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Ancestors of Martha Jo (Martha) Cross

Generation No. 3


      4. John Philbert Cross, born August 22, 1878 in Clarkesville, Stewart Co., TN.; died January 02, 1936 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL. He was the son of 8. John Bond Cross and 9. Lucy Ann Claxton. He married 5. Lena Elizabeth Smith June 30, 1905 in Clarkesville, Stewart Co., TN.

      5. Lena Elizabeth Smith, born February 19, 1884 in Stewart Co., TN; died December 28, 1975 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL. She was the daughter of 10. George Henry Smith and 11. Mary Dora Powers.

Notes for John Philbert Cross:
1920 Census AL Birmingham, Jefferson Co., ED #103, Sheet 1-B, enumerated 3 Jan 1920:
Cross, John P., head, m, w, 38, m, b. TN, troubleshooter for Bell Tel. Co.;
Lena E., wife, f, w, 35, m., b. TN, saleswoman for Keeler Store;
John N. son, m, w, 13, s, b. TN;
Alma R., daughter, f, w, 10, s., b. TN;
Bosell, son, m, w, 8, s, b. TN;
George A., son, m, w, 6, s, b. TN.

1930 Census AL Birmingham, Jefferson Co., ED #37-20, Prec. 10, enumerated 16 Apr 1930:
Cross, John P., head, m, w, 52, m, b. TN, Electrician, owns business, f. born US, m. born US;
Lena E., wife, f, w, 46, m, b. TN, f. born TN, m. born TN;
Alma R. daughter, f, w, 20, s, b. TN, telephone operator;
Bosell, son, m, w, 18, s, b. TN, electrician, house wiring;
George A., son, m, w, 16, s, b. TN, delivery boy for drugstore.

Death Record: John P. Cross d. Jan 2, 1936 B'ham, Jefferson Co., AL, Vol 3, Role 3, Page 1151

More About John Philbert Cross:
Burial: Unknown, Forest Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL

Notes for Lena Elizabeth Smith:
Social Security #417-68-3326
Last Residence: 35206, Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL

More About Lena Elizabeth Smith:
Burial: Unknown, Forest Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL
     
Children of John Cross and Lena Smith are:
  i.   John Noil Cross, born April 26, 1906 in Clarkesville, Stewart Co., TN.; died October 06, 2000 in Selma, Dallas Co, AL; married Margaret Lorraine (Dinky) Spencer September 14, 1926 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; born December 02, 1905 in Greensboro, Hale Co., AL; died January 09, 1990 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL (TN?).
  Notes for John Noil Cross:
Social Security #422-03-3057
Last Residence: 36701, Selma, Dallas Co., AL

John Noil was my favorite uncle on my father's side of the family. He was funny and always full of energy. He worked for the Selma Police Dept. most of his life. My favorite photograph of him was made probably in the early thirties. He is standing beside his old jalopy (probably a Ford) with his badge on and his pistol, in its holster, strapped to his hip. I called him the Law of Dallas County.

When he was in his late eighties he called me on the phone one night. I hadn't heard from him in years. He just wanted to see how I was doing, he said. Dinkey, his wife, had been dead for a while so he was living alone in his own home. He told me that he was still independent but that Betty, his daughter, came over to check on him now and then. A few days back, he said, he was up on his roof straightening his TV antenae when Betty drove up to check on him. He hid behind the antenae so she wouldn't see that he was on the roof because she would read him the "riot act". We both had a great laugh. He was still like a little boy doing whatever he wanted and avoiding being caught.

In the 60s Uncle John participated in the "March to Selma" led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a mounted policeman, at the time, and very proud of it. Dr. King with his followers led everyone over the Edmund Pettus Bridge, which my grandfather John Philbert Cross, and his sons, including my father, had participated in building. The bridge opened in 1940 just three years following my birth.

When I was 18 months to 3 years, my father, mother and I lived in Selma. When the rains came, the Alabama River would flood it's banks. The house we lived in was built on stilts so that the flood waters could run under the house. After a flood, water moccasins and other water snakes were everywhere. Needless to say, I was not allowed out of the house.

Also, following floods, my father and others from the area would have to go to the cemeteries and rebury the caskets and bodies because the floods would soften the earth so much that they would float up to the top of the ground. It eventually became a law that concrete covers had to be placed over all caskets so that this would continue to occur.

Selma was essentially an arsenal during the Civil War. There were many battles there. When I was I child I remember seeing cannon ball damage to the pillars of the old Courthouse.


  More About John Noil Cross:
Burial: Unknown, New Live Oak Cemetery, Selma, Dallas Co., AL

  More About Margaret Lorraine (Dinky) Spencer:
Burial: Unknown, New Live Oaks Cemetery, Selma, Dallas Co., AL

  ii.   Alma Ruth Cross, born September 17, 1909 in Clarkesville, Stewart Co., TN.; died June 13, 1980 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; married Sr. Oliver Cody (Cody) Brake Bef. 1932 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; born August 02, 1906 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; died December 28, 1976 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL.
  Notes for Alma Ruth Cross:
Social Security #420-24-7675
Last Residence: 35206,Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL

  More About Alma Ruth Cross:
Burial: Unknown, Forest Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL

  More About Sr. Oliver Cody (Cody) Brake:
Burial: Unknown, Forest Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL

  iii.   Bossell Cross, born August 22, 1911 in Clarkesville, Stewart Co., TN.; died November 07, 1987 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; married Mary Helen Vann Abt. 1935 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; born January 09, 1920 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; died October 12, 1983 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama.
  Notes for Bossell Cross:
Social Security #417-09-8412
Last place of residence: 35220 Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL

  More About Bossell Cross:
Burial: Unknown, Chalkville Baptist Church Cemetery, (Old Springville Rd.) Chalkville, AL

  More About Mary Helen Vann:
Burial: Unknown, Chalkville Baptist Church Cemetery, (Old Springville Rd.) Chalkville, AL

  2 iv.   George Adron Cross, born October 21, 1913 in Clarkesville, Stewart Co., TN.; died March 13, 1994 in Tuscaloosa, AL; married (1) Gladys Estelle Love September 01, 1935 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; married (2) Betty Dunnigan Private.


      6. Sr. Leo Shelby Love, born December 11, 1890 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; died December 01, 1955 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL. He was the son of 12. Jr. S. Ebzan Love and 13. Alice Paralee Shelby. He married 7. Mariam Estelle Brown (McDearman) December 24, 1908 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL.

      7. Mariam Estelle Brown (McDearman), born August 11, 1891 in Phenix City, Russell Co., AL; died March 15, 1976 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL. She was the daughter of 14. Gerald (Jerry) Brown and 15. Elizabeth Crenshaw.

Notes for Sr. Leo Shelby Love:
1910 Census AL Birmingham, Jefferson Co., ED #74, Sheet 21-A, enumerated 22 Apr 1910:
Love, Leo, head, w, m, 19, m. b.AL, f.born NC, m.born AL;
(scribble-no name) wife, f, w, 18, m, b.GA, f.born GA, m. born GA; (Estelle)
(scribble-no name) daug. f, w, 7/12, s. (Mae)

1920 Census AL Birmingham, Jefferson Co., ED #41, Sheet 6-A, enumerated 5 Jan 1920:
Family#138,
Love, Leo S., head, m, w, 29, m b. AL f. born TN, m. born AL;
Estelle, wife, f, w, 28, m, b. GA, f. born GA, m. born United States;
Leona T., daughter, f, w, 8, s;
Gladys E., daughter, f, w, 6, s;
Leo, Jr., son, m, w, 3, s;
Mary A., daughter, f, w, 4/12, s.


My cousins and I called my grandfather "Pappy Daddy" until we were older. Then he became Pap. I am told by my aunt Carolyn that he chose to be called "Pappy Daddy" after the comicstrip character Popeye's father "Poopdeck Pappy" because he didn't want to be called grandpa or granddaddy.

He was a man of great character. He worked as a railroad engineer all of his life and could not have had much money, especially raising eight kids. Nevertheless, he and his family would take Christmas gifts to the Orphanage every Christmas, and he would give good donations to Father Flanagan's Home for Boys every year until the day he died. I suppose he, and my grandmother, did this because my grandmother had spent part of her own childhood in an orphanage. After Pap's death my grandmother received a letter of condolence from Father Flanagan's Home.

My grandfather was a small man who had a very large spirit. Now that I know his heritage, I can understand why. He expressed that tremendous Welsh intensity through his own character.
Leo became ill in 1954. I was devastated. I loved him so much and wanted him to be present when I graduated from High School so I prayed night after night for him to live. He lived to witness my graduation from high school in June of 1955. He died 1 December 1955. I still miss him, and have so many wonderful memories about him, after almost fifty years.
(Source: Martha Cross Mordecai, 2001)

When I was a child my grandfather Leo and Grandmother Estelle lived at 968 N. 52nd. St. in Woodlawn, Birmingham, AL.

When Leo died he and Estelle were living in his old family home at 4704 First Avenue in Woodlawn, Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL.


More About Sr. Leo Shelby Love:
Burial: Unknown, Forest Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL

  Notes for Mariam Estelle Brown (McDearman):
Mariam Estelle Brown was born 6 August 1891 in possibly Phenix City, AL. At some point following, the family moved either to Macon, Bibb Co., or Milledgeville, Baldwin Co., GA. When she was three years old her father, Gerald, died of Tuberculosis which he had contracted in the Cotton Mill where he worked. Her mother, Elizabeth died from the same disease, when Estelle was six years old. Estelle and her sister Myrtice were taken in by an aunt to live with her and her husband.
The girls were taken care of by the aunt and uncle until they died in a fire in the bar he owned. I was told by my mother that Estelle was about seven or eight when this occurred. Mother said that the uncle was an alcoholic and would come home drunk and beat the aunt and the children so they would hide in the woods until he was asleep. After the death of the aunt and uncle, both girls were placed in an Orphanage in Macon, Bibb Co., GA until they were adopted.
I recently found that the girls were in the Methodist-Episcopal Church Orphan's Home in Macon, GA. The orphanage still exists in the name of The Methodist Home for Children and Youth.
The story that was given to me was that Myrtice was adopted first and, on the way home with her new parents, tried to tell them she had a sister at the school. When they realized what she was saying, they turned around and went back to adopt Estelle also. By the time they arrived, Estelle had already been adopted by someone else, her aunt Julia McDearman and her husband. The two adoptive couples made an agreement to have the sisters visit each other as often as possible. Estelle was raised in Birmingham, AL, while her sister Myrtice was raised in Whigham, GA by her adoptive parents, Thomas and Lila Faircloth.
When Estelle was sixteen my grandfather Leo Love entered her life. They were soon married in the Woodlawn Baptist Church on Christmas Eve of 1908. Their first child, May E. Love was born. May lived until she was eighteen months old, and died of colitis in her father's arms. They then had Leona, Gladys and a son whom they named Shelby. Shelby was stillborn. After Shelby, their lives became happier. They had seven surviving children and later adopted another.
We called my grandmother Estelle, "Mama Love", and that she was. She was the most loving and compassionate human being I have known in my life. She was my role model for goodness.
My grandfather, Leo, died December of 1955. After his death she was never as happy for she never got over his death. She contracted a virus from a blood transfusion after having had a heart attack and died a painful death at the age of 84, twenty years after Leo's death.
In early 2005 I began a communication with my cousin, Eleanor Howard Walton, grand-daughter of Myrtice Brown Faircloth. The story she heard all of her life was a little different from mine. She told me the name of the orphanage where Myrtice and my grandmother, Estelle, lived. She also sent copies of the admittance and adoption records for both of the girls. Ironically, Eleanor's daughter, Kelly, has worked for the orphanage for about 20 years.

1900 Census Bibb Co., GA, Vineville Dist. enumerated 8 Jun 1900, Instution- South Georgia Methodist Orphans Home:
Brown, Estelle, Inmate, w, f, Aug 1891, b. Alabama, f.b. Alabama, m.b. Alabama.
Estelle was brought to the Orphanage sometime in 1899. She was adopted by her aunt Julia and her husband, Joe McWearman, of Birmingham, AL on 17 Sept 1900 (Estelle and Leo's marriage liscense gives "McDearman" as her last name. I have been unable to find McDearman or McWearman in Birimingham, AL for that period of time.

More About Mariam Estelle Brown (McDearman):
Adoption: September 17, 1900, Macon, Bibb Co., GA
Burial: Unknown, Forest Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, AL
     
Children of Leo Love and Mariam Brown (McDearman) are:
  i.   May E. Love, born Abt. November 1909 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; died April 15, 1911 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL.
  Notes for May E. Love:
Record of Death: May E. Love 15 Apr 1911, Jefferson Co., Vol 12 Cert. 368 Role 1.

  More About May E. Love:
Burial: Unknown, Oak Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL

  ii.   Leona T. Love, born January 08, 1912 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama; died August 27, 1999 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Ala; married Sr. Marvin Judson Thompson; born March 27, 1909 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; died January 06, 1975 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL.
  More About Leona T. Love:
Burial: Unknown, East Jefferson Memorial Gardens, Trussville Rd., Birmingham, AL

  More About Sr. Marvin Judson Thompson:
Burial: Unknown, East Jefferson Memorial Gardens, Trussville Rd., Birmingham, AL

  3 iii.   Gladys Estelle Love, born November 30, 1913 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; died July 26, 1984 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; married George Adron Cross September 01, 1935 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL.
  iv.   Shelby Love, born November 08, 1915 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; died November 08, 1915 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL.
  Notes for Shelby Love:
Shelby Love was stillborn.
AL Death Record for Jefferson Co., Volume 16 (Possibly Volume 20), Certificate #472 Role 1.

Buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, B'ham, AL Lot 23 1/2 Block 7.

  More About Shelby Love:
Burial: Unknown, Oak Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL

  v.   Jr. Leo Shelby Love, born August 22, 1916 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; died August 1976 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; married Blue Bell LNU (Love); born 1907 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; died 1977 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL.
  More About Jr. Leo Shelby Love:
Burial: Unknown, East Jefferson Memorial Gardens, Trussville Rd., Birmingham, AL

  More About Blue Bell LNU (Love):
Burial: Unknown, East Jefferson Memorial Gardens, Trussville Rd., Birmingham, AL

  vi.   Mary Alice Love, born October 29, 1919 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama; died December 16, 1993 in Pueblo, Colorado; married (1) Thomas Samuel Beall July 1940 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama; born June 05, 1912 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Ala.; died Abt. 1993 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Ala.; married (2) Sr. Vincent Charles Rotolo June 1944 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama; born in Sorrento, Sicily; died Unknown in Pueblo, CO.
  Notes for Mary Alice Love:
Mary divorced Thomas Beal in 1941. In 1944 she married Vincent "Vince" Charles Rotolo and moved to Pueblo Colorado.

  vii.   Edward L. (Eddie) Love, born October 02, 1921 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Ala.; died 1993 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; married Ola E. LNU (Love); born 1920; died 2003 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL.
  More About Edward L. (Eddie) Love:
Burial: Unknown, East Jefferson Memorial Gardens, Trussville Rd., Birmingham, AL

  More About Ola E. LNU (Love):
Burial: Unknown, East Jefferson Memorial Gardens, Trussville Rd., Birmingham, AL

  viii.   Carolyn Reid (Cackie) Love, born Private; married Sr. Shirley Ernest (Ernie) Simpson Private; born August 29, 1923 in Branchville, St. Clair Co., AL; died April 23, 1972 in Talladega, AL.
  ix.   Robert Gerald (Gerry) Love, born January 10, 1929 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Ala.; died 1983 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL; married (1) Pauline LNU (Love) Private; born Private; married (2) Faye LNU (Love) Private; born Private.
  More About Robert Gerald (Gerry) Love:
Burial: Unknown, Forrest Crest Cemetery, Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL




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