Sketches taken from the book on the Williams family written by Jeff Braxton Williams and shared with each of his children and his siblings.
"I, J.B. Williams, was born on December 11, 1908 on a Friday morning at 8:30 o'clock a.m. in Eden, Concho County, Texas. My mother and Aunts said I weighed 2 1/2 pounds at birth. The doctor said if I could live to be 8 years old I would probably live to be an old man, but he seemed doubtful at the time. My father and mother lived in a tent with a dirt floor just outside of town, as many other families did in those days. They moved into Eden, Texas before my Sister Ollie was born in 1910. My earlies collection of Ollie was when she was about 6 months old and I tried to pull her off the bed and told Mama that I didn't like her. I was about 2 years old at the time. My brother, Joel, ("Red") as we all called him, was born in Eden also. He was born on March 24, 1912.
The Moody and Williams grandparents were all living in Eden, Texas at this time. My Grandfather Moody owned a broom factory. He brought his business from Hale County, Texas in 1906. In July of 1912, my Dad decided to move to Kenific, Oklahoma. He loaded all of our household goods into a covered wagon, pulled by two(2) horses. Dad was very Superstitious, so he wouldn't move our black cat nor Mama's broom. There were some hurt feelings over that incident. Somewhere along the way we boarded a train with our wagon, horses, and household goods and arrived in Kenific, Oklahoma.
In about two(2 ) months, Grandpa Moody and family loaded their household good, broom making equipment, broom straw in a covered wagon and came to Kenific, also. For some reason they all decided to travel along with us. There was a total of twelve(12) covered wagons making the trip. Arriving in Wichita Falls, Texas. The two(2) other families decided to continue on West.
It was raining when we arrived into town, so Dad drove into the Gasnell Wagon yard on Indiana Avenue. He rented a one room apartment for us and we stayed there a week while Dad and Grandpa Moody looked for a place to farm. There was no paved streets no sidewalks in Wichita Falls at this time. There was board walks in front of the Wagon Yard and I spent a lot of time running up and down on those old boards.
Dad moved us about 31/2 miles East of Holiday, Texas on the old Finley Place. This was a large farm of approximately 350 acres with 250 acres in cultivation.
We only stayed there one(1) year and Dad moved us to Ryan, Oklahoma, where his brother Henry was living. He made a crop that year and when Harriet was born in November of 1914 we moved back to Holiday, Texas. Dad worked that winter and next spring operating thrashing machines. When the thrashing was finished, Dad loaced up and moved us back to Eden, Texas. Luther Moody, Mama's youngest brother, ran off from his home and went to Eden, Texas with us.
The latter part of 1918 we moved onto the Panther Lease, where I spent many happy years growing up with my brothers and sisters. Gordon and Lorraine were born while living there on the Panther lease.
Jeff Braxton(J.B) Williams, 95 passed away Friday, March 12, 2004, at his Wichita Falls home. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 15, 2004, at Lunn's Colonial Chapel with the Rev. James E. Mayo, pastor of Bethesda Worship Center, officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery under the direction of Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home.
J.B. was born Dec. 11, 1908, in Eden, Texas, to Joel A. and Mary Adella Moody Williams. At the age of fifteen years old, J.B. left home and struck out on his own. He moved to Olney where he secured a job with Simons Oil Co. After going to Ark., he moved back to Olney in 1930 to work in the oil fields. There he met the love of his life, Mary Fern Browning. They were married on Sept. 18, 1931, in Frederick, Okla. They celebrated their 72nd Wedding Anniversary in 2003.
J.B. worked for Hull Oil Company for 39 years as a production superintendent. He retired at the age of 75. He loved to oil paint and had painted many landscaped of family vacation spots and also had donated paintings that hang in several local church baptisteries. J.B. also loved to make working replicas of oil field derricks. In 1997, he and his family were named The Family of the Year in Wichita Falls, an honor that he considered"one of the greatest privileges we've ever had." He was a charter member of Fairview Assembly of God Church where he and his wife worshipped most of their married life. J.B. had said that their four boys and seven girls were raised with a strong but yielding hand, and a steadfast love of God.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Fern Williams of Wichita Falls; ten children, Braxton Williams of Hitchcock, Texas, Katheryn Masters of San Antonio, Daisy Weaver of Irving, Texas, Billy Williams of Wichita Falls, Glen Williams of Los Angeles, Betty Chamblin, Alta Evans, and Linda Mills-Williams, all of Wichita Falls, LaFern Williams of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Mary Owensby of Lawton, Okla.; one sister, Ollie Belle Williams of Olney; one brother, Don Williams of Graham; 29 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and ten great-great-grandchildren..He was preceded in death by five brothers and sisters; and a son Joe Franklin Williams.
The family will be at the funeral home Sunday afternoon from 3 to 4 p.m. to receive visitors.
The Williams family would like to give special thanks to the following people for their dedicated love and assistance during J.B.'s last days: Marvin Bailey, Daphne Bergman, Irma Ceballos, the Rev. and Mrs. James Mayo, Leo Mills, Freddie Randle, and the members and staff of Hospice of Wichita Falls.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Rd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308.
"I, J.B. Williams, was born on December 11, 1908 on a Friday morning at 8:30 o'clock a.m. in Eden, Concho County, Texas. My mother and Aunts said I weighed 2 1/2 pounds at birth. The doctor said if I could live to be 8 years old I would probably live to be an old man, but he seemed doubtful at the time. My father and mother lived in a tent with a dirt floor just outside of town, as many other families did in those days. They moved into Eden, Texas before my Sister Ollie was born in 1910. My earlies collection of Ollie was when she was about 6 months old and I tried to pull her off the bed and told Mama that I didn't like her. I was about 2 years old at the time. My brother, Joel, ("Red") as we all called him, was born in Eden also. He was born on March 24, 1912.
The Moody and Williams grandparents were all living in Eden, Texas at this time. My Grandfather Moody owned a broom factory. He brought his business from Hale County, Texas in 1906. In July of 1912, my Dad decided to move to Kenific, Oklahoma. He loaded all of our household goods into a covered wagon, pulled by two(2) horses. Dad was very Superstitious, so he wouldn't move our black cat nor Mama's broom. There were some hurt feelings over that incident. Somewhere along the way we boarded a train with our wagon, horses, and household goods and arrived in Kenific, Oklahoma.
In about two(2 ) months, Grandpa Moody and family loaded their household good, broom making equipment, broom straw in a covered wagon and came to Kenific, also. For some reason they all decided to travel along with us. There was a total of twelve(12) covered wagons making the trip. Arriving in Wichita Falls, Texas. The two(2) other families decided to continue on West.
It was raining when we arrived into town, so Dad drove into the Gasnell Wagon yard on Indiana Avenue. He rented a one room apartment for us and we stayed there a week while Dad and Grandpa Moody looked for a place to farm. There was no paved streets no sidewalks in Wichita Falls at this time. There was board walks in front of the Wagon Yard and I spent a lot of time running up and down on those old boards.
Dad moved us about 31/2 miles East of Holiday, Texas on the old Finley Place. This was a large farm of approximately 350 acres with 250 acres in cultivation.
We only stayed there one(1) year and Dad moved us to Ryan, Oklahoma, where his brother Henry was living. He made a crop that year and when Harriet was born in November of 1914 we moved back to Holiday, Texas. Dad worked that winter and next spring operating thrashing machines. When the thrashing was finished, Dad loaced up and moved us back to Eden, Texas. Luther Moody, Mama's youngest brother, ran off from his home and went to Eden, Texas with us.
The latter part of 1918 we moved onto the Panther Lease, where I spent many happy years growing up with my brothers and sisters. Gordon and Lorraine were born while living there on the Panther lease.
Jeff Braxton(J.B) Williams, 95 passed away Friday, March 12, 2004, at his Wichita Falls home. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 15, 2004, at Lunn's Colonial Chapel with the Rev. James E. Mayo, pastor of Bethesda Worship Center, officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery under the direction of Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home.
J.B. was born Dec. 11, 1908, in Eden, Texas, to Joel A. and Mary Adella Moody Williams. At the age of fifteen years old, J.B. left home and struck out on his own. He moved to Olney where he secured a job with Simons Oil Co. After going to Ark., he moved back to Olney in 1930 to work in the oil fields. There he met the love of his life, Mary Fern Browning. They were married on Sept. 18, 1931, in Frederick, Okla. They celebrated their 72nd Wedding Anniversary in 2003.
J.B. worked for Hull Oil Company for 39 years as a production superintendent. He retired at the age of 75. He loved to oil paint and had painted many landscaped of family vacation spots and also had donated paintings that hang in several local church baptisteries. J.B. also loved to make working replicas of oil field derricks. In 1997, he and his family were named The Family of the Year in Wichita Falls, an honor that he considered"one of the greatest privileges we've ever had." He was a charter member of Fairview Assembly of God Church where he and his wife worshipped most of their married life. J.B. had said that their four boys and seven girls were raised with a strong but yielding hand, and a steadfast love of God.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Fern Williams of Wichita Falls; ten children, Braxton Williams of Hitchcock, Texas, Katheryn Masters of San Antonio, Daisy Weaver of Irving, Texas, Billy Williams of Wichita Falls, Glen Williams of Los Angeles, Betty Chamblin, Alta Evans, and Linda Mills-Williams, all of Wichita Falls, LaFern Williams of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Mary Owensby of Lawton, Okla.; one sister, Ollie Belle Williams of Olney; one brother, Don Williams of Graham; 29 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and ten great-great-grandchildren..He was preceded in death by five brothers and sisters; and a son Joe Franklin Williams.
The family will be at the funeral home Sunday afternoon from 3 to 4 p.m. to receive visitors.
The Williams family would like to give special thanks to the following people for their dedicated love and assistance during J.B.'s last days: Marvin Bailey, Daphne Bergman, Irma Ceballos, the Rev. and Mrs. James Mayo, Leo Mills, Freddie Randle, and the members and staff of Hospice of Wichita Falls.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Rd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308.
Sketches taken from the book on the Williams family written by Jeff Braxton Williams and shared with each of his children and his siblings.
"I, J.B. Williams, was born on December 11, 1908 on a Friday morning at 8:30 o'clock a.m. in Eden, Concho County, Texas. My mother and Aunts said I weighed 2 1/2 pounds at birth. The doctor said if I could live to be 8 years old I would probably live to be an old man, but he seemed doubtful at the time. My father and mother lived in a tent with a dirt floor just outside of town, as many other families did in those days. They moved into Eden, Texas before my Sister Ollie was born in 1910. My earlies collection of Ollie was when she was about 6 months old and I tried to pull her off the bed and told Mama that I didn't like her. I was about 2 years old at the time. My brother, Joel, ("Red") as we all called him, was born in Eden also. He was born on March 24, 1912.
The Moody and Williams grandparents were all living in Eden, Texas at this time. My Grandfather Moody owned a broom factory. He brought his business from Hale County, Texas in 1906. In July of 1912, my Dad decided to move to Kenific, Oklahoma. He loaded all of our household goods into a covered wagon, pulled by two(2) horses. Dad was very Superstitious, so he wouldn't move our black cat nor Mama's broom. There were some hurt feelings over that incident. Somewhere along the way we boarded a train with our wagon, horses, and household goods and arrived in Kenific, Oklahoma.
In about two(2 ) months, Grandpa Moody and family loaded their household good, broom making equipment, broom straw in a covered wagon and came to Kenific, also. For some reason they all decided to travel along with us. There was a total of twelve(12) covered wagons making the trip. Arriving in Wichita Falls, Texas. The two(2) other families decided to continue on West.
It was raining when we arrived into town, so Dad drove into the Gasnell Wagon yard on Indiana Avenue. He rented a one room apartment for us and we stayed there a week while Dad and Grandpa Moody looked for a place to farm. There was no paved streets no sidewalks in Wichita Falls at this time. There was board walks in front of the Wagon Yard and I spent a lot of time running up and down on those old boards.
Dad moved us about 31/2 miles East of Holiday, Texas on the old Finley Place. This was a large farm of approximately 350 acres with 250 acres in cultivation.
We only stayed there one(1) year and Dad moved us to Ryan, Oklahoma, where his brother Henry was living. He made a crop that year and when Harriet was born in November of 1914 we moved back to Holiday, Texas. Dad worked that winter and next spring operating thrashing machines. When the thrashing was finished, Dad loaced up and moved us back to Eden, Texas. Luther Moody, Mama's youngest brother, ran off from his home and went to Eden, Texas with us.
The latter part of 1918 we moved onto the Panther Lease, where I spent many happy years growing up with my brothers and sisters. Gordon and Lorraine were born while living there on the Panther lease.
Jeff Braxton(J.B) Williams, 95 passed away Friday, March 12, 2004, at his Wichita Falls home. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 15, 2004, at Lunn's Colonial Chapel with the Rev. James E. Mayo, pastor of Bethesda Worship Center, officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery under the direction of Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home.
J.B. was born Dec. 11, 1908, in Eden, Texas, to Joel A. and Mary Adella Moody Williams. At the age of fifteen years old, J.B. left home and struck out on his own. He moved to Olney where he secured a job with Simons Oil Co. After going to Ark., he moved back to Olney in 1930 to work in the oil fields. There he met the love of his life, Mary Fern Browning. They were married on Sept. 18, 1931, in Frederick, Okla. They celebrated their 72nd Wedding Anniversary in 2003.
J.B. worked for Hull Oil Company for 39 years as a production superintendent. He retired at the age of 75. He loved to oil paint and had painted many landscaped of family vacation spots and also had donated paintings that hang in several local church baptisteries. J.B. also loved to make working replicas of oil field derricks. In 1997, he and his family were named The Family of the Year in Wichita Falls, an honor that he considered"one of the greatest privileges we've ever had." He was a charter member of Fairview Assembly of God Church where he and his wife worshipped most of their married life. J.B. had said that their four boys and seven girls were raised with a strong but yielding hand, and a steadfast love of God.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Fern Williams of Wichita Falls; ten children, Braxton Williams of Hitchcock, Texas, Katheryn Masters of San Antonio, Daisy Weaver of Irving, Texas, Billy Williams of Wichita Falls, Glen Williams of Los Angeles, Betty Chamblin, Alta Evans, and Linda Mills-Williams, all of Wichita Falls, LaFern Williams of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Mary Owensby of Lawton, Okla.; one sister, Ollie Belle Williams of Olney; one brother, Don Williams of Graham; 29 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and ten great-great-grandchildren..He was preceded in death by five brothers and sisters; and a son Joe Franklin Williams.
The family will be at the funeral home Sunday afternoon from 3 to 4 p.m. to receive visitors.
The Williams family would like to give special thanks to the following people for their dedicated love and assistance during J.B.'s last days: Marvin Bailey, Daphne Bergman, Irma Ceballos, the Rev. and Mrs. James Mayo, Leo Mills, Freddie Randle, and the members and staff of Hospice of Wichita Falls.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Rd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308.
"I, J.B. Williams, was born on December 11, 1908 on a Friday morning at 8:30 o'clock a.m. in Eden, Concho County, Texas. My mother and Aunts said I weighed 2 1/2 pounds at birth. The doctor said if I could live to be 8 years old I would probably live to be an old man, but he seemed doubtful at the time. My father and mother lived in a tent with a dirt floor just outside of town, as many other families did in those days. They moved into Eden, Texas before my Sister Ollie was born in 1910. My earlies collection of Ollie was when she was about 6 months old and I tried to pull her off the bed and told Mama that I didn't like her. I was about 2 years old at the time. My brother, Joel, ("Red") as we all called him, was born in Eden also. He was born on March 24, 1912.
The Moody and Williams grandparents were all living in Eden, Texas at this time. My Grandfather Moody owned a broom factory. He brought his business from Hale County, Texas in 1906. In July of 1912, my Dad decided to move to Kenific, Oklahoma. He loaded all of our household goods into a covered wagon, pulled by two(2) horses. Dad was very Superstitious, so he wouldn't move our black cat nor Mama's broom. There were some hurt feelings over that incident. Somewhere along the way we boarded a train with our wagon, horses, and household goods and arrived in Kenific, Oklahoma.
In about two(2 ) months, Grandpa Moody and family loaded their household good, broom making equipment, broom straw in a covered wagon and came to Kenific, also. For some reason they all decided to travel along with us. There was a total of twelve(12) covered wagons making the trip. Arriving in Wichita Falls, Texas. The two(2) other families decided to continue on West.
It was raining when we arrived into town, so Dad drove into the Gasnell Wagon yard on Indiana Avenue. He rented a one room apartment for us and we stayed there a week while Dad and Grandpa Moody looked for a place to farm. There was no paved streets no sidewalks in Wichita Falls at this time. There was board walks in front of the Wagon Yard and I spent a lot of time running up and down on those old boards.
Dad moved us about 31/2 miles East of Holiday, Texas on the old Finley Place. This was a large farm of approximately 350 acres with 250 acres in cultivation.
We only stayed there one(1) year and Dad moved us to Ryan, Oklahoma, where his brother Henry was living. He made a crop that year and when Harriet was born in November of 1914 we moved back to Holiday, Texas. Dad worked that winter and next spring operating thrashing machines. When the thrashing was finished, Dad loaced up and moved us back to Eden, Texas. Luther Moody, Mama's youngest brother, ran off from his home and went to Eden, Texas with us.
The latter part of 1918 we moved onto the Panther Lease, where I spent many happy years growing up with my brothers and sisters. Gordon and Lorraine were born while living there on the Panther lease.
Jeff Braxton(J.B) Williams, 95 passed away Friday, March 12, 2004, at his Wichita Falls home. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 15, 2004, at Lunn's Colonial Chapel with the Rev. James E. Mayo, pastor of Bethesda Worship Center, officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery under the direction of Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home.
J.B. was born Dec. 11, 1908, in Eden, Texas, to Joel A. and Mary Adella Moody Williams. At the age of fifteen years old, J.B. left home and struck out on his own. He moved to Olney where he secured a job with Simons Oil Co. After going to Ark., he moved back to Olney in 1930 to work in the oil fields. There he met the love of his life, Mary Fern Browning. They were married on Sept. 18, 1931, in Frederick, Okla. They celebrated their 72nd Wedding Anniversary in 2003.
J.B. worked for Hull Oil Company for 39 years as a production superintendent. He retired at the age of 75. He loved to oil paint and had painted many landscaped of family vacation spots and also had donated paintings that hang in several local church baptisteries. J.B. also loved to make working replicas of oil field derricks. In 1997, he and his family were named The Family of the Year in Wichita Falls, an honor that he considered"one of the greatest privileges we've ever had." He was a charter member of Fairview Assembly of God Church where he and his wife worshipped most of their married life. J.B. had said that their four boys and seven girls were raised with a strong but yielding hand, and a steadfast love of God.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Fern Williams of Wichita Falls; ten children, Braxton Williams of Hitchcock, Texas, Katheryn Masters of San Antonio, Daisy Weaver of Irving, Texas, Billy Williams of Wichita Falls, Glen Williams of Los Angeles, Betty Chamblin, Alta Evans, and Linda Mills-Williams, all of Wichita Falls, LaFern Williams of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Mary Owensby of Lawton, Okla.; one sister, Ollie Belle Williams of Olney; one brother, Don Williams of Graham; 29 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and ten great-great-grandchildren..He was preceded in death by five brothers and sisters; and a son Joe Franklin Williams.
The family will be at the funeral home Sunday afternoon from 3 to 4 p.m. to receive visitors.
The Williams family would like to give special thanks to the following people for their dedicated love and assistance during J.B.'s last days: Marvin Bailey, Daphne Bergman, Irma Ceballos, the Rev. and Mrs. James Mayo, Leo Mills, Freddie Randle, and the members and staff of Hospice of Wichita Falls.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Rd., Wichita Falls, TX 76308.
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