SMITH Family

On April 16, 1852, in Bibb County, GA, records show that slaveholder Benjamin Davis sold Charles and Milly along with many other slaves to Elisha Davis for $7,000. This was not the first time they were sold and most likely not the last time they will be sold as slave. March 26, 1856, Charles and Milly were hired out with many other slaves by their slaveholder William O. Smith to W. E. Hamilton of Louisiana. They were sold to the Bossier Parish in Louisiana. The Bossier Parish from 1841-1865 conveyance as many as 4,000 slaves. These slaves worked to make huge profits for their slaveholder's. The main profit crops were cotton, corn, and sweet potatoes. Charles and Milly were among the thousands of slaves that worked the fields in Louisiana from sunrise to sunset.

William O. Smith hired out 14 slaves in all to William E. Hamilton. These slaves were to work for W.E. Hamilton for three years. Under the term of agreement, W.E. Hamilton was to paid William O. Smith three notes payment of $11,000 until 1859 with an interest rate of 8% on each slaves.

Sometime during the 1850's, Charles and Milly gave birth to a generation that will represent the Smith Clan. They name their son David. He was born a slave as his parents before him. A story was passed down to David grandchildren that told of how David ran away from a plantation in Louisiana when he was a very young man. He ran away because of the horrible conditions and treatment of blacks. He would walk and run during the night and hide during the day. We do not where David went, but be do know that he met Chancy Lambert in Mecklenburg County in the mid 1870's and on December 28, 1876, David Smith married Chancy Lambert.

Father: Charles Smith-slave & Mother: Milly Smith-slave

David Smith-son-born slave in 1851

In an area called Flat Creek Township that is located in Mecklenburg County, a man name Henderson and a woman name Mary A. Lambert united and begin a family of their own. Their children names were Chaney, Lewis, James, Elizabeth, Adolphus, and Robert Chaney was the oldest child of Henderson and Mary Lambert. In later years, Chaney Smith often told her granddaughter Carrie Bell Smith about seeing Yankees during the

Civil War as a little girl. Carrie quoted, "Grandmother Chancy told many stories, however I can recall her telling me about how she saw many Yankees riding their horse's throughout the land and destroying the property of white landholders."

Father: Henderson Lambert-slave & Mother: Mary A. Lambert-1843-slave

Chancy Lambert-daughter-born 1860
James Lambert-son-born 1865
Lewis Lambert-son-born 1864
Elizabeth Lambert-daughter-born 1868
Adolphus Lambert-born 1872
Robert E. Lambert-born 1874

David and Chaney lived in the Buckhorn District of Mecklenburg County. Eventually, David bought land in Mecklenburg and built a log cabin with two rooms. The log cabin had a room upstairs and large room downstairs with a fireplace and cooking stove. David was a farmer and Chaney was a housewife. It was on the farm that David and Chaney raised their children Lewis and Mary. Today the log cabin is gone, but their legacy still remains.

When David Smith died, the land that he worked on was passed to his son Lewis Smith. Today this is the homestead of the Smith clan.

Father: David Smith-1851 & Mother: Chaney Lambert Smith-1860-1937

Mary Smith-daughter-born 1883
Lewis Smith-son-born February 1887, died 1954

Lewis Smith was born in the month of February 1887. He was the only son of David and Chaney Lambert Smith. He grew up on the farm helping his father with the land. Lewis Smith was a man of few words and he enjoyed working the farmland. He was member of Lambert RZUA Chapter Church and later became a trustee of the church. During his manhood, he met and fell in love with a women name Willie Belle Miller.

Willie Belle Miller was born on June 24, 1887 in Mecklenburg County. Her parent's names were William and Jennie Winkfield Miller. When her mother died, her father remarried a woman named Mary. William and Mary continue to raise the family in Mecklenburg County. Willie Bell had 5 brothers named William ,George, Govan, Paul and Robert. She also had 6 sisters named Martha E, Anna, Harriet M, Lucy, Virginia and Martha. Willie Belle was a quiet and hard working woman. She became a member of Temple Gate RZUA church and a true Christian. Her father William Miller was a true believer in God and a Deacon of Temole Gate until his death.

Father: William Miller-1851 & Mother: Jennie Winkfield Miller-1855

Martha E.Miller-daughter-born-1879
Anna Miller-daughter-born-1880
Harriet M. Miller-daughter-born-1881
Govan Miller-son-born-1882
Martha Miller-daughter-born-1884
Lucy Miller-daughter-born-1886
Willie Belle Miller-daughter-born-1887
Virginia Miller-daugher-born-1888
William Miller-son-born-1890
George Miller-son-born-1891
Paul Miller-son-born 1894
Robert Miller-son born 1894

On January 26, 1908, in Mecklenburg County, Lewis Smith and Willie Bell Miller were married. They lived in a log cabin not very far from his parent's home. During Lewis and Willie Belle marriage they were blessed with 9 children. Their names were William Henry, Mary, Martha Lizzie, Carrie Bell, Robert, John, Hattie, Mattie, and Louise Smith. Three of their children died at an early age. William Henry died at age 6, Mary at age 17 and Louise at 1 month. As of Today Martha (Lizzie), Hattie, Mattie, Robert and Carrie are deceased. Living today is John Eddie. Willie Bell loved her children very much and in returned they loved her just as much. John Smith quoted, "Mother was known for her ashcakes. She would mix corn meal and water and pat the cakes into a round shape. The cake would be placed in the fireplace under ashes for 30 minutes. She would then run water over the cakes to remove the ashes. I remember putting a lot of butter on top of the cakes would make them taste so good."

Father: Lewis Smith-1887 & Mother: Willie Belle Miller Smith-1887-1973

William H. Smith-son-born 1908, died 1915
Mary M. Smith-daughter-born 1912, died 1929
Martha Lizzie Smith-daughter-born 1913, died 1983
Carrie Bell Smith-daughter-born 1915,died 2005
Robert Lewis Smith-son-born 1917, died 2000
John Eddie Smith-son-born 1920
Hattie A. Smith-daughter-born 1922, died 1989
Mattie S. Smith-daughter-born 1924, died 1998
Louise Smith-daughter-born 1926, died 1926

Lewis Smith died December 1954 at the age of 67 and his wife Willie Belle died June 28, 1973 at the age of 86. Both are buried alongside other family members in the Smith Cemetery located on the Smith farm.

Today the family and friends of the Smith family meets every year to celebrate David and Chancy generations. Together the Smith Family members will continue to share a love, which travel from the beginning of Charles and Milly union.

Father: Watson Harper & Mother: Martha L. Smith Harper

Geraldine Harper-niece
Anna Harper-niece Truman Harper-nephew

Father: Willie Sturdivant & Mother: Carrie B. Smith Sturdivant

Geraldline Sturdivant Bishop-daughter-born 1933-died 1961
Lincoln Sturdivant-son
Artish G. Sturdivant-son
Orney Sturdivant-son-born 1941-died 2008
James E. Sturdivant-son-1944-died 2009
Joyce Sturdivant Lawson-daughter
Helen S. Sturdivant Hardy-daughter
Vivian Davis Smith-niece

Father: Robert Smith & Mother: Belva Smith

Ernestine Smith-daughter

Father: John E. Smith & Mother: Alma Smith

Howard Smith-son
Florence Smith Brodnax-daughter
Eddie Smith-son Lillian Smith Richardson-daughter

Father: Orien Lambert & Mother: Hattie Smith Lambert

Charles Lambert-son
Alice Lambert Robertson-daughter
Laverne Lambert Carr-daughter

Father: Wilson Walker & Mother: Mattie Smith Walker

Michael Walker-son
Donna Walker-daughter

Willie & Carrie Bell Smith Sturdivant Generation

Father: Ocsar Arnold Bishop, Jr. & Mother: Geraldline E. Sturdivant Bishop

Monica V. Bishop Thomas-daughter
Keith L. Bishop-son
Kevin O. Bishop-son, born 3/24/1959, died 2008

Father: Lincoln Sturdivant & Mother: Celica Sturdivant

Kennth Sturdivant-son
Gina Sturdivant Day-daughter
Tonya Sturdivant-daughter

Father: Artish G. Sturdivant & Mother: Fidelia Sturdivant

Patrice Rogers Wooden-daughter- (mother: Dorthy)

Desmond Sturdivant-son
Gina Sturdivant-daughter

Father: Orney Sturdivant & Mother: Jenny Sturdivant

Andre Sturdivant-son
Micheal Sturdivant-son
Tracy Sturdivant-daughter

Father: James Sturdivant & Mother: Mary Sturdivant

James Sturdivant, jr.-son
Gerald Sturdivant-son
James & Joyce Sturdivant Lawson - no children

Father: Robert Hardy & Mother: Helen Sturdivant Hardy

Terrell Hardy-son
Danielle Williams-daughter- (father: Daniel)

Father: Cyde Smith & Mother: Vivan Davis Smith

Stephen Smith-son
Scotty Smith-son

Robert & Belva Smith Generation

Ernestine Smith- no children

John & Alma Smith Generation

Father: Howard Smith & Mother: Dorthy Smith

Howard Smith Jr.-son (mother: Margaret)
Kevin Smith-son
Steve Smith-son

Father: Freddie Brodnax & Mother: Florence Smith Brodnax

Felicia Brodnax Rogers-daughter

Father: Eddie Smith & Mother: Jerdana

Corey Smith-son
Carlisa Smith-daughter
Timothy Smith-son

Step-Father: Edward Richardson & Mother: Lillian Smith Towns Richardson

Carmeshia Towns-daughter
Bryant Towns-son

Orien & Hattie Smith Lambert Generation

Father: Charlie Lambert & Mother: Annie

Benight C. Lambert-daughter
Annett Lambert-daughter
Debra Lambert-daughter
Regina Lambert-daughter
Charlie Jr.-son (mother: Louise)

Father: Ernest Robertson, Sr. & Mother: Alice Lambert Robertson

Jacqueline Bryant-daughter
Ernest Robertson, Jr.-son

Step-Father: John Carr & Mother: Laverne Lambert Carr

Cheryl Freeman-daughter (father: Clifton)

Wilson & Mattie Smith Walker Generation

Michael Walker-no children

Father: Percy Harris & Mother: Donna Walker

Shana Harris-daughter
Cherise Harris-daughter

Contributed by Monica Thomas