Biography of Dotsie Lavinder & Family - Franklin Co. VA Dotsie Lavinder, Greenville Lavinder (father in law) and Dotsies children. Greenville was a son of Jacob and Judith Lavinder. The tragic and all most unbelievable story of Greenville, and his daughter in law Dotsie Hudson Lavinder began on December 22, 1945. Just 3 more shopping days before Christmas, Edwin Hoben Lavinder having six children and one on the way had a few things to pick up at the local store in Rocky Mt. Since the store was with in walking distance, Edwin and his brother walked in to town. As Edwin (my father) waited out side the local hardware store for his brother he met with disaster, as the sound of squealing tires and breaking glass filled the air. Two cars on the road in front of him, as one turns in to the path of the other, the driver swerves to the right to avoid a head on collision, striking Edwin Lavinder. He died on Dec.23, 1945 at 6 am, his youngest daughters (Janette Lavinder) birthday. Happy Birthday Jan. December 25, could it really be Christmas as the Lavinder family plans the funeral of Edwin. December 26, finds Dotsie Hudson Lavinder gathered with her six children and Father in law Greenville, in the Robert Hill cemetery (Rocky Mt.) as they say good by to Husband, Father and son. I am sure that as my Mother stood by my Fathers grave she felt that this would be the saddest day of her life, little did she know that the road of heart ache had just begun. A little bit of History before I continue, my Father worked at a furniture factory and there was $10,000.00 life insurance, a LOT of money in 1945. Mama being a widow with six children and me on the way was intitled to social security for herself and each child. Also there was a settlement from the Insurance company of the man who ran over our Father. We lived with our Grandfather Green, who also received Social Security. We lived in a big two story house with porches all around, filled with Victorian furniture, marble top tables, two grand pianos and oriental rugs. Things belonging to my Grandmother Minnie Zoe Barnard. If any one has been to Rocky Mt. the Bank next to the national armory is where our house was. Back to the story. Mama continued to live with Greenville, and started the necessary paper work and cutting thru red tape to receive the Social Security due us. May 18, 1946, Mama had another baby (me) Eunice Lavinder. Shortly before I was born Mama (Dotsie ) became a Born Again Christian, I am adding this because it has a part in this story. The $10,000.00 insurance money had not paid or at least it hadn't been paid to Mama, and never was. She never new who got the money. The settlement from the accident was put into the hands of Peoples Bank in Rocky Mt. with my Mother never knowing how much it was. Social Security benefits were also given to the bank. All of this was done at the hands of Franklin County's Social Services. The gentleman in charge of the money was Walter Brown. Life was hard, and having to go and BEG Walter Brown, at the Bank, for a couple of dollars to buy food and clothes for seven children didn't make it any easier. Granted my Mother had no education, but my Grandfather did. She had handled the family money all of her married life, and seemed to have done a good job. Her children had never gone without and had as much as the other children in our neighbor hood. She had fed and clothed a family of nine on a lot less than she should have been getting at this time. Every time she had to go to Mr. Brown she was treated like a low life bum, who was asking him for a hand out. She was given $5.00 here and $5.00 there, not even a genius could have managed on that. Mama did her best, her and Green always saw to it we had plenty to eat and a warm loving home. Funny thing no one was ever concerned about our welfare when there was NO Money, but suddenly after a disappearing Insurance policy and a settlement everyone is interested, but not interested enough to help a mother feed and cloth her children, with her own money. Trying desperately to hold her family together she got a job. One day as my sister Rachel aged 12-13 was home watching the younger children so Mama could work, a knock came upon the door. Rachel opened the door to find a woman who said our Mother had been injured and Rachel should get the children and go with her. She was to take us to our Mother. Hell is now in session for the Lavinders. We were taken foster care. Arriving home to an empty house a very upset and scared Mother set out to find her children. Even thought she found us, the foster family would not let us leave. Mama went to authorities, but received no help. She went to the man who killed our Father and Begged him to help her. She offered him the $10,000.00 insurance money, still believing she would receive what was rightly hers, for his help in getting her children back. For reasons we will never know he refused. He soon moved away from Franklin Co. Several years later the news reached Mama that he had gone insane. I often wonder if he lost his mind because he killed a man or him being a minister turned his back on a sister in the Lord who desperately needed him. I think the latter was his worse sin, one that would surely drive a man insane. Mama continued to try and get us back, the foster family had a restraining order against Mama and she arrested for hiding in the woods next to the house where we were, just trying to see that we were OK. October 1, 1948 she was placed in Jail, State Farm at Goochland, and we were taken to the Methodist Childrens home in Richmond, VA. During the time we were with the foster family, Social Services were taking money out of Greens account and giving it to the foster family. Hard to believe, yes but it is true. We were taken to the Methodist Home by Taxi and guess whose money paid for it, our Grandfather Greens. All the while our settlement money and social security sit in the bank, under the watchful eye of Walter Brown. Mama spent six months in Jail, she was released on March 3, 1948. Thanks to Elizabeth Divers, social worker, April 14, 1948, five terrified children arrived at the Methodist Home. Eunice, Jannett, Tommy, Nancy and Rachel. Virgie and Kevie were left in Rocky Mount. One would think that since this was supposed to be a Christian organization children would be in a loving safe place. Just a few facts that proves other wise. My sister Nancy was in a room with seven other children. Every morning Mrs. Armes would stand in the door and whisper "its time to get up" if you didn't hear her she would come after you with a paddle. Every morning they would wake up to the screams of one who didn't hear her whisper it time to get up. Nancy never slept peacefully as a child should, she was so afraid of going to sleep and not being awake to hear the loving matron Mrs. Armes. My brother Tommy was taken out of school and sent to the fields to pick the crop. Long days in the hot fields, what a life for a little boy. The list goes on. My mother is still fighting to get her children. She searched the town for a kind heart to help her, but found none. May 3, 1948, Eunice was placed in the home of Alice and Dammon E. Meekins, in Norfolk, Virginia. I was renamed Gracie and was blessed beyond words with the worlds greatest Mom and Dad. They along with God were responsible for the Lavinder family being reunited in 1962. They thought that children that found their way to the Childrens home were orphans, if they had of known I had a Mother who never gave her consent for me to be adopted, they would have taken me back, and would have even helped Mama Lavinder, but that would not be known to them until 1962. May 27, 1948, Jan was placed in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Adams. A home where Mrs. Adams killed her own child (overheard by Jan, in a discussion between Mr. and Mrs. Adams). Jan said that most people get a dog or cat to go with the children but the Adams got her to go with the cat. Needless to say she lived a tormented life. The adoption papers that Jan got from the court house said the social worker was impressed with the THINGS that the Adams had provided for Jan. She has said they took her from a Mother who loved her and gave her to a Mad Women, all for the sake of things. She lived a life of Hell for a record player and a bride doll. December 24, 1948, Rachel was allowed to go home and be with our Mother. Nancy and Tommy stayed there for another three years. I wonder why no one was concerned about sending Rachel back to an unfit Mother. Mama never gave up, she prayed continually that God would restore her family. She saved every penny she could get and finally was able to pay a lawyer Lee Carter $500.00 and Nancy and Tommy were returned home. Fearing the Social Workers in Rocky Mt. Mama and Green took the children and walked away from their home and all the furnishings, They moved to Basset, Virginia. The bank kept the settlement money, and the $10,000.00 never appeared. On the papers filed in the courthouse, it said Dotsie Lavinder was a religious fanatic who gave all her money to the church. That was their reason for taking us away. If any one ever suffered like Job for their belief in Jesus, it was my Mother. Mama never stooped praying and believing she would find me and Jan, and I am glad that she didn't. Green died in 1951, on his death bed he cried for his lost grandchildren. All he ever wanted was to know where we were. There is a lot more, but this is the jest of what happen. I know there were good people in this town, but the Lavinder story proves this. When good people fail to get involved and do nothing, evil prevails, and it is sin to those who know to right and do nothing. I met my mother in 1962, and she was a wonderful lady. One I know who loved us and did all she could to keep us and be a good mother. She never deserved the lot dealt to her, but I know she is in heaven with her Savior and friend Jesus, and by Gods Grace her children will follow her example and someday we will all be together for ever. I pray that the ones involved in this, found forgiveness before they said good by to this world. Submitted by Gracie Gray Daughter of Dotsie Lavinder and Edwin Hoben Lavinder, before being adopted was Eunice Lavinder. **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************