Fifth Generation

14. Vilous Wayne Johnson was born on September 30, 1912 in Trimble, Dyer, Tennessee and died December 18, 1974 in Trenton, Dyer, Tennessee. He married Nannie Mildred Warren on December 20, 1932, in Trenton, Gibson, Tennessee. His parents were John Fred Johnson and Annie Blanche Isbell.

I also do not know much about his young life, but he was known as “Pill”. All of his brothers had nicknames. He grew up on a farm and there is a picture of him as a child. My grandmother describes his family as being rough, though her father was always kind. He had tanned skin with high cheekbones, black hair, and blue eyes. He was tall I think. He had it rough during the depression and even had to spend time as a sharecropper to make ends meet. During WWII, he worked for the Milan Arsenal. It was not long after this time that he bought a house in Dyer, TN near his wife’s relatives. The house had no bathroom or electricity, but he updated the house over the years. This was this house I would go to for Thanksgiving as a child. I last went there in 2004. The only other story I remember about him is the one told by my grandmother. She told me that she wasn’t allowed to see Gone with the Wind because there was a curse word in the end (”Frankly my dear. . . “) but she retorted back that she heard her Daddy say that word all of the time! I am sure she got her humor from her dad but I need to make sure.

15. Nannie Mildred Warren is the great grandparent I know the best. She passed away only a year ago and wrote down her autobiography. She was born July 26, 1914 in Dyer, Gibson, TN. She died on April 22, 2007 in Trenton, Gibson, Tennessee. She is buried next to her husband in the Oakwood Cemetery in Dyer, Tennessee. Most locals know this cemetery well. For some weird reason the local teens hang out in the cemetery. There are many pictures including one of my great grandmother as a young woman hanging out in the cemetery. She is the daughter of William Clint Warren and Willie Inez McDonald.

She was known as Mildred because she hated her first name Nannie. She also grew up on a farm and was very poor, but was not the poorest. She lived nearby family most of her life, She played the mandolin and sang with her family. She even wrote her own songs. She got to perform on the radio when she was young. I got to meet most of her brothers and sisters though one brother died before she was even born. She attended school in Dyer and survived a tornado that destroyed everything they had. No one was killed but several people were hurt. She wrote about how she met her husband “Pill” in her autobiography but I forgot. She went into detail about all the trials they suffered during the Depression. She was a great cook and always loved to cook for people. For Christmas they would give their children oranges and put nuts in the trees to feed the birds. She worked most of her life. After her husband died in 1974, she would take care of elderly people and did this until she herself got too old sometime in her 80’s. She was always in excellent health. Everyone loved the way she talked for she had a very strong country accent and would call everyone “hun”. She died at the age of 92 and lived a full beautiful life.

Children of Vilous Wayne Johnson and Nannie Mildred Warren:

1. Peggy Juanita Johnson 1934- Married Bobby Gene Paschall

2. Nancy Jane Johnson 1936- Married James William Etheridge

3. Billy Wayne Johnson 1938- Married Joy Dickey

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12. James Ollie Etheridge was born on November 14, 1908 in Murray, Calloway, Ky and died on March 28, 1968 in Trenton, Gibson County, TN. He was the son of William Henry Etheridge and Callie Elsie Carter. On December 25, 1929 he married Lena Irene Burns in Humboldt, TN.

I don’t know much about his childhood, but I am sure my grandfather can fill in the blanks. He grew up on a farm. Sometime in his childhood his family moved back to Gibson County, TN and lived in Humboldt. He was too young or too old to be in a war, but raised a family during the depression. His mother, Callie Carter was his father’s second wife so he had brothers who were much older than himself. He had nephews and nieces not much younger than himself. He made Lena Burns and later married her. Not too long after that they moved to Trenton, TN. They had my grandfather, James William Etheridge soon after in 1930. Later in life he mowed the grass along the highways for the government. I think he had a business that contracted out to the business. I have heard nothing but the kindest things about him. My mother told me he had these big eyes that were very kind but glared when he got angry. He was greatly missed when he died of heart failure in 1968 when my mother was 12. My mother said it was snowing when he died and she remembered that winter was particularly cold.

13. Lena Irene Burns was born on August 11, 1907 in Linden, Perry, TN. She died on October 31, 1968 in Trenton, Gibson, TN. She was the daughter of William Albert Burns and Parthenia Lomax.

I also do not know much about her early life. I have seen pictures of her when she was young. She was a small woman with beautiful strawberry blonde hair. She had the nicest smile I have ever seen. My mother was particularly close to her and tries to be a Mamaw like she was. My mother told me about how she loved to play dress up with her Mamaw’s dresses and hats. There are many pictures and even some films of her. I would like to know more about her. I do not know about her likes and dislikes, where she went to school, her friends, etc. She died soon after her husband in 1968 I think also of heart problems.

The Children of James ollie Etheridge and Lena Irene Burns:

1. James William Etheridge 1930- Married Nancy Jane Johnson

2. Martha Geraldine Etheridge 1932-1999 Married Guy Mitchell Pybass

3. Robert Frank Etheridge 1933- Married Barbara Ann Hill

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