At times her name is seen spelt as "Johnnie". Research has discovered that she had a fraternal great-aunt named Johnnie Martha (Chappell) Pollard whom she was probably named after.
The 1910 US Census of Coats Bend, Etowah Co., AL enumerated the household of 26 Y/O John Mathis Chappell, a farmer born in AL, and his 26 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell, born in AL. Also living in the household were their children: 4 Y/O Velma Kate Chappell; 2 Y/O Elizabeth Sue Chappell and 5 month old Peggy Nell Chappell. Also in the household was 67 Y/O Angeline "Anne" Hood Turner, the mother of John's wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Living two households away was 35 Y/O Ayers Turner and his 28 Y/O wife, Grace, and their children. Ayers Turner was the brother of Belle (Turner) Chappell and the son of Angeline "Anne" Hood Turner.
John and Belle Chappell, including their first three daughters, migrated to Brownsville, Texas for a brief stent including the years 1911-1913. They returned to Etowah County, AL prior to 25 June 1914 as their fourth daughter, Jonnie Belle Chappell, was born on that date in Etowah Co., AL. By 1916 John Chappell was the co-owner and operator of the Fourth Street Café in Gadsden, AL. The 1916 Gadsden, AL City Directory recorded: Chappell, J. Mathis (Belle), Fourth Street Cafe 120 s 4th St, Home address 425 s 4th St.
The 1920 US Census of Coats Bend, Etowah Co., AL enumerated the household of 35 Y/O John Mathis Chappell and his 36 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Also in the household were their children; 13 Y/O Velma Kate Chappell, 12 Y/O Elizabeth Sue Chappell, 10 Y/O Peggy Nell Chappell and 5 Y/O Johnnie Bell Chappell. John had moved back to his Etowah County farm in 1920 and resumed farming.
The family moved to the Birmingham, AL area in 1926, about 70 miles from their original homestead, where Mathis worked as a contractor in home construction. In 1930, they purchased a house at 8430 3rd Ave South in the East Lake section of Birmingham for the princely sum of $3000.00 (this was during the "Great Depression". In the 1930s during the "Great Depression" and during WWII, Mathis worked for Jefferson County, AL in road construction and then later as a prison guard until he retired in 1947. Jonnie Chappell was of the generation that began the slow process of moving from the farm to the urban areas.
The 1930 US Census Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL enumerated the household of 46 Y/O John Mathis Chappell, a building contractor, and his 46 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Also living in the household were: 21 Y/O Elizabeth Sue Chappell, a dental office helper; 19 Y/O Peggy Nell Chappell, a hotel hat checker, and 14 Y/O Johnnie Belle Chappell, a high school student.
Jonnie attended Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, AL. She related about her brief friendship with fellow student, Margaret LaVelle Fitzpatrick (aka Gail Patrick, actress and executive producer of the long running "Perry Mason" TV series). While attending Woodlawn High School, she met Gresham Talmadge Farrar, a fellow student, neighbor and son on of a prominent local physician, Dr. William Charles Farrar, Sr. Her high school education was interrupted in 1931 by marrying Gresham Talmadge Farrar. They eloped and were married on 31 Oct 1931 in Pensacola, FL. They lived in the East Lake section of Birmingham, AL in the residence of Jonnie's parents from 1931-1938. Times were tough during the "Great Depression".
The 1932 Birmingham, Alabama City Directory recorded Gresham Talmadge Farrar, employed as a theater usher, and his wife, Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar living at 8430 3rd Ave South, the home of Jonnie's parents. During the dark days of the "Great Depression", Gresham worked in the theater business (usher), the grocery business (clerk) and the retail auto supply business.
Their son was born on 16 Nov 1934. Gresham's father, Dr. William Charles Farrar, Sr., delivered him at the home of Jonnie's parents. The 1937 Birmingham City Directory recorded Gresham T. Farrar, Sr. as a clerk at Hill's Grocery Store in East Lake. He and his wife, Jonnie (Chappell) Farrar, were still living with her parents at 8430 3rd Ave South, East Lake, Birmingham, AL.
Jonnie's marriage to Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Sr. lasted for seven years before ending in divorce in 1938. In today's terms Gresham would be classified as a "deadbeat dad" as he never paid court mandated child support or alimony. Jonnie was ambitious and finished her education by graduating from Massey Business College in Birmingham, AL. The skills she mastered at Massey Business College served her well as she worked as an accountant, stenographer, dental and medical assistants over the years.
The 1939 Birmingham, Alabama City Directory recorded Jonnie Farrar employed by her father-in-law, Dr. William Charles Farrar, Sr. MD, as an assistant. She and her son were living in the home of her parent's at 8430 3rd Ave South, Birmingham.
The 1940 US Census of Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL enumerated the household of 55 Y/O John Mathis Chappell and his 55 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Also living in the household were their 23 Y/O daughter, Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar and her 5 Y/O son, Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr. John Mathis Chappell was employed as a county convict guard. Jonnie Belle Chappell was employed in the office of the Alabama Power Company as a "comptometer" operator. NOTE: Living next door was 35 Y/O Chatom Brent Petty and his 28 Y/O wife, Sue Elizabeth (Chappell) Petty, the daughter of John Mathis and Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Chatom Petty was employed as a pharmacist in a retail drug store and his wife, Sue, worked as a dental hygienist in a private dental office. NOTE: A very misleading enumeration error in the 1940 US Census recorded the last name of Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar and her son, Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr., as "Chappell". It also recorded Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr. as the "Son" of John Mathis and Belle (Turner) Chappell when he was actually their "Grandson".
The 1941 and 1942 Birmingham, AL City Directories recorded Jonnie Farrar employed as dental assistant by Dr. Willis A. Massey and still residing in her parent's home at 8430 3rd Ave South, Birmingham, AL.
The 1957 Birmingham City Directory recorded Jonnie Belle Farrar employed as a clerk by the W. P. Ballard & Co. She was still residing in her parent's home at 8430 3rd Ave, South, East Lake, Birmingham, AL.
Jonnie Farrar had a great personality, was very beautiful and very loyal. She rejected many offers to re-marry over the years. Her self-chosen gravestone inscription, "Gresham's Love" and the location of her grave beside her first and only love, Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Sr., probably explains this. She resided in her parent's home until their deaths and continued to live there until she died a peaceful death at home.
Sadly, one of her beloved grandchildren, Debra Leigh "Debbie" Farrar Frueh, died prematurely.
Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar was the 2nd cousin 6 times removed through her father, John Mathis Chappell, of POTUS Thomas Jefferson. (See Find A Grave Memorial #544).
Source:
"The John and Richard Hood Clan of Halifax County, Virginia; Burke County, North Carolina; and Pendleton and Greenville Districts, South Carolina" by Clyde B. Hood III, 2013, p204.
Bio by Dr. Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr. (a loving son)
The 1910 US Census of Coats Bend, Etowah Co., AL enumerated the household of 26 Y/O John Mathis Chappell, a farmer born in AL, and his 26 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell, born in AL. Also living in the household were their children: 4 Y/O Velma Kate Chappell; 2 Y/O Elizabeth Sue Chappell and 5 month old Peggy Nell Chappell. Also in the household was 67 Y/O Angeline "Anne" Hood Turner, the mother of John's wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Living two households away was 35 Y/O Ayers Turner and his 28 Y/O wife, Grace, and their children. Ayers Turner was the brother of Belle (Turner) Chappell and the son of Angeline "Anne" Hood Turner.
John and Belle Chappell, including their first three daughters, migrated to Brownsville, Texas for a brief stent including the years 1911-1913. They returned to Etowah County, AL prior to 25 June 1914 as their fourth daughter, Jonnie Belle Chappell, was born on that date in Etowah Co., AL. By 1916 John Chappell was the co-owner and operator of the Fourth Street Café in Gadsden, AL. The 1916 Gadsden, AL City Directory recorded: Chappell, J. Mathis (Belle), Fourth Street Cafe 120 s 4th St, Home address 425 s 4th St.
The 1920 US Census of Coats Bend, Etowah Co., AL enumerated the household of 35 Y/O John Mathis Chappell and his 36 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Also in the household were their children; 13 Y/O Velma Kate Chappell, 12 Y/O Elizabeth Sue Chappell, 10 Y/O Peggy Nell Chappell and 5 Y/O Johnnie Bell Chappell. John had moved back to his Etowah County farm in 1920 and resumed farming.
The family moved to the Birmingham, AL area in 1926, about 70 miles from their original homestead, where Mathis worked as a contractor in home construction. In 1930, they purchased a house at 8430 3rd Ave South in the East Lake section of Birmingham for the princely sum of $3000.00 (this was during the "Great Depression". In the 1930s during the "Great Depression" and during WWII, Mathis worked for Jefferson County, AL in road construction and then later as a prison guard until he retired in 1947. Jonnie Chappell was of the generation that began the slow process of moving from the farm to the urban areas.
The 1930 US Census Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL enumerated the household of 46 Y/O John Mathis Chappell, a building contractor, and his 46 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Also living in the household were: 21 Y/O Elizabeth Sue Chappell, a dental office helper; 19 Y/O Peggy Nell Chappell, a hotel hat checker, and 14 Y/O Johnnie Belle Chappell, a high school student.
Jonnie attended Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, AL. She related about her brief friendship with fellow student, Margaret LaVelle Fitzpatrick (aka Gail Patrick, actress and executive producer of the long running "Perry Mason" TV series). While attending Woodlawn High School, she met Gresham Talmadge Farrar, a fellow student, neighbor and son on of a prominent local physician, Dr. William Charles Farrar, Sr. Her high school education was interrupted in 1931 by marrying Gresham Talmadge Farrar. They eloped and were married on 31 Oct 1931 in Pensacola, FL. They lived in the East Lake section of Birmingham, AL in the residence of Jonnie's parents from 1931-1938. Times were tough during the "Great Depression".
The 1932 Birmingham, Alabama City Directory recorded Gresham Talmadge Farrar, employed as a theater usher, and his wife, Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar living at 8430 3rd Ave South, the home of Jonnie's parents. During the dark days of the "Great Depression", Gresham worked in the theater business (usher), the grocery business (clerk) and the retail auto supply business.
Their son was born on 16 Nov 1934. Gresham's father, Dr. William Charles Farrar, Sr., delivered him at the home of Jonnie's parents. The 1937 Birmingham City Directory recorded Gresham T. Farrar, Sr. as a clerk at Hill's Grocery Store in East Lake. He and his wife, Jonnie (Chappell) Farrar, were still living with her parents at 8430 3rd Ave South, East Lake, Birmingham, AL.
Jonnie's marriage to Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Sr. lasted for seven years before ending in divorce in 1938. In today's terms Gresham would be classified as a "deadbeat dad" as he never paid court mandated child support or alimony. Jonnie was ambitious and finished her education by graduating from Massey Business College in Birmingham, AL. The skills she mastered at Massey Business College served her well as she worked as an accountant, stenographer, dental and medical assistants over the years.
The 1939 Birmingham, Alabama City Directory recorded Jonnie Farrar employed by her father-in-law, Dr. William Charles Farrar, Sr. MD, as an assistant. She and her son were living in the home of her parent's at 8430 3rd Ave South, Birmingham.
The 1940 US Census of Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL enumerated the household of 55 Y/O John Mathis Chappell and his 55 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Also living in the household were their 23 Y/O daughter, Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar and her 5 Y/O son, Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr. John Mathis Chappell was employed as a county convict guard. Jonnie Belle Chappell was employed in the office of the Alabama Power Company as a "comptometer" operator. NOTE: Living next door was 35 Y/O Chatom Brent Petty and his 28 Y/O wife, Sue Elizabeth (Chappell) Petty, the daughter of John Mathis and Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Chatom Petty was employed as a pharmacist in a retail drug store and his wife, Sue, worked as a dental hygienist in a private dental office. NOTE: A very misleading enumeration error in the 1940 US Census recorded the last name of Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar and her son, Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr., as "Chappell". It also recorded Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr. as the "Son" of John Mathis and Belle (Turner) Chappell when he was actually their "Grandson".
The 1941 and 1942 Birmingham, AL City Directories recorded Jonnie Farrar employed as dental assistant by Dr. Willis A. Massey and still residing in her parent's home at 8430 3rd Ave South, Birmingham, AL.
The 1957 Birmingham City Directory recorded Jonnie Belle Farrar employed as a clerk by the W. P. Ballard & Co. She was still residing in her parent's home at 8430 3rd Ave, South, East Lake, Birmingham, AL.
Jonnie Farrar had a great personality, was very beautiful and very loyal. She rejected many offers to re-marry over the years. Her self-chosen gravestone inscription, "Gresham's Love" and the location of her grave beside her first and only love, Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Sr., probably explains this. She resided in her parent's home until their deaths and continued to live there until she died a peaceful death at home.
Sadly, one of her beloved grandchildren, Debra Leigh "Debbie" Farrar Frueh, died prematurely.
Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar was the 2nd cousin 6 times removed through her father, John Mathis Chappell, of POTUS Thomas Jefferson. (See Find A Grave Memorial #544).
Source:
"The John and Richard Hood Clan of Halifax County, Virginia; Burke County, North Carolina; and Pendleton and Greenville Districts, South Carolina" by Clyde B. Hood III, 2013, p204.
Bio by Dr. Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr. (a loving son)
At times her name is seen spelt as "Johnnie". Research has discovered that she had a fraternal great-aunt named Johnnie Martha (Chappell) Pollard whom she was probably named after.
The 1910 US Census of Coats Bend, Etowah Co., AL enumerated the household of 26 Y/O John Mathis Chappell, a farmer born in AL, and his 26 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell, born in AL. Also living in the household were their children: 4 Y/O Velma Kate Chappell; 2 Y/O Elizabeth Sue Chappell and 5 month old Peggy Nell Chappell. Also in the household was 67 Y/O Angeline "Anne" Hood Turner, the mother of John's wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Living two households away was 35 Y/O Ayers Turner and his 28 Y/O wife, Grace, and their children. Ayers Turner was the brother of Belle (Turner) Chappell and the son of Angeline "Anne" Hood Turner.
John and Belle Chappell, including their first three daughters, migrated to Brownsville, Texas for a brief stent including the years 1911-1913. They returned to Etowah County, AL prior to 25 June 1914 as their fourth daughter, Jonnie Belle Chappell, was born on that date in Etowah Co., AL. By 1916 John Chappell was the co-owner and operator of the Fourth Street Café in Gadsden, AL. The 1916 Gadsden, AL City Directory recorded: Chappell, J. Mathis (Belle), Fourth Street Cafe 120 s 4th St, Home address 425 s 4th St.
The 1920 US Census of Coats Bend, Etowah Co., AL enumerated the household of 35 Y/O John Mathis Chappell and his 36 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Also in the household were their children; 13 Y/O Velma Kate Chappell, 12 Y/O Elizabeth Sue Chappell, 10 Y/O Peggy Nell Chappell and 5 Y/O Johnnie Bell Chappell. John had moved back to his Etowah County farm in 1920 and resumed farming.
The family moved to the Birmingham, AL area in 1926, about 70 miles from their original homestead, where Mathis worked as a contractor in home construction. In 1930, they purchased a house at 8430 3rd Ave South in the East Lake section of Birmingham for the princely sum of $3000.00 (this was during the "Great Depression". In the 1930s during the "Great Depression" and during WWII, Mathis worked for Jefferson County, AL in road construction and then later as a prison guard until he retired in 1947. Jonnie Chappell was of the generation that began the slow process of moving from the farm to the urban areas.
The 1930 US Census Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL enumerated the household of 46 Y/O John Mathis Chappell, a building contractor, and his 46 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Also living in the household were: 21 Y/O Elizabeth Sue Chappell, a dental office helper; 19 Y/O Peggy Nell Chappell, a hotel hat checker, and 14 Y/O Johnnie Belle Chappell, a high school student.
Jonnie attended Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, AL. She related about her brief friendship with fellow student, Margaret LaVelle Fitzpatrick (aka Gail Patrick, actress and executive producer of the long running "Perry Mason" TV series). While attending Woodlawn High School, she met Gresham Talmadge Farrar, a fellow student, neighbor and son on of a prominent local physician, Dr. William Charles Farrar, Sr. Her high school education was interrupted in 1931 by marrying Gresham Talmadge Farrar. They eloped and were married on 31 Oct 1931 in Pensacola, FL. They lived in the East Lake section of Birmingham, AL in the residence of Jonnie's parents from 1931-1938. Times were tough during the "Great Depression".
The 1932 Birmingham, Alabama City Directory recorded Gresham Talmadge Farrar, employed as a theater usher, and his wife, Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar living at 8430 3rd Ave South, the home of Jonnie's parents. During the dark days of the "Great Depression", Gresham worked in the theater business (usher), the grocery business (clerk) and the retail auto supply business.
Their son was born on 16 Nov 1934. Gresham's father, Dr. William Charles Farrar, Sr., delivered him at the home of Jonnie's parents. The 1937 Birmingham City Directory recorded Gresham T. Farrar, Sr. as a clerk at Hill's Grocery Store in East Lake. He and his wife, Jonnie (Chappell) Farrar, were still living with her parents at 8430 3rd Ave South, East Lake, Birmingham, AL.
Jonnie's marriage to Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Sr. lasted for seven years before ending in divorce in 1938. In today's terms Gresham would be classified as a "deadbeat dad" as he never paid court mandated child support or alimony. Jonnie was ambitious and finished her education by graduating from Massey Business College in Birmingham, AL. The skills she mastered at Massey Business College served her well as she worked as an accountant, stenographer, dental and medical assistants over the years.
The 1939 Birmingham, Alabama City Directory recorded Jonnie Farrar employed by her father-in-law, Dr. William Charles Farrar, Sr. MD, as an assistant. She and her son were living in the home of her parent's at 8430 3rd Ave South, Birmingham.
The 1940 US Census of Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL enumerated the household of 55 Y/O John Mathis Chappell and his 55 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Also living in the household were their 23 Y/O daughter, Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar and her 5 Y/O son, Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr. John Mathis Chappell was employed as a county convict guard. Jonnie Belle Chappell was employed in the office of the Alabama Power Company as a "comptometer" operator. NOTE: Living next door was 35 Y/O Chatom Brent Petty and his 28 Y/O wife, Sue Elizabeth (Chappell) Petty, the daughter of John Mathis and Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Chatom Petty was employed as a pharmacist in a retail drug store and his wife, Sue, worked as a dental hygienist in a private dental office. NOTE: A very misleading enumeration error in the 1940 US Census recorded the last name of Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar and her son, Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr., as "Chappell". It also recorded Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr. as the "Son" of John Mathis and Belle (Turner) Chappell when he was actually their "Grandson".
The 1941 and 1942 Birmingham, AL City Directories recorded Jonnie Farrar employed as dental assistant by Dr. Willis A. Massey and still residing in her parent's home at 8430 3rd Ave South, Birmingham, AL.
The 1957 Birmingham City Directory recorded Jonnie Belle Farrar employed as a clerk by the W. P. Ballard & Co. She was still residing in her parent's home at 8430 3rd Ave, South, East Lake, Birmingham, AL.
Jonnie Farrar had a great personality, was very beautiful and very loyal. She rejected many offers to re-marry over the years. Her self-chosen gravestone inscription, "Gresham's Love" and the location of her grave beside her first and only love, Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Sr., probably explains this. She resided in her parent's home until their deaths and continued to live there until she died a peaceful death at home.
Sadly, one of her beloved grandchildren, Debra Leigh "Debbie" Farrar Frueh, died prematurely.
Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar was the 2nd cousin 6 times removed through her father, John Mathis Chappell, of POTUS Thomas Jefferson. (See Find A Grave Memorial #544).
Source:
"The John and Richard Hood Clan of Halifax County, Virginia; Burke County, North Carolina; and Pendleton and Greenville Districts, South Carolina" by Clyde B. Hood III, 2013, p204.
Bio by Dr. Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr. (a loving son)
The 1910 US Census of Coats Bend, Etowah Co., AL enumerated the household of 26 Y/O John Mathis Chappell, a farmer born in AL, and his 26 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell, born in AL. Also living in the household were their children: 4 Y/O Velma Kate Chappell; 2 Y/O Elizabeth Sue Chappell and 5 month old Peggy Nell Chappell. Also in the household was 67 Y/O Angeline "Anne" Hood Turner, the mother of John's wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Living two households away was 35 Y/O Ayers Turner and his 28 Y/O wife, Grace, and their children. Ayers Turner was the brother of Belle (Turner) Chappell and the son of Angeline "Anne" Hood Turner.
John and Belle Chappell, including their first three daughters, migrated to Brownsville, Texas for a brief stent including the years 1911-1913. They returned to Etowah County, AL prior to 25 June 1914 as their fourth daughter, Jonnie Belle Chappell, was born on that date in Etowah Co., AL. By 1916 John Chappell was the co-owner and operator of the Fourth Street Café in Gadsden, AL. The 1916 Gadsden, AL City Directory recorded: Chappell, J. Mathis (Belle), Fourth Street Cafe 120 s 4th St, Home address 425 s 4th St.
The 1920 US Census of Coats Bend, Etowah Co., AL enumerated the household of 35 Y/O John Mathis Chappell and his 36 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Also in the household were their children; 13 Y/O Velma Kate Chappell, 12 Y/O Elizabeth Sue Chappell, 10 Y/O Peggy Nell Chappell and 5 Y/O Johnnie Bell Chappell. John had moved back to his Etowah County farm in 1920 and resumed farming.
The family moved to the Birmingham, AL area in 1926, about 70 miles from their original homestead, where Mathis worked as a contractor in home construction. In 1930, they purchased a house at 8430 3rd Ave South in the East Lake section of Birmingham for the princely sum of $3000.00 (this was during the "Great Depression". In the 1930s during the "Great Depression" and during WWII, Mathis worked for Jefferson County, AL in road construction and then later as a prison guard until he retired in 1947. Jonnie Chappell was of the generation that began the slow process of moving from the farm to the urban areas.
The 1930 US Census Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL enumerated the household of 46 Y/O John Mathis Chappell, a building contractor, and his 46 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Also living in the household were: 21 Y/O Elizabeth Sue Chappell, a dental office helper; 19 Y/O Peggy Nell Chappell, a hotel hat checker, and 14 Y/O Johnnie Belle Chappell, a high school student.
Jonnie attended Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, AL. She related about her brief friendship with fellow student, Margaret LaVelle Fitzpatrick (aka Gail Patrick, actress and executive producer of the long running "Perry Mason" TV series). While attending Woodlawn High School, she met Gresham Talmadge Farrar, a fellow student, neighbor and son on of a prominent local physician, Dr. William Charles Farrar, Sr. Her high school education was interrupted in 1931 by marrying Gresham Talmadge Farrar. They eloped and were married on 31 Oct 1931 in Pensacola, FL. They lived in the East Lake section of Birmingham, AL in the residence of Jonnie's parents from 1931-1938. Times were tough during the "Great Depression".
The 1932 Birmingham, Alabama City Directory recorded Gresham Talmadge Farrar, employed as a theater usher, and his wife, Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar living at 8430 3rd Ave South, the home of Jonnie's parents. During the dark days of the "Great Depression", Gresham worked in the theater business (usher), the grocery business (clerk) and the retail auto supply business.
Their son was born on 16 Nov 1934. Gresham's father, Dr. William Charles Farrar, Sr., delivered him at the home of Jonnie's parents. The 1937 Birmingham City Directory recorded Gresham T. Farrar, Sr. as a clerk at Hill's Grocery Store in East Lake. He and his wife, Jonnie (Chappell) Farrar, were still living with her parents at 8430 3rd Ave South, East Lake, Birmingham, AL.
Jonnie's marriage to Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Sr. lasted for seven years before ending in divorce in 1938. In today's terms Gresham would be classified as a "deadbeat dad" as he never paid court mandated child support or alimony. Jonnie was ambitious and finished her education by graduating from Massey Business College in Birmingham, AL. The skills she mastered at Massey Business College served her well as she worked as an accountant, stenographer, dental and medical assistants over the years.
The 1939 Birmingham, Alabama City Directory recorded Jonnie Farrar employed by her father-in-law, Dr. William Charles Farrar, Sr. MD, as an assistant. She and her son were living in the home of her parent's at 8430 3rd Ave South, Birmingham.
The 1940 US Census of Birmingham, Jefferson Co., AL enumerated the household of 55 Y/O John Mathis Chappell and his 55 Y/O wife, Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Also living in the household were their 23 Y/O daughter, Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar and her 5 Y/O son, Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr. John Mathis Chappell was employed as a county convict guard. Jonnie Belle Chappell was employed in the office of the Alabama Power Company as a "comptometer" operator. NOTE: Living next door was 35 Y/O Chatom Brent Petty and his 28 Y/O wife, Sue Elizabeth (Chappell) Petty, the daughter of John Mathis and Zora Belle (Turner) Chappell. Chatom Petty was employed as a pharmacist in a retail drug store and his wife, Sue, worked as a dental hygienist in a private dental office. NOTE: A very misleading enumeration error in the 1940 US Census recorded the last name of Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar and her son, Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr., as "Chappell". It also recorded Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr. as the "Son" of John Mathis and Belle (Turner) Chappell when he was actually their "Grandson".
The 1941 and 1942 Birmingham, AL City Directories recorded Jonnie Farrar employed as dental assistant by Dr. Willis A. Massey and still residing in her parent's home at 8430 3rd Ave South, Birmingham, AL.
The 1957 Birmingham City Directory recorded Jonnie Belle Farrar employed as a clerk by the W. P. Ballard & Co. She was still residing in her parent's home at 8430 3rd Ave, South, East Lake, Birmingham, AL.
Jonnie Farrar had a great personality, was very beautiful and very loyal. She rejected many offers to re-marry over the years. Her self-chosen gravestone inscription, "Gresham's Love" and the location of her grave beside her first and only love, Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Sr., probably explains this. She resided in her parent's home until their deaths and continued to live there until she died a peaceful death at home.
Sadly, one of her beloved grandchildren, Debra Leigh "Debbie" Farrar Frueh, died prematurely.
Jonnie Belle (Chappell) Farrar was the 2nd cousin 6 times removed through her father, John Mathis Chappell, of POTUS Thomas Jefferson. (See Find A Grave Memorial #544).
Source:
"The John and Richard Hood Clan of Halifax County, Virginia; Burke County, North Carolina; and Pendleton and Greenville Districts, South Carolina" by Clyde B. Hood III, 2013, p204.
Bio by Dr. Gresham Talmadge Farrar, Jr. (a loving son)
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