Category: W – Z

Biography: Teacher; school administrator; professor of education. Born– July 1, 1892, in Atwood, Ill. Parents– Claris and Ida (Davis) Yeuell. Married– Eugenia Osborn, May 17, 1918. Children– Three. Education– Alabama Presbyterian College, A.B., 1913; Bethany College, W. Va., M.A., 1916; University of Chicago, M.A. 1923; University of Cincinnati, Ph.D., 1928. School principal, Dayton, Abbeville, and…

Biography: Physician. Born– May 8, 1857, in Pickens County. Parents– Riley and Elvira Gholson Wyatt. Married– (1) Mamie C. Walker; (2) Rosa Maud Mims; (3) Lyda Lee Doss, November 24, 1897.  Education– attended local schools at Union Chapel and Pine Grove, AL.;  Read on his own while he worked at Bryan’s Store in Trinity, Mississippi, 1876-1881;  attended Louisville Medical College; graduated 1883.   Served as justice…

Biography: Soldier; businessman; congressman. Born– September 10, 1836, in Augusta, Ga. Parents– Joseph and Julia Knox (Hull) Wheeler. Married– Daniella Jones Sherrod, February 8, 1866. Children– Six. Education– U.S. Military Academy; graduated 1859; further instruction at the army cavalry school at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. Commissioned second lieutenant in the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen and served at…

Biography: Lawyer, legislator. Born– October 10, 1864, in Greensboro, Ala. Parents– Miles Hassell and Susan Callie (Gibson) Yerby. Married– Mabel Taylor. Children– Two. Education– Southern University, Greensboro; studied printing, law. Published Greensboro Watchman, 1886-; president, Alabama Press Association 1901-1904. Admitted to bar, 1893; city attorney, councilman and mayor, Greensboro; state legislator. Died November 15, 1940.…

Biography: Author. Born– February 21, 1913, in Birmingham, Ala. Parents– William H. and Hallie Truitt Yenni. Married– Charles R. Hikes. Children– Two. Education– Lincoln Memorial University, Tenn.; Columbia University. Granddaughter of Julia Truitt Bishop, early Birmingham newspaperwoman; spent part of her childhood in Louisiana. Quit college when stock market crashed; worked in New York.  Dies…

Biography: Teacher; genealogist. Born September 22, 1893, in Ozark  Parents–James Oscar and Penny Parker Yelverton.  Lived in Montgomery, Ala. for 35 years. Taught for twelve years; genealogical research training, three years. Finished book for Herbert Bremerton Battle who died in 1929. Member– Daughters of the American Revolution, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Alabama Anthropological Society.  Died…

Biography: Physician; pioneer medical educator; author. Born– May 26, 1845, in Missionary Station, Marshall, Ala. Parents– Louis Weiss and Euphemia (Allen) Wyeth. Married– Florence Nightingale Sims, April 10, 1886. Children– Three. Married– Marguerite Chalifoux, November 15, 1918. Education– LaGrange Military Academy, Ala., 1861; University of Louisville, M.D., 1869; further studies with James M. Jackson, Guntersville; at…

Biograhy: Journalist. Born– June 8, 1898, in Oshkosh, Wis. Parents– John H. and Thurine (Olson) Oleson. Married– John Xan, September 2, 1922. Children– One. Education– Battle Creek College, A.B., 1930; University of Michigan, M.A., 1946. Taught country schools in Wisconsin;  Secretary, Ernst & Ernst, Chicago; Pittsburgh Piping & Equipment Co., Chicago, 1918-1936. Taught at Howard…

Biography: Clergyman; college professor; chaplain; administrator. Born– March 19, 1919, in Wewoka, Okla. Parents– Phay Willie and Mary (Carter) Wynn. Married– Lillian Robinson. Children– Two. Education– Langston University, A.B., 1941; Howard University, B.D. 1944, A.M. 1945; Boston University, Ph.D., 1950. Colorado College; Hebrew University, Israel; University of Oklahoma.  Taught at Kentucky State College, 1945-1946; Bishop…

Biography: Newspaper publisher.  Born– May 8, 1896, in Chilton County. Parents– James R. and Phairnibac (Robinson) Wyatt. Married– Alpha Inez Cagle. Married– Alma Foshee. Children– Two. Printer’s devil, Union Banner, in Clanton, at 14; purchased half interest, 1917; purchased other half, 1936; owner and publisher until his death in 1974. Member– American Legion, Republican Party.  Died…

Biography: Dentist; professor of dentistry. Born– January 20, 1914, in Bayonne, N.J. Parents– Henry and Anna Wuehrman. Education– Tufts University, D.M.D., 1937; A.M. 1960. Taught at School of Dental Medicine, Tufts University, 1936-1961; University of Alabama, Birmingham, 1961-.  Died September 7, 2005. Source: American Men and Women of Science. Publication(s): Radiation Protection and Dentistry. St.…

Biography: Economist; college professor. Born– October 26, 1909, in Boaz, Ala. Parents– Edward Fenno and Jane Moore (Street) Whitman. Married– Luisita Dye on August 12, 1936. Children– Two. Education– Duke University, B.A., 1929, M.A., 1933, Ph.D., 1943. Taught at Citadel (1936-47), Duke(1939-40), Emory(1950-1978). Visiting professor, Davidson College. Member– American Economic Association, Southern Economic Association, Industrial…

Biography: Military analyst; professor. Born– February 23, 1913, in Somerville, Mass. Parents– Oscar R. and Mary Ann (Morrison) Whiting. Married– Alice Mary Sexton in September 1940. Education– Boston University, B.A., 1940; UCLA, M.A., 1941; Harvard, Ph.D., 1951. Taught at Tufts University, 1948-1950;  Research Associate, Air University, 1951-; George Washington University at Air University, 1961-.  Died…

Biography: Businesswoman; genealogist. Born– March 21, 1893. Parents– Toulous Polk and Octavia Emaline (Patterson) Cantrell. Married– Ernest White on November 15, 1920. Children– Four. Operator, White Printing Company, Huntsville, Ala., 1929-1960. Member– United Daughters of the Confederacy, Daughters of the American Revolution, Altrusa Club, Twickenham Study Club, Alabama Society.  Died ctober 29, 1977. Source: White-Cantrell…

Biography: College professor. Born– November 24, 1918, in Scottsboro, Ala. Parents– Jesse Harrison and Lucy (Enochs) Wheeler. Married– Margery Ellen Gary on October 3, 1943. Children– Three. Education– Auburn University, B.S. 1939, M.S., 1941; University of Chicago, Ph.D., 1950. Taught at Boys High School, Atlanta, 1940-1941; University of Missouri, 1949-. Served in U.S. Army, 1941-1946.…

Biography: Methodist clergyman; naturalist; museum curator. Born– March 18, 1874, in Birmingham, Ala. Parents– J. Henry and Adelaide Lucia Bliss Wheeler. Married– Annie Lee Warren. Children– Five. Education– Lehigh University; Southeastern University; Vanderbilt University. Ordained Methodist minister, 1896; served churches in Alabama and Arkansas. Worked in Field Museum, Chicago, 1924-; Alabama Museum of Natural History,…

Biography: Children’s author. Born– May 17,1955 in Montgomery, Ala. Parents– Kenneth Bradford and Joanne Dingus Wheeler.  Married Robert Patrick Lee, July 26, 1980.  Children–three. Education– Auburn University, B.F.A., 1977.  Children’s book buyer, Zibart’s Bookstore, Nashville, 1977-78; executive secretary, Alfred A. Knopf, NY, 1977-80; freelance illustrator, designer and writer, 1980-84; Assistant to Art Director, Lothrop, Lee…

Biography: Businessman. Born– August 12, 1908, in Dadeville, Ala. Parents– Louis E. and Blanche Dowling Wells. Married– Dorothy McGee, June 23, 1940. Children– Two. Education– University of Alabama, 1925-1927. Worked for Standard Oil Company, Jacksonville, Fla., 1933-1943; L. W. Wells Company, Ozark, 1943-1961; Parker-Wells Agency, Ozark, 1961-. Awarded Silver Beaver, Boy Scouts of America. Chairman,…

Biography: College professor.. Born– June 26, 1924, in Clarksville, Tenn. Parents– George Thomas and Emma (Wickham) Welker. Education– Austin Peay State University; University of Connecticut, B.A., 1944; Peabody College, M.A., 1948; Vanderbilt University, Ph.D., 1952. Taught at Vanderbilt, 1955-1956, 1957-1964; University of Alabama, Huntsville, 1964-1985; founder and first chair of UAH English Department. Member– American…

Biography: Born– November 4, 1873, in Montgomery, Ala. Parents– Maurice and Pauline (Mendelson) Kahn. Married– Sidney K. Weil, November 22, 1898. Children– Two. Education– Schools in Montgomery; Bartholomew’s Private School, Cincinnati. Member– Sidney Lanier School Improvement Association, Sewing Circle, Bridge Club, Sesame Club. Died June 5, 1962. Source: Woman’s Who’s Who of America. Joint Publication(s):…

Biography: College professor. Born– March 3, 1923, in Clanton, Ala. Parents– Samuel Jones and Grace (Hicks) Ezell. Married– Arthur A. Weeks, March 22, 1943. Children– Three. Married– Francisco Marquez, March 26, 1974. Education– Samford University, A.B., 1942; University of North Carolina, M.A., 1945; Inter-American University, Ph.D., 1964. Taught English at Samford Unversity, 1945-1947; English and…

Biography: Teacher; academic administrator; college president. Born– January 15, 1911. Parents Adam and Sallie Emma (Darden) Watkins. Married– Lillian Bernice Vernado. Children– Six. Education– Tennessee State University, B.S., 1933; Northwestern University, M.S., 1940; Arkansas Baptist College, LL.D., 1958; Alabama State University, LL.D., 1974. Taught in Winchester, Tenn., 1933-1934; assistant superintendent, Hopkinsville, Ky.; assistant principal, Burt…

Biography: Historian; college professor.  Born– February 15, 1929, in Montevallo, Ala. Parents– James Skillman Ward and Lillian Kiber Ward.  Married– Jane Harless, August 19, 1950.  Children–four.  Education– Auburn University B.S., 1950, M.S., 1951; University of North Carolina, Ph.D., 1957. Taught at Georgia Southern College, 1955-19; head History Dept., 1969-1971. Member– Southern Historical Association, American Military…

Biography: Author; teacher, editor. Born– December 9, 1911, in Scipioville, N.Y. Parents– Claude Mastin and Mae (Bishop) Ward. Married– Elizabeth Newton,  June 24, 1936. Children– Four. Education– Syracuse University, A.B., 1935, Ph.D., 1941; studied law, 1943-1945. Taught at State University of New York, Brockport, 1939-1945. Editor, Western Publishing Co., Racine, Wisc., and New York City,…

Biography: College professor; historian. Born– May 13, 1912, in Cordele, Ga. Education– Vanderbilt University, Ph.D., 1947. Taught at Vanderbilt, 1945-1947; Emory and Henry College, 1947-1956; University of Montevallo, 1956-1980; chairman, Dept. of Social Sciences, 1956-1980; acting dean of men, 1957-1959; dean, 1959-1979. Chairman, Board of Directors, Shelby Memorial Hospital, 1975-79. The John B. Walters Scholarship, named…

Biography: Writer. Born– February 6, 1902, in Elkton, Tenn. Parents– George W. and Mary (Hanna) Johnson. Married– Horace G. Williams, June 29, 1923. Education– Judson College, A.B., 1922; University of Texas, A.M., 1924. Wrote Christian training literature for Southern Baptist Sunday School Board, twenty years. Died Feb. 6, 1991. Source: Alabama Public Library Service; Mrs.…

Biography: Historian; college professor. Born April 2, 1946, in Jackson, MS. Parents– Lee E. and Ruth Mae (Harris) Williams. Married– Rosetta Cassandra, December 22, 1973. Children– One. Education– Knoxville College, B.A., 1968; East Tennessee State University, M.A., 1970; Mississippi State University, Ph.D., 1975. Taught at Middle Tennessee State University, 1969-1972, University of Alabama, Huntsville, 1972.…

Biography: Journalist. Born– February 11, 1916, in Athens, Ala. Parents– Robert Henry and Memory Pryor (McClellan) Walker. Education– Athens Public School; Birmingham Southern College. Wrote for several Athens area newspapers. Received a historical award from governor 1978. Died May 22, 1985. Source: Sara H. Walker, Athens, Ala.. Publication(s): History of Limestone County, Alabama. Athens, Ala.;…

See: Alexander, Margaret Abigail Walker.

Biography: Journalist. Born– March 28, 1909, in Bradford, Pa.; grew up in Mobile.  Parents– Royal and Juliet (Luttrell) Tucker. Married– Charles Christian Wertenbaker, September 1942 (died 1955). Children– Two. Married– Branwell Fletcher, September 1970. Education– University of Louisville.   Road secretary, Theatre Guild, Inc., of New York City, 1929-1938; foreign and war correspondent, Time, Inc., 1940-1955;…

Biography: Library worker. Born– January 19, 1945, in Anniston, Ala. Parents– Paulie and Virginia Welch. Married. Children– One. Education–   Anniston High School. Victim of cerebral palsy. Worked at Public Library of Anniston and Calhoun County, November, 1969-; with arms braced on books she wrote daily radio book reviews, weekly newspaper columns, church newsletter column; published…

Biography: Lutheran clergyman.  Born– January 13, 1933, in Clayton, Ill. Parents– Harry and Edna (Gamm) Weisheit. Married– Carolyn Pomerenke, August 15, 1954. Children– Three. Education– Concordia Theological Seminary, 1962.  Pastor, McComb, Mich., 1962-1965; Montgomery, Ala., 1965-1971. Associate editor, Lutheran Witness, 1971-1975; Roselle, Ill., 1976-77; Tucson, AZ, 1977-98.  Died January 20, 1998. Source: Contemporary Authors, Vol.…

Biography: Novelist. Born– May 8, 1835, in Columbus, Ga. Parents– Mathew Ryan and Sarah Skrine (Howard) Evans. Married– L.M. Wilson,  December 2, 1868. Education– Tutorship by mother; private schools; read extensively on her own. . Lived in Russell County, Ala., 1839-1845; San Antonio, Texas, 1845-1849; Mobile, 1849-1909. Broke engagement to James Spaulding, publisher of the New…

Biography: Teacher; college founder; advocate and spokesman for racial advancement. Born– 1859 near Hale’s Ford, Franklin County, Va. Married– Fannie N. Smith in 1882. Children– One. Married– Olivia A. Davidson in 1889. Children– Two. Married– Margaret James Murray, October 12, 1893. Education– Hampton Institute, 1875. Taught in West Virginia, then at Wayland Seminary, Washington, D.C.;…

Biography: Revenue agent; Teacher. Born– December 19, 1909, in Dadeville, Ala. Parents– Melton and Martha (Pitchford) Jenkins. Married– Vebron Ward on June 15, 1935. Children– Three. Education– Athens College for Young Women, A.B., 1931. Taught junior high school, 1931-1935. Agent, Alabama State Revenue Dept., 1951-1975. Member– Pen Women of America, Alabama Writers Conclave and Alabama…

Biography: Cooperative Extension Agent; Administrator; genealogist. Born– April 22, 1917, in Hackneyville, Ala. Parents– Thomas Jefferson and Sally Clyde (Barnett) Warren. Married– Allie Irene Blake, December 20, 1946. Children– Two. Married Alice M. Warren, 1997.  Education– Hackneyville High School; Auburn University, B.S., 1939; Cornell University, M.S., 1952; Ph.D., 1962.  Served in U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII.…

Born April 28, 1828– Madisonville, Tenn. Parents– George and Matilda Harris. Married– Horace Ware, Sept. 1863. Moved from Tennessee to Alabama. Contributed poetry to periodicals. Died May 25, 1915. Source: Biographical Dictionary of Southern Authors’ ancestry.com Joint Publication(s): Poems. Birmingham, Ala.; Birmingham Pub. Co., 1911.

Biography: Author. Born– Bayou Doque d’Inde, Mobile County, Ala. Parents– Thomas Polk and Augusta A. (Ellis) Moore. Married– Hart Wylie, June 4, 1877. Published descriptive and biographical sketches in periodicals.  Died February 15, 1923. Source: Geographical Dictionary of Southern Authors; Alabama Dept. of Archives and History. Publication(s): The Arcades. Atlanta; A.B. Caldwell, 1916. Ashes of…

Biography: Historian; College professor. Born– June 6, 1895, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Education– University of Tennessee, A.B., 1915; Harvard University, A.M., 1917, Ph.D., 1924; Rhodes Scholar to Oxford, 1917; Austin Fellow, Harvard, 1920-1921; studied at the Sorbonne, 1919. Taught at University of Tennessee; Simmons; New York University; Amherst College; Florida State College for Women; Vanderbilt; Western…

Biography: Grocer. Born– July 30, 1912, in McKenzie, Ala. Parents– Herbert and Frances Hartley Bennett. Married– Loran H. Wells, July 2, 1928. Children– One. Managed grocery store for 30 years.  Died August 5, 1996. Source: Opal B. Wells, Red Level, Ala. Publication(s): The Light Within. Atwood, Tenn.; Elder S. T. Talley, 1974. Some of My…

Biography: Businessman. Born– 1941, in Ozark, Ala. Parents– Glenn Lawrence and Dorothy (McGee) Wells. Married– Gayle Brook in 1964. Children– Two. Married– Dean Faulkner in 1972. Education– University of Alabama, B.A.,1964;  M.A., 1968; University of Mississippi, Ph.D., 1975. English instructor at Murray State University, 1966-70; at the University of Mississippi, 1970-75; Northwest Mississippi Junior College, 1975-79.…

Biography: Writer, producer. Born– February 24, 1905, in Birmingham, Ala. Parents– Harry Statham and Nellie (Farrow) Weld. Married– Katherine McElroy Paul, February 12, 1937. Education– Auburn University, 1921-1922. Reporter, New York American, Paris Times, New York World, New York Herald (Paris). Scenario writer, Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures. Freelance writer, 1935-1942. Editor, Consolidated News of Consolidated…

Biography: Professor of Physical Education. Born– December 4, 1922, in Selma, Ala. Parents– William Pressley and Lucile (Burt) Welch. Married– Edith Crockford, March 25, 1945. Children– Three. Education– University of Alabama, 1941-1943; University of North Carolina, B.A., 1944, M.A.; Springfield, M.Ed., 1947; Peabody, Ed.D., 1952. Physical director, YMCA, Vicksburg Miss.; Pensacola, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga. Taught…

Biography: Poet; painter. Born– July 6, 1847, in Huntsville, Ala. Parents– William and Jane E. (Urquhart) Weeden.  Attended Huntsville Female Seminary and the Alabama Female Methodist College at Tuskegee (later Huntingdon College); private lessons with portrait painter William Frye.  Painted landscapes and Alabama wildflowers in watercolor; painted portraits, notably using African-American subjects.  Paintings were exhibited…

Biography: Editor; genealogist.. Born– September 10, 1917. Parents– Odie Clarke and Stella (Taylor) Walls. Education– University of Alabama, 1940. Chief clerk, Forestry Division, Gulf States Paper Co., Tuscaloosa, 1948-1954. Associate editor, News Bag Magazine, Tuscaloosa, 1954-1963; editor, 1963-. Editor, The Green Tree, Tuscaloosa, 1966-. Member UDC and DAR. Received award of excellence from Birmingham Association…

Biography: Lawyer, diplomat. Born– September 7, 1889, in Montgomery, Ala. Parents– George Platt and Susan Theresa (Jones) Waller. Education– University of Virginia, LL.B., 1912. Principal of high school, Chilhowie, Va., 1913. Vice consul or consul for U.S. Department of State, 1913-1950, serving in Nova Scotia; Austria; Greece; Kobe, Japan; Bizerte, Tunisia; La Ceiba, Honduras; Dresden,…

Biography: Engineer. Born– June 30, 1930, in Huntsville, Ala. Parents– William Cater and Marion Elizabeth (Terry) Wall. Married– Shirley Lenore Matzet, June 18, 1955. Children– Six. Education– Lafayette College, B.S., 1953; University of Oklahoma, M.A., 1971, M.B.A., 1975, Ph.D., 1978. Engineer, Allis-Chalmers, Milwaukee, 1953-1955; U.S. Army, 1955-1957. Redstone Arsenal, 1957-1981; Chief of Management data systems,…

Biography: Journalist; newspaper editor.  Born– July 29, 1934, in Birmingham, Ala. Parents–Robinson J. Ward Sr. and Margaret Ward.  Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1956.  Managing editor, Huntsville Times. One of three United States newspaper editors invited to People’s Republic of China for first formal exchange of journalists, 1980. Source: The Light Stuff. Publication(s): A Funny Thing Happened…

Biography: Attorney;  45th governor of Alabama; presidential candidate. Born– August 25, 1919, in Clio, Ala. Parents– George C. and Mozell (Smith) Wallace. Married– Lurleen Burns, May 23, 1943. Children– Four. Married– Cornelia Ellis Snively, June 4, 1971. Married– Lisa Taylor, September, 1981. Education– University of Alabama, LL.B., 1942. Admitted to Alabama bar, 1942. U.S. Air…

Biography: Journalist, teacher. Born–August 15, 1907 in Birmingham, Ala. Parents– Edward and Jessie (Culbert) Billings. Married– Erskine Ramsey Walker in 1934. Education– Judson College, A.B., 1928. Taught in public schools of Birmingham 1928-30. Society editor, Birmingham Post, 1930-1943; feature writer, Birmingham News, 1944-1947; director women’s dept., 1947-1960; associate editor, 1960-. Taught at Samford University, 1964-. Director,…