JAMES RANDALL WESTBERRY, SR, CSA

(JOSIAH2, MOSES1) was born July 18, 1844 in Georgia, and died January 23, 1928 in Odum, Wayne Co, Georgia. He married MELZINY BENNETT June 06, 1867 in Ware Co, Georgia, daughter of JOHN BENNETT and LUCY HARRIS. She was born February 06, 1848 in Appling Co, Georgia, and died May 25, 1929 in Odum, Wayne Co, Georgia.

Notes for JAMES RANDALL WESTBERRY, SR, CSA, #:
1870 Census, Appling Co, Georgia.
Randall Westberry, 23; Milzina, 20; James R., 2; Milzina, 7/12.
1880 Census, Wayne Co, Georgia.
J. R. Westberry, 35; Melzina, 32; James R., 12; Melzina M., 11; John B., 9; Minona, 7; Nita R. H., 5;
Henry J., 2; Herbert L., 4/12.
1900 Census, Wayne Co, Georgia.
Randall Westberry, Jul. 1845; Anna, Feb. 1850; Henry J., Sep. 1877; Lee H., Feb. 1880; Elza D., Jul. 1882; Isham R., Aug. 1886; Della C., Oct. 1888; Mary, Nov. 1890.
1920 Census, Wayne Co, Georgia.
J. R. Westberry, 75; M. Y., 71.

Date of birth on his death certificate shows October 9, 1845.

Jesup Newspaper.
James Randall Westberry enlisted in the War Between the States at Waynesville, Georgia on Sept. 10, 1863, and was discharged on April 1, 1865. Enlistment was in the Fourth Georgia Cavalry (Clinch’s), Camp Harrison. He was in the battle of Atlanta, and was rear guard when Atlanta was evacuated. His regiment surrendered at Tallahassee, Florida on May 10, 1865, and he was paroled at Thomasville, Georgia on May 23, 1865. The Southern Cross of Honor was bestowed upon him in 1903.

Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia.
Most of the family are buried in the Old Bethel Church in Wayne County, Georgia.
James Randall Westberry enlisted in the War Between the States at Waynesville, Georgia on September 10, 1863 and was discharged on April 1, 1865. Enlistment was in the 4th Georgia Calvary (Clinch’s) Camp Harrison. The Southern Cross of Honor was bestowed upon J. R. Westberry in 1903. The endorsers were: R. H. Strickland and H. P. Grantham.
The following obituary appeared in the Atlanta Journal on January 29, 1928:

Mr. J. R. Westberry, Confederate Hero Laid to Final Rest Jesup, Ga., Jan. 28. Mr. James Randall Westberry, 84 year old Confederate Veteran, was buried in the cemetery at Old Bethel Church last Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Westberry was well-known in this county, having lived and died within a few miles of where he was born. He died on the place he bought and settled soon after his marriage over sixty years ago.
At the age of 18 he volunteered for service in the Confederate Army in the War Between the States. He was in the Battle of Atlanta and was rear guard when Atlanta was evacuated. He was a deacon of the Corinth Primitive Baptist Church. At the age of 20 he married Miss Milzinie Bennett, daughter of Captain and Mrs. John Bennett. Her father served in the Indian War, as captain.
Mr. Westberry was ill only about two weeks of pneumonia. He died Monday at his home near Odum.
He leaves his wife and nine children: J. R. Jr., of Odum, Mrs. Mahalie Roberson of Odum; J. B. of Metter; Mrs. Nona Jones of Odum, and Mrs. Ralph Reddish of Odum.
The funeral was conducted at the cemetery by Mr. Bennett’s pastor, Reverend W. M. Hires of Patterson. H. J. Westberry was the undertaker.
According to J. R. Westberry’s Confederate soldier’s pension application, his Regiment surrendered at Tallahassee, Florida on May 10, 1865 and the subject was paroled at Thomasville, Georgia on May 23, 1865. The subject’s widow, Millzina Bennett Westberry applied for a Confederate Widow’s pension on January 27, 1919 which was sworn before Frank P. Jones, Ordinary, Wayne County, Georgia.
Millzina (Bennett) Westberry was born on February 6, 1848 and died on May 25, 1929. She is buried beside her husband and several children in the Old Bethel Church near Odum, Georgia.

The Jesup Sentinel, Jesup, Georgia, January 26, 1928.
Prominent Citizen of Wayne Passed Away – Mr. J. R. Westberry Sr. passed away at his home, near Odum Monday morning at an early hour after an illness of about one week caused by the contraction of pneumonia. Mr. Westberry was a life long citizen of Wayne County, having been borned and reared here, and was widely known throughout this county and was regarded as first citizen of the community. He served in the Civil War between the States having enlisted at the age of 18 and served until the end of the war. He was at the battle of Atlanta with the 4th Ga. Calvary and served under General Hood as a rear guard during the evacuation of Atlanta. Mr. Westberry was born July 18, 1844 and lived to the ripe old age of 84, on last July. He was married to Miss Milzinie Bennette of Wayne County on June 18, 1866, having lived together until his death this week, or 62 years. Since their marriage Mr. And Mrs. Westberry have lived at their present residence in Wayne County. They lived in a home that abounds peace, harmony, love and Christian hospitality. Funeral services were held from Old Bethel Church, near Odum, Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock with Rev. William Hires, pastor of Corinth Church where the deceased was a member, officiating. Interment was in the Old Bethel Cemetery. H. J. Westberry, son of the deceased, was in charge of the funeral as undertaker and embalmer. Surviving him are his widow, four daughters, Mrs. W. W. Roberson, Mrs. J. D. Jones, Mrs. James W. Yarborough and Mrs. Ralph Reddish all of Odum. Five sons, J. R. Westberry, Jr., Odum, J. B. Westberry, Metter, Ga., J. H. Westberry, Jesup and Isham Westberry, Odum, besides a host of grand, great-grand and great-great-grandchildren.

Notes for MELZINY BENNETT:
The Jesup Sentinel, Wayne County, Georgia, Thursday, May 30, 1929.
Mrs. Westberry Died Saturday – Mrs. Millzina Westberry, widow of the late Mr. J. R. Westberry died at her home near Odum on last Saturday morning at 9:45 o’clock after being ill only about 4 hours. She was stricken early in the morning with apoplexy which caused her death. Mrs. Westberry had lived to the ripe old age of 83 and was in very good health prior to her death and was remarkably active for one her age. She was born and reared in Wayne County near her home where she had been living since her marriage to Mr. J. R. Westberry, June 8, 1867, who departed his life last January 23, 1928. Mrs. Westberry before her marriage, Miss Millzina Bennett, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John B. Bennett who was also life long citizens of Wayne County. She was one of the most esteemed women of this county, and was loved by many people throughout her long life. She was devoted to her family and friends and was a kind and sympathetic neighbor and will be missed by a wide circle of people all through this section. She had been for many years a staunch member of the Primitive Baptist Church in Wayne County, Georgia, and was faithful in attendance upon its service. Interment was in the Bethel Cemetery. Mrs. Westberry is survived by the following children, 4 daughters, Mrs. Mahala Roberson, Mrs. J. D. Jones, Mrs. J. W. Yarborough, Mrs. Ralph Reddish, all of Odum; 5 sons, J. R. Westberry, Jr. and Isham Westberry of Odum, John B. Westberry of Metter, Ga., H. J. Westberry of Jesup and Bertie Westberry of Gadsden, Ala. Mr. H. J. Westberry, son of Mrs. Westberry was the undertaker in charge.

Children of JAMES WESTBERRY and MELZINY BENNETT are:

i. JAMES RANDALL WESTBERRY, JR, b. March 11, 1867, Georgia; d. February 16, 1935, Ware Co, Georgia; m. NANCY ELIZABETH HARRIS, October 20, 1889, Wayne Co, Georgia; b. November 25, 1866, Georgia; d. May 12, 1929, Wayne Co, Georgia.

ii. MILZINA MAHALA WESTBERRY, b. November 07, 1869, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. December 13, 1954, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. WILLIAM W. ROBERSON, March 26, 1888, Wayne Co, Georgia; b. September 12, 1866, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. August 19, 1936, Wayne Co, Georgia.

iii. JOHN BENNETT WESTBERRY, b. September 10, 1871, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. July 28, 1959, Tattnall Co, Georgia; m. MOLLIE HOLLAND, September 18, 1895, Bulloch Co, Georgia; b. October 03, 1869, Georgia; d. October 26, 1940, Tattnall Co, Georgia.

iv. MINONA W. WESTBERRY, b. April 10, 1873, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. March 19, 1948, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. (1) J. DANIEL JONES, December 27, 1891, Wayne Co, Georgia; b. December 17, 1867; d. December 16, 1924; m. (2) WYLEY D. ELLIOTT; b. January 26, 1872; d. March 05, 1967.

v. ZETTIE ARKANSAS WESTBERRY, b. March 13, 1875, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. October 14, 1953, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. JAMES W. YARBROUGH, December 10, 1894, Wayne Co, Georgia; b. November 04, 1857, South Carolina; d. March 12, 1944, Georgia.

vi. HENRY JACKSON WESTBERRY, SR, b. September 30, 1877, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. November 30, 1955, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. MARY DEFOREST REA, October 29, 1908, Walker Co, Georgia; b. March 28, 1882, Georgia; d. May 09, 1935.

vii. HERBERT LEE WESTBERRY, b. February 06, 1880, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. April 19, 1962, Florida; m. ANNIE DENMARK, January 03, 1901, Wayne Co, Georgia; b. September 07, 1881, Georgia; d. November 04, 1961, Florida.

viii. ELZIE D. WESTBERRY, b. July 20, 1882, Georgia; d. June 11, 1904, Georgia.

Notes for ELZIE D. WESTBERRY:
Buried at Old Bethel.

ix. ISHAM REDDISH WESTBERRY, b. August 21, 1886, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. October 08, 1960, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. WILLAR BLANCHE COLLINS, October 10, 1909, Wayne Co, Georgia; b. July 19, 1882, North Carolina; d. March 07, 1960, Wayne Co, Georgia.

x. DELLA CORNELIA WESTBERRY, b. December 17, 1888, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. January 21, 1914, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. WILLIAM M. WILLIAMSON, October 28, 1908, Wayne Co, Georgia; b. August 30, 1883, Harris Co, Texas; d. August 06, 1964, Wayne Co, Georgia.

xi. TEMPIE MAE WESTBERRY, b. November 14, 1890, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. August 05, 1986, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. RALPH LESTER REDDISH, February 23, 1910, Wayne Co, Georgia; b. April 20, 1889; d. August 16, 1967, Wayne Co, Georgia.