DOWNING, Lella* ^{1131,1178,1273,5104,5330,5343}

   Other names for Lella* were DOWNING, Lela D.,⁵³³² HAYWOOD, Lella,^{1136,1304,1352,1353,1354,1356,5186,5187,5329,5336,5347,5348} HAYWOOD, Lella D.,^1164,5334 HAYWOOD, Lella Downing ^{1123,5096,5333,5343} and HAYWOOD, W. O., Mrs..¹¹³⁷

  Death Notes:

Died at home at 2721 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville.

  Noted events in her life were:

• Alt. Birth, cir 1874, North Carolina. ¹¹⁷⁸

• Alt. Birth, 1 Jan 1876, Bladen Co, NC. ^1164,5096

• Census, 15 Jun 1880, Cedar Creek Twp, Cumberland Co, NC. ¹¹⁷⁸
1) Downing, Henry W., age 33, married, farmer, born NC, parents born NC
2) Downing, Sophia, age 28, wife, married, keeping house, born NC, parents born NC
3) Downing, Empie, age 8, son, attends school, born NC, parents born NC
4) Downing, Matena, age 7, daughter, born NC, parents born NC
5) Downing, Lella, age 6, daughter, born NC, parents born NC
6) Downing, Danill L., age 3, son, born NC, parents born NC
7) Downing, Susan G., age 1, daughter, born NC, parents born NC.

• Education: Whitsett Institute: Whitsett, Guilford Co, NC. Lella studied at the Whitsett Institute. (recollection of Gladys Haywood Lindley)

• Census, 18 Jun 1900, Geddies Gin Precinct, Cumberland Co, NC. ¹¹³¹
1) Downing, William H., head of household, age 53, married for 28 years, born NC, parents born NC, farmer, owns his farm free
2) Downing, Sophia, wife, age 48, married for 28 years, 10 children, 9 living, born NC, parents born NC
3) Downing, Tera, daughter, age 25, single, born NC, parents born NC
4) Downing, Lella, daughter, age 24, single, born NC, parents born NC
5) Downing, Daniel L., son, age 23, single, born NC, parents born NC, at college 10 months
6) Downing, Susan G., daughter, age 21, single, born NC, parents born NC, at school 10 months
7) Downing, Cleta, daughter, age 16, born NC, parents born NC, at school 9 months
8) Downing, Ethel, daughter, age 12, born NC, parents born NC, at school 9 months
9) Downing, Latta, son, age 12, born NC, parents born NC, at school 9 months
10) Downing, Burline, daughter, age 7, born NC, parents born NC, at school 2 months.

• Property, 1904, Cumberland Co, NC. W O and Lella Haywood to G M Willis, 70 acres, Cape Fear River. (Cumberland Co Deed book 123, page 175)

• Property, 1906, Flea Hill Twp, Cumberland Co, NC. W H Downing to Lella Haywood, 28 acres, Clinton Road. (Cumberland Co Deed book 138, page 80)

• Census, 19 Apr 1910, Fayetteville, Cumberland Co, NC. ¹³⁵²
1) Haywood, Oscar, head of household, age 33, married for 1st time for 9 years, born NC, parents born NC, manager at livery stable, rents his home at 324 Raeford Lane
2) Haywood, Lella, wife, age 34, married for 1st time for 9 years, 4 children, 4 living, born NC, parents born NC, no occupation
3) Haywood, Gladys, daughter, age 7, born NC, parents born NC, attending school
4) Haywood, Hilton, daughter, age 5, born NC, parents born NC, not attending school
5) Haywood, Aline, daughter, age 4, born NC, parents born NC
6) Haywood, Houston, son, age 1, born NC, parents born NC.

• Property, 1911, Fayetteville, Cumberland Co, NC. [father] W H Downing to Lella Haywood, lot on Cool Spring St. (Cumberland Co Deed book 164, page 280)

• Property, 1913, Fayetteville, Cumberland Co, NC. W O and Lella Haywood to James A Barnes, lot on Cool Springs St. (Cumberland Co Deed book 173, page 30)

• Property, 1914, Flea Hill Twp, Cumberland Co, NC. [father] W H Downing to Lella Haywood, 25 acres, Flea Hill. (Cumberland Co Deed book 178, page 492)

• Census, 3 Jan 1920, Fayetteville, Cumberland Co, NC. ¹³⁵³
1) Haywood, W. O., head of household, rents his home at 448 Russell St., age 42, married, born NC, parents born NC, clerk at grocery store
2) Haywood, Lella, wife, age 43, married, born NC, parents born NC, no occupation
3) Haywood, Gladys, daughter, age 17, attends school, born NC, parents born NC
4) Haywood, Hilton, daughter, age 15, attends school, born NC, parents born NC
5) Haywood, Aline, daughter, age 13, attends school, born NC, parents born NC
6) Haywood, Houston, son, age 11, attends school, born NC, parents born NC
7) Haywood, Harold, son, age 8, attends school, born NC, parents born NC
8) Haywood, Ethel, daughter, age 6, not attending school, born NC, parents born NC.

• Appearance in Document, 25 Mar 1922, Cumberland Co, NC. Will of W H Downing mentions dau Mrs Lella Haywood ($2455). (Cumberland Co Will Book J, p359)

• Property, 1923, Flea Hill Twp, Cumberland Co, NC. [father] W H Downing to Lella Haywood, 2 Ts, Flea Hill. (Cumberland Co Deed book 298, page 637)

• Property, 1926, Cedar Creek Twp, Cumberland Co, NC. W O and Lella Haywood to Carter, .6 acres, Cedar Creek. (Cumberland Co Deed book 330, page 273)

• Property, 1928, Flea Hill Twp, Cumberland Co, NC. Cancelled deed of trust from W O Haywood and Lella Haywood to W C Downing, trustee, T, Flea Hill (Cumberland Co Deed book 344, p302)

• Census, 10 Apr 1930, Eastover Twp, Cumberland Co, NC. ⁵³³⁶
1) Haywood, W. Oscar, head of household, owns his farm on Old Clinton Road, $7000 home value, age 53, married, first married at 34, born NC, parents born NC, farm manager, not a veteran
2) Haywood, Lella, wife, age 54, married, first married at 35, born NC, parents born NC, no occupation
3) Haywood, Harold, son, age 18, attends school, born NC, parents born NC, grocery clerk
4) Haywood, Ethel, daughter, age 16, attends school, born NC, parents born NC
5) Haywood, Harlan, son, age 10, attends school, born NC, parents born NC.

• Appearance in Document, 6 Jan 1932, Cumberland Co, NC. Will of Mrs Sophia Downing says sons are to use the sale of property to pay debts, and if money is left over, they are to pay daughter Mrs Lella Downing Haywood as much of the balance due her as possible of the amount willed to her by W H Downing. (Cumberland Co Will Book K, p59)

• Property, 1934, Eastover Twp, Cumberland Co, NC. Cancelled deed of trust from W O and Lella Haywood to Rankin, trustee, 140.5 acres, Eastover. (Cumberland Co Deed book 373, p620)

• Property, 1936, Eastover Twp, Cumberland Co, NC. W O and Lella Haywood to L G Hair, 140.5 acres, Eastover. (Deed book 396, page 2)

• Appearance in Document: Court Petition, 15 Jul 1937, Cumberland Co, NC. ⁵³³⁴ A petition from Robert J. Powell, who is the receiver for Cumberland National Bank of Fayetteville, which suspended business on Jan 4 1932. He is trying to liquidate the banks assets. Among the items listed is "a note reduced to judgement against W. O. Haywood and Lella D. Haywood in the principal sum of $250.00. The debtors have signed statements reflecting insolvency and your petitioner is convinced, after thorough investigation, that they are insolvent and that little or nothing could be realized by executing under the judgement. They offer th esum of $275.00 cash in full settlement of the note and judgement, to be taken in satisfaction of the principal, accrued interest and costs, and your petitioner is convinced that the best interest of said bank and its depositors would be served by accepting said offer and cancel the judgement of record." There are three other assets discussed in the petition, some offering less thatn the owed amount. The court empowers Powell to accept the offer.

• Census, 19 Apr 1940, Eastover Twp, Cumberland Co, NC. ¹³⁵⁶
1. Haywood, William O., head of household, owns his home, valued at $2500, age 63, married, completed 10th grade, born NC, lived in same house on 1 Apr 1935, worked 40 hours during week of March 24-30, occupation operator of produce company, wage or salary worker, worked 52 weeks during 1939, earned $900 during 1939, no other income
2. Haywood, Lella, wife, age 64, married, completed 8th grade, born NC, engaged in home housework, received other income
3. Haywood, Aileen, daughter, age 32, divorced, completed 9th grade, born NC, was assigned to public emergency work during week of March 24-30, was seeking work during week of March 24-30, worked 52 weeks during 1939, no other income
4. Haywood, Harrold, son, age 28, single, completed 10th grade, born NC, worked 40 hours during week of March 24-30, occupation salesman at cigar company, wage or salary worker, worked 52 weeks during 1939, earned $1200 during 1939, received other income
5. Haywood, Ethel, daughter, age 26, single, completed 9th grade, born NC, worked 44 hours during week of March 24-30, occupation operator of beauty shop, wage or salary worker, worked 52 weeks during 1939, earned $800 during 1939, no other income.

• Census, 8 Apr 1950, Cedar Creek, Cumberland Co, NC. ⁵³⁴⁸
Haywood, Lella, head (living alone), living in East Fayetteville near intersection of Hwy 53 and Old Clinton Road, 74, widow, b NC, keeping house

• Will, 13 Apr 1953, Cumberland Co, NC. Will of Lella D Haywood splits her estate among all her children, but does not name the children. Executor is Huston Haywood of Fayetteville. Will is dated Randleman, 13 Apr 1953, and witnessed by Cleta D Bell and Annie S Bell, with notary A Fleming Bell. Proved 25 July 1955. When proved, the heirs are named as Virginia Gladys Haywood Lindley, Lina Hilton Haywood Denning, Lella Aline Haywood Weeks, Ethel Sophia Haywood Bennett, Oscar Harold Haywood, and William Houston Haywood. A note in the records says final o/c filed 11-9-56, Book 9, pg 184. (Cumberland Co Will Book N, p259)

• Medical, 16 May 1955. ⁵⁰⁹⁶ Lella had a myocardial infarction on 16 May 1955, prior to a second fatal infarction on 24 July 1955.

• Residence: 2721 Ramsey Street, 24 Jul 1955, Fayetteville, Cumberland Co, NC. ⁵⁰⁹⁶

• Probate, 25 Jul 1955, Cumberland Co, NC. Will of Lella D Haywood proved 25 July 1955. When proved, the heirs are named as Virginia Gladys Haywood Lindley, Lina Hilton Haywood Denning, Lella Aline Haywood Weeks, Ethel Sophia Haywood Bennett, Oscar Harold Haywood, and William Houston Haywood. A note in the records says final o/c filed 11-9-56, Book 9, pg 184. (Cumberland Co Will Book N, p259)

• Obituary: News and Observer, 26 Jul 1955, Raleigh, Wake Co, NC. ¹¹⁶⁴ FAYETTEVILLE - Mrs. Lella Downing Haywood died at her home Sunday morning following an illness of two months. Born in Bladen County Jan 1 1876, she was the daughter of the late Henry Downing and Sophia Smith Downing. She was a resident of Fayetteville and Cumberland County for the past 69 years and was one of the oldest residents of the county. She was a charter member of Walston Memorial Baptist Church. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Gladys Lindley, Chapel Hill, Mrs. Hilton Denning, Mrs. Alene Weeks and Mrs. Ethel Bennett, all of Fayetteville; two sons, Houston and Harold Haywood, both of Fayetteville; two brothers, E. M. and H. L. Downing, both of Fayetteville; two sisters, Mrs. Clete Bell of Randelman and Mrs. Burline Hair of Fayetteville; eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. from Temple Baptist Church, which she helped organize. Burial will be in Cross Creem Cemetery.

• Appearance in Document: Death Certificate, 3 Aug 1955, Cumberland Co, NC. ⁵³⁴⁹ Lella Downing Haywood, b Jan 1 1876 in Bladen Co, NC, daughter of Henry Downing and Sophia Smith, widowed, housewife, residence 2721 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC, d July 24 1955 at home due to "infarction of myocardium due to coronary thrombosis", and had previous myocardial infarction on May 16 1955. Informant Mrs. Hilton Denning (daughter). Burial Cross Creek Cemetery, Fayetteville

• Religion: Baptist. ¹¹⁶⁴

• Story. She liked flowers, and had a greenhouse build into a hill. Had ponds with Lotus plants.

• Story. She was artistic. Studied under a private tutor to develop her artistic talent. She quit taking art because her father didn't like it. She painted the two tin pictures of flowers that Gladys Haywood Lindley had. She attended Whitsite? preperatory school (Tera attended it later). (per Gladys)

• Story. She despised housework, and had her children do it. (per Virginia Gladys Haywood).

• Story. At one time, Lella owned the house that Lenward and Nell Hair lived in in 1995. The house was also owned by Hilton and Aussie before being purchased by Dr Hair. (per Lenward) Lella and Oscar lived in a house that was near Lenward's present house. It was a "rambly kind of house, with a breezeway between the dining room and the kitchen, with a porch all around it" (per Gladys Haywood Lindley). Lella and Oscar had another house that I have a photo of. It shows a house with a large front porch, trees in front with spanish moss hanging on them, and lots of potted and hanging plants. Gladys says they moved there when she was a senior at Buie's Creek.

• Story. When Gertrude Downing Atkinson had her baby Emerson, Lella nursed him because Gertrude was sick, and Lella was nursing her own child at the time. (per Lenward Hair)

• Story. Lella gave some land near the house on Cedar Creek Rd to a "Fundamental" Baptist Church, which upset some of the other family members. (per Robert Lindley)

• Story. After Oscar and Lella split up, Lella sold the house and moved to a trailer. Daddy feels there were several years between these two events (splitting up and moving). Harold was still living with Lella at the house ca 1939 before marrying Margaret. When Lella died, she was living in a trailer behind Hilton's house, and eating her meals with Hilton's family. (per Lenward Hair, Nell Hair, and Robert Lindley)

• Story. I have several photos of Lella. Three are Downing family photos. Several are her alone at her house. Another is her with Bob, Clint, Gladys, Hilton, Ethel, and Hilton's daughter Mary. Another shows a younger Lella with Sophie.

Lella* married William Oscar* HAYWOOD, son of William John David* HAYWOOD and Virginia A.* GAINEY, on 19 Dec 1900 in Flea Hill Twp, Cumberland Co, NC ¹³⁵².^,5328 (William Oscar* HAYWOOD was born on 19 Jan 1877 in Cumberland Co, NC,^1268,1276 died on 5 Mar 1955 in Fayetteville, Cumberland Co, NC ¹²⁶⁸ and was buried on 6 Mar 1955 in Fayetteville, Cumberland Co, NC ¹²⁶⁸.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage, 19 Dec 1900, Cumberland Co, NC. ¹²⁷³ W. O. Haywood of Cedar Creek, age 23, son of W. J. D. Haywood and Virginia Haywood, married Lella Downing of Flea Hill, age 24, daughter of Henry Downing, on 19 Dec 1900 in Cumberland Co, NC.

• Marriage, 19 Dec 1900, Flea Hill Twp, Cumberland Co, NC. ⁵³²⁸ W. O. Haywood, son of W. J. D. Haywood and Virginia Haywood, married Lellar Downing, daughter of Henry Downing and Mrs. Downing. Officiated by Rev. S. J. Porter.

• Newspaper Article: Wedding, 27 Dec 1900, Fayetteville, Cumberland Co, NC. ⁵¹⁰⁴ Miss Lella Downing and Mr. Oscar Haywood were married last week at the residence of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Downing, in Flea Hill township. The ceremony, which took place in the beautifully decorated drawing room, in the presence of relatives only of the two young people, was performed by Rev. S. J. Porter, pastor of the First Baptist Church of this city. After the ceremony a delightful supper was served, and the young couple received the good wishes of those present. The bride is one of the handsome "Downing girls," daughter of County Commissioner, W. H. Downing, and is possessed of many charms. The groom is one of Cedar Creek's sturdiest and most independent young farmers. Thursday evening Mr. and Mrs. Haywood gave a reception in their new home.