101st WALDREP FAMILY REUNION

 

101st WALDREP FAMILY REUNION

TIME AND DATE: 12:00 SUNDAY JULY 3, 2022

WHERE:  East Hall Community Center                                     3911 P Davidson Rd, Gainesville, GA DDRIVING DIRECTIONS 3911 P Davidson Rd

st Hall Community Center 

Bring Enough Food to Feed Your Family +

Patricia Waldrep Tighe

 

Siblings, (L-R) Vickie Waldrep Poole, Billy Waldrep, Terry Waldrep, Carol Waldrep Aycock and Doug Waldrep came together to honor and celebrate the life of their beloved sister, Patricia Waldrep Tighe, daughter of J.C. and Eunice Waldrep. She was born on February 28, 1935, and went to be with Jesus on Thursday morning, February 10, 2022. She was the oldest sibling and the oldest grandchild of George Hamilton and Beulah Waldrep.

Pat or Patsy as she was known, loved to play the piano, organ,
and sing. She loved Musicals and the movie Gone with the Wind.
When she graduated from high school in 1953, she got a job in
Atlanta with the government and stayed 2 years in Atlanta and then
was transferred to Washington, DC. When she came to visit, she
always rode the train back and forth between Gainesville and
Washington. She met and married Charles Edward Tighe, II on
October 5, 1957 and was married 64 years.

Their first child, Charles Edward Tighe, III was born September 12,
1958 and the oldest grandson of J.C. and Eunice. When he
graduated from high school, he worked as a bank teller before
attending college. He lived with his parents most of his life. He died
from complications of COVID on January 12, 2022. His ashes will
be buried at the Lutheran Church Cemetery in Ocala, Florida, at a
later date.

Their youngest son, Stuart Loring Tighe was born on October 31,
1962. When Stuart graduated from high school, he moved to
Florida when he still resides and works for the city of Largo.
Pat lived in and around Washington, DC, Maryland, and Florida
throughout her life and her last home was in Ocala, Florida with her
husband and son, Edward. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
and Charlie unable to continue to care for her, she moved into the
Hawthorne Village Memory Care, on September 20, 2016.

A Memorial Service will also be held at a later date in Florida and Pat’s ashes will be
put at the Wildwood Veteran Memorial Cemetery in Bushnell,
Florida.

Gainesville Memorial Service took place on Saturday,

February 12, 2022, at the grave site of J.C. and Eunice

Waldrep, in the Alta Vista Cemetery in Gainesville, GA.

(Doug, Carol and Jr., Susan, Terry and Charlene, Billy, Ray,

Vickie, and Ryan attended.)

WALDREP COAT OF ARMS

Waldrep Coat of Arms

Wars were rampant during the Middle Ages. Knights were covered from head to foot in amour. In order to be identified on the battlefield, the knights painted patterns onto their battle shields. The chosen pattern was later transferred to woven fabrics made into surcoats for the knights and surblankets for their steed. Designs were registered to prevent duplication.

The coat of arms was passed from the father to the oldest son. If there was no son, the daughter was given the coat of arms to be combined with her husband’s family coat of arms. 

The oldest Waldrep family coat of arms is described as follows:

Quartered Shield

Sections 1 and 4- Gold with a black stork, wings open and pointing downward with a beak and legs of gold holding a gold gem in its beak

Black symbolized “repentance or vengeance”

Stork symbolized “watchfulness, fertility, Christianity”

Gold symbolized “generousness, valor (boldness/determination in facing         danger),perseverance”

Gem symbolized “supremacy” 

Sections 2 and 3- perpendicular lined field of red with a gold lion issuing and turning to the left on perpendicular lines

Perpendicular lined red field symbolized “fortitude and creative power”

Gold symbolized “generosity, valor, perseverance”

Lion symbolized “strength and power”

Center- small inner shield of silver with a fleur-de-lis of natural color

Fleur-de-lis symbolized “Christian Trinity, purity and light”

Silver symbolized “serenity and nobility”

Helmet- (above the quartered shield) symbolized “wisdom and security in defense, strength, protection, invulnerability”  

Crest - (above the shield and helmet) a lion issuing and turned to the right

The crest was the emblem that survived when the banner was destroyed and the shield was shattered in battle. It was used as a rallying symbol of the knight’s courage.

Descriptive characteristics of the Waldrep family coat of arms

Bold and determined

Christian

Generous

Having fortitude and creative power

Having supremacy

Invulnerable

Perseverant

Repentant / vengeful

Serene and noble

Strong and powerful

Watchful

Wise and secure in defense,  strength, protection

 

THEN AND NOW: JAMES LAFAYETTE WALDREP CENTENNIAL FAMILY REUNION JULY 4, 2021 GAINESVILLE GA

THEN

 

NOW

WALDREP FAMILY REUNION PHOTO- JULY 04, 2021

1ST row-Isaac Harris; Ronnie Harris; Lee Harris; Kathy Gibbs; Mason Gibbs; Katelyn Gibbs; Hunter Gibbs; Kimberly Gibbs; Maeve Hulsey; Lucy McDowell; Lulah McDowell; Martin Hulsey;

2ND row- Christina Gibbs; Terry Waldrep; Charlene Waldrep; Billy Waldrep; Janice Waldrep; Susan Smith; Dakota Smith; Junior Aycock; Carol Aycock; Virginia Roberts; Joey Roberts; Doug Waldrep; Mary Dunagan; Brad Dunagan; Lindsey McDowell & Opal; Steven McDowell & Ida; Jean Waldrep; Chip Waldrep;

3RD row-Becky Jones; Rosemary O’Bradovich; Cordelia O’Bradovich; Mary Emily Deal;Woody Depew; Greg Waldrep; Liz Waldrep; Vickie Poole; Frank Sims; Brenda Sims; Lizzie Kern; Lori Kern; Julianna Everhart; Katie Deal Comeau; Sam Comeau; Mike Dunagan; Beverly Ivester; Geraldine Roper,

4TH row-Gary Reid; Lawrence (Larry) Hyde; Nathan Deal; Sandre Deal; Jim Wright; Glenda Wright; Mary Lee; Jerry Lee; Nancy Lake; Chris Lake; Neil Armstrong; Jill Armstrong; Sue Waldrep; Jace Armstrong; Sean McGough; Katelyn Waldrep; Michelle Waldrep; James C. (Jimmy) Waldrep; Lawrence Hyde;

5TH row- J.D. (Dev) Waldrep; Britt Hulsey; Leah Hulsey; Bradley Gibbs; Jason Gibbs; Susan Williams; Charlie Waldrep; Jon Waldrep Patrick Waldrep; Tyler Waldrep; Steven Waldrep; Michelle Harris; James L (Jim) Waldrep;

6THrow- Denise Deal; Jason Deal; Andrew Kern; Katherine Williams; Greg Williams; Elaine Williams; Zac Kern; Paul Kern; Gary Waldrep; William Martin; Jacob Waldrep; Joe Waldrep; Tom Waldrep;

WALDREP FAMILY CENTENNIAL REUNION JULY 4, 2021

 

DEAR WALDREP FAMILY,

We hope to see everyone Sunday, July 4th, 2021, for the James Lafayette Waldrep 100th Family Reunion.

 

Location:

East Hall Community and Recreation Center

3911 P. Davison Road

Gainesville, GA. 30507

Phone – (678) 450-1540

 

Google Maps Link - Google Maps

 

Interstate I-85N to I-985N

To EXIT 24, U.S. 129, Old Cornelia Hwy, (New Holland Exit),

Turn RIGHT/East, to Joe Chandler Road, Turn RIGHT

To FOUR WAY STOP with E. Hall Road – Turn LEFT

To P. Davidson Road, Turn Right

Community Center and Recreation Park will be on your LEFT, 350 feet

 

HOURS – 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

 

The Reunion will be held at the Community Center Building in the middle of the park.

 

It is Air Conditioned, plenty of parking, kitchen with micro wave, refrigerator and ice machine.

 

There are activities at this location - tennis courts behind the building, baseball / softball fields, and basketball courts. 

 

Please let me know if your children would be interested in playing/shooting basketball before or after lunch.  (There is a rental fee for the court.)

 

 

We will restart the tradition of everyone providing enough of their favorite FOODS and Drinks to “SHARE” with the “Waldrep Family” !

 

(There will be separate tables for food and desserts)

 

Additional, as this is a very special occasion of our 100^th Reunion, we will have an “WALDREP FAMILY PHOTO” taken.  Copies will be available for purchase. 

 

We hope to see everyone Sunday, July 4th, 2021 !!!!!!

 

Please contact me if you have any questions.

 

Cousin Tom Waldrep

twwaldrep525@gmail.com

Mobile – (770) 630-3525 – (Please leave a voicemail if I do not answer.)

James Lafayette Waldrep Family

(narrative as told by Jim Waldrep, Felton Waldrep and Lloyd Waldrep.)

In his "Song of the Chattahoochee", Sidney Lanier wrote that the river came 'out of the hills of Habersham and down through the valleys of Hall.' He could have said this about the descendants of Joseph Waldrope and Tabitha D. McIntyre. They, and three children, moved from South Carolina to Habersham County, Georgia when Joseph acquired a 40 acre portion of a land lot which had been won in the 1827 Georgia Land Lottery. This lottery was a means for distributing the land taken from the Cherokee Indians. It is probable that Joseph, a timber cutter and a farmer, sold the larger timbers from his land to loggers who were hauling them about 25 miles southwest to the town of Dahlonega where gold had been discovered in 1828.

In 1830, Perrin Waldrep became the fourth child born to Joseph and Tabitha, the first born in Georgia. He married Mary Ann Wilderson, also a Habersham County native, 1849. The minutes of the Providence Baptist Church's annual meeeting mention Perrin, Mary Ann, Tabitha and other Waldreps during the middle 1800s. This church exercised a great deal of control over its member's lives as there are many mentions of disciplinary action for things like drinking spirits, lying, cheating, desertion from the army and even visiting the Methodist Church.

James Lafayette Waldrep (Grandpa Jim) was born in Habersham County, Georgia in 1855, the fourth child of Perrin and Mary Ann. When he was 8 years old, his father died from an illness that appeared while he was in basic training with the Confederate States Army. Mary Ann, a widow at 37 with eight children, lived with various family members while her children were growing up.

In 1878, Grandpa Jim married Nancy Emily Wheeler. Her father, Hamilton Wheeler, had been killed in the Civil War also. Her mother was Mary Ann Gastley, a native of Baden, Germany who came to America at the age of nine. This is the same lady who later married Richard M. McEntyre and is prominent in Waldrep folklore as "Mother Mac".

Grandpa Jim and Emily were living in Habersham County during the 1900 census. He was employed at a local textile mill as a fireman. He was responsible for firing the plant's boiler and for serving as a watchman for the grounds and building.

Shortly after 1900, Grandpa Jim and Emily moved their family to New Holland, Georgia where Pacolet Mills was building a 5 story cotton mill. He was able to get a job using his experience as a fireman. He expanded his skills to include leatherworking since he was now involved in making and repairing the belts which transmitted power from a steam engine up a "ropeway" to line shafts one each floor and from there down to the individual machines.

The Waldreps rented a house on Highland Street in the New Holland Village around 1902. At this point, they had parented thirteen children (Ida, Tom, Mamie, George, Bum, Julia, Annie, Bob, Ruby, and Jim) with three others who did not survive infancy. Their last child (Henry) was born after they moved to New Holland. Emily died shortly thereafter in 1905, leaving behind eleven children with four already married and the remaining seven ranging in age from 17 years old down to1 year old. She was buried in the Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Clarkesville, Georgia.

In 1906, Grandpa Jim married Mollie Cash who had three children by a previous marriage. He and Mollie had one child (Guy Victor) who died before his second birthday. Mollie also died in 1908.

In 1909, Grandpa Jim married Rozillie Perry who had four children by a previous marriage. He and Rozillie had four children (Manley, Albert, Florence and Elsie).

In 1912, Mary Ann Waldrep, Grandpa Jim's mother, died while visiting one of her grandsons (Bum) in Hall County. She was 86 years old and had asked to be buried "in the closest church cemetery." Her grave is located in the Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery on highway 129 about six miles east of Gainesville, Georgia.

The New Holland Mill closed at the beginning of the Great Depression, which started in 1929. Work for cash money could not be found anywhere. Because of their farm backgrounds, the Waldreps had gardens and some of them had hogs, cows and chickens. They had food to eat and were able to trade for other necessities. Felton tells of a trip he made in a T-model truck with Jim, Henry, Manley and Doss (Annies husband). They drove to the Mincey farm in Franklin, North Carolina and loaded down the truck with green beans. Back home, they "peddled" their surplus beans for cash. The company store offered goods "on credit' to mill workers. Many of them used this benefit as a means to help support their relatives and friends in nearby Gainesville. One long-term mill hand said he "drew goose eggs on his ticket" for seven years to repay debts incurred during the depression.

Grandpa Jim died in 1933 at the age of 78. At his death, he had fathered nineteen children with three different wives and had been stepfather to seven additional children. He was buried beside Emily, his first wife, in the Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery in Clarkesville, Georgia.

Grandpa Jim had led his family away from the hills of Habersham and down to the valleys of Hall where they became heavily involved in "cotton milling." Every one of his children who reached adulthood worked in the New Holland Mill at some time. Four sons Tom, George, Bob and AB) retired from the New Holland Mill after lifelong careers there. Two daughters (Julie and Elsie) married men who had long careers at New Holland also. Some of the other brothers and sisters moved to other towns, but stayed involved in textiles. Ida moved to Cordova, Alabama; Mamie moved to Greenville, South Carolina; Annie moved to Walhalla, South Carolina; Ruby moved to Danville, Virginia; and Jim moved to Gastonia, North Carolina. The remaining brothers and sisters left the mills for careers in other fields. Bum became the Warden of Hall County Prison, Henry moved to Marietta, Georgia where he worked for Bell Bomber, then with Atlanta Gas Light. Manley became a house painter. Florence married a former military acquaintance and moved to New York.

On the morning of April 6, 1936 a killer tornado tore through Gainesville and New Holland. At least 162 people were killed and over 950 buildings were destroyed or severely damaged in what has been described as one of the most powerful storms this nation has ever witnessed. The two top floors of the New Holland Mill were demolished, but no one was killed at the mill. George Waldrep was given credit for seeing the storm approaching and moving the workers to the lower floors before it hit. The Georgia National Guard ran a "soup kitchen" in New Holland while the Mill and the village houses were being repaired. None of the Waldreps were severely injured in the storm, but everyone who saw or heard it gets a little uneasy when the sky turns dark in April.

War has not been a stranger to the Waldreps. It has already been noted that both of the fathers of Grandpa Jim and Emily died in service during the Civil War Between the States. One of their sons (Jim) served during WWI. One daughter (Florence) and six grandsons (Deuward, Warren, Ernest, Eugene, Glenn and Felton) served during WWII. Two other grandsons (C. L. Waldrep and Lawrence Hyde) served during the Korean War with C.L. continuing to serve as a Marine First Seargeant in the Vietnam War.

After WWII, more of the Waldreps moved away from careers tied to the textile industry. A number of the grandsons (Aubrey, Gene, Ernest, Warren, Richard and Earl) were involved with an automobile auction which flourished in Atlanta and expanded to Birmingham, Alabama. Some grandchildren became teachers (Ida Lou Waldrep Dunagan, Lawrence Hyde, and Eddie Waldrep) and some worked at Law Enforcement (C.L. and Buddy). Theodore Shirley became a preacher, Deuward became a career army officer, Jimmy worked for General Motors. Lawrence Hyde became an epidemiologist, Eddie became a school principal and Felton worked for Southern Bell Telephone Company, retiring as manager of installation and repair.

Today, the descendants of James Lafayette Waldrep and Emily and Rozille meet once a year on the first Sunday in July to celebrate their heritage and to renew or strengthen family ties. This event usually draws over 100 descendants of the Waldrep families who are now spread from New York to Arizona, from Minnesota to Florida, and many state in between. People you will see there are a mixture of callings which are very different from the timber cutter and farmer roots from which they sprang. Their ranks include a retired telephone company manager, a retired personnel manager from the company which now owns New Holland Mill, the wife of a former member of the U. S. Congress and Governor of the state of Georgia, a master woodcarver, a retired auctioneer, a former sheriff, a Superior Court Judge, many former and present teachers, a computer manager, a college administrator, a retired principal and coach, many skilled craftsmen and many excellent parents and cooks.

(Click on image to enlarge)

Lt. Col. Deuward Sherman Waldrep

My uncle, Deuward Sherman Waldrep was born 3 APR 1906 and died 16 OCT 1983
He was the first born to George Hamilton Waldrep and Carrie Beulah Wilson Waldrep. I have often wondered why his middle name was Sherman. In Georgia most southerners did not hold General Sherman of the Union Army in high regard due to the pain he once inflicted on the region.

After graduating from Georgia Tech where he played some college baseball, he entered the U.S. Army around 1923. He spent a career in the Army and retired as a Lt. Colonel. During WWII, he served as a warden for a POW camp of captured German soldiers in a facility located somewhere in south Georgia. I believe he may of also spent some time in Europe.

There is a lot I don't know about Uncle Deuward. After he retired from the military he bought a farm in Cedartown, Georgia where he spent the rest of his days. He married Lavonia Frances Lee (1904-1998). They had one son, Deuward Sherman Waldrep, Jr., my first cousin,who we called Chip.

I also recall the time Uncle Deuward flipped his tractor over on the farm and was pinned until he got the attention of a farm hand who heard him whistling for help. All of George Waldreps boys learned to whistle loudly in case they needed help. I remember all four of Mama's brothers could whistle extremely loud. I don't think my Mom ever learned that useful skill.

One other childhood memory about Uncle Deuward was that he admired Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, a U.S. Cavalry unit TR led in the Spanish American War in Cuba.

I was racing my cousin Terry Waldrep one Sunday afternoon along the pasture fence riding my Shetland pony named Dusty wearing no shoes, no shirt and no saddle. Terry was riding a quarter horse with me right at his heels with me showing no fear.

Mama told me later that day that Uncle Deuward told her I looked like a Rough Rider which made me very proud. I was probably 8 or 9 years old.

George Hamilton and Carrie Beulah Waldrep Family

L-R Deuward, J.C., Grandma Beulah, Richard, Ida Lou, Warren