Genette Christian

Black female, 1 month and 27 days old at the time of her death on 2 DEC 1935. She was born in Pensacola, Florida on 3 OCT 1935. Her mother was Dealyer Webster born Brewton, AL; the father was listed as “Unknown” (though there were many reasons a woman might claim not to know who her child’s father was). Ms. Webster lived at 913 N. Haynes Street, which is where Genette died, apparently of complications of prematurity. W.E. Anderson signed as the physician. Genette was buried at the Escambia County Poor Farm cemetery on 5 DEC 1935 by Morris Funeral Home.

Genette’s mother was born 27 October 1915 in Brewton, Escambia County, Alabama. She was known mostly as Dealyer, though her name is also spelled “Delia” at times, and it appears she was called “DeDe” by some.

(N.B.: Just as women sometimes declined to identify the fathers of their children, women also claimed to be widowed when they were separated but not officially divorced from husbands or consorts. This spared them whatever social stigma may have remained surrounding divorce, but also freed them from legal difficulties should they want to remarry – divorce was an expensive and lengthy process, especially if it was complicated by a man who did not want to be found. Claiming widowhood also spared their children the societal judgement of having been born out of wedlock. This should be kept in mind, as several women in this family identify as widowed.)

She appeared in the 1920 U.S. Census for Brewton, AL in the household of her widowed mother, Leanna Webster. Leanna was a Black female, 43 years old in 1920. She was born in Alabama of two parents born in Alabama, and at the time of the census she was not working outside the home. She rented her home and she was not literate. Also in the household were Patsy, 24 and single and working as a laborer in a lumber mill; Mary, 23 and single, working as a laborer in a lumber mill; Ethel, 17 and single; Willie, 15 and attending school; Addie B, 12 and attending school; Horace, 10 and attending school; Paul A 7 and attending school; Delia, 4 yrs and 2 months; Cleveland Hamilton, Leanna’s 1 month-old grandson; and Leanna’s father, Philip McDonald. Philip was 69, widowed, and worked as a laborer in a saw mill. He was literate, but his parents’ birthplaces are given as “U.S.” (which means he probably did not know where they were born and was merely ascertaining to the census-taker that he was a U.S.- citizen). The family lived on Wiley Street in Brewton. All the children in the family were born in Alabama of two parents born in Alabama.

By the 1930 Federal census, the family had moved to Pensacola, where they lived at 807 West De Soto St. Leanna, 53, rented the house but did not work outside the home. Mary was still living at home, 32 years old, identified as married and not literate. She took in laundry. Addie B. was 22 years old and single, and worked as a farm laborer. Horse, 21, and Dean (who must surely be the son identified as “Paul A.” in 1920), 17, worked as caddies at a country club. Delia was 14 and did not work but the census indicates she was not attending school either. Cleveland Hamilton was 10, but not attending school.

In the 1935 Florida State Census, Dealyer is enumerated as “Adelia” in Leana’s household at 913 Hayne Street. Leana was 58, widowed, born in Alabama with a Primary school education, and had no occupation outside the home. Also in the home were Patsy, 40, primary school, working as a domestic; Addie Bell, 27, primary school, and no occupation outside the home; Adelia, 19, with a primary school education and her occupation described as “housework”; Horace, 25,  primary school and working as a common laborer; Carl Jackson, identified as Leanna’s son. [I believe this to be a misunderstanding of the name Paul” who was “Paul A.” and “Dean” from previous census records. Paul/Dean and Dealyer were both born after Leanna began identifying herself as widowed in the census, so it is my belief that their father’s last name was Jackson. Dealyer, also, later identifies herself as Dealyer Jackson.] Carl/Paul/Dean , 23 years old, working as a common laborer; Jim and Mary Webb, husband and wife, 50 and 38 years old respectively. I think this is Leanna’s daughter, Mary; Jim worked as a laborer and Mary was a homemaker. Cleveland Hamilton was 15 and identified as Leanna’s son; he had a grammar school education and did not work outside the home. (Cleveland Hamilton was the son of Mary Webster – later Baldwin – however, he listed Leanna as his next-of-kin on his WWII draft card.)

At some time during this year, at the age of 15, Dealyer gave birth to Genette and gave her the surname “Christian.”

In the 1940 Federal Census for Pensacola, the family was living at 221 East De Soto Street.  The head of household was identified as Paul Jackson, 27 years old, working as a porter in a retail jewelry store. Leanna was called “Leona” and was listed as being widowed and 54 years old – this is a mistake as she was well into her sixties by then. Also in the household were Delia Jackson [a/k/a Dealyer Webster], Paul’s sister, 21 years old and working as a maid in a private home; Barbara J. Shepherd “sister’s daughter,” 2 years old and born in Florida; Patsy Webster, Paul’s sister, 45 years old and with no occupation listed; and Addie B Webster, Paul’s sister, 34 years old and with no occupation listed. Barbara J. Shepherd appears to have been Dealyer’s daughter. I believe her father to be George Shepard; she later married Willie Sam Ladd.

In the 1945 State Census of Florida, Lanner Webster’s household at 210 E. Gonzalez St. consisted of herself, age 68; Patsey Webster, 49; Paul Jackson, 33; and Addie Bell Webster. Dealyer is not enumerated in this household, but I have not yet located her in the 1945 Florida census.

The 1948 Pensacola City Directory lists Dealyer Webster living at 1003 Hayne and working as a cook. It also showed Addie B living at 210 E. Gonzalez with no occupation listed, as well as Patsy, a dishwasher at Tasty Sandwich Shop; and Lena (widow of Henry) living at the same address. In another parts of the same directory is found Paul Jackson, living at 210 East Gonzalez and working as a porter for Albert Klein.

By the 1950 Federal Census, Dealyer is going by Dealyer Webster again, the head of her own household at 1003 Hayne St. She was 34 years old, identified as widowed, and working as a dishwasher in a cafe. The only other person in her household was Barbara Sheppard, 13 years old.

The 1950 Pensacola City Directory lists Dealyer Webster at 1003 Hayne St., working as a waitress at St. Regis (a paper company in Pensacola). Barbara J Shepard was listed at that address, working as a maid.

1950 was the last federal census to be released; however, we can trace Dealyer’s movements a bit more after that year. The 1954 and 1955 City Directories have her living at 618 N. Alcaniz and working as a stock clerk at Penney’s. In the 1956 Directory, she is listed twice: once as Dealyer Price, living at 1618 N. Alcaniz and working as a maid at Penney’s – George Price was also listed at that address, working as a laborer for the City Street Department; she was also listed as Dealyer Webster, with the same address and occupation. The 1957 and 1958 City Directories for Pensacola again list her twice: one as Dealyer Webster, living at 1618 N. Alcaniz, working as a maid at Penney’s; and once as Dealyer W. Price, with the same address and occupation. George Price, listed separately, was living at 1618 N. Alcaniz (with no occupation given) in both 1957 and 1958.

In 1959, Dealyer is listed as Delia Price, living at 3407 N. Tarrogona St. George Price is still listed at 1618 No. Alcaniz, Apt. 4; as is Dealyer Webster. Neither have an occupation listed.  in the 1960 Directory, the woman at 3407 N. Tarragona is Mrs. Della Price; George Price is at 1618 N. Alcaniz, Apt. 4 , as is Mrs. Dealyer Webster.

1960 is the last Pensacola Directory available online; the next record in which we find Dealyer is her Escambia County, Florida marriage to George Price in January 1965. George died in 1971.

Public records place Dealyer W Price at 50 Attucks Ct in 1993 – 1995. She passed away on 29 March 1999 and is buried at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. Her brother, Paul Jackson, and her sister, Ethel “Doll” Hatter, also rest there.

I have not identified the father from whom Dealyer took Genette’s surname, Christian.

Two sources give Dealyer’s father’s name as Henry Webster, one gives it as Thomas. I have not found any information on him other than that he and Leana McDonald were married on 15 February 1900 in Conecuh County.

Genette’s maternal grandmother, Leanna McDonald Webster, was born about 1876 in Alabama. The first census in which she appears is the 1900 Federal Census of Conecuh County, Alabama, in the home of her father, Philip. They lived in the Oldtown Precinct. Philip was born in April 1851 in Alabama of a father born in South Carolina and a mother born in Florida. He was widowed at the time of the census and worked as a day laborer, though he owned the farm he lived on. Also in the household were Lanna Webster, born June 1876 in Alabama of two parents also born in Alabama. She was listed as married, though there was no husband enumerated in the household, and under “years married” and “children born” there are zeroes. Philip’s granddaughters, Patsey (born April 1895), Mary (born July 1896), and his mother Cheryann were also members of the household. Cheryann was born in February 1825 in Florida of a Father born in South Carolina and a Mother born in Virginia. She was 75 years old and widowed; she gave birth to 12 children, of whom 8 were still living.

In the 1910 Federal Census for Conecuh County, Alabama, Philip Mcdonald lived in the Gravella Precinct. He was 58 and widowed, though his birth now indicates he was born in Alabama of two parents born in Alabama. his daughter, Leania Webster, 38 and widowed, lived with him. She was widowed and had given birth to 7 children, 6 of whom were still living. Her children Patsy (15 years old), Mary (13), Ethel (7), Willie (5), Edie B (2), and Harris (1 month) were also in the home. All who were old enough to work were farm laborers.

FAMILY:

Mother: Dealyer (Delia, DeDe) Webster Price

Grandparents: Leanna McDonald Webster; Henry Webster

Half-sibling: Barbara J. Shepard Ladd

Great-grandparents: Philip McDonald

Great-great-grandparents: Cherryann

 

---

SOURCES:

Florida Death Certificate of Genette Christian (No. 19994)

Marriage record of Henry Webster and Leana McDonald. Ancestry.com. Alabama, U.S., Select Marriage Indexes, 1816-1942 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2014. Original data: Alabama, Marriages, 1816-1957. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.

Household of Philip McDonald. Year: 1900; Census Place: Oldtown, Conecuh, Alabama; Roll: 10; Page: 20; Enumeration District: 0052. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

Household of Philip McDonall. Year: 1910; Census Place: Gravella, Conecuh, Alabama; Roll: T624_8; Page: 9b; Enumeration District: 0043; FHL microfilm: 1374021. Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Household of Leanna Webster. Year: 1920; Census Place: Brewton, Escambia, Alabama; Roll: T625_13; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 88. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Household of Leanna Webster. Year: 1930; Census Place: Pensacola, Escamlia, Florida; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 0026; FHL microfilm: 2340050. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.

Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Household of Leana Webster. Ancestry.com. Florida, U.S., State Census, 1867-1945 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Tenth census of the state of Florida, 1935; (Microfilm series S 5, 30 reels); Record Group 001021; State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.

Household of Lanner Webster. Ancestry.com. Florida, U.S., State Census, 1867-1945 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Eleventh census of the state of Florida, 1945; (Microfilm series S 1371, 43 reels); Record Group 001021; State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.

Household of Paul Jackson. Year: 1940; Census Place: Pensacola, Escambia, Florida; Roll: m-t0627-00585; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 17-24. Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.

WWII Draft card of Cleveland Hamilton. National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards For Florida, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 183. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011

Household of Leana Webster. National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Pensacola, Escambia, Florida; Roll: 3530; Page: 22; Enumeration District: 17-12. Ancestry.com. 1950 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022. Original data: Department of Commerce. Bureau of the Census. 1913-1/1/1972. Population Schedules for the 1950 Census, 1950 – 1950. Washington, DC: National Archives at Washington, DC.

Dealyer Webster. Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.

Ancestry.com. Florida, U.S., Death Index, 1877-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: State of Florida. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998. Florida: Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, 1998.

Marriage record of Dealyer Webster and George Price. Ancestry.com. Florida, U.S., Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001[database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Florida Department of Health. Florida Marriage Index, 1927-2001. Florida Department of Health, Jacksonville, Florida.

Death Notice of George Shepard. The Pensacola News, 3 JUN 1968, p. 12

Death Notice of Mr. George Price, Sr. The Pensacola News-Journal, 10 JAN 1971, p. 7.

Death Notice of Mrs. Mary Baldwin. The Pensacola News, 9 JUN 1972, p. 4.

Death Notice of Paul Jackson, Sr. The Pensacola News-Journal, 1 AUG 1982, p. 40.

Death Notice of Ethel “Doll” Hatter. The Pensacola News Journal, 15 JAN 1996, p. 18