Obits

Lourinda Grooms dated 1905
obit of husband of Lucinda Grooms, Abijah Harris dated 1912
John Grooms obit, 1903
Martha Headrick Grooms death notice (no date)
to James M. Groom obit, 1930
James M. Groom funeral notice, 1930
Julian John Grooms obit, 1970
Ellsworth Groom obit, 1945

These were submitted by Don Grooms

Cynthia Ann Grooms Hall submitted by Peggy Contreras

The obituary for Sanford Grooms, printed in the Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA; on July 28, 1922 in the "Deaths and Funerals" section.
"Sanford Grooms, age 63, died at 3:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the city hospital, after an illness of over a year. Mr. Grooms is survived by his wife, four sons, Lonnie Grooms and Ashley Grooms, of Columbus; Henry Grooms, of Enterprise, Ala., and Sam Grooms, of Texas, and two daughters, Mrs. Mae Boutwell and Mrs. Pearl Boutwell, both of Enterprise. The funeral was held at 9:30 o'clock this morning from T.W. Britton's undertaking parlors at Second avenue and Thirty-first street. Rev. H. Stevens conducted the services, and burial followed in Pine Grove cemetery."

Printed in the Coolidge Herald, Coolidge, TX on the front page.
"Funeral Services for Mrs. J.S. Grooms, Sr. Held Thurs., March 27th.
Funeral services for Mrs. J.S. Grooms Sr., were held here Thursday, March 27, 1958, at the First Methodist Church at 2 p.m., following her death at the family home in this city on Tuesday evening, March 25, 1958, around 7 p.m. Rev. John Harper, pastor of the local Methodist Church, conducted the services. Interment was in the City Cemetery under direction of the McElroy Funeral Home. Alice Corinne Matthews was born in Skipperville, GA., on February 24, 1878, and was married to John Samuel Grooms on January 15, 1893, at Morgan, Georgia. To this young couple seven children were born, two of whom preceded their mother in death. The young couple came to Texas in 1898, and first settled at Buffalo, Texas, where they lived until 1907 when they moved to Coolidge where they had made their home since that time. Mr. and Mrs. Grooms celebrated their 65th. wedding anniversary on January 15th of this year. Mrs. Grooms had been in ill health for many months and while her death was not wholly unexpected when the end came it was a great shock to her husband and children, all of whom were at her bedside when the end came. All of the children had been at home for the past several days administering to their mother's every need. Survivors include her husband, J.S. Grooms, Sr., of this city, three daughters, Mrs. Robert F. Bryant, McCamey; Mrs. Milburn L. Copeland, Heidelburg, Miss.; Mrs. Hobart E. Gregory, Morgan City, LA.; two sons, Burrell W. Grooms, Coolidge, and Charlie G. Grooms, Orange. The two children preceding their mother in death were Alice Pearl Grooms, who died in 1900, and Samuel Dewitt Grooms, who died in 1946. Other immediate survivors include one brother, J. H. Matthews, Sr., of this city, and one sister, Mrs. C.C. Henson, Waco; twenty-one grand-children, and thirteen great grandchildren.

The obituary for Sarah Grooms that was reported to have been printed in the Columbus Ledger on 1/3/1941.

There was two articles printed in the Columbus Ledger on Jan 3, 1941. The following was reported to have appeared on p. 9 in the DEATHS - FUNERALS section.
The article stated "MRS. SARAH GROOMS,
Funeral services for Mrs. Sarah Grooms, 4316 Gilbert avenue, who died Thursday night, will be held at the North Highlands Baptist church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. T.P. Layton will officiate. Interment will be in Riverdale cemetery. The following will serve as pallbearers; Hub Carden, Jesse Baker, Mr. Walker, Walker Roose, Mr. Calicut and Lee Hutchinson."

The second article was reported to have appeared on p. 13 in the DEATHS - FUNERALS section.
The article stated "MRS. SARAH GROOMS,

Mrs. Sarah Grooms died at the city hospital Thursday night at 10 o'clock after an illness of two weeks. She had lived in Phenix City and Columbus for the past 20 years, moving here from Enterprise, Ala. Mrs. Grooms is survived by two sons, Ashley T. and Lonnie Grooms, of Columbus; two daughters, Mrs. Mary Whitten of Columbus, and Mrs. Pearl Boutweell, Florida; a sister, Mrs. Nicey Hughes, Florida; nine grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Funeral services will be conducted at the North Highlands Baptist church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Rev. T.P. Layton will officiate, and interment will be in Riverdale cemetery. The following will serve as pallbearers; Hub Carden, Jesse Baker, Mr. Walker, Mr. Calient, Walker Reese, and Lee Hutchinson."

The obituary for Sam Dewitt Grooms

"Final Rites For S.D. Grooms Held Saturday at City Cemetery. Last rites for Sam Dewitte Grooms were held Saturday afternoon, January 12, 1946, at 2:30 p.m., at the Methodist Church with the Rev. R.E. Briggs, former pastor of the local church, conducting the services. Rev. Briggs was assisted by the Rev. D.R. McCauley, pastor of the church, and Rev. Chet C. Henson, district superintendent. Interment followed in the City Cemetery with the Masonic Lodge in charge of the services, District Deputy Grand Master P.J. Bounds, Sr., delivered the Masonic oration. McElroy Funeral Home had charge of arrangements. Mr. Grooms died last Thursday in the veterans hospital at Waco after being carried there on the preceeding Monday. Mr. Grooms had been in ill helath since his discharge from the Navy in 1919, he having served with that branch of the service in World War I, enlisting in 1917, and he had been in and out of the various Government hospitals since that time, his health improving and then declining to where he would have to re-enter the hospital. Deceased worked on a number of war-time projects during the past few years and since his last employment at Oak Ridge, Tennessee his condition gradually grew worse; he engaged in buying cotton this past fall with D.T. Hawkins, illness kept him away from his work quite a bit of the time. Skipper Grooms was known to hundreds of ball fans in Central Texas as he was manager of the Coolidge team back in the days when this city was known far and wide for its ball playing activities. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and at the time of his passing was occupying the post of Worshipful Grand Master of Armour Lodge; he was a member of the Methodist Church, having united with that denomination in early childhood and held membership in the local church; he was also a charter member of Freeman-Paris Post No. 349, American Legion, and held several offices in that organization. Sam Dewitte Grooms was born in Buffalo on March 24, 1899, and came to Coolidge with his parents when he was about seven years of age and had called this city his home since that time. After his discharge from the Navy in 1919 Mr. Grooms and Miss Clara Christopherson were married on August 15, 1919, and to this union four children were born, GwyneeDee Grooms and Johnnie LaVerne Grooms, Dallas, John Samuel and Barbara Ann, of Coolidge, all of whom with their mother, survive. Other survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Grooms, of this city; two brothers, B.W. Grooms, Coolidge; Charlie G. Grooms of Orange; THree sisters, Mrs. Robert Bryant, Opeloousa, La.; Mrs. M.L. Copeland, Heidelburg, Miss., and Mrs. H.E. Gregory, Catlettsburg, Kentucky. Quite a number of other relatives also survive."

Lourinda Grooms was born at Louisiana MO, October 16, 1847, where she resided until grown.
She came to _______where she was married to Abijah Harris, March 7, 1869,
Since her marriage she has resided at Fall Creek.
She united with the Christian Church at the age of eighteen years and has been
an active member until her recent illness; her death occurring April 2, 1905,
aged 57 years, 5 months, and 17 days.
Mrs. Harris is the mother of two children, John and Emma, who with their father
still survive to mourn her loss, besides relatives and admiring and respectful
friends.
Out of respect to such a noble character we may well dedicate these words

Death takes us by surprise
and stays our hurrying feet;
The great design unfinished lies,
Our lives are incomplete.
But in the dark unknown
Perfect their circles seen,
Even as a bridge's arch of stone,
is rounded in the stream.

Mr. Abijah Harris had peacefully passed away Wednesday, October 30, we, this week
give a few facts concerning his life which will be of interest. He was a man
of many friends and will be greatly missed in the Harris home.
Abijah Harris was born in Fall Creek Township, Adams County, November 6th 1841.
He spent most of his life as a farmer on a farm near the place of his birth.
He lived an honorable upright industrious life and was highly respected by all
who knew him. He was a man of religious belief, though not a member of any
church.
He was married to Miss Lucinda Grooms in December 1868. Mrs. Harris died seven
years ago. Mr. Harris died at the home of his brother-in-law, Harry Lile,
where he had gone for a visit five weeks ago, at Superior, Nebr., on October
30th, 1912 aged 70 years, 11 months and 21 days. He leaves one son J. W. Harris
one daughter Mrs. Emma Stewart and two grandchildren, all of near Payson.
One sister, Mrs. Mary Hallock, who resides to Oregon and a host of friends.
The body was sent from Superior, Neb, to the home of his son John W. Harris
near Fall Creek, where the funeral services were held Saturday November 2
at 2 p.m. Rev. H. M. Ingram, pastor of the M. E. church in Payson, conducting
the service. Interment in Payson new cemetery.

John Grooms died at his home, 9 miles northwest of Sparks, Sunday, May 10, 1903 of lagrippe, after a short illness. Mr. Grooms was born in Kentucky on May 10, 1817, and afterwards moved to Gentry Co., Mo. On the 9th day of August 1842 he was married to Miss Martha Hedrick and to this union 14 children were born, 8 boys and 6 girls, 5 of the boys are still living. He leaves 28 grand children and 12 great grandchildren to mourn his loss. Mr. Grooms was one of the pioneer settlers of Missouri when it was opened for settlers and among the first in Cherry county, having come here in the fall of 1883.

"Departed from this world of care,
Into a far and better land,
To meet the loved ones gone before,
And walk upon the golden strand.

2nd obit:

John Grooms died at the home of his son, Aaron, Sunday, May 10, 1903, his birthday, at the age of 86 years. Since 1884 he has been a resident of Cherry county, coming here from Missouri, and was honored and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. About two years ago his wife died. He was the father of eight boys and six girls, of whom he is survived by five boys. Remains of the decased were laid to rest in the Sparks cemetery Tuesday, May 12th, the funeral sermon being preached by Rev. Ray, of this city. The funeral was largely attended by friends and neighbors who desired to pay their last respects to one they had known so long.

These are both from the Valentine, Nebraska paper.

The only thing that was ever published about the death of Martha Sarah Headrick Grooms was the following:

Died on Friday Nov. 23rd of old age Mrs. Grooms wife of old Uncle Johnny Grooms. Mrs. Grooms had been quite feebel for some time past.

James Grooms Is Dead ----- Kelly Butte Jailer Passes Suddenly; Cause Uncertain

James Groom, about 68, jailer at the Kelly Butte county prison for the last ten years, died suddenly at 3:30 pm yesterday, according to word received from T. M. Hurlburt, Multnomah county sheriff.

Groom, who lived at 63 Eighty-eighth street, telephoned the prison at noon to tell the executive staff that he was not feeling well. A member of the staff went out to the house, Sheriff Hurlburt said, Groom died three hours later. Information was not obtainable last night, but fellow workders said that he was married. He is believed to have a son in the east.

"The Oregonian", Portland, OR, Sat, Oct 18, 1930, p 3, col 2

Funeral Notice

GROOM--In this city, James M. Groom, aged 70 years, late of 63 E. 88th street, beloved husband of Mrs. Vivian Groom. Funeral services will be held Monday, Otober 20, at 2 p.m., from the R. W. Gable Funeral Hom, 73 E. 80th N. Friends invited. Multnomah cemetery.

"The Sunday Oregonian", Portland, OR, Sat, Oct 19, 1930, sec 2, p 3 col 6.

Julian John Grooms age 60, died Aug 5, 1970. Born Oct 27, 1919 in Grandbury, TX, came to Portland in 1940. 1942-1946 US Army Air Corps. Machinest for Reynolds Metals Co. in Troutdale. Survived by wife, Nadine, one son, Terry of Troutdale, four daughters, Laurie and Linda Grooms of Portland, Mrs. Judy Boyko of Sandy and Mrs. Patricia Rife of Portland; two brothers, James Grooms of Dallas, TX, Merle Grooms of Casper, WY, one sister, Mrs. Darlene Matthew of Wichita Falls, TX and mother, Mrs. Lela Grooms of Wichita Falls, TX.

"The Sunday Oregonian", Portland, Aug 9, 1970, p 41, col 4

Ellsworth Groom died Tues May 22, 1945. Born in Belmond, IA Oct 31, 1870, came to Portland 45 years go. Telegraph operator for the Northern Pacific terminal company, retired in 1937. Burial Lincoln Memorial Park, vault entombment. Survivors wife, Berenice Groom, two daughters, Mrs. Helen Stark and Mrs. Vivian McClune, and a son, Jack Groom, all of Portland, son Stytzel X. Groom, San Francisco, and four grandchildren.

"The Oregonian", Portland, Thurs, May 24, 1945, p 9 col 2.

Handwritten obituary of Cynthia Hall written by Willard Hall Rees (son-in-law) in my possession:
"At half past 6 o'clock Sunday morning June 20th 1897 Mrs. Cyntha Ann Hall a pioneer mother died at the residence of W. H. Rees her son in law near Butteville where she has made her home since 1869 having reached the advanced age of 92 years 8 months and 18 days. Cyntha Ann Grooms was born in Clark Co Ky, October 2d 1804 where she remained until attaining her 13 year, when her parents removed to Missouri- finally settling near Liberty Clay County where on July 4th 1824 she was married to James E. Hall. They continued that residence in that vicinity until April 1845 when they crossed the plains to Oregon, settling near Butteville, in what was then known as Champoeg- now Marion County- "

Submitted by Peggy Contreras

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