.

Ridley Genealogy 7 continued

63. JOHN OSCAR5 RIDLEY (GEORGE WASHINGTON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 16 Aug 1873 in Dorans Cove, Jackson Co, Al, and died Oct 1954 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al. He married MAUDE ELLEN LOVELACE 22 Dec 1897 in Dorans Cove, Jackson, Ala. She was born 19 Jul 1879 in Pittsburg, Marion Co, Tn, and died 18 Dec 1946 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al.

More About JOHN OSCAR RIDLEY:
Burial: Ridley Cemetery, Bridgeport, Jackson Co., Al

More About MAUDE ELLEN LOVELACE:
Burial: Ridley Cemetery, Bridgeport, Jackson Co., Al

Children of JOHN RIDLEY and MAUDE LOVELACE are:
i. RUTH LOVELACE6 RIDLEY, b. 23 Oct 1898; d. Jul 1899.

More About RUTH LOVELACE RIDLEY:
Lived: Only about 10 months.

ii. LEE ELLEN RIDLEY, b. 18 Dec 1899; d. 19 Feb 1918.

More About LEE ELLEN RIDLEY:
Lived: Only about 18 years.

iii. KATIE MAY RIDLEY, b. 19 Mar 1900; d. Jan 1901.

More About KATIE MAY RIDLEY:
Lived: Only about 9 months.

iv. SARAH ELIZABETH RIDLEY, b. 05 Apr 1904, Scotsboro, , Al; m. VINCENT ARNETTE HACKWORTH; b. Abt. 1904.
119. v. JOHNNIE LOUISE RIDLEY, b. 16 Jul 1905.
120. vi. JOHN OSCAR RIDLEY, JR., b. 24 Sep 1906, Scotsboro, , Al; d. 26 Mar 1966.
vii. LEE ALLEN RIDLEY, b. 14 Oct 1908; d. 04 Nov 1908.

More About LEE ALLEN RIDLEY:
Lived: Only about 2 weeks.

121. viii. AGNES O. KATHLEEN RIDLEY, b. 06 Nov 1910, Bridgeport, Jackson, Al; d. 24 May 1979.
122. ix. GEORGE SHELVY RIDLEY, SR., b. 18 Oct 1911; d. 23 Apr 1993.
123. x. MARY EFFIE RIDLEY, b. 01 Jun 1913.
124. xi. CECIL RUDOLPH RIDLEY, b. 04 Feb 1915; d. 24 May 1993.
125. xii. OPAL LOVELACE RIDLEY, b. 22 May 1918.
126. xiii. ROBERT BRIDGES RIDLEY, b. 19 Dec 1919.


64. ORPHA ELIZABETH5 RIDLEY (GEORGE WASHINGTON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1)20 was born 27 Aug 1876 in Dorans Cove, Jackson, Al, and died 15 Dec 1956. She married ORVILLE JACKSON LOYD, son of ALEXANDER LOYD and MALINDA JOHNSON. He was born Abt. 1876, and died Unknown.

Children of ORPHA RIDLEY and ORVILLE LOYD are:
i. ALLENE6 LOYD, b. Aft. 1890; d. Unknown; m. DAVID CARGILE; b. Aft. 1890; d. Unknown.
ii. CHARLES LOYD, b. Aft. 1890; d. Unknown; m. EDNA VAUGHN; b. Aft. 1890; d. Unknown.
iii. CECIL LOYD, b. 17 Nov 1897, Bridgeport, Jackson, Al; d. 15 Aug 1951; m. ESTHER WILLIAMS; b. Abt. 1897; d. Unknown.
iv. RIDLEY LOYD, b. 1900; d. Unknown.

Notes for RIDLEY LOYD:
Unmarried.

v. FANNIE LOYD, b. 24 Aug 1904, Langston, , Al; m. CHARLES WORD; b. Abt. 1904.
vi. MARY NELL LOYD, b. 03 Jan 1907; m. L.B. JOHNSON; b. 1907.
vii. ERNEST LOYD, b. 1921; m. ETHEL BURTON; b. Abt. 1921.


65. JAMES ELISHA ARTHUR5 RIDLEY (GEORGE WASHINGTON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 27 Mar 1879 in Dorans Cove, Jackson, Al, and died 20 Oct 1951 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al. He married HALLIE MITCHELL 24 Sep 1900 in , Harding, Tn. She was born 11 Jul 1880 in Saltillo, Harden Co, Tn, and died 31 Jan 1919 in Dorans Cove, Jackson, Al.

More About JAMES ELISHA ARTHUR RIDLEY:
Burial: Mt Carmel Cemetery, Jackson Co., Al

Children of JAMES RIDLEY and HALLIE MITCHELL are:
i. ESSIE MAE6 RIDLEY, b. Aft. 1900; d. Unknown.
ii. INFANT 1 RIDLEY, b. Aft. 1900; d. Unknown.
iii. INFANT 2 RIDLEY, b. Aft. 1900; d. Unknown.
127. iv. JAMES RALPH RIDLEY, b. 02 Aug 1915, Bridgeport, Jackson, Al.


66. OLLIVE ELLMORA5 RIDLEY (GEORGE WASHINGTON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 16 Oct 1881 in , Jackson, Al, and died 07 May 1963. She married WILLIAM PLEASANT MCCAMPBELL 30 Dec 1903, son of WILLIAM MCCAMPBELL and MARTHA JENKINS. He was born 01 May 1880 in , Jackson, Al, and died 06 Jul 1967 in West Palm Beach, , Fl.

Children of OLLIVE RIDLEY and WILLIAM MCCAMPBELL are:
i. LUCILE6 MCCAMPBELL, b. 1904, , Jackson, Al; m. A HILLARD; b. Abt. 1904.
ii. SETH PERRY MCCAMPBELL, b. 13 Jan 1906, , Jackson, Al; m. RUBY HAYES SHACKLEFORD; b. Abt. 1906.
iii. CHRISTINE 'CRISSIE MAY' MCCAMPBELL, b. 1907, , Jackson, Al; m. LESTIE HALL REEDER; b. Abt. 1907.
iv. GEORGE HOLLIS MCCAMPBELL, b. 28 Dec 1909, Bridgeport, Jackson, Al; m. BETTY BRAINARD; b. Abt. 1909.
v. JOSEPH HORTON MCCAMPBELL, b. 01 Jun 1913, Bridgeport, Jackson, Al; d. 30 Mar 1984; m. CARMEL LYTAL; b. Abt. 1913.

More About JOSEPH HORTON MCCAMPBELL:
Twin of: Homer

vi. HOMER JACKSON MCCAMPBELL, b. 01 Jun 1913, Bridgeport, Jackson, Al; d. 19 Dec 1918.

More About HOMER JACKSON MCCAMPBELL:
Lived: Only 5 years.
Twin of: Joseph


67. CHARLES LEWIS5 RIDLEY (GEORGE WASHINGTON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 19 Mar 1884 in , Jackson, Al, and died 04 Jun 1969 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al. He married MARGIE BELLE WILLIAMS 20 Dec 1903, daughter of MARION WILLIAMS and MARTHA LYNNE. She was born 12 Nov 1884 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al, and died 03 Oct 1979 in Huntsville, , Al.

More About CHARLES LEWIS RIDLEY:
Burial: Mt Carmel Cemetery, Bridgeport, Jackson Co., Al

More About MARGIE BELLE WILLIAMS:
Burial: Mt Carmel Cemetery, Bridgeport, Jackson Co., Al

Children of CHARLES RIDLEY and MARGIE WILLIAMS are:
i. MONA KANSAS6 RIDLEY, b. 07 Jan 1906, Scotsboro, Jackson, Al; m. WILLIAM MILTON MCKISSOCK, DR., 25 Aug 1929; b. Abt. 1906.
ii. MARION LESTER RIDLEY, b. 09 Feb 1908, Scotsboro, Jackon , Al; m. MARY M. COX, 14 Jun 1928; b. Abt. 1908.
iii. RACHEL DORIS 'DOT' RIDLEY, b. 20 Sep 1912, , Jackson, Al; d. 20 Jan 1962; m. CHARLES OMER WHITE; b. Abt. 1912.
iv. CHARLSIE FAY RIDLEY, b. 12 Jan 1918, , Jackson, Al; m. HALBERT LEON HALE; b. Abt. 1918.
v. WILLIAM MARIES RIDLEY, b. 06 Jan 1926, , Jackson, Al; d. 02 Sep 1984; m. MARGORIE GILLILAND; b. Abt. 1926.


68. MAGGIE ELLEN5 RIDLEY (GEORGE WASHINGTON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 26 Dec 1886 in Dorans Cove, Jackson, Al, and died 31 Oct 1963 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al. She married CHARLIE MCCAMPBELL, son of WILLIAM MCCAMPBELL and MARTHA JENKINS. He was born 02 Oct 1884, and died 30 Oct 1950.

More About MAGGIE ELLEN RIDLEY:
Burial: Mt Carmel Cemetery, Bridgeport, Jackson Co., Al

More About CHARLIE MCCAMPBELL:
Burial: Mt Carmel Cemetery, Jackson Co., Al

Children of MAGGIE RIDLEY and CHARLIE MCCAMPBELL are:
i. CHARLES A.6 MCCAMPBELL, b. 24 May 1917, Bridgeport, Jackson, Al; d. Jun 1978; m. KATHYN WARD; b. Abt. 1917.
ii. CHARLSIE ELLEN MCCAMPBELL, b. 11 Nov 1919, Bridgeport, Jackson, Al; d. 11 Nov 1919, Bridgeport, Jackson, Al.


69. WILLIAM LEE5 RIDLEY (GEORGE WASHINGTON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 22 Aug 1889 in Dorans Cove, Jackson, Al, and died Unknown in Huntsville, , Al. He married ETHEL LEE STEWART 06 Jun 1911. She was born Abt. 1889 in South Pittsburg, , Tn, and died Unknown.

More About WILLIAM LEE RIDLEY:
Occupation: Huntsville, Al

More About ETHEL LEE STEWART:
Burial: Maple Hill Cemetery

Children of WILLIAM RIDLEY and ETHEL STEWART are:
i. ELVA LOUISE6 RIDLEY, b. 06 Aug 1912; m. ELLIS HOUSTON THOMAS; b. Abt. 1912.
ii. GEORGE WILLIAM 'JACK' RIDLEY, b. 04 Apr 1919, South Pittsburg, , Tn; d. 1988; m. DOROTHY WARD; b. Abt. 1919.
iii. JOSEPH LAWTON RIDLEY, b. 06 May 1922; d. 1952.

More About JOSEPH LAWTON RIDLEY:
Lived: About 30 years


70. WILLIAM SPILLER 'WILLIE'5 RIDLEY (JOHN BUNYON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 25 Nov 1876 in Stevenson, Jackson, Al, and died 23 Jul 1943 in Summerville, Chattooga Co, Ga. He married ELLENDER 'ELLEN' ANN MAXWELL 07 Oct 1906 in Fabius, Jackson, Al, daughter of HUGH MAXWELL and SARAH HAWK. She was born 06 Oct 1887 in , Jackson, Al, and died 30 Jul 1970 in Trion, Chattooga Co, Ga.

Notes for WILLIAM SPILLER 'WILLIE' RIDLEY:
Spiller's trade was farming, saw-milling, and blacksmith. He also enjoy making wood crafts.
Spiller suffered with severe respiratory problems and combined with the conditions of our country at the time, due to the economy of our nation and hardships of farming, he was unable to support his large family. The older children had to leave school and seek employment.
Spiller and his two youngest children, Vivian and Margaret, went to live with his daughter, Mildred and her husband Kelly Tryan of Trion, where Spiller spent his remaining years. Ellen lived with the other children and helped with their families. He died at Mildred and her husband Kelly's home.
-Charlotte Ridley Traylor

More About WILLIAM SPILLER 'WILLIE' RIDLEY:
Burial: Liberty Hill Baptist Church, Flat Rock, Jackson Co., Al.

Notes for ELLENDER 'ELLEN' ANN MAXWELL:
Ellen did sewing for her family and friends. As long as she lived, Ellen made beautiful quilts and gave them to most her family members.
-Charlotte Ridley Traylor

More About ELLENDER 'ELLEN' ANN MAXWELL:
Burial: Liberty Hill Baptist Church, Flat Rock, Jackson Co., Al.

Children of WILLIAM RIDLEY and ELLENDER MAXWELL are:
128. i. LILLIE MAE6 RIDLEY, b. 18 Aug 1907, Flat Rock, Jackson, Al.
129. ii. JOHN FRANKLIN RIDLEY, b. 30 May 1909, Flat Rock, Jackson, Al.
130. iii. BEN KASH RIDLEY, b. 17 May 1911, Fabius, Jackson, Al; d. 18 Apr 1945, le Shima, , , Japan.
131. iv. WILLIE HUGH RIDLEY, b. 29 Mar 1914, Fabius, Jackson, Al; d. 12 Apr 1988, Trion, Chattooga, Ga.
132. v. MILDRED LUCINDA RIDLEY, b. 07 May 1917, Fabius, Jackson, Al.
133. vi. RUSSIE LOUELLA RIDLEY, b. 20 Apr 1919.
134. vii. MARIE PALESTINE RIDLEY, b. 14 Aug 1921, Fabius, Jackson, Al.
135. viii. VIVIAN IRENE RIDLEY, b. 08 Oct 1923.
136. ix. MARGARET ALMA RIDLEY, b. 14 May 1926, Yucca, Jackson Co, Al.


71. MINNIE LEE5 RIDLEY (JOHN BUNYON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born Abt. 1878 in Stevenson, Jackson, Al, and died Unknown in Durham, , NC. She married PAUL L. BROWN 02 Jul 1892 in Stevenson, Jackson, Al, son of ALEX BROWN and LOUISA. He was born 25 Feb 1873 in Fabius, Jackson, Al, and died 31 Jan 1936 in Flat Rock, Jackson Co, Al.

More About PAUL L. BROWN:
Burial: Liberty Hill Cemetery, Fabus, Jackson Co, Al

Children of MINNIE RIDLEY and PAUL BROWN are:
i. MARY ELLEN6 BROWN20, b. 15 Nov 1893; d. Unknown.
ii. MARTHA LILLIE BROWN, b. 26 Oct 1895; d. Unknown.
137. iii. JAMES WALTER BROWN, b. 07 Jan 1898, , , Al; d. Oct 1930, South Pittsburg, , Tn.
138. iv. CORDIA FRANCIS BROWN, b. 28 Apr 1900; d. 27 Mar 1991.
139. v. TEMPIA MATILDA BROWN, b. 26 Oct 1902.
vi. TWIN BROWN, b. 01 Jan 1904.

More About TWIN BROWN:
Twin of: Jessie Spillers BROWN

vii. JESSIE SPILLERS BROWN, b. 01 Jan 1904.

More About JESSIE SPILLERS BROWN:
Twin of: ?

viii. BERTHA ELIZABETH BROWN, b. 17 Dec 1906; m. ROBERT HAWORTH; b. Abt. 1906.
140. ix. OPEL LUELLA BROWN, b. 29 Jan 1910, Fabius, Jackson, Al.
141. x. ALEXANDER 'ALEX' BROWN, b. 28 May 1912, , Jackson, Al; d. 23 Nov 1985, Durham, , NC.
xi. BONNIE VIRGINIA BROWN, b. 06 Mar 1915.
xii. ALENE OPRAH BROWN, b. 19 May 1919.
xiii. PAULINE BEATRICE BROWN, b. 1921; d. 20 May 2000, Burlington, , NC; m. A PENCE; b. Abt. 1921.


72. MATTIE BULAH5 RIDLEY (JOHN BUNYON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1)20 was born 28 Apr 1880 in , Jackson, Al, and died 27 Nov 1919. She married JAMES CALVIN WALKER 29 Jun 1902, son of JAMES WALKER and SHARILDA COTTEN. He was born 20 Oct 1871 in , DeKalb, Al, and died 11 Jun 1919.

Children of MATTIE RIDLEY and JAMES WALKER are:
i. CHARLES HOPE6 WALKER, b. 26 Sep 1903.
ii. CLIFFORD RIDLEY WALKER, b. 16 Mar 1905.
iii. MARJORIE LUCILE WALKER, b. 20 Dec 1906; m. A FULLER; b. Abt. 1906.
iv. RUBY BELL WALKER, b. 07 Mar 1909; m. A HUEY; b. Abt. 1909.
v. JAMES HOWARD WALKER, b. 17 Aug 1911; m. (1) JULIA CORINE MARTIN; b. Abt. 1911; m. (2) OPAL GUNDER; b. Abt. 1911.
vi. CLARICE OPAL WALKER, b. 12 Sep 1914; d. 29 Jun 1969; m. A MAYS; b. Abt. 1914.
vii. JEWELS WALKER, b. 22 Oct 1919; d. 05 Nov 1919.

More About JEWELS WALKER:
Lived: Only 2 weeks.


73. GEORGE HENRY 'HOPE'5 RIDLEY (JOHN BUNYON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 28 Feb 1886 in , Jackson, Al, and died 09 Apr 1967 in Odenville, , Al. He married (1) EMILIE MAXWELL. She was born 1891, and died Unknown. He married (2) TENNESSEE SAMPSON, daughter of JAMES SAMPSON and MARY WOODS. She was born Bet. 08 Aug 1888 - 1890 in , Jackson, Al, and died 28 Feb 1928 in Fabius, Jackson, Al. He married (3) BLACKFOOT INDIAN. She was born Abt. 1886, and died Unknown. He married (4) CORA MAE COSBY. She was born Abt. 1905, and died 06 May 1966.

Notes for GEORGE HENRY 'HOPE' RIDLEY:
family tradition is that after Tennessee died Hope gave all five children up for adoption.
-Charlotte Ridley Traylor

More About GEORGE HENRY 'HOPE' RIDLEY:
Occupation: Springville, , Al

Notes for EMILIE MAXWELL:
Emile apparently died in childbirth and family tradition is that she and her child are buried in the same grave on the Elisha Ridley homeplace in Stevenson, Alabama.
-Charlotte Ridley Traylor in her RIDLEY book.

More About TENNESSEE SAMPSON:
Burial: Wheeler Cemetery, Jackson Co., Al

Children of GEORGE RIDLEY and TENNESSEE SAMPSON are:
i. RUBY MAE6 RIDLEY, b. 28 Dec 1918; m. JOE BROOKS; b. Abt. 1918.
ii. GROVER ANDERSON RIDLEY, b. 24 Oct 1920.
iii. LEWIS LANDIS RIDLEY, b. 19 Mar 1922.
iv. DR. ALLEN GORDON RIDLEY, b. 11 Sep 1925.

Notes for DR. ALLEN GORDON RIDLEY:
Became a doctor.

v. LAURA DIMPLE RIDLEY, b. 17 Apr 1927; m. WILLILAM W. WALKER; b. Abt. 1927.

Notes for LAURA DIMPLE RIDLEY:
Laura was adopted by Jack & Pauline COBB and changed her name to Betty Jean.
-Charlotte Traylor Ridley


Children of GEORGE RIDLEY and CORA COSBY are:
vi. GEORGE WESLEY6 RIDLEY, b. 14 Apr 1947.
vii. ALFRED LEE RIDLEY, b. 05 Feb 1950.


74. ANNIE S.5 RIDLEY (JOHN BUNYON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 19 Sep 1895 in , Jackson, Al, and died Unknown. She married JAMES ADAM KIRKPATRICK 10 Sep 1916 in Gross Springs, Jackson Co, Al. He was born 1893, and died Unknown.

Children of ANNIE RIDLEY and JAMES KIRKPATRICK are:
i. ROSS6 KIRKPATRCIK, b. Aft. 1910.
ii. LEON KIRKPATRCIK, b. Aft. 1910.
iii. CALVIN KIRKPATRCIK, b. Aft. 1910.
iv. EUGENE KIRKPATRCIK, b. Aft. 1910.
v. FRANKLIN KIRKPATRCIK, b. Aft. 1910.
vi. CHRISTINE KIRKPATRCIK, b. Aft. 1910.
vii. MARIE KIRKPATRCIK, b. Aft. 1910.
viii. JAMES R. KIRKPATRCIK, b. 1918.


75. ASENATH 'SENA'5 RIDLEY (JOHN BUNYON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 21 Sep 1897 in , Jackson, Al, and died 1998 in Chattanooga, , Tn. She married JOHN ROSCOE HARRIS Abt. 1912, son of ANDY HARRIS and MARTHA E.. He was born Abt. 1891 in Trenton, , Ga, and died Unknown.

Children of ASENATH RIDLEY and JOHN HARRIS are:
i. EVA6 HARRIS, b. Aft. 1912.
ii. BILL HARRIS, b. Aft. 1912.
iii. ROY HARRIS, b. Aft. 1912.
iv. HERBERT HARRIS, b. 1913.
v. MARY L. HARRIS, b. 1915.


76. ELISHA 'LISH' COLUMBUS5 RIDLEY (CHARLES MARTIN4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 11 Jan 1872 in , Jackson, Al, and died 16 Jan 1908 in Wapomuka, , Ok. He married ADDIE ELIZABETH ATKINSON 16 Nov 1890 in , Jackson, Al, daughter of JEFF ATKINSON. She was born Dec 1873 in , Jackson, Al, and died 25 Nov 1946.

Children of ELISHA RIDLEY and ADDIE ATKINSON are:
i. MARION LUTHER6 RIDLEY, b. 10 Nov 1891, , , Al; d. Unknown; m. WINNIE FORGEY; b. Abt. 1891; d. Unknown.
ii. CHARLES ERNEST RIDLEY, b. 25 Mar 1893, , , Al; d. Unknown; m. MABEL RYAN; b. Abt. 1893; d. Unknown.
iii. THOMAS RAYMOND RIDLEY, b. 30 Mar 1895, , , Al; d. Unknown; m. RHODA BUCKLES; b. Abt. 1895; d. Unknown.
iv. MARY ELLEN RIDLEY, b. 12 Jun 1898, , , Ok; d. 1938; m. JOEL MUNN; b. Abt. 1938; d. Unknown.
v. COLUMBUS ARTHUR RIDLEY, b. 18 Jun 1901, Clarita, , Ok; m. NORA BRISCOE; b. Abt. 1901.
vi. ALBERT RIDLEY, b. 12 Jun 1903, McAllister, , Ok; d. 1919.

More About ALBERT RIDLEY:
Lived: Only about 16 years.

vii. ELIZABETH 'LIZZIE' RIDLEY, b. 08 Oct 1905, Wapanuka, , Ok; d. 1906.

More About ELIZABETH 'LIZZIE' RIDLEY:
Lived: Probably not over 12 months.


77. JAMES K. POLK5 RIDLEY (CHARLES MARTIN4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 28 Jan 1878 in , Jackson, Al, and died Feb 1920 in Bellview, , NM. He married MINNIE FRANCES STEPHENS 09 Oct 1904, daughter of VACHREL STEPHENS and ARTIMISS OXFORD. She was born 01 May 1888 in , Red River Co, Tx, and died 09 Jun 1942 in Amarello, , Tx.

More About JAMES K. POLK RIDLEY:
Burial: Grady Cemetery, Curry Co., NM

More About MINNIE FRANCES STEPHENS:
Burial: Grady Cemetery, Curry, NM

Children of JAMES RIDLEY and MINNIE STEPHENS are:
i. VACHREL6 RIDLEY, b. 20 Dec 1905, , Atoka, Ok; d. 03 Jun 1970; m. (1) BONNIE TRAPP; b. Abt. 1905; m. (2) RUTH MCDONALD, 27 Jul 1940; b. Abt. 1905.

More About VACHREL RIDLEY:
Burial: Grady Cemetery, Curry Co., NM

142. ii. WILLIAM PATTERSON RIDLEY, b. 07 Apr 1908, Wapanuka, Atoka Co , Ok; d. 24 Dec 1985, Clovis, Curry, NM.
iii. VIRGIL LEROY RIDLEY, b. 14 May 1910, Wapanuka, , Atoka Co, Ok; d. 10 Oct 1983; m. (1) MARY YOUNG; b. Abt. 1910; m. (2) JESSIE GERALDINE RAMBLE; b. Abt. 1910.
143. iv. ARTIE EMALINE RIDLEY, b. 27 Jan 1912, , Stephens, Ok; d. 02 Sep 1955, Clovis, Curry, NM.
v. OLLIVE MAE RIDLEY, b. 22 May 1913, , Stevens, Ok; d. 26 Jul 1913, , , Ok.

More About OLLIVE MAE RIDLEY:
Lived: 2 months.

144. vi. DOVEY LOVENA RIDLEY, b. 06 Nov 1915, , Stevens, Ok.
vii. ORVELLA RIDLEY, b. 15 Apr 1919, Bellview, Curry Co , NM; m. (1) JAMES RAY MACKIE; b. 04 Sep 1917, Bernice, , Ok; m. (2) LANCY 'TEX' MOORE, 23 Jun 1985; b. 1912; d. 31 Dec 1995.


78. JASPER NEWTON 'JAP'5 RIDLEY (CHARLES MARTIN4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 29 Jul 1881 in Stevenson, Jackson, Al, and died 15 Apr 1967 in Pomona, L.A., Ca. He married IDA SHAW 10 Jan 1909 in Farwell, , Tx, daughter of JAMES SHAW and MARTHA WATSON. She was born 29 Aug 1885 in Indian Territory, , Ok, and died 22 Oct 1967 in Pomona, L.A., Ca.

More About JASPER NEWTON 'JAP' RIDLEY:
Burial: Grady Cemetery, Curry Co., NM

More About IDA SHAW:
Burial: Grady Cemetery, Curry, NM

Children of JASPER RIDLEY and IDA SHAW are:
145. i. MAYMIE MAE6 RIDLEY, b. 13 Oct 1909, Quitaque, , Tx; d. 2000, , , NM.
ii. ANNIE LEE RIDLEY, b. 03 Nov 1911, Broadview, Curry Co, NM; m. (1) FRANK YOUNG; b. Abt. 1911; m. (2) LEXIE TRUE WILLIAMS; b. Abt. 1911.
146. iii. OSCAR LUTHER RIDLEY, b. 13 Jul 1915, Bellview, , NM; d. 13 May 1983, Almagardo, , NM.


79. DELILA BETSY ANN 'LILA'5 RIDLEY (CHARLES MARTIN4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 29 Jan 1884 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al, and died 16 Nov 1916 in Bellview, , NM. She married ROBERT SAMUEL BAILEY Apr 1904 in Indian Territory, Ok, son of JEFFERSON BAILEY and SALLY LIKLEY. He was born 19 Dec 1883 in , Cherokee, Ok, and died Aug 1945.

More About DELILA BETSY ANN 'LILA' RIDLEY:
Burial: Grady Cemetery, Curry Co., NM

Notes for ROBERT SAMUEL BAILEY:
Robert Sam Bailey is a cousin to Harvey Lee Likely who married Dillia Myrtle RIDLEY.
- Charlotte Ridley Traylor in her RIDLEY book.

Children of DELILA RIDLEY and ROBERT BAILEY are:
i. ELIZABETH MYRTLE6 BAILEY, b. 16 Nov 1904, Wapanuka, , Atoka, Ok; m. ELLIS KILLEN; b. Abt. 1904.
ii. FLORENCE EMALYN BAILEY, b. 09 Jul 1908, Grady, Curry, NM; m. CHARLES DUNCAN; b. Abt. 1908.
iii. THELMA LUCILE BAILEY, b. Mar 1916; d. Jun 1917.

More About THELMA LUCILE BAILEY:
Lived: 1 year.


80. MARY LONA5 RIDLEY (CHARLES MARTIN4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 23 Jun 1889 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al, and died 13 Mar 1973 in Marlow, , Ok. She married RIDLEY BURR DILLON 16 Sep 1906 in Wapanucka, Oklahoma Territory, son of HUGH DILLON and SARAH CRAWFORD. He was born 15 Jun 1879 in Algood, , Tn, and died 09 Aug 1933 in , , Ka.

More About RIDLEY BURR DILLON:
Burial: Marlow, , Ok

Children of MARY RIDLEY and RIDLEY DILLON are:
i. ALTA MAE6 DILLON, b. 26 Oct 1907, Wapanuka, , Oklahoma Territory; m. WILLIAM ARTHUR BIRT, 26 Jun 1943, Caruthersville, , Ms; b. Abt. 1907; d. Dec 1988.

More About WILLIAM ARTHUR BIRT:
Burial: Oklahoma City, , Ok

147. ii. ARTHUR COLUMBUS DILLON, b. 13 Jul 1910, Plainview, Hale Co, Tx; d. 23 Sep 1961.
148. iii. REBA JEWEL DILLON, b. 02 Mar 1920, Marlow, , Ok.

Disney Vacation about 25 Years Ago

The first picture is something I found on the Google of a mother and daughter and their spouses/and/or dates having a little fun in Disney World. They were kicked out for life. You just can't help but loving a rebel.

The rest are pictures of our trip to Disney World about 25 or so years ago. The oldest is Rocky and the youngest is Adam.









I'm the one with the purple hat.