Cemeteries: Bethlehem Cemetery Newsletter #7- Sep 1995, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Peggy Chandler Beaubouef, 2656 Hwy 1232, Winnfield, LA 71483
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[These articles are taken from the Bethlehem Cemetery Newsletter
published by the Bethlehem Baptist Church cemetery committee. They 
are posted here with the full knowledge and consent of the cemetery
committee. Bethlehem Cemetery is located in Ward 8 of Winn Parish on
Hwy. 1232. These articles were written by Peggy Beaubouef based upon
information supplied by others. As with all secondary sources, the 
data shown should be used as clues to further research and verification.]


Issue No. 7     Sept. 1995

[Photo of William Alexander Carpenter & Lucy Angeline Rudd Carpenter]


     HISTORICAL NOTES: In the picture above are William Alexander Carpenter
and his wife, Lucy Angeline Rudd Carpenter. William was born 5 April 1860 in
Tishomingo County, MS. He was the fourth child of Solomon and Rhoda Carpenter.
At the age of 13 he and his family moved to Winn Parish. At age 17 he was
listed in the 1877 minutes of the Central Baptist Assoc. as pastor of
Bethlehem Baptist Church. That was apparently the start of a career in the
ministry that was to span four decades. A recent study of the minutes of the
Central Baptist Association from 1877-1956 shows him listed as pastor of as
many as four different churches at one time. In those days services were held
only one Sunday a month in most cases. He was pastor at Bethlehem on four
separate occasions totaling more than 15 years. Other area churches he
pastored were New Hope, Yankee Springs, Antioch, Harmony, Cypress Creek, Union
Grove, Pilgrim's Rest, New Salem, Calvin, Hurricane Creek, and Goldonna. Some
of these no longer exist today.
     One has only to look at the marriage records of Winn Parish to see that
many, many weddings in Wards 8, 10, & 4 were performed by Rev. Carpenter. His
grandchildren recall being called in from play "dirt and all" to watch when
Grandpa married someone.
     For many years "Uncle Alec", as he was known to many, operated a grocery
store in the Wattsville community.  According to his granddaughter, Verda
Frazier, he always let people have groceries if they needed them, regardless
of their ability to pay.
     In 1881 he married Lucy Angeline Rudd (born 15 Oct 1861), daughter of
Joseph D. and Clarissa Bolton Rudd, and together they raised a large family
with many descendants still living in the area. Below is a list of their
children and grandchildren.

     1) Joseph Manuel Carpenter - b. 2 Aug 1882, d. 12 Dec 1961, married
Martha Chandler 10 Sep 1910. Their children were Gilbert Samuel (mar. Joyce
Garrette, Bertha Mae (mar. Charles Green), Verda Julia (mar. Luther Frazier),
and Norman (killed at age 12 in auto accident).


     2) William Edward "Edders" Carpenter - b. 9 Oct 1884, d. 31 Dec 1953,
married Martha Senora Hodge 7 Nov 1906. Their children were James Franklin
(mar. Edith M. Carson), Alon (mar. Minnie Almeda Powell), Leon (mar. Marie
Carter), Ruth (mar. Hershel Robert Lowe), Rubye (mar. Edmund Wade Carter), 
Bob(mar. Doris Lanell Wilson), Helen (mar. Thurmond Reed), William Edward Jr.
"Sam" (mar. Maude Alma Wilson), Calop Rayford (mar. Fannie Colleen Carter),
Clifford Gene (mar. Ezell Kirkham), and Earline (mar. James Cecil Martin,
Jr.).

     3) Minnie Katherine Carpenter - b. 30 Nov 1886, d. 5 Mar 1973, married
Sidney O'Bryan 17 Dec 1903. Their children were Huey (mar. Audie Raborn),
Jordan, Lucy (mar. 1st Oliver Pierce, 2nd Gene Abels), Cecil, Claude (mar.
1stLorece Burnum, 2nd Maude Sholars), and W.A. (mar. Doris Lane).

     4) Ethelindy Carpenter - b. 29 Dec 1888, d. young.

     5) Lessie Angeline Carpenter - b. 23 Sep 1890, d. 13 Oct 1921, married
William "Burk" Johnson 29 Feb 1908. Their children were Henry Clay (mar.
Thelma Jones), Bessie (mar. Ernie James Yocum), Amos (mar. Hazel Bryant), 
and Floyd (mar. Velma Jones).
                         
     6) Miram Nola Carpenter - b. 30 Jan 1893, d. 21 Nov 1970, married William
Henry Collins 27 Sep 1917. Their children were William Henry Jr. "W.H." (mar.
Myrtle Kelly), Rosa Mae (mar. Jerry Cooper), Beatrice (mar. Truett Cutrer),
and Cynthia (mar. J.W. Boone).

     7) Anna Isabell Carpenter - b. 22 Jun 1895, d. 25 Apr 1971, married John
C. Megison 8 Dec 1913. Their children were Edward (mar. Winnie Garrett) and
Elsie (mar. Eugene Walker).

     8) Littel T. Carpenter - b. 2 Dec 1898, d. 15 Jun 1901.

     9) Hershel McKinley Carpenter - b.13 May 1902, d. 15 Nov 1973, married
Elvie Wilson 22 Jul 1942. Their children were Elnora (mar. Arthur Harold
Durrett) and Donald (mar. Jeanette Frazier).

     Rev. Carpenter died at the age of 74 on Nov 17, 1934 after suffering a
stroke at his home a few days before. Lucy followed him in death June 9, 1947.
Both are buried in our cemetery.

     Special thanks to Mrs. Verda Frazier and Mr. Frank Martin for supplying
the picture and much of the information for this article. If you have an
ancestor buried in our cemetery you would like to see featured here, please
send picture and family information to Peggy Beaubouef, Rt. 4 Box 532A,
Winnfield, LA 71483. I will return the pictures.