Elma Vaughn Gregory Barnes (26 April 1917, Okolona, Miss.) was the eldest child of William Aubrey and Bertha C. Jolly Gregory. She graduated from Okolona High School in 1936. Shortly thereafter, she moved to New London, Ohio and worked as an office assistant for T.H. Smith, M.D. She married Delbert Barnett Barnes (9 March 1915-14 April 1990) on 4 June 1939. His parents were Delbert B. an Kathryn Gettle Barnes of Fitchville, Ohio. "DB" was in the clothing business with his father after attending Ohio State University and continued until retirement. He and Elma became snowbirds, with an annual migration to San Diego, California until 1985-86, when they moved permanently to a pretty little house on the top of a mesa. "DB" sleeps in the family plot in New London, Ohio. Their issue: Ariane; Delbert Gregory; Allison; and Andrea Lee.
Ariane Barnes (23 February 1941) attended New London High School and received a BA Degree from Miami University of Ohio and an MA from Eastern Michigan University. She is a grammar school teacher. She married Daniel Howard Ringler (19 August 1941). He attended New London High School and received his DVM from Ohio State University and a Master's in Animal Pathology from the University of Michigan, where he is now Director of Animal Research. He also served in the United States Army, 1965-1967, as a veterinary officer. Children born to this union: Laurel Lee; and Amy Lynn.
Laurel Lee Ringler (6 July 1966) graduated from Huron High School, Ann Arbor, and attends the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Amy Lynn Ringler (26 March 1969) graduates from Huron High School, Ann Arbor, in 1987.
Delbert Gregory Barnes (31 January 1944) graduated from New London High School and attended the University of Tennessee a Chattanooga. He married Bonita Sue Troxel (14 April 1944). She graduated from New London High School and received a BS from Ashland College.
Bonita now works as a medical secretary and Greg as Recreation Center Manager of Leisure Time Sports Bowling Center in San Diego, California, one of a chain owned and operated by his brother-in-law, Charles Marshall. Greg and Bonita have one daughter: Heather.
Heather Barnes graduated from Mt. Carmel High School, Penasquitos, California, in 1986.
Allison Barnes (24 April 1945) graduated from New London High School, and attended Bowling Green State of Ohio and Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School, New York. She married Charles A. Marshall (29 April 1944). He graduated from Warren High School, Warren, Ohio and served as a Lieutenant in the Green Berets in Viet Nam, 1967-68. He now has a chain of bowling centers and serves as President of Leisure Time Sports. To this union were born: Chad Michael, 15 June 1971; Todd Martin, 5 November 1973; and Tiffany, 19 November 1978.
Andrea Lee Barnes (14 October 1956) graduated from New London High School and received training as an accountant at North Central Tech. She married Steven Allen Boss (10 February 1956). He graduated from New London High School and is presently Head Machinist for Roth Corporation. They have one child: Sarah Vaughn, 10 August 1982.
William Harrison (Willie) Gregory (1 July 1918, Okolona, Miss.) was the second child of William Aubrey and Bertha C. Jolly Gregory. He graduated from Okolona High School in 1937. After graduation, he worked for Gully Construction Company in Jackson, Mississippi, building Woodrow Wilson Boulevard. He later moved to Houston, Mississippi and to Columbus Air Force Base, where he operated a bulldozer and dragline. In 1941, he went to Trinidad, British West Indies, helping to build Waller Field; then on to French Guiana to build Rochanbeau Field. Willie returned to the States and served in the Navy, 1943-45, attending Motor Machinist School, San Diego. He worked at the Amphibious Base on Coronado Island, Cal., maintaining the training fleet. After World War II, Willie returned to Okolona and went into the concrete block manufacturing and coal business; later becoming a planter and cattleman. His sons returned to the farm and all three formed a partnership: Poverty Hill Farms, continuing to the present. He is a board member of the First United Methodist Church; a director of the Cattlemen's Association; Director of the Farm Bureau; and Director, First Citizens National Bank.
William Harrison married Betty Sue Reifers (3 September 1921) on 6 October 1946. She graduated from Okolona High School in 1939, and attended Mississippi College, Jackson, for one year; worked for Gulf Ordnance Plant in Prairie, Mississippi and the Department of Public Welfare in Aberdeen until her marriage. Her parents are John and Suzie Patterson Reifers. Three children were born to this union: Kathy Lynn; William Harrison Jr.; and Robert Hood.
Kathy Lynn Gregory (27 September 1947) graduated from Okolona High School in 1965 and Mississippi State College for Women, Columbus, with a degree in Special Education in 1969. She married Vick L. Etheridge, the son of Jerome B. and Mary Nell Maness Etheridge of Tupelo, Mississippi, on 31 January 1969. Vick graduated from Murray State University, Kentucky; received his MS Degree from Mississippi State University; and served one tour of duty with the United States Army. They reside in Booneville, where Vick is in the furniture manufacturing business and Kathy teaches at Northeast Mississippi junior College. They have two children: Jason Alan, 14 October 1972; and Jennifer Lynn, 23 August 1976.
William Harrison (Bill) Gregory, Jr. (5 May 1951) graduated from Okolona High School in 1969 and Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, in 1973. He currently farms as a partner in Poverty Hill Farms. He married Maria Jeanine Tutor, the daughter of Forrest T. Tutor, M.D. and Jean Miller Tutor of Pontotoc, Mississippi, on 4 January 1975. Jeanine is a registered nurse and graduated from Mississippi State College for Women. They have three children: Ashley Elizabeth, 11 July 1979; Allyson Jean, 8 December 1980; and William Harrison III, 23 February 1982.
Robert Hood (Bob) Gregory (10 September 1952) graduated from Okolona High School in 1970 and from Mississippi State University, Starkville, in 1974. He currently resides in Okolona and farms as a partner in Poverty Hill Farms. He married Patricia Simmons Stubbs, the daughter of Brigadier General (ret.) Van Tankersley and Irma Hamm Stubbs of Baldwin, Mississippi, on 28 December 1979. Patsy graduated from Mississippi State University and has an MS from the University of Mississippi, Oxford, in Special Education. Their children: Patricia Simmons, 5 February 1982; and Susannah Stubbs, 2 August 1983.
Ben Thomas Gregory
(18 September 1923, Okolona, Miss.)
was the third child of William Aubrey and Bertha C. Jolly Gregory. He graduated from Okolona
High School in 1941 and attended Hinds Junior College, 1941-42, transferring to Mississippi
State College in the fall of 1942.
He entered the Civilian Pilot Training Program at Mississippi State that fall and received
private pilot training prior to induction into the United States Army Air Corps in July 1943.
He entered military pilot training, graduating in March 1945. Ben served as a pilot until
December 1946.
He returned to Mississipi State College for the spring semester, 1947, and transferred to the University of Mississippi during the summer of 1947 for a Pre-Medical BA and BS. He entered Medical School at the University of Mississippi in 1950, transfering to the University of Tennessee School of Medicine in 1953 and graduated with an MD Degree in December 1954. Ben served his internship at Methodist Hospital, Memphis; and residency in General Surgery at Kennedy Veteran's Hospital until July 1957, when he began General Medical practice in Okolona. He left General Practice in February 1959 to return to Kennedy Veteran's Hospital for additional General Surgery residency. Ben entered Plastic Surgery residency in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1959 and transferred to Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan in 1960. He completed his residency in 1961 and entered the practice of Plastic Surgery in Lansing.
In 1963, Ben moved to Pensacola, Florida and began a private Plastic Surgery practice. He has acquired extensive farm property near Okolona, including an Ante Bellum-type mansion that he renovated. He has maintained an interest in aviation, owning his own airplane, and is an active flier as of the present writing.
Ben Thomas married Mary Beatrice Pinckard (19 May 1924, DeFuniak Springs, Fla.), daughter of John N. and Annie Lou Davis Pinckard, on 23 March 1951. She graduated from Walton High School, DeFuniak Springs, in 1941 and from Florida State College for Women in 1944. Mary worked as a civil service employee for the United States Air Force in Atlanta, Georgia and Warner-Robins, Georgia, from 1944 through 1951. She continued to work in Memphis until 1957. The children of this union: Scott Thomas; Brian David; and Robin.
Scott Thomas Gregory (16 November 1954) graduated from Woodham High School, Pensacola, Florida, in 1972. He received his BA degree from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, in 1976. He worked for GMAC in Houston, Texas for a year and returned to college at Florida State University, receiving a BA in Education in 1980. After teaching school for a year in Lutcher, Louisiana, he again returned to school, receiving a BS from the University of West Florida, Pensacola, in Computer Science in 1984. Scott is currently employed at Maas Brothers Department Stores, Tampa, as a computer programmer. He is not married.
Brian David Gregory (25 October 1955) graduated from Woodham High School, Pensacola, in 1973. He attended Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, for one year and transferred to Rice University, Houston, Texas, where he graduated with a BS in 1976. Brian attended the Medical School of the University of Texas, Galveston, and received his MD in 1982. He completed his residency in Anesthesiology at the University of South Carolina, Charleston, in 1985. He is now in a group practice in Anesthesiology in Pensacola. He is not married.
Robin Gregory (4 August 1957) graduated from Woodham
High School, Pensacola, in 1975.
She attended Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, and the University of Idaho, Moscow,
graduating with a BS from LSU in 1980. Robin taught school in Lutcher, Louisiana for a year
and currently teaches English in Baton Rouge. On 14 June 1986, Robin married James Christopher
Doane (24 August 1963), son of Howard John and Mary Elizabeth Threlkeld Doane of Melbourne, Florida.
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