I remember

I sometimes think that my great-grandmother Mama Brock wanted to be a writer. She died when I was very young so I did not get the opportunity to really get to know her. Among my grandmother's things (Laura Winifred Brock Hayes) I found papers written by Mama Brock, almost like she was keeping a journal but all the pages are scattered. "Mama Brock" Edna Lillian Rainwater Brock was born May 12, 1885 and she died March 30, 1978. 

I am grateful that she kept record of some of her life. Here in 2011 it is sometimes hard to picture a school without a restroom or running water. A school that only lasts a few months a year. I wonder what they would think if they knew that today's schools are trying to be extended to 12 months a year. 

Here I am posting a few pages that she wrote. These were hand written by her so I had to try and decipher it the best I could because the pages are faded and at places really hard to read. 

I hope you enjoy! 

God Bless!

I Remember

I remember when I was younger than I am now, say 65 years past. We only had meetings once a month, we had Sunday school every Sunday. Bethlehem Baptist was just one large room, no bathroom facilities in units the only heat we had was two wood stoves in either side of church our lights were small kerosene lamps hung on the walls with a reflector in back of them. Our Baptismal was either a pond, the river as a pool a half mile from the church. The Rev. Will Milles Baptized me in August of 1898 along with 24 others. I was between 12 and 13 years old. We would walk 2 and three miles to church also to school. We also just had a one room school house and wood heaters. We only had five months of school per year. three in winter and two in summer but I loved to go to school and have always loved going to church, people in those days suffered except a very few that was considered rich and they didn't have any more conveniences that a poor person just maybe more expensive things and more food, and better houses.

When I was a little girl canning fruits and vegetable was unknown they dried fruits and vegetable killed and cured a lot of meat raised there own chickens and milked their own cows. So they had plenty food but no hamburgers or other junk that most young people live on today.

We had to either do our wash at a spring or draw water, put cloths in a 12 or 15 gallon Iron wash pot and rub them on a rub board. Our heat in the home was a fire place with a chimney we heated our Irons by the fire to iron with, we were lucky if they were ironed good without a little smut on them, families stayed closer together then. We had our Bible and we read it often, because their was not papers coming to your doors everyday to read. We would go to a country post office one or twice a week to mail letters, and pick up mail.

The Rainwater Reunions by Mama Brock -- 1962

As far as I know the Rainwater's from Old Campbell county still have a family reunion every year.  I found some reunion recaps in my great-grandmothers Edna Lillian Rainwater Brock's papers. Here I will retype what "Mama Brock" wrote about the Rainwater Family reunions

In the words of Edna Lillian Rainwater Brock (May 20, 1962)

As I remember, our first reunions were held at the old Hammond place, known as Grandma Hammond's home. Back when I was a teenage girl, I believe we would meet on Grandma's birthday. When Aunt Lizzie Campbell's children and Mother's and Dad's children grew up and married and Grandma passed on, then we started the Rainwater reunion. Now there is a Campbell reunion, a Hammond reunion, and a Rainwater reunion. So I suppose we have always tried to have a family get-to-gather once a year.At first we would bring a covered dish, but Mother would prepare the most of the lunch in the big old kitchen, and the older once would eat first, the children would have to wait and take the scraps.

The children (our children) would slip out at the old big rock and slide, or go to the spring and muddy up the spring, and climb trees. The little girls would sneak around and pull Grandma's flowers. Those children are here today, some even grandparents. The most outstanding reunion was April 11, 1933, Dad's and Mother's 50th wedding anniversary. On that date three of Dad's sisters, Aunt Kate Tarrance, Aunt Crissie Duggan and Aunt Callie Short, were present. Aunt Lizzie Campbell, Aunt Maggie Duncan, and Uncle Ed Hammond on Mother's side were present. A large crowd of relatives and friends were at the old home to congratulate and be with them on that date. Since that occasion, we have always tried to meet, at the first as nearly as we could on Mother's and Brother Jim's birthday.

In 1940 Brother Jim called order and we had conference. The following officers were elected: Brother Jim elected president, Edna Brock, secretary, Ida Cochran, treasurer. We were to take up a collection for flowers or emergency fund. We agreed to meet the third Sunday in May.

Since our first reunion, our families have grown until it is almost impossible to give an account of the births, marriages, graduations, and deaths. I am listing the deaths as best I can remember them.

• Annie Myra Rainwater (April, 1930)
• Charlie Rainwater (August, 1932)
• Annie Rainwater (August, 1936)
• Glenn Dailey (1943)
• Dad (July 16, 1944)
• Henley and Montese Camp's Baby 
• Henley Camp was killed in service
• Lamora Rainwater (1938)
• Horrice Drake (Estelle's 1st husband)
• Mother (January 1, 1955)
• Essie Rainwater (March, 1955)
• Brother Jim Rainwater (March 1955)
• Robert Rainwater (November, 1958)
• Grace Rainwater Laster (October 24, 1959)
• Tom Brock (January 4, 1961)
• Russell Dailey (March, 1961)
• Alphred Brock (1962)
• Bertie Rainwater (1962)
• Eleanor Dailey Fuller's Baby (1962)

We elected new officers in May, 1961 as follows: Clyde Rainwater, president, Lillian Rainwater Pierce, Secretary, Ella Rainwater, treasurer

'Granny' Rainwater's Rites in Fairburn -- "1955"

This article is the obituary for my great-great-grandmother Mary Ann Hammond "Rainwater". She was born April 27, 1857 and died January 1, 1955. She was married to Ephriam Dawson Rainwater.

194 SURVIVORS

‘Granny’ Rainwater’s Rites in Fairburn

Funeral services for 97-year-old Mrs. E.D. Rainwater of Fairburn, one of Fulton County’s oldest citizens, were held Monday at 2:30 p.m. at the Bethlehem Baptist Church.

The Rev. Toombs McGaughey, the Rev. W.L. Dillard and the Rev. W. E. Woody officiated with burial in the churchyard.

Mrs. Rainwater died Saturday at her home, leaving a total of 194 immediate survivors.

Known affectionately as “Granny,” or “Aunt Ann,” She lived all her life within a radius of three miles of Fairburn.

She recalled running from the Yankees during the War Between the States during the siege of Campbelltown.

*  *  *

Until She became bedridden about three months ago, Mrs. Rainwater spent her time either reading her Bible and postcards she got from friends, or crocheting “Bible markers” in the shape of the cross. She had been a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church 75 years.

Members of her family said her mind was clear until the very end.

Granny was proud of the fact that she had read the Bible, given to her by a son, through 10 times. She frequently read it to one or other of her 10 children, 65 grandchildren, 108 great-grand-children, or 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Known to about everyone in South Fulton County, she lived on Clark Rd. She was married to E.D. Rainwater for 69 years before his death in 1944.

*  *  *

Her Birthday in April brought her large family together for an annual reunion each year.

Her survivors include sons, J. B. and A.D. Rainwater of College Park, H.C. and F.B. Rainwater of Atlanta and G.F. Rainwater of Fairburn, and A.C. Rainwater of Hapeville;  daughters, Mrs. Hugh Dailey of College Park, Mrs. J.H. Cochran of Fairburn, Mrs. Tommy Brock and Mrs. R.C. Campbell of Atlanta; sister, Mrs. Maggie E. Duncan of Waycross, and a brother, the Rev. E.G. Hammond of Atlanta.

Grave Is Marked for Beloved, But Forgotten, Local Citizen

I am not sure of the date that this was published but it ran in the Atlanta Journal. A.D. Rainwater was my great, great uncle and Rev James Rainwater is my fourth great-grandfather on my patrilineal grandmother's side. I have more information on this family if anyone is interested.

Grave Is Marked for Beloved, But Forgotten, Local Citizen

By A. D. Rainwater

Down at Ramah church cemetery near Palmetto, lie the ashes of Rev. James Rainwater, whose grave was almost obliterated and whose memory was almost in oblivion for all who knew him have passed away.

Rev. Rainwater was born in South Carolina in 1796, while our first President George Washington was still living. He moved his family to Old Campbell County and located four miles from Palmetto in a little place know as Petersburg, where he became a large plantation and slave owner, owning all the land from there to Palmetto.

He reared a large family consisting of six daughters and three sons, who also married and reared families which now number in the thousands, many of whom have proved to be good and useful citizens. Some of the better known and distinguished descendants were the late Rev. Miles Mason and his son Walter, who was office manager or  a large Atlanta Commercial concern;  the late Col. J. F. Golightly; Rev. Joe Duncan; Jet Luck, who was once tax collector of Old Campbell County.

Then there are those of a more recent era -- the late Miss Mattie Luck who spent most of her life teaching school; Mr Urvyl Golightly, head teller for First National Bank at Five Points; Dr. Tom Luck, Druggist and former Mayor of Carrollton; Judge Thomas L. Camp and his sister, Mrs. Annie Sarah Johnston, teacher and wife of Hon. Robert H. Johnston, Mayor of Fairburn; they were the children of the late Sheriff Tom W, Camp and Mrs. Lula Duggan Camp; Mayor James A Rainwater, United States Air Force; Opal Rainwater Bundy, U. S. Nurse Corps. Rev. Gene Dailey and others.

    Rev. James Rainwater, while a slave owner, was not a slave driver. He often went to the field and took the front row, leading them and when the Civil War ended and the slaves were free, they didn’t want to leave him. But he dismissed them with his blessing and enough money to get started on their own. But “Uncle Gill” stayed around with the family where he was cared for until his death.

    Rev. James Rainwater preached twenty-five years each at Macedonia Baptist Church in Coweta County. (Pineywood) now Providence Baptist Church at Rico, and another church near Villa Rica, where he met and married his last wife, the widow Dobbs, sister of the late Judge John S. and Asa G. Candler’s father and mother of the late Samuel Dobbs, who was president to the Coca Cola Company.

His first wife Polly was the mother of all his children died in 1858.

He pastored Ramah Church twenty-six years until he was so feeble he had to be tied in an arm chair to preach his farewell sermon. He died in 1871.

Instead of the old, rusted cut iron grave cover, there are now neat but inexpensive, granite markers at his and his wife's graves. The plot is enclosed with cement blocks and covered with cement to keep down the weeds. This is covered with crushed marble. Now those of you who know you are descendants of this great and honorable man as well as those who never knew such a man lived may visit his grave and feel proud that you are one of his descendents.

The Cyclone of 1929

I found this in a stack of my grandmother papers when she passed away. Due to the recent storm activity I decided that I would post this. This storm took place in Fairburn, Fulton County, Georgia. This was my Great Grandma and Grandpa Edna and Tommie Brock, Winnie is my Grandmother.

Toy of the Winds--  When a cyclone completely demolished the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Brock, near Fairburn, Ga., recently, their seven children who were in the house at the time were left unhurt. (Earnest Astin)

An Account Of The Cyclone  

On March 23, 1929, Saturday morning about five-thirty o’clock, without a moments warning a cyclone came from the south-west and in a moments time completely destroyed the home of Tommie Brock, 41 years old, and family; wife Edna Brock age 43, Vivian age 16 ½, Ruth age 15, Winnie age 14, Edward age 11, Muriel age 9, Earl age 6, and Pallie age 4. The whole family was unhurt except for a few bruises and being shocked.

Most to the furniture was crushed and destroyed; a lot of the clothing was ruined. The house was a four-room bungalow with an eight foot hall, no porches; age of house 18 years old. A barn, smoke house, wash house, toilet, hen house, fruit trees and a lot of large pine and oak trees were blown down. One hog, two cows, one calf, nineteen chickens and two ducks were saved - lost only twenty little chickens, two hens and one duck.

All were up except Vivian, Muriel and Pallie. The beds they were in were torn up, the iron posts were wrenched in two. The bed stead was snatched out from under Vivian leaving her on some limbs where an oak tree had blown down. A feather bed was then placed over her then she as covered up in about ten foot deep of the pieces from the building. It took six men about thirty minutes to cut and remove the lumber before she could get out. It wasn’t raining during the first of the cyclone, but before the cyclone all passed the rain fell awful hard and we were nearly drowned, except Vivian wasn’t even wet. The stack chimney fell, and the floor of the house was moved about seventy feet from the foundation, going in the direction of the cyclone. The barn was blown down on the cows and workmen had to cut them out. It wasn’t over a moment until our neighbors were there helping. Neighbors helped every way they could for our comfort; in two week after the cyclone our neighbors, kin people, friends, W.M.U’s, B.Y.P.U’s had made up furniture, clothing, food and money (about $150.00). They were surely the nicest people ever and we certainly thank God for these friends and all they did for us. I expect more that 1,000 people visited the storm wrecked home. We thank God for saving our lives, for everybody said that it was a miracle and was the work of God. And we being in the cyclone fully realize that God has power to save or destroy and feel that he has a purpose in all things.

Written by Edna Brock

My Introduction

Hello! My name is Anthony Hayes and I am the coordinator for the Fulton County GaGenWeb Site.  I encourage all that are interested to take a look at the the World Genealogy Web Project. This project is non-profit and is run completely with volunteers. All states are listed with all their counties. This is great for researchers seeking information or that have information they would like to donate.

I have been researching my own family history for about 15 years. I was fortunate enough that I was able to pick the brains of my grandmother and mother before they passed away. Back before unlimited long distance phone calls, I was sure to run up hundred dollar phone bills every month. When my grandmother passed away I found countless records of research and information that she had collected over the years.

My father Michael Dean Hayes, son of William Harold Hayes was an only child that grew up without knowing who his father was. He met him once but only at the time did not know that it was his father. My father would often seem really sad having been deprived of his father and that side of his family. Since my father's death I have traced the family back to the early 1800's and found military records and even medical conditions from his bloodline. He would have been so proud to know this information.

It seems that I am the only person in the world that is researching the Hayes family of Coweta County Georgia. I am certain that is not true so I would love to talk with anybody that is related or interested in this family. Genealogy is my passion so I would love talking about genealogy to anybody.

Also any interest in Fulton County or information to share please contact me via email.

Thank you for reading my blog!