My mother is Myrtle Mae Dawson born 10 April,1953 in Vancleave, Ms. She has three children. Myself, Debra Ardell Dawson-Foster born Feburary 16,1974 and Edward Frank Courtney Dawson born November 17, 1976 all in Biloxi. Ardell has two daughters, Ayonna born October 31, 1991 and Jasmine born July 25, 1993.
My mother's father is Lonnie Dawson. He was born Sep 2,1936 possibly in Folsom, LA (St Tammany Parish). He died May 1,1996 in Gulfport, Ms. His family lived in Vancleave, MS (Jackson County).

According to relatives,his parents, Geneva Broomfield Dawson and Frank Dawson, migrated there from Folsom, Louisianna. Frank decided to return to Louisianna and went back to seek employment. Once he found a job he told his WHITE employer that he wanted to put in notice. His boss shot him. Frank returned to Louisianna anyway but without his family. Family account says that he has two brothers who live in Folsom or Covington Louisianna.

Besides my grandfather Geneva and Frank had: Martina, Bessie Williams (b. 14 Jul 1900 d.1991), Curtis Dawson, Eniza Dawson Fortenberry (d. 1994) and Alberta Showers.
Geneva married at least twice more and had several other children. She wore the name Tate and when she died she wore the name Cook.

Curtis was married to a woman named Aldee who still lives in Biloxi. Their daughter, Wilean was married to Joe Showers, and their daughter, Shirley is married to a member of the Peyton family of Biloxi. Alberta married Walter Showers Sr. and had several children: Walter Jr. (Apr 14, 1944-Jan 16, 1988), Joseph, Rosa Lee, Melvin, Cleo and Mary Lee (Oct 29, 1933-Apr 24, 1968). Cleo was nicknamed Chesta and later married a Alec or Alex Fairley from Vancleave, MS. Mary Lee married Willie Horne(May 24, 1931-May 21, 1968). Both buried in Cedar Grove Cemetary, Vancleave, MS. Alberta was remmaried and had Esco Arrington.

Mary Lee passed at 35 and Willie the same year.Judy, Elizabth, Willie Jr. Micheal, Daisy and Timothy were sent to Painesville, Ohio to live with Daisy Brown. I assume a relative.

Bessie's daughter, Bernice Williams of Gulfport, MS gave me most of the the above information. Bernice also had a sister Leola Thomas who died in 1998.