Notes:

The following was written by Martha Jane’s daughter, Melba Harding Black Cross in 1987 Martha Jane Latham Black Wife of Hosea 1888-1951 We think the Lathams came from Lanchashire England, Great, great grandfather owned property on Peach Tree Street in Atlanta, Georgia. They were in Landersville, Alabama by 1900 in North Alabama earlier. Both Grandfathers were Confederate Soldiers. Martha was oldest of six daughters, younger than two brothers, older than one. She was of farming heritage. She was a Christian mother, an ideal mother. Her interest were first in being a wife and mother and homemaking. When something new and better came along, she was first in the community to have it for our house. Church activities (Methodist) organist, choir, community involvement, needlework, embroider, tatting, knitting, crochet. I have a lovely drawn-thread handkerchief that she made for her trousseau. Other linens, etc. designing and sewing clothing, reading and entertaining. Recently her great granddaughter, Rebecca Hill, carried it for something old in her wedding.

Buried:
Landersville Cemetery

Martha married Hosea Black on 23 Aug 1906 in Landersville, Lawrence, Alabama, USA. Hosea (son of Silas Taylor Black and Mary Ann Reynolds) was born on 10 May 1878 in Jackson, Alabama, USA; died on 1 Apr 1942 in Landersville, Lawrence, Alabama, USA; was buried in Apr 1942 in Lawrence County, Alabama, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Published in the Decatur Daily on 6/7/2006. Funeral for Melba Black Cross, 85, of Decatur will be today, June 7, 2006, at 11 a.m. at Courtland United Methodist Church with the Rev. A.G. "Buddy" Simmons, the Rev. David Nelson and the Rev. Scotty Letson officiating and Roselawn Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Courtland City Cemetery. Visitation will be today from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church. Mrs. Cross, who died Monday, June 5, 2006, at her residence, was born Sept. 22, 1920, in Lawrence County to Hosea Black and Martha Latham Black. She taught school in Lawrence County for 36 years. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church and a member of United Methodist Women. She was also a member of United Daughters of the Confederacy, Friends of the Library, AEA, NEA, Lawrence County Teachers Association and Kappa Kappa Iota. Mrs. Cross was a longtime volunteer for Decatur General Hospital. She was preceded in death by one sister, Annie Lee Martin and husband, Rush; one brother, Taylor Black and wife, Eula; and her parents. Survivors include her husband, Roland Cross; one niece, Martha Martin of Decatur; one great-niece, Becky Spivey and her husband, Mark, of Decatur; one great nephew, Greg Hill of Decatur; and after years of loving care, Jane Russell, Connie Pettey, Wanda Jones, Christy Jacobs, Tammy McWhorter and Linda Foreman, have blended into the family. Pallbearers will be Mark Spivey, Greg Hill, Harold Cross, Waylon Cross, Roger Hill and Phillip Cross. ********************************************************************** ************************** Melba Black Cross 1920 - I was born and reared in Landersville, Alabama. God has blessed my life. I recall a wonderful childhood with an indulgent family aid caring relatives and friends. I am thankful for a Christian heritage that influenced my decisions to become a Christian at the age of 12. I am a graduate of Lawrence County High School and of Florence State Teachers College. I was a teacher in Lawrence County for 36 years (in four different schools), upper elementary and junior high. I married Roland Cross, a Christian, a southern gentleman, of farming heritage. After serving in WWII he provided for us well by cotton farming and cattle. He was judged an excellent farmer by the county agent, fellow farmers, ginners and buyers. His interests are: hunting, fishing, travel and people (he is an avid advocator of escorted bus tours, we’ve been in every state save Alaska and Hawaii, every providence of Canada save Yukon and NWT from Laredo, Texas via Mexico City to Acapulco. He’s a member of Alabama Farm Bureau, Lawrence County Cotton Committee, Cattlemen’s Association and New Hope Baptist Church. We have had the pleasure of living in four houses that we planned and had built. (in Order) Springwood on Spring Creek Road, north of Courtland on a lot bought from Lynn Cross (brother). Lakewood a summer home on Smith Lake, Winston County. Pinewood built on the farm we bought on South Pike in Courtland and Idlepoint (present home) built on a lot in Point Mallard Estates in Decatur joining Roger and Martha’s lot. We prefer the farm. The country side is so beautiful, however, at our age we think it best to live in Decatur. We still own the farm and go there often in the fall. It is valley land extending to wooded foothills that show gorgeous fall color alone with the daily splendor of the sunsets. Through the years I’ve reaped the rewards of being an affiliate of various organizations: United Methodist Women Lawrence County Teachers Alabama Educational Association National Educational Association Kappa Kappa Iota, Beta Conclave United Daughters of the Confederacy, Alabama, Wheeler Chapter Decatur Concert Association Embroiders Guild, Cotton Valley Chapter Friends of the Library Valley Garden Club Decatur General Hospital Volunteers Cowbells of Lawrence County

Buried:
Courtland Cemetry

Melba married Roland Cross on 19 Dec 1952 in Lawrence County, Alabama, USA. Roland was born on 10 Apr 1917 in Courtland, Lawrence, Alabama, USA; died on 25 Oct 2006 in Decatur, Morgan, Alabama, USA; was buried in Oct 2006 in Courtland, Lawrence, Alabama, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Decatur Daily - September 25, 1979 Mrs. Annie Martin MOULTON -- Funeral for Mrs. Annie Lee Black Martin, 70, of Rt. 1, Town Creek, who died Monday at the Moulton Nursing Home, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Elliott Funeral Home Chapel, Revs. Jimmy Glenn and O.D. Bowling officiating, with burial in the Landersville Cemetery, Elliott Funeral Home directing. Survivors include her husband, Rush K. Martin, Town Creek, one daughter, Mrs. Roger Hill, Decatur; two grandchildren; one sister, Mrs. Roland Cross, Courtland; one brother, Taylor Black, Moulton. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Waldrop, Earl Malcolm Jr., Harold Lovis Martin, Ronnie Joe Martin, Jack Wilson, Willard Dewayne Blankenship and Farrell Little. Mrs. Martin was a member of the Landersville Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 9 tonight. ********************************************************************** ********** Melba Harding Black Cross wrote the following about her Sister in 1987 Annie Lenora Black Martin 1908 - 1979 Annie Lee was a good sister, she finished Lawrence County High School, choose not to attend college. She was gregarious, spirited, and vivacious. She loved music, singing, dancing, sports, high school basketball, swimming, horseback riding and reading. She married Rush King Martin, farming heritage, born and raised in Lawrence County Alabama in Mount Hope. They had one daughter, Martha Ann, and two grand-children. They bought a farm a few miles north of Landersville. They lived all of their life save a few years during WWII when Rusk was employed as a firemen at Air Bases and Fields in South Carolina and Florida. She was a faithful member and organist at Landersville Methodist Church for years. She taught a Sunday School Class. She was a member of the Lawrence County Homemakers Club. Our family gatherings were never again as jolly without her.

Buried:
Landersville Cemetery

Died:
Moulton Nursing Home, Age: 70

Family/Spouse: Rush King Martin. Rush (son of Edward King Martin and Neoma (Neomie) Green) was born on 7 Nov 1909 in Lawrence, Alabama, USA; died on 22 Aug 1986 in Lawrence County, Alabama, USA; was buried in Aug 1986 in Landersville, Lawrence, Alabama, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: James Porter Harrison. James was born on 20 Apr 1913 in Lawrence County, Alabama, USA; died on 12 Sep 1948 in Lawrence County, Alabama, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

TAYLOR BLACK, 87, retired teacher MOULTON-Funeral for Taylor Black, 87, of Moulton will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Elliott Funeral Home with the Rev. Bill Reding officiating. Burial will be in Landersville Cemetery. The family will receive friends tonight from 6 to 8 at the funeral home. Mr. Black died Monday at Decatur General Hospital. A retired teacher, he was born Nov. 18, 1907, in Lawrence County. He is survived by one sister, Melba B. Cross of Decatur. Pallbearers will be George Douthit, Mark Spivey, Greg Hill, Tommy Joiner, J. Burns and Tommy Burns. DECATUR DAILY - December 27, 1994 *********************************************************** The following was written by his Sister, Melba Harding Black Cross in 1987 James Taylor Black 1907 - I’m using a copy of an article from the Decatur Daily, printed a few years back, for Taylor’s biographical sketch. Please pardon the following personal thoughts. To me and other family members, he is and was ideal. Today at 80 he is known and respected for his business acumen and his gentlemanly traits. He paints lovely country landscapes, collects and restores antiques - guns, trunks. He’s still a checker and snooker champ. In younger days he owned horses and dogs and loved to hunt and ride. He met and married Eula McCaghren when she came to Landersville to teach. He could not have chosen a better wife. She aids and abets him in all his interest. She is known for the bountiful table she sets and old-time southern food. They, as we did, enjoyed spoiling Annie Lee’s child and grandchildren. Being a small family, we have celebrated holidays, etc. as a group all these years, till family members began to depart this life. One year Marha gave Taylor and Roland humorous “business” cards. She knkew them well. Taylor’s read: Taylor Black Moulton, Alabama Junk Bought Tennis Arranged Antiques Sold Snookers (Monday Night) Trunks Restored Sharpshooter Stocks Played Certified Checker Champ Muzzle Loaders Pictures Painted P.S. Eula was born and raised in Lawrence County, Alabama, Speake Community.

Buried:
Landersville Cemetery

James married Eula McCaghren on 29 Mar 1930 in Lawrence County, Alabama, USA. Eula was born on 28 Feb 1903 in Jackson, Alabama, USA; died on 23 Nov 1989 in Moulton, Lawrence, Alabama, USA; was buried in Nov 1989 in Landersville, Lawrence, Alabama, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living Douthit. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living Hill. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living Spivey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]