Notes for: Mary Elizabeth ("Bettie") Barnett

I did have her last name as "Light" until I saw the message below at the Bodine Family Genealogy Forum:

Mr.Bodine m. Bettie Barnett [Light] 1906 & 1955 AL
Posted by: Mary (ID *****7727)
Date: November 04, 2002
Message 381

Hi-Seeking the full name [& dates if known] of the Mr. Bodine who married "Bettie" Mary Elizabeth BARNETT [b. 1870 & d. 1956]in the Blount/Morgan County area in Alabama after 1906 & prior to 1955. "Bettie" was the widow of J. W. LIGHT from Morgan County. She had numerous children from her first marriage. She is listed in her sisters obituary, Manila Barnett Allred, which is in the Southern Democrat newspaper on 4-7-1955 as "Mrs. Betty Bodine of Rt. # 3, Blountsville, [Alabama]..." All responses will be appreciated.-mary

Here's another posting from Mary:

Biography of Bettie Barnett Light Bodine,wife of Jim
Posted by: Mary (ID *****7727)
Date: November 19, 2003
In Reply to: Re: Mr.Bodine m. Bettie Barnett [Light] >1906 & <1955 AL <384.html> by Dave Bodine
Message 416

Dave: Thanks & here is what I have from my files.

-BIOGRAPHY OF M. ELIZABETH BARNETT LIGHT BODINE

Miss M. ["Mary" or "May"] Elizabeth "Bettie" Barnett was born 04 June 1870 in Blount County, Alabama to parents, Isaac T. Barnett [a Confederate Veteran] & wife, Margaret J. Kelsoe. Bettie's paternal grandfather was Jonathan Barnett, [also a Confederate Veteran] who emigrated from Georgia to the Blount County, Alabama area around the latter part of the 1840's. Jonathan Barnett settled along with the first group of white's into this area of Blount County,Alabama. He is listed among the founding members of the first Baptist Church of the County, Salem Primitive Baptist Church near what is now known as the town of Brooksville, Alabama in Blount County. This church still stands today. Bettie was reared on the family farm.

She met & soon married Mr. James Wesley Light. "Jim" was the son of Daniel Alexander Light, a Justice of the Peace in Morgan County, Alabama. [& also a Confederate Veteran] The marriage was performed in Blount County on 03 December 1887. Known Children of this union: [1] Bertha Light, b.1891 [2] Novel James Light, b.1892 [3] Euell Lincoln Light, b.1895 [4]Zorah Nevada Light,b. 1896 [5]Chalmus Light,b.after 1896 [6] Lora Light, b.1896-98 [7]Pernia/Pernie Light,b.1898 [8] Jeddy Light,b.after 1898.

NOTE: Family tradition states Bettie birthed stillborn twins about 1894. The family lived & worked on their rural farm. Jim died following an illness which involved his lungs on 12 November 1906 at the age of 37 years. He was buried at the New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery/aka Center Grove Cemetery in Center Grove, Morgan County, Alabama near his childhood home, his parents & siblings.

Following seven years as a widow, Bettie Barnett Light married a second husband, Mr. James W. Bodine, a widow like herself, on 16 November 1913 in Marshall County, Alabama. She lived with her second husband, Jim, in Arab, Marshall County, Alabama for 20 years until his death on 13 February 1933. Jim W. Bodine was buried beside his first wife at Bodine Cemetery near Guntersville, Marshall County, Alabama. Following the death of Jim Bodine, Bettie returned to live on the original Barnett family farm near Friday's Crossing's in Blount County, Alabama. She lived there for more than 15 years. Once again near her brothers, Luther Asberry Barnett & Isaac Montgomery Barnett as well as many of her adult children. Eventually, she "broke up housekeeping" & consented to live with her daughters in the final years of life.

"...Bettie Barnett of Rt. #3, Blountsville, AL"... is named in the obituary of her sister, Manila Barnett Allred [the wife of Jimmy Allred] dated Thursday, April 7, 1955 which was printed in the SOUTHERN DEMOCRAT newspaper.

Bettie died of a progressive stomach ailment on 02 April 1955 in Blount County, Alabama. [some records state 1950, however-obit of sister, Manila Barnett Allred conflicts with that year date] Mary Elizabeth Barnett Light Bodine was buried beside her first husband & the father of her numerous children, James Wesley Light,at New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery in Center Grove, Alabama. She was a good woman, a kind friend & tender mother. Her family remembers her well.