emaline barrett wansley
1850-1943
Life Story
Early Life in Georgia
Emaline Barrett Wansley was born about 1850 in the state of Georgia, during the era of slavery. She was the daughter of Fannie Barrett (c. 1812–1908), whose life spanned from bondage into the early twentieth century. Like her mother, Emaline’s early years were shaped by the realities of enslavement and the upheaval that followed emancipation.
In her youth, she worked as a farm laborer—an occupation common among formerly enslaved women navigating the transition from slavery to freedom.
Life in Mississippi
By 1880, Emaline and her family were residing in Decatur, Newton County, Mississippi. The migration from Georgia to Mississippi followed patterns common among formerly enslaved families and the white slaveholding families who moved westward before and after the Civil War.
Throughout her adult life, Emaline worked in various forms of labor. Early on, she labored in the fields. By 1910, census records list her occupation as a laundress in the “at home” business—a physically demanding form of domestic work that provided income for many Black women during the post-Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras.
Her death certificate later listed her as widowed, though her husband’s name is not recorded here. She remained in Newton County for the remainder of her life.
Children and Family
Emaline Barrett Wansley was the mother of seven children:
Spencer Barrett (1866–?)
Louisa Barrett (1870–?)
Babe Barrett (1873–?)
Jesse Barrett (1876–?)
Oliver Hollingsworth (1883–?)
Dorite Hollingsworth (1896–?)
Isham Johnson (1897–?)
Through these children, her lineage extended across multiple surnames, reflecting the complex family structures that developed during and after slavery.
From 1930 until her death, Emaline resided with her son Oliver, as advancing age prevented her from continuing physical labor. This intergenerational household arrangement reflects the strong kinship networks that sustained Black families during difficult economic periods.
Death and Burial
Emaline Barrett Wansley passed away on January 10, 1943. The cause of death was listed as old age—a simple but profound acknowledgment of a life that endured nearly a century.
Ada Adkins served as the informant on her death certificate.
She was laid to rest at Decatur M.B. Church Cemetery in Newton County, Mississippi, returning in death to the community where she had spent the greater part of her life.
Legacy
Born in slavery in Georgia and living to see the Second World War era, Emaline Barrett Wansley’s life bridged some of the most transformative periods in American history. From field labor to domestic work, from Georgia to Mississippi, and from Reconstruction into Jim Crow, her story reflects endurance, adaptation, and family continuity.
Her resting place in Decatur stands as a testament to a life rooted in labor, faith, and generational survival.
Resting Place
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1880 Federal Census
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
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