ceola rigsby hosey
1906-1989
Life Story
Early Life and Family Background
Ceola Lee Rigsby was born on September 13, 1906, in Newton County, Mississippi, to James “Jim” Rigsby (1885–1955) and Assenia Evans Rigsby (1886–1982). She was raised within the rural farming community of Newton County, where family labor and cooperation were essential to daily life.
From an early age, Ceola worked as a farm hand on the home farm, contributing to the household economy alongside her family.
Education
Ceola completed the third year of high school, an achievement that exceeded the educational attainment of many African Americans in rural Mississippi during the early twentieth century. Her schooling reflects both family support for education and her own perseverance during a period of limited access to formal schooling.
Marriage and Family
Ceola married Bill Hosey (1905–1975) of Newton County. From this union, six children were born, all of whom survived into adulthood:
- Jessie M. Hosey Smith of Forest, Mississippi
- Gladys Hosey Earvin of Mt. Dora, Florida
- Assenia Hosey McBride of Mt. Dora, Florida
- Myra Hosey Garry of Mt. Dora, Florida
- Doris Hosey of Mt. Dora, Florida
- Bill Hosey Jr. of McLain, Mississippi
- James Hosey of Orlando, Florida
Through her children, Ceola’s family network extended beyond Newton County into Florida and other parts of the South, reflecting post-war migration patterns.
Adult Life and Occupation
By 1950, Ceola was listed as keeping house, a role that encompassed far more than domestic labor. Like many women of her generation, she managed household finances, reared children, maintained food production, and supported extended family networks—often without formal recognition in public records.
Community and Legacy
Ceola Lee Rigsby Hosey’s life reflects the experiences of many African American women in Newton County whose labor sustained families, farms, and communities across generations. Her story connects the Rigsby, Evans, and Hosey families, all of whom are deeply rooted in the Saint John and surrounding church communities.
Interpretive Sidebar: Women’s Labor Beyond the Record
Although census records often list women like Ceola as “keeping house,” such descriptions understate the scope of their work. Farm labor, child-rearing, food preservation, caregiving, and financial management were essential to family survival. Ceola’s life exemplifies the unrecorded labor that formed the backbone of rural Black communities in twentieth-century Mississippi.
Resting Place
Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- The Newton Record, Bill Hosey Obituary, Wed, May 28, 1975 ·Page 12
- 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, Wed, Aug 18, 1976 ·Page 8
- The Newton Record, Jim Rigsby Obituary, Thu, Oct 06, 1955 ·Page 13
- The Newton Record, Assinia M. Rigsby Obituary, Wed, Dec 01, 1982 ·Page 34
Leave a Reply