Category Archives: Faulkner Family Farm

Vodie Denton Russell was born on February 24, 1905 in Graves County, Kentucky to Robert Edward Russell and Nora Lee Short.

He married Annie Gracie Belle Garrigus on September 14, 1940 in Sedalia, Kentucky.

He died on January 22, 1973 in Graves County, Kentucky.

The following was copied from “Graves County, Kentucky – History & Families” written by the Graves County Genealogical Society, page 419.

RUSSELL/GARRIGUS

Annie Grace Belle Garrigus, born March 21, 1917 in Graves County, Kentucky was the third child of James Bedford and Laura Mae (Butler) Garrigus. She was baptized at Mt Pleasant Church of Christ in 1931 and married Vodie Denton Russell on September 14, 1940 in Sedalia, Kentucky. Gracie was a seamstress at Curlee Clothing in Mayfield, Kentucky. She died on February 22, 1977 in Obion County, Tennessee after an extended illness. She lived in the home of her younger son until her death.

Vodie (born February 24, 1905 in Graves County, Kentucky – died January 22, 1973 in Graves County, Kentucky) was a farmer and also worked for the state highway department. His parents were Robert Edward Russell and Nora Lee Short. He was also a member of Mt Pleasant Church of Christ.

They had two sons. The oldest son was Robert Denton Russell, born on February 12, 1943 and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee. His first marriage was to Loretta Faye Williams in 1961. Their children are Craig Stephen Russell, Tina Michelle Russell, and Angela Dawn Russell.

The second son was Larry Boaz Russell who was born on February 2, 1947 in Graves County, Kentucky and now lives in Union City, Tennessee. He married Joyce Kay Shannon on September 4, 1971 in Obion County, Tennessee. Their children are Charles Bradley Russell and Jeanne Lynn Russell. (Submitted by Laura Garrigus Davis)

~Graves County Genealogical Society, “Graves County, Kentucky – History & Families” (Paducah, KY: Turner Pub. Co., 2001) page 419

Sarah Nell Brewington was born on August 8, 1921 in Graves County, Kentucky to Huey Brewington and Birdie Isabell Williams.

She married James Samuel Garrigus on May 1, 1940 in South Fulton, Tennessee.

She died on February 23, 2002 in Paducah, Kentucky.

The following was copied from “Graves County, Kentucky – History & Families” written by the Graves County Genealogical Society, page 251.

GARRIGUS/BREWINGTON

James Samuel Garrigus (born February 2, 1919 in Graves County, Kentucky – died July 10, 1987 in McCracken County, Kentucky) married Sara Nell Brewington on May 1, 1941 in South Fulton, Tennessee. He was baptized at Mt Pleasant

James Samuel Garrigus and Sarah Nell Brewington. Shared on Find A Grave by Laura Garrigus Davis

Church of Christ in 1935. He worked as a guard for Union Carbide in Paducah, Kentucky. Sara Nell (born August 8, 1921 in Graves County, Kentucky) was the daughter of Huey Brewington and Birdie Isabell Williams. She was baptized at Mt Pleasant Church of Christ in 1938. They had two children. The first child was Bonnie Nell, born on April 30, 1948 in Mayfield, Kentucky. Bonnie married Gabriel Phillip Willett on December 30, 1970 at Metropollis, Illinois. The children of Gabe and Bonnie are Deanna Renee and Aimee Willett. The second child was James Dennis, born on May 12, 1955 in Paducah, Kentucky. James Dennis never married.

~Graves County Genealogical Society, “Graves County, Kentucky – History & Families” (Paducah, KY: Turner Pub. Co., 2001) page 251.

Fannie B Garrigus was born in 1920 to James Bedford Garrigus and Laura Mae Butler.

She died in 1921 in Graves County, Kentucky.

James Samuel Garrigus was born on February 2, 1919 in Pilot Oak, Kentucky to James Bedford Garrigus and Laura Mae Butler.

He married Sarah Nell Brewington on May 1, 1941 in South Fulton, Tennessee.

He died on July 23, 2002 in Paducah, Kentucky.

The following was copied from “Graves County, Kentucky – History & Families” written by the Graves County Genealogical Society, page 251.

James Samuel Garrigus and Sarah Nell Brewington. Shared on Find A Grave by Laura Garrigus Davis

GARRIGUS/BREWINGTON

James Samuel Garrigus (born February 2, 1919 in Graves County, Kentucky – died July 10, 1987 in McCracken County, Kentucky) married Sara Nell Brewington on May 1, 1941 in South Fulton, Tennessee. He was baptized at Mt Pleasant Church of Christ in 1935. He worked as a guard for Union Carbide in Paducah, Kentucky. Sara Nell (born August 8, 1921 in Graves County, Kentucky) was the daughter of Huey Brewington and Birdie Isabell Williams. She was baptized at Mt Pleasant Church of Christ in 1938. They had two children. The first child was Bonnie Nell, born on April 30, 1948 in Mayfield, Kentucky. Bonnie married Gabriel Phillip Willett on December 30, 1970 at Metropollis, Illinois. The children of Gabe and Bonnie are Deanna Renee and Aimee Willett. The second child was James Dennis, born on May 12, 1955 in Paducah, Kentucky. James Dennis never married.

~Graves County Genealogical Society, “Graves County, Kentucky – History & Families” (Paducah, KY: Turner Pub. Co., 2001) page 251.

Vodie Marshall Garrigus was born on September 19, 1915 in Henry County, Tennessee to James Bedford Garrigus and Laura Mae Butler.

He married Lola Mae Murphey on December 24, 1938 in Akron, Ohio.

He died on February 13, 2002 in Mayfield, Kentucky.

The following was copied from “Graves County, Kentucky – History & Families” written by the Graves County Genealogical Society, page 251.

GARRIGUS-MURPHEY

Vodie Marshall Garrigus and Lola Mae Murphey married on December 24, 1938 in Akron, Ohio. they had three daughters: Patricia Elaine (Garrigus) Hall, Laura Faye (Garrigus) Davis and Linda Sue (Garrigus) Tapp Holman.

Lola Mae Murphey (born September 22, 1913 in Graves County, Kentucky) is the daughter of Shelbuin and Charity (Wray) Murphey. She attended Mt Pleasant elementary School and Pilot Oak High School and was on the last girls’ team who won the championship at Murray State College in 1932. After her graduation from high school in 1933 she went to Akron, Ohio, and worked for Firestone Tire Company for three years.

Vodie Marshall Garrigus (born September 19, 1915 in Graves County, Kentucky) is the son of James “Jim” and Laura “Mae” Butler. He attended Wright and French Elementary Schools and graduated from Pilot Oak High School in 1934. After graduation he attended Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, Illinois and returned to Graves County, Kentucky for a short while (working for sixty-five center per day) before leaving to go to Detroit, Michigan, where he made fifty-seven cents per hour. After being laid off from his job he returned to Graves County, Kentucky, and began dating Lola Mae. They married and went back to Detroit, Michigan, where he worked for Midland Steel. He left Midland Steel about the time WWII broke out and he began working as a plant guard.

On March 15, 1945 Vodie was called to the army. Lola Mae and the two girls, Patricia and Laura Faye, moved back to Graves County, Kentucky. Due to the illness of his wife, he was discharged in December 1945. March 1946 he became a sharecropper for his brother-in-law, Raymond Murphey. After ten years of sharecropper work, Woodrow Tarver became ill and asked if he would work at the Wingo Feed Mill, so beginning September of 1954, he began this work which led to his buying (1956) the mill in a partnership with another brother-in-law Ernest Murphey. Vodie bought out Ernest in 1966 and continued as owner and operator until his health would not allow him to stay. July 5, 1978 through September 30, 1988 he worked on the Jackson Purchase Parkway. Today (1999) he and his wife live on the farm that they bought from Raymond Murphey in 1958. The couples’ church affiliation is Church of Christ. Vodie was an elder at Mt Pleasant.

~Graves County Genealogical Society, “Graves County, Kentucky – History & Families” (Paducah, KY: Turner Pub. Co., 2001) page 251.