A couple of weeks ago, I said my grandfather's sister, Lillie Vashti Lanier, was married at least four times and that I hadn't found her in 1920 or 1930 census records. When I threw that "at least" in there it wasn't so much because I believed she'd been married more. It was just because there are gaps in her life that I don't know anything about so I couldn't be sure four was it.
After learning from the 1940 census that Lillie was living in New Orleans in 1935, I took a closer look at the 1930 census. And I finally found her. With a new surname.
Lillie Manning lived at 2418 Amelia Street in New Orleans. As luck would have it, a couple of relatives were living with her - that's the only way I knew this was my Lillie. Her older sister, Hettie McRae (listed as Hattie MacRae), and Hettie's son, Jack White, were listed as roomer and lodger. Lillie and Hettie were both widows. All three were working: Lillie as a cashier in a hotel, Hettie for Crystaline Company and Jack as a sign painter.
1. Jesse Walls: Lillie and Jesse were married in Fulton County, Georgia on 26 Feb 1910. According to the 1910 census, they lived in Atlanta, Georgia at 9 Carroll Pl. Her mother (Nancy Jane Lanier), sister (Sallie Belle Dial) and niece (Dorothy Dial) lived with them.
2. Jack Young: Jack requires a post all his own (coming soon), mostly to explain how I went wrong with him.
3. Mr. Roberts: Lillie's last name was Roberts at the time of her mother's death according to the obituary published in the LaGrange Reporter in LaGrange, Georgia on 14 Oct 1926.
4. Mr. Manning: Lillie's last name was Manning in the 1930 census. Mr. Manning was apparently deceased.
5. James Henry Dixon: Lillie married James in 1935 and he was her last husband. Well, at least, Dixon was her last name when she died in 1987 (36 years have his death) and she's buried beside him.
I really wish I'd known Aunt Lillie.
