Thomas Jefferson Ponder and Elizabeth Jane Burkett, daughter of Simon Peter Burkett and Edna Cook ,married September 8,1892 in San Augustine Co, TX to Thomas Jefferson Ponder. They farmed near Broaddus, San Augustine, Texas until they bought a farm near Murchison, Henderson County, Texas and moved their family there in 1916. Their children were: William Lewis Sr. Ponder;Edna Angeline Ponder Thornton; Thad Ponder,Mary Viola "Ola" Ponder Wells, Dora Allie Jane Ponder Mayfield; John Henry Ponder;
Lydia May Ponder Stringer; Thomas Monroe "Tom" Ponder; Bessie Delores Ponder Chastain Adkins Wilbanks; Lena Luella Ponder Corley;and Clarence E. "E.J." Ponder.
Elizabeth died shortly after E.J.'s birth and left Jeff a widower with small children and an infant to raise.
Jeff married a widow Annie Pearl "Pearly" Owens Holt Jerrell in 1920. She had five children. Jeff and Pearly had five children: Velma Alene Ponder; Thomas Jefferson Jr "T J" Ponder; Melvin Anthony Ponder; Dorothy Louise Ponder; and Welton Gordon Ponder.
Pearly died and Jeff married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Latimere Wollard a widow with a daughter. Elizabeth died in 1934.
Jeff married a widow Clara Lonie Brantley Lucus. She had five children Jeff helped to raise.
Thomas Ponder (55381640)

Suggested edit: Published in the Athens Review March 11, 1948
Thomas Jefferson Ponder, retired farmer, died suddenly of a heart attack Thursday morning at 11 o'clock at his home at Murchison.
Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the First Baptist Church of Murchison, with the Rev. J.H. Vaughn of Elkhart and the Rev. El J. Ware of Unity officiating. Interment was in the Shelby Chapel Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Burl Thornton, Elmore Thornton, Raymond Thornton, Oliver Ponder, Doyle Ponder and Leroy Wells.
The Hassell & Foster Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Ponder was born on May 19, 1873, in Jackson, Mississippi, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William F. Ponder, and moved to San Augustine with his parents in 1880. They died and were buried in that city.
Mr. Ponder moved to Murchison in 1917, and had resided there until the time of his death.
He was a member of the Unity Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife; six sons, Lewis Ponder of Galveston, J.H. Ponder of Channelview, Thomas Ponder of Baytown, E.J. Ponder of Murchison, Melvin Ponder, stationed in Georgia with the Army, and Weldon Ponder of Chilpatria, California; seven daughters, Mrs. Edna Thornton, Mrs. Dora Mayfield and Mrs. Lena Corley, all of Murchison, Mrs. Bessie Wilbanks of Palestine, Mrs. Lydia Stringer of Eustace, Mrs. Velma Cox of Waco and Mrs. Dorothy Gainner of El Paso; three brothers, Thad Ponder, Houston Ponder and Berry Ponder, all of San Augustine; one sister, Mrs. Mary Hasley of Nacogdoches; 40 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Contributor: Wayne Smith (47181024) • [email protected]