Person Page - 18

     James Bennett Wofford witnessed Born near the home of E.O. Smith in the Friendship section of Spartanburg County and five miles west of Glenn Springs.

As a young man, he was hired out for wages to farmers in the lower section of the county. It was always understood when he hired to anyone that he should have the first Saturday afternoon in each month open so that he might attned conference at Friendship Baptist Church. He helped to build the Friendship church building which was replace in 1921 by a new structure.

When he married Juliett, they moved into a log house of one room about 1/2 mile from Friendship Church and in sight of the birthplace of James. Later they built a shed and kitchen also of logs. This old log house was part of the home of James' youngest son JBM Wofford. They lived in the same house until their deaths.

James and Julliett had seven children and several died in infancy.Those living were Enoch, Jane, Luther, Frances, Jeremiah, Annie and James. Annie and James were the only ones living today (at the time the Hose of Wofford was written 4/2/1935).

James served in the Civil War and never received a wound. He is buried at Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery.

The Spartanburg chapter of U.D.C. erected a monument to his grave. Juliet, his wife, was buried by his side on July 18, 1902.¹ He was buried at Friendship Baptist Church, Pauline SC. He was born on 2 September 1817 at Spartanburg, South Carolina. He married Juliet Susan Shands, daughter of Anthony Shands Shands and Frances Grist, on 25 February 1845. James Bennett Wofford died on 2 April 1899 at Pauline, South Carolina, at age 81.

     Juliet Susan Shands was born on 21 December 1827. She married James Bennett Wofford, son of Isaac "Penhook" Wofford and Jane "Jennie" Bennett, on 25 February 1845. Juliet Susan Shands died on 12 July 1902 at age 74. She was buried circa 13 July 1902 at Friendship Baptist Church, Pauline SC.

     Lillian Wofford died on 22 February 1894. She was born on 22 February 1894.

     Lillie Ellen Wofford witnessed They lived near Friendship Church in Pauline, SC. Lille taught for ten years in the schools of South Carolina. She is a talented singer and takes great interest in church work.¹ She was born on 6 August 1895. She married Marion Coan Thomas Jr., son of Rufus F. Thomas and Cornelia Marrow, on 1 March 1925. Lillie Ellen Wofford died on 30 May 1966 at age 70. She was buried on 31 May 1966 at Friendship Baptist Church, Pauline SC.

     Bomar James Wofford was buried at Friendship Baptist Church, Pauline SC. He was born on 29 October 1897. He married Julia Virginia Hembree on 26 October 1919. Bomar James Wofford died on 31 March 1947 at age 49.

     Ila Juliet Wofford witnessed Ila taught for five years, prior to her mariage, in the schools of Spartanburg and Union Counties. Ila and West bought a home near Walnut Grove and are running a dairy in connection with their farm.¹ She was buried at Friendship Baptist Church, Pauline SC. She was born on 7 January 1900. She married Enoch West Gwinn, son of Mansel Bookter Gwinn Sr. and Julia Marie O'Shields, on 10 June 1923. Ila Juliet Wofford died on 14 April 1985 at age 85.

     Rachel Helen Wofford witnessed Helen, the scribe of the House of Wofford, has very little to say about herself. Of some things she is proud but not boastful. Having earned them she feels that the reader will allow her a few lines in which to leave a few facts.

I was born near Friendship Church in the lower part of Spartanburg County on Dec 10, 1905. My first years were very unhappy because I did not seem to be like other children. I had bad health until after I was grown, so, naturally I had a great many hardships. At five, I had an attack and relapse of typhoid fever that made all of my hair fall out. Then I was left weak in bone and muscle but not in mind. I remember just how much it hurt me to see my playmates able to succeed at playing games while I never had any muscular control. But there was one way in which I could out do them all and that was in my school work. At nine years of age I was in the fifth grade.

Then came my high school days during and just after the World War. I attended Friendship school until I finished the tenth grade in 1922. After that I attended North Greenville Academy for one year and received a diploma on March 3, 1923.

The following fall I entered Winthrop, the South Carolina College for Women, and received a certificate from the short education course in the spring of 1925.

Since then I have taught in the schools of Lancaster and Spartanburg Counties with the exception of one year. I returned to Winthrop in September 1932 and took my junior year. I am now employed as a teacher in the intermediate department of the Cashville School.

I have always been especially interested in music having had two years in piano and one in public school music at Winthrop. I am especially interested in sacred music. I am expecting to get my degree from Winthrop in about two or three summers.

I might add here that I have paid for all my expense at boarding school and at college by my own efforts. My sister, Lillie, paid for the first three years expenses and I repaid her by my earnings as a teacher.

Along with music, my other hobby is church work. I thoroughly enjoy church and community activities. In 1929, I helped t organize a BYPU in Friendship Church. At intervals, I have been director or president but never for long at a time because my work called me to other places. There is now a thriving Baptist Training Union at Friendship with four thriving unions. It has been my pleasure to watch the growth of the union through the last six years.¹ She was buried at Friendship Baptist Church, Pauline SC. Her married name was Helen W. Sturkie. She was born on 10 December 1905. She married Daniel Reed Sturkie on 25 August 1955. Rachel Helen Wofford died on 14 June 1980 at age 74.

     Victor Ansel Wofford was born circa 26 June 1908. He died on 4 July 1910; Died from a pot of hot coffee that spilled on him (per Cecil).

     Joseph Cecil Wofford witnessed Cecil, the youngest child of James B.M. Wofford is unmarried (in1935) and lives with his parents in the old home near Friendship Church. He is a skilled mechanic and farmer. He, too, takes an active part in Church work. For several years he has been secretary of the Sunday School at Friendship.¹ He was buried at Friendship Baptist Church, Pauline SC. He Some have said that Jimmy's mother was Helen Wofford. He was born on 1 January 1911. He married Mamie Ruth Littlefield, daughter of Elias Littlefield and Essie Elizabeth Owens, on 24 November 1936. Joseph Cecil Wofford died on 3 April 1975 at age 64.

     Marion Coan Thomas Jr. was born on 24 September 1894. He married Lillie Ellen Wofford, daughter of James Bankston McGruder Wofford and Sarah Ellen Woodward, on 1 March 1925. Marion Coan Thomas Jr. died on 28 July 1975 at age 80.

     Julia Virginia Hembree was born on 15 February 1890. She married Bomar James Wofford, son of James Bankston McGruder Wofford and Sarah Ellen Woodward, on 26 October 1919. Julia Virginia Hembree died on 7 November 1952 at age 62.

     Enoch West Gwinn was born on 25 March 1900. He married Ila Juliet Wofford, daughter of James Bankston McGruder Wofford and Sarah Ellen Woodward, on 10 June 1923. Enoch West Gwinn died on 25 May 1959 at age 59.

     Daniel Reed Sturkie was All of these children were Reed's. He was born in 1899. He married Rachel Helen Wofford, daughter of James Bankston McGruder Wofford and Sarah Ellen Woodward, on 25 August 1955. Daniel Reed Sturkie died on 19 September 1975.

     Mamie Ruth Littlefield was buried at Friendship Baptist Church, Pauline SC. She was born on 3 July 1909. She married Joseph Cecil Wofford, son of James Bankston McGruder Wofford and Sarah Ellen Woodward, on 24 November 1936. Mamie Ruth Littlefield died on 11 December 1986 at age 77.

     Carmen Eleanor Thomas married Robert Vernon Sherbert on 11 November 1951.

     Marion Coan Thomas married Thelma Eleanor Kelly 8000/04/00. Marion Coan Thomas was buried at Hwy 290, SC. He was born on 15 February 1928. He died on 30 December 1995 at age 67.

     Llewellyn Wofford Thomas married Peggy Joyce McBride.

     Robert Vernon Sherbert married Carmen Eleanor Thomas, daughter of Marion Coan Thomas Jr. and Lillie Ellen Wofford, on 11 November 1951.

     Thelma Eleanor Kelly married Marion Coan Thomas, son of Marion Coan Thomas Jr. and Lillie Ellen Wofford, 8000/04/00.

     Peggy Joyce McBride was born 04/21 c. She married Llewellyn Wofford Thomas, son of Marion Coan Thomas Jr. and Lillie Ellen Wofford. As of 1952,her married name was Thomas.

     Patricia Lynn Sherbert married Keith Darryl Hyatt on 1 January 1971. Patricia Lynn Sherbert married Dante' Huckeba on 26 December 1986.

     Carolyn Laverne Sherbert married William Keith Gentry on 4 February 1978. Carolyn Laverne Sherbert married Alfred Frank Jackson on 19 November 1983.