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Caswell County Genealogy
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 1924 - 1986 (61 years)
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| Name |
Willis, Mildred Malloy [1] |
| Birth |
7 Jul 1924 |
Milton, Caswell County, North Carolina  [1] |
| Gender |
Female |
| Reference Number |
11435 |
| Death |
14 Apr 1986 |
Caswell County, North Carolina |
| Burial |
Shiloh Baptist Church, Caswell County, North Carolina |
| Person ID |
I11222 |
Caswell County |
| Last Modified |
16 Apr 2024 |
| Father |
Willis, Willard Warner, b. 18 Oct 1893, Caswell County, North Carolina d. 7 Dec 1969, Caswell County, North Carolina (Age 76 years) |
| Relationship |
natural |
| Mother |
Brandon, Eugenia Lea, b. 24 May 1897 d. 21 Dec 1974, Danville, Virginia (Age 77 years) |
| Relationship |
natural |
| Marriage |
27 Dec 1916 [2] |
| Reference Number |
105301 |
| Family ID |
F4298 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Notes |
- See the other Mildred Willis entry in this database.
"Milton Memories" by Jean Scott
On May 5, 1941, 16 proud young men and women marched down the aisle of Archibald Murphey High School, to go forth into the world. I have no memory of the graduation speaker, but feel sure that he inspired us to make the most of our lives, and we did. The senior boys were Charlie Killby, Thomas Coates, John Brandon, Foster Pointer, Alfred Hill, Marvin Yarbrough, and Walter Vernon. Melvin Wagstaff had been a member of this class from first grade, but transferred to Roxboro High School for his senior year; however, we claimed him and he joined us for our 50th class reunion. The girls were Violet Newton, Mildred Willis, Mary Sue Shotwell, Vera Carter, Anne Gwyn, Rosa Jordan, Louellen Phelps, and Louise Franklin, and myself, Jean Bradsher.
Most of us had been together since first grade under Miss Annie Irvine as teacher. I joined the class in second grade. The others came with us in fifth grade when Semora and Milton schools were consolidated. Our school then was the Milton School, while we waited for the brand new Murphey School was being built halfway between Milton and Semora. Principal N. S. Upchurch signed our diplomas (We had Mr. Upchurch for five consecutive years, as we were the last 7th grade he taught before becoming principal). The teachers who signed our diplomas were Horace D. Penn, Caroline E. McAden, Mary Clyde Coppedge and Gertrude Crabtree. Other teachers for high school included Miss Grace Tilley, Herbert Ellis, Mr. Webster and Mr. deFrank.
Those of you, like us, in our mid- to late 80s remember that 8th grade was first year of high school, that there were only 11 grades, and that the school year was eight months. From that class of 1941 all of the young men served in one or another branch of the Armed Services. The year 1941 was when Pearl Harbor occurred, and service became compulsory. World War II also meant that several of the young women found work associated with the war.
In 1991 we celebrated the 50th anniversary of our class at Woodside Inn. By that time Alfred Hill was deceased. Alfred had been stationed in Texas during the War, and made his home there for the rest of his life. Walter Vernon died at a very early age of a heart attack. Of the girls, Louellen Phelps Barker had died, as had Mildred Willis. At the time of the reunion Rosa Jordan Vernon was very ill, and passed away soon after. At this time Marvin Yarbrough, Thomas Coates, Foster Pointer, Violet Newton Lewis, and Mary Sue Shotwell Smith are no longer with us. Also teachers who joined us at time, Herbert Ellis, Horace Penn and Clyde Coppedge Poteat, have left this earthly life. Most of the teachers were not much older than their students, so it seems fortunate that at this 70th year since our graduation from the beloved Archibald Murphey High School that seven of us remain, now in our mid- to late 80s.
We look back on long lives of many changes, many exciting happenings to us and to our innocent world of early 1941, and feel grateful that we are in touch, that we reverence good lives and allegiance to each other.
Source: The Caswell Messenger (Yanceyville, North Carolina), 5 October 2011.
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| Sources |
- Details: 1930 US Federal Census, Milton Township, Caswell County, North Carolina (Household of Willard Warner Willis).
- Details: The Heritage of Caswell County, North Carolina, Jeannine D. Whitlow, Editor (1985) at 126 ("James Raymond Bradsher, Jr.," Margaret B. Dixon).
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