Nettie Louise Smith FTJ#155

Nettie Louise was the daughter of Suzie Louisa Smith, who was the oldest daughter of Timmons Seburn Literal and Mary Catherine Urban.

Nettie Louise⁸ Smith (Suzie Louisa⁷ Littrell, Timmons Seburn⁶ Literal, Eli Franklin⁵, Rodhom⁴, Robert³ Luttrell, Richard² Lutterell, James¹ Lotterell)¹²³⁴⁵⁶

 

Nettie was born March 30, 1901 in Lawrence Co., TN. and died May 04, 1998 in Lawrence County, Tennessee. She married John Alvin Berryhill  June 25, 1922 in Westpoint, Lawrence Co., TN, son of Will Berryhill and Josie Smith. He was born July 31, 1897 in TN., West Point, and died December 07, 1976 in TN., Lawrence Co., Loretto.

Nettie Louise Smith & John Alvin Berryhill: are buried in Fairview Cemetery.

FOLKS JUST CALL HER GRANNY
by Bob Moore [Grandson]
Staff Writer Lawrenceburg Democrat-Union
March 16, 1988

Nettie Berryhill is well known around parts of south Lawrence County. What people don't know is what Granny has encountered in her nearly 87 years of life. She's truly a remarkable and wonderful human.

Granny: as most folks know her, was born March 30, 1901 about 30 yards from where she has lived for the past 44 years. She has been the cornerstone of the Fairview Community ever since her husband; the late John Alvin Berryhill, sold a 41 Ford to build their house. They spent the entire sum of $1,100.

Times were hard for Granny from the time she was a child until she reached the golden years. She was one of nine children in which five are still living. Folks didn't have much at the turn of the century and Granny's family was not exception.

Her parents, Ben and Susie Littrell Smith farmed for a living. Since Granny was the oldest child after her brother died at an early age, she too had to farm. Still, her dad wanted the kids to have an education so Granny attended Blue Springs (across Blue Water Creek) and later St. Mary's in the Rascal Town Community. She still remembers such teachers as Mattie Bumpus and Victoria Yocom and J.T. Spain.

She wanted to attend teacher's school but the family just could not afford it. So, back to the farm she went until she met Alvin Berryhill. "I remember Alvin courting me in a horse and buggy," said Granny. "A short time later, my sister and I got married. I married Alvin and she married Villard Smith in a double wedding."

Things were going pretty well in the early 20's when Granny and Alvin were making about $4.00 per day cutting timber and chopping cotton. Then came the crash of '29. "We were already poor but the 'crash of '29' hurt everybody," said Granny. "Wages fell to 25 cents a day and if it wasn't for hogs, chickens, calves, catfish and corn bread, a lot of folks would never have made it through the hard times."

Granny and her sister lived in a two-room house with their husbands for several years; nearly up until the old ford built her present home.

Granny gave birth to five children. First born Lorene died in 1923 at age 11 months. Then came Waymon in 1925. He was killed in a car accident in 1964 after getting off work at Murray Ohio. Sylvia was born in 1927, Ellen in 1930 and Bonnie in 1934. Only Sylvia and Bonnie survive. In 1976, Alvin passed away after 54 years of marriage to Granny. "I think about him and others I've lost everyday," said Granny. "Those are things you can never forget."

Granny has done a variety of things in her lifetime. She has been a waitress, a bus driver, poured concrete, and a meat cutter, tended to the sick and was a cook for Sheriff Harold Brown during his term. She remembers the Murray Strike quite well. "Alvin and I were working at the jail when the strike began. It was a mess around there. I had to cook a lot of extra food for a couple of days."

Granny still enjoys her garden, going to the senior citizens club and writing gospel songs. She has had several published in Methodist songbooks. Knowing Granny, she'll take up another hobby before long.

She attends Freedom Congregational Methodist Church in Loretto. She has been a Christian all her life. "I'm getting old and rusty and I ain't much to look at, but God has left me here a long time for some reason," said Granny. "I still love the Lord as I always have and will until he calls me home."

The crash of '29, the days of horse and buggy, the $1,100 houses, the one-room schools and many other things are behind Granny. Now she can relax and watch her 19 great-grandchildren grow and enjoy life as it is meant to be.

She has been around for two passing's of Haley's Comet and the way she's going now, she may see it when it comes around again.

---

1 Suzie Louise Littrell-Smith Family Correspondence File, (Letters, Family Group Sheets, and charts sent by family members to the compiler Glenn D. Littrell.), Contributed by Nettie L. Smith-Berryhill, September 1990.

2 Mary Mozzela Littrell-Ellis Family Correspondence File, Letters, Family Group Sheets, and charts sent by family members to the compiler Glenn D. Littrell.

3 James Carroll Littrell Family Correspondence File, Letters, Family Group Sheets, and charts sent by family members to the compiler Glenn D. Littrell.

4 John Daniel Littrell Family Correspondence File, Letters, Family Group Sheets, and charts sent by family members to the compiler Glenn D. Littrell.

5 Eli Pressley Littrell Family Correspondence File, (Letters, Family Group Sheets, and charts sent by family members to the compiler Glenn D. Littrell.

6 Suzie Louise Littrell-Smith Family Correspondence File, (Letters, Family Group Sheets, and charts sent by family members to the compiler Glenn D. Littrell.), Contributed by Nettie L. Smith-Berryhill.