My grandmother, Nora Belle Stillwell (1881-1964), was the daughter of Albert Cleveland Fitzgerald (14 Aug 1845 - 7 Dec 1928) and Harriet Lucindi Tillotson (27 Jul 1847 – 6 Dec 1918). In 1895, when she was 14 years old, she traveled from South Carolina to Grayson County, Texas, in a covered wagon with her parents, brothers, and sisters.

Nora Belle met Edward Simco Stillwell in Denison, Texas, and they were married in about 1901.

Nora Belle Fitzgerald Stillwell and Edward Simco Stillwell had the following children:
1- Elmer Stillwell b: 1902/1903, died of virus at 6 months old
2- Howard Stillwell b: 1904/1905 d: 1928 (Had polio)
3- Eva Stillwell b: Mar 7, 1907 d: July 23, 1983. Eva married Mack Moore
4- Marguerite Harriet Stillwell b: Aug 6, 1909 d: Apr 12, 1991. Marguerite married William Ernest Couch
5- Pauline Stillwell b: 1912 d: 1916
6- Reba Stillwell b: Oct 12, 1914 d: Dec 4, 1980. Reba married: 1st Eldon Kent and 2nd Ollie B. Bergan
7- Albert Cleveland (A.C.) Stillwell b: Apr. 18, 1917 d: May 10, 1986. He married 1st Mae and 2nd Edith
8- Virginia Stillwell b: Oct 23, 1919 d: 1981. She married O. T. Sutton.
9- Laverne Stillwell b: May 4, 1922 d: Aug 20, 2002. She married Bill Martin
10- Thomas Dale Stillwell b: Mar 8, 1925 d: Feb 4, 2004. He married Hildred Murphree

Nora Bella Stillwell was a much loved grandmother. Her husband, Edward Simco Stillwell died in 1937, leaving her with a large family to care for. The Great Depression was underway and there was no money available to care for all of the children. Laverne moved in with her sister, Marquerite Harriet Stillwell Couch and brother-in-law, William Ernest Couch. Thomas Dale Stillwell continued living with his mother. The other children were married by 1937 or could easily care for themselves. The families got through the Great Depression with little depravation and certainly they were reported to have been a very happy family.

Nora Belle Fitzgerald was a member and active member of Harless United Methodist Church in the Cotton Mill District of Denison, Texas. She was a very faithful member and taught Sunday School at one time. Nora Belle loved to tell stories of the relatives back in the Spartanburg area of South Carolina. In old age, she developed cataracts. Since cataract surgery was not available at the time, she went blind. Yet she was able to live alone and care for herself. Since she lived in Denison, Texas, where most of her children and family still lived, she had daily family visitors.

As a boy I fully enjoyed riding my bike up to her house and listening to her stories of family and relatives. I have very fond memories of her.

David Couch