lydia whitehead kidd
1887-1922
Life Story
Daughter of Andrew Dowel Whitehead, Sr. and Sena Nelson Whitehead
Early Life and Family Background
Lydia Whitehead Kidd was born around January 1887 in Newton County, Mississippi, to Andrew Dowel Whitehead, Sr. (1847–1888) and Sena Nelson Whitehead (1859–?). She entered the world during a period when African American families in Newton County were still navigating the fragile freedoms of the post-Reconstruction South.
Her father passed away when Lydia was still a small child, leaving her mother, Sena, to raise the family under challenging economic circumstances. Like many daughters of farming families in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Lydia contributed to the household from an early age. Census records reflect that she worked as a farm laborer on the home farm, labor that was essential to the survival of the family.
Marriage and Children
Lydia married William Kidd (1883–1959), who was also known as “Bud.” Their marriage united two working families rooted in Newton County.
From this union, five children were born:
- Dorothy Jean Kidd (1910–1989)
- Louise Kidd (1912–2009)
- Ezelle Kidd (1914–1990)
- Murry Kidd (1920–?)
- Victor Kidd (1921–1922)
The Kidd household reflected the realities of rural Mississippi life—hard work, close family bonds, and the constant balancing of limited resources.
Occupation and Final Years
On her death certificate, Lydia was listed as a housekeeper. Whether in the fields during her youth or managing her own household as a wife and mother, her life was defined by steady, often unrecognized labor.
Lydia passed away on May 17, 1922, from tuberculosis (commonly abbreviated “T.B.” on official records). Tuberculosis was a widespread and often deadly disease in the early twentieth century, particularly in rural communities with limited access to medical care.
Her brother, Ambrose Whitehead—also referred to as Cooper—served as the informant on her death certificate, ensuring that her life and passing were properly recorded.
Death and Burial
Lydia Whitehead Kidd was laid to rest at Union Chapel United Methodist Church graveyard in Newton County, Mississippi. There she rests among family members whose lives were intertwined through land, labor, and faith.
Though her life was brief—ending at approximately thirty-five years of age—Lydia’s legacy endures through her children and the generations that followed. Her story reflects the resilience of the Whitehead family and the quiet strength of women whose work sustained both home and community.
Resting Place
Union Chapel United Methodist Church
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1900 Federal Census
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
- Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912-1943
- U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
- The Newton Record, William (Bud) Kidd Obituary, Thu, Apr 02, 1959 ·Page 8
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- The Newton Record, Ambrous Whitehead Obituary, Wed, Nov 09, 1960 ·Page 11
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