JOHN
MANNING CAIN FAMILY OF GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIACain Index |
Descendants
of John Manning Cain
Odell Herrington
told me on 19 April 1995 that John and all his siblings except the five
youngest, Esther,Leonard, Carrie Belle, Odell, and Kathleen were born in
a house near Lilburn, near the Hazelrigs Place and the Dr. Giles and Charlie
Kelly's Place. The house has since been destroyed. Since Esther was born
in January 1902, the Cains were in the Pleasant Hill homeplace by then,
and the five youngest children were born there.John
was raised there, and as a boy he and his brothers were a handful of laughter
and antics I am told.
Daddy enlisted
10 December 1917, Atlanta, Ga. in the Navy , and was discharged on 22 July
1919. He was assigned to R.S. Norfolk, Virginia ship on which he served
until 14 January 1919. He became a second-class seaman on 1
March 1918 and received a War Chevron award on 1 December 1918, for his
service on the U.S.S. Virginia. His serial number was 1200508.
See these URLs for the history and pictures of the U.S.S. VIRGINIA
battleship:
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-v/bb13.htm
Then he
was assigned to the U.S.S. NEW YORK from 14 January 1919 until 31
March 1919. As a last European mission, NEW YORK joined the
ships escorting President Woodrow Wilson from an ocean rendezvous, to Brest
en route to the Versailles Conference. I was told he was on
the NEW YORK when this happened. See this URL for the history and
pictures of the NEW YORK battleship: http://www.multied.com/Navy/battle/NY.html
Next he
served on the U.S.S. NEW MEXICO from 31 March 1919 until 22 July
1919. After initial training, NEW MEXICO departed New York
15 January 1919 for Brest, France, to escort home transport GEORGE WASHINGTON
carrying President Woodrow Wilson from the Versailles Peace Conference,
returning to Hampton Roads 27 February 1919. My father was
on the NEW YORK which escorted Wilson to this Peace Conference, but he
was not on NEW MEXICO when it escorted Wilson's return to New York.
NEW MEXICO battleship history and pictures:
http://www.warships1.com/US/USbb40-NM.htm
http://www.warships1.com/US/USbb40-NM-pics.htm
On his naval
records John Cain said he was born in Gloster, Ga. His brother, Calvin
served along with him on the same ships.The
records of John Cain's navy service are in the possession of me, his daughter,
Thelma Faye Prince. They are fully abstracted in my book, OUR SOUTHERN
ANCESTORS, Gateway Press, Baltimore, 1985.
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They moved
to Atlanta in 1937, where he worked for Atlantic Ice and Coal, and
then a grocery brokerage firm and then as night watchman for the Great
Southern Trucking Company, He had a sixth grade education and could
read and write. In those days, boys often had to quit school early
in order to work the farm.
He remained
in Atlanta until 1954, then moved back to Gwinnett Co. and lived with Odell,
Kathleen, and Fred, Esther, all at different times. He had a stroke
in March 1955, and lived the rest of his days with Fred and Lillie who
took wonerful care of him along with other members of the Cain family.
His death occurred at Fred's home. The funeral was held at Luxomni
Baptist Church and he was buried there.
My mother,
Verda Sorrells Cain, became ill the last five years of her life, battling
osteoporosis of the spine, constant pain from spinal stenosis, arthritis,
and finally in 1993, she was diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph
system.
When she
was well, she was so active, taking part in family relationships, keeping
in touch with all the relatives and she continued to be the one who kept
in touch by phone or cards and letters until the very end. She loved all
of her family in the deepest way.
This tribute
from me, Faye, was read at her funeral by Pastor Joe Douglass of Sayre
Woods Bible Church, Old Bridge Township, NJ. The funeral was held on 9
October 1996 at the Michael Hegarty Funeral Home, Old Bridge Twsp.
"I'd like
to say my mother encouraged and strengthened me in my faith in our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by the example of her life. She was a gracious,
independent, very capable, giving, loving person during her life. She enjoyed
doing for others, loved her family, including everyone that was "kin" to
her. She taught me that family and friends are two of the most important
things in my life.
The last
few years she was unable to go out and had to have help in caring for herself,
a task which I undertook willingly and lovingly. With God's help and prayer,
I was able to do it, and I am thankful for the time I had with her on this
earth. I look forward to joining her, my sister and my father, in God's
time. She is safe from pain, suffering, disability, and is in the presence
of our Lord.
Written
in her own handwriting in a scrapbook she had: "Time has a magic for stealing
away the heartache and sorrow that grieves you today. Time has a magic
that always keeps near the cherished remembrance of someone so dear.
Also, from
the Atlanta newspaper: "In loving memory of Elizabeth Cain Fenster, who
left this life March 1, 1947. I do not understand but through faith I know
there is a reason for everything, and that in God's own time He will manifest
that reason. Faith makes clear to me that this life is only a preparation
for an ultimate and intensely happy reunion with God and my loved ones
gone on before."
To us, her
immediate family, was written these words: " To you, my beloved family,
I have no legacy of earthly wealth to leave you, but I do leave you a priceless
legacy of love of God; it was given to me by my ancestors. I give it to
you. Treasure and guard it well. Pass it on to your sons and daughters."
About 60
friends and relatives attended the funeral in NJ. The next day, Oct.10th,
Carolyn, Jeffrey, and I flew to Georgia to lay her to rest. On Oct. 11,
a one hour visiting in the Patterson funeral home, Harbins Rd., Lilburn,
Ga. and burial at Bethesda Methodist Church Cemetery. Rev . Floyd Tenney
officiated at the graveside service. Afterwards, we went to Larry Williford's
house in Lawrenceville for lunch and visiting. About 60 friends and relatives
attended the funeral in Georgia.
Obituary
in News Tribune, Woodbridge, NJ, 9 Oct. 1996:
Verda E.
Cain died yesterday at home. She was 93.
She
was born in Gwinnett Co. Ga., and moved to Old Bridge 42 years ago.
Mrs.
Cain had been a sales clerk and buyer for Rich's Dept. store many years
before retiring.
Surviving
are a daughter, Thelma Faye Prince of Old Bridge, NJ; a brother, William
B. Sorrells of Costa Mesa, Calif., and two grandchildren. Services will
be at 8PM Wednesday at the Michael Hegarty Funeral Home, 3377 Rt. 9, Old
Bridge. Burial will be in Lawrenceville, Ga. In lieu of flowers, donations
may be made to Sayre Woods Bible Church or your favorite charity.
Obituary
in Atlanta Journal: Verda Cain, age93, died on Tuesday, October 8, 1996.
Graveside service will be held 11:00 AM Friday at Bethesda United Methodist
Cemetery in Lawrenceville. Mrs. Cain was formerly of Lawrenceville and
Atlanta, most recently of NJ. Survivors: daughter, Thelma Faye Prince and
son-in-law William L. Prince of Parlin, NJ; grandchildren, Carolyn Prince
of Parlin and William Jeffrey Prince and wife, Connie Prince, of Hopewell,
NJ; 3 great-grandchildren; brother William Benjamin Sorrells of Costa Mesa,
Ca.
Family
will receive friends at R.T.Patterson Funeral Home, Lilburn Chapel, 9:45
AM-10:45AM Friday. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to favorite
charity or Bethesda United Methodist Church.
This is
one of the things she kept all these years: Extraordinary Honor Certificate
issued by Bethesda Sunday school.. This is to certify that Miss Verda Sorrells
attended this Sunday School five Sundays in February 1920. Signed by R.E.
Couey, Superintendent.. It is possible for a certificate of this character
to be isssued only three times in one hundred years. Verda was the secretary
of the Sunday school then and also signed the certificate.
My mother
was christened at Bethesda Methodist as a child, and became a member there
when she was 10 years old. He father, Thomas Wiley Sorrells, was
a Methodist preacher part-time, and filled the pulpits wherever asked.
Her mother was Lucy Ann Virginia Williams Sorrells. For more on this
family see http://www.oursouthernancestors.com/index.html
Mama was
a farmer's wife and homemaker from 1921-1937, Gwinnett Co. In Atlanta
she was a dressmaker at the Dixie Dress Shop for awhile. They call
these places "sweat shops" nowadays. It was hot and the work was
done on an assembly line basis with in time limits. she has the hardest
part of the garments, zippers, lining, etc.
Then she
was a sales clerk at Rich's in Atlanta, the largest department store at
the time. She worked in fabrics, and then in belts, handbags under the
escalator on the main floor. This was our favorite place to meet
in Atlanta. Another favorite place to meet was at the clock on the
building of Rich's on the corner of Broad and Alabama streets.
Her hobbies
were quilting, crocheting, knitting, and gardening. She did beautiful
handwork. She also loved to write and keep in touch with relatives.
She kept track of everyone's birthday and always sent greetings.
She had
a ninth grade education at Bethesda School, and was the first President
of the PTA which started there when she was an adult.
In 1954,
she came from Atlanta to Middlesex NJ to live with Bill and me. She
lived here from 1954-1996, but she never forgot she was a Southerner, a
true Rebel.
Children
of JOHN CAIN and VERDA SORRELLS are:
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JAMES
RUFUS6 CAIN, b. May 18, 1922, Gwinnett Co. Ga.; d. August 28,
1922, Gwinnett Co. Ga. Buried Luxomni Bapt. Cemetery.
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MARY
ELIZABETH CAIN, b. May 30, 1923, Gwinnett Co. Ga.; d. March 01, 1947, Atlanta,
Fulton Co. Ga. Buried Greenwood Cemetery; m. THEODORE DAVID FENSTER, November
23, 1942, Atlanta, Fulton Co. Ga. No children. He was b. 28 Aug.
1919, NY ; d. 11 May 1991, Atlanta , Ga.
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More
About
MARY ELIZABETH CAIN:
religion: Methodist occupation: 1940, Cashier in department store, Rich's occupation: housewife 1942-47, also waitress hobbies: Reading, cooking talents: Graduate, Commercial High School, Atlanta special events: June 1945, Graduate, John Marshall Law School Received Bachelor of Laws Degree residences: 1923-1937, Gwninnett Co. Moved to Atlanta 1937 Cause of Death: Glomerulonephritis Medical Information: Scarlet Fever age 16 with glomerulo-nephritis which destroyed her kidneys |
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More
About
THEODORE DAVID FENSTER:
religion: Jewish occupation: 1942-1945, radio announcer, WGST, WATL, Atlanta, Ga. occupation: 1944-1991, Attorney, Atlanta, Ga. hobbies: Photography, movie camera talents: Taught law John Marshall Law School outstanding speaking voice Dean of J.M. Law School, after dad died residences: 1919, Early life Long Island, NY; moved to Atlanta as young man with parents, Samuel Benjamin and Lee Fenster. military: 1941, Registered for draft; class 4-F, didn't serve |
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VIRGINIA
ESTELLE CAIN, b. February 16, 1927, Gwinnett Co. Ga. Buried Luxomni Bapt.
Cemetery; d. September 14, 1927, Gwinnett Co. Ga. She had pneumonia
and whooping cough.
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THELMA
FAYE CAIN, b. February 22, 1932, Lawrenceville, Gwinnett Co. Ga. m. WILLIAM
LOUIS PRINCE, 8 November 1953, Atlanta, Ga.
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