Gerard Gregory
and his descendants

Part 15

COLOR AND FONT CODE
First Generation- BLACK (Sons/daughters of Isaac)
Second Generation - RED
Third Generation - GREEN
Fourth Generation - ORANGE
Fifth Generation - BLUE
Sixth Generation - BROWN
Seventh Generation - GREY
Eighth Generation - PURPLE
Nineth Generation - DARK BEIGE
Tenth Generation - PINK


States Rights Gregory (31 December 1860-19 March 1932), son of Andrew Jackson and Levicia Wilkes Gregory, married Annie Crump (18 May 186 14 February 1925). To this union were born: Andrew Thompson; Annie Mae; and Eula Bell.

The following is related by Sue Lee Gregory McMullin, daughter of Andrew Thompson Gregory.

"The family of States Rights Gregory lived on the land left him by his father until they moved to Okolona. Emily, who lived with them and did the cooking, etc., moved to town with them. States was very much loved by his grand-children. He used to eat at their home quite a lot and frequently stayed at Tom's grocery store."

Andrew Thompson (Tom) Gregory (16 December 1888-15 October 1934) of Okolona, Mississippi married Sue Lee Cox (24 July 1891-25 January 1975) on 2 January 1915 in Okolona, Mississippi. She was the daughter of Abner Clark and Amanda Mayfield Cox. Sue Lee, a graduate of Grenada College, Mississippi, with both BM and BL degrees, taught elementary school and music. She was singing in the choir at the First Methodist Church where Tom was an usher when they got acquainted. Hortense Gregory Smith related that she and Tom lived only one mile apart as children, and that he was in high school when he moved to town with his parents and two sisters. Sue Lee had moved to Okolona when she was nine years old from Sycamore (now a part of the Natchez Trace).

Tom was already established in the grocery business ("Staple & Fancy Groceries" was his slogan) at the time of their marriage. In those days, stores had to be open in time to deliver bacon and eggs for breakfast, and paying cash was unheard of. His daughter, Clementine, remembers helping her father post accounts after hours. She remembers her mother saying that, when she started dating Tom, her father said, "Yes, I remember States Rights Gregory because he was the only young man my age who wore silk shirts."

Tom and Sue Lee had three daughters: Manette Countess; Annie Clementine; and Sue Lee.

The following account by Clementine is somewhat typical of the World War II era:
"On Sunday noon, August 6, 1944, Manette and Clementine had their first children: An hour after Manette's son, Thomas Ennis Turner, born; Clementine had a son, Fred Edward Beemon, Jr. They were at the home of their mother, Sue Lee Gregory, in Okolona. Dr. DeVan Hansel was their doctor. A Cousin, Jack Gregory, had brought the portable delivery table to the house. Manette's husband arrived an hour before their son was born. He was on his last leave before being sent to Germany the following week, where he was in the Battle of the Bulge. Clementine's husband had been on duty in New Guinea in the South Pacific for eight months and did not see his son until he was sixteen months old. Sue Lee Gregory was presented with two more grandsons three years later on the same weekend. Only that time, the new mothers were Manette, who had her second son, Ronald Gregory Turner, on January 9, 1948; and Sue, who had her first child, William David McMullin, Jr., on January 11, 1948."

Manette Countess Gregory (24 December 1915, Okolona) attended Delta State College one year and Hillman College, Clinton, Mississippi, one year. She married Ennis Turner (6 November 1914, Kosciusko, Miss.) on 18 September 1938. He is now retired from the United States Army. To this union were born: Thomas Ennis; and Ronald Gregory.

Thomas Ennis Turner (6 August 1944, Okolona) married Irene Grandt (3 July 1947) in Lake Zurich, Illinois on 2 April 1965. Thomas served in the United States Marines. He is now in the food service business. They have one child: Janet M., 26 September 1966.

Ronald Gregory Turner (9 January 1948, Kosciusko, Miss.) married Anne Weems Sillers (9 November 1948), daughter of Peter Alexander and Polly Ann Workman Sillers, on 20 June 1972 in Sedalia, Missouri. Ronald G. is an attorney and his wife is a librarian. They have two sons: Robert Gregory, 14 January 1977; and John Alexander, 23 May 1981; both in Nashville.

Annie Clementine Gregory (26 July 1919) graduated in 1940 from Mississippi State College for Women and taught Secretarial Science at Holly Springs, Mississippi. On 25 December 1941, she married Fred Edwin Beemon (4 September 1918, Kosciusko, Miss.-2 December 1975, Tucson, Ariz.) at Kosciusko. He was the son of Fred Morgan and Nellie Gordon Beemon. Fred served in the United States Army in the Pacific during World War II. He graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and owned his own store. Clementine now resides in Orlando, Florida, and Fred is buried in Jackson, Mississippi. They had two children: Fred Edwin Jr.; and Beverly Jean.

Fred Edwin Beemon, Jr. (6 August 1944, Okolona, Miss.) married Patricia Jane Hanks, daughter of Paul Barnett and Loretta Ball Hanks, on 29 March 1967. He is an independent oil broker in Jackson, Mississippi.To their union was born: Heather Ann, 17 November 1968 (Oxford, Miss.).

Beverly Jean Beemon (20 February 1949, Jackson, Miss.) married Walton Dixon Heslep, Jr. (22 December 1948), son of Walter Dixon and Lorena Ball Heslep of Indianola, Mississippi, on 10 January 1982. Beverly Jean is an interior decorator in Jackson and Walter is District Manager for Buckman Corporation. Their children are: Walter Brent, 17 January 1983; and Janet Lindsey, 4 October 1985.

Sue Lee Gregory (21 August 1923, Okolona) was the third daughter of Tom and Sue Lee Gregory. She attended Mississippi State College of Women for one year; and married William David McMullin (3 November 1921), son of Robert Lee and Katie Gladys McMullin of Pheba, Mississippi, on 15 December 1946. William David was in both the United States Army and Navy, and now works as Superintendent of Transportation for the C&G Railroad in Columbus, Missisipi.

He attended Wood Junior College for two years. Sue was a clerk-stenographer and is now retired. Their issue: William David Jr.; and Lynda Sue.

William David McMullin, Jr. (11 January 1948, Greenwood, Miss.) married Vanita Jean Gardner (9 June 1952), daughter of Billie Oscar and Agnes Coleman Gardner of Aberdeen, Mississippi, on 27 November 1976. William works for the Chevron Oil Company. Their son: David Christopher, 12 October 1985.

Lynda Sue McMullin (18 September 1956, Greenville, Miss.) married Michael D. Steadman (7 March 1956), son of Malcolm Ross and Dorothy Johnson Steadman of West Point, Mississippi, on 29 September 1979. He is a supervisor of computer operations in Jackson. They have no children.

Annie Mae Gregory (9 April 1893-20 June 1958) was married to Drewery Ray Johnston (10 March 1894-31 January 1945). They did not have any children, but were much loved by their nieces and nephews, who were frequent visitors in their home. Annie Mae was an immaculate housekeeper and an excellent cook. She loved cats and there were always some around. She worked at the telephone company and that is where she met Drew, who was employed with South Central Bell. He was very personable and all of the family were very devoted to him. They lived in Okolona and Leland, where she remained after his death. Both are buried in the Okolona Cemetery.

Eula Bell Gregory (26 August 1896-14 November 1975), youngest daughter of States Rights and Annie Crump Gregory, married David Festus Norman (8 November 1893-26 February 1963). His parents were James Osgood Norman (3 October 1869-27 November 1904) and Sarah Elizabeth Aston (1872-23 February 1962), both are buried at Wesley Chapel. Dave and Eula Bell lived in Corinth, Mississippi, where he owned a wholesale grocery. They are buried in Henry Memorial Gardens in Corinth. To their union were born: Leo Rights; William David; Andrew Thomas; and James Gregory.

Leo Rights Norman (25 February 1920), oldest son of Dave and Eula Bell, graduated from Corinth High School in 1937. He attended Mississippi State College and Bowling Green College of Commerce. He was a Naval pilot (Lt. j.g.) and served in both the Atlantic and Pacific during World War II. He returned to Corinth and joined the King-Norman Wholesale Grocers and Distributors, later becoming president. On 25 December 1946, he married Clara Agnes Johns. To this union was born: Nancy Rights Norman.

Nancy Rights Norman (12 September 1949) married Gerald Richard McLemore on 22 April 1972. Their issue: Mary Johns, 2 February 1978; and Gerald Richard Jr., 25 December 1979.

William David Norman (15 October 1927), second son of Dave and Eula Bell, graduated from Corinth High School. After two years in the United States Navy, he graduated from Mississippi State College. He is now co-owner of the Firestone Tire Store in Corinth. He married Edith Harbert and they have one son: David Perry.

David Perry Norman (28 October 1952) married Vicki Siler (28 April 1956). Their issue: Dana Petrice, 22 December 1974; and Sara Marie, 27 March 1979.

Andrew Thomas Norman (7 February 1930-9 August 1969), third son of Dave and Eula Bell, had a stroke in 1948 at the age of 18. He is buried with his parents in Henry Memorial Gardens, Corinth.

James Gregory Norman (22 February 1932), fourth son of Dave and Eula Bell, graduated from Corinth High School and Union University. After ten years in the United States Army Air Corps, he was discharged with the rank of Captain. He is now in real estate and construction in Corinth. He married Patricia Wells. Their issue: Karen; Edward Strickland, 24 April 1959; James Gregory, 20 October 1963; Joseph States, 9 May 1967; and Thomas Asa, 30 April 1975.

Karen Norman (21 November 1956) married Daniel Robert Arthur. Their issue: Daniel Robert Jr.; and Donald Stephen.


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