Cupidean Willis

Ancestors

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: DrO Olmstead [send private message]

Biography

Cupidean was born in 1914 in Elba, Alabama, USA to Lilla Lee Morrow and Joseph Lee Willis. ^[1]

She had seven full siblings; Grace Inez, Glennie Victoria, Raymond Dallas, Ruby Clyde, Estelle Beatrice, Alton Joe, Loveda J, Betty Joyce.

In 1920, Joe 29, Lee, 26, Grace 7, Cupie 5, Glennie 3, and Dallas 1 lived in Sanford, Covington, AL, USA. None of the children were attending school. Only Dad could read and write. Sadly, no one in the house was employed.^[2]

In 1930, the family was living at Kinston and Bullock River Road house number April 7. Cupie was in school at 15 and could read and write. Joe was 39 and Lilla Lee was 35, Grace 16, Glennie 13, Dallas 11, Ruby 9, Estelle 7, Alton 4, Loveda 1. Dad was farmer. They were renting a farm in Parker, Coffee County, Alabama, USA. Dallas on up could read and write. ^[3]

Family Life

Cupie married George Howard Pirkle on 22 Dec 1935 in Perry Community, COffee County, Alabama, USA. She told her second eldest granddaughter it was at,

Reverend Mitchell's House in Perry Community. He was 19 and I was 21. It was snowing and I wore a bright blue dress and Pop wore a suit coat. My brother slipped on the porch from the snow and broke his arm. ^[4]

Then her father Joe Willis remarried and she had five half siblings by Mattie Whaley-Spears; Peggi Sue, Hazel Jeannette, Anne Merle, Doyle Edwin, Gilbert Ray. She said they often lived with her and the family as needed.

Cupie and Howard had seven children together.

• George Donaldson
• Joseph Irvin
• Shirley Estelle
• son
• Myrtle Lee
• daughter
• daughter

The family moved as migrant farmers and share croppers between south Alabama, central Florida, west central Florida as crops and jobs were available being joined by her father and his family at times.

In 1935 they were in rural Orange County, Florida.

In 1940 they were living on Hawkins Road, Hillsborough, Florida. Cupie was 24, Howard was 24, Donnie was 2, and Joseph was 1. Back in rural Alabama when she was 16, graduating from school meant she had completed 6th grade. She didn't have the opportunity to attend a high school. Howard was laboring on a farm. in 1939 he worked 30 weeks and made $180 to feed his family. ^[5]

On 25 Oct 1940, when Howard registered for WWII draft, they were living in Mango, Hillsboro, Florida. His employer was Doctor Reeves.^[6]

By 1945 they were on Rt 3 Box 449 A, Tampa, Hillsborough, FL, USA. Back from Alabama again. Cupie 30, Howard 28, Donnie 7, Irvin 6, Shirley 4, and Hoyt 2 were the occupants. Howard was farming.^[7]

In 1950, They lived 1/10th of a mile east on West Bella Vista Road in rural Orange County, FL. Cupie 35, Howard 33, Donnie 12, Irvin 11, Estelle 8, Hoyt 7 had a lodger/hired hand Earnest Sullivan 20 at the dairy farm. Irvin, Estelle, and Hoyt were born in Florida. Grandpa worked 52 weeks the year prior and earned $4,000. He attempted to join the military in WWII but rejected due to medical issues. Both adults were working. Howard had worked 92 hours the previous week as the farm owner and Cupie had helped on the farm 14 hours while rearing the chldren and keeping the books. Cupie was tight with the purse strings and saved for their future.^[8]

Eventually they saved enough money to homestead in Polk County, Florida. She had a grocercy store, sold Avon, butchered cattle, raised vegetables and fruit, loved on children, and loved the Lord.

She was Granny to everyone in the community, she encouraged education in everyone. Granny was so proud of having being the highest student in her class in Alabama. Her daughters graduated as valadictorians or salutitorians of their classes at Kathleen High School in Kathleen and Lakeland, Polk County, Florida. She always wanted to be a nurse.

They also owned a place in front of Winston Elementary School where they had another popular little grocery store.

They picked up that house and moved it in about 1966 to the end of Alderman Road it was number 5220 on the line between Polk and Hillsborough counties. Their last two children were still young and grandchildren were populating the area.

It wasn't long before George Donaldson (Shirley Ann Buckler) moved to 522. Kenneth Hoyt (Teri) lived in a trailer in front of the house for a while and then Judith Elaine (Benny Walker) took a turn. Joseph Irvin (Patricia Wills) finished his life hitch in the US Navy and moved in between. Then a daughter and son of Donnie built between him and his brother Irvin. Shirley Estelle (Joseph Buckler) wasn't far away on their dairy farm, directly across Interstate 4. Just a stones throw.^[9]

Grand Finale

She died in 1994 after a lengthy illness at South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City, Florida.

She was buried with her baby daughter Myrtle Lee in Seffner Cemetery, Seffner, FL.^[10]

Research Notes

Family members may add to story or private message to make additions. People named in censuses, public documents, are included, but one member's name and likeness will not be included in general prose upon request to not be anywhere on the Internet.

Sources

1. ↑ First-hand information as remembered by DrO Olmstead, Saturday, April 4, 2015. '
2. ↑ 1920 US Fed Census Pct 56 Sanford, Covington, AL,
3. ↑ 1930 US Fed Census Dst 29 Parker, Coffee, AL 7 Apr
4. ↑ interview by Pirkle-96 DrO
5. ↑ 1940 US Census 29-32, other, Hillsborough, FL
6. ↑ US World War II Draft Card 1940-1947 3270 25 Oct 1940
7. ↑ 1945 US Census of White residents Pct 60 Hillsborough
8. ↑ 1950 US Census 53-134A, Other, Polk, Florida
9. ↑ Personal Knowledge 2nd oldest grandchild and biographer Pirkle-96
10. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25291830

See also:

• Add sources here.