Husband of Alice Ophelia Harper and father of 11 children, 9 reaching adulthood.
Son of James Fleming Chapman Sr. (1822 - 1890) and Eliza Ann Burney (1853 - 1856)
Located at Little Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Lulaton, GA.

Fleming Chapman Jr. was born 4 April 1854 in Wayne Co., GA to James Fleming Chapman Sr. and Eliza Ann Burney. He married Alice Ophelia Harper on 1 November, 1877 at Little Creek, Wayne Co., GA. Ophelia was born 20 November 1860 in Wayne Co., GA to Malachi Harper and Mary Ann Jane Sikes.

James Fleming Chapman Jr. was a tall, slender man. He was a farmer early in life, working land with his father and brothers. His granddaughter, Ruth Chapman, remembers him as a thoughtful man who was always writing. He wrote a book, "The Foolishness of Poor Jim" which has two parts. The first part gives his interpretations of the bible while the second gives a collection of his poems. The book is unpublished, but here is one poem to think about:

"If a string is tied in a knot, patience will untie it. Patience will accomplish many things. Have you tried it?"
James and Ophelia had eleven children, nine reaching adulthood.

F i Mary Leigh CHAPMAN was born 30 Mar 1879 and died after 1936. Minnie married J. Pearlie HERRING on Sep 1906 and had two children.
M ii James William CHAPMAN was born 4 Oct 1880 in Wayne Co, Ga.. He died 22 Nov 1881.
F iii Eliza Sheppard CHAPMAN was born 19 Feb 1882 and died 20 Aug 1911. Eliza married Joshua A. WESTBERRY, son of John Riley WESTBERRY and Theodocia Ernest HARPER, on 5 Feb 1907. Joshua was born 30 Mar 1882 in Wayne Co, Georgia. He died 3 Feb 1943 in Pierce Co, Georgia; and both are buried in Little Creek Baptist Chuch Cemetery, Gardi, GA. They had an infant son who died perhaps during childbirth along with mother.
F iv Marion Carlos CHAPMAN was born 7 Jan 1884 and died 11 Oct 1951. 'Carlis' married Francis Matthew PONSELL, son of Thomas Moses PONSELL and Juliann Elizabeth SPIVEY, on 9 Apr 1918. Francis was born 2 Apr 1898. He died 13 Aug 1941 in Satilla River Near Waycross, Ga and was buried in Rehobeth Cemetery, Pierce, GA. Carlis and Francis had no children.
M v Green Franklin CHAPMAN was born 12 Nov 1885 and died 30 Apr 1949. Frank married Eula Estelle Harris, daughter of James Samuel HARRIS and Addie Docie WILLIS, on 23 Apr 1919 in GA. They had three children. Paul is buried at Oakland Cemetary, Waycross, Ware Co., GA. along with his wife.
F vi Annie Davis CHAPMAN was born 15 Aug 1887 and died 14 Jun 1977. Annie married Daniel Zedekiah KNIGHT, son of Abraham N. KNIGHT and Nancy E. HARPER, on 8 Nov 1905 in Wayne Co, GA. They had six children.
F vii Adelle Madamoiselle CHAPMAN was born 27 Feb 1890 and died 24 Jun 1977. Della married Ponce de Leon (James) KNIGHT "Jim" on Mar 1908. Jim was born 12 Jan 1885. They had three children.
F viii Lillian Viola CHAPMAN was born 27 Apr 1892 in Wayne Co, Ga.. She died 12 Dec 1918 and was buried in Robobath Babtist Church, Blackshear, Pierce Co., GA. She died in the Flu epidemic in 1918 along with many others.
F ix Nora Ivy CHAPMAN was born 29 Feb 1896 and died 28 Feb 1969. Nora married William Andrew (King) PONSELL, son of Thomas Moses PONSELL and Juliann Elizabeth SPIVEY, on 3 Oct 1915 in Ware, GA. They had nine children. Her 16th birthday party was a very big affair. Even her grandchildren were present! Her diary recounts some major events in her life.
F x Cora Cornish CHAPMAN was Nora's twin and born 29 Feb 1896. She died 29 Feb 1896 at child birth.
M xi Paul Fred CHAPMAN was born 30 Apr 1898 and died 13 Jan 1969. Paul married Berta Lou ALLEN "Bertie" on 16 Apr 1922, and they had five children. Paul is buried at Oakland Cemetary, Waycross, Ware Co., GA. along with his wife.

MR. and MRS. J. F. CHAPMAN CELEBRATE FIFTY-SECOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
(From Waycross Journal-Herald, Novemver, 1929)
Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Chapman of Jamestown celebrated their fifty-second wedding anniversary Friday, November 1st, 1929, at their home in Jamestown Heights. They were married in 1877. Mr. Chapman is nearing his 76th birthday and Mrs. Chapman her 69th. To this union eleven children we born, seven are living. There are twenty-two grand children and four great grand children. The guests were served with an oyster dinner.

James Fleming Chapman died on 28 February 1936 in Ware Co., GA and Ophelia died 20 July 1942. James, his wife, Alice Ophelia, and his daughter, Lillian Viola, are buried in the Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery, Ware Co., GA.

Orbituary for J. F. Chapman, from Waycross Journal-Herald, Feb. 29, 1936 (Saturday):
After a brief illness, J. F. "Uncle Sonny" Chapman, 83, died at his home in Jamestown Friday. Funeral services were to be held at the home today at 12:30 o'clock. He was to be laid to rest in Mt. Zion cemetery near Beach. Besides his widow, he is survived by his two sons, G. F. Chapman and Paul Chapman of Waycross; also five daughters, Mrs. F. M. Ponsell and Mrs. W. K. Ponsell of Waycross, Mrs. J. P. Herring of Jacksonville, Mrs. E. E. Dyal of Nicholls and Mrs. D. V. Knight of Waycross; also two brothers, Don Chapman and Alonzo Chapman of Wayne county. He is also survived by several grand children and great grandchildren. Mr. Chapman had made his home in Ware County for the past several years. He leaves a host of friends and relatives who will mourn his passing. He was a member of the Second Baptist Church of Waycross.

Obituary for Mrs. Ophelia Chapman, from the Waycross Journal-Herald, July 21, 1942:
Funeral services were held at Liberty Baptist Church near Dixie Union this morning at 11 o'clock for Mrs. Ophelia Chapman, 81, who died Monday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Carlos Ponsell. Mrs. Chapman was originally of Wayne county, but had lived in Ware county for thirty years, making her home for the past seven years with Mrs. Ponsell and the late F. M. Ponsell. Survivors include two sons, G. F. Chapman and Paul F. Chapman of Waycross; five daughters, Mrs. Carlos Ponsell and Mrs. W. K. Ponsell of Waycross, Mrs. J. P. Herrin of Jacksonville, Mrs. H. D. Miller of Brunswick, Mrs. E. E. Dyal of Nicholls; also a brother, J. D. Harper of Jesup; 23 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. Burial was at Liberty Cemetery, the final rites being conducted by the Rev. David Douglas. W. L. Hinson and Company was in charge of the arrangements.

Marriage info from Georgia Marriages 1851-1900 gives Oct 12, 1877. Family records gives marriage as Nov 1, 1877 at Little Creek (Hopewell Baptist Church) by Rev. J. A. Harper (Wayne Co., GA). Records are still there.

1900 census: GA, Wayne, Township #94