McCrary Family History

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McCrary Family History

From  a life of slavery to emancipation, the footprints of the McCrary's can  be traced back to the 1800's.  Through slavery and depression, three  brothers, who were slaves, Jim, Saint and Ben, were purchased by a white  man, Thomas McCrary in North Carolina and assumed the slave owner's  last name.

Jim married Elmira Savage, a local midwife.  To this union seven children were born:  Charlie,  Amanda, Agusta, Kittie, Jodie, Buster and Willie.  Trudy, Elmira's  sister, was left behind during a slave trade near Vernon, Alabama.   Elmira stole her sister and brought her to live with the family.  Elmira  and her children lived in a log cabin on Highway 17.  She was the first  black person known to us to own property at that time. 

• Amanda married Jube Filer.  Three children were born:  Lula, Maude and Walter.
• Augusta married Bill Gordon.  Three children were born:  Elmer Joe, Luther and Elmira.
• Kittie married Earl Curry.  No children were born to this union.
• Jodie married Lizzie Howard.  One child was born: J.L.  Jodie later married Colie and is also the father of Ernestine.
• Buster never married and did not have any children.
• Willie married Tommie McDougle.  Eight children were born: Lonzo, G.L., Sam, Ben, Elex, Michael, Mary and Lucinda.

Richardson Family History

Lucinda Richardson was the mother of Martha, Missouri, Tom, Allison and Narcissus.  Their father was a unknown white man. 

• Martha married Son Fletcher.
• Missouri married John Storey.  Seven children were born:  Howard, Jabe, Ferge, Johnny, Gertrude, Annie Lee and Anna Venia.
• Tom married Mary.  Two children were born:  Judge and Lisa.
• Allison married Martha.  Eight children were born:  Buddy, Daisy, Mary, Kittie, Emily, Anna Mae, Tommy, and Collis.
  

Lucinda Richardson married Saint McCrary, (the brother of Jim and Ben).  Four children were born:  Sidney, Lim, Nora and Rona.

• Sidney married Mary Ann.  Four children were born:  Veller, Rosa Lee, Frank and Clarence.
• Lim married  Harrison Johnson.  Nine children were born:  Ernest, Luella, Cocoa,  Nathaniel, George, Clodie, Francis, Mary Lee and Desiree.
• Rona was the mother of five children.  Trudy, Lando, Colvin, Fannie Mae and Lillie Mack.
  

THE UNION OF CHARLIE MCCRARY AND NARCISSUS RICHARDSON

Charlie  McCrary and Narcissus Richardson were united in holy matrimony on  October 21, 1893.  This this holy matrimony, thirteen children were  born:  Willie Curt, Bulah Lee, Shelvie, Joe Shelton, Linzie, Collie  Wimberly, Trannie, Dressmer, Mae Anders, Charlie Gray, Bennie Ruth,  James and Nellie Estelle.  Charlie was also the father of Jim.

They  moved from Highway 17 to Palmetto, Alabama where they rented property  from Mr. Hugh Babbs who lived in Birmingham, Alabama.  They later  purchased 640 acres from Mr. Babbs.  During that time, most blacks were  sharecroppers, but the effort and vision they had required perseverance  and great faith in God.

People, who today we call transients, often came to Papa Charlie for a handout.  He was a man who loved people and tried to help those who were less fortunate. 

Papa Charlie  began having family reunions early on and anyone desiring to attend was  certainly welcomed.  Narcissus (Mother Dear) would start cooking days  ahead in preparation for the event.  This was a well known and happy  event and people loved to attend the 'McCrary Reunions'.

Papa  Charlie and Mother Dear left not only earthly possessions for their  children, but more importantly, a spiritual legacy.  A church (Unity  Grove CME) was built on their property. It was not only for their  family's spiritual welfare, but others nearby.  The church continues to  be used as a place of worship.