Mary Elizabeth “Molly”( Lyle) Venable (1853–1940)

Mary Elizabeth “Molly” Lyle (1853–1940) married Allen Leonidas Venable on December 10, 1872. They built their life together on 200 acres of his father’s land, raising five children:

• Eula Mae Venable (1873–1948)

• Mattie J. Venable (1876–1926) (In Justice Cemetery )

• Elmer Jerrell Venable (1880–1950)

• Herman Columbus Venable (1885–1953)

• Alma Ruth Venable (1893–1894) (In Justice Cemetery )

Their youngest child, Alma Ruth, died before her second birthday. She was laid to rest in the Justice Cemetery. “Happy infant early blest, rest in peaceful slumber, rest!” reads her tombstone.

Allen continued farming until his sudden death on October 3, 1901, at his home near the Mulberry River. He was 52 years old. He was buried in the Justice Cemetery beside little Alma Ruth.

Molly Venable outlived her husband by nearly four decades. She had six grandsons and two granddaughters born to Eula Mae Sims, Hernan C and Elmer Venable. Molly remained in the family home and lived to the age of 87. In 1926 Molly’s daughter and companion Mattie J. Venable died and was buried in the Justice Cemetery.

Molly Venable passed away January 5th, 1940 and was buried beside her husband and daughters. Her marker simply reads: “Gone to a better world”.