Tombstone Tuesday ~ Mary L. Mathies Arnold

Mary L. Mathies Arnold

September 14, 1874

March 31, 1936

Buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery

Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

She was the sunshine of our home.

Who was Ida Rossin Hootsell?

Date of Death:  16 May 1922
Place of Death:  Ward 2, Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana
Marital Status:  Married
Date of Birth:  July 1890
Age at Death:  31 years, 5 months
Place of Birth:  Tennessee
Father:  Willie Rossin
Father's Birthplace:  Columbus, Ohio
Mother:  Emma Guinn
Mother's Birthplace:  Columbus, Ohio
Informant:  Howard Hootsell
Length of Residence at place of Death:  Refugee from Floods
Former or usual Residence:  Clayton, Louisiana
Attending Physician:  Charles J. Gordon

Who was Evie Edwards Newsome?

Date of Death:  26 December 1930
Place of Death:  Ward 2, Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana
Marital Status:  Married
Age at Death:  42 years, 8 months, 16 days
Occupation:  Housewife
Birthplace:  Aimwell, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana
Father:  George W. Edwards
Father's Birthplace:  Catahoula Parish, Louisiana
Mother:  Alice Roberts
Mother's Birthplace:  Mississippi
Informant:  Mark Squyres
Attending Physician:  Charles J. Gordon

Military Monday ~ Marshall "Marcy" Mason Francis, Jr.

Marshall "Marcy" Mason Francis, Jr.

PFC 382 Inf. Regt., 96 Inf. Div

World War II

Marshall "Marcy" Mason Francis, Jr. was born in Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana on June 15, 1922 to the marriage of Marshall "Marcy" Mason Francis, Sr. and Nettie Smith.  He was a brother to Mary, Marcia Elaine, John, Gus and Laura Francis.

Marcy enlisted in the Army on October 13, 1942 in Shreveport, Louisiana.  His service included duties with the 3rd Battalion, 918 Infantry and the 382nd Infantry Regiment, 96 Infantry Division.

He died while in service to his country on April 5, 1945 at the young age of twenty-two.

From U. S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945:

Application for Veteran Marker

PFC Marshall "Marcy" Mason Francis, Jr. is buried near his parents in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana.

Sentimental Sunday ~ Miss Chambers and The Slide

I can still remember my first year of school.  At long last, I would get to join my older siblings on the daily trek up the sidewalk to school.

This adventure meant new clothes and shoes as well as an abundance of school supplies to stuff into my new school satchel.

My grandfather captured most of our "first day of school" treks with his old 8mm movie camera.

These old home movies were later transferred to VHS tapes then more recently to DVDs.

 





Sicily Island Elementary School was built in the l960s to replace the old three-story school that once stood beside it.

Sicily Island Elementary School - 2011

When I entered elementary school, the building housed classrooms for first through sixth grades.  There was no pre-k or kindergarten.  Following the desegregation of parish schools, the building housed classrooms for first through fourth grades, with fifth through eighth grade classrooms located at Martin Junior High.

Miss Chambers

My first grade teacher was Miss Darris Chambers.  It wasn't until a few years ago that I realized her first name was Darris.  Most adults pronounced it as Doris.  

Looking back with some perspective, Miss Chambers was probably one the best elementary teachers to ever grace the halls of Sicily Island Elementary School.  However, at the time that I entered her first grade class, the only thing I knew for sure was fear.

Miss Chambers was a force to be reckoned with.  She meant business.  When she gave her memorable warning, "I'll chew you up and spit you out the window," few children doubted that she meant it.  Literally.  I was a believer.