My Granduncle, John Terry West

John Terry West, 1965, at his mother's 80th birthday party

John Terry "Terry" West was born on December 6, 1909 in Virginia. This birth date is supported by his 1910, 1920 and 1930 census entries, where he was listed as 4 months old, 10 years old, and 20 years old, respectively. His tombstone, however, lists his birth year as 1911, and his Social Security Death Index (SSDI) entry says he was born in 1911. His Certificate of Marriage to Monnie Williams and his World War II draft registration both support a birth year of 1911-1912. His obituary notice in 1993 stated he was 81 years old, which also supports a birth year of 1911-1912.

He was listed as a member of John Beamer "J. B." West and Mary Evelina Akers' household in the census in 1910 in Smith River Township, Patrick County, VA along with Akers Martin West and Mary Elva "Elva" West. John was 4 months old and born in Virginia.

He was listed as a member of John Beamer "J. B." West and Mary Evelina Akers' household in the census on January 27, 1920 in Giles Magisterial District, Amelia County, VA along with Akers Martin West, Mary Elva "Elva" West, and Kathleen Virginia West. Terry was living with his family and his age was 10. He had attended school and was able to read and write.

Terry was listed as a member of John Beamer "J. B." West and Mary Evelina Akers' household in the census on April 16, 1930 in Giles Magisterial District, Amelia County, VA along with Akers Martin West and Kathleen Virginia West. He was 20, single and living with his family. He indicated he had attended school or college since September 1, 1929 and was able to read and write. His occupation was not listed.

Akers, Terry and Granny West, ca 1930s, on the farm in Amelia County, VA

He lived in Richmond, VA in 1935. This information came from the 1940 census, where he indicated in 1935 he had lived in the same place (Richmond) but not the same house.

He appeared in the census on April 3, 1940 at 2419 Park Avenue in Richmond, VA. Terry was boarding with Nettie Hughes, her sister Annie Page and her son William Page Hughes. He was 28 years old, single and had 3 years of high school. He worked as a salesman for a retail coal company (probably A. T. Massey Coal Co.) and had worked 35 hours the week before the census. He made $2900 income for 52 weeks worked in 1939 and had no income from other sources.

Marriage Party for John Terry West and Margaret "Monnie" Williams (front, left), 1940

John Terry "Terry" West and Margaret "Monnie" Williams were married on May 18, 1940 at St. Luke's Episcopal church in Richmond, VA. On their Certificate of Marriage, Terry's full name was John Terry West and Monnie's full name was Margaret Wren Williams. He was 28 years old (this matches a birth year of 1912, instead of 1909) and she was 24 years old. Both were single and neither indicated they were married previously. Terry worked as a Traffic Manager at Massey Coal Co. and his current residence was 4303 Smithdeal Ave, Richmond, VA. He was born in Patrick County, VA to John B. West and Mary Akers. Monnie was born in Talladega, AL to George R. Williams and Katherine Baird, and she was currently living in Richmond, VA as well. They applied for their marriage license on May 14, 1940 with the proposed date of marriage as May 18, 1940 and proposed place as Richmond. Walter Christian, a Clerk of Hustings Court (predecessor to the Circuit Court in Richmond) granted their license. Edwin R. Carter, Jr., a priest of the Episcopal Church, married them on May 18, 1940 in Richmond.

I found an article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch dated May 19, 1940 about the wedding. It said the wedding was held in St. Luke's Episcopal Church at 11:30 AM on Saturday, May 18 with the Reverend Edwin R. Carter officiating. Miss Mary Katherine Williams, Monnie's sister, was maid of honor and only attendant. James E. Anderson of Amelia was the best man, and ushers were Lewis B. Williams (Monnie's brother), William E. Massey, L. Wilson Black and F. Linwood Hendricks. It said the married couple left immediately after the ceremony for a "Southern motor trip" and after they got back on June 1 they would live at 4303 Smithdeal Avenue in Forest Hill, a suburb of Richmond. The article also mentioned that a reception was given by the bride's parents at their home on West 42nd Street in Forest Hills on Friday evening, May 17, for the wedding party, the two families and close friends.

They lived at 4303 Smithdeal Avenue in Richmond, VA on October 16, 1940. This house is still standing (see picture below).

4303 Smithdeal Avenue today

Terry registered for the World War II Young Men's draft on October 16, 1940 in Richmond, VA. On his WWII draft registration card, Terry's full name was John Terry West, residing at 4303 Smithdeal Ave, Richmond, Virginia, with telephone number 40135. He was 28 years old, born on Dec 6, 1911 in Stuart, Va. He listed his wife, Mrs. Margaret Williams West, at the same address, as the person who would always know his address. (They had been married almost 5 months by this time.) He worked for the A. T. Massey Coal Company, Inc. at the Richmond Trust Building in Richmond, Va. Terry signed the card as "J. T. West". On the Registrar's Report, he was described at 5' 9-1/2", 164 pounds, with brown eyes, gray hair and dark complexion. There were no obvious physical characteristics noted that could aid in identification.

John Terry West World War II Draft Registration

He lived in Richmond, VA on September 13, 1953. This information came from his father's (John Beamer West) obituary.

He was living in Richmond, VA on October 28, 1967. This information came from the obituary of Mary E. West, Terry's mother.

Terry was an executive vice president of A.T. Massey Coal Co. until he retired sometime around 1975–1977. He probably worked there until age 65, and then retired.

He was living in Chesterfield County, VA until October 29, 1993 when he passed away.

Terry and Monnie had no children.

He died on October 29, 1993 at the age of 83 in Midlothian, Chesterfield County, VA. In the Social Security Death Index, his birth date was given as 6 December 1911, death date as 29 October 1993, and last place of residence as Chesterfield, VA.

Terry's obituary appeared on October 30, 1993 in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. His obituary notice said: "West, John Terry, 81, of Midlothian, retired executive vice president of A.T. Massey Coal Co., husband of Margaret W. West."

He was buried at Maury Cemetery in Richmond, VA. His tombstone inscription is:

John Terry West

December 6, 1911

October 29, 1993.

Margaret "Monnie" Williams, daughter of George Rader Williams and Katherine Baird, was born on August 31, 1915.

She died on March 1, 2004 at the age of 88.

Her obituary appeared on March 4, 2004 in the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Richmond, VA. Her obituary said: "Margaret Williams West, 88, of Richmond, widow of John Terry West, passed away March 1, 2004. She is survived by her sister, Louise Daniel of Lynchburg; also four nieces, Betsie Kielty, Susie Poole, Katherine Cole, and Susan Anderson. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Huguenot Chapel Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Rd, where services will be held Friday, 2 p.m. Interment Maury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to The Alzheimer's Association."

Monnie was buried at Maury Cemetery in Richmond, VA.

Bibliography of the sources I used for the information above: 

"America's Obituaries and Death Notices, accessed from the public library." Obituary transcription. NewsBank, Inc., infoweb@newsbank. http://www.newsbank.com/ : 2006.

"Virginia, World War II draft registration cards, 1940-1947." Digital images. familysearch.org. https://www.familysearch.org : 2018.

, Ancestry.com. "Virginia Death Records , 1912-2014." Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2015.

, Ancestry.com. "Virginia Marriage Records , 1936-2014." Database. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com : 2015.

Amelia County. 1920 census, population schedule. Digital images. HeritageQuest Online. http://www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/index : 2006.

Familysearch.org, "United States Census, 1910." Index. Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints. familysearch.org. https://familysearch.org : 2011.

Obituary for Mary E. West, in laminated funeral card, 1967, privately held by Steve Campbell, [address for private use], Satellite Beach, FL 32937, 2009. contains Bible verses and poem. originally owned by my grandmother, Mary Elva (West) Campbell.

Patrick County. 1910, population schedule. Digital images. HeritageQuest Online. : 2006.

Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, VA, 13 September 1953.

Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, VA, 19 May 1940.

Social Security Administration. "U.S. Social Security Death Index." FamilySearch. Salt Lake City, Utah: Family History Library, 2011.

Steve Campbell.

Tipton, Jim, founder. "FindAGrave.com." Database. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com : 2011.

VA. Amelia County. 1930 census, population schedule. Digital images. footnote.com. http://footnote.com : 2009.

Virginia. Richmond. 1940 census, population schedule. Digital images. familysearch.org. http://familysearch.org : 2012.

west gedcom.ged.