J. Fred Lightsey was born near Brunson, SC, at Possum Corner on Harvey (his mother's family) property located between Early Branch and Grays, SC. [Possum Corner is located on the Old Pocotaligo Road that leads from Yemassee to Hampton Highway 278. It is an area near Early Branch, and Lowndes Lake in what is now Hampton County, SC]. Later his family moved into the town of Brunson, SC. When his mother died and his father married his third wife, Emma Louella Langford, she was the same age as J. Fred and he called her "Miss Emma". J. Fred Lightsey was a Lutheran as was his father, Judson H. Lightsey and his mother Mary Louisa Harvey. J. Fred Lightsey was about 5 feet tall and died at age 55 of a heart attack.
He came to Fairfax, SC, in 1890, to work with the Port Royal & Augusta railroad as an agent (later called the Charleston & Western Carolina railroad). An interesting note is that when Lacy Hinely's mother, Nellie, visited Lacy at school in Fairfax, she began talking to Fred Lightsey like they were old friends because they had "talked" to each other via the telegraph when they both worked for the railroad. When Fred and Essie were married, he went into the retail business with Essie's father, F. M. Young, as a cotton broker. He served as bookkeeper before becoming a member of the firm, F.M. Young and Company. He bought cotton and shipped it to Charleston and Savannah and sometimes traveled to those places. They ran the General Merchandise Store in Fairfax, SC. Fred had an office in the back that his daughter Frederica remembered visiting to get $.05 for candy.
He served the town of Fairfax as warden and mayor several times. He was appointed by the Governor of SC as a Commissioner to form Allendale County from Hampton and Barnwell Counties (because he was a businessman in Fairfax) and to erect the courthouse. The State Senate approved the act to establish Allendale County on February 6, 1919.
J. Fred Lightsey was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church in Fairfax, SC, having been instrumental in its organization. He was an officer from the beginning and secretary of the joint council of the Fairfax pastorate composed of St. Nicholas and Fairfax congragations since the dividing of the Ehrhardt pastorate. He also served as a treasurer of the church and member of the council.
A Historical sketch of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fairfax, SC, gives the following information: "Preaching services were held for the Lutherans as early as 1893 by the Rev. J. H. Wilson, Pastor of the nearby St. Nicholas Church, which had been founded about 1804 in Jennys, SC. The present congregation was organized on Sept. 30, 1906, with seventeen members under the leadership of the Rev. P. E. Monroe. Among these 17 charter members were Mrs. Essie Y. Lightsey, Miss Hattie Lightsey, Mr. J. Fred Lightsey, Mr. J. Herman Lightsey, Mr. Judson Lightsey, Miss Theresa Lightsey, Mr. W. Martin Lightsey, Mrs. E. Amanda Young, Mrs. Elizabeth H. Young, Mr. Francis M. Young, and Mr. E. LeRoy Young. Records indicate that a frame building was erected in 1898, largely through the efforts of one man, Mr. F. M. Young." The same history also notes that Mrs. Essie Lightsey was among the few "courageous people [who] kept the church intact and prevented collapse" during the years following WWII.
In Sept. 1953, vases were presented as memorials to Mr. and Mrs. J. Fred Lightsey to Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairfax, SC, by their children.
He and his wife, Annie Estelle Young "Essie" lived all of their married life in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Young, in Fairfax, SC. Both J. Fred and Annie Lightsey are buried in the Fairfax Cemetery.
TEXT OF OBITUARY FOR J. FRED LIGHTSEY: "Fairfax, Feb. 26 (1929)--The many friends throughout the state will be grieved to hear of the death of J. Fred Lightsey at his home in Fairfax Monday night at 11 o'clock. Although he had been in declining health for several months, his sudden death comes as a distinct shock to his many relatives and friends. Mr. Lightsey was 55 years, ten months, and four days old at the time of his death. Mr. Lightsey was one of the leading citizens of this town and community, having been prominently connected with all that was for the good of the town since 1890, when he came here as agent for what was then the Port Royal & Augusta railroad, now the Charleston & Western Carolina, and at the time of the construction of the Florida Central & Peninsular, now the Seaboard Air Line. He served the town as warden and mayor several times, was trustee of the school for a number of years and it was through his efforts that the Fairfax high school was organized and has attained its present high standing. He was also one of the board of commissioners appointed by the governor for the creation of Allendale county and the erection of the courthouse. Besides his widow, who was before her marriage Miss Essie Young of Fairfax, he leaves three children, Mrs. Harry L. Lancaster, Allendale; Cadet Walton Y. Lightsey, a junior at the Citadel; and Miss Frederica Lightsey, a senior of the Fairfax High School; one grandson, Lloyd Lancaster, Allendale; Mrs. Emma Lightsey, his stepmother; four brothers, Judson L. Lightsey of Miami, FL; W. M. Lightsey of Fairfax; J. Herman Lightsey of Brunson; and Ralph L. Lightsey of Fairfax; four sisters, Mrs. D. B. Groseclose, Fairfax; Miss Theresa Lightsey, Newberry; Mrs. Mildred Youmans and Mrs. D. Leroy Brunson of Brunson and a host of relatives and friends who mourn his untimely death. Mr. Lightsey was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church of Fairfax, having been instrumental in its organization; he was an officer from the beginning and secretary of the joint council of the Fairfax pastorate composed of the St. Nicholas and Fairfax congregations since the dividing of the Ehrhardt pastorate many years ago. The funeral will be held at the Fairfax cemetery tomorrow, at 3 pm, conducted by his pastor, the Rev. D. B. Groseclose, assisted by the Rev. G. H. C. Park of Orangeburg and the Rev. R. K. Corder of Fairfax."
A second obituary printed following the services was the same text as above, with the following additions: "Funeral services, held for J. Fred Lightsey of Fairfax ... took place at Fairfax Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock and was probably the largest funeral ever seen in this section. People came from all over the state to pay their last respects to this popular Allendale county citizen . .. The floral offerings were many and beautiful, offering silent testimony of the love and esteem with which he was held."
He came to Fairfax, SC, in 1890, to work with the Port Royal & Augusta railroad as an agent (later called the Charleston & Western Carolina railroad). An interesting note is that when Lacy Hinely's mother, Nellie, visited Lacy at school in Fairfax, she began talking to Fred Lightsey like they were old friends because they had "talked" to each other via the telegraph when they both worked for the railroad. When Fred and Essie were married, he went into the retail business with Essie's father, F. M. Young, as a cotton broker. He served as bookkeeper before becoming a member of the firm, F.M. Young and Company. He bought cotton and shipped it to Charleston and Savannah and sometimes traveled to those places. They ran the General Merchandise Store in Fairfax, SC. Fred had an office in the back that his daughter Frederica remembered visiting to get $.05 for candy.
He served the town of Fairfax as warden and mayor several times. He was appointed by the Governor of SC as a Commissioner to form Allendale County from Hampton and Barnwell Counties (because he was a businessman in Fairfax) and to erect the courthouse. The State Senate approved the act to establish Allendale County on February 6, 1919.
J. Fred Lightsey was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church in Fairfax, SC, having been instrumental in its organization. He was an officer from the beginning and secretary of the joint council of the Fairfax pastorate composed of St. Nicholas and Fairfax congragations since the dividing of the Ehrhardt pastorate. He also served as a treasurer of the church and member of the council.
A Historical sketch of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fairfax, SC, gives the following information: "Preaching services were held for the Lutherans as early as 1893 by the Rev. J. H. Wilson, Pastor of the nearby St. Nicholas Church, which had been founded about 1804 in Jennys, SC. The present congregation was organized on Sept. 30, 1906, with seventeen members under the leadership of the Rev. P. E. Monroe. Among these 17 charter members were Mrs. Essie Y. Lightsey, Miss Hattie Lightsey, Mr. J. Fred Lightsey, Mr. J. Herman Lightsey, Mr. Judson Lightsey, Miss Theresa Lightsey, Mr. W. Martin Lightsey, Mrs. E. Amanda Young, Mrs. Elizabeth H. Young, Mr. Francis M. Young, and Mr. E. LeRoy Young. Records indicate that a frame building was erected in 1898, largely through the efforts of one man, Mr. F. M. Young." The same history also notes that Mrs. Essie Lightsey was among the few "courageous people [who] kept the church intact and prevented collapse" during the years following WWII.
In Sept. 1953, vases were presented as memorials to Mr. and Mrs. J. Fred Lightsey to Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairfax, SC, by their children.
He and his wife, Annie Estelle Young "Essie" lived all of their married life in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Young, in Fairfax, SC. Both J. Fred and Annie Lightsey are buried in the Fairfax Cemetery.
TEXT OF OBITUARY FOR J. FRED LIGHTSEY: "Fairfax, Feb. 26 (1929)--The many friends throughout the state will be grieved to hear of the death of J. Fred Lightsey at his home in Fairfax Monday night at 11 o'clock. Although he had been in declining health for several months, his sudden death comes as a distinct shock to his many relatives and friends. Mr. Lightsey was 55 years, ten months, and four days old at the time of his death. Mr. Lightsey was one of the leading citizens of this town and community, having been prominently connected with all that was for the good of the town since 1890, when he came here as agent for what was then the Port Royal & Augusta railroad, now the Charleston & Western Carolina, and at the time of the construction of the Florida Central & Peninsular, now the Seaboard Air Line. He served the town as warden and mayor several times, was trustee of the school for a number of years and it was through his efforts that the Fairfax high school was organized and has attained its present high standing. He was also one of the board of commissioners appointed by the governor for the creation of Allendale county and the erection of the courthouse. Besides his widow, who was before her marriage Miss Essie Young of Fairfax, he leaves three children, Mrs. Harry L. Lancaster, Allendale; Cadet Walton Y. Lightsey, a junior at the Citadel; and Miss Frederica Lightsey, a senior of the Fairfax High School; one grandson, Lloyd Lancaster, Allendale; Mrs. Emma Lightsey, his stepmother; four brothers, Judson L. Lightsey of Miami, FL; W. M. Lightsey of Fairfax; J. Herman Lightsey of Brunson; and Ralph L. Lightsey of Fairfax; four sisters, Mrs. D. B. Groseclose, Fairfax; Miss Theresa Lightsey, Newberry; Mrs. Mildred Youmans and Mrs. D. Leroy Brunson of Brunson and a host of relatives and friends who mourn his untimely death. Mr. Lightsey was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church of Fairfax, having been instrumental in its organization; he was an officer from the beginning and secretary of the joint council of the Fairfax pastorate composed of the St. Nicholas and Fairfax congregations since the dividing of the Ehrhardt pastorate many years ago. The funeral will be held at the Fairfax cemetery tomorrow, at 3 pm, conducted by his pastor, the Rev. D. B. Groseclose, assisted by the Rev. G. H. C. Park of Orangeburg and the Rev. R. K. Corder of Fairfax."
A second obituary printed following the services was the same text as above, with the following additions: "Funeral services, held for J. Fred Lightsey of Fairfax ... took place at Fairfax Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock and was probably the largest funeral ever seen in this section. People came from all over the state to pay their last respects to this popular Allendale county citizen . .. The floral offerings were many and beautiful, offering silent testimony of the love and esteem with which he was held."
J. Fred Lightsey was born near Brunson, SC, at Possum Corner on Harvey (his mother's family) property located between Early Branch and Grays, SC. [Possum Corner is located on the Old Pocotaligo Road that leads from Yemassee to Hampton Highway 278. It is an area near Early Branch, and Lowndes Lake in what is now Hampton County, SC]. Later his family moved into the town of Brunson, SC. When his mother died and his father married his third wife, Emma Louella Langford, she was the same age as J. Fred and he called her "Miss Emma". J. Fred Lightsey was a Lutheran as was his father, Judson H. Lightsey and his mother Mary Louisa Harvey. J. Fred Lightsey was about 5 feet tall and died at age 55 of a heart attack.
He came to Fairfax, SC, in 1890, to work with the Port Royal & Augusta railroad as an agent (later called the Charleston & Western Carolina railroad). An interesting note is that when Lacy Hinely's mother, Nellie, visited Lacy at school in Fairfax, she began talking to Fred Lightsey like they were old friends because they had "talked" to each other via the telegraph when they both worked for the railroad. When Fred and Essie were married, he went into the retail business with Essie's father, F. M. Young, as a cotton broker. He served as bookkeeper before becoming a member of the firm, F.M. Young and Company. He bought cotton and shipped it to Charleston and Savannah and sometimes traveled to those places. They ran the General Merchandise Store in Fairfax, SC. Fred had an office in the back that his daughter Frederica remembered visiting to get $.05 for candy.
He served the town of Fairfax as warden and mayor several times. He was appointed by the Governor of SC as a Commissioner to form Allendale County from Hampton and Barnwell Counties (because he was a businessman in Fairfax) and to erect the courthouse. The State Senate approved the act to establish Allendale County on February 6, 1919.
J. Fred Lightsey was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church in Fairfax, SC, having been instrumental in its organization. He was an officer from the beginning and secretary of the joint council of the Fairfax pastorate composed of St. Nicholas and Fairfax congragations since the dividing of the Ehrhardt pastorate. He also served as a treasurer of the church and member of the council.
A Historical sketch of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fairfax, SC, gives the following information: "Preaching services were held for the Lutherans as early as 1893 by the Rev. J. H. Wilson, Pastor of the nearby St. Nicholas Church, which had been founded about 1804 in Jennys, SC. The present congregation was organized on Sept. 30, 1906, with seventeen members under the leadership of the Rev. P. E. Monroe. Among these 17 charter members were Mrs. Essie Y. Lightsey, Miss Hattie Lightsey, Mr. J. Fred Lightsey, Mr. J. Herman Lightsey, Mr. Judson Lightsey, Miss Theresa Lightsey, Mr. W. Martin Lightsey, Mrs. E. Amanda Young, Mrs. Elizabeth H. Young, Mr. Francis M. Young, and Mr. E. LeRoy Young. Records indicate that a frame building was erected in 1898, largely through the efforts of one man, Mr. F. M. Young." The same history also notes that Mrs. Essie Lightsey was among the few "courageous people [who] kept the church intact and prevented collapse" during the years following WWII.
In Sept. 1953, vases were presented as memorials to Mr. and Mrs. J. Fred Lightsey to Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairfax, SC, by their children.
He and his wife, Annie Estelle Young "Essie" lived all of their married life in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Young, in Fairfax, SC. Both J. Fred and Annie Lightsey are buried in the Fairfax Cemetery.
TEXT OF OBITUARY FOR J. FRED LIGHTSEY: "Fairfax, Feb. 26 (1929)--The many friends throughout the state will be grieved to hear of the death of J. Fred Lightsey at his home in Fairfax Monday night at 11 o'clock. Although he had been in declining health for several months, his sudden death comes as a distinct shock to his many relatives and friends. Mr. Lightsey was 55 years, ten months, and four days old at the time of his death. Mr. Lightsey was one of the leading citizens of this town and community, having been prominently connected with all that was for the good of the town since 1890, when he came here as agent for what was then the Port Royal & Augusta railroad, now the Charleston & Western Carolina, and at the time of the construction of the Florida Central & Peninsular, now the Seaboard Air Line. He served the town as warden and mayor several times, was trustee of the school for a number of years and it was through his efforts that the Fairfax high school was organized and has attained its present high standing. He was also one of the board of commissioners appointed by the governor for the creation of Allendale county and the erection of the courthouse. Besides his widow, who was before her marriage Miss Essie Young of Fairfax, he leaves three children, Mrs. Harry L. Lancaster, Allendale; Cadet Walton Y. Lightsey, a junior at the Citadel; and Miss Frederica Lightsey, a senior of the Fairfax High School; one grandson, Lloyd Lancaster, Allendale; Mrs. Emma Lightsey, his stepmother; four brothers, Judson L. Lightsey of Miami, FL; W. M. Lightsey of Fairfax; J. Herman Lightsey of Brunson; and Ralph L. Lightsey of Fairfax; four sisters, Mrs. D. B. Groseclose, Fairfax; Miss Theresa Lightsey, Newberry; Mrs. Mildred Youmans and Mrs. D. Leroy Brunson of Brunson and a host of relatives and friends who mourn his untimely death. Mr. Lightsey was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church of Fairfax, having been instrumental in its organization; he was an officer from the beginning and secretary of the joint council of the Fairfax pastorate composed of the St. Nicholas and Fairfax congregations since the dividing of the Ehrhardt pastorate many years ago. The funeral will be held at the Fairfax cemetery tomorrow, at 3 pm, conducted by his pastor, the Rev. D. B. Groseclose, assisted by the Rev. G. H. C. Park of Orangeburg and the Rev. R. K. Corder of Fairfax."
A second obituary printed following the services was the same text as above, with the following additions: "Funeral services, held for J. Fred Lightsey of Fairfax ... took place at Fairfax Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock and was probably the largest funeral ever seen in this section. People came from all over the state to pay their last respects to this popular Allendale county citizen . .. The floral offerings were many and beautiful, offering silent testimony of the love and esteem with which he was held."
He came to Fairfax, SC, in 1890, to work with the Port Royal & Augusta railroad as an agent (later called the Charleston & Western Carolina railroad). An interesting note is that when Lacy Hinely's mother, Nellie, visited Lacy at school in Fairfax, she began talking to Fred Lightsey like they were old friends because they had "talked" to each other via the telegraph when they both worked for the railroad. When Fred and Essie were married, he went into the retail business with Essie's father, F. M. Young, as a cotton broker. He served as bookkeeper before becoming a member of the firm, F.M. Young and Company. He bought cotton and shipped it to Charleston and Savannah and sometimes traveled to those places. They ran the General Merchandise Store in Fairfax, SC. Fred had an office in the back that his daughter Frederica remembered visiting to get $.05 for candy.
He served the town of Fairfax as warden and mayor several times. He was appointed by the Governor of SC as a Commissioner to form Allendale County from Hampton and Barnwell Counties (because he was a businessman in Fairfax) and to erect the courthouse. The State Senate approved the act to establish Allendale County on February 6, 1919.
J. Fred Lightsey was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church in Fairfax, SC, having been instrumental in its organization. He was an officer from the beginning and secretary of the joint council of the Fairfax pastorate composed of St. Nicholas and Fairfax congragations since the dividing of the Ehrhardt pastorate. He also served as a treasurer of the church and member of the council.
A Historical sketch of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fairfax, SC, gives the following information: "Preaching services were held for the Lutherans as early as 1893 by the Rev. J. H. Wilson, Pastor of the nearby St. Nicholas Church, which had been founded about 1804 in Jennys, SC. The present congregation was organized on Sept. 30, 1906, with seventeen members under the leadership of the Rev. P. E. Monroe. Among these 17 charter members were Mrs. Essie Y. Lightsey, Miss Hattie Lightsey, Mr. J. Fred Lightsey, Mr. J. Herman Lightsey, Mr. Judson Lightsey, Miss Theresa Lightsey, Mr. W. Martin Lightsey, Mrs. E. Amanda Young, Mrs. Elizabeth H. Young, Mr. Francis M. Young, and Mr. E. LeRoy Young. Records indicate that a frame building was erected in 1898, largely through the efforts of one man, Mr. F. M. Young." The same history also notes that Mrs. Essie Lightsey was among the few "courageous people [who] kept the church intact and prevented collapse" during the years following WWII.
In Sept. 1953, vases were presented as memorials to Mr. and Mrs. J. Fred Lightsey to Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairfax, SC, by their children.
He and his wife, Annie Estelle Young "Essie" lived all of their married life in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Young, in Fairfax, SC. Both J. Fred and Annie Lightsey are buried in the Fairfax Cemetery.
TEXT OF OBITUARY FOR J. FRED LIGHTSEY: "Fairfax, Feb. 26 (1929)--The many friends throughout the state will be grieved to hear of the death of J. Fred Lightsey at his home in Fairfax Monday night at 11 o'clock. Although he had been in declining health for several months, his sudden death comes as a distinct shock to his many relatives and friends. Mr. Lightsey was 55 years, ten months, and four days old at the time of his death. Mr. Lightsey was one of the leading citizens of this town and community, having been prominently connected with all that was for the good of the town since 1890, when he came here as agent for what was then the Port Royal & Augusta railroad, now the Charleston & Western Carolina, and at the time of the construction of the Florida Central & Peninsular, now the Seaboard Air Line. He served the town as warden and mayor several times, was trustee of the school for a number of years and it was through his efforts that the Fairfax high school was organized and has attained its present high standing. He was also one of the board of commissioners appointed by the governor for the creation of Allendale county and the erection of the courthouse. Besides his widow, who was before her marriage Miss Essie Young of Fairfax, he leaves three children, Mrs. Harry L. Lancaster, Allendale; Cadet Walton Y. Lightsey, a junior at the Citadel; and Miss Frederica Lightsey, a senior of the Fairfax High School; one grandson, Lloyd Lancaster, Allendale; Mrs. Emma Lightsey, his stepmother; four brothers, Judson L. Lightsey of Miami, FL; W. M. Lightsey of Fairfax; J. Herman Lightsey of Brunson; and Ralph L. Lightsey of Fairfax; four sisters, Mrs. D. B. Groseclose, Fairfax; Miss Theresa Lightsey, Newberry; Mrs. Mildred Youmans and Mrs. D. Leroy Brunson of Brunson and a host of relatives and friends who mourn his untimely death. Mr. Lightsey was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church of Fairfax, having been instrumental in its organization; he was an officer from the beginning and secretary of the joint council of the Fairfax pastorate composed of the St. Nicholas and Fairfax congregations since the dividing of the Ehrhardt pastorate many years ago. The funeral will be held at the Fairfax cemetery tomorrow, at 3 pm, conducted by his pastor, the Rev. D. B. Groseclose, assisted by the Rev. G. H. C. Park of Orangeburg and the Rev. R. K. Corder of Fairfax."
A second obituary printed following the services was the same text as above, with the following additions: "Funeral services, held for J. Fred Lightsey of Fairfax ... took place at Fairfax Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock and was probably the largest funeral ever seen in this section. People came from all over the state to pay their last respects to this popular Allendale county citizen . .. The floral offerings were many and beautiful, offering silent testimony of the love and esteem with which he was held."
Inscription
J. Fred Lightsey
April 21, 1873
Feb 25, 1929
His Gravestone includes a mason symbol of the compass and square with the letter G.
Gravesite Details
Husband of Estelle Young Lightsey
Family Members
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