Sunday's Obituary: Mrs. M.M. Russell (Jeannette Keys)

Manassas Journal
January 4, 1924

DEATH OF MRS. RUSSELL

Aged Independent Hill Resident Buried New Year's Day

Mrs. M. M. Russell died on Sunday at her home near Independent Hill. She had been ill about seven months and for three weeks had been in a critical condition. She was in her eightieth year.

Funeral services were conducted on Tuesday at Oak Grove cemetery by Elder W.M. Smoot, of Occoquan, who took his text from the eleventh chapter of John. The pallbearers were Messrs. Andrew Kincheloe, Eli Kincheloe, Bence Cole, Charles A. Barbee, Thomas Holman and Robert Cornwell.

Mrs. Russell, who before marriage was Miss Jeannette Keys, was born December 8, 1844, at Occoquan. At the age of eleven she moved with her parents to their place near Nelson's mill. She was married to Mr. Russell, December 22, 1878, and up to the time of her death made her home within two miles of Independent Hill.

She is survived by  her husband and by three sons and a daughter, Messrs. Thomas M. and James M. Russell, of Canova; Mr. G. Cleveland Russell, of Agnesville,. and Mrs. Ruth Russell, of Minnieville. She also leaves ten grandchildren, one little grandchild (Walton, baby son of her granddaughter, Mrs. Max Weber), two sisters, Mrs. Sophie Abel, of Quantico, and Mrs. Nellie Posey, of Hoadly, and two brothers, Mr. Jack Keys, of Dumfries, and Mr. Evandon Keys, of Joplin.

Newspaper Tidbit: Enjoyable Reunion

Manassas Democrat
11 July 1912

ENJOYABLE REUNION

A most enjoyable and successful family reunion was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Wenrich on Grant Avenue last Sunday. The occasion was in honor of the happy young bridal couple, Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Wenrich, who had returned home late Saturday evening from their interesting trip. A royal welcome awaited them and the Wenrich family again demonstrated their genuine Southern hospitality.

Those present were: Judge and Mrs. J. B. T. Thornton, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Hibbs, Misses Kath and Margaret Hibbs, Master Franklin Hibbs, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson N. Wenrich and little daughter, Winnie, Misses May and Evelyn Wenrich, of Manassas; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Weber, Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Klep and Miss Holer, of Washington; Rev. J. K. Efird. of Saddle River, N.J.; Mr. Thomas Watkins, of Alexandria and Mrs. White, of The Plains.

Society Saturday: Independent Hill Items (21 December 1917)

Manassas Journal
21 December 1917

Independent Hill

An ice cream and box social will be held at Hayfield School tomorrow evening for the benefit of the School and Civic League. A very interesting program is to be rendered, including a popular girl contest. The young ladies are requested to bring boxes and cakes. The public is cordially invited to attend.

A party was given recently at the home of Mr. David Copen. Among the guests from this section were Mr. and Mrs. Philip Weber, Miss Lillian Garrison, Messrs. Earl Lynn, Austin Greenwood, Newton Sayers, Richard Thorp, Max Weber and Leslie Merritt.

Miss Lillian Greenwood has been visiting relatives in Washington.

Mr. John Norman has moved to Dumfries.

Miss Mary Weber, who teaches at Purcell, will spend the holidays with her parents.

Friday's Faces from the Past: Woodbine Baptist Church

As Woodbine Church prepares to celebrate its 140th Anniversary, it seemed appropriate to post a photo of its congregation from the late 1930's.  The group is standing at the front door of the original 1875 one-room church building.

Many thanks to Miss Jane Abel, a long-time member of Woodbine's congregation (she's the little gal with the bow in the picture) for sharing her photo!

Miss Jane tried her best to remember the names of everyone in the picture but there are a few she was unable to identify.  Do you recognize any of the faces in this photo?

Woodbine Baptist Church Congregation (approx 1938)
Photo courtesy of Jane Abel (used with permission)

Front Row (left to right) - Little girl, Vernon Beavers, little girl, Bill Posey, Gloria Weber, Billy Zackey, Margie Cornwell, Penny (Hattie Warren's foster child)

Middle Row - Rev. Howard Caviness, Helen Beavers, Geneva Jones and baby, Minnie Posey and Bobby, woman with baby, Jane Abel (wearing the little bow), David Abel (little boy below), Lillian Abel and Frankie, Annie Zackey, unidentified man

Back Row - Louise Beavers Cornwell and Denny, Joyce Beavers Jones and son, woman with baby, Hattie Abel Warren and Betty Lou, woman with baby.

EVENT REMINDER:  

Pastor Gene Wells and the congregation of Woodbine Church invite the Community to celebrate their 140th Anniversary on Saturday, 23 May 2015, from Noon until Three.  The event is open to the public and admission is FREE!

Wednesday's Child: Goldie Weber

Woodbine Church Cemetery, Independent Hill, VA

GOLDIE WEBER

February 22, 1914

July 11, 1923

Goldie Weber was the daughter of Philip and Gertrude Weber.  She is age five with her parents on the 1920 federal census for Coles District.