theodore haney
1912-1976
Life Story
A Life of Labor, Survival, and Movement Across the American South and West
Early Life and Family Roots
Theodore Haney was born on May 7, 1912, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to George Haney, Jr. and Carrie Miller Haney. He grew up in the Piney Woods region during a time when Black families navigated the restrictions of Jim Crow through hard work, family networks, and mobility.
By 1920, Theodore was living in Forrest County, part of a large household that included his siblings Eva, John L., Louis, Odelia, Maebelle and Priscilla. Like many families in the rural South, the Haney’s relied on shared labor and cooperation to sustain themselves.
By 1930, the family had relocated to Newton, Mississippi, reflecting a common pattern among Black families seeking opportunity or stability. At just 18 years old, Theodore was already contributing to the household economy as a laborer. Census records confirm that he was literate, a meaningful advantage in a time of limited educational access. On June 13, 1931, he married Olivia Lang in Newton County. This marriage would end in divorce in November 1972 in the State of California.
Work, Mobility, and Encounters with Local Systems
Theodore’s early adult life was shaped by movement and the search for steady work. Like many Black men of his generation, he traveled where labor opportunities existed.
By the late 1930s, he had established himself as a concrete finisher, a skilled trade that would define much of his working life. In 1940, he was living in Pickens, Mississippi, in the household of his cousin Houston Haney, continuing this work.
During this same period, records place Theodore in more than one legal setting, reflecting the everyday realities of life under local enforcement systems:
- In Hattiesburg, police court records show that he was among several men charged with gambling and fined $2.50, a minor offense handled at the city level.
- Separately, Newton County records (1938) document a case listed as “State vs. Theodore Haney,” in which court costs—including justice of the peace and constable fees—were “worked out” through labor.
While it is unclear whether these records refer to the same incident or separate events, they illustrate how working-class Black men often navigated minor legal and financial entanglements within local systems during this era.
Additional records show that Theodore’s movements extended beyond Mississippi. At one point in the early 1940s, he was identified as being from Shreveport, Louisiana, suggesting a broader pattern of regional labor migration.
By 1940, he was also residing at 507 Katie Street (Col.) in Hattiesburg, placing him within the city’s Black community. His World War II draft registration described him as:
- Height: 6 feet
- Weight: 194 pounds
- Employer: Korsmo Construction Company, Hattiesburg
He was later ordered to report for a physical examination on December 14 at the Forrest County Health Office, marking his entry into the wartime draft system.
A Near-Fatal Turning Point (1942)
In the early morning hours of January 25, 1942, Theodore Haney’s life took a dramatic and nearly fatal turn.
At approximately 5:30 a.m., while driving a heavy sedan toward Hattiesburg, he crashed into the steel framework at the north end of the U.S. Highway 11 bridge over the Leaf River, just inside the city limits.
Newspaper reports described the collision as occurring with “terrific force.” The impact was so severe that it:
- Broke a vertical compression member of the steel truss
- Threw the entire bridge out of alignment
- Forced the closure of Highway 11
His automobile was described as “almost demolished.”
At the time, Theodore was identified as being from Shreveport, Louisiana, reinforcing evidence of his mobility during this period. He was rushed to Methodist Hospital in critical condition, though later reports described his condition as “fair.”
Another passenger in the vehicle survived with less serious injuries.
Though he survived, the injuries he sustained—particularly to his leg and shoulder—would have lasting consequences that shaped the remainder of his life.
Military Service and Its Limits
Despite the severity of his injuries, Theodore answered the call to serve during World War II.
On March 1, 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, Georgia, serving as a Private in the Army Service Forces (ASF).
However, his military service was brief. In June 1944, he was hospitalized with serious orthopedic conditions, including:
- Chronic dislocation of the femur
- Nonunion fracture of the clavicle
Military physicians determined that these injuries existed prior to his service, almost certainly linked to the 1942 bridge accident.
As a result, Theodore was honorably discharged in July 1944, after approximately four months of service. His experience reflects the reality faced by many men who entered military service already carrying the physical toll of labor and injury.
The Migration West
Following the war, Theodore joined the broader movement of African Americans leaving the South in search of opportunity.
He relocated to Palo Alto, California, where he continued working as a cement finisher, carrying his trade across regions. There, he built a life with his wife, Mamie Lee Haney.
Even while living in California, Theodore maintained strong ties to Mississippi. Like many migrants of his generation, his connections to home remained intact through family relationships and ongoing ties to the community.
Final Journey Home
Theodore Haney passed away on May 7, 1976, his 64th birthday, in San Mateo, California.
Though he had spent years in the West, his story ultimately returned to Mississippi. His funeral services were held at Century Funeral Home in Hattiesburg, officiated by Rev. Purvis Moore.
He was laid to rest in City Cemetery (Oaklawn) in Hattiesburg.
Summary of Life Events
| Period | Location | Occupation / Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1912–1920 | Hattiesburg / Forrest County, MS | Childhood; son of George & Carrie Haney |
| 1930 | Newton, MS | Laborer (odd jobs) |
| 1938 | Newton County, MS | Court case; costs worked out |
| Late 1930s | Hattiesburg / Shreveport | Migrant labor (inferred) |
| 1940 | Pickens, MS | Concrete Finisher |
| 1940 | Hattiesburg, MS | Draft registration; 507 Katie St residence |
| 1942 | Hattiesburg, MS | Survived catastrophic bridge accident |
| 1944 | Fort Benning, GA | U.S. Army (WWII; medically discharged) |
| 1950s–1976 | Palo Alto, CA | Cement Finisher; married Mamie Lee |
| 1976 | Hattiesburg, MS | Deceased; buried at City Cemetery |
Legacy
Theodore Haney’s life reflects the realities of a generation shaped by labor, mobility, and resilience. He endured serious injury, navigated the challenges of economic survival, and ultimately carried his skills across regions during a period of significant migration.
His story is not one of a single place, but of movement—between counties, states, and regions—while maintaining enduring ties to family and home. In that journey, Theodore represents countless Black men whose lives were defined not only by hardship, but by persistence and the determination to keep moving forward.
Resting Place
City Cemetery, Hattiesburg, MS
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- California, U.S., Death Index, 1940-1997
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- California, U.S., Divorce Index, 1966-1984
- New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957
- U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
- U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
- U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
- U.S., World War II Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954
- U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1861-1985
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