My maternal grandmother's name is Ardell Dawson-Gaddis. Both are married names. Her maiden name is uncertain (probably Carr). She was also married to a man named Samuel Savage III from Chicago who was in the Army and and one point was stationed in El Paso, TX at Ft Bliss. Ardell was born 31 Oct 1935 in Vancleave, MS and died Mar 3, 1972 in Biloxi, MS.
Ardell's mother is Lillie Mae Carr Joseph. Lillie Mae's mother, Lizzy Ann Thompson Carr, died when she was 4 years old (around 1924-25) she was in her twenties.

Lillie Mae was raised by her grandparents, Emmanuel (b.1870) and Annie (Roxy) Thompson b.1 Jul 1880 d. Dec 1966. Annie is described as a heavy set woman with very light skin and green eyes. Maybe of native American Ancestry.

Roxy also had a son, Andrew Thompson. Andrews' first wife was Elena and they had a son, Henry or Harry born between 1919 and 1920. Andrew came to marry a young woman, Agnes Jackson also from Vancleave. Agnes had at least two brothers. William Hardy and Cline and one sister, Mary. The Jacksons may have been Blackfoot Indian. Willie Jackson was their father and his parents were born in VA and NC. Their mother apparently died young as Willie is a widower on the 1920 census and Cline is just 4 years old. Cline Jackson(Dec 4, 1913-Mar 3, 1990), fathered a child with Lillie Mae when she was just 16 and he was 23. That child was Ardell, my grandmother.
Agnes had one daughter, Melvina Green Davis. Andrew and Agnes lived next door to Lillie Mae and Roxy in a duplex. Agnes raised Ardell (her brothers' child) along with Melvina who at the time was around 13 years old. Once Melvina married and moved to Biloxi with Edward Davis, Ardell and Agnes(after Andrews' death) joined her there and when Ardell had her daughter, Myrtle, at a young age, Melvina raised her also. Myrtle is my mother.
Lillie Mae's father was John Carr Jr. who lived in Biloxi after Lizzie died. He was born 8 Feb 1895 and died Jan 1976 in Biloxi. The issue state for his SSN is FL. His parents were John Carr Sr. and Ella Carr. John Sr and his parents were from North Carolina and Ella, Alabama. John Sr remarried to Margie(b.1895) and had Corena, Fraquilee and Chesta. Lillie showed me a photo of John Jr. from the 60's. He was medium ht, slender, and fairly dark skinned. He must have remarried but I don't know to who. I found an Addie Carr b. 25 Aug 1910 d. Aug 1982 and an Annie Carr b. 19 Apr 1922 d. Jan 1987. They may have been sisters and possibly children of John.
 

I have been unable to make a family connection with Linda and Cynthia Carr, two sisters, of Biloxi. My mother remembers that they were her cousins and that they were in school together but she is unsure by what relation. Linda unfortunately died before she graduated high school. She did have a daughter, Tara Wheatley now of Jackson, MS. Tara's grandmother, Ruth Booker Carr raised her. I believe the connection with John Carr is through Ruth's husband Zety Carr.
 

While married to Sidney Joseph, a French Creole from New Orleans(May 1, 1895-1961), Lillie Mae had 7 children: Sidney Joseph II, Isiah Joseph, Marion Joseph(Mar 23, 1953-Mar 21, 1986) Aristle Joseph, Blanche Joseph Parker, Bertha Joseph McLain, and Isaac Joseph. In 1910 Sidney Sr. was living with James Mayfield and his family and listed as their adopted son. He fought in WWI. Her other children are: Carrie Bell Golf. Voncile Jones, Rose Mary Jones Sullers, Juanita Jones Wilson, and Diane Jones all of Mobile, AL. Jesse Jones of Atlanta, GA and Phala Jones(1963-1989). Phala was shot and killed by her estranged boyfriend Christmas Day 1989 at the family home in Vancleave. He took his own life the same day.