Category: FAMILY-TREES

Carlton Cooper “Coach” Wells was the husband of James Edna Peters Wells for fifty (50) years.  They resided in Birmingham, Alabama, where they were both educators..

Carrie Kelly Paige was the daughter of Ada and Alexander (Alec) Kelly.   She was born July 5, 1912 in Alabama.  and she died April 20, 1998, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  She had a brother named Lesley Kelley.  During her lifetime, Carrie worked as a cook, and what a wonderful cook she was!!!

Carrie was married Robert Lee Paige and they lived in Roanoke, Alabama.

Robert Lee Paige was a well known gospel pianist.   And in the community, Carrie and her husband Robert Lee organized a singing called “The Old Ship Of Zion.”  Carrie was the narrator, and as the “Old Ship Of Zion” traveled from church to church, people would join and become regulars.   Many talented children and youth even joined the old ship and as adults, they continue to be involved and excel in Gospel music.  The “Old Ship Of Zion” not only taught us the old songs our ancestors sang, but some new ones as well.   It was an exhilarating meeting that took place (If memory serves me correctly) every Saturday night.  Robert Lee usually played the piano, but many other gospel musicians would be there to provide music for the singers.  Carrie was an inspiring narrator.

Carrie and Robert Lee produced an Album entitled “Zion’s Song” on which Robert Lee performed many many of the Old Time Hymns that were song in the black church.   His album was sold all over Randolph County and beyond, wherever they traveled.

Her family were active members of the St. Paul Baptist Church in Roanoke, Alabama.  But today, many of them have pulled away from St. Paul, and gone other directions.

Here’s another outstanding fact I recall about Cousin Carrie.  My father was the undertaker in Roanoke.   Before our churches got big enough to have big comfortable fellowship halls and kitchens and dining areas, the food for the bereaved families would be carried to the home of the deceased.   I recall Carrie was a heart patient, and had a pace-maker.  So, as she became older, she got where she wouldn’t attend funerals at all.  She couldn’t tolerate the large emotional crowds.  But she and her very close friend Nora Lee Kelly would go to EVERY home during the funeral, and prepare the food to be served, and when we would return the families to their home, these two ladies would be there ready to serve food to the families.  They would always be dressed professionally in their white stiffly pressed cooking uniforms, or beautiful white aprons, and carefully and meticulously serve the plates to the bereaved.  Many times the family would be so large there would be scores of people to be served.   Carrie would always make sure that her cousins Wilkie Clark (the undertaker) who was married to her cousin Hattie, would have plenty of food for himself and his funeral home staff.  They did this for EVERYBODY who had death in their family.

She was a wonderful soul, who loved the church, and had a love for gospel music and was a wonderful cook.  I have many memories of visiting her house where she had so many little trinkets and what-nots, and where there was ALWAYS something good to eat on the table.  A great-tasting pound cake or some other delicacy.

Carrie and Robert’s children included:

SON: Robert Joel Paige  (Married to Louise… they lived in Roanoke, Alabama)

DAUGHTER: Edith Paige Hall   (Chattanooga, Tennessee)

SON: Leon “Bott” Paige

SON: Nathaniel Paige  (Atlanta, Georgia)

DAUGHTER: Myrtis Sims  (Americus, Georgia)

Carrie is now at rest in Forest Hills Cemetery, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

At the present time, her mother Ada is being researched.  It may be that her mother was the daughter of Sweed and Caroline Lockhart Peters.  If so, she will be placed in the Sweed and Caroline Peters family tree.