BENJAMIN F. HONEYCUTT

The following bio was taken from page 243 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Cemeteries of Texas

Benjamin Franklin and Nannie W. Johnson Honeycutt came to Rusk County shortly after they were married in the latter part of the nineteenth century. They settled in the Crims Chapel Community and started farming and raising their family. The Honeycutts were members of the Baptist Church at Crims Chapel. Ben loved to sing, and he was good. He traveled by buggy and by horseback to singing conventions and revivals. He taught singing to many Rusk County folks and his talent is still touching lives in Rusk County. Grandmother Honeycutt died in 1920, and grandfather died in 1924. They are both buried at Crims Chapel. Ben and Nannie had eight children, three of whom died early in their lives.

Jessie, the oldest of Nannie and Ben’s children, married Maude Cole, and they had seven children, Ruben, who married Ella Dee Reagan, had four children. The couple are now retired and live in Overton. Finis married Corine Gibson, and they have one son. Finis is currently Justice of Peace in Henderson. Lois, now deceased, married Carl Bodine of Ft. Worth, and they had three children. J. C. has one daughter and is retired and lives in Livingston, Texas. Elsie married George Lloyd, and they have three children. She and George live in Henderson. Thelma married Grady Gibson, and they have three children and reside in Henderson. Leo married Jo Dees, and they have three children. Leo is deceased, and Jo resides in Beaumont, Texas.

Rose the second child of Ben and Nannie, married Oscar Armstrong. They had three children. Lawson lives in Rusk County and has two children. Otis and his wife Faye had one son. Otis is now deceased and Faye resides in Rusk County. Vesta and her husband, J. B. Cooper, had two children, and the Coopers are now retired and reside in Longview, Texas.

Rubye, the third child of Ben and Nannie, married LeGrande Still, and they had three children. Felder, who resides with his wife, Mary, in Newburg, Maryland, has five children. Felder is a retired Air Force officer. Katherine married Joseph LeCour, and they have three children. Joe is retired and the couple now live in Somerville, Texas. Nannie Mary died a few days after her mother died in August 1919. Both are buried at Crims Chapel along with LeGrande Still.

Lester, the fourth child of Ben and Nannie, married Lois Gibson. They are the parents of three girls. Mildred, who married John Hale and has no children, still resides in Henderson. Vermell married George Altenburg and had three girls. George is deceased and Vermell lives in Henderson. Betty married George Davis, and they had one son. Betty and George live in Orange, Texas.

Lillie, the youngest child of Nannie and Ben Honeycutt, at this writing is the only living child of the couple. Lillie married Claude Jacobs, and they had one daughter, Maxine, who was killed in the tragic New London School explosion. Claude is deceased and is buried at Pirtle beside Maxine. Aunt Lillie is a very special person to her many nieces and nephews.

It is great to be a part of this beautiful family. The Honeycutt’s have contributed much to this county and to this nation.

Submitted by Katherine Still LeCour