Minnie Lee GILLILAND

     Minnie Lee GILLILAND, daughter of Hugh McClure GILLILAND and Nancy Catherine Fulmer, was born on 8 October 1875 in Elmore County, Alabama.¹

Minnie Lee GILLILAND was said to be half Cherokee Indian.

Minnie married William Lewis WATTS, son of Daniel Henry WATTS and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER, on 26 March 1893 in Bibb County, Alabama. The ceremony took place at the home of the bride's father.^2,3

Minnie Lee GILLILAND and Lewis WATTS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 15 April 1910 in Parsons Precinct 12, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The household was listed as Lewis Watts, a 38-year-old coal miner and his 33-year-old wife, Minnie. They had been married 17 years and Minnie was the mother of seven children, six still living. They owned their home. Their children were Cratha, age 16 and working dumping coal in the mines; Early, 12; Lester, 10; May, 7; Cleon, 4; and Bertha, 2. Everyone was born in Alabama.⁴

Minnie Lee GILLILAND appeared on a census, enumerated 8 January 1920, in the household of William Lewis WATTS and Dock Beavers in Parson Precinct, Tuscaloosa County.⁵

William Lewis WATTS filed for divorce from Minnie Lee GILLILAND circa 1922. The story is that Lewis accused his wife of cheating on him and divorced her. His children went with their mother and did not come around much after that according to Phyllis Stovall.⁶

Minnie married second Nathan "Buster" Logan on 31 May 1925 in Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama.^7,8

Minnie Lee GILLILAND died on 25 December 1963 in Abernant, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, at age 88. The cause of death was pneumonia. The informant listed on her death certificate was her daughter, Dorothy Beaver.^7,1 She was buried in Old Hepzibah Cemetery.¹