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James ("Bosie") Conner and his wife Arletha
 James
is the son of James Jr. and Anna Wise Conner,
born in May of 1900. Although not the oldest son, it is interesting
to note that he is the son most resembling his father whom he
is named after.
He inherited
a portion of the family farm and married Arletha Davis. James
and Arletha had 10 children: James, Eugene,
Mildred, Allen,
Jule, Carl, Joe
Louis, Arthur, Harry,
and Ernest.
James provided
well for his family. On his farm he raised crops such as corn
(ground into meal and grits), sugar cane (syrup) and true to southern
tradition, plenty of watermelons. He had an extensive fruit orchard
with pears, plums, apricots and grapes. Sadly, in 1954, the destructive
Hurricane Hazel tore down much of the orchard leaving on a few
pear trees.
James always
kept a full smokehouse. Whether it was the warmth or the delicious
aroma that drew him there, early in the mornings he would take
his cup of coffee and sit a few minutes in the doorway to the
smokehouse.
Every man
has his faults and James was no exception. Each year, at the close
of the farming season, he would treat himself to a "getaway"
trip, going to Philadelphia or New York and spending a month working
as a cab driver. It is known that he would come home with fancy
new suits, shoes and hats, his wife having stayed home to care
for the children and stoically never complaining.
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In
her saintly way, Arletha forgave him of this one indulgence.
In this she taught her children, by beautiful example, the
meaning of Ephesians 4: 32, "And be ye kind one
to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as
God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you", as well
as an abiding understanding that family love is unconditional.
Arletha
Davis Conner was born December 11, 1912 in Marion. She had
one sister, Kathline, and three brothers, Tom, Oliver (known
as "Dollar Bill"), and Booker T.
Arletha
played the piano for 30 years at Wise Chapel A.M.E. Church
and was also a member of Eastern Star.
Arletha's
dear sister Kathleen Davis Johnson
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She died
December 27, 1989 and is buried at
Greenlawn cemetery on Hwy 41 North along with her husband and
other family.
 James
is seen here sitting on his porch in the chair he called "his"
and his only. He enjoyed having one of the children comb his hair
as he relaxed and count his many blessings.
His children
tell a story as they reminisce about their father's chair:
Upon a return
visit to the family farm several years after James's death, his
son Arthur cautiously approached the chair and sat down, thinking
now that his father was gone, someone else might be allowed to
sit there. No sooner had he leaned back to relish the moment,
when a big snake crawled out of the bushes by the porch, looked
at him and hissed as if to say, "what are you doing in my
chair, son?" Arthur jumped out of the chair crying, "yes
sir!" and to this day is fearful of the place he is quite
sure must surely be haunted.
Haunted or
not, the "spirit" of a man they all called "Bosie",
a bit self-centered and yet loved dearly in spite of that, remains
today in the precious memories of that farm in Marion.
James died
on June 21, 1958, appropriately sitting right there in his chair.
He is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.
It is recorded
that after James' death, the Rogers family attempted to claim
his land as theirs. Legal research produced deeds and payment
records proving, without doubt, the Conner family ownership.
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