callie mae hughes love willis
1907-1970
Life Story
Callie Mae Hughes Love Willis was born on December 30, 1907, in Newton County, Mississippi, to John Hughes (1874–1966) and Arbella Arrington Hughes (1880–1959). She grew up in the Altare community, where faith, family, and hard work formed the foundation of daily life. Callie attended the local rural school and completed the sixth grade of elementary education, balancing her studies with responsibilities on the family farm.
At the age of 18, in 1925, she married Albert Love (1908–1979), beginning a new chapter in her life as wife and mother. The couple made their home in Newton County before relocating to Jasper County, Mississippi, around 1940, where opportunities for work were more plentiful. While living there, Callie worked as a laundress, averaging 30 hours a week and earning an annual income of $50.00, an amount that reflected both the economic realities and the resilience of working women in the rural South during that era.
From her marriage to Albert Love, four children were born:
- Addie (Annie) Lee Love (1927–1991)
- L.B. Love (1934–1998)
- James Albert Love (1936–?)
- Johnny Earl Love (1938–?)
By 1950, Callie and Albert had separated, and she later married Henry Willis (1900–1957), returning to Newton County, where she resumed her role as homemaker and continued to provide for her family. From this union, one daughter was born:
- Annie P. Willis (1939–?)
Faith played a central role throughout Callie’s life. In her early years, she was a devoted member of Saint Cloud Baptist Church, where she nurtured her spiritual foundation. Following the death of her second husband, Henry Willis, in 1957, Callie relocated to Chicago, Illinois, joining many of her relatives who had migrated north in search of new opportunities during the mid-20th century. There, she became a member of New Nazareth Baptist Church, where she remained active in her faith community.
On April 17, 1970, Callie Mae Hughes Love Willis passed away in Chicago, surrounded by family and loved ones. She was remembered as a woman of quiet strength, perseverance, and unwavering faith — one whose life reflected the enduring values of love, work, and community that defined her generation.
She was mourned by her children, grandchildren, and extended family, whose lives continued to bear the mark of her example. Though far from her birthplace in Newton County, Callie’s spirit remained deeply rooted in the traditions and legacy of the Altare and Saint Cloud communities — the places where her journey began.
Resting Place
Unknown Gravesite
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
- The Newton Record, Mrs. Callie H. Willis Obituary, Wed, May 06, 1970 ·Page 2
Leave a Reply