Sunday, March 14, 2010

Annaliza Morrow Davis



Annaliza Morrow was an Itawamba native, born in the county on the eve of the Civil War on February 10, 1861. John, her father, volunteered and served until the end of the war in 1865, missing most of Annaliza's toddler years.

Although I usually refer to her as Annaliza, there are indications that her name could have been Anna Eliza, which was informally shortened to Annaliza. Census records reveal that she also went by the name of Liza, which in "Itawamba-speak" gets pronounced Lizer. However, "Annalizer" is how I've heard her name called.

Annaliza was apparently well-beloved by her family, church and community. Here are some glimpses into her last years, found in the Itawamba County News.

October 7, 1915
Sulphur Springs
Mrs. Billie Davis, who has been sick for quite awhile, is better we are glad to say.

January 29, 1926
Woman's Missionary Society Remembers Mrs. Bill Davis
The woman's Missionary Society represented by Mrs. B. M. Pearce, Mrs. R. L. Senter, and Mrs. C. A. Dozier, presented Mrs. Billy Davis with a basket of luscious fruits one afternoon the past week. Mrs. Davis has been an invalid for several months and has not been able to attend the meetings of her society.

May 6, 1926
Mrs. Davis Improves
Mrs. Bill Davis, who has been very low for the past several days has improved greatly at this time. Mrs. Davis is suffering from a cancer from which relief has not been obtained by an operation. We hope that she will continue to get better. Mrs. Long of Saltillo was here with her this past week. Her other children, who live near here, are constantly with her at times.

May 26, 1926
Mrs. Liza Davis Passes Away
Had Suffered with Cancer for Several Years,
Treatment Proved Only Temporary Relief

Mrs. Bill Davis, who lived south of Fulton one mile, answered her last summons Monday of this week when death took her spirit away from this material world. Mrs. Davis was about 69 years of age and a woman well loved by everybody who knew her. She has suffered much for the past few years with a cancer of the breast. She had sought relief by operation and treatment but only death could relieve her physical sufferings.

Mrs. Davis was a Christian woman, having professed Christianity and joined the Baptist church when 20 years of age, two years after her marriage. She was born in October 1861, and married to Mr. Bill Davis at the age of 18. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis, all of whom survive her. There are five sons, Messrs. Jim, Jesse, Burg, and Dew, who live here, and Mr. John Davis of Birmingham, Ala., and three daughters, Mesdames. Anna Long of Saltillo, Lan Spencer, and Hettie Mason of Fulton.

Mrs. Davis was the daughter of Aunt Mary Morrow who died about a year ago, and was the sister of Messrs. Tobe, Luke, Charlie, and Bill Morrow and Mrs. S. M. Roberts. All of her children were present at her funeral services which were held at the Fulton Baptist Church Tuesday morning at ten o'clock.

Rev. H. T. Vaughn conducted the service and interment was had at the Fulton cemetery following the services. A lovely floral offering was offered in memory of the deceased by her many relatives and friends. We sympathize with the bereaved in the loss of a christian mother, wife, and a sweet character.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whenever I see a beautiful southern name such as Annaliza, I am immediately reminded of a Civil War battleground sites vacation trip in 1957 that began at my parents Winfield, AL home on the way back to our home in So. Bend, IN. We spent almost a week going all over GA, South and North Carolina on the way to Virginia and Washington, D. C. with the last stop to be Gettysburg, Pa. We toured the Henry house who was the uncle of Robert E Lee. The docents were native Virginians and she repeatedly pronounced the Henry house as "Henry Hoose" - our Mikey who was just past his 4th birthday appeared not too interested in "getting into the car" and "getting back out again"; however, he was taking this "southern speech" seriously we learned as we returned to the car. He said, "whose hoose" are we going to next? oh, he also caught the Kaar for car also! I overheard him telling little brother, "wonder where Pop "packed the kaar" after we had been let out before he found a place to park the car!

Mona, tell us is Annaliza pronounced "AnnalEEzer" or AnnalEYEzer? My maternal grandmother's name is Ila and I never heard it pronounced "Eyela" - only "Eyeler". I hadn't ever thought of this enunciation differences until I began my genealogy at the Federal Archive Bldg. here in So. Fort Worth. I found my grandfather, Arthur G. Dyer with wife "Jeer" (or so I read it! but the first "e" was tall like an "l") and this was the first place I ever saw Ila written as Iler when I finally realized what was really written by the census taker who didn't always have perfect penmanship.

We southerners aren't the only people to slaughter the English language! During those years in Indiana, I was amazed that they laughed at us for saying "ya'll", yet they said "youse guys" and for spaghetti, it was "pusgetti". bettye

Mona Robinson Mills said...

Bettye, that is a very good question about how Annaliza's name was pronounced. It was EYEzer and not EEzer. Annalizer. Seems as if we Itawambians are prone to add an "er" at the end of a name that ends with an "a". Thus, Emma becomes Emmer.