| NASARIO BENAVIDEZ -- My Father The son of immigrants Tomas and Maria (Jimenez) Benavidez. Raised in a family of migrant workers, he later served in World War II, gained an education and went on to become a successful self-employed businessman. Read more. AURORA (PAEZ) BENAVIDEZ -- My Mother Daughter of Francisco and Mary (Hilliard) Paez. Strength, daring and perseverance led her through life and carried her when she was left to raise three children on her own. Read more. |
| The People Who Make Up These Families Your contributions and corrections to these pages are welcome. Contact me |
TOMAS and MARIA (JIMENEZ) BENAVIDEZ -- My paternal grandparents. They came to the United States in the early 1900s, married, and raised a family of seven. Read more. FRANCISCO and MARY (HILLIARD) PAEZ -- My maternal grandparents. What would possess a 16-year old, blue-eyed, blonde-haired girl to crawl out her bedroom window one night to run away and marry a tall, dark, Mexican musician and laborer she hardly knew? Read more. |
| THE SECOND GENERATION |
| THE THIRD GENERATION |
| THE FOURTH GENERATION |
| MATIAS and AMADA (Resendez) BENAVIDEZ -- my paternal great- grandparents. Parents of Tomas Benavidez. |
| FELIX and CLEMENCIA (Jimenez) JIMENEZ -- my maternal great-grandparents. Parents of Maria Jimenez |
| WILLIAM NEWTON and LAURA (Rosser) HILLIARD -- my maternal great-grandparents. Parents of Mary (Hilliard) Paez. Read about them here ... |
| REDUCINDO and JUANA (Garza) PAEZ -- my maternal great-grandparents. Parents of Francisco Paez, Sr. |
| THE FIFTH GENERATION |
| John Lafayette and Harriet (Lemons) Hilliard -- my maternal great-great-grandparents. Parents of William Newton Hilliard. Read about them here ... |
| Jose Maria and Crespina (Arredondo) Paez -- my maternal great-great-grandparents. Parents of Reducindo Paez. |