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To the Honor and Memory of Thurman Burleson

Every family has pioneers, and in the area of Family Genealogy, I believed that everyone would agree that Thurman is that man. I believe that he knew the importance of keeping the family together. He worked very hard to continue the family traditions that were started by Isaac and continued by Hurley.

 To the Honor and Memory of Thurman Burleson

When I began the search into my family history, everyone suggested I contact Thurman Burleson. I was finally able to locate him, only to learn he had recently passed away. As I researched the Burleson Family, again and again I found information that had been gathered and recorded by Thurman. From information he had placed in the Vertical File of the Genealogy Room, at the Stanly County Library, I first learned of the Burleson Family Association. Thurman had attended every BFA Meeting and had been a strong supporter of the organization. He had frequently visited and recorded tombstone information from cemeteries in the area. It was through Thurman’s research that P.K. Burleson first learned the location of Isaac Sr.’s grave. For his vast research and contribution, the Burleson Family Research Group would like to dedicate our first newsletter to the Honor and Memory of Thurman Burleson. By

J.D. Burleson


Ronnie Remembers

“Pa and Ma”

Thurman had many fond memories and told many stories of “Pa” and “Ma” (Hurley and Lillie). I was too young and uninterested at the time to remember many details. I do know that they enjoyed family and community get-togethers, particularly special occasions.

Thurman also continued to celebrate in traditional fashion, especially on Christmas and Easter family gatherings with as many as could come, and all were expected to come. He was instrumental in getting the Hurley Burleson reunion tradition started. He felt strongly that family was important and supportive as well as celebrating and commemorating our ancestors. As with gatherings at “Pa’s,” there were always gatherings at Thurman and Mary Jewel’s. Mary Jewel, being an excellent cook, always had plenty of food for whatever the occasion, whether it was a supper for ten to twenty close friends or the “happened to come by” around lunchtime by the county extension agent, pastor, or local farm supply salesman. Thurman liked his desserts so there was always pie, cake, or persimmon pudding as well as homemade biscuits for the molasses or honey. One traditional food for Easter was roe (female) shad – something Hurley always did. Seining and fish fries always took place during the summer.

Like Hurley, Thurman loved, not only celebrating family and tradition, but he also looked forward to change. Growing up on the farm and observing Hurley’s leadership and farming skills, Thurman also wanted to farm like some of Hurley’s other children. Thurman worked for several years as an electrician and farmed at the same time. After having traded farms among family members and buying other farms in the Burleson Road community, Thurman bought a larger farm on Kendalls Church Road in 1947 and moved away from the home place. Thurman’s business skills and strong work ethic ensured the farm’s prosperity. He was known as a progressive farmer, staying on the cutting edge of new technology and leading the farm community into the future. He helped his sons, Ronnie and Dennis, become farming partners, and they, in turn, helped their sons, Andrew and Aaron, become part of the family business known as Thurman Burleson and Sons Farm, one of the largest farms in Stanly County. Thurman was the only farmer in the community to own a hay baler, the first to have a four row planter, and the first to buy a self-propelled combine. Thurman encouraged his family to explore and try new things. This led the partnership to venture into growing cotton again in 1991 after the boll weevil forced him to quit growing cotton in 1948. This new venture proved to be a good decision for the farm, and Thurman was proud to see progressive farming continue. He died after that year’s harvest. Thurman’s encouragement and leadership as well as his example led us to build a family owned cotton gin.

I am proud to call myself a Burleson. We can all see family traits passed down through the generations as the family continues to celebrate traditions. I now wish I had paid more attention to the stories being told in the past so that I could better understand our ancestors. We should all be proud of our faith, commitment, resemblances, forethought, leadership, strong personalities, and sometimes even our bullheadedness. I am sure that even back in the Revolutionary War these and other traits were in Burlesons.

Ronnie T. Burleson


 


 

 

 

Thurman is also a
World War II Veteran

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 


Thurman’s Mother
Connie Tebe Burleson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Lena Burleson told us several stories about the cemetery and surrounding area. She pointed out the headstone for “C. Tebe Burleson”. Lena said this was a terrible loss. Tebe had one child named Thurman, BFA #261. Her husband, Brady N. Burleson, was in the service when shewas expecting her second child. Her doctors assured her it would be safe to have the baby at home. After 30 hours of labor they realized there were complications but it was too late. Both Tebe and the baby died.They are buried together in the same grave, Burleson Cemetery #1. Thurman was raised by Hurley, as his own, and he was always considered as a brother to all of Hurley’s children.

 


Ancestors of WILLIAM THURMAN BURLESON


Descendants of WILLIAM THURMAN BURLESON

1. WILLIAM THURMAN5 BURLESON (BRADY NASH4, JONAH CURDY3, ANDERSON2 LAMBERT, JOHN1) was born April 19, 1918 in NORFOLK, VA, and died December 24, 1991 in NEW MT TABOR METH CH CEMETERY. He married MARY JEWEL HARWARD July 1, 1939 in HOME OFF ST MARTIN’S CH RD ALBEMARLE NC, daughter of CHARLEY HARWARD and CARRIE EFIRD. She was born April 14, 1917 in STANLY CO NC, and died August 18, 1994 in NEW MT TABOR METH CH CEMETERY. Notes for WILLIAM THURMAN BURLESON:

A tribute to Thurman Burleson is on page 11 of the Recollections.

Children of WILLIAM BURLESON and MARY HARWARD are:

2. i. LORETTA JEAN6 BURLESON, b. October 19, 1942, NORFOLK, VA.

3. ii. RONALD “RONNIE” THURMAN BURLESON, b. September 6, 1949, STANLY CO NC.

4. iii. DENNIS EARL BURLESON, b. November 6, 1952, STANLY CO NC.

Generation No. 2

2. LORETTA JEAN6 BURLESON (WILLIAM THURMAN5, BRADY NASH4, JONAH CURDY3 , ANDERSON2 LAMBERT, JOHN1) was born October 19, 1942 in NORFOLK, VA. She married (1) DENNY DAN MORGAN February 3, 1962 in COKESBURY METH CH CHARLOTTE, NC, son of JUDGE MORGAN and MENTY LITTLE. He was born December 10, 1939 in STANLY CO NC. She married (2) JAMES SHERIDAN MILLSPAUGH December 7, 2002 in KENDALLS BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW LONDON, NC. He was born September 13, 1939 in ASHLEY, ILL.

Children of LORETTA BURLESON and DENNY MORGAN are:

i. TODD DARRYL7 MORGAN, b. March 26, 1963, STANLY CO NC; m. JEANNIE MARIE MORTON, December 31, 1995, BETHANY METH CH ALBEMARLE NC; b. January 18, 1957, CHARLOTTE NC.

5.   ii. WESLEY ALLEN MORGAN, b. May 7, 1968, STANLY CO, NC.

3. RONALD “RONNIE” THURMAN6 BURLESON (WILLIAM THURMAN5, BRADY NASH4, JONAH CURDY3, ANDERSON2 LAMBERT, JOHN1) was born September 6, 1949 in STANLY CO NC. He married TERRY JO HUNSUCKER December 27, 1970 in PFEIFFER CHAPEL, MISENHEIMER, NC. She was born February 27, 1949 in STANLY CO NC.

Children of RONALD BURLESON and TERRY HUNSUCKER are:

i. ASHLEY DAWN7 BURLESON, b. May 21, 1976, STANLY CO NC.

6.   ii. ANDREW WILLIAM BURLESON, b. December 22, 1977, STANLY CO NC.

4. DENNIS EARL6 BURLESON (WILLIAM THURMAN5, BRADY NASH4, JONAH CURDY3 , ANDERSON2 LAMBERT, JOHN1) was born November 6, 1952 in STANLY CO NC. He married MELINDA KAYE LOWDER July 17, 1976, daughter of DAVID LOWDER and BETTY COBLE. She was born November 23, 1955 in STANLY CO NC.

Children of DENNIS BURLESON and MELINDA LOWDER are:

i. MEREDITH LEA7 BURLESON, b. July 23, 1979, STANLY CO NC.

ii. AARON LAWRENCE BURLESON, b. April 9, 1981, STANLY CO NC.

iii. JASON WHITNEY BURLESON, b. April 23, 1986, STANLY CO NC.

Generation No. 3

5. WESLEY ALLEN7 MORGAN (LORETTA JEAN6 BURLESON, WILLIAM THURMAN5, BRADY NASH4, JONAH CURDY3, ANDERSON2 LAMBERT, JOHN1) was born May 7, 1968 in STANLY CO, NC. He married KIMBERLY LYNN “MISSY” ARBO October 22, 1994 in NORWOOD METH CH, NORWOOD, NC. She was born July 8, 1969 in STANLY CO, NC.

Children of WESLEY MORGAN and KIMBERLY ARBO are:

i. JONAH ALLEN8 MORGAN, b. September 2, 1998, STANLY CO NC.

ii. ANNA ELIZABETH MORGAN, b. May 8, 2001, STANLY CO NC.

6. ANDREW WILLIAM7 BURLESON (RONALD “RONNIE” THURMAN6, WILLIAM THURMAN5 , BRADY NASH4, JONAH CURDY3, ANDERSON2 LAMBERT, JOHN1) was born December 22, 1977 in STANLY CO NC. He married ASHLEY HALVORSON March 18, 2000 in Pfeiffer Chapel, Misenheimer, NC, daughter of JOHN HALVORSON and TAMARA. She was born October 11, 1977.

Child of ANDREW BURLESON and ASHLEY HALVORSON is:

i. GEORGIA KATHERINE8 BURLESON, b. December 16, 2003.


Descendants of LORETTA JEAN BURLESON

 1. LORETTA JEAN6 BURLESON (WILLIAM THURMAN5, BRADY NASH4, JONAH CURDY3 , ANDERSON2 LAMBERT, JOHN1) was born October 19, 1942 in NORFOLK, VA. She married (1) DENNY DAN MORGAN February 3, 1962 in COKESBURY METH CH CHARLOTTE, NC, son of JUDGE MORGAN and MENTY LITTLE. He was born December 10, 1939 in STANLY CO NC. She married (2) JAMES SHERIDAN MILLSPAUGH December 7, 2002 in KENDALLS BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW LONDON, NC. He was born September 13, 1939 in ASHLEY, ILL.

Children of LORETTA BURLESON and DENNY MORGAN are:

i. TODD DARRYL7 MORGAN, b. March 26, 1963, STANLY CO NC; m. JEANNIE MARIE MORTON, December 31, 1995, BETHANY METH CH ALBEMARLE NC; b. January 18, 1957, CHARLOTTE NC.

2.     ii. WESLEY ALLEN MORGAN, b. May 7, 1968, STANLY CO, NC.

Generation No. 2

2. WESLEY ALLEN7 MORGAN (LORETTA JEAN6 BURLESON, WILLIAM THURMAN5, BRADY NASH4, JONAH CURDY3, ANDERSON2 LAMBERT, JOHN1) was born May 7, 1968 in STANLY CO, NC. He married KIMBERLY LYNN “MISSY” ARBO October 22, 1994 in NORWOOD METH CH, NORWOOD, NC. She was born July 8, 1969 in STANLY CO, NC.

 

Children of WESLEY MORGAN and KIMBERLY ARBO are:

i. JONAH ALLEN8 MORGAN, b. September 2, 1998, STANLY CO NC.

ii. ANNA ELIZABETH MORGAN, b. May 8, 2001, STANLY CO NC.



Descendants of RONALD “RONNIE” THURMAN BURLESON

1. RONALD “RONNIE” THURMAN6 BURLESON (WILLIAM THURMAN5, BRADY NASH4, JONAH CURDY3, ANDERSON2 LAMBERT, JOHN1) was born September 6, 1949 in STANLY CO NC. He married TERRY JO HUNSUCKER December 27, 1970 in PFEIFFER CHAPEL, MISENHEIMER, NC. She was born February 27, 1949 in STANLY CO NC.

Children of RONALD BURLESON and TERRY HUNSUCKER are:

i. ASHLEY DAWN7 BURLESON, b. May 21, 1976, STANLY CO NC.

2.    ii. ANDREW WILLIAM BURLESON, b. December 22, 1977, STANLY CO NC.

Generation No. 2

 2. ANDREW WILLIAM7 BURLESON (RONALD “RONNIE” THURMAN6, WILLIAM THURMAN5, BRADY NASH4, JONAH CURDY3, ANDERSON2 LAMBERT, JOHN1) was born December 22, 1977 in STANLY CO NC. He married ASHLEY HALVORSON March 18, 2000 in Pfeiffer Chapel, Misenheimer, NC, daughter of JOHN HALVORSON and TAMARA. She was born October 11, 1977.

Child of ANDREW BURLESON and ASHLEY HALVORSON is:

i. GEORGIA KATHERINE8 BURLESON, b. December 16, 2003.





Descendants of DENNIS EARL BURLESON

Generation No. 1

1. DENNIS EARL6 BURLESON (WILLIAM THURMAN5, BRADY NASH4, JONAH CURDY3 , ANDERSON2 LAMBERT, JOHN1) was born November 6, 1952 in STANLY CO NC. He married MELINDA KAYE LOWDER July 17, 1976, daughter of DAVID LOWDER and BETTY COBLE. She was born November 23, 1955 in STANLY CO NC.

Children of DENNIS BURLESON and MELINDA LOWDER are:

i. MEREDITH LEA7 BURLESON, b. July 23, 1979, STANLY CO NC.

ii. AARON LAWRENCE BURLESON, b. April 9, 1981, STANLY CO NC.

iii. JASON WHITNEY BURLESON, b. April 23, 1986, STANLY CO NC.