Person Page - 550

Ethelene Carter¹

• Father: Charles Harrell Carter¹ b. 1 Nov 1899, d. 26 Sep 1961
• Mother: Mary Annie Raye¹ b. 17 Sep 1901, d. 29 Dec 1935

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 29 Oct 2013

• Birth*: 14 January 1925; Lanett, Chambers Co., Alabama¹
• (Granddaughter) 1930 Census: 1 April 1930; Lanett, Chambers Co., Alabama; son-in-law=Charles Harrell Carter²
• (Daughter) 1940 Census: 1 April 1940; Lanett, Chambers Co., Alabama; Head of Household=Charles Harrell Carter³
• Married Name: say 1946; Martin
• Marriage*: say 1946; Principal=Cecil M. Martin
• Death*: 23 April 1998; Lanett, Chambers Co., Alabama¹
• Burial*: say 25 April 1998; Oakwood Cemetery, Lanett, Chambers Co., Alabama¹

George Jefferson Raye

• Last Edited: 29 Oct 2013

• Birth*: 2 December 1876
• Marriage*: say 1905; Chambers Co., Alabama; Principal=Sallie Jane (?)¹
• (Head of Household) 1930 Census: 1 April 1930; Lanett, Chambers Co., Alabama; son-in-law=Charles Harrell Carter²
• Death*: 23 November 1954; Chambers Co., Alabama
• Burial*: say 25 November 1954; Oakwood Cemetery, Lanett, Chambers Co., Alabama³

Sallie Jane (?)¹

• Last Edited: 29 Oct 2013

• Birth*: 11 February 1884¹
• Marriage*: say 1905; Chambers Co., Alabama; Principal=George Jefferson Raye¹
• Married Name: say 1905; Raye¹
• (Wife) 1930 Census: 1 April 1930; Lanett, Chambers Co., Alabama; son-in-law=Charles Harrell Carter²
• Death*: 7 July 1984; Lanett, Chambers Co., Alabama¹

Cecil M. Martin

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 29 Oct 2013

• Birth*: 12 December 1924¹
• Marriage*: say 1946; Principal=Ethelene Carter
• Death*: 11 August 2012²

Eva Mae Brown

• Father: Alonzo Gibson Brown b. 10 Nov 1871, d. 17 Apr 1953
• Mother: Jennie M. Mills b. 1 Feb 1878

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 30 Oct 2013

• Birth*: 17 February 1906; Alabama¹
• Married Name: circa 1927; Carter
• Marriage*: circa 1927; Principal=Kennis Brewer Carter
• (Wife) 1930 Census: 1 April 1930; Phenix City, Russell Co., Alabama; Head of Household=Kennis Brewer Carter²
• (Wife) 1940 Census: 1 April 1940; Girard, Russell Co., Alabama; Head of Household=Kennis Brewer Carter³
• Death*: 1 June 1975; Phenix City, Russell Co., Alabama^1,4
• Burial*: say 3 June 1975; Pine Grove Cemetery, Phenix City, Russell Co., Alabama¹

Alonzo Gibson Brown

• Last Edited: 30 Oct 2013

• Birth*: 10 November 1871; Alabama¹
• Marriage*: 19 April 1895; Lee Co., Alabama; Principal=Jennie M. Mills²
• (Father-in-law) 1940 Census: 1 April 1940; Girard, Russell Co., Alabama; Head of Household=Kennis Brewer Carter³
• Death*: 17 April 1953; Auburn, Lee Co., Alabama⁴
• Burial*: say 20 April 1953; Pine Grove Cemetery, Phenix City, Russell Co., Alabama¹

Jennie M. Mills

• Last Edited: 30 Oct 2013

• Birth*: 1 February 1878; Georgia¹
• Marriage*: 19 April 1895; Lee Co., Alabama; Principal=Alonzo Gibson Brown²
• Married Name: 19 April 1895; Brown²

Gertrude (?)

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 30 Oct 2013

• Birth*: circa 1909; Alabama
• Married Name: say 1932; Carter
• Marriage*: say 1932; Alabama; Principal=Ernest Lee Carter
• (Wife) 1940 Census: 1 April 1940; Girard, Russell Co., Alabama; Principal=Ernest Lee Carter¹

Nannie Bell Howell

• Father: James Wiley Howell b. 30 Oct 1867, d. 15 May 1933
• Mother: Julia Coleman b. s 1869

• Charts: Stewart Descendants, Strickland Descendants

• Last Edited: 30 Oct 2013

• Birth*: October 1890; Chambers Co., Alabama
• (Daughter) 1900 Census: 1 June 1900; Chambers Co., Alabama; Principal=James Wiley Howell¹
• (Daughter) 1910 Census: 15 April 1910; Chambers Co., Alabama; Principal=James Wiley Howell²
• Married Name: 29 January 1911; Benton
• Marriage*: 29 January 1911; Chambers Co., Alabama; Principal=Robert Oscar Benton³
• Death*: 13 October 1961; Valley, Chambers Co., Alabama⁴
• Burial*: say 15 October 1961; Penton Church of God Cemetery, Chambers Co., Alabama⁴

Robert Oscar Benton

• Charts: Stewart Descendants, Strickland Descendants

• Last Edited: 25 Feb 2018

• Name-Comm: Bob Benton
• Birth*: 6 October 1878; Chambers Co., Alabama; son of James W. Benton & Mary Woodall¹
• Marriage*: 29 January 1911; Chambers Co., Alabama; Principal=Nannie Bell Howell²
• Death*: 23 April 1941; Chambers Co., Alabama¹
• Burial*: say 25 April 1941; Penton Church of God Cemetery, Chambers Co., Alabama¹

Julia Coleman¹

• Charts: Stewart Descendants, Strickland Descendants

• Last Edited: 30 Oct 2013

• Birth*: say 1869
• Married Name: 12 November 1889; Howell
• Marriage*: 12 November 1889; Chambers Co., Alabama; Principal=James Wiley Howell¹

Winnie Lee Slay

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Stewart Descendants, Strickland Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 30 Oct 2013

• Birth*: 1903; Chambers Co., Alabama
• Married Name: say 1924; Howell
• Marriage*: say 1924; Principal=Marvin Wiley Howell
• Death*: 1 February 1972; Alexander City, Tallapoosa Co., Alabama
• Burial*: say 3 February 1972; Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Huguley, Chambers Co., Alabama¹

Walter Woods

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 1 Nov 2013

• Birth*: circa 1879; Georgia
• Marriage*: circa 1917; Cullman Co., Alabama; Principal=Gracy Ragsdale
• (head of family) 1920 Census*: 1 January 1920; Cullman Co., Alabama; Wife=Gracy Ragsdale, Son=Hersching Woods¹

Hersching Woods

• Father: Walter Woods b. c 1879
• Mother: Gracy Ragsdale b. Oct 1887

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 1 Nov 2013

• Birth*: circa 1918; DeKalb Co., Alabama
• (Son) 1920 Census: 1 January 1920; Cullman Co., Alabama; head of family=Walter Woods¹

Annie B. Fuller

• Mother: Jane (?) b. c 1839

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 1 Nov 2013

• Name Variation: Allie Fuller
• Birth*: circa 1888; Alabama
• Married Name: circa 1905; Ragsdale
• Marriage*: circa 1905; Alabama; Principal=Sanders Walker Ragsdale
• (Wife) 1920 Census: 1 January 1920; Cullman Co., Alabama; head of family=Sanders Walker Ragsdale¹
• (Wife) 1930 Census: 1 April 1930; Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama; Head of Household=Sanders Walker Ragsdale²

Herbert G. Ragsdale

• Father: Sanders Walker Ragsdale b. 12 Dec 1885
• Mother: Annie B. Fuller b. c 1888

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 1 Nov 2013

• Birth*: circa 1906; Cullman Co., Alabama
• (Son) 1920 Census: 1 January 1920; Cullman Co., Alabama; head of family=Sanders Walker Ragsdale¹
• (Son) 1930 Census: 1 April 1930; Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama; Head of Household=Sanders Walker Ragsdale²

James Kay Ragsdale

• Father: Sanders Walker Ragsdale b. 12 Dec 1885
• Mother: Annie B. Fuller b. c 1888

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 1 Nov 2013

• Birth*: circa 1910; Cullman Co., Alabama
• (Son) 1920 Census: 1 January 1920; Cullman Co., Alabama; head of family=Sanders Walker Ragsdale¹
• (Son) 1930 Census: 1 April 1930; Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama; Head of Household=Sanders Walker Ragsdale²
• Death*: 21 November 1968; Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama

Carl Woodrow Ragsdale

• Father: Sanders Walker Ragsdale b. 12 Dec 1885
• Mother: Annie B. Fuller b. c 1888

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 1 Nov 2013

• Birth*: circa 1912; Cullman Co., Alabama
• (Son) 1920 Census: 1 January 1920; Cullman Co., Alabama; head of family=Sanders Walker Ragsdale¹
• (Son) 1930 Census: 1 April 1930; Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama; Head of Household=Sanders Walker Ragsdale²

Frances T. Ragsdale

• Father: Sanders Walker Ragsdale b. 12 Dec 1885
• Mother: Annie B. Fuller b. c 1888

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 1 Nov 2013

• Birth*: circa 1914; Cullman Co., Alabama
• (Daughter) 1920 Census: 1 January 1920; Cullman Co., Alabama; head of family=Sanders Walker Ragsdale¹
• (Daughter) 1930 Census: 1 April 1930; Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama; Head of Household=Sanders Walker Ragsdale²

Annie Louise Ragsdale

• Father: Sanders Walker Ragsdale b. 12 Dec 1885
• Mother: Annie B. Fuller b. c 1888

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 1 Nov 2013

• Birth*: circa 1917; Cullman Co., Alabama
• (Daughter) 1920 Census: 1 January 1920; Cullman Co., Alabama; head of family=Sanders Walker Ragsdale¹
• (Daughter) 1930 Census: 1 April 1930; Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama; Head of Household=Sanders Walker Ragsdale²

Jane (?)

• Last Edited: 1 Nov 2013

• Birth*: circa 1839; Georgia
• (mother-in-law) 1920 Census: 1 January 1920; Cullman Co., Alabama; head of family=Sanders Walker Ragsdale¹

Lilllie L. Harris

• Father: John W. Harris b. c 1860
• Mother: Mary Elizabeth (?) b. 26 Mar 1867, d. 6 Oct 1939

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 10 Nov 2013

• Birth*: circa 1893; Alabama
• Married Name: circa 1916; Ragsdale
• Marriage*: circa 1916; Cullman Co., Alabama; Principal=Carl Cortez Ragsdale
• (Wife) 1930 Census: 1 April 1930; Cullman, Cullman Co., Alabama; Principal=Carl Cortez Ragsdale¹

Mary Elizabeth (?)

• Last Edited: 10 Nov 2013

• Birth*: 26 March 1867; Danville, Morgan Co., Alabama
• Married Name: say 1888; Harris
• Marriage*: say 1888; Principal=John W. Harris
• Death*: 6 October 1939; Cullman, Cullman Co., Alabama

John W. Harris

• Last Edited: 10 Nov 2013

• Birth*: circa 1860; Alabama
• Marriage*: say 1888; Principal=Mary Elizabeth (?)

Carlton Cornel Ragsdale¹

• Father: Carl Cortez Ragsdale¹ b. 28 Mar 1892, d. Nov 1981
• Mother: Lilllie L. Harris¹ b. c 1893

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 10 Nov 2013

• Birth*: 2 June 1917; Alabama²
• (Son) 1930 Census: 1 April 1930; Cullman, Cullman Co., Alabama; Principal=Carl Cortez Ragsdale³
• Marriage*: circa 1936; Cullman, Cullman Co., Alabama; Principal=Melda Ponder
• 1940 Census*: 1 April 1940; Cullman, Cullman Co., Alabama; Wife=Melda Ponder⁴
• Death*: 5 November 1991; Cullman, Cullman Co., Alabama¹

Melda Ponder

• Charts: James GRIFFIN I Descendants, Mary GRIFFIN Key Descendants

• Last Edited: 10 Nov 2013

• Birth*: 12 August 1918; Cullman, Cullman Co., Alabama; daugher of George W. Ponder and Pearl Sims¹
• Married Name: circa 1936; Ragsdale
• Marriage*: circa 1936; Cullman, Cullman Co., Alabama; Principal=Carlton Cornel Ragsdale
• (Wife) 1940 Census: 1 April 1940; Cullman, Cullman Co., Alabama; Principal=Carlton Cornel Ragsdale²
• Death*: 23 March 2013; Cullman, Cullman Co., Alabama; Mrs. Melda Ponder Ragsdale, 94, of Cullman passed away peacefully at home Saturday afternoon, March 23, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. Her son, Larry, Barbara and grandson, Mike, were with her during her last hours.
  
  A wife, mother, homemaker, business partner with her husband, Carlton Cornell Ragsdale, during his life, and a faithful follower and worker at First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, from her birth, Mrs. Ragsdale epitomized the very essence of a quiet Southern woman.
  
  A devoted and much-loved only daughter of her deceased parents, George W. Ponder Sr. and Pearl Sims Ponder, she always was determined to do her best at whatever she undertook. She attended Sacred Heart High School for girls and later married Carlton, her high school sweetheart.
  
  She and her family lived in the same historic neighborhood for three-fourths of her life, first in the Ponder home on Highway 278 East, then after her marriage in her new residence two blocks over on First Street Southeast. She and Carlton raised three boys there: George Carlton Ragsdale, Larry Leroy Ragsdale and Ronald Albert "Ronnie" Ragsdale.
  
  She served on PTAs, as a Cub Scout leader and was a participant in all things related to her children. During their childhoods, the family often traveled to Guntersville to spend summers and weekends there with their Ragsdale and Ponder family and friends, bringing other young folks along to "play." She cooked constantly to feed the visitors, fished as much as she could with her mother-in-law, Lillie Ragsdale, and friend, Velma Chandler, and shared the unique love only she could give. Their cousin, Joyce Ponder, and friend, Alice Chandler, spent fun times with them and just ask David Moss and David McKoy to tell you some of their "experiences" in Guntersville!
  
  When her husband, Carlton, founded Ragsdale Hardware Store in downtown Cullman, she worked beside him, riding a bike with George in the handebar basket to work each morning! When they moved in the 1960s to a farm on Fromhold Road and raised chickens and a massive garden, she was right beside him. When he entered the home construction business and built a subdivision on part of their property on St. Joseph Street Northwest, she was at his side coordinating colors, bath fixtures and appliances.
  
  When Carlton began his association with the Tennessee Walking Horse world, he and his favorite horse, Slip, and the family traveled around to competitions in the South. Melda's tailgating food was a highlight for the many show folks who crowded around their vehicle each weekend. They made lifelong friends among the horse association family during those successful competitive years.
  
  After spending 20 or so years on the farm, they decided it was time to retire and they moved to her mother's last home after her passing, one block from the original Ponder homeplace. She was back in familiar territory once again.
  
  Melda and Carlton dearly loved spending time with their grandchildren, David, Mike and Joe, who always were eager to go to them as well! While Carlton was not around to enjoy his great-grandchildren, Melda took much pride in Jayne, Kelsey, Carlton and Holly. Her face lit up whenever they were around as did the kids. Love reciprocated! Thank you all for the special love and affection you shared with Grandmother Melda.
  
  Their retirement years gave Melda and Carlton much joy as they took to the road, first in a car, changing motels every night. Once back from that initial foray, they became a "motor home" couple, or as Carlton's dad, Carl C. Ragsdale used to call it, a "roadhouse." Their motoring outings took them all over the United States and provided not only them, but some of their friends with great travel experiences. Their pal, Gracie Grissom, can testify to that! Their "fun" ended when Carlton began to experience serious strokes, declining health and then death on Nov. 5, 1991. Melda was a 60-year member of the Cullman Chapter No. 35 Order of the Eastern Star organization and served in many capacities, including Grand Matron.
  
  She worked in numerous offices and positions in First Christian Church and was a talented seamstress, joining with the ladies of the Christian Women's Fellowship in making various quilts, Christmas ornaments and sundry items for their Christmas bazaar and Soup Day, which was held every November on election day. She delighted in discovering new designs for the varied Christmas patterns she so diligently crafted each year for family and the bazaars. Thanksgiving always was special, as she presented her children and grandchildren with their "new" ornaments, which had been kept a "secret" all year long as she worked on each delightful pattern.
  
  She learned the art of perfection from her mother, Mama Pearl, and even the stitches on the backs of her quilts were as perfect as the front! When her quilts, handiwork and baked goods were entered in the annual Cullman County fairs, she always came home with blue ribbons for her expertise. After Carlton passed away, Melda, Barbara and Frances Norton made numerous trips to places of interest, making many precious memories of sites, laughter, stories from their past and fun. Oh, for the good ol' days once again!
  
  Melda gave her heart and soul to her beloved church, and when the congregation had to disband in 2010, only she and Dorothy Henderson were the original oldest attending members. At that time, the church building was only three years away from turning 100 this year, 2013.
  
  Following Carlton's death, she continued to live in her home until the tornado of April 27, 2011, tore through Cullman and destroyed it. She was in the hospital or she would have been a casualty as all the trees in her yard were uprooted and landed on her roof and fell through into the house. Dr. Michael Hall saved her life, once again, as he had put her in the hospital for pneumonia that very morning! She was 92 at the time.
  
  Following the destruction of her home on Seventh Ave. Southeast, she moved in with her son, Larry, and Barbara for the remainder of her days.
  
  Mrs. Ragsdale was preceded in death by her husband, Carlton C. Ragsdale; her third son, Ronald A. Ragsdale; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Ponder Sr.; three brothers, Albert Ponder, Elbert E. Ponder and George W. Ponder Jr.; and Carlton's parents, Carl Cortez and Lillie Harris Ragsdale.
  
  She is survived by two sons, George Carlton Ragsdale of San Marcos, California, and Larry Leroy Ragsdale Nad daughter-in-law, Barbara Gootee Ragsdale of Cullman; three grandsons, David Allen Ragsdale of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, James Michael Ragsdale and his wife, Angela Herschede Ragsdale of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; and Joseph Carlton Ragsdale of Panama City Beach, Florida; four great-grandchildren, Jayne Elaine Ragsdale and Kelsey Anne Ragsdale of Jacksonville, Florida, Carlton Strauss Ragsdale and Holly Camille Ragsdale of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; two sisters-in-law, Frances Duke Ponder of Birmingham and Judy Jordan Ponder Fehler of Cullman; a nephew, George W. Ponder III of Cullman; three nieces, Suzy Ponder Eidson of Callaway Gardens, Georgia, Joyce Ponder Cahoon of Birmingham and Linda Battles of Jasper; and Pat Eddleman Ragsdale Hyland of Shelbyville, Tennessee.
  
  Most of her contemporaries are waiting for her in heaven, but her very special "family friend," Freda Thompson, who herself is 101, has been her "phone" connection on a daily basis for many, many years. Thanks, Freda, for being there during her lifetime! You two shared so very much history together dating back to your teenage years! She loved you dearly.
  
  Special thanks to Hospice of Cullman County workers and especially Darlene Smith; to Lisa Phenicia from Oxford Health Care; and to Melda's favorite doctor, Michael Hall, and his "right arm," Paulette Lackey Trimble. You all are blessed and you have been a blessing to the Ragsdale family all these years! You were so special to Melda (and us).
  
  The funeral will be at Moss-Service Funeral Home Chapel, Wednesday, March 27. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m., with the service beginning at 11 a.m. Preachers will be Rev. Robin Lambert and Rev. C.J. Cobb, former pastors of First Christian Church. David Christopher, former music minister at First Christian, will sing three of Melda's favorite religious hyms: "He Touched Me", "In The Garden", and "On Eagles Wings".
  
  Pallbearers will be her grandsons, David, Mike and Joe; and great-grandson, Carlton, with Pat Spiegle from the former First Christian Church, and Gary Murphree, lifelong friend of the family.
  
  Interment will be at Cullman City Cemetery, but there will not be any graveside services there.
  
  In lieu of flowers, if you wish to memorialize Melda, please make a donation to your favorite charity.
  
  (Melda Ponder Ragsdale was a quiet, refined woman who did not seek attention or the limelight. This obituary is written with great love, as a testament to the life she lived, the love she shared and to the spirit she leaves behing. You will be missed, dear Melda, and never forgotten. Rest in peace.).
  
  Published in The Cullman Times 03/25/2013.³