The article below continued a series of 1904, a series of articles in the Tifton Gazette on the residents of “Watson Grade.” Watson Grade referred to a place just northeast of Ray’s Mill, GA, near Empire Church where Watson, Patten, Lee, Cook and Sirmans families all farmed. The unknown author “Trixie,” was familiar with the local happenings. On March 25, 1904, the Watson Grade news included the death of J. E. Sirmans, discussed in the previous post, and other personal mentions. 
Tifton Gazette
March 25, 1904
Mr. J. E. Sirmans Dead.Mr. J. E. Sirmans died last Saturday night at 11:45. He had been sick only about four days, and was not thought to be dangerously ill until a few hours before his death. Mr. Sirmans has been suffering with heart trouble for several years and Dr. Askew, of Nashville, says it was pleurisy complicated with heart trouble that caused his death. He leaves a wife and ten children to mourn his loss. His remains were interred in the Fender cemetery.
Mrs. J.T. Watson is very sick at this writing with grippe.
Miss Belle Patten has returned home from the Land of Flowers, to the delight of her many friends.
The Odd Fellows of Milltown enjoyed and oyster supper last Wednesday night to the delight of the new members and themselves. Eight were initiated and twelve more have their applications in.
Misses Carrie Liles and Dora Edson, of near Milltown, were visitors in this section last Sunday.
Mr. M. C. Lee, one of South Berrien’s best farmers, carried a wagon load of bacon to Valdosta last week that brought him about $180.
Mrs. O. Knight has been very ill, but is improving.
Judge J. T. Wilkerson has resigned as J. P., and has moved to Clinch to enter the mercantile business.
Watson Grade, March 14. TRIXIE.
Notes:
Mrs. J. T. Watson was Jincy Lee Watson, wife of John Thomas Watson. She was a daughter of Jincy Register and Moses Corby Lee. She was suffering from “Grippe” which was the period idiom for Influenza.
Miss Belle Patten, age 21, was a daughter of James “Irwin” Patten and Leanna Patten. She had just returned from visiting relatives in Tampa, FL. Later, some time before 1910, her brother, June Patten, became a dentist and the two of them moved to Fernandina, FL.
Carrie Liles (1869 – 1959), born Caroline Cook Brown, was the wife of Ben Liles and a daughter of Burwell Atkinson Brown and Margaret E. Morrison. Her traveling companion, Dora Edson, was a half-sister of her husband, Ben Liles.
Moses C. Lee was a noted farmer of Berrien County, and husband of Amanda Clements. The Lee farm was known as “Stony Hill.”
Mrs. O. Knight was Mary Ellen Cook Knight, the wife of Reverend Orville A. Knight. Her parents, were neighbors of Irwin and Leanna Patten, mentioned above.
Related posts:
- Watson Grade News, January 22, 1904
- Watson Grade News Feb 12, 1904
- Watson Grade News May 27, 1904
- Remember the Maine, Aaron Cook and the Spanish American War
- Obituary of Mrs. Babe Patten
- Dicey Guthrie Watson
- Sam I. Watson Dies in Explosion
- Jesse E. Sirmans also known as Jesse Carroll Sirmans
Ray City History Blog 