History

Oral History

Aunt Lois sharing some of our history. This audio was recorded in November of 2023.

Family History Presentation (July 2, 2023)

These are notes compiled from various conversations, etc.

Columbus / Papa Son 

  • Answered people’s bible questions
  • Deacon
  • Fort Valley, Georgia
  • Methodist, SDA, then became Apostolic
  • Short man

 

Big Sunday dinners

  • covered with tablecloth.
  • anyone could eat (also sell dinners)
  • Off the street (?)
  • The community called their home “the house”

– All alice and columbus’ kids at Friendship. 
– They walked to Bellow street to First Apostolic – Papa Son had a push cart that he made. He picked up cans and other things to sell.

Papa son was instructed by pastor Johnson(?) at First Apostolic to stay on the west side instead of walking all the way to the south side.

Uncle George left friendship and went to First Apostolic

Brother White and Uncle George had a quarrel.

Aunt Elsi was ‘in and out’ of church.

Grandma Lewis was always ‘in’ church

Aunt Mamie played the piano

Grandma (Aunt Jane) Velma / Elsie grandmother = drinker (under the bed drunk) got saved

Uncle George -> Aunt Urma – sweet, soft voice, never got angry

Johnny Tucker – loving man, secretary of Friendship, worked for the city

Dewey – Cirrhosis (?) of the liver (passed at 57 yrs)

  • Changed name to Dave – called himself Dave H. Vinson
  • bought a pig and Papa Son killed it for him
  • Loved Allan(Elsie), drank together
  • worked at Firestone, didn’t miss days.
  • Aunt Elsi would fight alot

 

Alice / Mama Alice (Stembridge)

  • Miss ?? as a young girl possibly by parents.
  • People who were sick came to her for prayer
  • Always fed hungry people
  • Married at 17
  • Praying and sweet lady
  • Tall woman

 

Dewey / Dave

  • Aunt Elsie + Uncle Alan (Elsi helped sell dinners. If she sold ? she ? one free)
    • Patricia
      • Crystal
      • Kim
      • Keith
      • Kelly
    • Linda
      • Lamar
      • Steven
      • Avery (passed at 19yrs ?)
    • Alan / Pee-wee (passed in 1980)
      • Everet
    • Daryl
      • Alan
    • Eric
      • Shatika
      • Erica
      • Linda (by Gwen)
      • Michelle
      • Demetrius
      • Charles / Chazz
  • Velma / Grandma Lewis + John
    • Ronnie + Libby
      • Lisa
      • Pumpkin
    • Gwen
      • Brian
      • Brittany
      • Mario
      • Stephen
      • Anthony
      • Victor
    • Pamela
      • Dawn
      • Archie
      • Daniel
      • Dondi
      • Corey
      • Angelo
      • Arlonda
    • Donnie
      • Donteil
      • Doniyell
      • Gerra
    • John Jr.
    • Mark David
      • Aaron
      • Kevin
      • Tamara

Bellows St.

First Apostolic 

  • South Akron
  • Pastor Johnson

Friendship

  • Wooster / St. Clair
  • Elder Lockhart
    • 1st pastor of Friendship
    • Papa Son
      • Superintendent of Sunday School
      • Helped start the church
  • Potbelly stove
  • Dust everywhere
  • Walked to church
  • Livingstone?
    • Elder Burdan (from Friendship)
  • Stembridges
    • Mostly Methodist
  • Aunt Elsie
    • Public didn’t care for Vinson.

Grandma Dinah Vinson

Granpa Joe Vinson (Parker?) = slave (slave owner changed to Vinson)

  • Uncle Peachan = Mark Rufus – World War 1
    • Aunt Assie
      • Young when married
      • Praying woman
    • Sonny, Cecil, Vonnie, Walter May, Willie (baby of family), Annie, Mary, Clare
    • Felton, Longhead? Felt?
  • Papa Son (Columbus) + Mama Alice (Stembridge)
    • Una May (Johnny Tucker)
      • Bud
      • Willie
      • Evelyn
      • Angenette
      • Wavelene (Mother Pittman)
      • Columbus
      • ?Dc Sterling
    • Doc + Bessa Lee
      • handicapped child
      • Olsi May
      • Harsley