Lewis Miles Delph parents were William Simpson Delph 1873 – 1950 and Rebecca R. Reese 1873.

His 7 siblings were: Patton Delph 1897; Amanda Delph 1897 – 1972; Joseph Emory Delph 1902 – 1961; Grover Cleveland Delph 1907 – 1989; Dee Whitt Delph 1909 – 1996; Nannie Ethel Delph 1910 and Belle Delph 1921

When he was 22 years old, Bessie Mae Johnson, age 14 accepted the proposal of marriage from Lewis Miles Delph. They were married 9 April 1916 in Lee Co, Virginia.

Bessie presented him 15 babies. They were: Bascomb Slemp Delph 1917 – 2005; Lloyd D Delph 1919 – 2007; Virgie C Delph 1922; Harvey Roscoe Delph 1922 - 2013; Kathleen M Delph 1925 – 2009; Lillie Belle Delph 1927; Ettie Delph 1929 – 1931; Betha Delph 1932 – 1933; L D Delph 1933; Cleo Annie Delph 1935; Velva Leora Delph 1937; Juna Delph 1939 –1939; Lorene Helen Delph 1940 – 2007; Erma Delph 1942; and Foy Mack Delph 1945.

The 1920 census confirmed that they were renting a house near Rose Hill, Lee, Virginia, and Lewis working out as a farm laborer. They had 2 children. Little Bascomb was a toddler of 2 and Lloyd, a baby of 3 months.

By 1930 the family had moved to Jonesville, Lee County, Virginia. They had rented a house on a farm, and Lewis was employed as a general farmer. The 4 oldest children, Bascomb, Lloyd, Virgie and Harvey were attending school. Kathleen was 5, Lilly was a toddler of 3, and the babe, Ettie was 1 year old.

Sometime in 1931 Lewis, Bessie and the family were anguished by the death of dear little Ettie.

Bessie had presented Lewis with another baby on April 20, 1931. They named her Betha. Betha was not destined to be with them long.

Sometime in 1933, again they were sorrowed by sweet little Betha's death.

On June 6, 1939, baby Juna was born. Sadly she returned to God's presence two hours after her birth. Unfortunately history does not tell the cause of their deaths, or where they were buried.

The 1940 census revealed that they were living on Road 64 in rural Black Water, Jonesville, Virginia. Lewis had a public emergency job on a government road project. He had been out of work for 32 weeks having only worked in 1939 for 20 weeks and only earned $230 for those weeks. Bascomb was farming and the other boys were not working. They had 3 additions (still living) to the family since the 1930 census. L.D. who was 7, Cleo who was 5, and Velva Leora who was 3. This census also told how much schooling each family member had. Lewis had finished 3rd grade, his wife Bessie had finished 5th grade, Bascomb, Lloyd and Harvey had finished 3rd grade, Kathleen had finished 4th grade, Lillie was in 3rd grade and L.D. was in 1st grade.

Written historical records do not reveal when Lewis and Bessie moved to Mooresburg, Hawkins Co., Tennessee, but oral family history puts it to be in the early to mid 1940's since many of the children attended school at the Lake View Elementary School with in walking distance of the farm they rented there.

They were also in walking distance of Gills Chapel Baptist Church, where many of the family accepted Jesus as their savior and remained members until their death.

Oral family history also reveals that the family moved to the Big Creek area of Surgoinsville, Hawkins County TN probably in the late 50's or early 60's where they rented property after Lewis retired from farming.

Sometime in the mid 60's Lewis and Bessie purchased a small home located in the Henard Town area of Rogersville TN where they lived until their health required them to move into the home of their daughter, Velva Leora Delph Jones, also of Rogersville, TN where they lived until their respective deaths. The Social Security Death Index confirms that Rogersville is where they died.

Sept. 15, 1973, proved to be a very sad day for Bessie and the Delph family. Lewis Miles Delph passed away after a long hard battle with bone cancer.Prior to his death, Lewis had also suffered a heart attack. A grave was selected for his final resting place in the Highland Cemetery.

Bessie's family and friends joined her at his grave site to place the earthly body of her beloved Lewis to rest, as they looked forward to a great family reunion at the return of Christ. (bio by Audrey Decamp Hoffman)(Additions were made by grand daughter Deborah Jones Tapp)