JUSTINA ‘TINY’ WESTBERRY

(WILLIAM CHARLTON3, JOSIAH2, MOSES1) was born April 1862 in Georgia, and died April 1949 in Georgia. She married MALACHI HARPER, JR November 02, 1876 in Georgia, son of MALACHI HARPER and MARY LANE. He was born 1857 in Wayne Co, Georgia, and died August 30, 1929 in Wayne Co, Georgia.

Notes for JUSTINA ‘TINY’ WESTBERRY:
Tiny was raised by W. Riley Causey and his wife and was fourteen years old and living with the Causey’s when she married.
According to a written story by Wash Conger, husband of the subject’s daugther, Lessie, one of the happiest days in Tiney’s life was her wedding day: she wore a blue and white checkered gingham dress that she had made herself, with a long gathered skirt, long sleeves and a high collar.
Besides running a farm, Malachi got a job sawing lumber away from home, leaving Tiny to work in the fields while watching her increasing brood. Despite many obstacles and hardships, they reared their children and remained married for the rest of their lives.
On 30 Aug 1929 Malachi went to town and “got a shave and haircut and bought some groceries”. When he came home he asked Tiny to make him some muffin cakes. As Tiny was preparing the cakes, he cried out to her. She ran to the bedroom and shortly thereafter he died.
Two weeks later, the oldest son, Haywood, died after falling out of a tree.

*The Jesup Sentinel, Thursday, April 7, 1949.
Mrs. Tiny Harper Dies In Waycross. Mrs. Tiny W. Harper, 86, of Jesup, died in a Waycross hospital early Tuesday morning after a long illness. Funeral services were to be held Thursday afternoon from Little Creek Baptist Church at 3 o’clock where she had been a member since girlhood. Her pastor, Rev. Stetson Bennett, Rev. Majors, pastor of Central Baptist Church of Waycross and Rev. Sheppard, pastor of Hoboken Baptist Church officiated. Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. J. D. Westberry, Mrs. R. C. Millikin, Mrs. P. C. Harris, all of Waycross, Mrs. G. C. Conger, Miami; eight sons, M. J. of Gardi, S. W. and V. E. of Jesup, J. J., Lakeland, Fla., R. R., Waycross, Noland, Charleston, S. C., L. L., Atlanta, G. W. of Savannah; two brothers, Lem Westberry, Georgie H. Nichols, Chicago; forty-six grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.

*The Jesup Sentinel, Thursday, April 14, 1949.
Card of Thanks. We wish to thank our friends for the many deeds of kindness extended us during the illness and death of our mother, Mrs. Tiny Westberry Harper. Words cannot express our appreciation for the many floral offerings. The Harper children.

Notes for MALACHI HARPER, JR:
The Jesup Sentinel, Wayne County, Georgia, Thursday, September 5, 1929.
Aged Wayne Citizen Passes Last Friday – M. H. Harper, 72, died at his home near Gardi, Ga. Friday, August 30th after a severe illness of only a few hours. He had been in bad health for a long time but was apparently doing well until Friday when he was suddenly stricken with acute indigestion which lasted only an hour or so. Mr. Harper was a life long citizen of Wayne County, and one of the county’s leading farmers and Christians. He reared a family that has proven his stirling attitude to this life and the life to come and whenever his name is mentioned the thought of a Christian life bears prominence. He married Miss Tiny Westberry in 1875, who was a Wayne County girl and unto this union 13 children were born. These sons and daughters are all of age and have married and scattered to their respective places of choice for making a livelihood. They were all reared under the Christian leadership of Mr. Harper, the deceased, the Baptist faith being their coice. Mr. Harper was a member of the Little creek Baptist Church forty years or more. His last words were “I am prepared and ready to go.” The funeral was held at Little Creek Baptist Church, Sunday afternoon, September 1st at 3 o’clock with Rev. Ralph Moore, pastor of the Jesup Baptist Church together with Rev. Mills, Jesup and Rev. Lovingood assisting. Interment was in Little Creek Cemetery. Surviving the deceased, besides his widow, are four daughters, Mrs. J. D. Westberry, of Waycross, Mrs. W. G. Bennett of Screven, Mrs. Harris of Screven, Mrs. W. C. Conger, Tifton; and nine sons, H. H. Harper, Tallahassee, Fla., M. J. Harper, Gardi, Steve Harper, Jesup, R. R. Harper, Waycross, J. J. Harper, Lakeland, Fla., L. L. Harper, Atlanta, Ga., George Harper of Savannah, Nolan Harper, Screven, and Vernon Harper, Jesup. Pallbearers were W. B. Gibbs, A. W. Dowling, H. L. Heritage, I. M. Raybon, Sherod Poppell, and W. D. Turner. Stewart and Knight Undertakers in charge.

Children of JUSTINA WESTBERRY and MALACHI HARPER are:

i. HENDERSON HAYWOOD HARPER, b. October 1878; d. September 1929; m. LULA EDWARDS.

ii. MALACHI HARPER III, b. April 09, 1881, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. March 24, 1960, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. (1) ETHEL THOMPSON, March 05, 1911, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. (2) CARRIE SHARPE; b. Abt. 1901.

iii. RAYMOND R. HARPER, b. June 01, 1883, Bulloch Co, Georgia; d. March 30, 1962, Ware Co, Georgia; m. ELLA BELL, January 08, 1908, Wayne Co, Georgia; b. October 15, 1887, Bulloch Co, Georgia; d. January 30, 1982, Ware Co, Georgia.

iv. STEVE WILLIAM HARPER, b. December 20, 1885, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. March 29, 1966, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. (1) NANCY ADA ABBOTT, September 15, 1909; b. August 12, 1891, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. June 10, 1933, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. (2) TRIXIE BURNS; b. August 02, 1901; d. January 1977, Georgia.

v. JAMES HARPER, b. April 1888, Georgia; d. 1967; m. CARRIE COX.

vi. LEMUEL HARPER, b. June 1890, Georgia; m. VERDI MCCALLEN.

vii. NELLIE MARIE HARPER, b. April 16, 1892, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. March 20, 1964, Pierce Co, Georgia; m. JOHN DAWKIN WESTBERRY, August 29, 1910, Wayne Co, Georgia; b. May 13, 1888, Wayne Co, Georgia; d. July 09, 1964, Georgia.

viii. MINNIE HARPER, b. January 1894, Georgia; m. GLYNN BENNETT.

ix. GEORGE HARPER, b. August 1895, Georgia; m. FANNIE GAMMAGE.

x. MARY HARPER, b. April 23, 1898, Georgia; d. July 14, 1980, Pierce Co, Georgia; m. TOM HARRIS, December 14, 1912, Wayne Co, Georgia; b. June 05, 1892; d. October 05, 1948, Ware Co, Georgia.

xi. NOLAN HARPER, b. March 31, 1900, Georgia; d. April 17, 1971; m. CLEO WILSON; b. March 31, 1899; d. April 04, 1974.

xii. LESSIE AMELIA HARPER, b. April 16, 1902, Jesup, Georgia; d. March 1970, Florida; m. GEORGE WASHINGTON CONGER.

xiii. VERNON EMORY HARPER, b. September 19, 1906, Georgia; d. July 30, 1955, Wayne Co, Georgia; m. ESTELLE FORD; b. June 27, 1902; d. November 29, 1975.