Bethlehem Baptist Church Newsletter #8- Dec 1995, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Peggy Chandler Beaubouef ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** [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. 8 Dec. 1995 [Photo of William R. Griffin & his wife Ethelinda Carpenter Griffin] HISTORICAL NOTES: Pictured above are William Reedis (Bud) Griffin and his wife, Ethelinda Carpenter Griffin. William lived his entire life in this community. He was born here 12 Aug 1862, the youngest of seven children born to William and Mary Battle Griffin. Ethelinda was born in Tishomingo County, MS 13 May 1865. Her parents were Solomon and Rhoda Hardin Carpenter. William was a deacon of Bethlehem Baptist Church according to the 1897 minutes of the Central Baptist Association. He was "one of Winn Parish's substantial farmers" to quote his obituary. As I planned this article I searched my notes and my memory for something distinctive or unusual about these two people that I could use, as I have in some of the past articles. My mind kept returning to a comment my father made to me several years ago. He said, "Honey, that man was Grandpa to half this community!". As I think of his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great- great grandchildren, too many to begin to name in this newsletter, I wonder what accomplishment could be greater than this. They are among the leading citizens of this community and others throughout this state and beyond. The same can be said for most others buried in our cemetery. Their greatest achievement in life was the families they raised whose influence will be felt for generations to come. William Reedis and Ethelinda Griffin were the parents of ten children listed below: 1) Lela Griffin - b. 2 Jul 1884, d. 16 Dec 1956, married Hampton Lafayette (Fate) Chandler 21 Jul 1901. Their children were Nathan Felix (mar. Lillian Sullivan), Nettie Novella (died at age 2), and Velia (mar. 1st Otis Taylor, 2nd J.D. Black). 2) infant Griffin - b. 24 Mar 1887, d. 30 Jul 1887, buried in old Cockerham Cemetery. 3) Mattie Griffin - b. Sep 1888, d. 1905, age 17. 4) Etta Griffin - b. 25 Jan 1891, d. 7 Apr 1943, married Pat L. Garrett 18 Dec 1910. They had one son, Dewey Garrett (mar. 1st Nena Machen, 2nd Loreice Richardson). 5) Lillie Griffin - b. 6 Aug 1893, d. 12 Jun 1931, married William Richard Chandler. Their children were Walter (mar. Helen Willis), Roland (mar. Pauline Townsend), Nora (died young), Dewell (never married), and Levay (married Kent Rosenberry). 6) Jeanette B. Griffin - b. 4 Oct 1895, d. 26 Aug 1975, married Sug Garrett 6 Nov 1913. Their children were Gladys (mar. Henry Bates), Eugene D. (mar. Gertrude Presnall), Joyce (mar. Gilbert Carpenter), Willie (mar. R.C. Bartlett), and Johnnie (mar. Levy W. Price). 7) Evie Griffin - b. 24 Mar 1898, d. 8 Feb 1982, married Randall E. Howard 5 Jun 1916. Their children were William E. (mar. May Broussard), Don (died young), Hubert (mar. Mavis Boyd), Randall B. (mar. Laverne Dudding), and Delores (mar. W.S. Carter). 8) William Wheeler Griffin - b. 27 Jul 1900, d. 31 Jul 1938, married Beatrice Walker. Their children were Glen (mar. Ruth Duke), Carmoleth (died of diptheria at age 5), Don (mar. Jean Morgan), and Charles Wheeler (single). 9) Pearl Griffin - b. 1904, d. 19 Jun 1925, married Onus M. Garrett. Their children were Erma (mar. Doyle Mosley) and Onus M. Jr. "Buck" (mar. Helen Richardson). 10) Purvis Shelby Griffin - b. 10 Oct 1906, d. 27 Jan 1965, never married. William Reedis Griffin died 25 Sep 1935 and his wife, Ethelinda, 10 Mar 1943. They, along with nine of their ten children are buried in Bethlehem Cemetery.