HISTORY OF SESSUMS COMMUNITY THROUGH 1976 MRS ...

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Ellis
Alexander Hamilton “Hamp” Ellis married Lula Gladney. They lived in an older house
on the site where Sonny Winston now lives. This couple had no children. Mr. Ellis
often went to Cuba on vacations. He was the friendly engineer on the train that
went from Starkville to Artesia. Often he blew the train whistle and waved at
children along the way. When he died, Mrs. Ellis moved to Starkville.
Ellis
Robert Ellis fought in the Civil War. His wife became very sick so his son,
Ferdinand, took his father's place in the army so his father could come home.
Ferdinand later married Margaret Bell Wilder. Their children were Elzena, Joe, and
Mary Louise. Mary Louise later became the wife of Ralph Winston. The Ellises lived
in a large log house near where the Ike Winston family lives now. Ferdinand's
brother, Will, married Henrietta Bell.
Falkner
James Falkner was a veteran of World War II. He and his wife lived near Mrs. Frank
Castles. He once taught school at Self Creek.
Falls
Clarence Falls, Sr., and his son, Clarence Falls, Jr., came to Sessums to live with
Mrs. J. T. Barrett. They were from Booneville, Mississippi. Mrs. Barrett is the
daughter of Clarence Falls, Sr. (For Falls history, see Barrett summary).
Fanning
The Fanning family came to Sessums in 1973 from the Delta. Originally they were
from Alabama. George and Nancy Fanning operated a hog farm for a short time on the
Young place. Mrs. Fanning's parents were Robert and Lula Hall Bolin. Her maternal
grandparents were Albert and Callie Hall. Mr. Fanning's parents died when he was
quite young. He was brought up by Milt and Laura Fanning, apparently relatives. The
Fannings are the parents of two boys, Roger and Travis. The family moved from
Sessums to Arkansas.