Thomas Franklin Williams

Thomas Franklin Williams

By Spessard Stone

Thomas F. Williams was an early settler of Jackson County, Florida.

Thomas Franklin Williams was born April 11, 1849, Georgia. According to Zolena Williams Lee, he, the son of Billy and Louise Williams, was born at St. Simon Island, Georgia, but his death certificate, the informant being Arthur Lee, has Tifton, Georgia. His death certificate also has his father as John Williams; it has the maiden name of mother "DK" and her place of birth as Ga. He married Sophronia McClellan, born November 4, 1859, Worth, Lowndes County, Georgia, daughter of Morrison Bonus McClellan and Nancy (McCranie) McClellan.

Thomas F. and Sophronia Williams moved from Tifton, Berrien County, Georgia to Cypress, Jackson County, Florida circa 1889. Thomas F. Williams died February 13, 1924 at Marianna, Florida. Sophronia died June 18, 1938 at Quincy, Florida. They are buried at Mt. Pleasant Methodist Cemetery. From post office in Chattahoochee, go on Hwy. 90E for 5.5 miles. The cemetery is on the right side.

Thomas F. and Sophronia (McClelland) Williams had the following children:

1. Lula Viola Williams, born Jan. 22, 1879, Tifton, Berrien Co., Ga.; died March 2, 1943, Clewiston, Fla.; married on Nov. 25, 1903 at Cypress, Fla. in church to Isaac Hugh Stone. Her first name was originally Lulu, but somewhere along the line got changed to Lula.
2. John Quincy Williams, born Feb. 12, 1880, Berrien Co., Ga.; died Dec. 30, 1945; married in Jackson Co., Fla. on Nov. 1, 1903 Hester Eva McPhaul.
3. Zolena Williams, born May 19, 1882, Berrien Co., Ga.; died Nov. 29, 1965; married in Jackson Co., Fla. on May 4, 1904 Arthur Lee.
4. Bonus Williams, born 1884, Berrien Co., Ga.; died at age one and one-half years.
5. Bennie Williams, born 1886, Berrien Co., Ga.; died at age one and one-half years.
6. Henry Houston Williams, born Dec. 10, 1887, Tifton, Ga.; died Nov. 16, 1933; married Anna Louise ______.
7. Lou Lala Williams, born Jan. 27, 1890, Cypress, Fla.; died Dec. 1969, West Palm Beach, Fla.; married Irwin J. E. Boettcher.
8. John E. Williams, born Nov. 1891, Cypress, Fla.
9. Grover Cleveland Williams, born July 1893, Cypress, Fla.
10. Leona May Williams, born Oct. 9, 1895; died May 1983, West Palm Beach, Fla.; married R. B. Bunyard.
11. George Dewey Williams, born Nov. 19, 1897; died Oct. 19, 1928; buried Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
12. Alva Estelle Williams, born Oct. 4, 1899, Cypress, Fla; married ______ Johns. Social Securityy Death Index lists an Alva Laird, born Oct. 4, 1899, died Sept. 1974, West Palm Beach, FL.
13. Vida Elmetta Williams, born Aug. 22, 1902, Cypress, Fla.; died March 1, 1924; buried at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.

Note: When Viola Williams Stone died on March 2, 1943, she was survived by four sisters, Mrs. R. B. Bunyard, Mrs. Irwin J. E. Boettcher, Mrs. Zolena Lee, and Mrs. Alvah Johns, all of West Palm Beach; one brother, John Williams of Jessup, Ga.

Acknowledgment: Adapted from page written by Zolena Williams Lee several years before her death. It was sent by Bonceil Stone Durrence to Spessard Stone on September 5, 1980. It should be noted that she listed two John Williams. Photographs are courtesy of J. Michael Durrence.

June 19, 2002; music = Saint Saens, "The Swan."