Roy Vernon Pendley was born to Elias Green Pendley and Rhoda Parthenia Hales Pendley on May 28, 1893 in the town of Cartersville, Georgia. He spent his early life in and around Cartersville, Bartow County, Georgia. Roy completed five years of formal elementary school education, but he also gained additional practical education from his parents and from simply living life. In 1910, Roy was sixteen years old and was working as a laborer on a farm.
Roy met and courted Jewell Ramsey, a local girl. On January 13, 1912, they applied for a marriage license at the Bartow County Courthouse. On May 5, 1912, Roy and Jewell, who was, as I am told, of full Cherokee descent, were joined in holy matrimony by Z. T. Russell a Bartow County Justice of the Peace. Roy’s heritage was part Cherokee as well. Roy and Jewell had, as well as I can determine, ten children. The youngest child, a son named Ralph, died in infancy at a little over four months of age.
Young men of Roy’s era were required to register for the draft. The nation was in the midst of World War I. Roy registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. He was 24 years of age. He was at that time a tenant farmer employed by G. W. McLaise. On his registration card Roy is described as tall and slender, with blue eyes and dark brown hair. His wife and children were listed as the ones who should be notified in the case of any emergency.
According to the United States Census taken on January 15, 1920, Roy and his family were living on Dixie Highway, in Allatoona, Bartow County, Georgia. Roy was employed by the railroad at a stationary pumping plant. Lizzie Ramsey, 72, listed as the grandmother, lived with them at that time.
By 1930, Roy was self employed as a farmer.
In 1940, Roy and his family were living in Tilton, Whitefield County, Georgia. Roy worked at a pumping station for the railroad.
Eventually his children married and had children of their own. Roy was an excellent grandpa who delighted in having the grandkids come to visit. He thrived on spending time with them and teaching them the things he knew. Being around him was an education in itself--a fun one, without all of the homework.
At some point Roy returned to live in Bartow County Georgia, in the city of Jefferson. He passed away on July 1, 1982, at the age of 89, and was buried in New Zion Baptist Church Cemetery. Six days after Roy's passing his lifelong love, Jewell, passed away and was laid to rest beside him.