The Whigham ReportNewsletter of the Whigham Family Association Vol. 6, No. 1 January 2, 2005

Fourth Biennial Reunion, June 24-26

Gathering Scheduled for Daphne, AL

As hard as it is to believe, the time is rapidlyapproaching for the Whigham clan togather again. I am so looking forward to

seeing you all again. Planning has already begun for the reunion at theDaphne Convention Center. Kathy Hall and her creware busy planning for the food. Lenon and NancyWhigham’s daughter is planning activities for thechildren.

The facility is already rented, and Myron and Ihave begun planning other aspects of the reunion Ifany of you have suggestions or ideas you’d like tomake for the reunion, now is the time to send them in.You may either email me at whighamgen@aol.com, ormail them to me at the following address: JoyceWhigham Dorrycott, 6454 Village Park, San Antonio,TX 78250-4053. We really want this to be yourreunion, so let us know what you think.

So set your vacations to be in Daphne the lastweekend in June. Some of us will once again bestaying at the Eastern Shore Motel in Daphne. Thephone number there is 251-626-6601. Others mayprefer to stay somewhere different. I know a number ofour members were disappointed that there was noswimming pool.

A check on the internet tonight showed that thehotels there are filling up, so I would encourage you tomake your reservations soon. There are RV parksnearby in Bay Minette and near the Causeway. Furtherinformation will be available in the reunion brochurewhich should be out in early February.

If you know anyone else you would like to receivea reunion brochure who is not currently a part of ourWhigham Association, send me their name and address,and I will see that they receive a brochure. There areso many of you who have never attended a reunion.You are missing such a great opportunity to get toknow some really great people. Why not make this theyear you join us at the reunion?

Bought Your Copy of the Chronicles Yet?

Two more books to sell, and theproceeds will begin going into the WhighamAssociation treasury. We hope to have thisaccomplished by the time of the reunion.

To order your copy or to order one for your library ,simply make your check to: Joyce W. Dorrycott, and mailit to me at:

6454 Village ParkSan Antonio, Texas 78250-4053

A Trip Back in Time

Ever since I first heard about Moneyslane and CountyDown as a possible location for Thomas Whigham beforehe came to Georgia, I have wanted to visit there. So,when the candidate I was working for offered me a trip togo anywhere I wanted to go, I chose to go Scotland andNorthern Ireland.

Though the trip didn’t turn out as well as I’d hoped,we were so glad to get to Moneyslane. As you standthere, you see the Mourne Mountains in the distance. Andthe countryside remains rural. Remembering that theWhighams who came to America were Presbyterians, wehad to take a picture of the Moneyslane First PresbyterianChurch. So, here are some pictures to give you a bird’seye view -

.

2 Newsletter of the Whigham Family Association Vol. 6, No. 1 January 2, 2005

A Few ‘Joyce’ Words

I’m sure many of you must havewondered if I had dropped off the

face of the earth. Well, not really, but almost.Last summer, in late June, Don and I went to

Alabama to attend the Whigham-Johnson reunion inGeneva. We also visited a few days with my sister inLake Mary, Florida.

While we were in Alabama, we went to Eufaula tomake arrangements for the repair of the graves of theThomas Whigham family at Pea River PresbyterianChurch. The ironwork fence around the gravesite hadcome apart, but the pieces were still there. We visitedwith J.J. Jackson in Eufaula who said he and his wifewould paint the fence once it was repaired. He directedus to the Eufaula Iron Works where the owner agreed togo look at it and give us a figure on its repair

After making arrangements with both men, Don andI started home feeling good about the beginning of theAssociation’s efforts to restore the graves of ourancestors. Though we didn’t know it as we pulled out ofMyron’s driveway, our lives were about to take adownhill turn - at least as far as distractions go.

As we entered Hwy. 90, my cell phone let me knowthat I had a message (I’d had it off at Myron’s as wewere in a “roaming” area.). The message was that Don’sonly brother had died in Connecticut the day before, andthey were trying to reach Don about the funeral. Thatinstituted a rush back to Texas and a quick flight toBoston the next day.

After the funeral, we stayed a couple of days withour daughter in Maine, then flew back to San Antonio.As most of you know, I ran a political campaign for staterepresentative from June 2003 to this November 2nd.Both Don and I worked day and night as we werescheduled to leave for Scotland on July 26th. We onlyhad two weeks to make sure everything was togetherbefore we flew to Edinburgh.

We arrived in Edinburgh, July 27th, very tired.Stayed in a wonderful bed and breakfast there, but wewere so tired that the first three days we mainly ate,slept and took short trips downtown. Since we hadvisited Edinburgh before and would be back again at theend of our vacation, we saved most of our sightseeingfor the last part of our vacation. We did visit theBotanical Gardens, where Don had the worst coffee hehad ever had.

We left Edinburgh on Saturday and went toAberdeen where we spent the weekend. As always, wereally enjoyed the beautiful flowers.

On Monday morning, we took the train to Stranraerwhere we took the ferry to Belfast, Northern Ireland.Arriving late in the evening, we took a taxi to AshberryCottage, the bed and breakfast where we spent the nextweek.

Northern Ireland was wonderful, and our hosts weremarvelous. We had a downstairs room, next to thebathroom and chose to stay in it when given theopportunity to move upstairs. That was to turn out as avery wise decision. Of course, the first place on ouragenda was to go to Moneyslane. Sam, our host, helpedus to get the proper bus routes, and off we went. At thebus station, they kept having trouble finding“Moneyslane”. Finally, someone said, “It’s calledMcBride’s Corners now.” And, we needed that namefor the rest of the trip.

When we arrived at “McBride’s Corners”, the signfor Moneyslane was still there. We walked around as

much aswe could,but therewas verylittle tosee. Wet o o ks o m epictures,w a l k e dup an old

road to “Moneyslane Presbyterian Church”, and stoppedalong the way to ask questions. No one really seemed toknow much about the history of Moneyslane. So, wetook the bus back to Belfast and made plans to visitlibraries there.

The next day, Sam took us on a trip around thenortheast coast of Northern Ireland. It was verybeautiful, and we could certainly appreciate howdifficult it would be to leave such a beautiful land.When I wanted to buy some souvenirs, Don persuadedme to wait for later. That proved to be a very baddecision.The next couple of days we visited Belfast looking forinformation on the Whigham family, as we were leavingfor Dublin on Sunday morning. On Saturday morning,

3 Newsletter of the Whigham Family Association Vol. 6, No. 1 January 2, 2005

The 2003 Reunion Tape

The word concerning the 2003 reunion tapes isnot good. I spoke with Pat Whigham againyesterday, and she tells me the quality of the tapesshe made at the reunion is not good. Therefore, she will not be making the tapes weall ordered. Please write to Pat to get your moneyrefunded.

New arrangements are being made for tapingthe reunion this summer. I am deeply apologeticthat you will not have these keepsakes of thereunion. Pat’s address is below..

Pat WhighamP.O. Box 176Samson, AL 36477

we went downtown to visit the library where we did getmore Whigham information, had lunch and then walkedto Royal Street to a linen shop I had wanted to visit.

While looking around, I noticed a lower level andslipped away from Don to look around. As I went downthe steps, I slipped on the bottom step. My reaction asalways was to protect my left hip, so I planted my rightfoot to cushion my fall. I was so proud that I hadn’tseemed to hurt myself - until I tried to get up. That’swhen I realized I no longer had any control over thatfoot. An ambulance was called, and I was taken to theRoyal Hospital. After X-rays, I learned that I hadbroken both bones going into the ankle - and ourvacation was over.

On Monday, we began the flight home. In Chicago,as we were getting ready to change planes, my left hip(the prosthesis) came apart - and, again, an ambulancewas called. Luckily, I was able to roll on the seatenough to get it back in place so we could continue ourjourney. We arrived home late that night, and I went tothe orthopedic surgeon the next day. Due to swelling,etc., he scheduled surgery for the next week.

The recovery, as usual, was long and difficult -especially since I was still running the campaign.Luckily, we won on November 2nd, which made all thelong days and nights worthwhile. I’d thought to getright to the newsletter, but closing down campaignoffices, setting up a state representative’s district officeand the holidays all got in the way.

This is a very long-winded way of telling youwhy it has been so long between newsletters. Oh, andjust in case you are still reading, on Tuesday (December28th), I went back to the hospital for a few hours to getthe screws on the inside of my foot removed. The plateon the outside of my foot remains. So, as I recover, Ithought there had been enough excuses. It’s time to getthe newsletter out.

PS. One of the things I most regret is that I didn’tget to visit with John Whigham who had put together agroup of Whighams to visit with us when we got back toEdinburgh.

Have not heard anything about the repair of theThomas Whigham gravesite, so I plan to call the IronWorks on Monday. Since they haven’t asked for acheck, I tend to think the work hasn’t been done. If thereare any of you who live nearby who could help me outon this, I would really appreciate it.

I did manage to get Virginia Whigham and family’sgravesites near Waynesboro, MS raised and stabilized.This was something I paid for personally as she was my

paternal great-grandmother. Now, they need to becleaned. Could use a little help from her descendants inpaying for this. Graves involved are those of VirginiaWhigham, wife of Thomas Marcus Whigham, EvelynHawkins Whigham, wife of Andrew Nathan Whigham,and Justin Earl Whigham, son of Evelyn and Andrew.

Cost will be $210 if any of you wish to contribute.

ANNUAL REUNIONS??

As many of those who attend our reunions are pastsixty, the question has arisen as to whether or not weshould have annual reunions. Perhaps some of us arefeeling our mortality, but every year more of us areleaving this earth. Many more of us are experiencinghealth problems that slow us down and make travelingmore difficult.

And, so, I have been asked, “Why not have annualreunions? Why not get together more often so that wehave greater opportunity to get to know one another?”While it is true that those who come from greaterdistances might find it difficult to come every year,those who want to do so can get together more often.Some have even suggested that we have our reunions ina different month - when it is cooler. I’ve even beentold, “Who wants to go to Alabama in the summer?”(Of course, when you live in Texas, summer in Alabamamay be sultrier, but it isn’t hotter!)

In any event, think about it. We’ll discuss it at thereunion.

4 Newsletter of the Whigham Family Association Vol. 6, No. 1 January 2, 2005

“I’m Not Dead Yet”

One of the most interesting letters I have everreceived concerning Whigham genealogy arrivedseveral weeks ago from Tommie Jean OverstreetBrown After introducing herself, Tommie Jean said,“According to your Chronicles, I am in this (Ellisville,MS) cemetery - I was tempted to call you onHallowe’en and report I was calling from the EllisvilleCemetery . . I am very much alive.” On checking theChronicles, I found that I had indeed “buried” her, butI had no record of her death. I hope I haven’t buriedanyone else prematurely.

SOME ARE GIVEN . . .

A new little Whigham entered this world on June21, 2004. Our historian, Robert Elmore Whigham, Jr.,is the proud grandfather of a new granddaughter.

Robert, III, and his wife, Josephine, are the proudparents of their first child, a daughter, Allie Josephine,born in the Mobile Infirmary in Mobile, Alabama.Allie weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz., and was 20" long.

. . . AND SOME ARE TAKEN

Cleston Oree Whigham Jr.

MILLRY, Ala. - Services for Cleston Oree “Bunk”

W higham Jr. will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Millry

Baptist Church with the Revs. Billy Kendricks and

Kenneth Hinton officiating. Burial will be in Kimbrough

Cem etery in Millry. Phillips Funeral Home is in charge

of arrangements.

Mr. W higham, 74, of Millry, died Saturday, June 26,

2004, in his home.

Survivors include his wife, Louise W higham of M illry;

sons, Bruce W higham, Bryant W higham and Stony B.

W higham, all of Millry; a brother, Hannis Whigham of

Millry; sisters, Stella Bryson of Mobile, Ardith Carlisle of

Millry and Elsie Morgan of Mobile; eight grandchildren and

three great-grandchildren.

(This was an especially hard death for me. We werechildhood playmates, and I have many great memories ofBunk. He was present at our last reunion.)

MARSHALL W. “WOODY” WHIGHAM SR.

1913 - 2004

Marshall E. “W oody” W higham Sr., 91, of Pensacola

died Sunday, December 12, 2004.

A native of Recovery, GA, W oody has been a

Pensacola resident for most of his life. He was a

graduate of the University of F lorida, class of 1936, a

member of F irst United Methodist Church, a pharmacist

in Pensacola for 60 years and former owner of “The Drug

Shop”, and an avid gardener.

W oody is survived by son, Marshall W . W higham, Jr.

(Ingrid); daughters, Doris Ann Whigham Rodgers,

Crofton, MD, Mary Jane W higham Bryant (Robert);

Princeton, NJ; and Susan E. W higham, (Michael Murphy);

Orlando, FL; grandchildren, Bret W higham, Nancy Ann

Rodgers, Lisa Brant Saraf idis (Yiani); John W . Bryant,

Em ily Rodgers and Rachel Murphy.

He was buried in Bayview Memorial Park Cem etery

on Saturday, December 18, 2004. Arrangem ents were by

Harper-Morris Mem orial Chapel.