Jerry and Linda Butler

The Lancaster Descendants, Patricia Ann Maners, July 4, 1991

Julia remembers

Remembering Papa and Mama Lancaster

Robert Lee Lancaster and Adeline McClure were married on December 30, 1888, in the presence of T. A. Lancaster and Arbie Brawley by J. L. Jones, at D. J. McClure's. Seven children were born to this union: Curry Herbert, Beulah May, Benjamin Dempsie, and Grady Leonard Lancaster at Dunbar in Decatur County; Euda Jeler and Jessie Thelma Lancaster at Sardis in Henderson County; and Julia Edna Graper Lancaster at Bath Springs in Decatur County, Tennessee.

Someone has said there is no such thing as "The Perfect Home". However, my parents tried to set a standard of values centered in love. They were members of the Church of Christ and placed Christ at the center of their lives. They experienced great tragedies and much sorrow, but their deep faith sustained them during trying times.

My Mother was never too tired to answer a call to help the sick in the community, sometimes staying with them throughout the night. Politically, my Mother was a Republican and my Father a Democrat.

Papa was a farmer who, for many years, also served as a notary public. He had a grocery store and also peddled groceries throughout the community. Susie McClure wanted some vanilla extract, but Papa didn't have any. He knew it as vanilla flavoring and actually had several bottles with him.

It was mouth watering to see a whole barrel of apples and a showcase filled with candy and other goodies. One day Grady filled his cap with candy and when he put on his cap all of the candy fell to the floor. My Father didn't have the heart to spank him.

He was an expert at making sorghum for our consumption as well as for others. My Mother would pack a good lunch for him, but when the people invited him to have dinner, a big meal then, he would accept and eat his lunch later.

They raised sheep on the farm and, on many cold nights, bottle fed newly born lambs before the fireplace. Some became pets but later on, unfortunately butted people. When grown, the sheep were sheared, the wool washed and carded, and then Mother would spin the material into yarn on a spinning wheel.

My Mother had superior skills and created artistic designs. She designed and created a beautiful wool dress in the natural color. Later, she dyed it a beautiful shade of red. She made her own dyes. She also created a lovely Afghan using bright colors. She spent long evenings knitting gloves, mittens and sweaters, and sewing.

Planting a variety of vegetables, cultivating and later gathering her produce was a source of great satisfaction for her. She always wanted relatives and friends to see her garden. She canned and dried fruit and made hoop cheese.

She needed an abundance of food because my parents extended a warm welcome to all visitors; they were numerous. To this day her loved ones still remember her strawberry shortcake and fluffy homemade rolls. She was a marvelous cook. Grandfather McClure would stay at our home a month at a time after Grandmother died. He was highly respected.

When I was on a train to Nashville to attend George Peabody College, these words of wisdom from Mama echoed through my mind, "I have done everything within my power to instill character in you. You will be on your own now and I trust that you will never go astray."

My parents left us a great legacy. May we continue striving to uphold the principles and values they respected.

Julia Edna Graper Lancaster Stephens

John and Julia Stephens
This is your life

Once upon a time --- in Decatur County, TN, a little girl named Julia was born to very loving parents. This was a big event in the lives of Robert L. and Addie McClure Lancaster, as well as three brothers, Curry, Grady, and Ben, also three sisters, Euda, Beulah and Thelma.

This little girl had a great love for life and living every day to the fullest, as she proved time and again with her school friends as they played tricks on their teachers, such as eating home ec. cookies when they weren't supposed to, eating pickles from a barrel early in the morning, riding at breakneck speed on a horse through the city of Decaturville.

After attending schools in Decatur Co. it was time to spread her wings and fly. She could do this with the greatest of confidence after being taught by the best, her Mother, whose wise advise she carried with her and lived with and does until this day.

After attending Tolers Business College in Paris, TN it was on to George Peabody College in Nashville where she was greeted with open arms by fellow students, and more "fun things" that are such a part of school days, the things our fond memories are made of.

She was later employed by TN. Dept. of Ed. For two years in Nashville and late moved to Knoxville to work in State Dept. of Vocational Rehabilitation. The office was located on Univ. of TN campus. The rest-as the old saying goes-is history in the making. This is where her "Prince Charming" appeared on the scene.

John F. Stephens, whose parents were: Emma A. Laporte Firth and John Tupman Stephens. John and his sister Frances were born in Covington, KY. His Mother was a musician, his father worked with Nashville and Louisville R. R. Co.

They moved to Knoxville when John was ten years old. He attended grade schools in Covington, KY and Knoxville, TN followed by high school and Univ. of TN in Knoxville.

His university degree is Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He first worked as a salesman for Warren Candies in Knoxville. About a year after graduation from university, John met Julia on campus, where she was employed. The "never ending joy" began (John's own words). After a short exciting dating period she accepted his proposal, after three and one half years engagement they were married in Elizabethtown, TN where John was employed by American Bemberg Corp. Rev. Jesse Benton, Methodist Minister performed the ceremony on December 24, 1939. The bride was beautiful in a teal blue suit with matching accessories and corsage. Their honeymoon weekend was spent at the John Sevier Hotel in Johnson City, TN.

They were off on the first part of their fabulous journey through life together, where they have traveled to many places and have seen many extraordinary things.

In 1942 they moved to Cleveland, TN where John was employed in the first of two successive World War II jobs. In 1944 they moved to Oak Ridge where he received an Army-Navy award. He attained a civil service job and moved to Detroit, MI in 1949. His principal career role with the General Motors Corp. followed in 1951. This work involved much travel and Julia was included in many preferred trips, such as world fairs and expos, Chicago, New York, Montreal and Knoxville.

From the beginning of their life together they were both involved in civic activities as well as church related ones. They served as scout leaders, mission activities that they supported in their church, volunteer work at the children's hospital of Michigan, administrative board of the Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Detroit where they attended. Julia was awarded life membership in the Society of Christian Service in Oak Ridge in 1949, many other activities too numerous to mention.
John retired from General Motors on December 31, 1975. They continued to live in Detroit for eight more years where they enjoyed their retirement by staying involved in their church, neighbors, friends, and hobbies, which include flower arranging, bridge, travel, reading, hiking and napping.

For all their blessings along the way, they give credit first of all to God and to their wonderful parents, teachers, relatives, friends, for their love, inspiration and encouragement along the way. They moved back to Nashville in 1983 where they have continued their activities to a great extent. They transferred their membership from Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Detroit to West End United Methodist Church in Nashville March 24, 1985.

It's impossible to put fifty years of love and marriage on a few pages of paper, for this has been and still is two very busy people. There are no "couch potatoes" at 4001 Anderson Road in Nashville, TN.

This was written in honor of their fiftieth wedding anniversary, which was celebrated December 1989 at the old home place of Uncle Ed and Aunt Flora Lancaster at Bath Springs, TN which was fitting for the occasion since so many of Julia's earlier memories were there. The dark wintry day was blessed with beautiful sunshine as if the whole world was smiling on this couple who have so much love in their heart for everyone and promised before God fifty years before to stay together and have kept their promise.

Written by Earline Thompson Lancaster

A tribute to my parents, sisters and brothers

Being the last living member of my family, it is an honor and privilege to pay tribute to my parents, brothers and sisters. I am the last of seven children.

My parents were strict disciplinarians, yet, kind, loving and always interested in our well being. In my estimation my Mother was saintly. My Father loved her dearly and after her death, nothing was ever the same without her. She wanted so much to live to take care of him.

Curry as a young child had to stand on a box to help Mama wash the dishes. Later in life he was fortunate to find Betty as his help mate. He stressed the importance of my getting a good education. I stayed with them when I was in the seventh and eighth grade at Freed Hardeman College in Henderson, Tennessee. His second wife, Ann, made a good wife and they had two sons, Bob and David. When he was suffering from a brain tumor unable to talk, he pointed toward Detroit and managed to call my name.

Beulah went to school in Sardis along with Aunt Kitty but got home sick and never returned. Everyone loved her. She was a Florence Night-in-gale, always giving a helping hand to others. Thelma and Ben could not have made it without her love and devotion. Neither could my parents. As I flew to Detroit, I prayed that God would be with us until I reached the hospital in Lexington. She died peacefully that night. I was on one side of her bed; Kathleen was on the other.

Ben, too, was outgoing, tender hearted and willing to assist others. At my early age the thrill of a life time was when I could ride in a buggy. On one of Ben's jaunts to Saltillo, he took me along to buy a puppy. En route, he asked which I would rather have - "candy or the puppy". I said "candy". Of course, I got both. He enjoyed sharing that story with others. After my serious illness, he remarked "Julia, I am glad that you never had to work hard
" His untimely death was shocking and a great loss to his good wife, Jessie, and his eight lovely children, also our family.

Grady was gentle and kind. He, along with others, would let me ride the horses to the watering hole. He was careful to see that I did not fall off over the horses' heads into the water. He took me with him in the buggy one time when he was courting Mayme. I went with them when they moved into their home where Mayme still resides. Mama said Grady would always stay with others (visitors) until they left. He, too, helped others - especially Mama and Papa. His death was a great loss to all of us.

Euda was sweet and had a smile for everyone. My style was a bit cramped when I was in her presence. We both attended school at Red Walnut. Classes were held in different areas of the building. Her husband, Oscar, provided well for the family. They visited my parents often. I recall staying over night with them. Some of the little children thought it had snowed after Euda had shaken the flour bag over the ground.

I was attending school in Paris, Tennessee when I received word of her untimely death. This experience was very unsettling. First time, I had experienced death in our family. Our circle was broken. It was such a sad funeral. She had to leave her husband and five wonderful children.

Thelma was closer to my age. We loved each other, as, of course, I loved all of my brothers and sisters. Our childhood was happy, filled with fun, and , yes some home responsibilities. Being the youngest, I got the hand-me-downs, but Beulah, bless her, bought me a beautiful brown straw hat in Clifton. Thelma, Ben, Creed, Nancy, and Frances visited my Mother and Father often. Her long illness grieved all of us and we wondered why she had to suffer. She loved her church and worked diligently to promote the work of Christ. Her untimely death left a great void in our lives. It was so difficult for her to leave Ben and their three precious children.

I gratefully appreciate the love, encouragement given me by my family.

Julia Lancaster Stephens