Grafton Leander French

Grafton Leander French was born in Yalobusha Co., Mississippi on the 3rd day of April 1875.

He was the only son born to Burgess Lawrence French and Elizabeth E. Higgins.  Grafton married Maybelle Julia Lyon on the 18th of October 1896.  Maybelle was the daughter of James Lawrence Lyon and Julia Clementine McGuire.  Grafton and Maybelle move to farm near Airmont, Mississippi.  This farm was given to Grafton by one of his older sisters, who had married a man of wealth.  When her husband died and she received his fortune and property, she was very generous to her only and youngest sibling.  Grafton died on June 12, 1965 in Memphis, Tennessee, where they resided and is burined in Memorial Park cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee.

Children born to Maybelle and Grafton French:

Isa Inez French, born August 15, 1897 in Airmount, MS., died August 31, 1900, buried at New Hope Baptist Church cemetery, Yalobusha Co., MS


Sidney Lyons French, born February 15, 1899, Airmount, Yalobusha Co., MS, died March 21, 1952 in Memphis, TN., buried at New Hope Baptist Church cemetery, Yaloubusha Co., Mississippi, near his grandfather.


Roy Leander French, born December 31, 1900, Airmount, Yalobusha Co., MS.  Roy married Freeda Flake Coker on October 24, 1926 in Coffeeville, MS., where she resides today (1998) with her daughter Kathyrn.  Roy died May 17, 1978 in Coffeeville, and is buried in the Coffeeville cemetery.


Children of Roy and Freeda French:

James Kenneth French, born September 7, 1927


Roy Lynn French, born February 4, 1929


Jo Anne French, born August 23, 1932


Irma Kay French, born January 19, 1936


Norma Kathryn French, born February 22, 1941

Grace French, born July 3, 1903, Airmount, Yalobusha Co., Mississippi.  Grace married Joe Wiley Davis.  She is buried in the Memorial Park cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee.

Children of Grace and Joe Wiley Davis:
 

Dorothy Dale Davis, born may 19, 1925 at Water Valley, MS., Dorothy married Wesley John Patterson, a son of Zola Wilmont and Walter John Patterson.  They were married at LaBelle Baptist Church in Memphis, TN., on the 25th day of 1944.  Wesley J. Patterson was born June 8, 1925 in Dunkirk, New York.

Joseph Wiley Davis, Jr., born June 8, 1926, he married Mary Ann Tolson in August of 1943.

Anna Mae French, born 1905, Airmount, Yalobusha Co., Mississippi, died in Memphis, Tennessee.

Jean French, born 1905, Airmount, Yalobusha Co., Mississippi.  Jean married Kennis Bryant.  They reside in Jackson, Mississippi.  They had one child:  Mary Jean Bryant.
 

Frank French, born May 29, 1908, Airmount, Yalobusha Co., MS.  Frank married Rosina Mushmack.  He died November 26, 1993 at the Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was buried November 29, 1993 at Rest Haven Gardens of Memory in Baton Rouge, LA.

Lawrence 'Boots' French, born March 4, 1911, Airmount, Yalobusha Co., MS.  He married (1) Louise Morgan, they divorced in 1954, then married (2) Marilyn ?.  He died February 4, 1989 in Swainsbord, GA., and is buried there.

Julia 'Jubeth' Elizabeth French, born May 12, 1913, Airmount, Yalobusha Co., Mississippi.  Jubeth resides at 1437 Central apt 715, Memphis, TN., 38104 (1998).

Ouida French, born February 5, 1916, Airmount, Yalobusha Co., Mississippi.  She was married to Edward Woods.  Ouida died July 7, 1990 in Memphis, Tennessee. they had one son:  Edward Woods Jr.

Will Ike 'Mutts' French, was born July 10, 1917 in Airmount, Yalobusha Co., Mississippi.  He married Modell Hamilton and resided in Walls, Mississippi.  He died April 28, 1994 in Memphis, Tennessee and was buried on the 30th day of April 1994 is Forrest Hills (South) Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee.

 Return to French Index Page