Surry-Southampton-Brunswick County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Whitmore, Sala Branch, 1919 

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SALA BRANCH AND J. CLAUDE WHITMORE 

"THE HISTORY OF OUR CHURCH PEWS - ROCKY HOCK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 
   IN MEMORY OF SALA BRANCH WHITMORE; GIVEN BY J.C. WHITMORE, SR." 

  Sala Branch Whitmore (1886-1919) was the first wife of J.C. Whitmore, Sr. 
(1885-1965).  Sala died during a flu epidemic that swept through this area 
following World War I.  The Whitmores had five children - Aubrey, Grady 
(donor of Rocky Hock's new organ), Braxton, Elizabeth and Susie. 

  Several years after Sala's death, Claude married Nina Branch and they had 
one child, J.C. "Boots" Whitmore, Jr.  Although both of Claude's wives were 
Branchs, they were of no kin.  He farmed and ran a country store.  The store 
was located in the corner of Boots' yard adjacent to Rocky Hock Church. 
Claude purchased the farm where Boots and Gaynelle live today from his father. 
As most sons do, Boots often asked his father for advice while growing up. 
What he remembers most is his father's statement, "Son, use your own 
judgement, I'm not going to be here always." 

  Sala and Claude are both buried in Rocky Hock Cemetery. 

  Thanks to Boots and Gaynelle for the pictures and information. 


Sala (BRANCH; Joel Claude Sr.) WHITMORE, 
b. 7 Feb 1886, Brunswick* Co., d. 23 Jan 1919, Surry Co., 
interred in Rocky Hock Methodist Church Cemetery (Plot 43*), Surry Co., 
Rocky Hock Church pew history 

*Additional information: 

Rocky Hock list, an extension of the 
   Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/cemeteries/rockyhk.txt 

A photo of her gravestone is posted with Find a Grave Memorial #137053845. 

D.Cert. 3949 (Blackwater #2) gives b. Sussex Co.; mother: Bettie JUDKIN 

Her husband's obit ("Daily Press," Oct. 7, 1965, p. 50) is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/obits/w356j3ob.txt 

The Surry Co. M.Reg. {BVS copy} (1907 #16) gives m. 14 Feb 1907; 
   b. Brunswick Co.  However, Ancestry.com VA Select Marriages 1785 - 1940 
   gives b. Southampton Co. 

Her parents, Samuel T. BRANCH, son of Lord Wellington & Sarah Frances (BOWDEN) 
   BRANCH, and Mary Elizabeth "Bettie" JUDKINS, daughter of John W. & Mary Gardner 
   (STEPHENSON) JUDKINS, m. 12 Feb 1885.  (Southampton Co. MB5:397) 
   Their families appear adjacent in the 1860 Census - east side of Blackwater 
   R., Southampton Co. - before Bettie was born [ca. 1863].  (p. 2) 

Lord Wellington BRANCH appears in the center of a photo - dated 25 Apr 1916 - 
   of a family reunion, posted with a TALIAFERRO family tree by Alec 
   TALIAFERRO of New Hampshire in 2017.  (Ancestry.com) 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/surry/obits/w356s2ob.txt