Essie Ausburn
March 17th 1904 - January 15th 1996
Essie Ausburn was born March 17, 1904 in Banks County, GA. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Mary Caudell Ausburn. She married Joseph Bentley Lewallen June 27, 1921. He was born May 9, 1902. His parents were Nancy and Jay Lewallen. His parents are buried at BC Church Cemetery, Habersham County, GA. Bentley and Essie Lewallen had four children; Ralph Mckenley, Vassie Mae, Betty Eulean, and Bobbie Jean Lewallen. Bentley spent his life as a farmer. They lived in GA, SC and NC. Bentley Lewallen died October 6, 1984 in Stephens County, GA and Essie Lewallen died January 15, 1996 in Cleveland County, NC. They are buried at Damascus Church Cemetery, Banks County, GA.
L to R: Essie and husband Bentley Lewallen
Father: Benjamin Ausburn
Mother: Mary Louise Caudell
Brother: Grant Wilmer Ausburn
Sister: Mittie Lou Ausburn, Maud Lee Ausburn
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Husband: Bently Lewallen
Children: Ralph Mckenley, Vassie Mae, Betty Eulean, and Bobbie Jean Lewallen
Memories of Uncle Bentley and Aunt Essie written by Martha Ann Deaton:
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"Bobbie Jean remembers them being wonderful parents. The most enjoyable times she remembers was going home after she was married. They always had Pepsi’s there for them, their favorite drink. She liked to go to the cupboard and find homemade biscuits and country ham that were left over from breakfast.
I remember loving to go to their house as a child. I, too, liked to go into the pie safe and get a snack from her leftovers or a piece of pie. Uncle Bentley carved little monkeys out of a peach seed. They had such minute details. I wore them on a ribbon around my neck. Somehow I always managed to lose them. How I wish I had one today!
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This story goes about Aunt Essie:
When Wayne was born Aunt Essie came to our house to help. She had cooked a big dinner. She knew that sweet potato pie was my favorite so this was the dessert she prepared. As you know, homegrown sweet potatoes have strings in them, or they did then. Aunt Essie had long red hair. She gave me a big helping of the pie and I did not eat it. She asked why I wasn’t eating my pie since it was my favorite. I retorted that I was not going to eat it because it had her red hair in it. She never let me forget this story as long as she lived."
L to R: Benjamin Ausburn, Mittie Lou Ausburn, Essie Ausburn holding Bobbie Jean Lewallen
On April 6th 1939, Essie's 5 year old daughter, Betty Eulean Lewallen, passed away from lobar pneumonia and emphysema. She is buried at Damascus Church Cemetery, Banks County, GA. Martha Ann Deaton remembered her parents, Harve and Bertie Mae Deaton, saying she was such a sweet little girl. Harve caught fish and put them in a bucket for her to look at when she was bedfast.
