William Clinton Douglas
(9/23/1889 - 2/7/1936)
Clint Douglas
Circa 1910
William Clinton "Clint" Douglas was born to William Spencer and Mozelle Lamb Douglas on September 23, 1889, in Emanuel County, Georgia. At the time of Clint's birth, the Douglas family resided near Norristown Junction, a small village at the crossroads of Georgia Highways 221 and 26. One physical feature that descendants remember well were Clint's striking blue eyes. His hair was brown and he never wore facial hair. The largest and strongest of his family, Clint was destined to utilize his physical strength as a valuable component of his future carpentry and agricultural vocations.
Clint first appears in the historical record on the 1900 Emanuel County census (10 years old) in the household of his father, William Spencer Douglas. He also appeared in the 1820 Emanuel County census (20 years old), still residing in his father's household.
Most families of turn-of-the-century Emanuel and Johnson Counties were, by necessity, able farmers. Clint Douglas was no exception. Clint's father, Spencer, not only encouraged the development of Clint's knowledge of farming, but his carpentry skills, as well. Many of the homes and wood-framed structures that Clint helped build still remain in both Emanuel and Johnson Counties.
On September 14, 1913, Clint married Georgia Belle Tapley (4/23/1897 - 10/14/1967), who hailed from one of the oldest families of the Emanuel-Johnson County region. Belle, as she was affectionately known by family and friends, was the daughter of George Washington "Sonny" Tapley (8/18/1856 - 11/5/1923) and Elizabeth Rowland (12/2/1868 - 11/19/1957) of Johnson County. The marriage record, filed in the court of Emanuel County, reads as follows:
I certify that W.C. Douglas and Georgia Belle Tapley were joined in matrimony by me this Fourteenth day of September, Nineteen Hundred and Thirteen. -J.J. Kersey
Georgia Belle, known as "Ma Ma" to her many grand children, was a strong, quiet woman with a gentle nature. She would prove an able mother for the soon to be large family. Together, Clint and Georgia Belle had issue:
a) Carlos (6/13/1917 - 4/14/1920); died young of pneumonia
b) Ralph Curtis (11/26/1919 - 6/24/1968); married Mabel Fountain Warnock (1931-1999)
c) Neubern Clinton (12/18/1921 - 10/4/1979); married Doris Jo Fountain (1924-1987)
d) Georgia Mozelle (12/3/1923 - 12/22/1999); married Lamar Sanders Aycock (1924-1998)
e) Evie Dell (5/21/26 - 4/20/1985); married Glenn Clair Truett (1926-1988)
f) Edna Elizabeth (2/13/1930 - 7/27/2008); married John Irving O'Quinn (1924-2014)
g) Elton Lamar (b. 8/16/1932); married Gail Lowery (divorced)
Clint & Georgia Belle
Circa 1920
Carlos Douglas
circa 1918
Life for Clint and his family proved quite difficult. As was the case for many families in rural Georgia during this period, personal fortunes rose and fell with fluctuations in the demand and availability of agricultural crops--not to mention national economic realities.
Ralph Curtis Douglas
circa 1942
Clint Douglas
circa 1930
Clint was often forced to assist other farmers during harvest season in order to earn enough money to provide for his growing family. An additional supplement to his income came in the form of providing carpentry services to families in the local community.
Clint was apparently driven by a feverishly intense work ethic--an ethic that garnered him the reputation of being the "first on the job, the hardest worker while there, and the last to leave." Consequently, Clint was often prone to overworking himself, which caused no small degree of worry on the part of Georgia Belle.
World War I had been underway in Europe for some time and the citizens of Emanuel County feared that it would only be a matter of time before the United States would be drawn into the conflict. True to their fears, on April 2, 1917, Woodrow Wilson made a formal appeal before Congress to declare war on Germany.
On May 18, 1817, the Selective Service Act was passed by Congress, thereby initiating registration of all eligible men for the draft. This purpose of this action was to increase American military forces in anticipation of the United States' entry into World War I. On June 5, 1917, Clint reported to the local draft board office to register for the draft. According to Clint's draft card, he was residing in Adrian, Georgia, in 1917. He was 28 years of age, self-employed as a farmer, and was not disabled. He was described as having a medium build, blue eyes, and brown hair.
Clint's brothers, Gordon and Wyly, would also register for the draft in Emanuel county. As Wyly was without dependents, he was selected for service on October 24, 1918 and discharged on December 6, 1918.
In January of 1920, Clint appeared on the 1920 Emanuel County census (20 years old). Later that year, on April 14, 1920, Georgia Belle and Clint suffered the painful loss of their oldest son, Carlos. The couple never completely recovered from this loss as evidenced by the fact that even though Carlos lived but briefly, he was often discussed by Clint and Belle throughout their marriage.
On October 9, 1920, Clint received 52 acres of land on Mule Pen Creek from his father, Spencer. This land was later deeded to George M. Niles on March 4, 1930, in an effort to provide for Clint's family.
Clint owned a very large transport wagon driven by what family members have referred to as a "sturdy mule." Always willing to lend a hand to his neighbors--and not lacking a sense of adventure--Clint would give rides deep into the backwoods of Emanuel and surrounding counties to individuals desiring to purchase a fresh batch of "home brew." Despite the fact that Clint rarely drank alcohol, he seemed to delight in providing this unique service to local residents. The usual payment for this service was a free jar of moonshine, which Clint typically refused.
Clint's greatest personal possessions were his carpentry tools. As tools were very expensive and difficult to replace, Clint took great care in the preservation of his farm and carpentry equipment.
L-R: Edna, Evie Dell, Belle,
Mozelle, and Elton
Not only a capable carpenter, Clint also supported his family by personal farming and share-cropping (a common arrangement during this period). As the price of flour could be quite high, Clint regularly planted wheat to be harvested to make flour for use in baking.
By all accounts, Clint was a decent, caring, and honorable man. All of his children have noted that there was rarely a time when Clint was not working. Though highly religious (Clint's family attended Sardis Primitive Baptist Church in Kite, Georgia), Clint would be forced on many occasions to miss
Clint's children fondly recall his dedication to protecting the tools from damage and theft. Perhaps Clint's most valuable tool, a carpentry square, remains in the care of his great grandson.
Clint's Carpenter's Square
From the Collection of S.C. Douglas
church in order to rest from a week of exhausting labor. It was not uncommon for Clint to work twelve-hour days, six (and sometimes seven) days a week.
Clint enjoyed a strong sense of humor. Though he was known to be somewhat reserved around strangers, Clint displayed a witty and talkative personality around friends and family.
Neubern Clinton Douglas
Graduation, Basic Training, 1943
Elton Lamar Douglas
circa 1950s
Clint last appears in the historical record on the 1930 Emanuel County census (40 years old). On an early February morning in 1936, Clint, ax in hand, journeyed into the woods to split firewood for use in the family's wood stove and fireplace. Upon completing the chore, Clint sat upon a nearby tree stump to cool down. Within twenty-four hours, he developed a high fever associated with a serious head and chest cold. The problem soon escalated into what
physicians then termed, "lobar pneumonia." Without adequate treatment, the sufferer of lobar pneumonia "drowns" as a result of fluid build-up on the lungs. A regular and lengthy course of antibiotics may have saved Clint's life, but such treatment protocols were not readily available in Emanuel County during the "Great Depression."
As a result of this serious condition, Clint passed away at 1:00 a.m. on February 7, 1936. The official death certificate states that Clint's attending physician was J.H. Chandler, M.D., of Swainsboro, Georgia. One of Clint's sons, Neubern, recalled lighting a cigarette for his father just before Clint's death. Following a funeral at Sardis Primitive Baptist Church, Clint was buried in the church cemetery.
Georgia Belle's Wash Pan
From the Collection of S.C. Douglas
Edna Douglas O'Quinn With
Son, Johnny O'Quinn
Georgia Belle was devastated by the loss of Clint, and uncertain regarding the fates of her young children. Shortly after Clint's death, Georgia Belle moved to Mount Vernon, Georgia, where several of her children would remain for the rest of their lives.
People who remember Georgia Belle have commented that she possessed a very kind and gentle nature, and loved and supported her husband, Clint, greatly. His death significantly impacted her for the remainder of her life.
Georgia Belle remained in Mount Vernon until she was moved to Precious Nursing Home, Vidalia, Georgia, in 1967. She made a habit of giving silver dollars to her grandchildren during personal visits. Georgia Belle died on October 14, 1967, at the age of 70. The official cause of death was "coronary occlusion due to arteriosclerosis," or a hardening of the walls of the arteries of the heart, thereby preventing proper blood flow. Belle's attending physician was Dr. J. Conner of Vidalia, Georgia, who listed her time of death at 8:30 p.m.
Elton Lamar Douglas
circa 1968
Funeral services for Belle were conducted on October 17, 1967, at Sardis Primitive Baptist Church. The Reverend C.E. Milton and Elder Gus Walden officiated. Active pallbearers included Robert Douglas, Steve Douglas, Wayne Truett, Billy Truett, Johnny O'Quinn, and C.H. Fountain. Honorary pallbearers included Franklin Fountain, Gary Braddy, Cecil Rackley, Fred Truett, Frank Henry, Robert Smith, and Tom Fountain. Belle was buried beside her husband, Clint, in Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery. Her epitaph reads, "She is gone to mansions of rest in heaven."
Georgia Belle Douglas
In Later Life
Georgia Belle With Her
Mother, Elizabeth Rowland Tapley