James Russell and Katherine Huff Hartley
George Leroy and Mary Elizabeth Varner Hartley Family
Back: Samuel Richard, George Benjamin, Edward Lee, Alma Lee, Leila Mae
Front: George H. , George Leroy and Mary Elizabeth
Photo about 1902
James Russell "Buddy" Hartley was born March 24, 1908, to George Leroy and Mary Elizabeth Varner Hartley in Flora, MS. His siblings included, Alma Lee (Matthews), George Benjamin, Edward Lee, Leila Mae (Conrad), Samuel Richard, Margie Louise (Oakes), Marvin Ashley and Rudolf (still born). He married Vivian Katherine Huff in 1929. James was 21 and Katherine was 20. Katherine was born on July 29, 1909. They had a daughter, Vivian.
James was a welder and saw filer. During WWII he worked in the shipyard in Pascagoula, MS. After the war he worked for various sawmills. He skill at filing large ripsaw and replacing damaged saw teeth, made him a sought after employee. This led to him changing jobs quite frequently. Katherine accepted this vagabond life with good humor. Their nephews and nieces loved to have them around. Buddy was always joking and Katherine loved to laugh. Their daughter Vivian was a beauty. Mel Oakes remembers a visit by her. She was married then and her husban , Jim Brasher, was away in the service. There was a basketball game at Redwood and we invited her to come along. Before she arrived she ask us, just for fun, not to reveal that she was married. We got to the game and were seated in the stands. Every time we would leave to go to the concession stand or the toilet, high school boys would be waiting for us with questions about the beautiful girl who was with us. Vivian got quite a laugh out of it.
Vivian went back to school and became a nurse. She and James had two sons, James Jr. and Raymond.
James. like many of the Hartley boys had a drinking problem. However after a particularly bad bender, he swore off alcohol, became an Adventist and so far as I know, never drank again. Truly a blessing for Aunt Katherine. James died in 1964 at the age of 56. Katherine died in 1988 at the age of 78. Their daughter Vivian Hartley Brasher tradgically died of cancer in 1982 at the age of 52.
James Russell & Katherine Hartley Gallery |
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![]() Back: Mary Elizabeth Varner Hartley, Margie Louise (Oakes), James Russell "Buddy", and Marvin Ashley "Cootze" |
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![]() Samuel Richard 9 (1896), George Benjamin 10 (1995), Edward Lee 7 (1898), George L. 41 (1863), Unknown girl 6 (1899), Unknown child 1 1/2 (1903), Mary Elizabeth “Betty” 28 (1876), maybe Mary Caroline Hartley Talley in back, |
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![]() Fr: Beth, James B., Mardie, Sarah and Katherine Hartley Water Valley, MS |
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![]() Katherine Huff Harley, Vivian Hartley Brasher, Unknown, Pat Oakes, Unknown. In front Beth and Sarah Oakes
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![]() Katherine Huff Hartley, Mel Oakes, Vivian Hartley Brasher and Beth Oakes
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![]() Mel Oakes, Katherine HuffHartley, Vivian Hartley Brasher and Sarah and Beth Oakes |
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![]() James and Vivian Hartley Brasher Grandson, Clint Brasher and his family. |
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![]() Sister of James Hartley . |
![]() (1894-1953) (Restored by Mel Oakes) |
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![]() Frt: Laura Hawkins & Emily Ophelia Jackson Conrad |
![]() Ninnie and Edward Lee Hartley, brother of James Hartley. |
![]() Jones Conrad, Edward Lee Hartley(1898-1948) |
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![]() Henry was the store manager. ca 1920s |
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![]() House in background is their overseer home on plantation |
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![]() Margie Louise Hartley, age 21, All Saints College, Vicksburg, 1927 |
![]() Alma Lee Hartley Matthews and son William (Tete) Matthews |
![]() 1895-1938 |
![]() 1895-1938 |
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