Family Archives
Welcome to our family archival page. On this page you will find. . .
Article in the town newspaper about the original Lee Barney
Newspaper, May 1917
Clipping
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Grave Sites of Our ancestors
Family Church/Grave Yard
Family Church/Grave Yard
Family Church/Grave Yard
New Hope #2 Baptist, Grave Yard
Thomasville, Alabama
Where most of our ancestors are buried. The tradition was, that when a family member died, the men would get together and dig their graves by hand with shovels.
John Barney Wood
Family Church/Grave Yard
Family Church/Grave Yard
G1
B: October 28, 1852
D: March 31, 1913
Mary Ann "Mollie" Woods
Family Church/Grave Yard
Mary Ann "Mollie" Woods
G1
B: 1885
D: Sept 10, 1948
DeForest & Georgia
Mary Ann "Mollie" Woods
G2
DeForest (May 13, 1879 - March 13, 1930)
Georgia (May 28, 1879 - Sept. 5, 1930)
Lee Barney Woods
Hattie Kennedy Woods
G2
B: December 17, 1876
D: September 22, 1917
Hattie Kennedy Woods
Hattie Kennedy Woods
G2
B: July 31, 1876
D: July 20, 1941
Generation 3 (G3)
Ethel & Pete Bettis
Ethel Woods (May 31, 1908 - March 7, 1996)
Pete Bettis (November 26, 1905 - January 2, 2000)
Pete was a railroad man "Gandy Dancer"
Ethel was a homemaker
Click here to find our more about Gandy Dancers
Assorted Pictures
Horse Drawn Sugar Mill
Barney sent a picture of the actual sugar mill that was next to the old home house. The mill was powered by a mule.
Making Sugar and Syrup
The sugar was cooked in a big vat. At a certain point the sugar crystals would rise to the top. What we had was sugar at the top and syrup at the bottom.
Personal Sugar Cane Field
Most families grew sugar cane. When the plants were harvested - they would bring the sugar cane to the mill for processing into sugar and syrup.
Social Event
I personally remember the men, and their families, coming from around the community. They would bring their sugar cane stalks and run them through the mill. It was an all day sometimes a multi day social event
A Different Economic System
Even-though we were though of as poor, there always seemed to be enough:
- Enough food, clothing and shelter
- Enough to go around
- Enough time for family and friends
Video about how it worked
A great example of cooperative community, where everyone shared and looked out for each other.
Assorted Pictures
Harry James Woods
Harry James Woods
Harry James Woods
Son of Charlie
Grandson of Lee Barney II
Harry James
Harry James Woods
Harry James Woods
Body Builder - Mr. Universe
Nina Gragg (Bettis/Woods)
Nina Gragg (Bettis/Woods)
Nina Gragg (Bettis/Woods)
Ran for Circuit Clerk
Ethel "Bae" Parham
Nina Gragg (Bettis/Woods)
Nina Gragg (Bettis/Woods)
Teacher of the year
"Uncle" Pete Bettis
Railroad Man & Gandy Dancer
Uncle Pete worked on the railroad for most of his adult life. He also ran a very lucrative family farm. Peter was married to Ethel Woods Bettis (daughter of Lee Barney and Hattie Woods). As a child, I remember sitting on the porch listening to him entertain us with "Gandy Dancers" chants and stories of old. Uncle Pete was well respected in the community by persons of all cultures. I admired him greatly, as he was one of my main role models.