LEE ROY HARRELL - WILLIE ALMA MASSEY

 2H. LEE ROY HARRELL, born 11 January 1878 in Mitchell County, Georgia to Moses and Mary Ann Faircloth Harrell. He was a Mason and a Methodist. He loved his brothers and generously gave to them of what he had. As a father, he was very strict. He was a turpentine Foreman, therefore had to move his family often as he followed the turpentine business. He died 31 January 1953 in Tampa, Florida and is buried there at Orange Hill, Pyramid Restorium Lot 3407 Space #4.

His second marriage was to Mittie Williams on 10 October 1919. They had no children.

M1. WILLIE ALMA MASSEY, on 10 February 1898. Willie was born 2 June 1883 in Brooks County, Georgia to Adaline Folsom and Robert Lee Massey. She had red hair, taught school some before her marriage, and is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Thomasville, Georgia in an unmarked grave. She died during the flu epidemic.

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Mr. and Mrs. Lee Roy Harrell

Lee Roy Harrell and Willie Alma Massey

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Marriage Liense of Willie Ama Massey to Lee Roy Harrell in Brooks County, Georgia on 10 February 1898. Marriage Book E, p. 47.

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Letters

Mary Effie Harrell Chastain has in her possession several letters she received from her mother, Willie Alma Massey Harrell, between 1915 and 1918. These letters give insight into the personality of Willie Massey, and reveal that she was a caring and loving mother and wife.

All of th letters will not be put in this book because they were so faded they would be too difficult to read, however, one was selected for inclusion. Following each of the two letters, there will be a typed duplication of it for those who prefer that way of reading them. There will also be summaries with exerpts of some of the other letters in order to share a little more of Willie Harrell with you.

Letters #1 Page #1

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Letter #1 Page #2

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Letter #1 Page #3

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Letter #1 Page #4

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Letter #1 Page #5

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Letter #1, from Madison, Florida 14 November 1915

Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Chastain
“Dear children, I will try to write you a few lines to let you hear from us. We go there all o.k. yesterday about 11 o’clock yesterday a.m. We are getting a long very well. And I hope you are both well. Darling I am not satisfied up here and hope we will not have to stay long. Of course they are all just as good as can be. And I wish you could see May Bell she is so sweet and good. Of course, if you and L.C. was up here to I would be all right. It is so lonely up here. I don’t know what your Papa is going to do yet. Darling be sure and pack my things just like I told you. I am going back with Lee I guess when he go. Little Ruby is just a sweet as ever. Coral lee and Maynor are having a big time and ever once and a while Maynor will come to me and say I want to see sister. Well dear take care of yourself. And everything. The best you can. Oh I have got something to tell you when I get back. I guess Uncle John will grind his caine next week. I wish you and L. C. could come and be with us. Darling have you all missed us. Yes I no you do at. The. Table. Ha. Well your papa have gone up to the widows to see his girl I just wish you knew what a time the men are having today. Papa is coming and sed to tell L.C. if he will move those things we give you to please move our things on to your house be cause George sed that man wanted posesion of that house our things was in and we would have to get them out at once. You can pack for me until I come. Well tell Ma and Pa how we are and tell them that we will write to them soon Lee is going over in Sawanee tomorrow and will write to them when he gets back. Well we will close please write as soon as you get this your dear Mama and Papa Lee and Willie,
Address your letters to Mrs. Willie Harrell, Madison, Fla. RFD4 cop J. J. Harris
 

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Letter #2 from Metcalf, Georgia on 9 January 1918
Mr. and Mrs. L. C Chastain, Boston, Georgia
My dear children, we will try to ancer your welcome letter just received last night and sure was glad to hear from you this leaves all up. I have been sick ever since Christmas. I can’t hardly be up. Hope this will find you all in perfect health. I was about to think that you had for got that you ever had a mama. And Papa. I was almost crazy a bout you all. Well Dear I am sure sorry you all had to move in that Old Garbett House. I no something about it. Darling you ask what we thought of L. C. joining the army. We sure hate for him to do that on till he has to. Of course if he thinks best and does go, you come on home your Papa sed tell you your board would not cost you anything at all but we rather L. C. would not go. There are so many dieing every day in Atlanta. They have all sort of diseases thir and if he has to go and get sick I don’t know what would be come of him perhaps he wont have to go at all. I hope not. You all come Sunday and spend a while with us. Of course if I was L. C. I would sure move from that hateful place. It seem like they are all against him and I no he could do better elsewhere. I had rather you all would move here there is a nice house rite up town and you would like it. I don’t want you all to go to far a way Papa sed tell L.C. for you all to come and we would talk it all over. What we thought about ever thing. We have no way to go up there our mule is sick and had to take her from the plough yesutrday morning and she like to died. I have been buisy smoking my meat all week. But it is raining this a.m. Dear I am cooking a pot of ruitabaggers for dinner you no they will be good. Wish you was here. Say we will meet the train Satu in the a.m. at 11:30 and another train comes at 7:30 at night from tville so you all be sure and come will look for you all. I am sorry for Shellie. I did not thin khe had good mind they way he acted. I no Ileane is so sweet walking I just want to squeeze her now. You don’t know how bad we want to see you all. Well it is best I guess that ZZCarrie left it is less trouble to L. C. and him bothered so bad. Well it is getting late and Lee is Working so I will haf ter close hope to hear from you by return mail. Tell me when to meet you all so bye bye be sure and come kiss my baby lots of times for me. Bye bye.
Your dear father and mother excuse bad riting for I am in a hurry. Kisses to Ilene from Grand Papa and Mama and Ruby Cora and Maynor. And to you all. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 

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Letter 3 (not included), no date, probably around 1917

Willie wanted L.C. and Efffie to come to see her. Cora and Maynor had begun school, they started on Monday and seemed to like it. She had not written lately because she had been so busy she had been tired at night and could not sit up to write. The children had gone to Sunday School Sunday morning, and then they had all gone over to Mr. Powers to a prayer meeting Sunday night. The Baptist church is about 100 yards from her house.

Letter #4 (Not included). Thomasville 24 February 1917
Elmore and Papa divided their land yesterday, she was sure glad. Lee wanted L.C. to send them his mule and plough gear by his father, and said that when his land got dry he would go plant L.C.’s crops for him. She sent Effie a bottle of turpentine. She was sick, but the rest were well. “Kiss my baby for me. We will tell you the trouble when we see you. Ask the old man he will tell you.”

Letter 5 (not included) Thomasville, Georgia 24 July 1917.
“Dear Loving Baby”, Maynor is in Thomasville and Ruby asleep. Cora Lee was busy playing. She had been quite busy putting up peaches. She had planned to also put up pickles and tomatoes but had lost the lids of her jars and could not get any more. She had 14 little guineas. She had been thinking of visiting Mary soon.

Letter 6 (not included) Metcalf, Ga. 21 November 1917
“My Dear Little Effie”, They had moved and were getting along very well. She likes her new home and has some nice neighbors. Two, Mrs. Lillie and Mrs. Thomas had come to see her. She wished Effie and L.C. could move there. Lee said to tell L.C. he thought he could do a good business there with his bicycle work as there were lots of “wheels” there and they had to be taken all the way to Thomasville when they needed work done. There would be a prayer meeting at their house Friday night. Mr. and Mrs. Powers were coming. She assured her daughter that they were not mad at her but had thought she was mad at them. “The reason Lee did not go to your house he thought probly you all was hurt with him and he sed he would feel like he was just putting his self where he was not wanted. And if you wont mad with him you would have blessed him out for not carrying of me so he thought he better stay out of the way ontill you wanted to see him.”
 

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Letter 7 (not included), Metcalf, Georgia 3 March 1918
Lee and Willie had been sick with the Roseolla this week, though they did not go to bed with t, but felt real bad. She had been worried as she had not heard from Effie in so long. She was sorry the house had burned. Papa was going to plant watermelon next week. Lee had gone into Thomasville last Sunday when he had been sent a phone message. They “thought grand papa was dieing. He went up there Saturday eve and come back Sunday morning. He left after Aunt Rachel, Joe and Gordon Faircloth, Uncle John and Aunt Mollie. They was all their last Sunday, thought he was dieing. Lee was not up there since.” Cora had gone to Sunday School and Ruby was getting along fine, sweet as can be. She had fried some “good ole ham for dinner” and wished they were there. She had to go feed Daisy and the baby calf. “Kiss my baby lots of times for me.” “Please excuse my writing. Ruby and Maynor has got me addled. I don’t know what I am writing hardly.”