Our Great-grandaunt

Martha Matilda Sorrell is the first daughter and second child of Thomas Richard Sorrell and Nancy Louisa Thompson. she is the sister of Samuel David, Tresa Allen, James Martin ( our 2nd great-grandfather ), John William, Sarah Artie, Andrew Jackson, Richard and Homer Bartow Sorrell. Matilda married William Redman Byers on Dec. 2, 1888 in Cherokee Co, Georgia. Martha is the mother of Nora, Elizabeth " Lizzie ", Thomas Griffin and an unknown named son Byers. She is also the grandmother of Ruby Holland whom she and William raised from the age of 2 to 11 years old. Martha, her parents, brothers, sisters and their families left Georgia in between 1893 and the late 1890's headed to Texas and on into Oklahoma by covered wagons pulled by oxens. Martha can be found on census records in 1870 Ellijay, Gilmer Co, Georgia... 1900 Cherokee Nation ( Chelsea, Rogers Co. ) Oklahoma...1910 Chelsea, Rogers Co, Oklahoma...1920 Chelsea, Rogers Co, Oklahoma...1930 Chelsea, Rogers Co, Oklahoma.

Martha's obituary reads:
Last Rites For
Former Chelsean
Last rites for Mrs. Martha M.
Byers, pioneer resident of Chelsea,
were conducted by the Rev. Clifford
Jones at the Chelsea Cemetery
Wednesday afternoon. Interment
there was under direction of the
R. W. Benjamin Funeral Home.
Mrs. Byers passed away at the
home of her son, Griffin Byers, in
Tulsa early Tuesday morning.
Her death came suddenly, following
an illness of only a day. She was 71
years of age.
Before moving to Tulsa a few years
ago to make her home with her son,
Mrs. Byers resided in Chelsea for many years.
The son is the only survivor.

Martha was living with her son Thomas Griffin Byers in Tulsa, Tulsa Co, Oklahoma but passed away at the Tulsa General Hospital after only 10 hours of being there ( from D.C. ). So she did not pass away at her sons home. Also Thomas was not her only survivor as her daughter Nora passed away Sept. 9, 1980 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co, Oklahoma.To learn more on this family you can visit Myblueangel.net.