Susan Elizabeth Mercer

Susan Elizabeth (Lizzie) Mercer, dau of John Christopher Mercer and Nancy Celeta (Jennie) Deen was born 06 Jun 1897, Baxley, Appling CO, GA, died 12 May 1983, Bay Convalescence Home, Panama City, Bay CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, married about 1920, Appling CO, GA, Mack C Clements, son of George Clements and Nancy LNU, born 15 Feb 1891, Coffee CO, GA died 1924, Appling CO, GA, probably.

When Mack Clements died Lizzie and her two children came to Flagler County and resided with her brother, Frank Mercer and his family, where her third child was born shortly after her arrival. Issue;

1. John Franklin Clements, born 20 Jan 1921, Baxley, Appling CO, GA, married 21 Aug 1943 Durham, Durham CO, NC to Anna Marvene Gaver, dau of Ralph Cayton Gaver and Carrie Violet LNU, born 21 Aug 1924 Lakeland, Polk CO, FL.

John was a member of the first football team of Bunnell High School, 1938-1939. He was a natural athlete and was awarded a scholarship at the University of Tampa where he received a BS degree.

After four years in the USMC during WWII he received a Masters Degree with courses at Florida Southern, University of Florida, Florida State, Depaul, and Duke.

He played professional baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Philles, and Chicago Cubs before entering the educational field in Zephyrhills, FL. He retired after 35 years of teaching of which 24 years was coaching. He then worked in the adult education program for a short time.

The Sports Complex in Zephyrhills was dedicated to him. Issue;

(1) John Franklin Clements Jr, born 20 Feb 1945, Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL

(2) Cynthia Diane Clements, born 25 Nov 1947, Tampa, Hillsborough CO, FL

2. Evelyn Clements, born 22 Sep 1922, Willacooche, Atkinson CO, GA, died 22 Nov 2003, Flagler Pines Nursing Home, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, married 20 May 1946 Pensacola, Escambia CO, FL, to Gilbert Wilbert Johnson, born 06 Jul 1917, Trenton, Gilchrist CO, FL (Div-25 Apr 1951).

He served in the US Army during WW II. She moved to Bunnell from Baxley, GA in 1924. She retired as the manager of the A-1-A Motel and Restaurant in Flagler Beach.

Evelyn Clements Johnson married 2nd, 25 Mar 1956 Carey Elliot Purvis, son of James Thomas Purvis and Delilah Frances Lloyd, born 09 July 1916, Century, Escambia CO, FL, died 04 Jan 1961, Flagler CO, FL. He was a private in the USMC during WW II. He worked at the Lehigh Portland Cement Company’s plant just west of Flagler Beach, had a heart attack at the plant and died en route to the hospital. He is buried in Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL next to Evelyn.

Carey had two children by a previous marriage, James Elliott Purvis (18 Dec 1941 - 27 Nov 1981) and Jean Purvis Broxton who was living in KY when he died.

3. Martha Lou Clements, born 22 Sep 1924 Flagler CO, FL, died 20 Mar 2007, Hillsborough CO, FL, married 01 Jun 1942, Valdosta, Lowndes CO, GA, Robert Kirkland.

PFC Kirkland saw service in the Southwest Pacific in the U S Armed Forces in WW II. She resided in Seffner, Fla. Issue;

(1) Nancy Louise Kirkland, born 11 Aug1946, Batow, Polk CO, FL

 

Lizzie Mercer Clements married 2nd about 1927, Flagler CO, FL, Charles Samuel SeDessie, born 22 Dec 1874, NY, died 04 Mar 1954, Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

Charles SeDessie was a barber. He came to Bunnell from Charleston, WV in late 1925 to work at the Service Barber Shop. He then was employed by Campbell Barber Shop and later owned Dad’s Barber Shop on Moody Blvd for many years. Due to failing health, he moved his barber shop into his home about 1944 and operated it there until the fall of 1953 when he retired. Issue;

4. Louise SeDessie, born 10 Aug 1928, married 19 Jul 1947, Folkston, Charlton CO, GA, Lucian Lamar Harris Jr, son of Lucian Lamar Harris and Lillian L Harrelson, born 30 Jan 1927, Lakeland, Polk CO, FL (Div).

He served two years with the 2nd Marine Division in WW II and was recalled to active duty in Oct1950. Issue;

(1) Charles Ronald Harris, born 26 Aug 1948, Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL

(2) Richard Lucian Harris, born 15 Apr 1953, Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL

(3) Jeffrey Scott Harris, born 15 Mar 1958, Halifax Hospital, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL

Lousie SeDessie Harris married 2nd, FNU Jackson.

According to government records and newspaper articles, Charles Samuel SeDessie was married once or twice previous to his marriage to Lizzie Mercer.

According to the 1910 census, he is shown to be occupied as a barber and married to Elizabeth B, born about 1881, IN. On his WW II Draft Registration Card he lists his wife as Lizzie B and stated that he was the proprietor of a barber shop. On the 1920 census, he is shown as the only person living in the household with his occupation given as barber.

The following article appeared in The Flagler Tribune of 18 Feb 1926

“Mrs. C S Sedessie and daughter of West Virginia, are expected to arrive this week to join Mr Sedessen here, who is employed in the Campbell Barbara Shop. Mrs Sedessen had planned to come some time ago but illness prevented. Mr Sedessen now has his home (the home was on Deen Road) ready for occupancy.”

The Florida Divorce Index shows him being granted a divorce in Flagler CO in 1927 from a Mary E SeDessie. The Florida Marriage Collections shows him being married in Flagler CO in 1927 as well.

 

Source: The First Families of Flagler by Mary Ketus Deen Holland who cites as her sources, Published Articles and Carrie King Alford.

Additional sources used by the compiler were: 1900 United States Federal Census, Willacochee, Coffee CO, GA; 1910 United States Federal Census, Charleston Ward 1, Kanawha CO, WV; 1920 United States Federal Census, Charleston Ward 9, Kanawha CO, WV; 1920 United States Federal Census, Wilson District, Appling CO, GA; 1930 United States Federal Census, Precinct 5, Polk CO, FL;

1935 Florida State Census, Precinct 57, Hillsborough CO, FL; World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; Florida Marriage Collection, 1927-2001; Florida Divorce Index, 1927-2001; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; Society Security Death Index;

The Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytona Beach, FL, 25 Nov 2003; The Flagler Tribune, Bunnell, FL, 31 Dec 1925, 18 Feb 1926, 18 Jun 1942, 26 Aug 1943, 22 Feb 1945, 30 May 1946, 22 Aug 1946, 26 Aug 1948, 23 Apr 1953, 11 Mar 1954, 20 Mar 1958, 09 Jul 1981 and

James Thomas Purvis family information posted on Ancestry.com

Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com