JESSE BURKS ALFORD

The following bio was taken from page 90 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, Rusk County TX Coordinator

A second son of E. B. and Ella Overton Alford was Jesse Burks Alford. He was first named Jesse Overton Alford, but his name was changed to "Burks" when his mother, Ella, was persuaded to do so to honor "Aunt America’s" second husband.

Jesse was educated in the Henderson schools and attended Texas A & M College. He volunteered for the Signal Corps of the Army in World War I.

Jesse was the organizer of Alford Brothers Motor Company and then moved to Paris, Texas, where he formed a partnership with Bessie Lou (Alford) Clower. While living in Henderson, he married his childhood sweetheart, Lucille Rayford, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. C. G. Rayford (see C. G. Rayford family).

The Alfords have two children. Mariwyn Alford, who married Russell B. Watson, Jr., had four children: Larkin, Breckenridge, Matt and William. Russell is a Tyler brick broker.

The second child of Jesse B. and Lucille Alford is Jesse Burks Alford, Jr. He graduated from Paris schools and the New Mexico Military Institute, University of Texas and became a commercial photographer. He has two children, Ann and J. B. III.

Jesse expanded his Ford business to Alford Motor Company, Inc. with dealerships in Paris, Detroit, and Clarksville. Jesse served on the board of Paris Junior College, and since his death a building there has been named the Jesse Alford Building of Continuing Education.

Submitted by Virginia Knapp.