Person Page 2,369

Curtis Leroy Dobbs, Sr.

Parents

Father	Rev Lemuel Leroy Dobbs (b. 11 June 1855, d. 6 February 1915)
Mother	Antoinette ("Annie") Boyer (b. 9 September 1859, d. 31 July 1928)

Children with Glennie Mae Britton (b. 28 February 1896, d. 6 July 1986)

Daughter	Margaret Elise Dobbs+ (b. 26 September 1914, d. 18 November 1991)
Daughter	Dorothy Elaine Dobbs (b. 9 October 1917, d. 25 July 2017)
Daughter	Catherine Britton Dobbs (b. 30 September 1920, d. 3 March 2011)
Son	Curtis Leroy Dobbs, Jr.+ (b. 2 March 1923, d. 11 December 1999)

Person Exhibits

Dobbs Sr Back Row Left

Biography

DNA Verified		2 DNA matches through Curtis Leroy Dobbs, Sr.,
Anecdote		Letter from Dorothy Dobbs Head Curtis Leroy Dobbs Sr. was born in Coosa County, Alabama, on February 4, 1889, the son of Rev. Lemuel Leroy and Annie Boyer Dobbs, but spent his early childhood in Louisiana. His oldest brother, Rev, Oliver C. Dobbs, felt the family would have better opportunities there. The women, babies and young children rode In covered wagons, but Curtis was allowed to travel with the older males on a wagon with the tail gate down., On one occasion traveling down a country road, they dropped corn on the ground as they passed a farmer's house,Chickens followed! That evening chicken was enjoyed for supper. At least one of the young men on the wagon wasn't the Preacher's son. I'm told that a brother-in-law of one child was a very mischievous lad, to the amusement of others, In Louisiana my Daddy, Curtis, often accompanied his Father wherever he preached playing the old fashioned pump organ. (As children, we enjoyed seeing Daddy play the piano too! He played chords for any tune by ear, usually using only his little finger and his thumb. He also played tunes on the violin, one of his favorites being something about "Hang up your shovel and your hoe;pick up your fiddle and your bow ... ") Besides the revivals and other services Daddy attended, he sometimes accompanied his Father to homes of the deceased, assisting him in bathing and preparing the bodies for burial, as was the custom at that time. My Daddy and a friend attended a college in Louisiana. The couple with whom they boarded UNDERFED them. Eventually, they learned the man was returning to the kitchen after the boys were in bed, eating additional food. Soon it became necessary for them to discontinue school. When Daddy's parents moved their family to Phenix City,Alabama, in 1911, by train, someone entered the freight car one night, stealing most of the meat that had been butchered in preparation for traveling. Daddy, and his brother, Ervin, the 6th and 7th children of 10 (one died in infancy.), boarded at the First Baptist Church Parsonage, on Church Street, with their Brother, Rev. Oliver C. Dobbs, and his wife, Mamie. Oliver was the church's pastor for four years. During this time, Daddy graduated from Massey Business College, in Columbus, Georgia. Uncle Oliver, the 3rd child, always tried to help the others. Lulu, the 5th child, lost her husband before the birth of their 4th child. After a second marriage, she had five other children. Other children in Daddy's family were William Farmer (Buddy), Carrie Funderburk (who also had 9 children), Sammie A., Thomas Henry and Elzie S During the terrible flu epidemic, about 1917-1920, Daddy lost a niece only 26 years old. (Martha Annie on 3 Feb 1919) Daily, after work,he'd drive to Crawford, Alabama, to help nurse and doctor the Funderburks. After other deaths, Daddy was instrumental in getting them moved to town. The day after they moved, his brother-in-law, T. D.Funderburk, died. My parents were married on October 31, 1912, at the First Baptist Church parsonage, by Uncle Oliver, Daddy had been working for the A. L. Leonard Furniture Company in Columbus, Georgia, until he planned to marry Glennie Mae Britton. His employer said, "I know Tut Britton too well to know that you won't work for anybody but him, and I'm not going to train you to work for somebody else," Daddy planned to be independent, but when Mama (Britton) made a sixth visit to my parents', Daddy was persuaded to work for Papa(T. W, Britton) who had a furniture store. He later had one in Columbus too,as well as Funeral Homes in both there and Phenix City, Alabama. Daddy joined the Britton Firm as an associate in 1916, in afew years becoming General Manager. (Mother's Brother, Walter, had soon left his Father's business, and bought a hardware store.) Margaret Elise was my parent’s first child, She was born on Church Street, but when only a few months old, they had moved to the country home of my Grandparents, as Mama's health was failing off and on, due to a heart condition. In ten years, my parents had three other children. Dorothy Elaine, Catherine Britton, and Curtis Jr. were born on the Auburn Road, about two and a half miles from town in West Phenix City. Mama (Margaret Amanda, or Maggie Britton) died when my Brother was four. This was in 1927, just short of her 51st birthday.  She, my Daddy, Papa Britton, and my Uncle Walter, are all buried in Riverdale Cemetery, in Columbus, Georgia. When my Granddaddy Britton died, in June of 1948, his businesses had been changed from the T. W, Britton Firm to Britton and Dobbs.At the time of Daddy's death, he was a Director and Appraiser at the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Russell County, a former member of the Alabama State Board of Funeral Service, having served as President for a five year term in the late 1930's, He had also been a former member of the National,Georgia, and Alabama chapters of the Funeral Directors Association and a member of the Columbus Kiwanis Club. On the morning of Daddy's death, November 7, 1968, Mother stopped washing dishes when he hadn't returned from getting the morning paper, as he had been in 111 health. Mother and a yard boy went in different directions, then she found Daddy across the long front steps of the porch - dead, Daddy was a good psychologist; and a thrifty person. When our family of six went to ride, my Daddy allowed us to spend only 10 cents each. We usually bought a chocolate milk. He stressed, "Nothing is cheap if you don't need it", "What is worth doing is worth doing well.", "If you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything." And not being particularly fond of movies, he stressed the belief that the ones we attended should have a good moral. (Many didn't.) Daddy lived a busy and useful life. He was a Deacon of the First Baptist Church of Phenix City, and once taught a Sunday School class of boys. For years without pay, he served as Director of the choir, and even now,I can visualize him sitting in the bedroom with his song book, making selections of hymnals the congregation was to sing. Daddy sought his pitch for a hymn with the DO RE ME FA SO LA TE DO, and hummed it through, as he beat the tempo of the song with motions of his hand. If he didn't find the song suitable, he'd turn to another until he'd written down page numbers of enough selections. At choir practice, the hymns were rehearsed, as well as something suitable for a special. My older sister, Margaret, and I were members of the choir. Sister had a very beautiful, strong voice, and in her early teens often soloed. Sometimes we sang duets. I sang in the choir from the time I was nine years old. Members were fewer at this time, although we always seemed to have a full choir, but Daddy wanted me to sing alto, a part needed, and seemingly always short of. He'd say, "If I can't depend on you coming to practice and singing with the choir, how do you expect me to get OTHERS to come?"Sister also played the piano sometimes, and I occasionally played the violin,mostly accompanying the (unpaid) pianist in the Sunday evening services, In my High School days, families of the deceased seldom had anyone to furnish music, so my Daddy readily volunteered Sister, and sometimes,in a church or home. She'd sing too, and sometimes, we'd sing duets. Daddy's brothers sang with us when they visited, as well as some of them in our church. Sister accompanied us at the piano, but usually sang the soprano also. Catherine sang some in later years, but not for the public. She always enjoyed reading, or being quiet. Brother had a good, strong voice, but by the time he was old enough to join our singing group, a steadily growing business, and a change in family recreation, etc., took the place of the music we enjoyed so much in younger years. Daddy had a beautiful tenor voice. He sometimes sang with others on radio programs, and he was often requested to be in WOMENLESS WEDDINGS in both Columbus, Georgia and Phenix City. I want to tell you more of my Granddaddy Dobbs, The newspaper stated in the news of "the Rev. L. L. Dobbs's death" that he had been one of the most active, energetic and faithful members in this section of Alabama before more than one operation for cancer, forced him to retire. He was a member of Crawford Road Baptist Church but was buried at the Ladonia Baptist Church, on the Crawford Road, in Phenix City, Alabama. He had served both churches as Pastor, for many years. His death occurred in February,1914. Daddy's Mother, Annie, had a lingering illness of paralysis.She died on July 31, 1928, at the age of 69, Her funeral was at 9 A.M., on aThursday, from the T. W, Britton Funeral Home, with interment in Ladonia Cemetery. Mother says my Uncle Oliver, particularly, was an interesting Preacher. I want to tell you of his death when only 39, He died in Richmond, Virginia, on January 25, 1919. He had preached only two sermons in the church to which he had accepted a call. He had been nursing his wife and three sons with the flu. Returning from the evening service with a fever of 104 degrees. Next morning, the 18th, he had pneumonia, growing steadily worse. Only Daddy and Uncle Sammie were able to attend his service and burial in Virginia. Somehow, my Daddy always called Mother "Sooky",and it impressed at least one Grandson so much he felt that would be what he would call his wife one day. To my knowledge, he never has, but if he did, it could not seem to have the same endearment as those of years ago, before the world seemed to get turned around!
Birth	4 February 1889	He was born on 4 February 1889 in Alabama, United StatesBGO.
Residence	1900	He lived in Mccords, Coosa, Alabama, United StatesBGO, in 1900. Age: 11; Occupation: At School; AbleToSpeakEnglish: Yes; AttendedSchool: 1; CanRead: Yes; CanWrite: Yes; EnumerationDistrict: 0025; MaritalStatus: Single; RelationToHead: Son1
1900 Federal Census	June 1900	He appeared in the 1900 federal census in June 1900 in Coosa, Alabama, United StatesBGO.
Residence	1910	He lived Age: 21; MaritalStatus: Single; RelationToHead: Son in Police Jury Ward 3, Claiborne, Louisiana, USABG, in 1910.2
1910 Federal Census	10 June 1910	He appeared in the 1910 federal census on 10 June 1910 in Claiborne, Alabama, United StatesBGO.
Marriage	31 October 1912	He and Glennie Mae Britton were married on 31 October 1912 in Lee, Alabama, United StatesBGO. Book H, w., Page 148
Residence (F)	1 January 1914	He and Glennie Mae Britton resided in Phenix City, Lee, Alabama, United StatesBG, on 1 January 1914 City Directory.
Residence (F)	1 January 1916	He and Glennie Mae Britton resided at 239 5th Ave in Phenix City, Lee, Alabama, United StatesBG, on 1 January 1916.
Military	June 1917	He served in the military in June 1917 in Phenix City, Lee, Alabama, United StatesBG. Draft Card
Residence	1920	He lived Age: 30; MaritalStatus: Married; RelationToHead: Husband in Smiths Station, Lee, Alabama, USABGO, in 1920.3
1920 Federal Census (fam)	7 January 1920	He and Glennie Mae Britton appeared in the 1920 federal census on 7 January 1920 in Smiths Station, Lee, Alabama, United StatesBGO.
Residence	1923	He lived in Columbus, Muscogee, Georgia, United StatesBGO, in 1923.
Residence	1935	He lived in Girard, Russell, Alabama, United StatesBGO, in 1935.4
Residence	1 April 1940	He lived Age: 52; MaritalStatus: Married; RelationToHead: Head in Girard, Russell, Alabama, United StatesBGO, on 1 April 1940.4
1940 Federal Census (fam)	10 April 1940	He and Glennie Mae Britton appeared in the 1940 federal census on 10 April 1940 at Auburn RdBG in Girard, Russell, Alabama, United StatesBGO.
Residence (F)	1 January 1947	He and Glennie Mae Britton resided at 1114 1st Ave in Columbus, Muscogee, Georgia, United StatesBGO, on 1 January 1947.
Death	7 November 1968	He died on 7 November 1968 at age 79 in Phenix City, Russell, Alabama, United StatesBGO.
SSN	7 November 1968	He had Social Security Number 255-44-7738.
Burial	after 7 November 1968	He was buried after 7 November 1968 at Riverdale CemeteryBG in Columbus, Muscogee, Georgia, United StatesBGO.

Citations

1. [S580] Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census, Year: 1900; Census Place: McCords, Coosa, Alabama; Roll: 12; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 0025; FHL microfilm: 1240011
2. [S526] Ancestry.com, 1910 United States Federal Census, Year: 1910; Census Place: Police Jury Ward 3, Claiborne, Louisiana; Roll: T624_512; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0020; FHL microfilm: 1374525
3. [S7063] Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census, Year: 1920; Census Place: Smiths Station, Lee, Alabama; Roll: T625_26; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 182; Image: 1055
4. [S6805] Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census, Year: 1940; Census Place: Girard, Russell, Alabama; Roll: T627_77; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 57-13