Armorita Nell (Hildreth) Gilchrist (1934 - 1983)

Born 4 Feb 1934 in Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, United States

Ancestors

Daughter of Morgan Bascom Hildreth and Lucille (Raynor) Hildreth

Wife of Jacques Horace Gilchrist — married 7 Jul 1952 in Mobile, Mobile, Alabama, United States

Descendants

Died 20 Jul 1983 at age 49 in Mobile, Mobile, Alabama, United States

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

Biography

This profile is part of the Hildreth Name Study.

Armorita Nell "Bebe" Hildreth was born on 04 February 1934, in Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida, United States. Her parents were Morgan Bascom Hildreth (1910-1991) and Lucille (Raynor) Hildreth (1910-2004). She was their second child.^[1][2] Armorita was difficult for her sister to pronounce so she became known as "Bebe" and continued to be called that throughout her entire life.

Bebe had red hair, green eyes, and freckles. When she was a baby her mother entered her into a baby beauty pageant in Pensacola and she won second place.

She and her family moved from Florida back to Alabama between 1935 and 1938 based on information in the 1940 United States Census. They settled in the Toulminville community of Mobile County. In 1940 they were living at 293 Barrett Avenue.^[3] In 1950 they were living at 2005 Barrett Lane in the Toulminville Community.^[4]

Bebe attended Gorgas Elementary School, Barton Academy, and Murphy High School, all in Mobile, Alabama. She graduated high school in 1951.

Bebe played both piano and guitar. Her maternal grandfather Marvin Bascom Hildreth was a Seventh-day Adventist preacher, so she played music at his Saturday service, then on Sunday she would play music at the Baptist church her family attended.

Bebe met her future husband, Jacques Horace "Skeeter" Gilchrist in 1951. In her own words:

Skeeter and I met on Mardi Gras night of 1951. We had gone on a triple date. He was with another girl and I was with another boy. He liked me and asked the third boy, Randy Ryals, to get him a date with me being he dated my best girl friend at that time. Randy asked Barbara Byrant to ask me and she did. I accepted and Skeeter and I started going together Saturday night, February 17, 1951.

Bebe and Skeeter were married on 07 July 1952, in a ceremony at her parents' home in Toulminville, Mobile County, Alabama.^[5][6][7] An announcement of their marriage and a description of the wedding appeared in the Mobile newspaper. Bebe and Skeeter spent their honeymoon along the Gulf Coast. In Bebe's own words:

We went on our wedding trip along the Gulf Coast. Most of our time we spent in Biloxi, Miss. We went by car. Skeeter and I spent almost one glorious week on our Honeymoon. We stayed at Winter Gardens Motor Courts right outside of Mobile Monday night then we went on to Biloxi early the next morning. We stayed at the Delux Motor Courts Tuesday. Most of our time was taken up swimming and eating. The following time we were on our Honeymoon we stayed at the Avalon Motor Courts. The last night in Biloxi we went to a Beach Drive-in Theater. Friday morning we came back to Mobile.

Bebe and Skeeter were the parents of four children. Their daughter, Armorita Nelda Gilchrist , was born while Jacques was on active duty in Korea. Son Jacques Russell Gilchrist was born two years later. Two other children, a son and a daughter, both of whom are still living, completed the family.

Bebe and Skeeter's first home was an apartment at 1950 Clinton Avenue, in the Toulminville area of Mobile County, Alabama^{[8] [9]}

Eventually, Bebe and Skeeter moved into a home at 211 Weco Drive, Whister, Alabama. Shortly after that they moved into a home at 4307 Weco Drive^{[10] [11]} Bebe and Skeeter signed a mortage and note for this property on May 31, 1955. The property, designated as "Lot 5 in Block "A" of plat of survey of Weco Subdivision", was purchased from Mr. Roy E. Davenport and his wife Mattie L. Davenport. According to a 1956 Tax Return List Real and Personal Property, the home was described as a 1-4 room frame and valued at $1080.00 for tax purposes. The lot was valued at $220.00. Their nearest neighbor on Weco Drive was Skeeter' brother, Julius Gilchrist, his wife, and their children.

In 1959, Bebe and Skeeter moved back to Toulminville, to 613 Draper Street, to a new house just down the street from Bebe's parents' and sister's houses.^[12]

In 1965, Bebe and Skeeter moved their family to 111 Spanish Main, Spanish Fort, Alabama, to a five-bedroom home they had built in Spanish Fort Estates. The family lived in this home until 1999.^[13]

In 1974, Bebe and Skeeter were initiated into the Order of the Eastern Star, Spanish Fort Chapter OES No. 539. They served as Worthy Patron and Worth Matron for the Spanish Fort Chapter OES No. 539 for the year 1979-1980.

Bebe and Skeeter attended Southern Baptist churches throughout their marriage. While living in Whistler, the family attended the Shady Pine Baptist Church. When they moved to Toulminville, they became members of the Toulminville Baptist Church. The church they joined when they moved to Spanish Fort was the Old Spanish Fort Baptist Church. Bebe taught Sunday School for many years and worked in the Vacation Bible School each year. She also served as a Girls in Action leader, a Mission Friends leader, a Training Union teacher, worked with the children's choirs as accompanist, and helped with the activities for the teen aged youth. Bebe had stayed home with her children during the early years of her marriage. When the opportunity arose in 1971 for her to become a kindergarten teacher for the Old Spanish Fort Baptist Church, she eagerly accepted and taught for seven years. Later, she was also employed as the church's full-time nursery worker.

While her two younger children attended Spanish Fort Elementary School, Bebe and Skeeter were chairmen for the Spring Festival Chicken Dinner.

Bebe joined the Girl Scouts as a leader in 1968 and for two years served as a Brownie Scout leader for her daughter's troop. When the daughter moved up to the girl scouts, so did Bebe, serving as the leader from 1970 to 1972.

Bebe was a member of the Spanish Fort Garden Club for seventeen years beginning in 1965, and served as its president in 1980-81. Other offices she held included vice-president, treasurer, secretary. She also served on numerous committees.

In 1977, Bebe and Skeeter took a square dancing class with the Belles & Beaux which met at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Daphne, Alabama. This is an activity which they continued to enjoy for many years. They were asked to serve as presidents of their own club for 1980-1981, the year of the Belles & Beaux 25th Anniversary. The caller for the Belles & Beaux was Joe Robertson. In 1983, Bebe and Skeeter were elected treasurers for the Mobile Area Square and Round Dance Association. For their work with the 30th Annual Azalea Square Dance Festival, Mobile, AL, 1983, they were awarded a certificate of appreciation at a dinner meeting held after the festival. The program for that dinner meeting lists Skeeter as giving the blessing.

Bebe was diagnosed with metastatic carcinoma of the pancreas in 1982. Though she fought the disease bravely and with grace, with her husband Skeeter as her faithful and loving caregiver, it claimed her life on 20 July 1983.^[14][15]

Sources

1. ↑ "Florida State Census, 1935," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNVQ-KX3 : 2 February 2018), Armorita Nell Hildreth in household of Morgan B Hildreth, , Escambia, Florida; citing line 10, State Archives, Tallahassee; FHL microfilm 2,425,157.
2. ↑ 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.]
3. ↑ 1940 U.S. Census, Mobile County, Alabama, population schedule, Enumeration District 49-14, Election Precinct 10, Toulminville, p. 15A & B (handwritten), family 293, Armorita Hildreth in household of Morgan Hildreth; image, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MT-S9F2?i=29&cc=2000219 : accessed 18 Apr 2022; citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 62.

   Name	Relation	Sex	Status	Age	Birth Place	Occupation
   Morgan B Hildreth	Head	Male	Married	29	Alabama	Manager and Salesman -Advertising Co.
   Lucile Hildreth	Wife	Female	Married	29	North Carolina
   Donna C Hildreth	Daughter	Female	Single	10	Alabama
   Armorita Hildreth	Daughter	Female	Single	6	Alabama
   Morgan E Hildreth	Son	Male	Single	2	Alabama

4. ↑ 1950 U.S. Census, Mobile County, Alabama, population schedule, Enumeration District 69-6, p. 8 (handwritten), dwelling serial number 60, Armorita N. Hildreth in household of Morgan B. Hildreth; image, https://1950census.archives.gov/search/?ed=69-6&page=1 : accessed 01 April 2022; United States National Archives, online.

   Name	Relation	Sex	Status	Age	Birth Place	Occupation
   Morgan B Hildreth	Head	Male	Married	40	Alabama	Staff Supervisor Insurance – Life Insurance Co
   Lucile Hildreth	Wife	Female	Married	39	North Carolina	Home
   Armorita N Hildreth	Daughter	Female	Never Married	16	Florida	Other
   Morgan E Hildreth	Son	Male	Never Married	11	Florida
   (Living) Hildreth	Son	Male	Never Married	8	Alabama
   (Living) Hildreth	Daughter	Female	Never Married	4	Alabama

5. ↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG17-78SC : 28 November 2018), Jacques Horace Gilchrist and Armorita Nell Hildreth, 7 Jul 1952; citing Mobile, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,294,430.
6. ↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2DQ-QT7R : 28 November 2018), Jacques Horace Gilchrist and Armorita Nell Hildreth, 07 Jul 1952; citing Mobile, Mobile, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,892,842.
7. ↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG17-3VY8 : 28 November 2018), Jacques Horace Gilchrist and Armorita Nell Hildreth, 7 Jul 1952; citing Mobile, Alabama, United States, County Probate Courts, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,294,430.
8. ↑ “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 March 2019) > Alabama > Mobile > 1955 > Image 2469/15309943/978547951 > page 297 > Jacques H. Gilchrist; citing “Mobile, Alabama City Directory, 1955.” Image for Ancestry.com subscribers or Ancestry Sharing Link
9. ↑ “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 March 2019) > Alabama > Mobile > 1956 > Image 2469/14225569/881449851 > page 287 > Jacques H. Gilchrist; citing “Mobile, Alabama City Directory, 1956.” Image for Ancestry.com subscribers or Ancestry Sharing Link
10. ↑ “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 March 2019) > Alabama > Prichard > 1958 > Image 2469/14354493/892883825 > page 135 > J. H. Gilchrist; citing “Prichard, Alabama City Directory, 1958.” Image for Ancestry.com subscribers or Ancestry Sharing Link
11. ↑ “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 March 2019) > Alabama > Prichard > 1959 > Image 2469/12022413/678666016> page 276 > J. H. Gilchrist; citing “Prichard, Alabama City Directory, 1959.” Image for Ancestry.com subscribers or Ancestry Sharing Link
12. ↑ “U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 March 2019) > Alabama > Mobile > 1959 > Image 2469/12952505/765453739 > page 232 > Jacques H. Gilchrist; citing “Mobile, Alabama City Directory, 1959.” Image for Ancestry.com subscribers or Ancestry Sharing Link
13. ↑ "U.S. Phone and Address Directories, 1993-2002," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: accessed 16 March 2019), database. entry for J H Gilchrist; citing "1993-2002 White Pages. Little Rock, AR, USA: Acxiom Corporation."Ancestry Record 7339 #70536667 (Record only, no image, no sharing link)
14. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JRT2-1PN : 19 May 2014), Armorita Gilchrist, Jul 1983; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
15. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 05 January 2019), memorial page for Armorita Nell Hildreth Gilchrist (4 Feb 1934–20 Jul 1983), Find A Grave Memorial no. Find A Grave: Memorial #5457296, citing Pine Crest Cemetery, Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama, USA ; Maintained by Nelda GS (contributor 46482429).

• Paternal and maternal relationships are confirmed by an AncestryDNA test match between Armorita Nelda Gilchrist Spires and her first cousin LL. Their most-recent common ancestors are their grandparents, Morgan Bascom Hildreth and Lucile Raynor. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 1st Cousin, based on sharing 1,058 cM across 48 segments ; Confidence: Extremely High.
• Paternal and maternal relationships are confirmed by an AncestryDNA test match between Armorita Nelda Gilchrist Spires and her first cousin MH. Their most-recent common ancestors are their grandparents, Morgan Bascom Hildreth and Lucile Raynor. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 1st Cousin, based on sharing 967 centimorgans across 42 DNA segments ; Confidence: Extremely High.