Category Archives: VeteranBiography

McCurry, Elmer William

Posted on by

Elmer W. McCurryMcCURRY, Elmer William, service number 2867436, Private, Co. I, 112th Infantry. Inducted in Columbia, TN on24 May 1918 and discharged at Ft. Oglethorpe GA on 14 May 1919. Was 22 years old at induction and a farmer, described as having blue eyes, black hair and a dark complexion. He stood 5’4�” tall. Served in France from October 15 1918 to November 11 1919 with the famous 29th Division.

Elmer William McCURRY was born 29 Jan 1896 in Maury Co., TN and later moved with his family to Wayne County, TN in 1913. He was the son of Lum and Elizabeth FOX McCURRY. His siblings were Ethel McCURRY MORGAN, Pauline McCURRY SHARPE, Edgar McCURRY, and Loyd McCURRY.

He entered the Army at the age of twenty-two. He was a single man and a farmer.

He served from May 1918 to May 1919. Served in France with the famous 28th Division.

He married Mary Lou CREECY, daughter of Elve and Beulah ADKINSON Creecy on May 23, 1920. They were blessed with six children:

1. Frank Norman McCURRY, b. 23 May 1921, d. 15 Oct 1983. He served in the Army during WWII, from 1942 to 1945. Wounded in the South Pacific Theater in April 1945.

2. Beulah Elizabeth McCURRY KING, b. 12 June 1923, d. 14 Dec 1980.

3. Wilma Irene McCURRY, b. 26 Feb 1927

4. Revis Marie McCURRY BREWER, b. 27 Feb 1930

5. Jim Taylor McCURRY, b. 21 Jan 1932, d. 19 Oct 1978. He served in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict 1951-1955.

6. Clara Nell McCURRY MORGAN, b. 5 Feb 1934.

Grandchildren: Connie Ruth KING HOLT, Janice Marie McCURRY STAGGS, Carolyn Joyce BREWER JACKSON, Barbara Ann BREWER COX, Rita Jane BREWER MORELAND, James Earl BREWER, Deborah Jean BREWER SWIZEGARD, Sandra BREWER, Richard Lunn McCURRY, Clarence Randall McCURRY, Patricia Gail MORGAN PRATER, Jackie Faye MORGAN PEVAHOUSE, Marilyn Sue MORGAN McCLAIN, Charles Dewayne MORGAN, and Larry Keith MORGAN.

Elmer W. McCURRY died February 19, 1956 at the age of sixty-two. His wife, Mary Lou, died April 9, 1973. They are buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery on Forty-eight Mile Creek, Wayne County, Tennessee.

McCrory, Hugh S.

Posted on by

McCRORY, Hugh S., Tennessee State Senator, 1935, 69th General Assembly, representing Wayne, Giles and Lawrence Counties. Tennessee State Representative 1931-1935, 67th General Assembly, representing Lawrence CCornelius Hugh McCrory Familyounty. Entered U.S. Army, service as private in Co. B, 162nd Infantry, 41st Div.

(The following is from Senator McCRORY’s obituary)

Senator McCRORY was born 4 August 1891 on Lower Factory Creek, Wayne County, Tennessee the son of Cornelius Hugh (1854-1920) and Mary HOLLIS McCRORY (1858-1925). He was educated in the West Point school, Lawrence County High School and took his law degree at Cumberland University, January 19, 1916 and was admitted to the bar in August of the same year.

He practiced law in Humboldt until he enlisted in the United State Army during World War I. Following his discharge after the signing of the Armistice, he located in Humboldt as an associate of Attorney Thomas J. WALSH. Two years later he returned to Lawrenceburg and continued his profession until about two years ago when he came to Waynesboro to take up his practice.

In 1931 he was elected District Representative from Lawrence County and served in the legislature during that session, prior to that time he was secretary of the Democratic Executive Committee of Lawrence County.

In June 1934, he was elected commander of the L. Q. Crane Post of the American Legion and too charge in October of the same yea, serving until his election as Senator at which time he resigned as commander.

He and Miss Jimmie MORROW were married at Birmingham, Alabama on September 21st, 1921. No children were born to this union. Besides his wife, he is survived by three sisters: Mrs. Rosa BENNINGTON of Wayne County; Mrs. Missie CARPENTER of Old Hickory; and Mrs. May HARDWICK of Florence, Alabama; and five brothers: W. W. and Emmett McCRORY of Lawrenceburg, TN; Robert McCRORY of Wayne County, TN; James McCRORY of Texas; and Charles McCRORY of Humboldt.

The Tennessee State Senate adjourned Wednesday morning out of deference to his memory and speaker W. P. MOSS appointed two committees to take appropriate action. The memorial resolution committee is made up of Senators Fletcher MORGAN, Russell WRIGHT, John SPROUSE, J. T. TROTTER and Marion BOYD and the committee named to represent the senate officially at the funeral is composed of Senators Clint JONES, Leighton EWELL, C. D. LOVELESS, W. K. ABERNATHY, W. D. LOWE and Casto DOBSON.

In the election last August, Senator McCRORY defeated the incumbent, Hon. David RHEA and Dr. W. M. GALLAHER, the republican candidate of Lawrenceburg.

McCRORY was a member of the Baptist church and highly respected by a host of friends in Wayne and adjoining counties. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Funeral rites will be conducted this after noon at 2:30 o’clock from the First Baptist Church by Elder W. E. DAIS, pastor of the Lawrenceburg Baptist Church, assisted by Elder L. W. CARLIN, pastor of the local church and Rev. Chas. S. PARKER, pastor of the M. E. Church, South.

Interment will be in Greenwood cemetery. A firing squad from the Legion Post at Lawrenceburg will fire a volley over the grave. Sounding of taps will conclude the services.

Active pall bearers, H. I. CARRELL, Terry MELTON, Guy MORROW, Briley QUEEN, A. G. OVERBEY, Homer EASTLAND, Harry STULL, and Earl GAITHER.

Honorary pall bearers, Governor Hill McALISTER, Roy C. WALLACE, Guy H. MAY, C. D. LOVELESS, C. L. BOYD, FrankmBOYD, Gene STOCKARD and Dr. Dexter L. WOODS.

Flower bearer: Misses Nell TURMAN, Louise JOHNSON, May Tom WHITBY, Mary Ruth OLD, Frankie BLOUNT, Mary YEISER, and Mesdames Tom HELTON, Ethel McWILLIAMS, Icy BROWN, Elizabeth MARTIN, Lucille MORROW and Mrs. Elliott CASEY.

As customer, the schools of the city will be dismissed for the funeral. Business houses will also be closed during the services at the church.

Senator McCRORY died 10 April 1935 at the U.S. Veteran’s Hospital at Memphis Tennessee and was interred at Greenwood Cemetery, Waynesboro, Tennessee.

McClain, Marshall

Posted on by

McCLAIN, Marshall, born 24 July 1899, TN, died 24 Sep 1976, buried Swiss Cemetery, Hohenwald, TN. Son of Charlie McCLAIN (b. May 1877) and Lori SKILLERN (or RICKETTS), (b. Apr. 1882). Siblings: Virgil, b. Feb 1898, Nancy who married Dan BREWER; and Annie who is buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery, Wayne Co., TN.

Marshall married Stalla PEVAHOUSE of Lewis County, Tennessee.

Marshall volunteered on 5 July 1917, along with Clyde and Harvel C. EDWARDS, Barney and Fate SKELTON at Allens Creek in Wayne County, TN. They were assigned to the 56rh Infantry. On 15 Dec 1917 the Third Division Ammunition Train was organized at Ft. Oglethorpe. GA by transferring men from the cavalry down on the border, and from coastal artillery and the infantry. Marshall was transferred and assigned to Co. D, 3rd Division, Ammunition Train Motorized. On January 1st, they got their first Nash Quad trucks and started loading them onto flatcars headed for Norfolk, VA where they would be sent to France. In early February 1918, the unit was sent by train to Camp Merritt, NJ for two weeks and then on by train to Hoboken, NJ. There they boarded the English ship,”Carpathia” taking 14 days to cross the Atlantic.

For more unit history see the biography of Harvel C. Edwards

Mathis, William

Posted on by

MATHIS, William, serial number 3496682, Private, 5th Company, War Prison William MathisBarracks Guard, was born 11 December 1895 at Kemmins, Lewis Co., Tennessee. He is described as having blue eyes, brown hair, a dark complexion and was 5’10½” in height. He was the son of Bryant MATHIS (6 Dec 1870-5 Aug 1945) and Sallie HICKERSON MATHIS (9 Dec 1869 – 18 June 1950) both of whom are buried at Whitehead Cemetery, Wayne Co., TN. William MATHIS’ siblings were Johnny Mathis (27 Jan 1892-19 March 1952) m. Lenora T. _____; David Leroy MATHIS (12 Dec 1893-10 Dec 1938) m. Duffie HICKERSON; Pete MATHIS (9 May 1900-8 Sep 1935) m. Esther SKELTON; Bill B. MATHIS (21 Sep 1904-5 Apr 1971) m. Zula LEFTWICH; Mary MATHIS (14 June 1902-14 August 1936) m. George FRAZIER; Lucille MATHIS who married Hooper SKELTON; Reuben MATHIS; Otto MATHIS; and Claude “Dock” MATHIS.

William MATHIS married Addie POAG. They had the following children: Dona OSBORN LAWSON; Sarah Lou who married Bill HENDRIX; Donald MATHIS; Willie Ann DAVIS; Jennie HENSON; and two children who died as infants.

William was inducted June 26th 1918 at Waynesboro and at induction his occupation was listed as farmer. He was discharged at Ft. Oglethorpe, GA on 15th September 1919.

Loyd, George Washington

Posted on by

LOYD, George Washington, service number 544939W, Enlisted 1Annie Lee and George W. Loyd6 Aug 1912, Fort Thomas KY, Served in the following organizations: Co. H, 9 Inf until 1 June 1917; Co. H, 48th Inf, from June 1917 – Aug 1917; Co. H, 9th Inf, from Aug 1917 – Sep 1917; and Co. K, 30th Inf, from Sep 1917 – Nov 1917. Served with the 30th Inf. from Nov 1917 until discharge. Honorably discharged 12 Aug 1920

George Washington LOYD was born 30 June 1879 at Briceville, Tennessee; died 3 March 1963 at Waynesboro, Tennessee, buried Shields Cemetery. He was the son of William James “Bill”LOYD, born Clifton, TN on 17 Feb 1854, d. 27 Nov 1928, buried Shields Cem.; and Harriet Amanda IRWIN, born 22 July 1854, probably Briceville, TN; died 5 Feb 1950, Waynesboro, TN, buried Shields Cemetery. William James LOYD and Harriet Amanda IRWIN were married 20 Nov 1873. After the birth of the second child in 1876, they moved to Briceville, TN and remained there until after George’s birth in 1879. Later in 1879 or 1880 they returned to Waynesboro to make their home. All their children except George, were born in Waynesboro. Loyd Street was named in honor of George’s father.

William James and Harriet Amanda IRWIN LOYD had the following children:

1. Frances, born 9 Sep 1874, d. 9 Nov 1942, married Robert SMITH.
2. Dehlia, born 26 April 1876, d. 18 Oct 1964, Florence, AL, married John ALEXANDER.
3. George Washington, b. 30 June 1879
4. Lou, born 18 July 1881, d. 28 Dec 1910, buried Mt. Hope Cemetery, married Bruce KEETON.
5. Albert, b. 18 Jan 1884, d. 3 March 1920, unmarried.
6. Arthur , b. 12 Oct 1886, d. 8 Sep 1903 of typhoid fever.
7. Nora Bell, b. 5 Nov 1890, d. 19 Nov 1983, buried Gallaher Cemetery, married Dolph GALLAHER.

George’s first marriage was to Tennie BECKHAM of Lawrenceburg about 1900. After a year of marriage, Tennie and their newborn son died from complications of childbirth. No reference has been located as to where they were buried. They were probably buried together in Lawrence County.

George’s second marriage was to Dehlia SMITH on 26 Sep 1902. Six children were born to them:

1. Marvin LOYD, b. 19 July 1903, died, buried Shields Cem.
2. Lera Mae LOYD, b. 21 Aug 1904, married George ROAT, buried Shields Cem.
3. Hardy Norvel LOYD, b. 12 Dec 1907, d. 31 Oct 1980, buried Lawrence Memorial Gardens.
4. Melva Laura LOYD, b. 16 Sep 1911, buried Shields Cemetery.
5. Hubert Byron LOYD, b. 4 June 1906
6. Lou Mae LOYD, b. 4 July 1913, d. 24 Sep 1990, Toledo, Ohio, married George ELLWOOD.

Hubert LOYD is the only surviving child of this marriage and resides at Wayne Care Nursing Home [1991]. Dehlia LOYD, died in 1918 and is buried at Shields Cemetery.

George’s third marriage was to Annie LEE of Olive Hill, TN on 20 Aug 1922. Annie was born 8 Sep 1895 and died 11 May 1951, buried at Shields Cemetery.

George’s fourth marriage was to Mary TREADWELL HASSELL on 28 June 1951. She was born 9 July 1898 and died 13 Jan 1987, buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Immediate survivors of George W. LOYD are a son Hubert LOYD; three grandsons: William LOYD of Santa Fe, TN; Larry LOYD of Lawrenceburg, TN; and Loyd ELLWOOD of Toledo, OH; a daughter-in-law, Reva LOYD, Lawrenceburg, TN; eight great-grandchildren; 2 nieces: Alice BROWN and Alma MELSON of Waynesboro, TN; two nephews: Lonnie GALLAHER of Savannah, TN and Roy GALLAHER of Columbia, TN.

This material was compiled by Alma G. MELSON of Waynesboro, Tennessee

Long, Ralph “Newt”

Posted on by

LONG, Ralph “Newt”, was born 9 February 1896 on Forty Eight Mile Creek. He was the son of Sylvester LONG, born April 1865 and Emily KEETON, who was born 7 Oct 1866, and died 1946, buried Keeton Cemetery. His siblings were Louis T., b. April 1893, William D., b. Jan 1898; Taylor, born 11 April 1893, d. 2 Nov 1967, buried Greenwood Cemetery, Waynesboro, TN.; Ada LONG FLIPPO; and Pearl LONG KOLTHOFF.

He was inducted in 1918 and discharged in 1918. He served as a cook in the Officer’s Mess in Arkansas. He married Martha Ann IRVIN on 26 Dec 1920. They had three children: Robert Garland LONG, deceased; Grover Curtis LONG; and Nadine LONG. Newt LONG died in Wayne County Nursing Home, Waynesboro, Tennessee on 20 April 1985.

Mr. LONG had five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Grover’s children are Ann MULFORD and Kaye SMITH of Jacksonville, FL; and Peggy MILLS of Oregon.

Lineberry, Pleas

Posted on by

Pleas LineberryLINEBERRY, Pleas, was born on 20 April 1896 in the Little Beech Creek area of Wayne County, Tennessee. His parents were Jeff David (J.D.) and Mary Elizabeth HOWELL LINEBERRY. Pleas was one of seven children: five boys and two girls. Three of the boys served in World War I: Jasper Newt was in the medical corps and spent his time in various hospitals in the states. William H. and Pleas went “Across the waters” and fought in the trench warfare until the war ended at the 11th hour on the 11th day in the 11th month, 1918.

Pleas married Bertha May PIGG in April 1923. They had five sons: John Ralph, b. June 1924; Jeff David (named after his grandfather) in Feb 1927; twins Ray and Rex, born on 21 Oct 1932; and J. R. born 15 Nov 1937.

Three of their sons served in the army, all on active duty at the same time, between 1951 and 1952. Jeff spent seven-and-a-half years, most of it on occupation duty in Germany. He attained the rank of corporal. Ray had a tour of duty in Korea in 1952-53 with the famous 2nd Infantry Division, the same unit that his father served with during World War I. Ray was discharged as a Sergeant. The third son, Rex, spent 22 years in the army with two tours in Korea, two years in West Germany, and two one-year tours of duty in Vietnam. Rex retired in 1973 as a Master Sergeant.

Pleas had two things in common with Hitler: they were both in World War I; and they were born on 20 April. He used to get teased about this.

To carry on the LINEBERRY Military tradition, Mr. Pleas has two grandsons on active duty now [1991]. Terry Lynn LINEBERRY, son of Ray and Frankie LINEBERRY, is a Master Sergeant on duty with the Air Force in London, England; and Sergeant Rex LINEBERRY, son of Rex, is on duty in Fort Erwin, California. Rex Jr is married to a WAC from Kansas.

Lindsey, Robert Allison

Posted on by

LINDSEY, Robert Allison, was born at Martins Mills, Wayne County, Tennessee on 15 August 1887, the second son of Jeremiah Elliott LINDSEY and Sarah Elizabeth MacMILLAN. He was educated in the schools of Wayne County, and by 1915 had begun his career as a merchant in Leighton, Alabama.

Mr. LINDSEY was inducted into the US Army on 3 October 1918, at Chicago, Illinois, and was honorably discharged from the Sub-Medical Supply Depot on 9 March 1919, having reached the rank of corporal.

Returning to Leighton to resume his work in retail merchandising, Mr. LINDSEY met and married Edith Hopkins JONES of Leighton. Three children were born to this union: Robert Allison, Jr.; Gaynelle (both deceased) and Barbara Ann LINDSEY RODGERS, surviving, now of Florence, Alabama and Lexington, Kentucky.

In the early 20’s Mr. LINDSEY and his family moved to Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, and the town of Donna, where he and his brother, Hugh LINDSEY, operated a men’s clothing store and a citrus fruit grove. Around 1930, however, ill health from a service-connected condition forced Mr. LINDSEY to give up his business and enter a veteran’s hospital at Legion, Texas, where he remained until his transfer to the veteran’s hospital at Heinz, Illinois where he died February 1940. He is buried at the city cemetery, Sheffield, AL in the Veterans Circle.