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Note: My Mom, Frances was one of seven children of Ida Mae Scott and John Eden Smith. Some family records show her father's name as "John B. Smith
According to a July 25, 1955 "certified" birth record from Estelle Marks, State Registrar at the Virginia Bureau of Vital Statistics, Richmond,VA, Frances May Smith, daughter of Ida May Scott and John Smith, was born in Reams Station, in Dinwiddie County, VA on October 25, 1899. The document was witnessed by Mary Scott Wheeler Price living at Locust Avenue, Hampton, VA.
The same report, taken from Family Bible notations, listed Frances' father as being born in Eadenton,[? spelling] NC, and her mother being born in Petersburg, VA. Weldon, NC was given as the location of Frances' parents marriage location. Apparently the Smith family had very few members interested in the family genealogy!
In 1908, my Mother's father died when she was about 9 years old. She was living in Petersburg, VA. at that time. We are unsure how or exactly when my mother actually relocated from Petersburg to Newport News, VA. where she was living when she married my father in 1923. I guess Family record-keeping in the early 1900's was not considered a high priority item. Food, clothing and accommodation seems to be higher on the family scale of priorities. However, official records from St. Paul's Church in Newport News, VA certified that Frances was baptized on the 7th day of March 1915. Another certificate from the same church in the Warwick Parish dated March 21, 1915 indicates Frances was confirmed by Rev. H.G. Lane into the church. She would have been 16 when these events occurred. In economic data of the time indicated sugar sold for four cents a pound, eggs costs 14 cents for a dozen, coffee was 15 cents per lound and milk was 11 cents a quart. Although `life in Newport News during these times was not a time of prosperity for everyone, Mom had lots of beaus in Newport News as a young lady. Her charms even appealed to many of the new residents of the city who had come from out of state to work in the "Yard." My Dad was the winner of all these courtships.
According to their marriage license in 1923, my mother was living at 3501 Huntington Avenue and Dad listed his address as 1237 25th Street in Newport News, VA.
For the next 33 years. Mom accompanied Dad around the state as his employer transferred him from one city to another. They were living in Norfolk, VA when I came along. Dad had a mid-level management job with A&P Tea Co. for his entire employment career. Wherever a sales region, market or territory was performing poorly, the Company sent my dad to straighten the territory's under-performing stores out to make a profit. Mom went with dad to Danville, VA, then back to Tidewater, then they moved over to Suffolk and on to Portsmouth, Norfolk, Richmond, Petersburg, Staunton, Charlottesville and back to Richmond. Truly, this couple were Virginians! They lived in the major cities of the Commonwealth.
Mom made friends easily so wherever Dad traveled she was like a military officer's wife. She joined local clubs, entertained friends and employees alike in our rented homes around the state. Much of my early moral and religious training was done by my Mother as Dad was "out-of-town" so much. She assigned me chores to accomplish in the house and yard. During WW II, we were living in Petersburg. Mom drove an ambulance at Ft. Lee. The Red Cross Volunteers took a lot of her time as she helped make bandages and other chores to help the war effort. She helped at our church and entertained soldiers in our home for meals before they shipped overseas. Mom loved her bridge clubs and hosted groups frequently in clubs and at our homes.
She loved our home in Richmond on Brookside Drive and played hostess to many neighborhood activities. In Petersburg, her civic volunteer work filled many of her days. Of course taking care of the needs of a young, high- spirited high school youngster (such as me) filled many of days and nights too.
Mom and her sister, Dorothy Newcomb, bonded while they both lived in Richmond. I enjoyed playing with my cousins, Haywood and Milton when we both lived in South Richmond. Betty, Dorothy's daughter was really too young to be included in the affairs of young men as we took trolly cars to Saturday movies on "downtown" Hull Street.
Mom suffered from Alzheimers disease in her last years and we watched this disease take control of her mind and body. She died at West port Convalescent Home in Richmond, VA.
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