Early on Yalobusha County MS

Bedford and Eva Wray was married on Jan. 24, 1909, in Batesville, MS by Rev. A. W. Fleming. This was also where mama “Millie Bell” (Eva Wray’s) mother lived at the time as well. Shortly after this Holy wedlock and beautiful union the moved to Scobey, MS (Yalobusha County). Here they would stay with papa’s granddad “Ned Johnson” which also raised him and his other siblings. Later that year they would give birth to “Leslie M. Wray” Dec. 2, 1909. They resided here for another 4 years and would give birth to Hersia, Arminta, Wray. The family would then move onto Hardy, MS in 1914 where they gave birth to Moscina Wray. Also “Ned Johnson” would reside here at this as his great-grand-children would share various stories and memories of time spent together here. They would stay here a year and then move onto Oakland, MS in 1916 and give birth to Grintaline Wray. He would also continue farming, as he and mama would continue to provide food and necessities for the family. After sometime the journey was not complete as they would then travel onto Charleston, MS (Tallahatchie County). The children to follow Ned Lloyd, Jimmie D, Zenobia, Samella, Oliver, Bedford Jr., Eva Beatrice Wray would all call this home for awhile.

Tallahatchie County, MS

Here papa would add to his resume as a Grammar school teacher, he would teach his kids along with others at the local school. His kids mentioned he appeared to be harder on them than the other students, you all can have one guess why (Lol…). This was a small one room building, with a pot belly stove for heat located in the center of the room. It was also elevated off the ground as this region was known for flooding, and the kids would play underneath the open area at times. Later they older children would transition to “The Albert Johnson Negro School” located one mile south of Brazil, MS on that branch of the Y. & M. V. Railroad known as Webb-Swan Lake Turnaround. In 1918, Albert Johnson, a large negro plantation owner at Brazil at that time, gave five acres of his land for a Negro School building. He gave $1,000 towards the building, in addition to donating another area of land for the lot and campus, and also lent the school district $12,000 to be used in building the school. The total cost of the school was $13,000 he later paid the salary for a Professor to join the school, and bought him a new house. The extent of Albert Johnson’s land holdings was 32,000 acres. He built a handsome home on his plantation which cost $6,000 total. He died on November 3rd, 1919 and is buried on the school ground. There was a statue of him in front of the school to commemorates his contributions and recognitions. His heirs have lost all this property now, and has since been divided and owned by various parties. They would often go fishing at the nearby rivers, and streams with papa and enjoy their childhood experiencing manner other adventures. The family attended 2nd Baptist Church which has a great standing history to this day in the county.

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Blytheville, AR

As life and often does provides a few thorns along with the flowers. This would come in the form of the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. It was time to relocate again this would cone at the advisement of State officials and local authorities deeming it necessary to vacate various areas as a safety precaution. It was now time to try on another state for size, why not right? we’ll take Blytheville, AR 1932 for $200 Alex Lol… The family would reside here until approximately 1948 when papa made a decision to go join his son Hersia Wray in the great state of Louisville, KY. It was mentioned that mama and the girls went on ahead, and papa and the boys stayed to pack up and come with moving truck later.

Louisville, KY

With all the rich heritage that Louisville, KY already had, it could now add the Wray family to the list. Upon arriving to Louisville and connecting with Hersia, Earner (Sugg) Wray and family Herine, Joe, Earestine, Rosa, Doris Jean, Beatrice, Ohpa, and Ophelia. It became a great reunion, now papa was always one who beleived in having your own. He owned everything his family possessed this included farm equipment, clothes, vehicles, food. He would cure the meats the family would eat in his smokehouse, as mama would can just about everything possible fruits, homemade soups, etc. He would teach his children how to fish and add this as a healthy diet to the menu, along with mama’s homemade biscuits, and rolls. At this time as Herisa was working as a truck driver for grocery stores. He was often able to keep various food items that were slightly damaged from handling, this proved to be a great help with a growing family. Papa eventually purchased a house that both families would have room to live together. He mentioned it was time to transition from the long laboring toils of farming, as the money to raise a family was not as good as other opportunities at that time. He would began his new career a factory as well as a trucking company which is where he used the wagon for delivering ice. The company was responsible for delivering coal, dry goods, firewood and many other items to various locations.