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Family Group Sheet

HUSBAND Arley Edgar MCKAY
  Birth 8 Aug 1912 Leake County, Mississippi
Death 1 Jan 2000 Madden, Leake County, Mississippi
Burial 3 Jan 2000 Renfro Baptist Church Cemetery, Leake County, Mississippi
Marriage 2 Nov 1942 Greenville, Washington County, Mississippi
WIFE  Katherine Elizabeth LATHAM | SEE NOTES
  Birth 22 Mar 1920 Leake County, Mississippi
Death 8 Sep 1980 Carthage, Leake County, Mississippi
Burial 9 Sep 1980 Renfro Baptist Church Cemetery, Leake County, Mississippi
CHILDREN

M

Edwin Lawrence MCKAY
  Marriage   Susan Nan BAKER
bullet.gif (956 bytes)Katherine Elizabeth LATHAM was born on 22 Mar 1920 in Leake County, Mississippi. She died on 8 Sep 1980 in Carthage, Leake County, Mississippi. She was buried on 9 Sep 1980 in Renfro Baptist Church Cemetery, Leake County, Mississippi. Katherine, the seventh child of Enoch "Lawrence" and Johnnie Anna Crawford Latham, was born on March 22, 1920 in Leake County, Mississippi.  At a young age Katherine's family moved to Bolivar County, Mississippi.  During the time the family lived in the Delta, Lawrence's mother, Henrietta Jackson Latham Kemp, passed away.  Katherine's oldest sister, Erline, married Noel Pittman. The Latham family moved back to Leake County. Times were hard and each family member did what they could to help. As day was breaking the family would go to the fields to work. At noon they would leave the fields and go home. The girls would cook and clean the kitchen before returning to the fields. As the sun was setting they would return home to cook, clean and do whatever need to be done.  Each year as school began the Latham children would still be in the fields gathering the crops. Katherine would always be behind in her schoolwork. She would work hard to catch up on the schoolwork she had missed. Math was her favorite subject. This hard work really paid off in the end.  In the Class of 1941 at Barnes High School, Katherine was Salutatorian. This was an honor she deserved. Katherine was the first one from her family to finish high school. Her father bought her a class ring which she cherished all her life. After high school, Katherine began nurses training at the Baptist Hospital. It was hard and she had to work to pay her tuition, room and board. While in Jackson Katherine met Edd McKay. With the workload and all the studies Katherine could not continue school. She moved to Boyle, Mississippi and lived with Noel and Erline Pittman. Katherine worked in a store there. Edd would come on his days of leave from service to see her. Edd's time in the Army was soon over and he found a job in Greenville, Mississippi. On November 2, 1942 Katherine and Edd were married in Greenville, Mississippi with the assistance of Noel and Erline Pittman. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Edd was called back to active duty. Edd was placed at Camp Shelby, near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The nearest place to live was in Ellisville, Mississippi. Katherine worked in a grocery store in Ellisville. Katherine and Edd decided that she should go home and be near her parents in the later part of 1943. Katherine was pregnant and Edd was at the Base long hours each day. On April 29, 1944 their first child, Edwin, was born. Soon after Edd was shipped overseas. Katherine and Edwin remained with her parents until Edd returned. Edd and Katherine bought a small farm in Barnes Community. The house was in bad condition, so one of the first things they did was build a house. As soon as the roof and outside walls were complete they moved in.   I remember Dad building the closet and blocked my path from my bedroom to the kitchen. About 1949 they sold this farm and purchased a larger farm in Crossroads (Panola) Community, Mississippi.  On April 24, 1950, their second child, Dwight, was born. Our family continued to live on the farm until 1964. Just before Thanksgiving Katherine and Dwight went to Holmes Junior College to pick up Edwin. While they were away there was a storm and lightning struck the house. When we returned home the house was ashes. Edd came home and one of the neighbors rented the family a house. The family lived here for several months before buying a house in Carthage. Around 1967 Katherine and Edd bought a grocery store in Singleton (Redneck), Mississippi. Katherine managed the store and Edd continued to work for Standard Dredging Company for another year. In 1979, due to Katherine's failing health, they closed the store. On September 8, 1980, Katherine passed away. She was the kindest, most grateful sick person. She never failed to thank you for everything you did for her. Katherine was a beautiful, loving person. We all still miss her very much. On January 1, 2000 Edd passed away. -- Edwin McKay