Is this who Granny Deal is named after?

by kasihewett

Florence Pollard Ray was Rosie Deal’s grandmother, through her father George W Ray.
George W’s parents were Albert Thornton Ray and Florence.

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The earliest record I can find for Albert is in the 1860 census. He is 6 years old, living in Tefair county with his father Joseph, mother Nancy, and many siblings.

The earliest record I can find for Florence is in the 1880 census. She is 10 years old, the only child (so far) of John Thomas Pollard and Mary Anne Pittman. They are living in Wilkes county at this time.

The first record of them as a household is in the 1900 census. Albert and Florence are living in the township of Temperance in Tefair County.

The have a daughter, Ida, and a son, Joe H. Mary Ann Pittman, Florence’s mother, is living with them at this time as well. Presumably Florence is pregnant with George W, as he is born in 1900. They are living next door to the Joseph Ray family, which is Albert’s father.

By the 1910 census, they have expanded their family considerably. George W has been born, and is 9 years old. Mary Ann Pittman is still living with them, and is now 80. Interestingly, Alfred indicates in the far side of the census page that he is a veteran of the civil war. I have, so far, been unable to locate a record of his service, but continue to look for it. They are still residing in Telfair county, though the name of the township seems to have changed from Temperance to Jacksonville.

The last census record for their household is in 1920. They are now listed as living in Jeff Davis county, in the Blackburn district. Ida Smith is now living with them, this is the married name of their oldest daughter. She lists her marital status as a widow, and her two children live with them as well. Presumably she moved in with them upon the death of her husband. Albert, Florence, and Ida are all listed as working on the farm where they reside.

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In 1923, both Albert and Florence pass.

Albert passes first, the primary cause of his death is listed as paralysis, and the contributing cause as Bright’s Disease.

He dies on March 2nd of 1923. He was 69 years old.

Florence Pollard Ray dies not long after, on May 4th 1923, at the age of 52.
The primary cause of death is listed as heart failure, with a contributing cause of exposure. Heat seems the likely cause of exposure, our May is quite warm.

It goes without saying how difficult it must have been for George W and siblings to lose both parents together in the same year.

On July 4th of 1923, two months after the death of Florence, George W Ray and Augusta Lee Hipps Ray welcome a baby girl into their family.

They name her Florence Rosaline Ray.