Person Page - 154

     He was a musician and played at various night spots in the Albany, Georgia, area. He was the owner of T & T Paint Company, was an avid hunter and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He married Maria Angelica (---?---).¹ Jimmy was born on 29 February 1940.² He died on 28 September 2014 at at his residence, Leesburg, Lee County, Georgia, at age 74.³ He was buried on 1 October 2014 at Gordon Cemetery, Blakely, Early County, Georgia.

     The following account was written by Dixie Tabb Palmer about her mother on 5 August 2001. Her e-mail address is dixietabbpalmer@aol.com.

I found a black and white snapshot of my father, before they met when he was 22 years old, and, as always, posing in front of a car, a 1942 jalopy. I imagined that this was a farewell photo taken by his sister before he went into the Army Air Force. How thin he looked and with all of his wavy black hair! He stood with his hand leaning on the trunk, a slight tilt in his weight against it, his other hand on his waist where his vest was unbuttoned, his tie loosened at the neck of white shirt, and he smiled calmly as one does when saying farewell and remember me as he went off to his hitch in Albany, Georgia.

Fate was in motion to bring my parents together. A year later, my mother joined the workforce of a nation that would be gearing up for the Second World War. On January 28, 1943, she was hired as Flight Dispatcher #523 at the Army Air Forces Training Detachment at Darr Areo Tech, Incorporated, in Albany, Georgia. Her identification card describes her with these statistics: Color Eyes--Gray, Color Hair--Brown, Weight--125 pounds, Height--5 Feet, 7 Inches. Stapled on the back is a picture of my mom holding a rectangular chalk board with R. M. Tabb, Dispatcher written for the camera to record. In those days, without much instrumentation this job was the equivalent of an air traffic controller today. She worked out of the tower surrounded by large glassless windows from which she would assign her cadets a ship and judge the takeoff and landing conditions for them and many times talk them up or down, to or from their flights.

Judging from the scrapbook with a myriad of photos of young handsome pilots and my mothers beauty, she was bound to land one of them as a husband! Her autograph booklet signed by the Class of 43-J proved that these dashing young pilots went gaga over my mother. Salutations beginning with, Dear Trim Tabb, fill more than one page. A flyer from Tennessee wrote; Ill still bet youll end up married to a Cadet--and like it. They exhorted her to tell her
grandchildren of the swell cadets of 43-J and hoping that shed have more Eager Beavers, their nickname, in her next class. They flirted, Gosh, you sure are pretty, and ...if your [sic] not coming out on Sundays [that] meanRachel Mae Tabb Ill have to go through life wondering what you look like in a dress!

She did go out on Sundays with her friends to picnic near the wetland swamps of Georgia which were filled with wet-rooted cypress trees covered with moss. One afternoon, she and her best girlfriend were captured forever on film posing in the sunshine on a wooden dock and wearing dresses in which they looked like leggy sprites to an admiring gaze. This was indeed a treat from the pleated gabardine pants and jackets that she wore to work everyday signaling her serious intentions toward her job.

Many cadets appreciated that side of her and wrote thanking her for looking out for them, for her patience, for her efficiency. These comments vouched that flying was a risky task and these farm boys, now pilots, needed a kind and smart hand. One of the more educated pilots gushed...it was like Heaven to see you once again after my ignominious return from Tifton! Another pleaded: Oh please give me an airplane Miss Tabb. I wont ground loop again, I promise.

This type of work would never come her way again after the war when she and the other women of her time were forced to leave such positions to clear the way for the returning GIs. Years later when I was a young teen and after she had one too many drinks, she started sobbing remembering the young and scared boy whom she had urged up into the air had never returned to her runway because of a crash. Nonetheless, her boss the Commanding Officer, Major Francis K. Wood, would write her a recommendation for any new position
in which she would be interested saying that her work was outstanding.

Being the youngest of seven children and her father dying when she was only 12, my mother must have led a difficult and sheltered life. She was especially looked out for by her older brother Perry who would visit her at the base on those free moments from her work. I spied a picture of him in her scrapbook, and he stands out from the uniformed GIs in his double breasted suit tailored to his tall and handsome lanky form. He has a serious look and taunt suntanned face. When she spoke of him or Cleveland, her oldest brother, it was with a reverent tone reserved for a father. When she chose my father for a romance and marriage in 1945, he would take her away
from her beloved South forever and from being the center of the Darr Areo Tech circus.

Knowing my father and his sales abilities, Ill bet that he waged an
aggressive campaign against the other handsome fly boys. I found his photo in the center of a scrapbook page where hes posing in his khaki uniform on a cement bench in the campus park. His image is flanked by two pictures of her, so while this, perhaps, was a hint of her feelings the book goes on with many more tableaus of her talking to a leather jacketed cadets wearing those leather helmets and matching goggles.

My parents courtship took some time for another reason. My father was already engaged to a woman in Harrisburg. I became aware of this impediment only when I ironically met and started dating the former fiancee's son while I was in high school. My mother told me about the affair and steered me away from, I guess, what could have been a very sensitive situation. Before they were married, he was assigned to duty in San Francisco in 1945. They left Georgia on a train that carried them across the country and then back at the
end of his tour of duty in 1946 to Harrisburg. She married Clarence Edwin (Ed) Palmer.¹ Rachel was born at Early County, Georgia, on 3 October 1920.² Rachel died on 20 November 2000 at Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, at age 80.²

     He married Rachel Mae Tabb.¹ Clarence was born at Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, on 24 March 1919.² Clarence died on 23 March 1992 at York County, Pennsylvania, at age 72.²

     Cleveland was born at Georgia on 12 March 1924.^2,3,4 His body was interred after 3 April 1997 at Early County, Georgia, at Gordon Cemetery.⁵ Cleveland died on 12 April 1997 at Lake Wales, Florida, at age 73.^5,3

     Bartlett died.² Bartlett was born.

     Susan was born at Vivienne, Louisiana, on 10 September 1870.¹ She married Henry Colquitt (Crawford) Tabb at Georgia in 1887.² Susan died on 4 June 1955 at Hamlin, Jones County, Texas, at age 84.^3,4 She was buried after 4 June 1955 at Hamlin Memorial Cemetery, Hamlin, Jones County, Texas.⁵

     Onie was born at Madison County, Texas, circa 1888.¹ Her body was interred circa 1894 at Hardin County, Texas. Onie died circa 1894 at Madison County, Texas.¹

     Clem was born at Greenbriar, Madison County, Texas, on 21 September 1890.^1,2 He married Mary Edith Carter at Madisonville, Texas, on 4 August 1909.^1,3 Clem was divorced from Mary Edith Carter in 1934.⁴ He married Mamie Wilson Clark at Batson, Texas, on 13 January 1938.^1,5 Clem died on 14 September 1961 at Harris County, Texas, at age 70.¹ His body was interred after 14 September 1961 at Liberty, Texas, at Fairlawn Memorial Park.

     Mary was born on 18 December 1890.¹ She married Clem Wesley Tabb at Madisonville, Texas, on 4 August 1909.^2,3 Mary was divorced from Clem Wesley Tabb in 1934.⁴ Mary died on 8 July 1977 at McMinnville, Oregon, at age 86.⁵

     Margie was born at Greenbriar, Madison County, Texas, on 4 October 1911.^1,2 She married Albert "Melvin" Pollock at Houston, Harris County, Texas, on 30 September 1942.^1,3,4 Margie Clements Tabb died on 18 February 2009 at Houston, Harris County, Texas, at age 97.⁴ She was buried after 18 February 2009 at Earthman Resthaven Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas.⁴

     Albert was born at Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, on 7 April 1906.¹ He married Margie Clements Tabb at Houston, Harris County, Texas, on 30 September 1942.^2,3,1 Albert died on 7 May 1991 at Houston, Harris County, Texas, at age 85.^4,1 He was buried after 7 May 1991 at Earthman Resthaven Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas.¹

     He married Jacobina Gospodinovich. John was born at Madisonville, Madison County, Texas, on 9 January 1914.^1,2,3 John died on 22 February 1972 at Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi, at age 58.^4,5 He was buried after 22 February 1972 at Southern Memorial Park, Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi.⁵

     She married John Henry Tabb. Jacobina was born at Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi, on 21 March 1914.^1,2,3 She died on 3 January 2006 at Ocean Springs, Jackson County, Mississippi, at age 91.² She was buried after 3 January 2006 at Southern Memorial Park, Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi.²

     Merty was born at Batson, Hardin County, Texas, on 28 June 1917.^1,2 Merty died on 9 April 1957 at Idaho at age 39.³ She was buried after 9 April 1957 at Riverside Cemetery, Payette, Payette County, Idaho.⁴

     Carroll was born at Walters, Cotton County, Oklahoma, on 18 March 1920.^1,2,3 He married Alice Aileen Duncan at Houston, Harris County, Texas, on 31 August 1941.^4,5 Carroll died on 26 August 2002 at Houston, Harris County, Texas, at age 82.⁶ His body was interred after 26 August 2002 at Pearland, Brazoria County, Texas, at South Park Cemetery.⁶

     Fannie was born at Madison County, Texas, on 21 July 1893.¹ She married Oscar W. Johnson at Madison County, Texas, in 1914.¹ Fannie Lorene Tabb was buried in November 1977 at Greenacres Memorial Park, Cleburn, Johnson County, Texas.² Fannie died in November 1977 at Johnson County, Texas, at age 84.

     Oscar was born on 17 June 1891.¹ He married Fannie Lorene Tabb at Madison County, Texas, in 1914.² Oscar died on 19 March 1973 at Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas, at age 81.³ He was buried after 19 March 1973 at Greenacres Memorial Park, Cleburn, Johnson County, Texas.³

     Ludie was born at Madison County, Texas, on 1 January 1896.¹ She married Allen Benjamin Hicks at Madison County, Texas, in 1918.¹ Ludie died on 16 January 1944 at Conroe, Montgomery County, Texas, at age 48.^2,3 She was buried after 16 January 1944 at Freeman Cemetery, Conroe, Montgomery County, Texas.³

     Allen was born at Texas on 12 May 1896.^2,1 He married Ludie Lillie Tabb at Madison County, Texas, in 1918.³ Allen died on 11 December 1956 at Conroe, Montgomery County, Texas, at age 60.¹ He was buried after 11 December 1956 at Freeman Cemetery, Conroe, Montgomery County, Texas.¹

     (---?---) died. (---?---) was born.

     Claude was born at Madisonville, Madison County, Texas, on 14 May 1898.^1,2 He married Lillian Ester Cory at Abilene, Taylor County, Texas, on 16 February 1924.^1,3 Claude died on 29 March 1991 at Anson, Texas, at age 92.² His body was interred after 29 March 1991 at Hawley, Jones County, Texas, at Hawley Cemetery.²

     Lillian was born at Jones County, Texas, on 6 July 1908.^1,2 She married Claude Carlos Tabb at Abilene, Taylor County, Texas, on 16 February 1924.^3,4 Lillian Ester Cory died on 30 January 2005 at Anson, Jones County, Texas, at age 96.⁵ She was buried after 30 January 2005 at Hawley Cemetery, Hawley, Jones County, Texas.

     Paul's occupation: Claim Manager.. Paul was born at Hamlin, Jones County, Texas, on 26 September 1929.^1,2 Paul died on 20 November 1982 at Deer Park, Harris County, Texas, at age 53.^1,2,3 He was buried after 20 November 1982 at Old Glory Cemetery, Old Glory, Stonewall County, Texas.

     Loyce was born at Hamlin, Jones County, Texas, on 12 August 1932.^1,2,3 She married Jesse Allen Wyatt on 8 June 1951.² Loyce Inez Tabb died in 2015.⁴

     Harold Loyd Tabb died. He was buried at Tyler Memorial Park and Cemetery, Tyler, Smith County, Texas.¹ Harold was born at Roby, Texas, on 8 April 1934.^2,3 He married Eleanor June Bailey at Anson, Texas, on 30 July 1960.^3,1

     Elton was born at Madison County, Texas, on 13 August 1900.^1,2 He died on 21 October 1973 at Hamlin, Jones County, Texas, at age 73.² He was buried after 21 October 1973 at Hamlin Memorial Cemetery, Hamlin, Jones County, Texas.²

     William was born at Madisonville, Madison County, Texas, on 20 April 1903.^1,2 He married Opal Odessa Early at Anson, Jones County, Texas, on 14 January 1928.^3,2,4 William Henry "Bill" Tabb died on 18 August 1993 at Hamlin, Jones County, Texas, at age 90.² He was buried after 18 August 1993 at Neinda Cemetery, Neinda, Jones County, Texas.²

     Opal was born at Comanche County, Texas, on 18 April 1911.¹ She married William Henry "Bill" Tabb at Anson, Jones County, Texas, on 14 January 1928.^2,1,3 Opal Odessa Early died on 11 March 2001 at Stamford, Jones County, Texas, at age 89.¹ She was buried after 11 March 2001 at Neinda Cemetery, Neinda, Jones County, Texas.¹

     Gerald was born at Jones County, Texas, on 20 December 1934.¹ Gerald died on 27 May 2003 at Abilene, Taylor County, Texas, at age 68.^2,1 He was buried on 29 May 2003 at Hawley Cemetery, Hawley, Jones County, Texas.

     He married Lela Mae Rumfield at Texas.^1,2 Monroe was born at Madison County, Texas, on 12 November 1905.³ Monroe died on 8 September 1982 at Hamlin, Jones County, Texas, at age 76.^1,2 He was buried after 8 September 1982 at Neinda Cemetery, Neinda, Jones County, Texas.⁴