Headstone states only "Thomas Warters"
Thomas Lassiter Warters was one of three children borne of the relationship of Stephen Lassiter (1832-1872) and Mary Ann Warters (1843-1868), the only child to survive to adulthood.
His mother had come with her mother, Sallie Jo Waters (1804-1902), to stay with Stephen and his family when she was a young girl in hopes of helping her to have a "better life", according to family history. At some point, Stephen and Mary Ann began having feelings for each other and fell in love, wanting to marry, even running off together to marry one night. For reasons unknown to me, his father forbade their marriage, to the point of sending riders across the county to advise all ministers and Justices of the Peace that they were not to marry the couple, on no uncertain terms. The young couple returned home, crest fallen, to find Mary Ann's mother, Sallie Jo, waiting for them with a family Bible. She then had them lay their hands upon the Bible and, after speaking and praying with them, pronounced them married in "the eyes of God". They promised Sallie Jo that they would wed "some day" and went on to live together as husband and wife. Their first child, Thomas was born in 1863; Lucius was born in 1866 and Mollie was born in 1868. Tragically, Mary Ann died of Typhoid that Summer (Aug 10, 1868). Young Lucius also died of Typhoid, in 1869. Then little Mollie died of Diptheria in 1870. His father went on to marry Loucretia Pitts and a son was borne to them in 1872 whom they named Stephen. At the age of 40, Stephen Lassiter Sr. died, just a few months after his namesake was born. Thomas was now an orphan and, at the age of 10 years, he was taken to be raised by his aunt and uncle, Lucy (Wood) and Moses Joyner, in La Grange. They had a tobacco farm that Thomas took over following the death of his uncle in 1887. Upon reaching adulthood, Thomas began going by Thomas Lassiter Warters. He also became owner and operator of Thomas Warters Cigars, making and selling fine cigars throughout Georgia and elsewhere. He also fell in love with Willie Mae Gholson, a native of La Grange, North Carolina, b.Apr 13th, 1873. She consented to be his bride and the couple was married on the 22nd of April, 1895. They went on to have six children, five daughters and one son:
Ruth, b.Feb 29, 1896
Agnes, b.Mar 22, 1898
Lucy Jane, b.Jun 8, 1900
Mary, b.Oct 15, 1902
Thomas, b.Nov 3, 1905
Willie Louise, b.Feb 3, 1908
All six of the children grew up in a loving, caring home. Tragically, Willie Louise incurred brain damage following a street car accident and suffered from seizures for the rest of her life. Her parents cared for her at home until they were no longer able to do so, but then placed her in a care center where she was cared for the rest of her long life. Her loving family came to see her whenever possible and, upon her death in 1981, she was buried with her parents. All of the five remaining children attended and graduated from Shorter College (now University) in Rome, GA. Lucy and Mary chose to remain single and each became well known teachers in their fields following receiving their Doctorates. Ruth, Agnes and Thomas married. Ruth taught school prior to her marriage. Thomas Lassiter Warters passed from this life on May 3rd, 1938 and his grieving wife and children buried him at the Fairview Cemetery, La Grange, Lenoir Co., North Carolina. Willie Mae followed him in death less than two months later on July 1st, 1938, and was buried next to her dear husband at Fairview Cemetery in La Grange. I know they are together in Paradise, restored, per God's promise. Many of their children are buried nearby. May they all Rest in Peace, forever.
Thomas Lassiter Warters was one of three children borne of the relationship of Stephen Lassiter (1832-1872) and Mary Ann Warters (1843-1868), the only child to survive to adulthood.
His mother had come with her mother, Sallie Jo Waters (1804-1902), to stay with Stephen and his family when she was a young girl in hopes of helping her to have a "better life", according to family history. At some point, Stephen and Mary Ann began having feelings for each other and fell in love, wanting to marry, even running off together to marry one night. For reasons unknown to me, his father forbade their marriage, to the point of sending riders across the county to advise all ministers and Justices of the Peace that they were not to marry the couple, on no uncertain terms. The young couple returned home, crest fallen, to find Mary Ann's mother, Sallie Jo, waiting for them with a family Bible. She then had them lay their hands upon the Bible and, after speaking and praying with them, pronounced them married in "the eyes of God". They promised Sallie Jo that they would wed "some day" and went on to live together as husband and wife. Their first child, Thomas was born in 1863; Lucius was born in 1866 and Mollie was born in 1868. Tragically, Mary Ann died of Typhoid that Summer (Aug 10, 1868). Young Lucius also died of Typhoid, in 1869. Then little Mollie died of Diptheria in 1870. His father went on to marry Loucretia Pitts and a son was borne to them in 1872 whom they named Stephen. At the age of 40, Stephen Lassiter Sr. died, just a few months after his namesake was born. Thomas was now an orphan and, at the age of 10 years, he was taken to be raised by his aunt and uncle, Lucy (Wood) and Moses Joyner, in La Grange. They had a tobacco farm that Thomas took over following the death of his uncle in 1887. Upon reaching adulthood, Thomas began going by Thomas Lassiter Warters. He also became owner and operator of Thomas Warters Cigars, making and selling fine cigars throughout Georgia and elsewhere. He also fell in love with Willie Mae Gholson, a native of La Grange, North Carolina, b.Apr 13th, 1873. She consented to be his bride and the couple was married on the 22nd of April, 1895. They went on to have six children, five daughters and one son:
Ruth, b.Feb 29, 1896
Agnes, b.Mar 22, 1898
Lucy Jane, b.Jun 8, 1900
Mary, b.Oct 15, 1902
Thomas, b.Nov 3, 1905
Willie Louise, b.Feb 3, 1908
All six of the children grew up in a loving, caring home. Tragically, Willie Louise incurred brain damage following a street car accident and suffered from seizures for the rest of her life. Her parents cared for her at home until they were no longer able to do so, but then placed her in a care center where she was cared for the rest of her long life. Her loving family came to see her whenever possible and, upon her death in 1981, she was buried with her parents. All of the five remaining children attended and graduated from Shorter College (now University) in Rome, GA. Lucy and Mary chose to remain single and each became well known teachers in their fields following receiving their Doctorates. Ruth, Agnes and Thomas married. Ruth taught school prior to her marriage. Thomas Lassiter Warters passed from this life on May 3rd, 1938 and his grieving wife and children buried him at the Fairview Cemetery, La Grange, Lenoir Co., North Carolina. Willie Mae followed him in death less than two months later on July 1st, 1938, and was buried next to her dear husband at Fairview Cemetery in La Grange. I know they are together in Paradise, restored, per God's promise. Many of their children are buried nearby. May they all Rest in Peace, forever.
Headstone states only "Thomas Warters"
Thomas Lassiter Warters was one of three children borne of the relationship of Stephen Lassiter (1832-1872) and Mary Ann Warters (1843-1868), the only child to survive to adulthood.
His mother had come with her mother, Sallie Jo Waters (1804-1902), to stay with Stephen and his family when she was a young girl in hopes of helping her to have a "better life", according to family history. At some point, Stephen and Mary Ann began having feelings for each other and fell in love, wanting to marry, even running off together to marry one night. For reasons unknown to me, his father forbade their marriage, to the point of sending riders across the county to advise all ministers and Justices of the Peace that they were not to marry the couple, on no uncertain terms. The young couple returned home, crest fallen, to find Mary Ann's mother, Sallie Jo, waiting for them with a family Bible. She then had them lay their hands upon the Bible and, after speaking and praying with them, pronounced them married in "the eyes of God". They promised Sallie Jo that they would wed "some day" and went on to live together as husband and wife. Their first child, Thomas was born in 1863; Lucius was born in 1866 and Mollie was born in 1868. Tragically, Mary Ann died of Typhoid that Summer (Aug 10, 1868). Young Lucius also died of Typhoid, in 1869. Then little Mollie died of Diptheria in 1870. His father went on to marry Loucretia Pitts and a son was borne to them in 1872 whom they named Stephen. At the age of 40, Stephen Lassiter Sr. died, just a few months after his namesake was born. Thomas was now an orphan and, at the age of 10 years, he was taken to be raised by his aunt and uncle, Lucy (Wood) and Moses Joyner, in La Grange. They had a tobacco farm that Thomas took over following the death of his uncle in 1887. Upon reaching adulthood, Thomas began going by Thomas Lassiter Warters. He also became owner and operator of Thomas Warters Cigars, making and selling fine cigars throughout Georgia and elsewhere. He also fell in love with Willie Mae Gholson, a native of La Grange, North Carolina, b.Apr 13th, 1873. She consented to be his bride and the couple was married on the 22nd of April, 1895. They went on to have six children, five daughters and one son:
Ruth, b.Feb 29, 1896
Agnes, b.Mar 22, 1898
Lucy Jane, b.Jun 8, 1900
Mary, b.Oct 15, 1902
Thomas, b.Nov 3, 1905
Willie Louise, b.Feb 3, 1908
All six of the children grew up in a loving, caring home. Tragically, Willie Louise incurred brain damage following a street car accident and suffered from seizures for the rest of her life. Her parents cared for her at home until they were no longer able to do so, but then placed her in a care center where she was cared for the rest of her long life. Her loving family came to see her whenever possible and, upon her death in 1981, she was buried with her parents. All of the five remaining children attended and graduated from Shorter College (now University) in Rome, GA. Lucy and Mary chose to remain single and each became well known teachers in their fields following receiving their Doctorates. Ruth, Agnes and Thomas married. Ruth taught school prior to her marriage. Thomas Lassiter Warters passed from this life on May 3rd, 1938 and his grieving wife and children buried him at the Fairview Cemetery, La Grange, Lenoir Co., North Carolina. Willie Mae followed him in death less than two months later on July 1st, 1938, and was buried next to her dear husband at Fairview Cemetery in La Grange. I know they are together in Paradise, restored, per God's promise. Many of their children are buried nearby. May they all Rest in Peace, forever.
Thomas Lassiter Warters was one of three children borne of the relationship of Stephen Lassiter (1832-1872) and Mary Ann Warters (1843-1868), the only child to survive to adulthood.
His mother had come with her mother, Sallie Jo Waters (1804-1902), to stay with Stephen and his family when she was a young girl in hopes of helping her to have a "better life", according to family history. At some point, Stephen and Mary Ann began having feelings for each other and fell in love, wanting to marry, even running off together to marry one night. For reasons unknown to me, his father forbade their marriage, to the point of sending riders across the county to advise all ministers and Justices of the Peace that they were not to marry the couple, on no uncertain terms. The young couple returned home, crest fallen, to find Mary Ann's mother, Sallie Jo, waiting for them with a family Bible. She then had them lay their hands upon the Bible and, after speaking and praying with them, pronounced them married in "the eyes of God". They promised Sallie Jo that they would wed "some day" and went on to live together as husband and wife. Their first child, Thomas was born in 1863; Lucius was born in 1866 and Mollie was born in 1868. Tragically, Mary Ann died of Typhoid that Summer (Aug 10, 1868). Young Lucius also died of Typhoid, in 1869. Then little Mollie died of Diptheria in 1870. His father went on to marry Loucretia Pitts and a son was borne to them in 1872 whom they named Stephen. At the age of 40, Stephen Lassiter Sr. died, just a few months after his namesake was born. Thomas was now an orphan and, at the age of 10 years, he was taken to be raised by his aunt and uncle, Lucy (Wood) and Moses Joyner, in La Grange. They had a tobacco farm that Thomas took over following the death of his uncle in 1887. Upon reaching adulthood, Thomas began going by Thomas Lassiter Warters. He also became owner and operator of Thomas Warters Cigars, making and selling fine cigars throughout Georgia and elsewhere. He also fell in love with Willie Mae Gholson, a native of La Grange, North Carolina, b.Apr 13th, 1873. She consented to be his bride and the couple was married on the 22nd of April, 1895. They went on to have six children, five daughters and one son:
Ruth, b.Feb 29, 1896
Agnes, b.Mar 22, 1898
Lucy Jane, b.Jun 8, 1900
Mary, b.Oct 15, 1902
Thomas, b.Nov 3, 1905
Willie Louise, b.Feb 3, 1908
All six of the children grew up in a loving, caring home. Tragically, Willie Louise incurred brain damage following a street car accident and suffered from seizures for the rest of her life. Her parents cared for her at home until they were no longer able to do so, but then placed her in a care center where she was cared for the rest of her long life. Her loving family came to see her whenever possible and, upon her death in 1981, she was buried with her parents. All of the five remaining children attended and graduated from Shorter College (now University) in Rome, GA. Lucy and Mary chose to remain single and each became well known teachers in their fields following receiving their Doctorates. Ruth, Agnes and Thomas married. Ruth taught school prior to her marriage. Thomas Lassiter Warters passed from this life on May 3rd, 1938 and his grieving wife and children buried him at the Fairview Cemetery, La Grange, Lenoir Co., North Carolina. Willie Mae followed him in death less than two months later on July 1st, 1938, and was buried next to her dear husband at Fairview Cemetery in La Grange. I know they are together in Paradise, restored, per God's promise. Many of their children are buried nearby. May they all Rest in Peace, forever.
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