James Arthur Grissett (1900-1983)
James Grissett, Sr. was a mail carrier serving the Ray City area, and for some time he served as a U.S. Postmaster. His wife, Lillie Crum Grissett, was known throughout the community for her kindness and assistance to those less fortunate. For years, she played the organ at Ray City Baptist Church. The Crum family had an automotive business in Lakeland.
James Arthur Grissett was a son of Sarah Martha Hendrix or Hendricks (1881-1975) and Lucian Hall Grissett (1862-1935). His father, Lucian, was born during the Civil War in North Carolina. His mother was a native of Georgia. As a boy, James A. Grissett lived with his family in Tattnall County, GA where his father operated a turpentine still and James attended school. The family lived in a rented home on Railroad Street in Claxton, GA where they were enumerated in 1910.
1910 Census enumeration of James Arthur Grissett in the household of his father, Lucian Hall Grissett, at Claxton, GA.
http://www.archive.org/stream/13thcensus1910po212unit#page/n642/mode/1up
Some time before 1920, James’ parents moved the family to Berrien County, GA and made their home in the Upper 10th District. At the enumeration of the 1920 census, Lucian Grissett was working there as a foreman for a turpentine operation, but by this time James had left his father’s household. In 1920, 19 year-old James A. Grissett was boarding with the Henderson family in the Mud Creek community, Clinch County, GA. James Henderson was the manager of a naval stores outfit, and James Grissett was the commissary manager. The Henderson house was located on the Dupont Sirmans Road.
1920 Census enumeration of James Arthur Grissett, Mud Creek community, Clinch County, GA.
http://www.archive.org/stream/14thcensusofpopu244unit#page/n18/mode/1up
By 1922, James’ parents had moved to Ray City, GA where Lucian Hall Grissett attended the Missionary Baptist Church. About 1928, James A. Grissett married Lillian Crum. She was a daughter of Thomas J. Crum, subject of previous posts.
By 1930, James and Lillie Grissett had also relocated to Ray City, where they owned a home valued at $2200. James was employed as a letter carrier.
1930 Census enumeration of the Grissett Family in Ray City, GA.
http://www.archive.org/stream/georgiacensus00reel338#page/n355/mode/1up
The Grissetts owned a large farm at Ray City, GA situated between Beaverdam Creek and Johnson Street. This land also had some frontage on Pauline Street and on Main Street. A house located on Pauline Street across from the Beaver Dam Cemetery was owned by the Grissetts, although they never lived there. The house may have been occupied by tenant farmers who rented some of the Grissett land.
James Arthur Grissett and Lillie Crum were the parents of five children.
- James A. “Jimmy” Grissett
- Anna Martha Grissett
- Elinor Grissett
- Gloria Jane Grissett
- Stephen Grissett
For many years, the Grissetts employed a Mrs. Burnett. Mrs. Burnett’s son was a tenant farmer with the Grissetts. She lived in a house on Main Street, Ray City, GA. She walked to work every day, to the Grissett farm on the south side of Beaverdam Creek. Part of her job was to milk the cows, and she would bring home a pail of milk every day. She and her husband frequently made their evening meal on the fresh milk and cornbread.
Graves of James Arthur Grissett, Sr. and Lillie Crum Grissett. Beaver Dam Cemetery, Ray City, GA.
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