Champion, William Robert

boy silhouette
William Robert Champion
b: 6 APR 1886
d: 31 AUG 1958
Biography
CHAMPION - THOMPSON

William Robert Champion, born April 6, 1886 in Shelby County, Alabama andEffie Etta Thompson of Benton County were married September 1, 1918 byRev. A. B. Jones at the home of her parents in south Camden. Effie wasborn June 28, 1896 to Lucian Thomas Thompson and Emma Elizabeth Bridges,natives of Benton County. Her paternal great grandfather, WilliamThompson, came to Benton County in 1819, and her maternal greatgrandfather, Rhubin Bridges, settled in Benton County before 1930.Effie’s childhood was spent int the Cowell’s Chapel Community, where sheattended school and was a member of the Methodist Church. She attendedBenton Seminary and later taught one year at the Cowell’s Chapel Schoolbefore her marriage. William Robert (Bob) Champion was the sone ofShelby Franklin Champion and Celia Catherine Allen, natives of ShelbyCounty, Alabama. Bob came to Benton County with the Nashville,Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad, employed as the foreman of theworkers who relocated the railroad in the county. He hired many localpeople, some of whom made a career of this work. Bob met Effie Thompsonand declared her to be the prettiest girl he had ever seen. At thattime, she was engaged to another man but soon the engagement was broken.After awhile, she married Bob Champion. He liked Benton County so he andEffie were residents of Camden for the rest of their lives. Bob was amember of the Camden Masonic Lodge #179 for over 50 years, a Democrat andan avid fisherman. Effie was a member of the First Methodist Church inCamden. Bob’s family was Baptist, but he attended the Methodist Churchwith his wife.

Their only child, Emma Catheryn Champion, was born January 4, 1925 andwas named for both of her grandmothers. She graduated from Central HighSchool in Camden, and attended the University of Tennessee in Martin andKnoxville, majoring in Home Economics. She was married to John C. Brownof Carroll County on July 22, 1945 in the First Methodist Church ofCamden by Rev. Paul T. Lyles.

Bob Champion died August 31, 1958. Effie Champion died January 7, 1983.Both are buried in Camden City Cemetery.

Source: Families and Histories, Benton County, Tennessee, Volume 2, 1992,Benton County Genealogical Society.
Facts
  • 6 APR 1886 - Birth - ; Calera, Shelby, Alabama
  • 2 SEP 1958 - Burial - ; Camden Cemetery, Camden, Benton, Tennessee
  • 1900 - Census - U.S. ; Jemison, Chilton, Alabama
  • 1910 - Census - U.S. ; Campo, Chilton, Alabama
  • 1920 - Census - U.S. ; Camden, Benton, Tennessee
  • 1930 - Census - U.S. ; Camden, Benton, Tennessee
  • 31 AUG 1958 - Death - ; Camden, Benton, Tennessee
  • 19 SEP 1918 - Draft Registrtion - World War I Draft Registration ; Nashville, Tennessee
  • Occupation - Railroad Track Foreman
Ancestors
   
William Luke Champion
DEC 1825 - 8 MAY 1904
 
 
Shelby Franklin Champion
8 JAN 1858 - 22 AUG 1931
  
  
  
Rachael Ann Powell
1828 - MAR 1858
 
William Robert Champion
6 APR 1886 - 31 AUG 1958
  
 
  
Robert Allen
1820 - 1898
 
 
Celia Katherine Allen
10 APR 1860 - 23 NOV 1932
  
  
  
Nancy Honeycutt
AUG 1818 - 1910
 
Family Group Sheet - Child
PARENT (M) Shelby Franklin Champion
Birth8 JAN 1858Montevallo, Shelby, Alabama
Death22 AUG 1931 Calera, Shelby, Alabama
Marriage16 FEB 1879to Celia Katherine Allen at Shelby, Alabama
FatherWilliam Luke Champion
MotherRachael Ann Powell
PARENT (F) Celia Katherine Allen
Birth10 APR 1860Shelby, Alabama
Death23 NOV 1932 Chilton, Alabama
Marriage16 FEB 1879to Shelby Franklin Champion at Shelby, Alabama
FatherRobert Allen
MotherNancy Honeycutt
CHILDREN
MWilliam Robert Champion
Birth6 APR 1886Calera, Shelby, Alabama
Death31 AUG 1958Camden, Benton, Tennessee
Marriage23 FEB 1915to Merdella Parker at Oneonta, Blount, Alabama
Marriage1 SEP 1918to Effie Etta Thompson at Benton, Tennessee
FNancy E. Cora Ann Champion
Birth27 NOV 1879Shelby, Alabama
Death16 SEP 1913
Marriage3 AUG 1897to James Kelley Franklin at Shelby, Alabama
MWalter Monroe Champion
Birth24 APR 1881Shelby, Alabama
Death18 FEB 1951St. Clair, Alabama
Marriage4 OCT 1919to Mable E. Lawley at Shelby, Alabama
MBruce Franklin Champion
Birth13 DEC 1882Shelby, Alabama
Death8 OCT 1909Rigolets, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
FRhoda Elizabeth Champion
Birth18 AUG 1884Shelby, Alabama
Death25 JUN 1929St. Clair, Alabama
Marriage14 JUN 1908to Julius Bud Baggett at Chilton, Alabama
FMary Jane Champion
Birth24 JUL 1888Shelby, Alabama
Death31 MAY 1969Jefferson, Alabama
FNora Viola Champion
Birth10 OCT 1890Shelby, Alabama
DeathMAY 1965
Marriage1904to George Marcus
Marriage5 JUL 1908to Arch J. Jones
MJames Pleasant Champion
Birth26 MAR 1893Shelby, Alabama
Death9 FEB 1915Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) William Robert Champion
Birth6 APR 1886Calera, Shelby, Alabama
Death31 AUG 1958 Camden, Benton, Tennessee
Marriage23 FEB 1915to Merdella Parker at Oneonta, Blount, Alabama
Marriage1 SEP 1918to Effie Etta Thompson at Benton, Tennessee
FatherShelby Franklin Champion
MotherCelia Katherine Allen
PARENT (F) Merdella Parker
Birth29 MAY 1889Bluff Springs, Escambia, Florida
Death12 NOV 1915 Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama
Marriage23 FEB 1915to William Robert Champion at Oneonta, Blount, Alabama
FatherJohn Parker
MotherMargaret Catherine Bryars
CHILDREN
FMargaret Merdella Champion
Birth14 JUN 1915Bluff Springs, Escambia, Florida
Death13 DEC 1965Jacksonville, Duval, Florida
Marriage7 OCT 1939to Robert James Reed at Jacksonville, Duval, Florida
Family Group Sheet - Spouse
PARENT (M) William Robert Champion
Birth6 APR 1886Calera, Shelby, Alabama
Death31 AUG 1958 Camden, Benton, Tennessee
Marriage23 FEB 1915to Merdella Parker at Oneonta, Blount, Alabama
Marriage1 SEP 1918to Effie Etta Thompson at Benton, Tennessee
FatherShelby Franklin Champion
MotherCelia Katherine Allen
PARENT (F) Effie Etta Thompson
Birth28 JUN 1896Benton, Tennessee
Death7 JAN 1983 Camden, Benton, Tennessee
Marriage1 SEP 1918to William Robert Champion at Benton, Tennessee
Father?
Mother?
CHILDREN
FEmma Catheryn Champion
Birth4 JAN 1925Camden, Benton, Tennessee
Death7 DEC 2007Paris, Henry, Tennessee
Marriage22 JUL 1945to John Columbus Brown at Benton, Tennessee
Evidence
[S287]Bible Record
[S275]Draft Registration
[S265]Photograph
[S260]Census
[S263]Obituary/Death Notice
[S273]Cemetery Record
[S266]Find A Grave
Descendancy Chart
William Robert Champion b: 6 APR 1886 d: 31 AUG 1958
Merdella Parker b: 29 MAY 1889 d: 12 NOV 1915
Margaret Merdella Champion b: 14 JUN 1915 d: 13 DEC 1965
Robert James Reed b: 6 FEB 1904 d: 24 DEC 1977
Robert James Reed b: 18 JUL 1941 d: 28 NOV 1985
Merdella Margaret Reed b: 27 APR 1950 d: 7 MAR 2012
Gene Charles Huckleberry b: 20 JUL 1950 d: 2018
John Champion Reed b: 12 JUN 1944 d: 24 FEB 2012
Effie Etta Thompson b: 28 JUN 1896 d: 7 JAN 1983
Emma Catheryn Champion b: 4 JAN 1925 d: 7 DEC 2007
John Columbus Brown b: 8 DEC 1921 d: 15 FEB 1988