Leonora Leslie Culpepper

Female, #34912, (13 Dec 1867 - 3 Jul 1956)

Parent*John G. Culpepper (c 1834 - c 1867)
Parent*Emily Miriam Culpepper (9 Mar 1841 - 16 Apr 1937)
Leonora Leslie Culpepper|b. 13 Dec 1867\nd. 3 Jul 1956|p34912.htm|John G. Culpepper|b. circa 1834\nd. circa 1867|p32371.htm|Emily Miriam Culpepper|b. 9 Mar 1841\nd. 16 Apr 1937|p32466.htm|James I. J. Culpepper|b. 3 Jun 1806\nd. 15 Oct 1846|p32065.htm|Martha B. Blackstone|b. 28 Sep 1814\nd. after 1897|p32066.htm|Rev. William H. Culpepper|b. 17 Oct 1813\nd. 22 Mar 1909|p32073.htm|Sarah Leslie|b. 15 Feb 1808\nd. 22 Jan 1849|p32074.htm|

Name Variation  Leonora Leslie Culpepper was also known as Lela. 
Birth*13 Dec 1867 Leonora was born at Huntsville, Madison Co., Alabama, on 13 Dec 1867. 
 She was the daughter of John G. Culpepper and Emily Miriam Culpepper. 
1870 Census5 Jul 1870 Emily and Leonora listed as a household member living with Broxon Yarbrough Carlisle on the 1870 Census at Louina, Randolph Co., Alabama. 19 m-573. 
1880 Census2 Jun 1880 Leonora was listed as a step daughter in Broxon Yarbrough Carlisle's household on the 1880 Census at Flat Rock, Randolph Co., Alabama. 29 m-Beat 8 p 315 hh 27. 
Marriage*20 Dec 1884 She married J. Frank Gilbert at Tallapoosa Co., Alabama, on 20 Dec 1884. 
Married Name20 Dec 1884  As of 20 Dec 1884, her married name was Gilbert. 
Marriage*31 Dec 1890 She married Stephen Patrick Henry Green at Randolph Co., Alabama, on 31 Dec 1890. 
Married Name31 Dec 1890  As of 31 Dec 1890, her married name was Green. 
1900 Census*1900 Leonora was listed as Stephen Patrick Henry Green's wife on the 1900 Census at Flat Rock, Randolph Co., Alabama. 37 m-ED 58 no. 65. 
Death*3 Jul 1956 She died at Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama, on 3 Jul 1956. 
Burial*5 Jul 1956 Her body was interred on 5 Jul 1956 at Wadley City Cemetery, Wadley, Randolph Co., Alabama. 
Biography* Leonora Leslie was the daughter of John and Emily Miriam (Culpepper) Culpepper. Lela was born after the Civil War and, according to her obituary, she was born "near Huntsville."1 Nothing is known of her father beyond the family tradition that his name was John Culpepper. It can only be speculated but cannot be proven that this was John Culpepper a son of James and Martha (Blackstone) Culpepper. He is presumed to have died when Lela was an infant since he has not been located in 1870 census records and Lela's mother had remarried by 1870. Lela emerges in census records in 1870 in the household of her father-in-law, Broxon Yarbrough Carlisle. Lela is recorded with her mother and step-father in the 1880 census of Flatrock, AL. Flatrock was apparently near Almond to the west of what is now Wadley, AL.

In 1884, Lela married J. Frank Gilbert by whom she is known to have had one child who died as an infant. J. Frank Gilbert is believed to have died before 1890 since that is when Lela was married a second time, this time to Stephen Patrick Green. Lela and Patrick settled down to raise their family in the Green family home, "The Old Home."
Lela lost her husband of 49 years in 1940. She was 72 years old. Lela moved to Birmingham, AL but, in 1942, she visited the land where they had lived so many years and wrote of her memories of her husband:2

I came to my Dear old Home early this A.M. went out to the Family Cemetery where his Father, Mother, and brother and one of our Sons that was born dead 1903 were Laid. I Sat down to rest there where he had walked and worked all these years.

He use to Keep the Graves Cleaned all time he would Sweep all around there. The Grape Vines are there where we use to gather a lot of Summer Grapes there was the Persimon Tree. Not far away was the wild Cherries and Chesnut Tree we use to gather all these and enjoyed them Together.

Then I walked where the Pines are Growing where he would Cut and Split Stove wood to Cook our Daily meals. Oh I could see So many Places where he worked would go Carry him a Cool drink of water. He would stop and rest awhile and talk. He always Kept Plenty dry wood to Cook with and Kindling. I never Cooked with wet wood never Borrowed Meal, Flour, Meat, Lard, Sugar. I borrowed Salt one time I remember. I think that is a Record hard to beat and Live with the man almost 50 years.

I sat there that April morning all these things Came to my mind as I gazed out in Space. I Came to the well of very good water where he used to draw and drink. Can almost See him now drinking out of the bucket after he would drink would come Sit on the Grind Rock bench and pull off his old Straw Hat and Fan with it.

Then I walked to the old Home Place where we cleaned up the rubish just finished a few days before he left. He Tore the old Home down in 1939 where he was born had it all Cleaned up he Said I am going to Plant Corn where the old Home Stood. But he never Planted Corn though he planned and the man was to Come and Plant it for him the day he passed.

Then I walked to the garden where he had just walked it the day before he went. Then I walked where he Cut a lot of Cedar Parts that Spring then to the Crib and Barn he had builded Several years ago then I went to the 2 Wood Houses he made, on to the Mail Box where he met the Postman for years on to the Wagon House looked in Seen Straw for Broom he lefted me Cut and I Could tell and tell of many many things that came back to mind.

Then I went and Sat on the Porch on the Swing where we would Sit every Spring and Summer. I looked up the road toward the Store I could almost See him Coming with Ladie the Dog trotting in Front I then went in my Kitchen looked around where we Cooked and eat for all these years. I can almost see the Sunshine on the Kitchen floor Could tell time to put on bread the House Sat East and West never got Turned around there always the Same

Can almost See him Coming down the Path by Scuppermong vine with his bucket of Sweet Milk get the Scales and weigh the milk and Say guess how many Pounds. I Carried in Most of the Stovewood as he had to do the milking for years on account of Exemia in my hand. Sometimes he brought in wood and would Laugh and Say you owe me a Nickle I would tell him I will Cook you Some biscuit for that a lot of times he would finish Churning take the milk to the Cellar.

He was a man who Kept his business Straight dealt with a lot of People never made many bad trades he told me a lot of times he wished he could live with me a Hundred years and I can say the Same of him Though we did not agree on Some things take everthing Concidering I guess we lived a normal happy Life together as most Couples ever did.

I made many many mistakes but I believe I did my best in a few things. He used to tell me I was one in a thousand So I guess he lived Happy with me with all my Faults though they Say Love Covers a multitude of Faults.

Oh the Happy Days Ends with one another here but I trust we Shall meet in that beauteful Home on High some day where there will be no Sickness no Lonelyness... no Death, no Tears. Jesus made it Possable for us as Sinful Mankind to gather up there if we will do our best to Keep his Commandments. He Knows how weak and Frail we are. Knows what is best for us every one. A few more day on Earth to Spend and all my Trials and Cares Shall End. This is a True Story I wanted to tell as best I Could while I could remember some of the things that has passed. Home. There is no Friend like Jesus and no Place like Home. Mother's Hand and Heaven is the Sweetest words in the English language the poet said years ago the End of my Story April 27, 1942.

Lela died in 1956 at the age of 88. 

Family 1

J. Frank Gilbert (circa 1864 - circa 1888)

Family 2

Stephen Patrick Henry Green (8 Feb 1863 - 7 May 1940)

Last Edited 1 Oct 2003

Citations

  1. "Mrs. Lela Green 88 Dies at Home" Birmingham Post Herald (Jefferson Co., AL) 4 Jul 1956, p. 3
  2. Mrs. Patrick (Lela Culpepper) Green, "The Old Home" eight page handwritten manuscript, 27 April 1942