Person Page - 195

     This information also came from Rose Nell Tabb Murray Wilson. Her sister, Mary Lou Tabb Key, wrote it for her (Rose's) research. There is no date so I dont know when it was written.


Mary Lou Tabb Key

Remembers Her Life as a Child


I was born April 14th, 1925 at Paradise, Ky. Dr. Newman delivered me.

I remember when we lived at the Thompson Place. As soon as the cherries would start getting ripe, I would climb up in that tree and eat cherries until I made myself sick.

I went to Cedar Dale School and my teachers name was Doris Grove. One day Mae and I were cleaning house and we had the windows open. Rose and I were hanging out the widow hollering and the window fell down on us.

One evening when Mom was through washing, Rose and I were playing in the rinse water. Mom had the tubs sitting on benches. I turned one over on Rose and nearly drowned her.

My teacher came home with us to spend the night on Howards birthday. We would always get spankings on our birthdays, or get put under a bed. Howard said, You are not putting me under the bed! We didnt have to because he ran and put himself under there.

I remember when Joyce was riding Ol Prince, she was pulling on his rings and he ran into a tree. I saw it happen because I was in the cherry tree.

We moved back to the farm and went to Cedar Dale School. We walked about three or four miles one way. One day Rose and I were walking home from school and a tornado came. We were scared to death. It turned as black as night and the winds were very strong. We lied down in a big ditch and I was on top of Rose. We were holding on to roots. The wind would pick us up and then slam us back down.

I remember when Granny Tabb died [Sarah C. Driskill Tabb]. We went to see her and she had a black dress on and money on her eyes. Mom was holding Rose and I was so scared that I was clinging to Moms legs so tight she could not move.

Dad came to school to get Howard, Bee, and me. I had a fit to ride that pretty horse but Howard said it was his turn to ride. Dad let me ride behind him. When I got home, my butt and legs were so sore and chaffed, I could hardly walk. Mom was mad; she told Dad he should have known I would be chaffed from riding that horse bare back.

Uncle Oscar [Oscar Stevens - my Grandma Tabbs (Alvie) brother], He had a daughter named Grace [Dads first cousin on the Stevens side of the family]. We would always play together. One day we picked potato bugs off the potato vines and cooked them, then took them to Margaret Sparks. We told her it was a peace offering because we were mad at each other. She ate the bugs.

One night Rose was in a school play at Drakesboro School, Howard walked us to Grandmas. Howard, Robert, and Joyce went to the show. Rose and I were at School. After the play we went back to Grandmas house. Howard was still gone and Grandma made us a bed on the floor with quilts. We started giggling and Naomi would not shut up. Uncle Horace [Bartlett] hollered at us and I got mad and told him, Were going home.

He said, Alright, Ill get you a light.

Rose and I walked three miles in pitch dark, with just that little carbide light. Roses shoe kept coming off on that muddy road. She was crying, we were scared to death. It was almost midnight and we had to pass where men were gambling and drinking. We had just got home when Howard, Joe, and Robert came in. They were worried about us. They didnt know if we made it home.

A day or so after Easter, Grace, Jesse, Rose and I walked to the Haden Graveyard and hid Easter eggs. We found all but one. We never did find that Easter egg.

Grace and I smoked corn silks and rabbit tobacco. One time Howard Graham gave Rose a pretty doll with long black hair and Grace and I cut that dolls hair off and pasted corn silks on her head. Boy, Rose threw a fit!

One day we decided to ride Moms new buggy. We tied ropes to the shafts and had Rose hold on to them while we pushed it down the hill. We were going to jump on but it was going so fast that we could not. The buggy was heading for the cliff, we started screaming at Rose, Throw the ropes down! She did and it broke the shafts all to pieces. Rose didnt get hurt.

I went to Drakesboro School from the fifth grade until I graduated. After high school, I went to Evansville, Indiana and worked at Walgreens Drug Store, but only for one summer.

Irene Belies and I played hooky from school and went to Landrums Cafe! We were smoking and our Principal, Howard Shaver, came after us. James Landrum hid us behind his couch. He lived on the other side of the cafe. We would go there and eat lunch. We would get a bowl of soup, all of the crackers you wanted, and a soft drink for $ .15. Our senior year we played hooky and went to Greenville and stayed all day.

I got slapped by a Central City teacher at a ball game. We were cheerleaders. We were arguing with the other cheerleaders and a Central City teacher came down where we were and she slapped me. Edith Revelett went and told Mr. Shaver. He got into a fuss with that teacher and I thought he going to slap the teacher back.

We used to make stilts with cans and wire. One day our cousin, Ted Tabb and Grace Stevens were at our house. Grace told Ted [My fathers brother, Oscar Clayton Tabb], Come home with me and we will make better stilt. They made their stilts with string because they didnt have any wire.

Well, their string broke. So we made the best stilts. But then Ted went home with Howard and Howard gave Ted some of our wire for their stilts. We thought they would stay and play with us, instead they went back to Graces house. We were really mad at them!

Mom took us to buy new shoes for Maes graduation. We went to Wess Department Store. They found shoes that fit Rose and I could not find any black Patton shoe to fit me so I got a pair that was too small. I told Mom that they fit fine. But they hurt my feet so bad they put blisters on them. After the graduation was over I took them off. I told Mom that I didnt want to get them dirty.

I remember finding out that there was no Santa Clause. I peeped in on Howard and Bee while they were wrapping the gifts for us.

One of my boyfriends, Junior Noffisiger worked at the theater. He would give me a pass to get into the show. I would make Rose use the pass and I would use the money because I was too backwards to use the pass.

I married Wess Key on July 9th, 1946 at the Court House in Greenville, Ky. We planned on getting married on the 8th, but on the 7th we had to take Mike home and our car broke down at Litchfield. We sat there all night so we didnt get married until the 9th.

Donnie was born at Greenville Hospital; Dr. Harrison was my doctor. It was snowing so bad that I told Wess not to go get my Mom. He did anyway and she stayed at the hospital with me.

I went to work at G.E. in Owensboro, Kentucky. I worked one year and we paid for our house with the money I made. Wess and I divorced in 1979.

Source: Leslie E. Tabb, Jr. (pastlet@yahoo.com) in an email dated 21 February 2004. Mary was born at Paradise, Kentucky, on 14 April 1925.¹ She died on 11 April 2016 at age 90. She was buried after 11 April 2016 at Rose Hill Cemetery, Central City, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

     Flora was born at Beech Creek, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, on 30 October 1923.¹ She married Leslie Earl Tabb Sr. at Greenville, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, on 9 May 1942.² Flora Juanita Whitney died on 14 February 2014 at Evansville, Vanderburg County, Indiana, at age 90.¹ She was buried after 14 February 2014 at Oak Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Vanderburg County, Indiana.¹

     Leslie's occupation: Minister.² He married Roxana Mary Russell. Leslie was born on 18 April 1943.² He died on 25 December 2006 at age 63.¹ He was buried on 29 December 2006 at Park Lawn Cemetery, Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana.¹

     Kathryn was born at Mulenberg County, Kentucky, on 16 May 1922.¹ She married James Howard Tabb at Greenville, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, on 3 January 1942.² Kathryn Cavanaugh died on 14 September 2013 at Drakesboro, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, at age 91.¹ She was buried on 16 September 2013 at Rose Hill Cemetery, Central City, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.¹

     He married Janice Jones.¹ James was born at Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, on 15 July 1949.^1,2 He died on 6 May 2016 at Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, at age 66.² He was buried after 6 May 2016 at Rose Hill Cemetery, Central City, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.²

     David was born on 4 December 1958.^1,2 He died on 3 November 1986 at age 27.² He was buried after 3 November 1986 at Rose Hill Cemetery, Central City, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.²

     Raymond was born. Raymond died in 1969.¹

     George was born. George died in August 1993.¹

     Edith was born on 5 December 1913.¹ She married Carl "Willie" Tabb on 31 August 1936.² Edith Mae Robinson died on 4 April 1983 at age 69.¹ She was buried after 4 April 1983 at Ebenezer Cemetery, Ebenezer, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.¹

     This information came from Rose Nell Tabb Murray Wilson. Her niece, Janice J. Tabb Staples [Rose's brother, Carl Willie Tabb's daughter] wrote it for her (Rose's) research. There is no date so I don't know when it was written.



Janice J. Tabb Staples

Her Memories of Childhood Life


My Mom and Dad were the most wonderful parents in the world. My Mom had the gift to make all of her children think she loved them the most. My Father worked all of his live to provide for his family; there were five Children.

I would not change the way I was raised for all the money in the world. We were poor but my parents gave us the best childhood in the world. My mother, from the time we were born showed and taught us the love of God. My Dad showed us the real meaning of a father, gentle, yet strong, but always secure in his love.

I hope that my own children love me and their Daddy half as much as I did mine. I wish I could be the kind of mother and grandmother to my children that she was to me. But those size four and a half shoes are too big to fill.

My parents gave me the kind of love and security that every child should have and they left us the most precious Memories in the world.

Source: Leslie E. Tabb, Jr. (pastlet@yahoo.com) in an email dated 21 February 2004. Janice was born at Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, on 16 March 1948.¹ She died on 22 May 2014 at Greenville, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, at age 66.¹ She was buried on 24 May 2014 at Ebenezer Cemetery, Ebenezer, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.¹

     Frances was born on 2 August 1947.¹ She died on 22 August 1994 at age 47.¹ She was buried after 22 August 1994 at Locust Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana.¹

     She married James Ronald (Ronnie) Tabb.² Janice Jones died. Janice was born.

     Ara was born at Crittenden County, Kentucky, in February 1845.¹ She died in 1914.²

     Marion was born at Crittenden County, Kentucky, in June 1849.¹ He married Victoria Mayberry at Trigg County, Kentucky, circa January 1871.¹ He married Lucinda Russell at Trigg County, Kentucky, on 11 December 1887.¹ Marion W. Wheeler died in 1928.²

     Victoria was born in 1844.¹ She married Marion W. Wheeler at Trigg County, Kentucky, circa January 1871.²

     Lucinda was born in 1847.¹ She married Marion W. Wheeler at Trigg County, Kentucky, on 11 December 1887.² Lucinda Russell died in 1930.¹

     Jane was born at Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, on 5 August 1920. She married Oscar Clayton "Ted" Tabb at Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, on 31 January 1943.¹ Jane Marie Aceto died on 22 February 2010 at Portland, Cumberland County, Maine, at age 89. She was buried on 26 February 2010 at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland, Cumberland County, Maine.

     She married Leslie Earl Tabb Jr. Roxana was born in 1943.¹ She was buried in 2003 at Park Lawn Cemetery and Mausoleum, Evansville, Vandenburgh County, Indiana.¹ She died in 2003.¹

     He married Blanche Rae Sullivan.¹ Hershel was born at Drakesboro, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, on 2 August 1914.^1,2 Hershel died on 4 September 1973 at Fort Knox, Hardin County, Kentucky, at age 59.^1,2 He was buried after 4 September 1973 at Rosehill Elmwood Cemetery, Owensboro, Daviess County, Kentucky.²

     Her body was interred at Drakesboro, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, at Hayden Cemetery.¹ Pauline died.¹ Pauline was born.

     She married Hershel Lee Tabb.² Blanche was born at Island, McLean County, Kentucky, on 6 March 1924.¹ She died on 13 January 2005 at Owensboro, Daviess County, Kentucky, at age 80.¹ She was buried after 13 January 2005 at Rosehill Elmwood Cemetery, Owensboro, Daviess County, Kentucky.¹

     Arlie died.¹ Arlie was born. She married Ovie Johnson.¹ She married Dallas Houston Stinson.¹

     He married Arlie Johnson.¹ Ovie was born on 4 August 1922.¹ Ovie died on 19 August 1968 at age 46.¹

     He married Arlie Johnson.¹ Dallas was born on 1 January 1910.¹ Dallas died on 3 May 1994 at age 84.¹

     She married Orbie Lee Tabb.¹ Stella was born on 8 November 1908.¹ Stella died on 4 April 1997 at age 88.¹

     Marvin was born at Kentucky on 21 July 1932.¹ Marvin died on 6 August 1950 at age 18.¹ His body was interred after 6 August 1950 at Lewisburg, Logan County, Kentucky, at Lewisburg Cemetery.¹

     She married Orbie Lee Tabb.¹ Ivey was born on 9 December 1912.² Her body was interred on 3 July 1999 at Drakesboro, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, at Highway Cemetery.^1,2 Ivey died on 3 July 1999 at age 86.²

     Gladys Lyle Patterson was born on 20 August 1926 at Hardin County, Kentucky. She married William (Bill) Tichenor Tabb, son of Emmett Leo Tabb and Willie L. Tichenor, on 25 August 1948 at Hardin County, Kentucky.¹ Gladys Lyle Patterson died on 14 September 2007 at Sonora, Hardin County, Kentucky, at age 81.

     Candy Michelle Tabb was born on 22 November 1970 at Albany, Dougherty County, Georgia.² She married Michael Byron Tabb , Jr., son of Michael Byron Tabb, on 12 August 1989 at Baker County, Georgia.² Candy Michelle Tabb died on 5 March 2013 at Albany, Dougherty County, Georgia, at age 42.² Candy Michelle Tabb, 42, of Leary, GA, died Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at Willson Hospice House.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Milford Baptist Church. Rev. Tom Pollock will officiate. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

A native of Albany, GA, Mrs. Tabb was a graduate of Byne Memorial Christian School and had resided in Leary, GA since 1989. She was a homemaker and a member of the Seeker's Sunday School Class and of Sherwood Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, Mike Tabb, Jr., Leary, GA, three sons, Anthony Tabb, Leary, GA, Roger Tabb (Jennifer), Camilla, GA, Chandler Tabb, Leary, GA., a daughter, Christina Walker (Marquez), Highpoint, NC, her parents, Russ and Angela Tabb, Leary, GA, two brothers, Jason Tabb (Kara), Crawfordville, FL, Chad Tabb (Jennifer), Leesburg, GA, two grandchildren, Nicholis Tabb and Isabella Tabb, nieces, Abigail Tabb, Maggie Smith, Anna Grace Tabb and nephews, Andrew Tabb, Colby Tabb and Alex Tabb.

The Seeker's Sunday School Class of Sherwood Baptist Church will be seated as an honorary group.²

She was buried on 9 March 2013 at Milford Baptist Church Cemetery, Baker County, Georgia.²

     Maru Selena Ray was born on 24 March 1852.¹ She married Arden Keel, son of William Keel and Mary Ann Tabb, circa 1875 at Baker County, Georgia.¹