David Averett Obituaries

The following photo is of my great-great-great grandparents David Franklin Averett (25 February 1837 - 11 November 1927) and Martha TIMMERMAN Averett (27 November 1847 - 30 July 1927). I don't know the date it was made but David was 90 years old when he died in 1927 and his wife, Martha, was 79. An estimate of his apparent age in this photograph might be 60 years, which means that she would have been about 50. If true, the photograph would have been made around 1907.

The material in this post was given to my mother by a relation in Louisiana. My mother died in 1992 and I inherited her genealogy research after beginning to take an interest a few years ago. But I unfortunately have lost contact with anyone from my maternal grandfather's family (which includes David and Martha Averett). I have a couple of names that I am going to use to try to track them down after I have developed this blog. My theory is that it is easier to get potential genealogy research partners to collaborate if I have a body of work already assembled. Either way, I'm hoping to reestablish contact with one or more of them soon.

One other point:  The Internet being what it is, I am being careful to avoid naming living relatives or relatives who may still be living. For this reason, I am not going to supply information about people more recent than my maternal and paternal grandparents, all of whom passed away more than twenty years ago. But if the person who provided the material in this post to my mother recognizes his or her work, please let me know if it's okay if I add your name here.

David died about four months after the passing of his wife. Unfortunately, I do not have a copy of her obituary (yet).  But here is the first of two of his obituaries, probably published in a newspaper from the Winnfield, Louisiana area.

"PIONEER CITIZEN OF WINN PARISH DIES AT 90 YEARS. Winnfield, Nov. 17 (Special) -- D.F. Averett, 90 years old, died here at his home last Friday night. Mr. Averett was one of the oldest residents of this section of the state. He was born in Coosa county, ala., and served throughout the Civil war in the Confederate army, being attached to various branches of Lee's army in Virginia. In the second battle of the Wilderness he was wounded. Up until that engagement he was a sharpshooter. On recovering from his wounds he was attached to General Lee's headerquarters as a courier. Mr. Averett was the only Confederate soldier living in this section that served directly under Lee and knew the great general personally. Immediately after the Civil war he moved to this state and raised a large family. He is survived by nine children, five sons and four daughters, Rufus Averett, Hallsville, Texas; Mrs. J.R. Watts Sr., Winnfield, W.O. Averett, Winnfield; Early Averett, Gilmer, Texas; Mrs. W.A. Stamper, Natchitoches; Mrs. Emile Somparac [sic:  Sompayrac], Winnfield; Mrs. W.H. Baker, Pocahontas, Miss.; W.W. Averett, Shreveport, and Clarence Averett, Dallas, Texas. Funeral services were held at the First Baptist church, with interment in the Winnfield cemetery."

Here is the second, also probably published in a newspaper in the Winnfield area.

“Prominent Aged Citizen Is Claimed By Death Friday - D.F. Averett, Confederate Veteran, Dies Nov. 11, at Family Home. The sad death of David Francis Averett occurred at his home last Friday morning, November 11th, at 9:45 o’clock, thus closing the last chapter of a long and useful life. At the time of his death Mr. Averett had reached the advanced age of 89 years, 9 months and 16 days and up until a few weeks prior to his death he was unusually hearty and energetic. He was born in Thomas County Georgia but was reared in Alabama and it was from that state that he entered the Civil War, serving in the Fifteenth Alabama Infantry during the entire period of the war. In 1864 he was wounded in battle and while at home on furlough for recuperation he was married to Miss Martha Timmerman, who preceded him in death only three months ago, having lived together in happy companionship for over 62 years and rearing a large and useful family. The life of Mr. Averett has ever been outstanding because of his uprightness and desire to help his fellow men. His gentle influence will be greatly missed in this community. Funeral services were conducted at the Baptist Church Saturday morning at 10 o’clock by Rev. A.H. Cullen with interment in the Winnfield cemetery. He is survived by nine children, five sons; John Rufus of Halleville, Texas; D.E. of Gilmer, Texas; W.O. of Winnfield; Walter W. of Shreveport, and Clarence of Dallas, Texas; and four daughters; Mrs. J.R. Watts Sr., and Mrs. C.E. Sompayrac of Winnfield; Mrs. W.A. Stamper of Natchitoches, and Mrs. William Baker of Pocahontas, Miss. Also many grandchildren and other relatives and friends who mourn the passing of this splendid character.