Phoebe Alice (Torbett) Atkins (1897 - 1968)

Born 10 Aug 1897 in Monroe, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Joseph William Atkins — married 16 Mar 1919 in Monroe, Tennessee, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 6 Oct 1968 at age 71 in Monroe, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Peggy Blevins [send private message]

Biography

6 October 2018 my Granny will have been separated 50 years from all those who loved her still on earth, but she is with Her Savior, all her children, husband, and her mother and father and siblings in heaven. She did not leave me. She has been with me all my life. I tried to be the grandmother she was to me. I pray I was a small example of the way she loved me and all her grandchildren. She tried to make each of us know how special we were. She would make each of us our favorite meals and desserts cooking on a wood stove. I have seen fried pies, cake, & several different cream pies on her table with home- grown vegetables, several meats and biscuits, cornbread, and/or rolls. That wasn't for a holiday, but any day of the week. If there was chocolate cream pie left after everyone ate she would send it home with me with a hug and a kiss and a big "I love you." No one left empty handed. She never owned a refrigerator, so the rest of the food was delivered to less fortunate or older neighbors. The next day she would walk to a small grocery store and buy milk and eggs and start all over. She owned an icebox until the ice man quit delivering. Then if it was cold everything went on the window sill or in the kitchen sink with water to keep it cool until it was eaten or used to cook with.

She also made almost all our clothes on an old fashioned trendle sewing machine. I remember how proud I was wearing identical dresses with my oldest sister. My brother even had matching shorts or jacket if the material was solid. We even had identical dresses for Easter when I was 19 and my sister was 20 years old and both of us were married. We both were home and went to First Baptist Church together. If they were voting for Best-Dressed that Easter we would have tied for lst place. It sounds funny now, but back then we were so proud and everyone told us how nice we looked.

Granny was widowed at age 46 and never remarried. When they married Granddaddy was a widower with a 3yr.old daughter Gladys and a 7 yr. old son Alfred (who wasn't happy about having a new mother), but he learned quickly to love the sweet lady who fixed him fried apple pies. Aunt Gladys always said Granny was the only Mother she remembered. No one in the family ever said the words step-mother or half brother or half sister. Alfred and Gladys always knew their Mother was Dolly Watson and her memory was kept alive along with the baby that died the same time. If someone did call Alfred or Gladys half -siblings, my Mother Gertrude would correct them quickly by saying no Gladys or Alfred were her whole sibling. They may have had a different Mother, but they were not half anything. That would really upset my mother who was born one yr. after they married & then Aunt Jean 7 yrs, later.

When Granddaddy married Granny he took her to town to get the license. This would be Granny first time to be to in the big city of Madisonville (small town) and it scared her to death. She was raised only a few miles away, but all her life had been spent around the small community of Notchey Creek and the church there. They are all buried there with Granddaddy between Dolly & Granny. The baby John is buried beside his Mother Dolly. My Granny would have never guessed she would travel in the back seat of a car all the way to California with my Mother & Father to visit Barbara (my oldest sister and her family. She would have gone to the moon and back to love on her Granddaughter and Great-Grandchildren.

Granny loved the Lord with all her heart. I can still hear her humming or singing hymns all day long whatever she was doing. She never took a piano lesson or owned a piano, but boy could she play those hymns she loved. Some called it "playing by ear", but I think it was a Gift From Above.

She was the Best Granny Ever!!!

Research Notes

In the 1900 census Phebe A (age 3) was the daughter of William ? Torbett in Civil District 7, Hardeman, Tennessee.^[1] The household included William ? Torbett 46 years, wife Susan M Torbett 44 years, son William H Torbett 22 years, son John A Torbett 21 years, son Elijah A Torbett 19 years, daughter Mary A Torbett 18 years, son Freddie S Torbett 15 years, son Oliver H Torbett 10 years, son Isaac A Torbett 9 years, son George M Torbett 7 years, daughter Martha C Torbett 5 years, daughter Phebe A Torbett 3 years, and son Luther Torbett 1 years.

In the 1910 census Phebe A (age 12) was the daughter of William A Torbett in Civil District 7, Monroe, Tennessee.^[2] The household included William A Torbett 55, wife S Margaret Torbett 54, son Oliver H Torbett 20, son Isaac A Torbett 18, son George M Torbett 16, daughter M Caroline Torbett 15, daughter Phebe A Torbett 12, son Luther Torbett 11, daughter L Loucrecia Torbett 9, son W Harvey Torbett 33, grandchild Fred E Torbett 4, and grandchild Oscar Torbett 1.

Phoebe married Joe Atkins on March 16, 1919 in Monroe, Tennessee.^[3]

In the 1920 census Phoebe (age 22) was the wife of Joseph Atkins in Civil District 3, Monroe, Tennessee.^[4] The household included Joseph Atkins 31 years, wife Phoebe Atkins 22 years, son Alfred Atkins 8 years, and daughter Gladys Atkins 4 years.

In the 1930 census Phebe (age 31) was the wife of Joe W Atkins in Civil District 3, Obion, Tennessee.^[5] The household included Joe W Atkins 43, wife Phebe Atkins 31, son Alfred Atkins 18, daughter Gladys Atkins 14, daughter Gertrude Atkins 8, daughter Gena M Atkins 2, and father J Andy Atkins 76.

In the 1940 census Thebe (age 42) was the wife of Joe Atkins in Monroe, Tennessee.^[6] The household included Joe Atkins 53, wife Thebe Atkins 42, and daughter Jena M Atkins 12.

Phoeba's husband Joe W Atkins died on May 23, 1943 in Knox, Tennessee.^[7]

Phoebe Alice, daughter of William Torbett and Margaret Gibson, died (age 71) on 6 October 1968 in Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee^[8]and was laid to rest^[9]in Notchey Creek Cemetery, Old Madisonville, Monroe County, Tennessee.

Sources

1. ↑ 1900 Census: "United States Census, 1900," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: MSC2-HDD : accessed 26 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-67B3-NR8
   Phebe A Torbett (3), single daughter, in household of William ? Torbett (46 years) in Civil District 7, Hardeman, Tennessee, United States. Born in Tennessee
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T623; Line: 15; Digital film/folder number: 004118702; FHL microfilm: 1241589; Image number: 513; Sheet number: 5; Sheet letter: A; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N00795-8.
2. ↑ 1910 Census: "United States Census, 1910," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: MGXX-X1B : accessed 26 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9T8P-J5L
   Phebe A Torbett (12), single daughter, in household of William A Torbett (55) in Civil District 7, Monroe, Tennessee, United States. Born in Tennessee
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T624; Digital film/folder number: 004985570; FHL microfilm: 1375527; Image number: 122; Sheet number: 7; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03635-4.
3. ↑ Marriage: "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: QKHQ-T3K8 : accessed 26 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QSQ-G93F-TXRL
   Phebe Torbett marriage to Joe Atkins on 16 Mar 1919 in Monroe, Tennessee, United States
   citing Digital film/folder number: 005728904_002_M9NY-SKZ; FHL microfilm: 001928780; Image number: 144.
4. ↑ 1920 Census: "United States Census, 1920," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: MN5D-TB8 : accessed 26 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RX2-8M8
   Phoebe Atkins (22), wife, in household of Joseph Atkins (31 years) in Civil District 3, Monroe, Tennessee, United States. Born in Tennessee
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Line: 82; Digital film/folder number: 004968809; FHL microfilm: 1821757; Image number: 382; Sheet number: 12; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03111-1.
5. ↑ 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: SPHC-KLF : accessed 26 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RCC-7J8
   Phebe Atkins (31), wife, in household of Joe W Atkins (43) in Civil District 3, Obion, Tennessee, United States. Born in Tennessee
   citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T626; Line: 84; Digital film/folder number: 004953917; FHL microfilm: 2342001; Image number: 274; Sheet number: 13; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03695-0.
6. ↑ 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census," database with images
   Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 2442 #37575361 : accessed 26 October 2023)
   Thebe Atkins (42), wife, in household of Joe Atkins (53) in Monroe, Tennessee. Born in Tennessee
   citing Year 1940, Census Place Monroe, Tennessee, Roll m-t0627-03922, Page 1A, Enumeration District 62-11.
7. ↑ Death of husband Joe W Atkins: "Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: NSQP-LW5 : accessed 26 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-DRFL-MS Image number 02684
   Phoeba Torbett in death record for husband Joe W Atkins 23 May 1943 in Knox, Tennessee, United States
   citing Digital film/folder number: 004184877; FHL microfilm: 2137335; Record number: 62; Packet letter: R.
8. ↑ Death: "Tennessee Deaths, 1914-1966," database with images
   (FamilySearch Record: 6JCT-SSWM : accessed 26 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QHV-P3F1-C9WJ-9
   Phoebe Alice Atkins death 6 Oct 1968 (age 71), daughter of William Torbett & Margaret Gibson, in Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee, United States
   citing Digital film/folder number: 107155967; Image number: 2385.
9. ↑ Burial:Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69354471/pheobe-alice-atkins: accessed 08 December 2023), memorial page for Pheobe Alice Torbett Atkins (10 Aug 1897–6 Oct 1968), Find a Grave Memorial ID 69354471, citing Notchey Creek Cemetery Old, Madisonville, Monroe County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Liz (Roberts) Harris (contributor 47149747).

See also:

• Bob Lee's Genealogy for Pheobe Torbett Atkins.
• Phoebe's FamilySearch profile ID is KFRJ-CVR.

Acknowledgments

• Profile Torbett-521 was created through the import of Family Nov 2011.GED on Sep 6, 2011 by Jim Tarbet.