Hicks Ancestors - Generation 4 - Charlotte Viola Sandefur

Charlotte Viola Sandefur was born 27 September 1906 in Floral, Independence County, Arkansas, and died 03 February 2000, age 93, in Macon County, Tennessee.

Viola was the daughter of Nancy Ellen Hicks and George Woodson Sandefur.

Here is what my grandmother, Cleffie Hicks Burford, wrote:

 My Cousin Viola

 There were several times while we lived on the Bolding place that my cousin, Viola came by to visit with us for a few days, usually not more than two, but I always wished she would stay longer. I was only a small child, somewhere in the range of three to five, and she was a teenager.  I thought she was the most wonderful person I had seen around that part of the country.  I loved to hear her talk.  She was so mature for her age.  And she used expressions that I wasn’t used to hearing; for instance she would say “Cousin Cleffie”, or “Cousin Ruby”, etc. Also, I was just fascinated when I watched her combing her hair.  This one time that I remember most she back-combed it down around the ears and then put a small “rat” in under the hair and arranged the hair over it and made a nice puff over each ear, then brought the rest of it together in the back and pinned it.  I’m sure that was the fashion then.  I thought that was so neat. Anyway, I just grew to love her and she has always been one of my very favorite cousins.  At this writing she still lives in Somerville, Tennessee and is age 81. (Today is October 10, 1987. The day I wrote this.)

Viola Sandefur married William Ralph Solomon 18 September 1928 in Jackson County, Arkansas, son of Wilbur W Solomon and Nora G Simmons. He was born 25 May 1905 in Newport, Jackson County, Arkansas, and died 23 August 1930 in Macon, Fayette County, Tennessee. After Ralph died, at age 25, Viola never re-married.

I don't have any pictures of Ralph Solomon.

PHOTO: Ruby Hicks Barnett, Viola Solomon, Cleffie Hicks Burford, 1974, at Pine Grove Cemetery, Floral, Arkansas

PHOTO: Viola with Barbara and Olan Hicks, Bald Knob, Arkansas

Viola with Lester Burford, Bald Knob, Arkansas

Viola and Ralph Solomon had one child: Nora Ellen 1929-2005.

Nora married William Elmer Wright and they had six children: Billy, Bobby, Dennis, Nancy, Deborah, and Rodney.

PHOTO: Viola Solomon and grandson Rodney Wright

PHOTO: Rodney, Nancy, Debbie Wright, Viola Solomon

PHOTO: Viola with some of her great-grandchildren.

What Viola's granddaughter, Nancy Ellen Wright, wrote on her FindAGrave memorial:

My Grandmother, Viola Solomon, (Never call her Charlotte!) spent most of her life caring for other people, either very young or very old. She was widowed at the young age of 23, with a child just under a year old, and never remarried. My visits with her as a child are some of my happiest and most vivid memories of my life. I experienced "old-timey" things with her that most people born in the late 1950's never got to see. She lived to be almost 94 years old. She was a member of Somerville Church of Christ.

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Ralph Solomon died 23 August 1930, age 25.

Viola Sandefur Solomon died 03 February 2000, age 93.

They are buried in Macon Cemetery, Macon, Fayette County, Tennessee