My granddad Clarence would from time to time make mention of his four brothers. A couple of them, Uncle Benny and Ross, I had spent some time with on a few occasions. But Granddad had two sisters as well, both of them the youngest of seven siblings. Growing up, I didn't hear a lot about them. This is mostly like the result of their hometowns being so far from where I lived in Houston. The older sister's name is Ollie Dell, and the youngest of the bunch was Joyce Adelle White. Granddad did mention her once, though the context I cannot recall. I only remember him affectionately calling her "Joycie".
Great Aunt Joyce was born on October 3, 1933 in Three Rivers, Texas. She was the daughter of Joseph Bushrod White and Eulah Peyton Williams. By 1940, her family was in San Patricio County. From all the records I have at my disposal, it appears that she spent most of her years in this part of the state. She was married to Elmer Leo Bliss, and together they had three children while living in the San Patricio area. |
Based on the photographs and research information I have through the Williams family collection, Joyce seems to have spent a good deal of time with her niece Bernice White. Bernice was the daughter of Joyce's oldest brother Herbert, but they themselves were only about five years apart in age.
Joyce was also frequently in the company of her maternal grandmother Allie Delphia Harned Bridges. Mother Bridges, as she was called by the family, came down from Kentucky, eventually establishing two or three hotels in the Corpus Christi and Seadrift areas. This sort of endeavor no doubt involved all available family members' support. |
Joyce Adelle White passed away in 2003 in Ingleside, Texas. She is buried in Rockport in neighboring Aransas County. In the near future, I look forward to sharing other pictures and a couple family stories that Joyce related in a letter to her niece. |