Dale County AlArchives Photo person.....Judge and Mrs. Frank O. Deese, Oct 2, 1958 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Christine Thacker http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00033.html#0008100 May 28, 2004, 9:24 pm Source: The Southern Star Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/photos/gph406judgeand.jpg Image file size: 62.0 Kb Reprinted from Oct.2, 1958, The Southern Star Sept. 30, 1998. PEOPLE IT'S NICE TO KNOW By Betty J. Goodson If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, He will soon find himself left alone- Samuel Johnson The components for an interesting hour were all at hand; A comfortable chair in the coolest nook of the yard, an arommatic cup of coffee, and two entertaining conversationalists. This was the setting when i had the pleasure of interviewing Judge and Mrs Frank O. Deese at their home, 310 College Street. This man who served Dale County so capably as Probate Judge for 18 years is quick to admit that he has been in retirement for six years and is enjoying it to the fullest. Surely he has earned the right to such enjoyment, because the years since his boyhood—" I was born and reared near Skipperville", —have been busy ones for Judge Deese. Shortly after he finished school he was given a license to teach. This was in 1899, and he taught for several years in the Dale County schools. A period of time spent as a life insurance salesman followed, and then in 1918 he was elected as a member of the State House of Representatives. These four years were the crossing of the Rubicon for Judge Deese, because public service became a lifetime's work and interest for him. His term as a State Representative was succeeded by an appointment as a local appraiser for the Federal Land Bank. He held this position until 1928 when he became affiliated with the State Tax Commission in Montgomery "Where before I had been loaning money, I was now engaged in collecting it." Judge Deese explained the contrast in these two jobs. Eighteen successive years as Probate Judge of Dale County began for him with the election in 1934. To do full justice to the fruits of his tenure of service is impossible in this article, but a few of them can be mentioned. The construction of the Dale County Office Building, and hospital, the abolishment of the almshouse and association with the county welfare system, institution of the farm-to-market road program in the county and the paving of 200 miles of these roads- these are a few of the reasons so many voters cast their basllots again and again for Judge Deese. One of the deeds for which he is most fondly remembered is the writing of letters to Dale County servicemen during the five years of World War 11, This gigantic undertaking involved 2500 three times a year, at Christmas, Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July. Politics were his occupation and have always been his avocation. He keeps abreast of current events at all levels by extentensive reading and television viewing. "Any time there is an election, whether local, stale or national, you may know that our lights will not go out until the last returns are in," he stated. When he said "our" Judge Deese indicated his wife, who shares his interest in political affairs and the study of history. Mrs. Deese is the former Mrs. Berta Martin Brabham of Enterprise, the daughter of Mr. J. B. Martin. She is a graduate of Alabama College in Montevallo, as are her eight sisters-and that must be a record for one family! After the death of her first husband she taught English in the high schools of New Brocton, Ozark, Geneva and Headland. Her teaching career was characterized by the warm-hearted personality that is still her outstandind trait, as evidenced by the fact her pupils were wont to call her "Aunt Berta." Deese intervened: "This is the third wonderful woman I've been privileged to have as my wife-and we've lived together 22 years without a single misunder- standing." He was first married to Miss Lillie Godwin, the mother of his two daughters: Elizabeth, or Ibbie ( Mrs. Jack C. Jones, Silver Springs, Md.) and Mildred (Mrs. W.B. Kingsley, Ozark). After her death he married Miss Katie Kelsoe of Enterprise, who died in 1935. Mrs. Deece like her husband, finds it extremely pleasant not to be governed by a definite schedule. " It is gratifying to have time to work in the yard, to read, and to relly enjoy life," she stated. One of her Favorite pastimes is sewing . . ."or any form of needlework." She added. "It is nice to be able to be of service to the girls and the seven grandchildren in this respect." She and her husband are members of the First Methodist Church. The very character of Judge and Mrs. Frank 0. Deese has made possible their manifold contributions to the people of 0zark and Dale County. For this, a sincere "thank you" is offered by the people they served for so long and so well. * Frank O. Deese, b July 5,1877 d. Oct. 11, 1959, Son of Sidney S. & Margaret A.E. Deese, buried Morning View Cem. Dale Co., Al. Lillie C. Godwin Deese 1st wife of Frank O. Deese b Aug. 26, 1886, d. June 5, 1931, married Jan. 1905. Katie A. Kelsoe Deese 2nd wife of Frank O. Deese, b July 13, 1890, d. Oct.21, 1935, married Aug. 31, 1933. Mrs. Berta Martin Braham 3rd wife. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb