| LILLIAN WALKER JOHNSON
(Pages 450-458) Wilbert Johnson and Amanda Johnson's daughter, Lillian Walker, born on February 9, 1935, was graduated from St. George High School in 1952. Prior to graduation, on December 29, 1951, Lillian married her high school sweetheart, James Walter Chesser. James was born on March 1, 1932, in St. George, Georgia. James was the son of Robert
"Ridley" Allen Chesser, born on April 17, 1903, and Cornelia Justice, born on December 2,1906. The Chesser family is an old and highly respected family and was one of the earliest settlers of Charlton County. Much local history has been written about the family. An island in the great Okefenokee Swamp on which this pioneer family established its homestead is still called "Chesser Island." James' siblings included Freddy "Jack" Jackson, Louise,
Linda Mae, Minnie Lee, Maggie, Robert Allen, Francis E. and Harold. James was graduated from St. George High School in 1950 and shortly after took a position with a motel operation in Folkston. On January 9, 1952, not long after James and Lillian's marriage, James was called for army service for the Korean conflict. He served until he was honorably discharged in December 1953. After his military service, James and Lillian established their home in Jacksonville where James
obtained a position with a truck-equipment firm. James and Lillian are parents to Belinda Darleen, born on May 25, 1953; James "Jimmy" Walter, Jr., born on October 14, 1954; Kathy Marie, born on August 22, 1956: and Gary Michael, born on October 31, 1961. All of their children were born in Jacksonville, Florida. As James moved up the corporate ladder, Lillian attended to making a home for James and their children. On Saturday, July 13, 1968,
James' father Ridley died and is buried in the Canaday Cemetery in Moniac, Georgia. The following is a copy of Ridley's obituary that appeared in the Monday, July 15, 1968, edition of TheFloridaTimesUnion. CHESSER
— Robert A. (Ridley) Chesser, 65, of Route 1, St. George, Ga., died Saturday night at his home. Mr. Chesser was a native and lifelong resident of Charlton County. He was a member of the Moniac Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Cornelia Chesser; four daughters, Mrs. Louise Crews, Mrs. Linda Mae Burnsed, and Mrs. Minnie Lee Taylor, all of St. George and Mrs. Maggie Patterson of Millington, Tenn.; five sons, Robert Allen Chesser of Starke, Harold Chesser of Brunswick, Ga., James Chesser of Jacksonville, Francis E. Chesser of Hilliard, and Jack Chesser of St. George; five sisters, Mrs. Vinnie Boyett and Mrs. Julia Lastinger, both of Jacksonville, Mrs. Kate Rider and Mrs. Vannie Clark, both of Folkston and Mrs. Edna Renshaw of St. George: two brothers, Ben Chesser and Harry Chesser, both of Folkston and 28 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. from the Moniac Baptist Church with the Rev. Grant Barber and the Rev. Gerald Harper officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Arrangement by Adkins Morticians of Folkston.
On November 16, 1964, Lillian lost her mother Amanda. She is buried in the St. George Cemetery. Lillian's father Wilbert died on March 19, 1971, and is buried with his wife Amanda. James Chesser and Lillian Johnson's children attended the public schools in Jacksonville. Their three older children were graduated from Jacksonville Ribault High School and found employment in Jacksonville. Their youngest child, Gary, attended St. George High School
and was graduated from there in 1979. In 1976, Lillian Johnson and James Chesser, with their youngest children, Kathy and Gary, moved back to St. George where they constructed a home. James commuted each day to his work with the truck-equipment company in Jacksonville. James' mother Cornelia, who died on February 6, 1981, is buried in the Canaday Cemetery with her husband Ridley. The following is a copy of Cornelia's obituary that appeared in the
Saturday, February 7, 1981, edition of TheFloridaTimesUnion, a Jacksonville, newspaper. CORNELIA CHESSER, 74, Moniac, Ga. died Friday. She is survived by four daughters, Maggie Patterson, MacClenny, Minnie Lee Rhoden, St. George, Ga., Linda Mae Burnsed, Glen St. Mary and Louise Crews, Folkston, Ga.; five sons Harold, James and Jack, all of St. George, Francis, Hilliard, and Allen. Starke; two sisters Minnie Howell, Blackshear. Ga. and Mattie Rouse,
Waycross. Services will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Moniac Baptist Church with burial in the Canaday Cemetery. John M. Brinkley, mortician is in charge.
LILLIAN WALKER JOHNSON CHESSER
(ca. 1998)
(Photo page 453)
James Chesser became very successful with the General Truck Equipment of
Jacksonville and is currently parts manager for the firm. Upon returning to St. George, both James and Lillian became quite active and involved in the leadership activities of the St. George Baptist Church. All of James Chesser and Lillian Johnson's children are married. James and Lillian presently are blessed with ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 
JAMES WALTER CHESSER
(ca. 1998)
(Photo page 454)
In 1970, Lillian Johnson and James Chesser's daughter Belinda "Darleen" found employment with the Springfield Bank in Jacksonville. On November 26, 1971, she married Stephen Dale Crane in Jacksonville. Stephen, born on October 17, 1951, is the son of Ruth Smith and Robert Crane of Yulee, Florida. Stephen's siblings include
Douglas, Jeffrey Allen and Deborah Jean. Stephen has been very successful in business and has been with the Stebbins Engineering and Manufacturing Company for over twenty years. Darleen Chesser and Stephen Crane are parents to Brian Stephen, born on March 19, 1973; Kristi Marie, born on March 17, 1974; Amy Nicole, born on August 1, 1975: and James Robert, born on May 7, 1982. 
THE STEPHEN AND DARLEEN CRANE FAMILY
BRIAN, STEPHEN, AMY, DARLEEN, KRISTI and JAMES
GRANDCHILDREN JARED and JADE GOLDSMITH
(ca. 1998)
(Photo page 455)
Stephen's employment has taken the family from one corner of the country to another, serving in Jacksonville, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Carthage, New York; Seattle, Washington: and currently in Greenville, South Carolina.
Darleen and Stephen's daughter Kristi married Mark Goldsmith and they have been blessed with two children, Jade Mikalla, born on May 27, 1995, and Jared Mikel, born on January 22, 1997. Lillian Johnson and James Chesser's son James "Jimmy" soon after graduating from high school found employment with Sears, Roebuck and Company and is currently employed with the company.
Jimmy Chesser on June 25, 1976, married Deborah A. Dryden. Deborah Dryden was born on July 18, 1955, in Jacksonville to Lula Bailey and Benjamin Dryden. Deborah's only sibling was a brother, Benjamin, Jr. Deborah Dryden has worked as a substitute teacher and with the Chemical Mortgage Company in Jacksonville. Currently, she is employed with the First Union Bank Company in Jacksonville. Jimmy Chesser and Deborah Dryden are parents to Angela Michelle, born on July 21,
1979, and Jaime Renee, born on June 23, 1980. Both girls are currently attending the University of Florida. 
JIMMY AND DEBORAH CHESSER FAMILY
JAIME, DEBORAH, ANGELA AND JIMMY
(ca. 1999)
(Photo page 457)
Lillian Johnson and James Chesser's daughter Kathy from 1976 to 1981 lived in St.
George with her parents after her high school graduation in Jacksonville. Kathy commuted to Jacksonville each day to her job with Prudential Insurance Company. Later she made her home in Jacksonville. After twelve years working with Prudential, Kathy transferred to the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Insurance Company of Florida in Jacksonville. Kathy Chesser on October 22, 1988, married Phillip Wayne Dove in Jacksonville.
Phillip Dove was born on October 12, 1961, in Lynchburg, Virginia, son of JoAnn Hill and Donald Dove. Phillip grew-up in Wisconsin with his only sibling, Beth. He served in the navy for over four years and upon his discharge he gained employment with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. 
PHILLIP AND KATHY DOVE FAMILY
PHILLIP, KENNETH, DANIELLE, KATHY
(ca. 1999)
(Photo page 498)
Phillip Dove and Kathy Chesser became parents to Kenneth Wayne, born on April 7, 1991, and Danielle Marie, born on January 13, 1997. After working for Blue Cross/Blue Shield for over eleven years, Kathy Chesser resigned to become a fulltime homemaker for her young family. Lillian Johnson and James Chesser's youngest child Gary was graduated in 1979 from St. George High School. While in high school, Gary worked part-time in a
Jacksonville K-Mart store and later with his father for the General Truck Equipment Company in Jacksonville. After high school, Gary became a full-time employee of the truck-equipment company. On April 28, 1984, Gary Chesser married Angela L. McKenzie in Jacksonville. Angela was born on February 2, 1963, in Brunswick, Georgia, daughter of Ruth Carolynlee Hickox and Doris Edward McKenzie. Angela McKenzie grew-up with her brothers, David and
Riley, and her sister Beth in Nahunta, Georgia. Angela found employment with Sam's Club in Jacksonville in 1981. Gary Chesser and Angela McKenzie are parents to Phawn Angelica, born on March 12, 1991, and Gary Michael, Jr., born on June 25, 1997. After many years, Gary and Angela are still employed with the General Truck Equipment Company and Sam's Club respectively. This Chapter: |
