James William Yawn (1877 - 1983)

Born 17 Mar 1877 in Hancock County, Mississippi, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 5 Feb 1983 at age 105 in Hattiesburg, Forrest, Mississippi, United States

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Will Yawn is buried in Blakley Cemetery.

Biography

James William Yawn was born on Mar 17, 1877 in Hancock County, Mississippi, USA or Collins, Covington, Mississippi, USA as the third child of James Gordon Yawn and Mary Evelina Jarrell.

He had eleven siblings, namely: Mary Malinda, Virginia Lourania, George Turner, Minnie Maude, Walter Bruce, Dora P., Louisa, Clara Mae, Monroe Newton, Allye Lee, and Gettie.

He died on Feb 5, 1983 in Hattiesburg, Forrest, Mississippi, USA (Happy Acres Nursing Home; Age at Death: 105). ^[1]

When he was 24, he married Charity McQueen, daughter of Bailey Andrew McQueen and Susan Acquilla Sellers, about 1902 (based upon 1910 census).

James William Yawn lived in Oakchay, Covington, Mississippi, USA in 1900 (Age: 20; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son).

He lived in Beat 4, Covington, Mississippi, USA in 1910 (Age: 30; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head).

He lived in Covington County, Mississippi, USA between 1917–1918.

He lived in Oakohay, Covington, Mississippi, USA in 1920 (Age: 39; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head).

He lived in Beat 2, Leake, Mississippi, USA in 1930 (Age: 50; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head).

He lived in Oakohay, Covington, Mississippi, USA in 1935. He lived in Oakohay, Covington, Mississippi, USA on Apr 01, 1940 (Age: 61; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Head). Race: (White)

He was buried in Covington County, Mississippi, USA (Blakely Cemetery). ^[2]

James William Yawn and Charity McQueen had the following children:

1. Clinton R. Yawn was born on Dec 15, 1902 in Mississippi, USA. He died on Apr 22, 1986 (Age at Death: 83).
2. Emel "M. L." Yawn was born on Jul 22, 1904 in Mississippi, USA. She died on Mar 16, 1980 (Age at Death: 75). She married Joseph Willis Bryant on May 16, 1919. After his death she married Harold Edwin Graham.
3. James Ernest Yawn was born on Nov 13, 1908 in Mississippi, USA. He died on Nov 05, 1977 in Jackson, Hinds, Mississippi, USA (University Hospital; Age at Death: 68).
4. Willie Leon Yawn was born on Nov 25, 1911 in Mississippi, USA. He died on Nov 23, 1963 in Covington County, Mississippi, USA (at home; Age at Death: 51).
5. Johnnie Landrum Yawn was born on Jun 20, 1917 in Mississippi, USA. He died on Jun 21, 1983 (Age at Death: 66). He married Annie Laura Langford on Nov 13, 1937 (date on headstone).

J. Will Yawn ^[3]

celebrates 95th birthday anniversary

J. Will Yawn of Collins was honored with a celebration of his 95th birthday anniversary on March 17 at the home of his son, Ernest Yawn.

Mr. Yawn, son of pioneer settlers James Gordon and Mary Evelina Jarrell Yawn of Covington County, was joined for the occasion by his children, great-grandchildren, sisters, a brother and friends.

Mr. Yawn was born in Hancock County and was married to the former Charity McQueen. He has 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He had three brothers and nine sisters, a brother and three sisters still are living.

Among those present at the celebration were:

Mrs. Emel Yawn Bryant Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Yawn, Ernest Yawn, Johnny Yawn, Mr. and Mrs. David Miller, David W. Miller and Bryant Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Joe H Bryant, Cindy Bryant and Lisa Bryant, Mr. and Mrs. John Blackwell, Johnny Blackwell, Grant Blackwell, Ronnie Blackwell and Nancy Blackwell, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Yawn, Keith Yawn and Stephen Yawn.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Owen, Lance Owen and Michelle Owen, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Sunderland, Miss Kim Yawn, Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Odom, Pam Odom and Baby Odom, Mr. and Mrs. Billy Bert Yawn and Scottie Yawn, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Yawn, Mrs. Dora Magee, Mr. and Mrs. Winton Herrington, Miss Marcia Herrington, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Walters, Mr. and Mrs. Buford Clark, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Fitts, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Norris, Mr. and Mrs. Garvis Ward, Mrs. Thelma Carroll, Mrs. Mellan Morgan and Mickey Morgan.

Ex-champ saw filer ^[4]

He's celebrating March 17 for the 104th time today

William Yawn will be celebrating the 17th of March for the 104th time today. It's his birthday and though there'll be a shamrock on his cake and bowls of green punch all that's purely incidental. Born at Collins, Mr. Yawn has worked in various phases of the timber industry most of his life.

He recalls winning the title of world champion saw filer, but not the year he won the title. He smiles and says, "It's not that I can't remember, it's just that there is so much to remember it takes me a long time. I got $100, a new saw and a set of tools. The contest was in Bogalusa...

"I never was in the army. They kept me out to judge timber. I'd go through and blaze the trees that would do for ship flooring. It had to be heart pine...

"I only got in trouble once, I just don't believe in fighting. See those two knuckles pushed down there? A man pulled a gun on me once and I cracked his jaw. He fell back and dropped his pistol. The sheriff came and tied his hands behind him. I never did like trouble...

"I always weighed about 185 pounds (Mr. Yawn is over 6 feet tall.) When I was young it was no trouble to get a job..."

"I'm a Baptist. ..I try to follow Jesus.. .I don't want him to say he don't want me. I live accordingly."

Mr. Yawn lives at the Happy Acres Nursing Home where he has been since Nov. 16, 1977. He is in remarkably good health. His worse ailment is being hard of hearing. According to the nursing staff, he is an avid reader. Mr. Yawn has two sons living in Hattiesburg.

J. Will Yawn ^[1]

COLLINS - Services were to be held at 2:30 today at Johns Funeral Home chapel for J. Will Yawn, 105, of Hattiesburg, who died Sunday at Happy Acres Nursing Home. The Rev. Gene Balding was to officiate. Interment was to be at Blakeley Creek Cemetery.

Survivors include two sons, Johnny Yawn of Petal and Clinton Yawn of Lumberton; 16 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

Research Notes

His birth date may not be accurate. Various dates found are as follows: Mar 17, 1881 (WWI), Mar 17, 1880 (SSDi), Feb 1983 (1900 census), 1880 (1910 & 1930 census),1881 (1920 census), 1879 (1940 census). Did not find in the 1880 census. Bishop-4082 23:46, 26 July 2019 (UTC)

His birth place may not be accurate. On his 95th birthday, newspaper reported he was born in Hancock County but on his 104th birthday, newspaper reported he was born in Collins. Bishop-4082 00:50, 27 July 2019 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Obituary for James William Yawn Clipped from Hattiesburg American, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 07 Feb 1983, Mon • Page 2
2. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100821913/james-william-yawn : accessed 07 March 2022), memorial page for James William “Will” Yawn (17 Mar 1877–5 Feb 1983), Find a Grave Memorial ID 100821913, citing Blakely Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Covington County, Mississippi, USA ; Maintained by Beverly Carlisle (contributor 47851358) .
3. ↑ 95th Birthday for James William Yawn Clipped from Hattiesburg American, 11 Apr 1972, Tue • Page 14
4. ↑ 104th Birthday for James William Yawn Clipped from Hattiesburg American, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 17 Mar 1981, Tue • Page 1

• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V3CR-V2F : 20 May 2014), James Yawn, Feb 1983; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYGH-KK5 : 14 March 2018), J W Yawn, Beat 5, Covington, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 16-14, sheet 9A, line 19, family 132, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2019.
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XM1F-66X : accessed 26 July 2019), James W Jaron, Beat 2, Leake, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 5, sheet 4B, line 84, family 83, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1154; FHL microfilm 2,340,889.
• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNR5-6CL : accessed 26 July 2019), J W Yacon, Oakohay, Covington, Mississippi, United States; citing ED 9, sheet 17B, line 51, family 312, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 872; FHL microfilm 1,820,872.
• "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3RQ-YFY : 13 March 2018), James William Yawn, 1917-1918; citing Covington County, Mississippi, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,682,919.
• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MP8H-S9D : accessed 26 July 2019), J W Yawn, Beat 4, Covington, Mississippi, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 7, sheet 22A, family 401, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 738; FHL microfilm 1,374,751.