Rufus Jefferson And Susie Beasley Kemp - abt. 1904
Bill K. Kemp, grandson of R. J. (Jeff) Kemp provided the pictures and information on the Kemp family.
Rufus Jefferson (Jeff) Kemp, born Mar 6, 1881 was the son of James Riley and Eldora Sloan Kemp.
Susie Beasley Kemp was born Sep 25, 1887 and was the daughter of Henry and Sarah Alice
Taylor Beasley. Jeff and Susie were married Oct 20, 1904. They became the parents of three
children: Deltha Mai, Curtis Draper and Bonnie Harold Kemp. They resided on what is now
the Kemp farm, located on Highway 80 about one mile north of Monoville.
In addition to being a farmer, Jeff distinguished himself through his public service work. He built roads in
the area in the 1920s and early 1930s and was elected Smith County Road Commissioner in 1932.
Later, he was elected to the State of Tennessee House of Representatives as the Smith County democratic
representative and served in the 74th and 76th General Assemblies during 1945 - 1947 and 1949 - 1951.
He was also a Justice of the Peace for 12 years and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Jeff bought the land that is now known as the "Kemp Farm" and moved his family (with the
exception of Deltha - she was already married and living somewhere else) there in January
1929. The Kemp farm is located on Highway 80 about one mile north of Monoville and it
contains the Chambers Cemetery posted on this website.
Jeff, "a mountain of a man", was reputed to have been 6' 6'' tall and weighed 265 pounds
during the prime of his life. Jeff died Oct 14, 1962 and Susie died Jun 29, 1937.
They are buried in Sanderson's Cemetery at Pleasant Shade.
Rufus Jefferson And Susie Beasley Kemp - abt. 1935
Jeff and Susie's grandchildren called them "Pappy and Mammy Kemp".
Russell Hill Presbyterian Church Group - abt. 1915
Pictured is a meeting of gentlemen at the Russell Hill Presbyterian Church. The Russell Hill
Community is located in Macon County on Hwy 80 about 5 miles north of Pleasant Shade.
The nature of this assembly is unknown but it may have been a church associational meeting.
At any rate, they were dressed-up nicely. Only two of the gentlemen are known: Jeff Kemp,
second row, second from right (noted by the arrow) and "Bill Sam" Jenkins who was a well-
known resident of the community. Just which one of the men is Bill Sam is unknown.
Bonnie, Deltha And Curtis Kemp - abt. 1935
Shown l-r: Bonnie Harold, born Sep 7, 1913, Deltha Mai, born Sep 14, 1905 and Curtis Draper,
born Mar 30, 1911. Bonnie was married to Beatrice Sloan (who still survives) and they became
the parents of five children. They lived at the junction of Nickojack Branch Road and Hwy 80 in
the Graveltown Community. Bonnie died Jan 4, 1976. Deltha married Henry (Red) Smith and
lived on the Kemp farm near Monoville. They had no children. Deltha died Nov 1, 1983. Curtis
married Dorothy Mai Hackett and they became the parents of eleven children of which ten lived
to be adults. Bill K. Kemp was their first-born. They resided on the Kemp farm and later on the
Sanderson Branch in Pleasant Shade. Curtis died Feb 18, 1966. Dorothy lives at her residence in
Pleasant Shade. She was the daughter of Hugh West Hackett whose family is also shown on this website.
Jeff Kemp And Children - 1958
Jeff Kemp at age 77 years is pictured with his children. L-r: Bonnie, Curtis and Deltha.
This picture was made in Jeff's front yard on his farm located north of Monoville. The bridge
from Hwy 80 across Peyton's Creek to his farm is shown in the upper right of the picture.
Jeff Kemp As Tennessee State Representative - Late 1940s
Jeff Kemp (second from right), State of Tennessee Democratic Representative from Smith County,
is shown at a luncheon with some of his constituents. His good friend, State Senator I. D. Beasley
also from Smith County, is shown on his left. The other gentlemen are unknown. Jeff served
in the 74th and 76th General Assemblies during 1945-1947 and 1949-1951.
Portrait Of Rufus Jefferson Kemp
This portrait of Jeff Kemp was made in about 1930.