lilla mitchell chapman
1883-1923
Life Story
Lilla Mitchell Chapman was born about 1883 in Newton County, Mississippi. She was the daughter of Abe Mitchell and Caroline Thompson (1866–1939), members of a long-established African American family whose roots extended across the rural farming communities of Newton County.
Early Life and Work
Like many young women in early 20th-century Mississippi, Lilla worked from a young age as a farm laborer, helping support her family’s household through the demanding agricultural work that defined rural life. Her upbringing took place in the years after Reconstruction, during a time when Black families relied heavily on farming, seasonal labor, and strong kinship networks to survive.
Marriage to Robert Chapman
Lilla married Robert Chapman, and together they built a large family in Newton County. Their union brought forth the following children:
- Earnest Chapman (1905–1920)
- Otis Chapman (1907–?)
- Ludie C. Chapman (1909–1989)
- Nettie Chapman (1914–?)
- Cornelia Chapman (1916–?)
- Arthur Chapman (1918–?)
Their home reflected the tight-knit structure of rural Black families during this era, where farming, shared labor, and mutual support were essential to daily survival.
Child with Arch Evans
In addition to the children from her marriage to Robert Chapman, Lilla was also the mother of:
- Iley Jane Evans (1923–2004),
born to Archie Evans (1871–1942), a member of the notable Evans family of Newton County.
Iley Jane would grow to become a foundational figure in the Evans lineage, and her life story remains an important part of the broader community history.
Passing and Burial
Lilla Mitchell Chapman passed away on June 3, 1923, at the age of about 38 from tuberculosis. Her burial place was recorded simply as Newton, Mississippi, a reminder of the numerous small cemeteries and church burial grounds that served the Black communities of the area. Charlie Evans, a stepbrother, was the informant on her death certificate.
Her early passing left behind young children and a family who continued to carry forward her legacy.
Legacy
Though her life was brief, Lilla’s legacy endures through her many descendants, who remain part of the intertwined Mitchell, Thompson, Chapman, and Evans family histories of Newton County. Her story reflects the broader experience of African American women in early 20th-century Mississippi—women who labored on farms, raised large families under challenging conditions, and left enduring marks on the communities that shaped them.
Resting Place
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
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