Roger Price Wilkinson, Sr. was born on July 3, 1891 near Jonesville in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. On June 16, 1915 he married Bernice Lipsey who was born on April 12, 1897 in Ouachita Parish.
From Our Island Heritage, Vol. 3, 1978, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith:
Roger and Bernice met when Bernice came to Harrisonburg to make her home with an uncle, Jim Williams.
They first lived in Parhams, south of Jonesville, where they farmed and raised cattle. The high water of 1922 forced them to move to Sicily Island where they continued to pursue farming as their main means of livelihood. Roger worked for the Louisiana Department of Highways and was elected in 1932 to serve on the Catahoula Parish School Board. He served on the board until 1944.
Bernice was a Star Route mail carrier from Sicily Island to Harrisonburg for many years.
For several years prior to her death, she worked diligently to maintain Norris Springs as a park area by working with the authorities to get the area lighted and to have trash barrels and garbage pickup for the area.
Both were active members in the Pine Hill Baptist Church where Roger was the church treasurer for over 40 years. He loved to entertain his many friends and his pals of long standing who enjoyed their domino games. Pictured in the photograph below are (LtoR) Winstead Knight, Mary Sumners, Price Wilkinson, Lucille Steele Ogden, and Doc McKay.
Roger Price Wilkinson, Sr. died on November 6, 1990 and Bernice Lipsey Wilkinson died on January 11, 1977. Both are buried in the New Pine Hill Cemetery. (Editor's note: tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)
The following children were born to the marriage of Roger Price and Bernice Lipsey Wilkinson, Sr.:
Rosemary, 1917-2007 (m. John Henry Crawford, 1909-1995); Both are buried in the New Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island. (Editor's note: tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)
Sara Nell, 1920 (m. Ellis Hunt, 1919)
John Douglas, 1921-2011 (m. Lois Berry); Buried in the Chapel Hill Memorial Park Cemetery in Jacksonville, Pulaski County, Arkansas.
Roger Price, Jr., 1926-2006 (m. Thalia Cruse, 1931)
Roger Price Wilkinson, Jr. is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. (Editor's note: tombstone photograph is courtesy of Sharon Ray at FindAGrave.com)
Record of birth for Roger Price, Jr.:
Roger Price Wilkinson, Jr. is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. (Editor's note: tombstone photograph is courtesy of Sharon Ray at FindAGrave.com)
My Grandmother was a hero to me. Our visits from Baton Rouge in the 1960,s were filled with dominoes, fishing, milking the cow, a visit to Norris Spring and Church.
ReplyDeleteHi Bennie, Thank you for visiting my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. My father and Mr. Price were big domino buddies. There are a few posts under 'The Stories That Should Be Told' where some of their domino games are mentioned. Mrs. Bernice and Mr. Price were well respected in our community. My sister and Rosemary's daughter Jean were also friends growing up.
DeleteYou are welcome. My son Tyler told me about your blog. It has brought back many memories of my childhood spent in those magical farmlands of our beloved Louisiana. We live in Olive Branch, Mississippi and we say our backyard is just a lot bigger because Louisiana is who we are and always will be. Thanks for the memories!
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