The Knight and Winstead Families

The Knight Family

William Bryant Knight, Sr. was born in Alabama on October 10, 1848.  On January 6, 1869, he married Sallie E. Myers in Rankin County, Mississippi.  Sallie was born in Mississippi on June 10, 1849.  

William Bryant, Sr. died on December 11, 1912 in Sicily Island.  Sallie died on May 25, 1891 in Sicily Island.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

The following children were born to the marriage of William Bryant and Sallie Myers Knight, Sr.: 



Thomas S. was born on October 31, 1869.  He married Jennie C. circa 1902.  He died on February 14, 1960 and is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

John Henry (click here)

William Bryant, Jr. "Bill" was the third son of William Bryant and Sallie Myers Knight.  He was born in Pelahatchie, Mississippi, February 26, 1874.  He arrived on Sicily Island with his parents in 1888 at the age of fourteen.

Eula Mae was born on January 8, 1877.  On May 20, 1896, she married Louis M. Myers at the Shamrock Plantation on Lake St. Joseph in Tensas Parish.  Eula and Louis made their home in North Carolina.  Eula married a second time to a Davis.  She died on April 3, 1961 in Wichita Falls, Texas and is buried in Grandfield Memorial Cemetery in Grandfield, Oklahoma.

Tensas Gazette, May 22, 1896 - courtesy of Chronicling America

The Winstead Family

Thomas Jefferson Winstead was born in Mississippi on February 19, 1851.  In 1884, he married Juanita "Nettie" Moore.  Nettie was born on September 11, 1861.  

The Winstead family had moved to the Island a few years prior to 1888 and settled on what is yet known as the Winstead Place on the Harrisonburg highway. 

Thomas died on June 23, 1931.  Nettie died on July 3, 1957.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Record of Death for Thomas Jefferson Winstead:

Thomas and Nettie had the following children:

Thomas J. was born on December 13, 1889 and died on April 9, 1896.  He is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Berta A. was born January 1, 1885.  When the Knight family arrived on the Island and made their home only a few miles distant, it was only natural that the friendship begun in Pelahatchie would be resumed.  For Bill and Berta, this friendship blossomed into marriage on December 6, 1906. 

Bill and Berta Knight began their life together on a farm which they purchased from her Grandfather Moore.  It was here that they lived out the remainder of their lives.  This was also the same place where their son, Winstead resided after their deaths. 

Bill Knight was a farmer and cattleman, a good neighbor and friend to all.  He was a charter member of the Pine Hill Baptist Church where he attended regularly as long as he lived.  He was always interested and active in all its programs.  He was a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and lay speaker for many years.

Berta Knight was a devoted housewife and mother.  She was active in Home Demonstration work.

William Bryant Knight, Jr. died on February 5, 1956 and Berta Winstead Knight died on April 7, 1978.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

 Bill and Berta had the following two sons:

William Winstead Knight was born on December 19, 1907.  He was a retired Naval Officer.  

Winstead died on November 15, 1991.  He is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Louis Joseph Knight was born on May 10, 1915.  On February 13, 1943, he married Billy Jean Woods. Billy Jean was born on July 3, 1925. 

Louis died on February 1, 1990 and Billy Jean died on March 15, 1994.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Reference:  Our Island Heritage, Vol. 3, 1978, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith