Wedding Wednesday - Terrell and Hester Bynum Celebrate Golden Anniversary, 1972

Thomas Terrell Bynum and Hester Pearl Morris Bynum

Hattiesburg American - 8/7/1972

Thomas Terrell Bynum was the son of James Benjamin Bynum and Annie Jane Sumrall.  He was a brother to my maternal grandfather, John Buel Bynum.

Aunt Becky Celebrates 87th Birthday - 1939

The following article appeared in the October 25, 1939 edition of the Hattiesburg American in Hattiesburg, Mississippi:

Hattiesburg American - 10/25/1939

The birthday reunion was held at Louis and Allie Mae Sumrall Robertson's home.  Allie Mae was the youngest of Daniel and Becky Sumrall's twelve children.

Mary Rebecca "Becky" Pouncey Sumrall was one of my maternal great-great grandmothers.

Lumber Industry Puts Sumrall MS on the Map

Hattiesburg American - 7/4/1976

Daniel Sumrall and Mary Rebecca "Becky" Pouncey were my great-great grandparents through their daughter, Annie Sumrall Bynum; grandson, John Buel Bynum; great granddaughter, Mildred Bynum Edmonds.

Mappy Monday - James Benjamin Bynum Land

On June 8, 1901 James Benjamin "Ben" Bynum purchased 157.54 acres of land in Lamar County, Mississippi.  The land was located south of Sumrall in Township #5, Range #15.

Bureau of Land Management

Ben Bynum was twenty-six years old when he purchased this acreage.  By 1901, four of thirteen children had already been born to Ben and Annie Jane Sumrall Bynum.  Their oldest son, John Buel, was my maternal grandfather.

Tombstone Tuesday - Mary Lois Bynum

Mary Lois Bynum

Born on July 28, 1921

Daughter of 

James Benjamin Bynum and Annie Jane Sumrall

Sister to

John Buel, Minnie Francis, Narvel Houston, Thomas Terrell, Robert Earl,

Bertha Rebecca, Annie Roberta, Bessie Lee Anna, Nancy Arella, 

Daniel Gordon, Howard Ben and Margaret Evelyn Bynum

Wife of

Dewey Paul Robinson

Mother to

Linda Lois, David Paul and Gregory Wayne Robinson

Died on November 28, 2003

Buried in Greenoaks Memorial Park

Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

Tombstone photograph was taken by FindAGrave member, Bobby.

Tombstone Tuesday - Bessie Lee Anna Bynum

Bessie Lee Anna Bynum McQueen

Born on November 22, 1908

Daughter of

James Benjamin Bynum and Annie Jane Sumrall

Sister to

John Buel, Minnie Frances, Narvel Houston, Thomas Terrell,

Robert Earl, Bertha Rebecca, Annie Roberta, Nancy Arella,

Daniel Gordon, Howard Ben, Margaret Evelyn and Mary Lois Bynum

Wife of

Benton Carraway McQueen

Mother to

Eunice Nell, Benton Ellis, John Wayne and Gerald Richard McQueen

Died on January 28, 1981

Buried in Roseland Park Cemetery

Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Mississippi

Tombstone photograph taken by FindAGrave member, Stephen Rogers

Bynum Reunion in 1966

The following article appeared in the August 30, 1966 edition of the Hattiesburg American in Hattiesburg, Mississippi:

Tombstone Tuesday - Howard Ben Bynum

Howard Ben Bynum

Born on September 12, 1915

Son of

James Benjamin Bynum and Annie Jane Sumrall

Brother to

John Buel, Minnie Frances, Narvel Houston, Thomas Terrell, Robert Earl,

Bertha Rebecca, Annie Roberta, Bessie Lee Anna, Nancy Arella,

Daniel Gordon, Margaret Evelyn and Mary Lois Bynum

Husband of

Nell Marshall

Father to

Doris Jean and Howard Ben "Hal" Bynum

Died on May 20, 1983

Buried in the Military Baptist Church Cemetery

Sumrall, Lamar County, Mississippi

Wedding Wednesday - Bynum and Miller

Hattiesburg American - 10/19/1944

Nellie Kathleen Bynum was born on December 9, 1923 to the marriage of Robert Earl Bynum and Nellie May Redmond.  She was a sister to Infant Brother (1928) and Dorothy Ann Bynum.

Kathleen was the granddaughter of James Benjamin Bynum and Annie Jane Sumrall.  She was the niece of my maternal grandfather, John Buel Bynum, who was a brother to Robert Earl.

Tombstone Tuesday - Daniel Gordon Bynum

Daniel Gordon Bynum

Born on March 30, 1913

Son of

James Benjamin Bynum and Annie Jane Sumrall

Brother to

John Buel, Minnie Frances, Narvel Houston, Thomas Terrell, Robert Earl,

Bertha Rebecca, Annie Roberta, Bessie Lee Anna, Nancy Aurella, 

Howard Ben, Margaret Evelyn and Mary Lois Bynum

Husband of

Cora Christine Campbell

Father to

Rankin Glynn, Bennie Faye, Annette and Diane Bynum

Died on July 3, 1974

Buried in the Military Baptist Church Cemetery

Sumrall, Lamar County, Mississippi

Tombstone photograph was taken by FindAGrave member, Doc Ster.

Wedding Wednesday - Bynum Weds Clark

Hattiesburg American - 5/4/1946

Alice Mary Bynum was born in Lamar County, Mississippi on June 27, 1925 to the marriage of Thomas Terrell Bynum and Hester Pearl Morris.  She was a sister to an infant brother, an infant sister, Jimmie Pearl [Davis], Delores [Carter, Ford] and Nancy Carolyn [Walker].

Alice Mary Bynum was the granddaughter of James Benjamin "Ben" Bynum and Annie Jane Sumrall.  She was also the niece of my maternal grandfather, John Buel Bynum, who was Terrell's older brother.

Tombstone Tuesday - Nancy Arella Bynum

Nancy Arella Bynum

Born on December 31, 1910

Daughter of

James Benjamin Bynum and Annie Jane Sumrall

Sister to

John Buel, Minnie Francis, Narvell Houston, Thomas Terrell, Robert Earl, Bertha Rebecca, Annie Roberta "Bertie", Bessie Lee Anna, Daniel Gordon, Howard Ben, Margaret Evelyn and Mary Lois Bynum

Wife of

John Waldo Ford

Mother to

James Waldo and Gayle Ann Ford

Died on January 11, 1990

Buried in Greenoaks Memorial Park

Baker, Louisiana

Tombstone photograph was taken by FindAGrave member, Bobby.

Mystery Monday - Benjamin Asberry Sumrall

I am trying to solve several mysteries about my maternal 3rd great grandfather, Benjamin Asberry "Berry" Sumrall.  I descend from his son, Daniel Sumrall, who married Mary Rebecca Pouncey.

Who were his parents?
What was his wife's maiden name?
When was the date of his death?
Where is he buried?

Benjamin Asberry "Berry" Sumrall was born circa 1806 in South Carolina. Berry migrated with his family from South Carolina to Mississippi.  He married Margaret (?) prior to 1829 and the birth of their first child, Henry, on March 15, 1829 in Perry County.  Census records as early as 1840 show Berry and family living in Marion county.

1841 Mississippi Census Record

1845 Mississippi Census Record

It is not until the 1850 U. S. Census that we learn Berry's date and location of birth. This information is also documented in the 1860 and 1870 census reports.

1850 U. S. Census Record

1860 U. S. Census Record

1870 U. S. Census Record

The following children were born to Berry and Margaret (?) Sumrall:

• Henry, 1829-1864 (m. Amanda Elizabeth Bennett, 1836-1904)
• Mary Elizabeth, 1830-1862? (m. James William Mixon, 1824-1896)
• Martha, 1833-1905 (m. Elias Allen, 1831-1883)
• Alvin, 1836-1864 (m. Elizabeth Caroline Perry, 1838-?)
• Margaret, 1838-?
• Minerva, 1841-aft 1910 (m. Cameron, died bef 1880)
• Daniel, 1845-1923 (m. Mary Rebecca Pouncey, 1852-1941)
• William, 1849-1902 (m. Ann ?, 1856-1903)

I have yet to find an 1880 census for Benjamin Asberry "Berry" Sumrall.  I did find his wife, Margaret (?) in the 1880 census.  She is listed as Single and living in the same household as her daughter, Minerva Sumrall Cameron and her children.  This seems to indicate that Berry Sumrall died prior to 1880.

1880 U. S. Census Record

James H. Hines, author of 'The Families Summerville, Somervail, Summerall, Summerell, Summerille, Summerlin, Sumlin, Sumrall, and Sumril', wrote about the early immigration of John Somervell (b. 1666) from Scotland to Isle of Wight, Virginia.  Thomas Sumrall, the great grandson of John Somervell, migrated from South Carolina to the Mississippi Territory prior to 1800.

Several family researchers believe that Isaac, son of Thomas and Ann Sumrall, is the father of Benjamin Asberrry "Berry" Sumrall.

Per Teryl Smith, who descends from Martha Sumrall, daughter of Berry and Margaret, Isaac is mentioned in the Marion County abstract of deeds page 168:

Thomas Sumrall gives to his son Isaac Sumrall's widow Mary Sumrall, five cows and their calves and the balance of the stock of cattle.  Wit. Henry Sumrall and Joseph Magnum.  Dated 12 July 1821.

Teryl Smith also supplied the following information on Berry's wife, Margaret:

"Regarding the Benjamin Sumrall and Margaret McRae marriage. I have a theory that the McRae surname is incorrect although I have not been able to concretely disprove or prove.

In papers that my Great Grandmother Lillie Serena Allen had she indicated

• Her Grandfather was Berry Sumrall
• Her Grandmother was Peggy Nicholson 
• She indicates Peggy was born in Scotland and came to Biloxi Mississippi at 11 or 12
• All the other information that Lillie had has checked out as true

I think a mistake was made and the Margaret McRae should have been shown married to a Thomas Sumrall. This McRae family has a future governor of Mississippi in it and having a governor in the family is something that would have been passed down if true."

Any help with answering these questions would be greatly appreciated.

Who were Berry's parents?
What was his wife's maiden name?
When was the date of his death?
Where is he buried?

Sunday's Obituary - Minnie Frances Bynum Sumrall

Transcription

Mrs. Alfred Sumrall

Mrs. Minnie Frances Sumrall, resident of RFD 2, Sumrall, for 37 years, died unexpectedly at 5 a.m. today at her home.  She was 55 years old.

The body will remain at the family residence until time for services.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete.  Hulett Funeral Home is in charge.

Services will be held at Military Baptist Church with Rev. Gerald Aultman, paster, officiating.  Burial will be in Military Cemetery.

Mrs. Sumrall is survided by her husband, two daughters, Mrs. Vivian Gandy, Jackson, and Mrs. Marjorie Drennan, Sumrall, five sons, A. C., H. B., Coy P. and Robert R. Sumrall, all of Sumrall, and  Alfred A. Sumrall, Hermiston, Ore, five sisters including Mrs. D. C. Odom, Mrs. Waldo Ford and Mrs. Dewey Robinson, Baton Rouge and Mrs. Bessie McQueen, Hattiesburg, four bothers, John Bynum, Prentiss, Howard Bynum, Jackson and Gordon and Terrell, Sumralll, and 20 grandchildren.

Minnie Frances Bynum Sumrall was the daughter of James Benjamin Bynum and Annie Jane Sumrall.  She was my maternal grand aunt.

Tombstone Tuesday - Bertha Rebecca Bynum

Bertha Rebecca Bynum

Born on May 14, 1904

Daughter of

James Benjamin Bynum and Annie Jane Sumrall

Sister to 

John Buel, Minnie Frances, Narvel Houston, Thomas Terrell, Robert Earl, Annie Roberta "Bertie", Bessie Lee Anna, Nancy Arella, Daniel Gordon, Howard Ben, Margaret Evelyn and Mary Lois Bynum

Wife of

Daniel Columbus Odom

Mother to

Ruth Kathryn, James Ray, Infant Daughter and Margaret JoAnn Odom

Died on February 28, 1970

Buried in Greenoaks Memorial Park

Baker, Louisiana

Tombstone photograph was taken by FindAGrave member, Diane.

Tombstone Tuesday - Margaret Evelyn Bynum

Margaret Evelyn Bynum

Born on February 16, 1919

Daughter of

James Benjamin Bynum and Annie Jane Sumrall

Sister to

John Buel, Minnie Frances, Narvel Houston, Thomas Terrell, Robert Earl,

Bertha Rebecca, Annie Roberta "Bertie", Bessie Lee Anna, Nancy Arella,

Daniel Gordon, Howard Ben and Mary Lois Bynum

Died on November 13, 1935

Buried in the Military Baptist Church Cemetery

Sumrall, Lamar County, Mississippi

Hattiesburg American - 11/15/1935

Sunday's Obituary - Earl Bethea Sumrall

Hattiesburg American - 12/7/1959

Earl Bethea Sumrall

Born on June 15, 1888

Son of

Daniel Sumrall and Mary Rebecca Pouncey

Brother to

William Thomas, Mary Elizabeth, Frances "Fanny", Annie Jane,

Mary Margaret, Daniel Peter, Lilly, Berry Erastus "Raz",

Hattie, Addie and Allie Mae Sumrall

Husband to

Nancy Almeda "Nannie" Rutland

Father to

Roxie Lee, James Wilmer and Willard David Sumrall

Died on December 5, 1959

Buried in Highland Cemetery

Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Mississippi

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Robert Earl Bynum

Robert Earl Bynum

Born on January 27, 1902

Son of

James Benjamin Bynum and Annie Jane Sumrall

Brother to

John Buel, Minnie Frances, Narvel Houston, Thomas Terrell, Bertha Rebecca, 

Annie Roberta "Bertie", Bessie Lee Anna, Nancy Arella, Daniel Gordon, 

Howard Ben, Margaret Evelyn and Mary Lois Bynum

Husband of

Nellie May Redmond

Father to

Nellie Kathleen, Infant Son and Dorothy Ann Bynum

Died on April 8, 1950

Buried in the Mt. Olive Cemetery

Mt. Olive, Covington County, Mississippi

A Visit to the Dan Sumrall Historic Cemetery

The Dan Sumrall Cemetery is located in Sumrall, Lamar County, Mississippi. On a recent trip to the area, my daughter and I visited the cemetery to view the tombstones and pay our respects to ancestors long since passed.

Two of those ancestors were my maternal great-great grandparents, Daniel Sumrall and Mary Rebecca "Becky" Pouncey.  The town and this small historic cemetery were named after Daniel Sumrall.

From an earlier post...

On December 3, 1868, Daniel Sumrall married Mary Rebecca Pouncey.  Dan and Becky settled in a portion of Marion County that later became Lamar County.

Prior to 1874, Dan purchased a grist mill, cotton gin and farm belonging to Arthur Lott.  He later added a store and established the Sumrall post office in the store.

When the community incorporated there was opposition to naming the community and post office Sumrall due to Dan's service in the Union Army.

The Post Master General refused to change the name of the post office and issued Order 48 in 1892 stating that the name of post offices should be the same as the towns and railway stations to prevent confusion in mail delivery.  In 1903, the incorporated community was named Sumrall.

Children born to the marriage of Daniel Sumrall and Mary Rebecca "Becky" Pouncey were:

William Thomas "Tom", 1869-1938; m. Sarah Minnie Bryant, 1866-1948

Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie", 1871-1910 

Frances C. "Fanny", 1873-1934; m. Allen M. Patterson, 1872-1934

Annie Jane, 1876-1950; m. James Benjamin Bynum, 1875-1941

Mary Margaret "Maggie", 1879-1940; m. Sheppard H. Herrin, 1875-1945

Daniel Peter "Pete", 1881-1892

Lilly L., 1883-1903; m. Palmer "Plumer" Herrin, 1877-1904

Berry Erastus "Raz", 1885-1901

Earl Bethea, 1888-1959; m. Nancy Almeda "Nannie" Rutland, 1893-1979

Hattie, 1891-1961; m. Yates H. Watkins, 1878-1962


Addie, 1893-1985; m. Wiley William King, 1891-1943


Allie Mae, 1896-1984; m. Louis Robertson, 1891-1968


All but Tom, Annie, Maggie and Earl are buried in the Dan Sumrall Historic Cemetery.

Daniel and Becky Pouncey Sumrall

Daniel Sumrall Military Marker

Mary Elizabeth Sumrall

Frances C, "Fanny" Sumrall Patterson

Daniel P. Sumrall

Lilly Sumrall Herrin

Berry Erastus "Raz" Sumrall

Hattie Sumrall Watkins

Addie Sumrall King

Allie Mae Sumrall Robertson