Our Family Reunion
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| The Family that Prays Together...Stays Together! |
| Bolden - Scruggs - Tucker - Searcy - Morris |
Bolden/Scruggs/Searcy/Tucker/Morris Family History
The Scruggs Family
Charlie Warren Scruggs was born around 1875. He was a tall, brown skinned man who was affectionately
known as “Papa” to his children. Charlie had a sister named Mary. He may have had another sister and a
brother named Ida and John.
Charlie married Ada Knight and had two children, William Allen Scruggs and Minnie Scruggs.
After Ada’s death, Charlie married Ella Morris. Ella and Charlie had two children, Mary Ella Scruggs and
Peoria Hollin Scruggs. Peoria has no recollection of her mother because she was only 2 years old when
Ella passed away.
Charlie then married Edith Harris and had a son, Warren Scruggs. Prior to their marriage, Edith had a
daughter, Melissa who was very close to the family and known as “Aunt Melissa.”
Charlie passed away in 1945. He was a member of the St. Mark M.B. Church in Vineyard, Arkansas. He and
Ella are buried at the Church’s old cemetery in O-Ten, Arkansas located beyond Vineyard. His tombstone
is near the entrance of the cemetery and at last visit was in good condition.
The Children of Charlie Warren Scruggs
William Allen Scruggs was born in Helena, Arkansas and married Francis Leslie Orange. They had no
children but prior to their marriage, William had a son, William, Jr. who preceded him in death. A
daughter, Bessie Scruggs Clark lived in St. Louis, Mo until her death in 1990. Bessie married Oakley Clark
and their children are: Merdean Fielding Gales, Odessa Clark Owens and Janice Clark all of St. Louis MO.
William, Sr. died on December 4, 1974 in Chicago, Illinois and is buried there in Lincoln Cemetery.
Minnie Scruggs was born in Helena, Arkansas and married John Marr. They resided in Chicago, Illinois and
raised one son, Sonny Marr who is also now deceased.
Mary Ella Scruggs was born in Rondo, Arkansas on February 26th, 1910. She married Clarence Dye. Prior to
this marriage, Mary had one daughter, Charles Ella who preceded her in death. Charles Ella’s father was
Jodie Gaines. Mary passed away October 27th, 1996. Charles Ella had 6 children: Ricky, Janice, Marilyn,
Kenneth, Teresa and Rosalind. Marilyn passed away on May 18th, 2002. Ricky lives in Detroit, Janice and
Kenneth live in Alabama, Teresa lives in Memphis and Rosalind lives in Kansas City.
Peoria Hollin Scruggs was born on May 25th, 1916 in Rondo, Arkansas. She married Jefferson Bolden on
December 30th, 1930 and together they had 18 children: Eudora, Alfred, Maxie, Jeffrey Mae, Cora Lee,
Vernell, Lessie B., Allean, Alvia Dean, Charlie Will, William Henry, Joyce Ella, Lloyd, Shirley Jean, Winifred,
Yvonne, Phoenix Bernard and Glenda Sharee. Cora Lee died at 13 months of age and Lessie passed away
in March 2004. Peoria died on October 11, 1989 in Marianna, Arkansas with her husband, Jeff and her
children, Winnie, Yvonne and Glenda at her bedside. The children of Jeff and Peoria reside in Arkansas,
Missouri, Indiana, Illinois and Connecticut. Jefferson continues to live in Marianna, Arkansas. Peoria is
buried at Friendship M.B. Church cemetery in Rondo, Arkansas.
Warren Scruggs was born on September 28, 1922 in Rondo, Arkansas and married Annie C. Chambliss and
lived in Chicago until his death on October 7, 1989. Warren and Anne raised Annie Ruth Coleman who
resides in Everglades, Florida. Warren also had a daughter, Jean Bradford who lives in Detroit, Michigan.
Warren is buried in Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.
The Bolden Family (includes Searcy Family History)
Mary Vivian Searcy (June 18, 1890-January 20, 1982) was the daughter of Tree Searcy and Queen Victoria
Searcy. Tree was his slave name. His real name was Jefferson Smiley. Mary’s siblings included Carrie and
Daley (Daley was known as D). Tree Searcy was a member of Sequell M.B. Church and is buried in the
Sequell Cemetery (formerly known as Possum Trot Cemetery). Tree and Queen Victoria also had a son,
Thornton Searcy. Uncle Thornton was an accomplished musician who played the accordion and taught
music to people in the local church and surrounding community. Tree later married Ida, who became
Mary’s stepmother. Thornton married Mariah. Previous to this marriage, he had a son, James Searcy.
James had several children in and around the Helena, Arkansas area but we do not have a record of their
names. It is believed that he has a daughter sill living in Helena. He also had a son named Sam. Sam
married Verdean and together they had two children: Sam, Jr. and Alvin. Sam, Sr. passed away Dec. 8th,
1997. Verdean continues to live in their home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mary had a daughter, Edna Bouten on December 25, 1909. Her father was Mose Bouton. Edna Bouten
McFadden lives in Chicago, Illinois. Although Edna had no children of her own, it can be said that she
took on a very loving and helpful role as aunt to all of Jeff’s children.
Mary married Will Bolden and had a son, Jefferson Bolden who was born January 15, 1911. Jeff’s father
died while he was an infant.
Mary then married Will Thomas who became a very loving “father” to Jeff and the only father Jeff would
ever know. Throughout the years, Jeff has spoken very highly of Will Thomas’ role in his life as a father
who taught him how to farm and take care of his family. Will Thomas was a member of Friendship M.B.
Church where Jeff later joined although his mother, Mary was a member of Sequell M.B. Church.
Before Will Bolden married Mary, he had children whose names were: Charlie Tucker, Charlie Bolden,
Minnie Bolden, Amos Bolden, James Bolden and Eddie Bolden. (It should be noted here that Charlie
Tucker chose to use the last name of his stepfather as opposed to his biological father, Will Bolden).
Mary Vivian Searcy Thomas and Will Thomas are buried at Friendship M.B. Church Cemetery in Rondo,
Arkansas.
The Children of Will Bolden (Includes Tucker Family History)
Charlie Tucker married Allison and to this union, the following children were born: Charlie, Jr., Adam, D.
C. and Hester. Charlie later married a woman named Georgia. They lived in Parkin, Arkansas. D.C. lives in
Indianapolis, Indiana and has four children: Cora, DeCelia, Beverly, and Cynthia. Hester married Walter
Blankenship. Hester resides in Oakland, California.
Eddie Bolden’s wife was named Henrietta. They lived in Memphis, Tennessee until Eddie’s death.
Charlie Bolden lived in Helena, Arkansas until his death. He had no children.
James Bolden married Ida Mae. Together they had two children, James, Jr. (deceased) and Earnestine
Bolden Rogers of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Earnestine had five children, two of whom are now deceased.
James later married Angeline but no children were born to this union.
Amos Bolden married Prenscella Crawford in 1934. Prior to this marriage, Amos had a son, Amos, Jr. who
preceded him in death.
Minnie Bolden married Joseph Coleman. They had no children. They resided in Helena, Arkansas until
their respective deaths.
Jefferson Bolden was born on January 15, 1911 in Rondo, Arkansas. On December 30, 1930 he married
Peoria Scruggs and together they had 18 children (see names listed above).
The Morris Family History
Roddy and Hannah Morris had four children: Ella, Roddy Jr., Will and Emma.
Emma Morris married Robert King and the children that were born to that union were Robbie King
(deceased at a young age), Hannah King (also deceased at a young age), Sterling King, Sr., Arthur King
and Eliza King. Arthur was married twice and had no children. Eliza married Richard Wilson and had one
son, Richard Wilson, Jr. Sterling married Jessie and their children are (in order of birth) Willie Hayes,
Melvia Louise, Ernie B. (deceased), Mildred (deceased), Mae Cotis, Sterling, Jr., Emmer, Mary Dean,
Cozette Ruth (died at 18 months old), Arthur Vernell (deceased) and Calvin.
Will Morris had twin sons, Emmett (known as Mitt) and Emory (known as Pud). Mitt married Amanda Young
and their children are Emmett, Willie Ed and Ralph. Pud also married and had a family. Pud lives in
Champaign, Illinois.
Ella Morris married Charlie Scruggs and had two children: Mary Ella and Peoria Hollin.
Roddy Jr. had no children.
During the 1980s Peoria took Allean, Glenda and Phyllis to the O-Ten Cemetery to show where the Morris
family gravesites were located as well as the site of her father, Charlie. Although family members were
unable to locate Ella’s tombstone, they discovered very nice, tall markers for Peoria’s Uncle Roddy, Jr.
and Grandfather Roddy. (it should be noted here that in a subsequent visit to the cemetery in the 1990s,
those tombstones for both Roddys were not located and are possibly among those that were destroyed
by careless mowing or vandalism). However Charlie’s flat stone near the entrance was still visible and in
very good condition.
Special note to the Family:
Family history is very important. We encourage everyone to read this history and become involved in
keeping track of where family members are buried, when they are married, where they have church
memberships and the names of children and grandchildren who are born. This record is a work in
progress and we would like to add facts and dates to the information we already have. Please contact
Glenda or Shirley for contributions to this history of the B/S/T/M families.
Thank you.
Highlights From The 2007 Reunion Program Book