The earlier generations of the Hugghins family were introduced in last week’s story. At least six generations of that family have resided in Red Level, Covington County, Ala., and some continue to do so. A few of the descendants have conducted genealogical research on their heritage and lineage. Those results make this narrative possible.

In last week’s column, the Hugghins family was followed through the generation of John Greenberry Hugghins’s grandchildren who resided mostly in the Cohassett community of Conecuh County and Red Level in Covington County. Today’s story is begun with an update of the family of John Greenberry Hugghins and Leonora Daniel Terry.

Some of the data on some of John Greenberry’s children listed in last week’s column were incomplete, so the following facts are listed. The daughter, Theodocia Ernest, b. 1879, was married to Robert Lee Purnell. They were the parents of one son, Vernon Lee Purnell, born in 1903, who married Stella Stowers who was born in 1905. Vernon and Stella were the parents of the following children: Vernon Creigh, m. Ann Kilcrease; John Clayborn, m. Mary Louise Everett; James Ferrell, m. Gloria Cain; Wilda Lee, m. Charles Sough; and Michael “Mike,” m. Kathy Murphy.

The family and descendants of John Greenberry’s oldest son, John Thomas Hugghins, will be the ones featured in this story. He was born in 1870 in Red Level, Ala., and grew up there while later living in the Jamestown and Herbert communities of Conecuh County. At his death in 1944, he was buried in the Long Branch Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in the Cohassett community of Conecuh County where many of his relatives have been buried. In 1894, he was married in Conecuh County to Alabama “Bama” Malone Shaver, daughter of Phillip Camuel Shaver (1836-1884) and Mary Georgia Griggers (1854-1926).

This paragraph is an update with minor corrections of last week’s listing of this family. John Thomas and Alabama Malone Hugghins reared their children mostly in Conecuh County and later in Covington County. They were the parents of the following children: Hubert, b. 1896, d. 1936, m. Effie Foshee (1899-1934); Elsie Jewel, b. 1897, d. 1978, m. Horace Stephen Barrow (1894-1975); Herman D., b. 1897, d. 1976, m. Alma or Ima Kilpatrick; Homer Shaver, b. 1902, d. 1966, m. Allie Mae Sullivan; Pearl Gay, b. 1906, m. Lee Dean Foshee; Hugh Henderson, b, 1908, d. 1991, single; Ruby Faye, b. 1910, d. 2002, m. (1) 1930 Wheeler George Foshee (1902-1958) (2) Claude Heygood Hill; Ima Jay, b. 1912, d. 1937, m. Frank C. Hall; Clara Mae, b. 1915, d. 2005, m. Grover G. McGowin; John Hilton, b. 1917, d. 1985, m. Vera Mae Carpenter; and Bamma Lou, d. young.

It is interesting to note that all the sons were given names beginning with the letter “H” to go with the last name of Hugghins, maybe to accentuate the extra “H.” Then several of the daughters were given names signifying a jewel or precious stone such as the first daughter, Elsie Jewel. Ohers included Pearl and Ruby. Also, several of the daughters were given names that rhyme: Gay, Faye, Jay and May.

The oldest daughter, Elsie Jewel Hugghins, was born in 1897 and was married to Horace Stephen Barrow, son of Jacob David Barrow (1864-1947) and Lee Jackson Wiggins (1868-1945). They were the parents of three children: Marjorie, b. 1929, d. 2014 in Mobile, m. James Lee Booth (1929-1998); a son (private) and another daughter (private). Marjorie and James Lee were the parents of two children: James Lee Booth Jr., and Stephanie Walker.

The second son, Herman D. Hugghins, was listed as being born in 1897, and he was single and living in the household of his father when the 1930 federal census was enumerated. He was later married to Alma or Ima Kilpatrick, and they were the parents of at least one child, Sylvia Jane. He died in 1976 and was buried in the Long Branch Cemetery near relatives.

The third son, Homer Shaver Hugghins, was named for his maternal grandfather, Phillip Camuel Shaver. He was born in 1902 and was married to Allie Mae Sullivan, daughter of Arthur R. Sullivan (1869-1949) and Louella Cassady (1875-1953). They resided in the Red Level community where they reared their children. They were the parents of the following children: Harry Cecil, b. 1922, d. 2017, m. 1951 Joyce Anetta Branyon (1931-2016); Marlin Shaver, b. 1926, d. 1995, m. 1948 Amelia Grace Posey (1928-2009); Eleanor Jean, b. 1928, d. 2013, m. (1) 1947 Shade Adkinson Williams (2) John Willis Johnson; John Thomas, b. 1929, d. 2009, m. 1952 Anne Grantham; Allison Sullivan, b. 1934, d. 1997, m. 1969 Elba Iris Faison; and McRhee, b. 1937, d. 2009, m. Faye Patterson.

The daughter, Pearl Gay Hugghins, was born in 1906 and was married to Lee Dean Foshee. They had a son named Arthur Eugene Foshee who was born in1923 and died in 2001. He rendered service during World War II and lived in Holmes County, Fla. and Geneva, Ala.

The family of Homer Shaver Hugghins is one of the better known in the Andalusia area. The oldest son, Harry Cecil Hugghins, was a local businessman who also did considerable research into his ancestry. He was married to Joyce Anetta Branyon, daughter of George Powell Branyon (1894-1971) and Emily Eulalia Laney (1908-1991). They resided in the River Falls community and reared two daughters: Denise Anetta, b. 1952, d. 2018, m. Bob Brooks, owner of Brooks Hardware; and Marcia Kay, m. Michael Lynn Shreve.

The second son, Marlin Shaver Hugghins, was born in 1926 and died in 1995 in Pell City, Ala. He was married to Amelia Grace Posey, and they were the parents of the following three daughters: Carol, Susan and Marla Gail.

The only daughter, Eleanor Jean Hugghins, was married first to Shade A. Williams with whom she had two sons, Shad and Jason. She was later married to John Willis Johnson.

The third son, John Thomas Hugghins II, was named for his paternal grandfather. He was born in 1929 in Red Level and later served five years in the U.W. Navy as a member of the hospital corps. Afterwards, he attended Auburn University where he earned a degree in chemistry. He next earned his degree in dentistry at the Alabama School of Dentistry in Birmingham. He was married to Ann Grantham, and they made their home in Opp, Ala., where he had his dental practice. They were the parents of four children: John Thomas (III), Stephen, Cindy and Pam. John Thomas II died in 2009 in Bay Point, Fla., and was buried in the New Home Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Red Level.

The next son, Allison Sullivan Hugghins, was born in 1934 and resided in the Andalusia area. He was married in 1969 to Elba Iris Faison of Dozier, Ala. They were the parents of two children: Benjamin Braxton and Alicia.

The youngest son, McRhee Hugghins, was born in 1937 in Red Level. He was married to Faye Patterson, and they were the parents of four sons: Rockford Scott, Michael Wade, Jeffery Todd and Michael Burton. McRhee established the Hugghins Sod Farm, which is located near Red Level. Currently, his youngest son, Thomas, manages the thriving business.

Sources for this story include Ancestry.com, and the family records of Kay Hugghins, Jason Williams and Joseph Barrow, descendants of John Greenberry Hugghins.

Anyone who may discover an error in the above genealogy is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

 

HISTORICAL MEETING:

The Covington Historical Society will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 25, in the Dixon Memorial Room of the Andalusia Public Library. Guests and prospective members are encouraged to attend.