Mary Nettie (Davis) Raynor (abt. 1878 - 1968)

Born about 15 Feb 1878 in North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Major James Raynor — married 9 Apr 1899 in Rockfish, Cumberland, North Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 7 Apr 1968 at about age 90 in Bayou La Batre, Mobile, Alabama, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Nelda Spires [send private message]

Biography

Mary Nettie Davis was born on 15 February sometime between 1875 and 1878 in North Carolina, United States. There is a conflict between sources as to the exact year of her birth. 1878 was the date engraved on her gravestone at the request of her children.^[1] However, on the 1880 Census she was listed as being five years of age which would have made her year of birth 1875. The family story is that Mary Nettie was a little sensitive about her age since she was older than her husband, so she would "fudge" her age by a couple of years when she was asked.^[2] She was the petite daughter of John Edward Davis (1851-1929) and Alice Tapsey (Dees) Davis (1858-1930). She was their oldest child.

1880 United States Census, Enumeration District 62, Rockfish, Cumberland County, North Carolina: Their home was near the river. A bridge which crosses the river near their old homestead is named "Davis Bridge." ^[3]

Mary Nettie Davis married Major James Raynor on 09 April 1899, in Cumberland County, North Carolina. John Smith, Justice of the Peace presided. Witnesses were M. A. Mason, John D. Davis, and C. D. Davis. The latter two were Mary Nettie's brothers.^[4][5][6] Mary Nettie and Major James Raynor were the parents of at least seven children. All of their names started with the letter L: Lester James, Lula Mae, Lee Etta, Lossie Eva, Luther Kennith F., Lucile (who was given no middle name), and Lessie Ree.

1900 United States Census: not yet located.

1910 United States Census, Enumeration District 55, Grays Creek, Cumberland County, North Carolina: By this time, Mary Nettie had given birth to 6 children all of whom were still alive.^[7]

1920 United States Census, Enumeration District 31, Georgiana, Butler County, Alabama:^[8]

1930 United States Census, Enumeration District 91, Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama:^[9]

M. J. and Mary Nettie Raynor were enumerated on the 1935 Florida State Census, living in Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida.^[10]

1940 United States Census, Enumeration District 49-124. Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama:^[11]

After her husband passed away in 1959, Mary Nettie began to live with some of her daughters. She would stay with each one about three months before moving on to the next. She was a tiny, white-haired lady by this time with a perpetual peaceful smile. She kept a tin of snuff in her apron pocket from which she discreetly dipped.

Mary Nettie (Davis) Raynor passed away on 07 April 1968 in Bayou La Batre, Mobile County, Alabama.^[12] She was buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Bayou La Batre, Mobile County, Alabama.^[1]

Known Children:

1. Lester James Raynor (~1900–1951)
2. Lula Mae (Raynor) Johns (1902–1970)
3. Lee Etta (Raynor) Toups (1904–1973)
4. Lossie Eva (Raynor) Wardwell (~1906–1927)
5. Luther Kennith F. Raynor (1908–1990)
6. Lucille (Raynor) Hildreth (1910–2004)
7. Lessie Ree (Raynor) Morgan (1914–1989)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123156458/mary_nettie-raynor: accessed February 15, 2024), memorial page for Mary Nettie Davis Raynor (15 Feb 1878–7 Apr 1968), Find A Grave: Memorial #123156458, citing Odd Fellows Cemetery, Bayou La Batre, Mobile County, Alabama, USA; Maintained by David Sprinkle (contributor 47391727).
2. ↑ Gilchrist, Armorita Nell. Personal recollection, date unknown, as told to Armorita Nelda Gilchrist Spires via conversation.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1880"
   citing Volume: 1; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Line Number: 00095; Digital film/folder number: 005161760; FHL microfilm: 1254960; Image number: 337; Sheet number: 478; Sheet letter: D; Packet letter: C
   FamilySearch Record: MC62-SPF (accessed 15 February 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYBL-LP8
   Mary N Davis (5), single daughter, At Home, in household of John E. Davis (29) in Rockfish Township, Cumberland, North Carolina, United States. Born in North Carolina, United States.
4. ↑ Marriage Certificate for Major James Raynor and Mary Nettie Davis, Cumberland County, North Carolina, in possession of Nelda G. Spires.
5. ↑ Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1741-2011 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC. Marriage Licenses (1806 - 1961) Image or Ancestry Sharing Link
6. ↑ "Marriage Announcement: M. J. Raynor - M. N. Davis," Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, North Carolina), 30 Mar 1899, p. 1, col. 1; image copy, Newspapers.com (http://www.newspapers.com: accessed 11 Nov 2020).
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1910"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T624; Digital film/folder number: 004973111; FHL microfilm: 1375118; Image number: 439; Sheet number: 1; Sheet letter: A; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03552-1
   FamilySearch Record: MLSN-T3W (accessed 15 February 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRKW-9LWN
   Major J Raynor (29), married head of household in Grays Creek, Cumberland, North Carolina, United States. Born in North Carolina.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1920"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Line: 2; Digital film/folder number: 004964186; FHL microfilm: 1820004; Image number: 1037; Sheet number: 18; Sheet letter: A; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01874-5
   FamilySearch Record: MXCY-7QW (accessed 15 February 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R6Z-VGY
   Mary N Raynor (42), wife, in household of Major Raynor (39) in Butler, Alabama, United States. Born in North Carolina.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1930"
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T626; Line: 64; Digital film/folder number: 004950015; FHL microfilm: 2339777; Image number: 588; Sheet number: 17; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03723-7
   FamilySearch Record: 3VFZ-3W2 (accessed 15 February 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GR4H-LSQ
   Mary N Raynor (51), wife, in household of Mary N Raynor (51) in Mobile, Mobile, Alabama, United States. Born in North Carolina.
10. ↑ "Florida State Census, 1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNVQ-KX7 : 2 February 2018), Mary Nettie Raynor in household of M J Raynor, , Escambia, Florida; citing line 12, State Archives, Tallahassee; FHL microfilm 2,425,157.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1940"
    citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 10; Digital film/folder number: 005454757; Image number: 990; Sheet number: 17; Sheet letter: A
    FamilySearch Record: V1PK-5T3 (accessed 15 February 2024)
    FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89MT-SX2X
    Mary Nettie Raynor (61), wife, in household of Major James Raynor (59) in Mobile, Mobile, Alabama, United States. Born in North Carolina.
12. ↑ "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JK3N-YBH : 15 February 2018), Mary Nettie Raynor, 07 Apr 1968; citing reference cn 9263, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,912,776.

Additional Source:

• "United States 1950 Census"
  citing Page: 47; Line: 1; Digital film/folder number: 109017731; Image number: 51
  FamilySearch Record: 6F7V-52YZ (accessed 15 February 2024)
  FamilySearch Image: 3QHK-SQHW-B42W
  Mary N Raynor (72), wife, in household of Mary N Raynor (72) in Bayou La Batre, Mobile, Alabama, United States. Born in North Carolina.
• Four Generation Chart, in Armorita Nelda Gilchrist baby book, ca. 1953; privately held by Armorita Nelda Gilchrist Spires, Ellijay, Georgia, 2019. [Baby’s Own Story, designed by Estelle McInnes Upson, (Racine, Wisconsin: Whitman Publishing Company, 1947). The baby book includes a four-generation chart which was completed for parents, grandparents and great-grandparents in the handwriting of Armorita Nell Hildreth Gilchrist, mother of Armorita Nelda Gilchrist.]