Louvenia Mae (Sharplin) Blocker (1875 - 1956)

Born 5 Apr 1875 in Attala, Mississippi, United States

Ancestors

Wife of William Blocker — married 4 Jul 1914 in Carthage, Leake, Mississippi, United States

Descendants

Died 28 Mar 1956 at age 80 in Leake, Mississippi, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Erica Flake [send private message]

Biography

Venia (Sharplin) Blocker was born in Mississippi.

Early Life

Louvenia "Venie" Mae Sharplin was born to Bill Sharplin and Martha Kimbrough 5 April 1875 in Attala County, Mississippi.

Family

On 1 March 1895 she gave birth to her only daughter Lorada Mae (Bailey) Banks (1895-1983). Venie was unmarried and living at home with her parents at that time. The 1900 US Federal Census lists Vine Sharplin and Ada Sharplin as both children of William and Martha but Ada's death certificate lists Venie as her mother and Ed Bailey as her father. A marriage between Ed Bailey and Venie Sharplin has not been found. However, a marriage record for Vina Bailey and William Blocker (1866-bef.1950) in Leake County, MS was found dating 4 July 1914. Venie and Will Blocker never had any children.

Death & Legacy

Venie passed away in 28 March 1956 in Leake County, Mississippi and is buried at Good Hope Baptist Church Cemetery. Her grave did not have a headstone. Her grave has a small headstone that reads Bowser Johnston. Bowser was married to her daughter, Ada. Bowser died before Ada and they had single headstones placed for him but when Ada died, she wanted a double head stone. So the family bought a double head stone, and Ada's son said that her mother did not have a headstones at her grave so he took the small head stone from Bowser and placed it on her mothers grave, which was unmarked and right next to hers.^[1]

Timeline

*1880 Attala County, MS - The Sharplin family, residing in Mississippi, is comprised of William and Martha Sharplin and their two children, Vance and Venie. Both William and Martha are 28 years old, born around 1852. They are of white race and are married. William, the head of the household, works as a laborer, while Martha works in the field.

Their son, Vance, is 5 years old, and their daughter, Venie, is 3 years old. Both children are also of white race and were born in Mississippi. Vance is not currently attending school. Venie is noted as being the only one in the family unable to read and write. The entire family, including their parents, were born in Mississippi.^[2]

*1900 Attala County, MS - Based on information from the 1900 United States Federal Census Venie Sharplin, a 23-year-old white female, was born in April 1877 in Mississippi, USA. In 1900, she resided in Kosciusko, Attala, Mississippi, living with her family in a rented house. Venie's father, William H Sharplin, aged 56, was the head of the household, and her mother, Martha A Sharplin, aged 50, was his wife. Venie had four siblings: Mary, aged 21, George, aged 15, Emmett, aged 14, and Ada, aged 7. (Note Ada is listed as her sister but was really her daughter. This has been proven via later documents and DNA.) Venie worked as a farm laborer, but she had been unemployed for two months at the time of the census. She possessed the ability to read, write, and speak English. Venie's family, consisting of seven members, lived in dwelling number 503, which was the 520th family visited by the census taker.

Although the data provides limited information, it offers a glimpse into Venie Sharplin's life as a young woman living in rural Mississippi at the turn of the 20th century.^[3]

*1910 Attala County, MS - Based on information from the 1910 United States Federal Census Venie M Sharplin, a 26-year-old white female, was born in Mississippi in 1884. In 1910, she resided in Beat 4, Attala, Mississippi, USA, as the daughter of William and Martha Sharplin. Venie worked as a farm laborer on a home farm, earning wages. She was able to read and write in English. Venie's family consisted of six members, including her parents, two sisters, Mary D and Ada (Although Ada was actually her daughter.), and a young nephew named James Rutherford.

It is worth noting that Vena was out of work during the enumeration period, which spanned ten weeks.^[4]

*1920 Leake County, Mississippi - Based on information from the 1920 United States Federal Census Venie Blocker, a 39-year-old white female, was born around 1881 in Mississippi. In 1920, she resided in Good Hope, Leake, Mississippi, along with her husband, W B Blocker. Venie was the wife of the head of the household, and both her father and mother were also born in Mississippi. She was able to speak, read, and write in English. Despite not having an occupation listed, Venie's ability to read and write suggests a level of education. The household consisted of three members, including Venie, her husband, and her father-in-law, W E Blocker, who was 76 years old.

The narrative provides a glimpse into Venie's life, highlighting her role as a wife and her literacy skills, while also mentioning the presence of her elderly father-in-law in the household.^[5]

*1930 Lena, Leake County, MS - Based on information from the 1930 United States Federal Census Venie Blocker, a white female born around 1880 in Mississippi, was 50 years old in 1930. She was married to William B Blocker, who was 13 years older than her. Venie was a homemaker and lived with her husband in Beat 4, Leake, Mississippi, USA. Their home was located on Lena - Tuscola street, in dwelling number 83.

Venie got married at the age of 25 and did not attend school. However, she was able to read and write, indicating a level of education. Both her father and mother were also born in Mississippi, and Venie was able to speak English fluently. In terms of occupation, Venie's husband, William, worked as a farmer. The household consisted of only two members, suggesting a small family size. Unfortunately, no further information is available about Venie's life or her relationship with her neighbors.^[6]

*1940 - Leake County, MS - Based on information from the 1940 United States Federal Census In the small rural town of Leake, Mississippi, in the year 1940, we find Venie Blocker, a 68-year-old married woman. Venie, a white female, was born around 1872 in Mississippi. She resides with her husband, Will Blocker, who is also listed as a pauper and is 70 years old.

Their household consists of nine individuals, including Guy McGivney, the head of the household, who is 52 years old. Ed Holma, Vallie Gill, and Pleas Radgoby are also listed as paupers in the household, all around the age of 50. Mary McGivney, the wife of Guy, is 48 years old.

Interestingly, Venie and Will Blocker are the only paupers listed as heads of the household, suggesting that they may be the primary recipients of public assistance. It is unclear what circumstances led to their pauper status, but it is notable that they reside in a rural area and were also residents on a farm in 1935.

Venie's educational background is limited, with the data indicating that she completed only elementary school up to the 5th grade. This detail provides insight into the educational opportunities available during her time.

While the data does not provide further information about Venie's life, personality, or motives, it paints a picture of a woman in her late 60s, living in a rural area, and facing financial challenges. The presence of other paupers in the household suggests a community of individuals experiencing similar circumstances.^[7]

*1950 Leake County, MS - Based on information from the 1950 United States Federal Census Venia Blocker, a 77-year-old widowed woman, was born around 1873 in Mississippi. She resided in Leake, Mississippi in 1950, specifically on Good Hope & Tuscola Road. Venia lived on a farm, indicating a rural lifestyle. The fact that she had acres suggests that she owned or worked on a sizable piece of land. Venia's occupation category was listed as "Unable to Work," implying that she may have been retired or faced physical limitations.

Venia was the mother of the head of the household, Ada Mae Johnston, who was 52 years old. Ada Mae's son, Leonard F Johnston, aged 18, and daughter, Erma Dean Johnston, aged 14, also lived in the household. The presence of multiple generations in the household suggests a close-knit family unit, with Venia playing the role of the matriarch.

Overall, Venia Blocker's life was centered around her family and her rural home in Leake, Mississippi. Despite her age and inability to work, she remained an integral part of her household, providing support and guidance to her daughter and grandchildren.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Personal knowledge from Erica Horn Flake, Venie's 3rd Great Grand-daughter.
2. ↑ Year: 1880; Census Place: Newport, Attala, Mississippi; Roll: 641; Page: 126c; Enumeration District: 017. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site. Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
3. ↑ Year: 1900; Census Place: Kosciusko, Attala, Mississippi; Roll: 800; Page: 24; Enumeration District: 0001. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.
4. ↑ Year: 1910; Census Place: Beat 4, Attala, Mississippi; Roll: T624_732; Page: 19b; Enumeration District: 0010; FHL microfilm: 1374745. Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA.
5. ↑ Year: 1920; Census Place: Good Hope, Leake, Mississippi; Roll: T625_884; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 72. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA. Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 are on roll 323 (Chicago City).
6. ↑ Year: 1930; Census Place: Beat 4, Leake, Mississippi; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0008; FHL microfilm: 2340889. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.
7. ↑ Year: 1940; Census Place: Leake, Mississippi; Roll: m-t0627-02041; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 40-4. Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.
8. ↑ National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Leake, Mississippi; Roll: 3612; Page: 13; Enumeration District: 40-22. Ancestry.com. 1950 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022. Original data: Department of Commerce. Bureau of the Census. 1913-1/1/1972. Population Schedules for the 1950 Census, 1950 - 1950. Washington, DC: National Archives at Washington, DC. Population Schedules for the 1950 Census, 1950 - 1950. NAID: 43290879. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, Record Group 29. National Archives at Washington, DC., Washington, DC.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/250835516/louvenia-mae-blocker: accessed 29 January 2024), memorial page for Louvenia Mae “Venia” Sharplin Blocker (5 Apr 1875–28 Mar 1956), Find a Grave Memorial ID 250835516, citing Good Hope Cemetery, Good Hope, Leake County, Mississippi, USA; Maintained by Erica Flake (contributor 48674301).

• "Mississippi, County Marriages, 1858-1979", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DM43-CY6Z : Tue Oct 24 00:13:50 UTC 2023), Entry for W B Blocker and Vena Baley, 4 Jul 1914.

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/LYSB-2T4

Name: Lovinia Sharplin • Event Type: School enrollment Event Date: 1885 • Event Place: Attala, Mississippi, United States • Sex: Female Age: 10 Birth Year (Estimated): 1875 Parent Name: William Sharplin

• National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Leake, Mississippi; Roll: 3612; Page: 13; Enumeration District: 40-22

• Year: 1940; Census Place: Leake, Mississippi; Roll: m-t0627-02041; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 40-4

• Year: 1930; Census Place: Beat 4, Leake, Mississippi; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0008; FHL microfilm: 2340889

"United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XM1N-3PN : Thu Oct 05 10:09:52 UTC 2023), Entry for William B Blocker and Venia Blocker, 1930.

• Year: 1920; Census Place: Good Hope, Leake, Mississippi; Roll: T625_884; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 72

"United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M43X-K8L : Fri Dec 08 01:26:31 UTC 2023), Entry for W B Blocker and Dena Blocker, 1920.

• Year: 1910; Census Place: Beat 4, Attala, Mississippi; Roll: T624_732; Page: 19b; Enumeration District: 0010; FHL microfilm: 1374745

"United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPZY-WG3 : Wed Oct 04 21:10:41 UTC 2023), Entry for William Sharpling and Martha Sharpling, 1910.

• Year: 1900; Census Place: Kosciusko, Attala, Mississippi; Roll: 800; Page: 24; Enumeration District: 0001

"United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9XZ-BW2 : Fri Oct 06 13:13:25 UTC 2023), Entry for William H Sharplin and Martha A Sharplin, 1900.

• "United States Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4L1-DTS : Tue Oct 03 16:50:33 UTC 2023), Entry for William Sharlan and Martha Sharlan, 1880.

• "Mississippi Enumeration of Educable Children, 1850-1892; 1908-1957", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK6W-JPHW : Sun Dec 17 04:15:14 UTC 2023), Entry for Lovinia Sharplin and William Sharplin, 1885.