Jim's Parents - Luther and Miss Willie Gazzaway
Jim's Parents
Jim's Father Luther Govan Gazzaway
Luther Govan Gazzaway was born in Whitfield County, near Dalton, Georgia on March 26, 1874. He died March 4, 1931 in Wichita Falls, Texas and was buried in Thornton, Texas Cemetery.
Luther married Kate Elizabeth Walker on March 27, 1895.
From this union was born 2 boys and 2 girls. Homer Almarine
Gazzaway b. 1 Jan. 1900 d. 1960, Herman Benjamin Gazzaway b.
6 Feb. 1901 d. 1959, Maud Mabel Gazzaway b. 1 Aug. 1903 m.
J. C. Barnett, Myrtle Loraine Winnie Fred Gazzaway b. 5 Apr.
1906 d. 7 Nov. 1970
After the death of Kate, Luther married William Thomas
(Miss Willie) Jordan on April 23, 1923 at Big Hill, Texas.
From this union was born 1 son, James Kimbell Gazzaway b.
23 Feb. 1925
Luther was enumerated on the 1900 census as a resident of Robertson County, Texas, with a step-daughter, Gladys, listed in his household along with his son Homer. He was a member of the Methodist Church and I.O.O.F.
Luther
served as a public cotton weigher, deputy sheriff and owned
a Cafe in Thornton before his death from a disease know as
Pellagra for which a cure was found in June after he died in
March of 1931.
When Captain John became terminally ill with cancer she remained at home to care for him and married Luther Govan Gazzaway who moved in with them in the big two story white house near Big Hill and helped to care for his father in law until his death. After the death of Capt. John, Luther and Willie moved to Thornton where they opened Gazzaway�s Cafe on main street. A son was born, James Kimbell, who weighed in at 12 pounds when Miss Willie was 38 years old. And, when Kimbell was about 2 years of age they began to take him to the Cafe where they
were both busy. They put a turkey bell on his ankle and
turned him loose on the street in front of the Cafe. When
hey couldn�t hear the turkey bell they would go searching
for him. After Luther�s death in 1931, Miss Willie reared Kimbell
with the principle she had been raised with. Shoot for a
star and if you only get half way you will have gotten
farther than if you had not aimed for the star, respect your
elders, become known for honesty and integrity. Above all
remember who you are. She always knew who she was.
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William Thomas (Miss Willie) Jordan was born on July 5, 1886 at Big Hill,
Texas to Captain John Bryant Jordan and Mary Cathrine Whatley Jordan. She was the youngest daughter of this marriage of John and Mary. It is possible because Captain John had not yet named a child of his for his Father William, who may have been deceased when Miss Willie was born, and Captain John being 48 years of age and Mary being 37 years old, thinking there would be no more children gave her that name. (For more information on the subject, I refer you to �A Lady Named William Thomas� accessible from the Home Page).
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