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.
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.
- 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
PARENT (M) Shelby Franklin Champion | |||
Birth | 8 JAN 1858 | Montevallo, Shelby, Alabama | |
Death | 22 AUG 1931 | Calera, Shelby, Alabama | |
Marriage | 16 FEB 1879 | to Celia Katherine Allen at Shelby, Alabama | |
Father | William Luke Champion | ||
Mother | Rachael Ann Powell | ||
PARENT (F) Celia Katherine Allen | |||
Birth | 10 APR 1860 | Shelby, Alabama | |
Death | 23 NOV 1932 | Chilton, Alabama | |
Marriage | 16 FEB 1879 | to Shelby Franklin Champion at Shelby, Alabama | |
Father | Robert Allen | ||
Mother | Nancy Honeycutt | ||
CHILDREN | |||
M | William Robert Champion | ||
Birth | 6 APR 1886 | Calera, Shelby, Alabama | |
Death | 31 AUG 1958 | Camden, Benton, Tennessee | |
Marriage | 23 FEB 1915 | to Merdella Parker at Oneonta, Blount, Alabama | |
Marriage | 1 SEP 1918 | to Effie Etta Thompson at Benton, Tennessee | |
F | Nancy E. Cora Ann Champion | ||
Birth | 27 NOV 1879 | Shelby, Alabama | |
Death | 16 SEP 1913 | ||
Marriage | 3 AUG 1897 | to James Kelley Franklin at Shelby, Alabama | |
M | Walter Monroe Champion | ||
Birth | 24 APR 1881 | Shelby, Alabama | |
Death | 18 FEB 1951 | St. Clair, Alabama | |
Marriage | 4 OCT 1919 | to Mable E. Lawley at Shelby, Alabama | |
M | Bruce Franklin Champion | ||
Birth | 13 DEC 1882 | Shelby, Alabama | |
Death | 8 OCT 1909 | Rigolets, Orleans Parish, Louisiana | |
F | Rhoda Elizabeth Champion | ||
Birth | 18 AUG 1884 | Shelby, Alabama | |
Death | 25 JUN 1929 | St. Clair, Alabama | |
Marriage | 14 JUN 1908 | to Julius Bud Baggett at Chilton, Alabama | |
F | Mary Jane Champion | ||
Birth | 24 JUL 1888 | Shelby, Alabama | |
Death | 31 MAY 1969 | Jefferson, Alabama | |
F | Nora Viola Champion | ||
Birth | 10 OCT 1890 | Shelby, Alabama | |
Death | MAY 1965 | ||
Marriage | 1904 | to George Marcus | |
Marriage | 5 JUL 1908 | to Arch J. Jones | |
M | James Pleasant Champion | ||
Birth | 26 MAR 1893 | Shelby, Alabama | |
Death | 9 FEB 1915 | Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama |
PARENT (M) William Robert Champion | |||
Birth | 6 APR 1886 | Calera, Shelby, Alabama | |
Death | 31 AUG 1958 | Camden, Benton, Tennessee | |
Marriage | 23 FEB 1915 | to Merdella Parker at Oneonta, Blount, Alabama | |
Marriage | 1 SEP 1918 | to Effie Etta Thompson at Benton, Tennessee | |
Father | Shelby Franklin Champion | ||
Mother | Celia Katherine Allen | ||
PARENT (F) Merdella Parker | |||
Birth | 29 MAY 1889 | Bluff Springs, Escambia, Florida | |
Death | 12 NOV 1915 | Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama | |
Marriage | 23 FEB 1915 | to William Robert Champion at Oneonta, Blount, Alabama | |
Father | John Parker | ||
Mother | Margaret Catherine Bryars | ||
CHILDREN | |||
F | Margaret Merdella Champion | ||
Birth | 14 JUN 1915 | Bluff Springs, Escambia, Florida | |
Death | 13 DEC 1965 | Jacksonville, Duval, Florida | |
Marriage | 7 OCT 1939 | to Robert James Reed at Jacksonville, Duval, Florida |
PARENT (M) William Robert Champion | |||
Birth | 6 APR 1886 | Calera, Shelby, Alabama | |
Death | 31 AUG 1958 | Camden, Benton, Tennessee | |
Marriage | 23 FEB 1915 | to Merdella Parker at Oneonta, Blount, Alabama | |
Marriage | 1 SEP 1918 | to Effie Etta Thompson at Benton, Tennessee | |
Father | Shelby Franklin Champion | ||
Mother | Celia Katherine Allen | ||
PARENT (F) Effie Etta Thompson | |||
Birth | 28 JUN 1896 | Benton, Tennessee | |
Death | 7 JAN 1983 | Camden, Benton, Tennessee | |
Marriage | 1 SEP 1918 | to William Robert Champion at Benton, Tennessee | |
Father | ? | ||
Mother | ? | ||
CHILDREN | |||
F | Emma Catheryn Champion | ||
Birth | 4 JAN 1925 | Camden, Benton, Tennessee | |
Death | 7 DEC 2007 | Paris, Henry, Tennessee | |
Marriage | 22 JUL 1945 | to John Columbus Brown at Benton, Tennessee |
1 William Robert Champion b: 6 APR 1886 d: 31 AUG 1958
+ Merdella Parker b: 29 MAY 1889 d: 12 NOV 1915
2 Margaret Merdella Champion b: 14 JUN 1915 d: 13 DEC 1965
+ Robert James Reed b: 6 FEB 1904 d: 24 DEC 1977
3 Robert James Reed b: 18 JUL 1941 d: 28 NOV 1985
+ Private
3 Merdella Margaret Reed b: 27 APR 1950 d: 7 MAR 2012
+ Gene Charles Huckleberry b: 20 JUL 1950 d: 2018
3 John Champion Reed b: 12 JUN 1944 d: 24 FEB 2012
+ Private
+ Effie Etta Thompson b: 28 JUN 1896 d: 7 JAN 1983
2 Emma Catheryn Champion b: 4 JAN 1925 d: 7 DEC 2007
+ John Columbus Brown b: 8 DEC 1921 d: 15 FEB 1988