Several years earlier the large Howell Sasser family of Covington County, Ala., was introduced and reviewed. At a later date, a story was published for the John Mudson Sasser family who came to the area from Russell County, Ala., during the 1880s. No relationship between the families has been found. Today’s column will feature a third Sasser family who came from Georgia and settled in Covington and surrounding counties.

The earliest ancestor for this Sasser family listed on Ancestry.com is the one who immigrated from England sometime during the early 1700s. John Sasser was born in 1690 in England and died in 1779 in Craven County, N.C. His wife, Sarah Ann Cobb, was also born in 1690 and died in 1776. Among their children was a son, William Sasser, who was born in 1725 and died in 1788. He was married to Elizabeth Osborne (1725-1795). Their son, Joseph Josiah Sasser, was born in 1750 in Craven County. He and his wife, Elizabeth Bryan Hart, had a son named Richard Sasser who was born in 1771 in New Bern, Craven County. He and his wife, Elizabeth Barber (1777-1855), had a son named Noah Sasser.

Noah Sasser was born in 1807 in North Carolina. He lived until 1870 and died in Webster County, Ga. He was married to Mary Bell (1807-1880), and they had a son named John B. Sasser, born 1826 in Rome, Ga. He eventually migrated to Alabama where he died in 1887. He was married to Charity A. Whittle (1831-1904), daughter of John Elisha Whittle Sr. (1805-1885) and Nancy Orpha Boddie (1803-1885). They were the parents of Delphine Monroe “Dell” Sasser, the main subject of today’s story.

Dell Sasser was born in 1866 in Rome, Ga. He moved with his family to Pike County, Ala., where he met and was married in 1888 to Mary J. White (1872-1924), daughter of William White and Armenda Simmons of the Lowery community. Dell made his living by farming and lived at times in Coffee, Covington, Geneva and Henry Counties. He eventually settled in the Alberton community of Coffee County where he purchased a farm from the well-known Dr. Ballard of that area. His wife, Mary J., died in 1824, and he continued farming for three more years until 1927 when he retired from that work. He ended up living with his daughter in the Kinston community of Coffee County until his death in 1949. He and his wife were buried in the Brooklyn Cemetery in Coffee County.

Delphine and Mary J. Sasser had 17 children with all but the youngest, who died at birth, living to adulthood. Their first child was James Albert, b. 1890, d. 1960, m. 1911 Hattie Lee Cogburn (1895-1937). He and Hattie had the following 12 children: Jay P.S., b. 1912, d. 1976, m. Reather Martin; Grady Albert, b.&d. 1913; James Curtis, b. 1914, d. 1943; Mittie Clyde, b. 1916, d. 1980; Linnie Pearl, b. 1918, d. 1995; Gladys Mabel, b. 1920, d. 2007; Cecil Ray, b. 1923, d. 1999;

Ralph Deward, b. 1925, d. 2007; Monice Lavell, b. 1927, d. 2001; George Cary, b. 1928, d. 2002, m. Foye Mae Ellenburg (1928-1998), daughter of Robert Esau Ellenburg (1909-2004) and Mae Sasser (1904-1982); Clifford Lee, b. 1932, d. 1998, m. Mary Frances Stevens (1940-1982); and Baby Sasser, b.&d. 1934.

Dell’s second child was Genie Ethel, b. 1892, d. 1982, m. Noah Washington Cogburn (1897-1974). Genie and Noah Cogburn reared the following nine children: Daniel Washington, b. 1914, d. 1952; Shellie B., b. 1917, d. 1999; Elizabeth “Lizzie,” b. 1919, d. 1968; Ludie Lee, b. 1921, d. 1996; Dewey Robert, b. 1923, d. 1996; Ethel Myrtene, b. 1926; J.C. John “Jake,” b. 1928, d. 2008; Foye Mae, b. 1930, d. 2005; and Noah Wilmer, b. 1932, d. 2003.

Dell’s third child was Annie Bell Sasser, b. 1893, d. 1978, m. twice before third, William M. Scalf (1872-1947). She and William reared the following three children: Rosie Mae, b. 1929, d. 2003; Josephine, b. 1931; and James Howard, b. 1936, d. 1961.

Dell’s next child was Edward E. Sasser, b. 1894, d. 1971, m. Bessie E. Walker (1905-1998). They reared the following six children: James Howard, b. 1925, d. 2009; Christine, b. 1928; John Grady, b. 1931; Randal M., b. 1933, d. 2014; Charles, b. 1936; and Shirley, b. 1943.

Dell’s fifth child was Lonza Edgar, b. 1896, d. 1970, m. Nora Mae Slaughter (1908-1987). They reared the following seven children: Charles Edgar, b. 1926, d. 1999; Hubert Earl, b. 1928, d. 2009; Houston Gene, b. 1933, d. 2013; Mary Sue, b. 1936, d. 2008; Vonceille, b. 1939; Judy, b. 1942; and Eloise, b. 1945.

Dell’s sixth child was Arthur H., b. 1898, d. 1988, m. Mary Jane Polson (1906-1987), daughter of John Clifton Polson and Luiza Jane Ellenburg. They reared the following eight children: Edith Cumi, b. 1911, d. 2004, m. (1) Roy Baggett (2) Cecil A. Howell; Onnie Merle, b. 1924, d. 2002, m. Dotsie Ammons; Olene, b. 1926, d. 1997, m. Ray Arnold; Edward, b. 1928, m. (1) Martha Nichols (2) Patricia Parrish; Mavis Inez, b. 1931, m. (1) James Arthur Scott (2) Clifford R. Sutton; Voncile, b. 1933, m. Robert Alexander; and twin, Lucile, b. 1933, d. 2017, m. Aaron Goodman.

Dell’s seventh child was Noah Henry Sasser, b. 1899, d. 1992, m. Mae (Quattlebaum) Cherry (1900-2000). They reared one son, Quinton Monroe, b. 1921, d. 1995, m. Katherine Cannon.

The eighth child was Jessie E. Sasser, b. 1901, d. 1979, m. Effie D. Jones (1906-1981). They had the following three children: James Olin, b. 1932, d. 1981; Bobby Lewis, b. 1935, d. 2004; and Ruby Hazel, b. 1940.

The ninth child was Alvenia, b. 1903, d. 1984, m. Joseph Daniel Albert Raley (1890-1970). They had one son, Dalton, b. 1928.

The tenth child was Mae Sasser, b. 1904, d. 1969, m. Robert Esau Ellenburg (1909-1998). They had the following eight children: Foe Mae, b. 1929, d. 1998, m. George Cary Sasser (1928-2002); Cecil Monroe, b. 1931, d. 1959; Johnny B. b. 1932, d. 1934; Bobby Gene, b. 1932, d. 2016; Robert Earl, b. 1935, d. 1994; Elbert Lee, b. 1938; Jo Anne, b. 1942; and Dorothy J., b. 1945.

The eleventh child was William L. Fayett “Fate” Sasser, b. 1906, d. 1988, m. (1) Clydie Dove Allen (2) Lottie Pearl Hughes. No children were found for them.

The twelfth child was Bertha Levis Sasser, b. 1907, d. 1972, m. Ellum Benjamin Maddox (1909-1989). They had eight children: Lornia, b. 1930, d. 1989; Sarah Francis, b. 1930, d. 2009; Beatrice, b. 1933, d. 2001; Vera Mae, b. 1935, d. 1990; Vernon Lee, b. 1937; Edward, b. 1939, d. 2004; James Alfred, b. 1940; and Annie Clyde, b. 1942.

The thirteenth child was Jay D. Norman Sasser, b. 1908, d. 1970, m. (1) Francis G. Biggs (1905-1989) (2) Dorothy Lois Crews (1920-1999). They had two children: Charlotte J., b. 1935; and Glenn, b. 1937.

The fourteenth child was Etta Clyde Sasser, b. 1910, d. 1999, m. Hazzard Perry Dean (1901-1971). They had the following six children: Grover, b. 1931, d. 1992; Dorothy Mae, b. 1933, d. 1992; Betty Joyce, b. 1935; Buford Windham, b. 1938, d. 2004; Annette, b. 1940, d. 2002; and Joseph, b. 1942.

The fifteenth child was Myrtie B. Sasser, b. 1912, d. 1989, m. William J. Peacock (1910-1973. They had two sons: James Grover, b. 1941; and Jay Del, b. 1947.

The sixteenth child was Ruby D. Sasser, b. 1915, d. 1991, m. Joseph Jasper Farris (1912-1974). They reared the following five children: Mary Jo, b. 1932, d. 1936; Bettie Jean, b. 1935; Ruby Jo, b. 1942; Hinton Lamar, b. 1946; and Harold Mack, b. 1949.

The seventeenth child, George Washington Sasser, died at birth in 1918.

Dell and Mary Sasser had 87 grandchildren, and 24 of them are still living. One of these, Harold Mack Farris, who is the very youngest grandchild and the only one born after Dell’s death, was a source for some of his family’s history. The family tree of Joe Frank Bickford was another major source along with the early generations data coming from Ancestry.com.

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