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Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Young's Funeral Home Chapel in Ferriday with the Revs. Ed Weatherly and George Guy officiating. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery in Blade. The Rev. Mr. Tarver was an evangelist in the Concordia-Catahoula Parish area for 50 years, but was retired at the time of his death. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Eunice M. Tarver of Vidalia; four sons, J.J. Tarver, Jimmy Tarver and Carroll Tarver, all of Houston, Tex. and Harold Tarver of Newton, Ala.; four stepsons, Harry Weatherly and Bobby Weatherly, both of Natchez, Miss., the Rev. Ed Weatherly of Rayville and the Rev. James Weatherly of Mexico; one foster son, Alvin Coleman of Harrisonburg; three daughters, Mrs. Gladys Joy of Galveston, Tex., Mrs. Adina Cirilo of Houston, Tex., and Mrs. Maxine Weatherly of Mexico; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Bob [Alvinell] Ervin of Vidalia and Mrs. Curtis [Lola Marie] Johnston of McComb, Miss.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Harry Weatherly, Curtis Johnston, Mike Weatherly, Greg Weatherly, Randall Weatherly and Ed Weatherly, Jr. Quick Jump To:
NOTES All ministers listed are Pentecostal Holiness ministers. Children named who are now deceased include: J.J. Tarver, 1919-1999 (Army, WW II) John Wesley Tarver (death certificate state file no.11-25602). b. June 30, 1897 in Centerpoint, Avoyelles Par., Louisiana. m.1. Marie Annette Kelly (death cert. state file no.17-987) on May 26, 1918 in Jonesville, Catahoula Par., Louisiana. Marie Annette Kelly was the d/o John Robert Kelly, Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Reeves. She is buried at Pine Grove Cem., Blade, LaSalle Par., LA. Marie signed her name O'Kelly on their marriage license, but further research shows the spelling to be Kelly. m.2. Eunice Marie Matthews (28 July 1912 - 26 May 1989) on October 24, 1960 in Ferriday, Concordia Par., Louisiana. Eunice Marie Matthews was the d/o Benjamin Ajah (Benajah) Matthews and Emma Jane Reeves. She is buried at Greenlawn Cem., Morgantown Rd., Natchez, MS. (Eunice was previously marr. to William Edmond Weatherly. They divorced shortly after he returned from the war, leaving Eunice with seven children to raise alone. Wm. Edmond Weatherly died in Memphis, Tenn and is buried there.) * Marie and Eunice were cousins. Their mothers, Mary Elizabeth Reeves and Emma Jane Reeves were sisters, the daughters of Jephtha Daniel Reeves and Mary Catherine Welch. John Wesley Tarver was the s/o James Wilson Tarver and Permilia Ann (nee) Tarver. He was one of three children born to their union. Siblings: 1) Emma Dolar Tarver b. October 18, 1895 d. March 30, 1913, marr. Elijah Kees on February 18, 1908 in Catahoula Par., LA. They had 2 daughters: Mattie Kees, b. January 11, 1909 (marr. DeVille) and Gladys Kees, b. December 05, 1911 (marr. Yates). Emma Dolar Tarver Kees is buried at Slay Cem., Holloway Prairie, Rapides Par., LA.
2) Samuel Luther Tarver b. May 28, 1892 d. October 22, 1903. Samuel Luther Tarver was gored by a bull when still a child. He is buried at Holloway Prairie Baptist, Rapides Par., Louisiana. Emma Tarver and Samuel Tarver also were born in Avoyelles Parish, LA. Additional on Parents/Grandparents:
James Wilson Tarver and Permilia Ann Tarver were first cousins. Their fathers, Samuel Wilson and John E.J., were brothers, sons of Melinda and Wilson Tarver. Wilson Tarver's mother was Judith Cockerham, the d/o John Cockerham of Amite Co., Mississippi. (Probate file no.34, Amite Co., MS, John Cockerham, Sr.) Permilia Ann Tarver remarried after James Wilson Tarver's death. She was married on 20 July 1931 in Catahoula Par., LA to Tom N. Watson of Sicily Island by Roy Huff, J.P. (License issued to T.N. Watson and Parmelia Tarver, wit. Myra Wright, J.L. Stutson, N.H. Huff.) Permilia Ann Tarver lived in Midway, Louisiana in the home of her son, John Wesley Tarver, at the time of her death. She died in her bed on a cold winter morning, with her granddaughter, Adina, sleeping with her. James Wilson Tarver and Permilia Ann Tarver are buried at Harrisonburg Cem., Catahoula Par., Louisiana without inscripted markers. Iron crosses mark their gravesites, which are near the fence line that runs through the center of the cemetery. They were married on November 01, 1887 in Alexandria, Rapides Par., LA. Samuel Wilson Tarver b. October 31, 1825 in Osyka, Pike Co., Mississippi, d. April 30, 1919 in Boyce, Rapides Par., Louisiana (cert no.4880). Samuel Wilson Tarver served as a Pvt. in the Civil War, Co. C, 1st. Indiana Heavy Artillery - Union forces. He enlisted at Baton Rouge, LA on 7 Oct 1864 - 39 years old, 5'10", hazel eyes, light hair, fair complexion. Military occupation blacksmith. He is buried in the National Cem., Alexandria, Rapides Par., Louisiana, section A, grave no.1417. Mary Ann Lilly and Samuel Wilson Tarver were married on April 26, 1849 in Amite Co., Mississippi. Mary Ann Lilly, b. May 27, 1825 in Magnolia, Pike Co., MS, was the d/o William Lilly and Elizabeth Miller who married in St. Helena Par., LA on February 08, 1828. Her grave has not been found. Some years ago, John Crawford Tarver (1910-1999, s/o Marion C Tarver & Adeline Jolly) indicated in an interview that Mary Ann Lilly had gone back to the Lilly family near Brookhaven, Mississippi, prior to Sam's death, and is buried in that area. Contradictory information was given in a 1987 letter from Bessie Peters McCarty (1907-1995): When Grandma Mary Ann Lilly died, she was living with one of her children in Caldwell Parish, so we were told. Thomas J. Tarver, my grandfather, came by our home (Pollock La). He told us he had been dreaming for three nights something was wrong with his mother, so was on his way to see her. He came back a few days later, told us his mother died the day before he arrived there. I suppose she is buried there. Grandpa Sam died at his son's home in Boyce, La (Bessie P McCarty letter, Shreveport, La, 20 Mar 1987)...We have been unable to confirm either place of burial to date. The only thing I know for certain is the information in the Amite Co. Cemetery book is incorrect.*** Samuel Wilson Tarver was living with a son at the time of his death. He was living with James Wilson Tarver, and his grandson, John Wesley Tarver, signed the death certificate. Samuel Wilson Tarver marr. 2nd Mrs. Nancy DeLaney, Rapids Par. marr. bond no.140, issued 01 May 1880, no return. Nothing else is known of her. John Edward J. Tarver b. October 05, 1835 in Madison Co., Mississippi, d. June 07, 1898 in Avoyelles Par., Louisiana. He was a Methodist minister, said to have started the Belah Meth. Church. John Edward J. Tarver served as a Pvt. in the Civil War, Quitman Guards of Pike County, Co. E, 16th Mississippi Infantry - Confederate forces. He enlisted at Holmesville, MS on 27 May 1861 - 6'0", dark complexion, dark hair, dark eyes. Military occupation wagoneer. John E.J. deserted at Petersburg VA, was subsequently captured as a POW, took the Oath of Allegiance, sent to Chattanooga, paroled to remain north of the Ohio River until the war ended. John EJ's muster roll for Nov-Dec 1864 remarks: "Forfeit one month pay. Sentence court marshal." He is buried at Holloway Prairie, Rapides Par., Louisiana. Adeline Walters, b. in Ellisville, Jones Co., MS was the d/o William Walters and Elizabeth Smith. Adeline Walters also buried at Holloway Prairie. *** Gravesites: The notation in Amite Co. Cemeteries book is incorrect. Mary Ann Lilly is NOT buried in the pasture behind Wicker's home. Those graves have been identified and photographed, and are posted in the cemeteries section. Photographs of the gravesites of John Wesley Tarver and Marie Annette Kelly also are online. http://www.tarver-genealogy.net/cemeteries/
John Wesley Tarver was commonly called Johnny. He was an ordained minister of the Pentecostal church who made a tremendous contribution to early church history in Louisiana. He, Eddie Haygood, and a minister named Luke Hodges were the first Pentecostal Holiness ministers in central and north central Louisiana. John Wesley Tarver recieved the Holy Ghost while attending a tent revival in Winnsboro, Franklin Parish, Louisiana. According to Marie Kelly Tarver's sister, Margaret, a "black minister from up north, by name of Lewis Haywood was preaching this Holy Ghost revival and we all went down." John Wesley Tarver, his wife, Marie Kelly Tarver, his mother Permilia Ann Tarver, and her mother, Mary Reeves Kelly all received the Holy Ghost in Haywood's revival services, placing the beginning of John Wesley Tarver's ministry shortly after their marriage. Johnny Tarver established and built several churches in the area. One of the earliest was a church he started as a brush arbor ministry at Rawson Creek, a few miles north of Harrisonburg in Catahoula Parish. It was here that the Rev. John Thomas "Tom" Mayo received the Holy Ghost under John Tarver's ministry. This church, which Johnny Tarver left Tom Mayo to pastor, is still active today. After establishing the church at Rawson Creek, John Tarver founded the church at Birds Town, Carrier, Mississippi, and afterwards went on to build the one at Tioga, Louisiana, north of Pineville, towards Monroe. Around 1946 John Tarver pioneered the Pentecostal church at the old Webb Logging Camp site near Manifest in Catahoula Parish. This church, like the one at Rawson Creek, began as a brush arbor ministry until the building could be erected. It too is still active today. John Wesley Tarver's children remember other churches that Johnny Tarver either built, pastored or both. His son, Carroll C. Tarver writes: "Eunice Ashley and I were married, 4 Dec 1948, in the church Dad built at Webb Camp [we were married] by the Rev. Reason Cripps, pastor of the church at the time. Dad was pastoring a church on the Blade loop at that time ... " Carroll and Adina recall that Bennie Coon assumed the church their dad pastored at Blade, LaSalle Parish. Maxine, John and Marie's youngest daughter, says this is one of the earliest she recalls her daddy pastoring. This church is no longer there, but old-timers will remember it. It was built beside the old shotgun parsonage Johnny's family lived in, and was on the Blade Loop just past Frank and Mae (Coon) Joy's homeplace. Maxine, who was born in 1942, says her daddy was pastoring this church when she started school. From LaSalle Parish, John Tarver went to Ferriday to pioneer the first Pentecostal Holiness church in Concordia Parish. This church was built behind the levee on Lake Concordia. Until the church was completed, services were held on Jack and Etta Matthews' front porch, and under a brush arbor erected for services. My grandmother's diary speaks of a minister named Ralph Nymeyer who came through with his wife Hermina (Minnie), looking for a place to evangelize. They stayed about three weeks helping build the church, holding a revival throughout that time. Some years later, Ralph Nymeyer returned to pastor this church. The church, then known as Lakeside Pentecostal Church, was moved (literally) to Shady Acres (Ferriday) and became the Shady Acres Pentecostal Church and Christian Academy, pastored by the Rev. Johnny Earl Carroll. Services here continued for decades with a new building erected at long last. This church burned only two to three years ago. At the time, it was under the ministry of the Rev. John Crist. Notations from Marie Kelly Tarver's diary document the church's early history (spelling as in the original): On February 13, 1956: "Made my brown dress Jay got me today. Dad hauled chairs for the church & spread gravel on the church yard. Had big crowd. 20 preachers. Wonderful time in the Lord. Fellowship meeting." On March 13th, she wrote, "1956 Tuesday. Willing workers met and quilted today. Sis. Nymeyer with us. God blessed and we had such sweet fellowship of the spirit and a wonderful time in night service." Then, on August 13, 14 & 15: "Monday 1956. ... the men worked on the church house today. 1956 Tuesday. I cooked dinner for the men today. They worked on the church house again and visited Sis. Goodger and Lela Sanson. 1956 Wednesday. Nola spent the day with me & helped cook for the men. We had good church tonite. God is really dealing with his people. Jesus help us." They were still working on the church in September when Marie wrote on the 15th: "Saturday. Dad and Uncle Jack worked on the church house painting till noon. I stayed with mama. We went to the Lees for barbecue this evening. It was real good. Bro. & Sis. Franklin came to see us today. We had a nice young folks program tonight." [Clarifications: Nola would be Nola Mae Matthews, married to Asberry Bascom Smith. They are buried at Natchez City Cem., Adams Co., Mississippi. Leila Sanson was married to Everett W. Sanson and they are buried at Bethel Meth. Ch. Cem., Holloway, Rapides Par., Louisiana. Uncle Jack is Andrew Jackson Matthews, married to Mary Etta Reeves. They also are buried at Natchez City Cemetery. The Goodgers lived for many years in a shotgun house just as you went over the levee on Lake Concordia. She died of cancer some years ago and is buried at Pollock. Sis. Franklin is elderly, and now resides at the Camelot nursing home on the Ferriday-Vidalia Highway.] Marie Kelly Tarver died after a bout with bone cancer, because of which her left leg had to be amputated. They traveled to Shreveport for the operation and stayed with Johnny's niece (one of Emma Dolar Tarver's daughters) while Marie was in the hospital. This would have been in 1957. From her death certificate: carcinomatosis generalized 6 months, carcinoma of bone, left leg 2 years. Her dates are: b. January 11, 1903 Selma, Grant Par., LA, d. December 10, 1959 Concordia Lake Dr. Ferriday, Concordia Par., Louisiana. This was six months after the birth of my youngest sister. After Marie died, John Wesley Tarver married Eunice Matthews Weatherly. They were married by the Rev. Tom Mayo at the Lakeside Pentecostal Church that Johnny Tarver had built. Rev. Nymeyer was pastor at the time - this was October 1960. After his marriage to Eunice, Johnny Tarver returned to Catahoula Parish to again pastor the church at the old Webb Logging Camp site near Manifest. John Wesley Tarver's ministry spanned over half a century. Throughout those years, he not only pioneered and pastored churches, but labored as an evangelist in numerous revivals, fellowship meetings and campmeetings across central and north central Louisiana. He preached until he was physically unable to get around anymore. John Wesley Tarver spent his last years in the nursing home in Ferriday, and died at the hospital in Jonesville. Eunice Matthews Tarver spent her last years in the nursing home in Natchez and died there. |
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