Sicily Island Descendants of Reuben Posey

Reuben Posey was born in 1854 in Lincoln County, Mississippi.  He was eight years old when the Civil War broke out.  He would often tell his children about their experiences during those years.  He could hear the cannons firing to the north around Vicksburg and to the south toward Baton Rouge.  The Yankees came through and ate up all their corn and killed six of their hogs.

He married Aby Jane Felder who was born on July 25, 1856 in Pike County, Mississippi to David F. Felder and Lucinda Martin Felder.  Aby was especially fond of ice cream.  Her children remembered how one year, although these treats were very hard to come by, they surprised her on her birthday with ice cream and a "bought" cake.

Reuben and Aby, like so many other Mississippi hill cotton farmers, were attracted to the better farmlands to be had in the bottom lands of Louisiana.  In the Fall of 1916, they moved to Sicily Island where they first rented land from Dr. Henry Disch.  Later, they acquired a place of their own on the Island where they lived the remainder of their lives.  (From Our Island Heritage, Vol. 3, 1978, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith)

Reuben Posey died on September 25, 1932 and Aby Felder Posey died on March 2, 1927.  Aby is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery.  The location of Reuben's burial is unknown at this time.

Record of death for Aby Felder Posey:

The following tribute to Mrs. Aby Felder Posey appeared in the Semi-weekly Leader, Brookhaven, Mississippi on Wednesday, March 23, 1927.  (Courtesy of Danny Peavey)

The following obituary for Reuben Posey appeared in the Semi-weekly Leader, Brookhaven, Mississippi on Wednesday, October 5, 1932.  (Courtesy of Danny Peavey)

Only two of their children, Juliette and Willard, made Sicily Island their home.

Juliette, 1883-1941 (m. Thomas Webb Tarver, 1880-1932); Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Webb Tarver obit:

The following children were born to the marriage of Juliette Posey and Webb Tarver:

Webb, 1902-1902; Buried in the New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery in Brookhaven, Mississippi.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of New Prospect at FindAGrave.com)

Amelia Revis, 1903-1937; Buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Lela Jayne, 1905-2001 (m. Enos Jackson, 1898-1969); Both are buried in the New Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photographs are courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com) 

Claude Lawrence, 1907-1995 (m. Mary Ruth Watson, 1913-1985); Both are buried in the New Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photographs are courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)
 

Myrtle, 1909-1912; Buried in the New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery in Brookhaven, Mississippi.

Wessie LeNelle, 1911-1996 (m. John Martin Watson, 1903-1994); Both are buried in the Eddicetown Cemetery in Franklin County, Mississippi.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Amos Ezell at FindAGrave.com)

Lou Annie, 1913-2005 (m. Freemon Edward Peavey, 1908-1998); Both are buried in the Easthaven Cemetery in Brookhaven, Lincoln, Mississippi.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Dorothy Tiser at FindAGrave.com)

Clara Belle, 1916-1976 (m. Lorenzo Barnabas McFarland, 1894-1963); Both are buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Pineville, Rapides, Louisiana.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of William Foley at FindAGrave.com)

 

Joel Lee, 1918-1991; Buried in the New Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com) 

Lydia Beatrice, 1921-2008 (m. Charles B. Stutson, 1913-2000); Both are buried in the Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Dorothy Tiser at FindAGrave.com) 

Dorothy Deleta, 1924-2000 (m. Denon David Cupit, 1914-1999); Both are buried in the Cooper Cemetery in Pickering, Vernon, Louisiana.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Amos Ezell at FindAGrave.com)

 Obit from Leesville Online:

Herman Dempsey, 1926-1989; Buried in the New Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

 
The Tarver family photographs below are courtesy of Danny Peavey, a direct descendant of Thomas Webb and Juliette Posey Tarver. 

Back Row:  Claude, Amelia and Lela; 2nd Row:  Thomas Webb Tarver and Juliette Etta Posey Tarver; Front Row:  Clara Belle, Lenell, Joel Lee, and Lou Annie

1st Row (LtoR):  Thomas Webb Tarver, Juliette Etta Posey Tarver, Amelia Revis
2nd Row (LtoR):  Lela Jane, Claude Lawrence, Wessie Lenell
3rd Row (LtoR):  Lou Annie, Clara Bell, Joel Lee
4th Row (LtoR):  Lydia Beatrice, Dorothy Deleta, Herman Dempsey

LtoR:  Claude, Lenell, Lou Annie, Herman, Dorothy, Beatrice, and Lee

John Willard, 1902-1991 (m. Earnestine Wactor, 1914-1955); Both are buried in the Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

The following children were born to the marriage of Willard and Earnestine Wactor Posey: 

Mary Lou, 1935 (m. Frisby) 

Edna, 1937-2004 (m. Dixie Lamar Roberts, 1918-1971); Buried in the Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

 
John Willard, Jr., 1938

Aubrey Lee, 1941