Finding Mrs. Virginia Vance Lemon’s Marriage and Death in the Newspaper

To continue to find little pieces of history at a time, African American genealogists just need to patiently keep looking. History is just hidden waiting for you to uncover it in the right place. Mrs. Virginia Vance Lemon was my grandfather’s younger sister. I have found her living in Columbia, living in Greenville, South Carolina, and living in Charleston, South Carolina. Historical documentation is spread throughout the state.

Sometime after the death of her husband, Mrs. Virginia Vance Lemon moved back from Charleston to Columbia on Barhamville Road across the street from Frank and Wilhemina Vance. I just found her newspaper obituary shown above. I learned that she was known to have been born in Carlisle, Union County, South Carolina.

She was one of three children born to Lafayette and Lula Johnson Vance. Lafayette was previously married to Lula’s sister, Nunia. They had several children before her death. One of which was Frank who lived across from Virginia on Barhamville. I remember Lutherine, her cousin, saying that she gave piano lessons out of her home.

She was a member of Bethel AME. She was assistant organist, a member of the Floral Club, and missionary society. Memorials were made to Allen University for the Special Interest Group. She was a graduate of Allen University.

Her funeral plans were made by Palmer Memorial Chapel. Having this information will allow my search for a death certificate to be more successful.

When Virginia lived in Columbia years before, she was married to Professor Rip Isaiah Lemon on December 17, 1925. Professor Lemon worked at Allen University.

Sharpen the Saw

Because I found these two records on Mrs. Virginia Vance Lemon, I can look for the marriage certificate and the death certificate for her. Can you identify any other records that I might find? Tell us in our Facebook Group.