maebelle Haney evans williams
1917-2001
Life Story
A Life of Movement, Adaptation, and Enduring Family Ties
Early Life and Family Roots
Mae Belle Haney—recorded in early census records as “Mary”—was born in Mississippi, most likely on October 28, 1917, though later records also suggest a birth date of December 29, 1921. Such variations are common in early twentieth-century records and reflect the fluid nature of documentation within rural Black communities.
She was born into the large and interconnected household of George Haney, Jr. and Carrie Miller Haney, a family rooted in the piney woods of Mississippi. By 1920, she appears as an infant in Forrest County, living among siblings that included John L., Theodore, Louis, and Odelia.
Her early childhood was shaped by both family strength and personal loss. In 1929, when Mae Belle was still young, her mother passed away, altering the structure of the household and placing greater responsibility on older siblings to maintain family stability.
By 1930, the family had relocated to Newton County, Mississippi. There, Mae Belle attended school and was recorded as literate by her early teenage years—an important achievement in a time when educational access for Black children was often limited and inconsistent.
Coming of Age in Newton County
Growing up during the Jim Crow era, Mae Belle’s life reflected the balance between education and responsibility common to young Black women of her generation. Though she attended school, her formal education was limited, with records indicating completion through the lower elementary grades.
Her upbringing within a large sibling network—including Eva, Priscilla, and Mattie—placed her within a system of shared labor, care, and survival. These family bonds would remain central to her identity even as her life began to extend beyond Mississippi.
First Marriage and Early Adulthood
By 1940, Mae Belle had married Juary Evans (1920–1964) and was living in Stratton in Newton County. At approximately eighteen years old, she had entered adulthood in the same rural environment in which she had been raised.
During this period, she was primarily engaged in managing the household, a role that required both labor and organization. Like many women of her time, her contributions were essential but often underrecorded—anchoring the home while supporting the broader agricultural economy.
This marriage produced two children:
- Clarence Evans (1944–2011)
- Jury Evans, Jr.
Migration and New Beginnings in Georgia
Sometime during the mid-twentieth century, Mae Belle’s life shifted in a way that mirrored a broader pattern among Black Southerners—movement in search of stability and opportunity.
She relocated to Tifton, Georgia, where she would spend the remainder of her life. There, she married Moses “Bob” Williams (1922–1998), forming a new household and establishing long-term roots in Tift County.
This union expanded her family further. Together, they raised:
- Thomas Williams
- Carlton Williams
- Robert Williams
- Henry Williams
- Bobbie Lee Williams
City directory and Social Security records from the 1960s reflect her consistent use of the name Mae Belle Williams, the identity she carried through her later years.
Her residences along South Avenue and East 6th Street place her within a growing Black community in Tifton, one shaped by migration, labor, and the evolving opportunities of the mid-twentieth century.
Later Years and Legacy
In Georgia, Mae Belle became part of a generation that witnessed sweeping change—from the rigid structures of Jim Crow to the early gains of the Civil Rights era. Though she had left Mississippi, her ties to her family and upbringing remained strong, connecting her to a broader network that stretched across multiple states.
Mae Belle Haney Williams passed away on February 17, 2001, at approximately 83 years of age. She was laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery in Unionville, Tift County, Georgia.
Why Her Story Matters
Mae Belle’s life reflects a quiet but powerful narrative of movement, motherhood, and adaptation. Across two marriages, she built a large and extended family, contributing to a lineage that stretched across Mississippi and Georgia.
Her story illustrates:
- The impact of early loss and sibling-supported households
- The role of marriage and migration in shaping women’s lives
- The importance of women as anchors of expanding family networks
Fast Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mae Belle Haney Evans Williams |
| Also Recorded As | Mary Haney; Mae Belle Williams |
| Birth | Likely October 28, 1917 (alt. December 29, 1921), Mississippi |
| Death | February 17, 2001 |
| Parents | George Haney & Carrie Miller Haney |
| Education | Elementary school (limited formal education) |
| First Spouse | Juary Evans (1920–1964) |
| Second Spouse | Moses “Bob” Williams (1922–1998) |
| Children | Clarence Evans; Jury Evans, Jr.; Thomas, Carlton, Robert, Henry, and Bobbie Lee Williams |
| Residences | Forrest Co., MS; Newton Co., MS; Tifton, GA |
| Burial | Greenwood Cemetery, Tift County, Georgia |
Resting Place
Greenwood Cemetery, Tift County, Georgia
Photos/Albums
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
- U.S., Phone and Address Directories, 1993-2002
- Scott County Times, Priscilla Watts Obituary, Wed, Mar 10, 1982 ·Page 11
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
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