Military Monday

    Military Monday posts are made to honor those in my family tree who have served in the United States military.

Ollie Whitton "O.W." Tapley, Jr.

Sergeant, U.S. Army, World War II, Disabled

O.W. is my 3rd cousin 2x removed.  Our common ancestors are Archibald Odom III and Isabella Elizabeth Anderson.

    O.W. is also my 4th cousin, 1x removed on my Tapley line. This happens in my tree a lot since my ancestors hailed from small communities.

    Thank you for your service.

Sympathy Saturday

     Sympathy Saturday will be where I share the obituaries and my condolences for members of my family tree who passed recently.  When you get to be a certain age, you begin to read the obituaries every day.  As the days go by, you read about more and more of your friends and family members who have died.  You compare their age to your own and get a jolt. "That could have been me." 

    For genealogists, checking obituaries and visiting cemeteries is as normal as breathing. I learn so much from an obituary, i.e., maiden names, parents' names; children's' and grandchildren's' names, funeral and burial locations, sometimes even a cause of death.  I want to learn these things not for any purpose but to put it on the family tree for future generations to see and learn about the family that went before them. I admit, most of these relatives I have never met, but I think it is important to share that they were here on this Earth, and they were important.

    So I am signed up with at least three funerals homes from Swainsboro, Vidalia, and Wrightsville to get daily notices of obituaries sent to my email.  Every day, I peruse them and with the help of the family tree, figure out who is related to me and add any new information to the tree.    Some weeks there are several, and some weeks there are none.                               

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"Mahon Lee Clements Obituary Graveside funeral services for Mahon Lee Clements, age 75, will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, April 4, 2025, at Mt. Olive Church of the Nazarene Cemetery. Mr. Thurmon Foskey will officiate.

Mr. Clements was born on February 7, 1950, in Dublin, Georgia. He was a member of the Mt. Olive Church of the Nazarene where he served as a work and witness team member. He was a licensed contractor, electrician and plumber and later worked for the Department of Transportation as a general trade craftsman foreman. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Ruby Foskey Clements and siblings Kenneth Clements, Ronnie Clements, David Clements, Charles Clements, Troy Clements, Aurelia Clements Garnto and Lois Clements Poole. Mr. Clements passed away on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at his residence.

Mr. Clements is survived by his wife, Mary Frances Clements of Kite, 2 daughters, Ramona Clements (Alan) Smith and Karen Clements (Garyth) Everett of Tennille; 2 brothers, Gerald Clements and Wadell (Betty) Clements of Wrightsville; sister, Elizabeth Tyson of Dublin; sister-in-law, Ann Tyson of Dublin; grandchildren, Spencer (Josephine Hedrick) Smith, Carson Everett, Ethan Smith, and Mallory Everett; and a host of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Jim Musselwhite, Stanley Clements, Stevie Clements, Jay Foskey, Elliott Tyson and Joe McCullough.

Stanley Funeral Home and Crematory/Wrightsville Chapel has charge of the funeral arrangements."

- Official Obituary courtesy of Stanley Funeral Home & Crematory, Wrightsville Chapel

    Mahon was my 4th cousin, 1x removed. Our common ancestors are Archibald Odom III and Isabella Elizabeth Anderson.

    Please join me in offering condolences to Mahon's family and holding them in the light.

Thriller Thursday - A Murder in Vidalia

   On May 28, 2014, Robin Lyn Willis Matthews (1989-2014), a beautiful, young woman, a teacher, wife, daughter, sister, and friend was murdered just for trying to help someone. Someone who, unbeknownst to Robin, was a predator and should have been still in prison for his past crimes.  

  It was a Wednesday evening, and Robin had stopped at Walmart. Security cameras show Simon Dixon Mitchell approaching Robin in the parking lot, they exchange words, and then he climbs into her car.  Turns out, Mitchell asked for a ride to the hospital. Did Robin know him from around town? We don't know if that's possible or, if he was a stranger, why she would give him a ride.  However, a long time friend of Robin's described her as "the kindest and the sweetest" person. She also commented about Robin, "She would do anything for anyone." 

  Later that night, Robin was found dead in her car elsewhere in Vidalia.  She had been stabbed multiple times.  

  The suspect was apprehended quickly.  At his first court appearance the day after the murder, he told the presiding judge that he was as guilty as it gets. 

  This was a crime that was eligible for the death penalty. In order to avoid years of waiting for a trial, Robin's family agreed to a plea deal.  Mitchell claims he would have preferred execution, but agreed to the deal.  He was sentenced to two life sentences plus 30 years. Mitchell would "serve the first life sentence without parole, followed by five years, then the second life sentence followed by five years with an additional 20 years."  That sentence doesn't make sense to me - how do you serve time AFTER a life sentence; isn't that for LIFE???!!! - but bottom line, he should never get out of prison.  

  That part is most important because it turns out he should not have been on the streets in the first place.  He attacked a video store employee in Vidalia in 2006 and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for aggravated assault with intent to commit sodomy. He only served 8 years of that sentence and had just been released in January 2014 - a mere four months before Robin was killed.

  I cannot even imagine what her family and friends went through. Her mother, Helen Anderson Willis,  just passed away on March 3, 2025. (See my blog post here.) She is with her sweet daughter again.  

Local

Georgia first-grade teacher stabbed to death

May 29, 2014 at 1:13 pm EDT

TOOMBS COUNTY, Ga. — A man is facing charges after a first-grade teacher was found stabbed to death in Toombs County.

It happened Wednesday night on Highway 292 in Vidalia, according to WTOC.

The Toombs County coroner says Robin Matthews, 24, was killed in her car behind the Vidalia Recreational Department.

Matthews was a first-grade teacher at Lyons Primary School where she just completed her first year. She was a 2008 graduate of Toombs County High School and was recently married.

According to WTOC's Dal Cannady, police arrested Simon Dixon for the crime.

Cannady learned that Dixon had just been released from prison in January 2014. He was serving time for aggravated assault and attempted aggravated sodomy and had been in prison since 2007.

The homicide remains under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Vidalia Police. School counselors in Toombs County say they will be available to help students affected by the tragedy.

WSB-TV Channel 2, Atlanta, Georgia

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Murder suspect awaits bond hearing in teacher's murder

By WTOC Staff

Published: May. 29, 2014 at 6:36 PM EDT|Updated: Jun. 28, 2014 at 9:04 AM EDT

(Source: Toombs Co. Sheriff's Office)

VIDALIA, GA (WTOC) - Friends and co-workers remain horrified at the murder of a Toombs 

County first grade teacher.

Police found Robin Lynn Matthews dead in her car on Old Vidalia Lyons Road off Highway 

292 Wednesday night. Police have a suspect, Simon Dixon, in custody charged with murder.

According to Toombs County Coroner Ronald Hall, Robin Matthews, 24, was killed in her 

car behind the Vidalia Recreational Department.

Matthews was a first grade teacher at Lyons Primary School where she just completed her first year. She was a 2008 graduate of Toombs County High School and recently married.

Life-long friend Ginger Russell was still in disbelief Thursday morning.  "She was the kindest 

person and the sweetest person all her life. She would do anything for anyone, " Russell said.

At Lyons Primary, a counselor was available - even though summer vacation has started - for 

any students who needed someone to talk to about the loss.

"We want them to have that now because she was so beloved and we'll have it this fall when 

students return because she will still be missed then," said principal Sandra Floyd.

After doing some digging, WTOC found out that Dixon had just been released from prison in 

January 2014. He was serving time for aggravated assault and attempted aggravated sodomy 

and had been in prison since 2007.

The homicide remains under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and Vidalia Police.

Dixon remains in the Toombs County Jail, awaiting a bond hearing.

WTOC's Dal Cannady is in Vidalia following this developing story and will have more details 

about the investigation to come. 

WTOC 11 online, Savannah, Georgia

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Fatal stabbing takes the life of a former Brewton-Parker student 

Clipped from: http://dev.bpc.edu/news_and_info/news/2014/May/5-29_Tragedy_takes_life_of_former_Brewton_Parker_student.htm (this link is no longer available.) Brewton-Parker College News online, 2014.

Robin Willis Matthews

On Wednesday evening, May 28, police reports confirm Ms. Robin Willis Matthews was found in her car stabbed to death behind and/or near the Bethany Nursing Home in Vidalia, Georgia. Officials say the 24 year-old first grade school teacher apparently stopped her car long enough for her alleged assailant, Simon Mitchell, whom law enforcement presently has in custody, to fatally stab her to death. She was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner. According to the GBI and the Toombs County Sheriff's Office, no details will be released until the on-going homicide investigation is complete. 

Many students and faculty at Brewton-Parker College in neighboring Mount Vernon, Georgia are emotionally stunned upon hearing Ms. Matthews’ untimely and tragic death. Newly married but without children, Robin Matthews attended Brewton-Parker College from 2008 until 2011 when she decided to move her major to Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Georgia from which she received her education degree. Up until her untimely death last evening, Matthews was working on her master’s degree at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia. 

According to her Facebook page, Ms. Matthews participated in the Brewton-Parker College cheerleading team during the 2008-2009 school year. Present employees recall her sweet spirit, cooperative attitude, and competitive skill-set. 

Just beginning her professional teaching career in October of last year, Ms. Matthews taught a first grade class at the Lyons Primary School, Lyons, Georgia. Personal friend and educator at the same school, Ms. Millie Price, reflected upon both her personal and professional relationship with Matthews. “She had a very challenging first year at school but she persevered and was looking forward to her first summer break. I am heart-broken to lose such a sweet coworker.” Ms. Price went on to speak of Matthews’ recently reminiscing about her days at Brewton-Parker.  

“Robin spoke to me the last week of school about her time at BPC.  She warmly commented on how she loved to cheer at the basketball games, and how she was pleased to hear cheerleading on campus is much more serious and competitive now than when she was a part of the squad.” 

 Only recently did Ms Matthews judge competition tryouts for next   year’s cheerleading teams at the Toombs County High School.                                                                                                     

Ms. Price, presently serving as the President of the National Alumni for Brewton-Parker College, also mentioned her conversation with Matthews about volunteer service for Brewton-Parker. “Robin and I also recently spoke about her working with me and the Miss BPC volunteers next year." 

Though Ms. Matthews did not officially graduate from Brewton-Parker College, her life and influence made an indelible mark on this community. Her absence brings a sense of both sadness and joy. Sadness because a young, energetic Christian visionary was so brutally and prematurely snatched from our community. Joy because our Lord allowed her to be an influential member of the Brewton-Parker family. 

Matthews poses for
a photo during the 
2008-2009 season.

    May our loving Lord Jesus give Robin Matthews’ family comfort, joy, and peace in their time of need.  

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Simon Dixon Mitchell indicted by grand jury in 
Toombs teacher murder, faces 13 other charges

By WTOC Staff
Published: Sep. 16, 2014 at 9:18 PM EDT|Updated: Oct. 16, 2014 at 9:18 PM EDT

TOOMBS CO., GA (WTOC) - Middle Judicial Circuit District Attorney Hayward Altman said Simon Dixon Mitchell was formally indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday for murder and thirteen other charges.

Mitchell faces murder charges for the May stabbing death of 24-year-old elementary school teacher Robin Matthews in Toombs County.

Security footage from Walmart showed Mitchell approaching Matthews, then getting in her car. Minutes later a 911 call was received of someone found dead of stab wounds in a car on Old Vidalia Lyons Road. Mitchell was arrested near the murder scene.

Mitchell was released from prison in January after serving eight years for aggravated assault with intent to commit sodomy. According to police, he attacked an employee at Video Warehouse in 2006.

WTOC 11 online, Savannah, Georgia

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Man sentenced to 2 life sentences, plus 30 years, in murder of Toombs County teacher

By Dal Cannady

Published: Feb. 19, 2015 at 10:31 PM EST|Updated: Mar. 21, 2015 at 9:31 PM EDT

TOOMBS CO., GA (WTOC) - The murder of a first grade teacher in Toombs County last May shocked and saddened a community.

The suspect in that murder told a judge he was guilty as it gets just a day later. On Thursday, prosecutors and the victim's family allowed him to plead guilty and avoid trial.

The plea agreement for Simon Dixon Mitchell in the murder of Robin Matthews comes less than a year after the first grade teacher was stabbed and killed, and a year or more before the death penalty case could go to trial.

Mitchell came to court and pled guilty to murder, kidnapping and lesser charges in the May 2014 death of Matthews. Loved ones showed emotions as prosecutors described how Mitchell approached Matthews in a parking lot and asked for a ride to the hospital and stabbed her to death minutes later.

Mitchell sat in the very seat where he'd told a different judge he was as guilty as it gets during his first court appearance the day after the murder. Prosecutors introduced a sentence of back to back life sentences, plus thirty years, and Judge Kathy Palmer agreed. Mitchell will serve the first life sentence without parole, followed by five years, then the second life sentence followed by five years with an additional 20 years.

District Attorney Hayward Altman said the plea saves the family years of agony waiting for a trial and decades waiting for a possible execution.

“Usually, death penalty cases take three to five years, by the time you have all the motions, the psychological evaluations and hearings,” said Altman. “It takes that long before it can go to trial.”

Dixon apologized to the family and said he'd prefer to be executed, but he's taking the plea to end the case while his own ailing mother is still alive. Loved ones of Matthews told Mitchell in court they hope her name and face stay in his mind for the rest of his life.

Robin was my 4th cousin, 1x removed.  Our common ancestors are Canneth Swain and Sarah Tapley.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Create a Fact List in Your Genealogy Software

 From Randy over at Genea-Musings:

it's Saturday Night - 

time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

(1)  Does your genealogy management software (e.g., Family Tree Maker, RootsMagic, Legacy Family Tree, Reunion, Heredis, Family Historian, etc.) create a "Fact List" report (or something similar) - a list of the profiles in your family tree that have (or don't have) a specific fact (e.g., birth, death, burial, immigration, etc.)?

(2)  If so, run a Fact List report to determine which people have a specific fact (or don't have a specific fact) and share it with us.

(2)  Share your results with us in your own blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a post on Facebook.  

Here's mine:

I use Family Tree Maker 2019 as my genealogy software program of choice.  After all these years, I still struggle with printing reports with the exact information I need.  I just ordered a FTM19 user manual so that maybe I can utilize reports more often and efficiently.  

So in FTM19, I could not find just a "Fact List."  What I did find under "Sources" is Documented Facts and Undocumented Facts report choices.  I was excited about the Undocumented Facts report as in the beginning of my genealogy research journey, I tended to enter items into my family tree with no source documentation.  (I hold my head down in shame.  However, I think a lot of us started out this way.)  I have been slowly remedying that, but this Undocumented Facts report could show me the ones I've missed so I can fix them all.  

This screenshot shows when I go to "Publish" and choose "Source Reports," I find four reports to choose from.  Undocumented Facts is the highlighted choice.

I chose "All Individuals" under "Individuals to Choose."  I also checked "Show divider between individuals." This just makes reports more readable to me.  I ended up with a 837 page report.

The fact in my tree that is almost never sourced is the Sex (or gender) of the individual.  Unfortunately, the report settings did not allow me to exclude a fact.  So a lot of my 837 pages are unnecessary.  However, if I scroll down, I can find some other undocumented facts in my tree, such as names, birth or death dates, etc.  Here is a good example:

As you can see (if you enlarge the image), Joel Anderson in my tree does not have any source documentation for his name, marriage date, death date, or burial information.  Now I know to go look for some sources and get those documented!

(When I looked at the "Documented Facts" report, it would not allow me to choose the facts I want to include either.  I have said it before - Family Tree Maker needs to make their reports more robust and user friendly.)

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - My "7 Generations in 1" Chart

  From Randy over at Genea-Musings:

it's Saturday Night - 

time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

(1)  Please see the Genea-Musings post for this challenge to get the template, etc. used.  I'm going to just cut to my result tonight.  

My challenge tonight was to fill out my 7-in-1 Ancestor chart and show it off.  The chart covers ancestors #1 through #127 in an ahnentafel list.  I used the spreadsheet, added the ancestor numbers while adding the names (starting with 1 = me, 2 = my father, 3 = my mother, etc.).  I added the names and birth and death years (if known) for the first 7 generations.  I colored the boxes for the two ancestors who were born in other countries.  As you can see, my families are deeply rooted in the United States.  I saved my chart in Excel, copied it to Paint 3D and then saved it as a JPG image file.  This task has taken more than an hour!  So if you choose to do it, plan ahead!

(2)  Show me your 7-in-1 chart in your own blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a post on Facebook.  

Here's mine:

My columns are wider than the ones you'll view from Genea-Musings because, like Randy, I added their birth and death years.  This helps me a lot since several of my ancestors share the same name.  

There is other color coding I would like to do, such as by states, military service, blanks that need to be filled in, etc.  I'm open to other ideas for coloring coding!

Thank you to Ann Raymont (DNAsleuth) for the original idea of doing this; Linda and Dave Shufflebean (Empty Branches on the Family Tree) (Also, thank you Linda for always commenting on my Saturday Night Genealogy Fun posts.  I love the feedback!) for creating and sharing the spreadsheet version of the chart, and of course Randy Seaver for sharing this idea.  I think I am going to suggest to my mother, BFF, cousins, etc. to refer back to this chart when I am going on and on about an ancestor - it may help to keep them all straight!  

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Ancestral Homes 150 Years Ago

From Randy over at Genea-Musings: 

Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

 

 

 Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!):

1)  Determine where your ancestral families were on 1 June 1863 - 150 years ago.

2)  List them, their family members, their birth years, and their residence location (as close as possible).  Do you have a photograph of their residence from about that time, and does the residence still exist?

3)  Tell us all about it in your own blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a Facebook Status or Google+ Stream post.

Here's mine:

 

*  My 2nd great-grandparents, George Washington Tapley (1814-aft.1880) and Elizabeth MNU Tapley (1824-aft. 1880) were living in Johnson County, Georgia.  I do not have a photograph of their home; it has long since been destroyed.  The household included my great-grandfather, James (Jim) Madison Tapley (1847-1912).  

*  My 2nd great-grandmother, Elizabeth Scoggins Page (1802-unknown), was living in Johnson County, Georgia.  Her husband, Solomon Page (1800-1860), had already passed.

 

*  My great-grandmother, Elizabeth Rebecca (Becky) Page (1844-1924) was also living in Johnson County, Georgia, probably with her mother.  I do not have a photograph of their residence, but my cousin has pointed out the location to me.

*  My 2nd great-grandparents, James William Drake (1829-1908) and Mary Ann R. Brantley Drake (1837-1891) were living near Adrian in Emanuel County, Georgia.  In 1863, James was serving in the Civil War in G Company of the 32nd Infantry from Georgia.  Also in their household was my great-grandfather, William John Drake (1857-1927).  

*  My 3rd great-grandparents, Francis Bryant Drake (1806-1875) and Selina King Drake (1812-1899) were living near Adrian in Emanuel or Johnson County, Georgia (Adrian sits half in each county).  I have no photographs of any of the ancestrial homes near Adrian.

*  My 3rd great-grandparents, James K. Harrell (1814-1895) and Nancy Beasley Harrell (1814-1898) were either still living in Darlington County, South Carolina or had already located to Emanuel County, Georgia.  In 1863, I believe my 2nd great-grandfather, William Robert Harrell (1838-1908), was still residing with his parents as he didn't marry until 1865.  

*  My 4th great-grandparents, Archibald Odom III (1798-1873) and Isabella Elizabeth Anderson Odom (1796-1873), were living in Emanuel County, Georgia.

*  My 3rd great-grandparents, Elijah Samuel Odom (1816-1870) and Rutha Goff Odom (1812-1895) were living in Emanuel County, Georgia.   

*  My 2nd great-grandmother, Catherine M Odom (1841-1875) had recently been widowed and could have still been living in Johnson County or with her parents in Emanuel County, Georgia.

*  My 2nd great-grandfather, George W. Schwalls Sr (1837-1908) was living in Johnson County, Georgia.  In 1863, he was serving in the Civil War in Company E of the 48th Infantry from Georgia. 

  

*  My 3rd great-grandparents, Zachariah W. Claxton (1806-unknown) and Lincelia Bush Claxton (dates unknown), were living in Edgefield County, South Carolina.

 

*  My 2nd great-grandmother, Lincelia E. Claxton (1839-1882) was recently widowed and living in Edgefield County, South Carolina.  

*  My 4th great-grandmother, Elizabeth Hubbard Ranney (1790-1868) was most likely living in Summit County, Ohio. 

 

*  My 3rd great-grandfather, Luther Boardman Ranney (1809-1890) was also most likely living in Summit County, Ohio.  My 3rd great-grandmother, Sarah Maria Carter Ranney (18121846) had passed away and Luther was remarried to Caroline Clapp Ranney (1821-1895).  

 

*  My 2nd great-grandfather, Comfort Ranney (1838-1920) was living in Boston, Summit County, Ohio and was serving in Company D, 61st Infantry Regiment during the Civil War.

 

*  My 4th great-grandparents, James Warren Hesser (1819-1906) and Sophia Humphrey Hesser (dates unknown), were living in Summit County, Ohio.

*  My 3rd great-grandparents, Jonathan Hesser (1791-1876) and Casena Viers Hesser (1800-unknown) were probably living in Ohio, too, though I have not confirmed that fact.  They were in Ohio by 1870.  

 

*   My 2nd great-grandmother, Mary Margaret Hesser (1842-1920) was also living in Summit County, Ohio,  mostly likely with her parents. I have no photographs of any of the ancestrial homes in Ohio. 

*  My 3rd great-grandparents, Samuel Carter (abt. 1815-unknown) and Polly Marie Ozmun Carter (1817-unknown)  were probably living in Summit County, Ohio.  Their son, my 2nd great-grandfather, Charles K. Carter (1843-1916) may or may not have been living with them.  

*  My 3rd great-grandparents, Richard Schoonover (dates unknown) and Sara Ozmun Schoonover (1800-1870), along with their daughter, my 2nd great-grandmother, Sarah Melissa Schoonover (1840-1918) were living in parts unknown in 1863.  They were probably in Ohio, but I do not know if Charles and Sarah were married by then or any other details. 

I believe that is all of my ancestors alive in 1863 - 3 great-grandparents, 12 second great-grandparents, 15 third great-grandparents, and 5 fourth great-grandparents.  The lived in Georgia, Ohio, and South Carolina.  

I have no pictures of homes where they were living in 1863.  In most cases, I do not even know a location.  I also see where there are huge holes in my research as to the 1860 census and where many of my ancestors were living at that time.  MUST GET BUSY researching.