John Wesley Thurman Jernigan  by Juanita Foreman

My Grandfather, John Wesley Thurman Jernigan, was born in Gilmer County, Georgia, on 28 Jun 1879.  He is the first born son of Thomas Pinkney and Sarah Elmira Moreland Jernigan.  John Wesley was married and sired ten children with four different wives. 
John Wesley first wife was Harriet McKissick and their children were:

• Lester Jernigan,  had no children.


• Newt Jernigan had five children, Robert, Loraine, Thelma, Nimer Dean, Newt and Jean (by another marriage).

• William "Bill" Pinkney Jernigan had two boys, one is now dead and the other lives in Dallas, TX.


• Jesse Winfred Jernigan had two girls, Earnestine and Joyce (In Dallas?).


• Lillie Leota Jernigan, my mother,  was born 12 Oct 1907.  Lillie Leota married Ernest Wade Cox on 24 Feb 1924 in Hunt Co., Texas.  Ernest died 27 Dec 1980 in Mt. Vernon, Franklin Co. TX.  Together they had six children.  (1) Dorothy Marie Cox, b: 1 Dec 1924; m: Jesse Franklin Haley  on 7 Aug 1940.  (2) Elsie Mae Cox, b: 15 Nov 1927; m: Lloyd D. Smith on 21 Jun 1941.  (3) Elizabeth Cox, b:31 Jan 1930; m: Albert Lee Edwards, divorced; m: Thomas Hicks in Feb 1995.  (4) Sylvia Lee Cox, b: 8 Mar 1933; m: Lonnie Roy Dodd on 26 Jan 1953.  (5) Erma Juanita Cox (that's me) b: 18 Aug 1935; m: Charles Franklin Foreman 15 Jul 1955.  Charlie died resulting from an industrial accident 12 Aug 1990.  (6) Bobby Carol Cox, b: 25 Nov 1949; m: Janie Hooper on 5 Feb 1970.  Janie died of a brain tumor 26 Mar 1984.  Bobby married Belinda Duvall on 25 Aug 1984.


• Ezra William "Dutch" Jernigan had an adopted daughter,  Sandy (living in Hawaii).


• Zera Elminor Jernigan had five children, Billy,Geraldine, EW, Donnie and Sandra.  They were reared around Greenville, Texas, and one boy died at age 12.

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