Jessie Eugenia Bankston

     Jessie Eugenia Bankston was born on 22 September 1872 in Alabama.³ She was commonly known as Jessie.

Jessie married John Dempsey WATTS, son of Daniel Henry WATTS and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER, on 6 June 1886 in Olmstead Station, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The license was applied for 4 June 1886. The ceremony was performed by C. B. Olmstead, justice of peace.¹

Jessie Eugenia Bankston and John Dempsey WATTS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 18 June 1900 in Kingdom Beat, Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as John D. Watts, a farmer, age 38, born September 1862 and his wife, Jessie, age 27, born September 1872. They had been married 14 years and Jessie was the mother of three children with two living. With them were their children Woodie O. Watts, age 11, born October 1888, and Daniel G[ay] Watts, age 9, born August 1890, both of whole were listed at school. Also living with them at the time was a niece, Lottie M. Wilson, age 16, born April 1884.⁴

Jessie Bankston and John Dempsey WATTS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 23 April 1910 in Ward 4, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The household was listed as John D. Watts, a 45-year-old sawyer in a lumber mill, and his 39-year-old wife, Jessie E. Watts. This was the first marriage for both and they had been married 22 years. Jessie was the mother of two children, all living. They rented their home at 272 13th Street. Living with them were their sons, Woodie O., an 18-year-old carpenter, and Daniel G., a 16-year-old machinist and auto repairer. All of them could read and write. Also in the household were Jessie's mother, Amanda Bankston, a 76-year-old widow and mother of six with four living. Curtis Ray was a 21-year-old boarder who worked as a planner in a lumber mill. Everyone in the household was born in Alabama.⁵

As of 1916, Jessie Eugenia Bankston and John Dempsey WATTS were living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The City Directory showed him as a wood worker. They lived 2103 25th Avenue.⁶ She was buried on 12 November 1918 in Big Hurricane Cemetery, Brookwood, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.^3,7

Jessie Eugenia Bankston died on 12 November 1918 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, at age 46.³

Jessie Eugenia Bankston appeared in a newspaper article 12 November 1918 in the The Tuscaloosa News, published in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Deaths-- Mrs. J. D. Watts, aged 50 years, died this morning at Tuscaloosa. Deceased is the mother of Mr. Gay Watts. Funeral services will occur tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at the J. D. Foster undertaking parlors. Interment at the Big Hurricane Creek church.