Bio-Kennedy, HowardLeeSr

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Howard Lee Kennedy Sr.
(1896- ? )

Howard Lee Kennedy Sr. was born in 1896 in the Webster community of Taylor County, WV, the son of Josiah and Ruth Ann (Minerd) Kennedy Sr.

He was tall and slender, with hair and eyes of light brown. Howard lived in Cecil in 1917, when he registered for the military draft during World War I. On his registration card, he marked his employment as a miner at the Elk Horn Coal Company's Ocean Mines, and he gave his racial background as "Negro."

He married his first wife, Miriam Tate, daughter of James and Adelia Tate. They had five children. By 1934, Howard and Miriam had separated.

Later, Howard married Roxie A. Mayle (1908-1945), the daughter of Deskin and Lacy Ann (Parsons) Mayle. They resided in Knottsville, Taylor County and Galloway, Barbour County.

All told, Howard had 10 children -- two sons named Howard Lee Kennedy Jr., Mary M. Mayle, Lucille Kennedy, Eloise Starks, Rowena Hunt, Doretta Hale, twins Arlene Kennedy and Darlene Williams, and Elizabeth Croston.

Two children passed away as infants -- twin Arlene of heart disease at age two months on Dec. 19, 1941, having been born weighing only five lbs.; and Howard Jr. in childbirth on April 27, 1944.

Tragedy struck the family again in December 1944, when Roxie was diagnosed with cancer of the uterus. She passed away the following month, on Jan. 31, 1945, with burial at Mt. View Cemetery in Moatsville. Her grave marker is seen here, as photographed in about 2007.

In 1954-1955, Howard's elderly cousin, Matilda (Minerd) Croston, daughter of William Minerd, came to make her residence in his home, and died there on Dec. 20, 1955.

Circa 1963, he lived in Canton, Stark County, OH. He married again, to Agnes Robinson ( ? - ? ).

He is seen here with brother Thomas Jefferson "Jeff" Kennedy, and is standing at right.

The precise details of Howard's fate are not yet fully known. He and Agnes rest together in Fort Laurens Cemetery in Bolivar, Tuscarawas County, OH.

Daughter Mary M. Kennedy (1937-1991) married (?) Mayle and resided in Canton, OH. They had two sons -- Gary Mayle and Michael Mayle. Mary "was a retired nursing technician with the Timpkin Mercy Medical Center with 27 years of service," said a newspaper. "She was a member of the Crystal Park Wesleyan Church." Mary died at the age of 54 on Dec. 3, 1991. Her remains were returned to the Philippi area for burial at the Prichard Cemetery at Clemtown, Barbour County.

Son Howard Lee Kennedy Jr. lived in Hartford, CT in 1991.

Daughter Lucille Kennedy lived in Cleveland, OH, in 1991.

Daughter Eloise Kennedy married Wilson Starks and resided in Cleveland in 1991.

Daughter Rowena Kennedy married (?) Hunt and in 1991 lived in Columbus, Franklin County, OH.

Daughter Doretta Kennedy married Rodney Hale and they made their home in 1991 in Zanesville, Muskingum County, OH.

Daughter Darlene Kennedy married George Williams and lived in Zanesville in 1991.

Daughter Elizabeth Kennedy married Gwendyl Croston and resided in Amesville, Athens County.