Vivian Ann Avery

Female, recorded as both Black and Mulatto. She was the daughter of Mary Catherine Irvins Avery, and possibly of James Avery. She was born 15 October 1912 in Pensacola, FL.

Vivian’s parents first appeared in my research in the 1915 death certificate of their unnamed stillborn son. Mary was born in Georgia in 1877, and James (called “Jim” on the certificate) was born in Alabama, birthdate unknown. James’ last appearance in public records where he can be positively identified is in the 1913 Pensacola City Directory. He worked as a porter and lived with Mary (and presumably young Vivian) at 105 W. Main St. in Pensacola.

In the 1916 City Directory, Mary begins appearing by herself, and she lived in various rented properties, working as either a laundress or by renting out rooms, until 1930. James’ fate is as yet unknown.

Vivian first appears in the records in the 1920 Federal Census of Escambia County, FL. She is enumerated in her mother’s household, identified as a Mulatto female, 7 years old. She was born in Florida and her mother in Georgia, but her father’s birthplace is listed as “unknown.” As James Avery’s birthplace was given in the 1915 death certificate as Alabama, this is confusing. It means that either the informant to the census taker did not know James’ birthplace, or James Avery was not Vivian’s father. In either case, Vivian continued to use the name “Avery” throughout her life.

In the 1930 Federal Census of Escambia County, Vivian was again enumerated in her mother’s household. She was identified as Negro, 17 years old, and single. This time, her father’s birthplace is given as Spain, which is surprising.

In the 1935 Florida State Census, Mary and Vivan are enumerated at 307 S. Barcelona St. Vivian was 22 and single. He had a high school education; her occupation was housekeeper.

Vivian appeared in the available Pensacola City Directories for 1931, 1934, 1938, and 1940, living with Mary (at 314 S. Reus St., in 1938 and 1940). She does not have occupations with her listings. She does not appear in the 1936 directory, and she does not appear after 1940.

In the 1945 Florida State Census, Vivian is enumerated among the inmates of the Florida State Hospital at Chattahoochee, Gadsden County, FL. She was 32 years old, and her occupation appears to say “housewife.” It is unclear what this means. The Florida State Hospital was a mental hospital, and while there are many reasons someone might be incarcerated in such an institution, it appears Vivian may have suffered from mental illness, a developmental disability, or possibly a substance addiction.

Vivian disappeared from available public records after 1945. She died on 27 August 2006 and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Pensacola. She was 93 years old. Her obituary describes her as being “of Pensacola,” but does not list any survivors.

FAMILY:

Mother: Mary Catherine Irvins Avery

Father: (probably) James (“Jim”) Avery

Sibling: Unnamed stillborn boy

SOURCES:

Florida Certificate of Death, Florida Deaths, 1877-1939. Database. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. Index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City.

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

Year: 1920; Census Place: Pensacola, Escambia, Florida; Roll: T625_219; Page: 14; Enumeration District: 31. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. (Mary Avery)