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Sema Americus Morris

Sema Americus Morris

Female 1907 - 2002  (95 years)

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Generation: 1

  1. 1.  Sema Americus MorrisSema Americus Morris was born on 23 Jun 1907 in Aimwell, Toombs, Georgia, USA (daughter of William Lawton Morris and Sara Emily Taylor); died on 31 Oct 2002 in Savannah, Chatham, Georgia, USA; was buried on 4 Nov 2002 in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Savannah, Chatham, Georgia, USA.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Social Security Number: 266-16-2401
    • Residence: 1910, Militia District 51, Toombs, Georgia, USA
    • Residence: 1920, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA
    • Residence: 1930, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA
    • SSN issued: Bef 1951, Florida, USA

    Notes:

    'Everyone just loved that lady'

    Sema Wilkes, nationally renowned for her preparation and family style-service of hearty, Southern home cooking, died after a short illness Thursday morning. She was 95.

    Family members opened the doors to Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room at 107 W. Jones St. on Thursday. The staff of 20 served breakfast and supper to more than 200 visitors, just as their boss had for more than 55 years.

    But without the grandmotherly figure presiding over her guests, business was anything but usual.

    "It was hard work that got her where she was and where she got to," said Ronnie Thompson, who manages the restaurant and is married to Wilkes' granddaughter, Marcia. "If everybody had done as much in their lifetime as much as she did with hers, it certainly would've been a better place to live."

    Born in Aimwell in Toombs County, Wilkes started her career in 1943, when she agreed to help out in the kitchen of the boarding house where her late husband, Lois H. Wilkes, was staying.

    The part-time job led to a thriving business after the couple bought and restored the home in 1965 as part of a Savannah Historic Foundation project. Her restaurant's reputation, built mostly on word-of-mouth from her customers, made Mrs. Wilkes' a fixture in historic downtown and an ambassador for the city and state, family and acquaintances said.

    "She is part of the heritage of Savannah," said Esther Shaver, who owns E. Shaver Booksellers on Bull Street.

    "People would come into the bookstore and say, 'I met Mrs. Wilkes,' " Shaver said. "When you know that someone has just been a part of downtown and a fixture downtown, it's the end of an era. Everyone just loved that lady."

    Wilkes traveled to other countries to promote tourism in the South and Savannah through her cooking.

    Among the streams of visitors who waited for her savory helpings of fried chicken, barbecued pork, corn bread and turnip greens, were famous men and women like Robert Duval, Kate Smith and Gregory Peck.

    Thousands of lesser-known customers trekked to Mrs. Wilkes', where she gave blessings before they spooned heaping portions from huge bowls on the tables.

    At one point, the eatery's practice of re-serving uneaten portions led to health department investigations. But with one of the oldest restaurant licenses in the county, some argued that Wilkes' establishment was exempt from later regulations against family-style service. In any case, the business continued after a compromise that required food to be reheated before being served again.

    By far, most attention lavished on the restaurant was positive.

    Wilkes and her restaurant often have been profiled in newspaper and magazine stories. She also published several cookbooks, autographing thousands of them herself.

    Paula Deen of The Lady & Sons, whose downtown eatery rivals Mrs. Wilkes' with its similar Southern food dishes, said the elder woman's business sense was heroic and set her apart.

    "She and my grandmother were about the same age, both in the restaurant business when it wasn't real popular for women to be out in the business world," Deen said. "They were pioneers for women in the restaurant business."

    Wade Layton, who lived next door to Wilkes, watched her business blossom after he began working with her through his Coastal Paper-Sail Chemical Co. business in 1946.

    "It is amazing. She never even thought about quitting," said Layton, who supplied Mrs. Wilkes' with paper towels and napkins. "Most everybody else looks forward to the day when they can retire. That was the last thing in her mind was retiring."

    The tradition she began continued Thursday. Visitors lined up as usual for breakfast and lunch at the home.

    Thompson didn't tell anyone other than staff about the matriarch's passing at the restaurant.

    But word did filter out.

    City Council members, who have eaten pre-meeting lunches catered by Mrs. Wilkes' for the past five years, spoke of her legacy over their fried chicken and beef stew helpings.

    "Hopefully, her legend continues through her restaurant and family," said Mayor Floyd Adams Jr. "She has brought international attention to the community and we thank her for that."

    The restaurant will be closed today and Monday. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church on Calhoun Square.

    Her dining room, which will continue to be operated by her family, will reopen next week. Their routine is well-established.

    "We don't need any recipes anymore," Wilkes once said in a 1984 interview. "We just know what it takes to make food taste good."

    Still, Mrs. Wilkes' won't be the same without her, Thompson said.

    "Anybody who is real successful like that, they have to be a unique person," he said. "She just cared a lot about other people than herself. She just always did whatever it took to make people happy."

    Died:
    Birth: Jun. 23, 1907
    Georgia, USA
    Death: Oct. 31, 2002
    Georgia, USA

    Mrs. Wilkes

    "Good Lord, bless this food to us, and us to thy service." For 59 years, Mrs. Wilkes began each meal in her restaurant with this simple prayer.

    Sema Americus Wilkes, 95, died Thursday, October 31, at Hospice Savannah.

    Born in 1907 in Aimwell, GA, Sema was the first child of William Lawton and Emily Taylor Morris. When Sema was seven years old, her mother died. At that young age, Sema began cooking for her family and for the field hands who came to dinner.

    At sixteen, she married Lois Herman Wilkes, and they moved to Savannah in 1942. They settled at Mrs. Dixons boardinghouse and in 1943 bought the place from her, renaming it Mrs. Wilkes Boardinghouse.

    Gaining a reputation for its good home-cooked meals, it attracted both locals and travellers. Throughout the years, Mrs. Wilkes maintained the excellence and abundance of her simple country fare. As tourism in Savannah grew, people came from all over the world to taste her famous biscuits and fried chicken. Food critic Craig Claiborn said that her biscuits were "one of the greatest things ever to happen in my life." Her long list of culinary awards includes: The Southern Living Readers choice Award in 2000, the James Beard Americas Regional Classics Restaurant Award in 2000, The Traub Award for Excellence in Service to Savannahs Hospitality Industry in 1993, the Georgia Governors Conference on Tourism salute to Mrs. Wilkes Boardinghouse in 1993, Georgia Guardians Celebrate Savannah Award in 1991, and the Conde Nast Traveler Distinguished Restaurant Award in 1990. Mrs. Wilkes Southern style of cooking attracted worldwide recognition. She was invited to cook at the Kasteel Belvedere, a castle outside of Brussels, Belgium, in 1986. And in 1989 she taught Japanese grand chef Yoshinao Nagumo how to make Southern food during the Georgia Department of Industry and Trades Georgia on My Mind: American Homestyle Cooking promotion. Two books containing Mrs. Wilkes fabled recipes have been published: Famous Recipes from Mrs. Wilkes Boardinghouse , published in 1976, and Mrs. Wilkes Boardinghouse Cookbook: Recollections from Her Savannah Table , published in 2001.

    She was a member of Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church.

    She was pre-deceased by her husband, L. H. Wilkes and her son, James Carlton Wilkes.

    Survivors: her daughter, Margie Martin and son-in-law, F. W. Martin; a granddaughter, Marcia Thompson and grandson- in-law, Ronnie W. Thompson; and two great-grandchildren, Emily and Ryon Thompson, all of Savannah; and Mary Wilkes Lynn; niece, Sarah Morris Masters of Fayetteville, NC; nephew, Lawton Floyd Morris, Jr. of Jacksonville, FL.

    Visitation: 5:00-7:00 p. m. Sunday, November 3, at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors Hodgson Chapel.

    Funeral: 11:00 a. m. Monday, November 4, at Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church.

    Burial: Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, following the funeral.

    Pallbearers are James Kenneth Lynn, Wilbur W. Masters III, Lawton Floyd Morris, Jr., Captain David Robert Randolph, Candler Martin Wilson, and James Corde Wilson III. Honorary pallbearers are the Wesley Monumental Fellowship Class.

    Remembrances: Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church or Hospice Savannah.

    Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors Hodgson Chapel

    Savannah Morning News, November 2, 2002

    Family/Spouse: Lois Herman Wilkes. Lois (son of Arva Lanier "Arvie" Wilkes and Janie Belle McDonald) was born on 20 Apr 1905 in Georgia, USA; died on 19 Jan 1990 in Savannah, Chatham, Georgia, USA; was buried in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Savannah, Chatham, Georgia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

    Children:
    1. Margie Wilkes was born on 4 Sep 1925 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; died on 8 Feb 2007 in Savannah, Chatham, Georgia, USA; was buried on 10 Feb 2007 in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Savannah, Chatham, Georgia, USA.
    2. James Carlton Wilkes was born on 23 Jan 1931 in Georgia, USA; died on 20 Nov 1975 in Chatham, Georgia, USA.

Generation: 2

  1. 2.  William Lawton Morris was born on 23 Jun 1874 in Emanuel, Georgia, USA (son of Green Elisha Morris and America Mosley); died on 31 Jan 1923 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Residence: 1910, Militia District 51, Toombs, Georgia, USA
    • Residence: 1920, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA

    William + Sara Emily Taylor. Sara (daughter of George Washington Taylor and Josephine Ann Hughes) was born on 20 May 1881 in Georgia, USA; died on 8 Nov 1914 in Georgia, USA; was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 3.  Sara Emily Taylor was born on 20 May 1881 in Georgia, USA (daughter of George Washington Taylor and Josephine Ann Hughes); died on 8 Nov 1914 in Georgia, USA; was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Name: Emily Morris
    • Residence: 1910, Militia District 51, Toombs, Georgia, USA

    Children:
    1. 1. Sema Americus Morris was born on 23 Jun 1907 in Aimwell, Toombs, Georgia, USA; died on 31 Oct 2002 in Savannah, Chatham, Georgia, USA; was buried on 4 Nov 2002 in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Savannah, Chatham, Georgia, USA.
    2. Floyd Lawton Morris was born on 10 Sep 1909 in Toombs, Georgia, USA; died on 5 Jul 2000 in Jacksonville, Duval, Florida, USA.
    3. Colon Morris was born on 27 Oct 1911 in Georgia, USA; died on 2 Nov 1980 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in Braddy Cemetery, Montgomery, Georgia, USA.


Generation: 3

  1. 4.  Green Elisha Morris was born in 1852 in Emanuel, Georgia, USA; died in 1918 in Toombs, Georgia, USA.

    Green + America Mosley. America was born in 1856 in Emanuel, Georgia, USA; died in 1883 in Emanuel, Georgia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 5.  America Mosley was born in 1856 in Emanuel, Georgia, USA; died in 1883 in Emanuel, Georgia, USA.
    Children:
    1. 2. William Lawton Morris was born on 23 Jun 1874 in Emanuel, Georgia, USA; died on 31 Jan 1923 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.

  3. 6.  George Washington Taylor was born in 1846 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; died on 21 Apr 1897 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; was buried in Old Vidalia Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Residence: 1880, District 275, Montgomery, Georgia, USA

    George married Josephine Ann Hughes on 28 Jul 1868 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA. Josephine (daughter of Duncan Hughes, Jr and Sarah "Sally" Ann Wiggins) was born on 15 Aug 1852 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; died on 12 Nov 1941 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  4. 7.  Josephine Ann Hughes was born on 15 Aug 1852 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA (daughter of Duncan Hughes, Jr and Sarah "Sally" Ann Wiggins); died on 12 Nov 1941 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Name: Josephine A. Taylor
    • Residence: 1880, District 275, Montgomery, Georgia, USA

    Children:
    1. William Duncan Taylor was born on 29 Oct 1869 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; died on 19 Apr 1945 in Waycross, Ware, Georgia, USA; was buried in Apr 1945 in Pinecrest Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.
    2. Mary Catharine Taylor was born on 23 Apr 1872 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; died on 26 Apr 1954 in Toombs, Georgia, USA.
    3. John Melvin Taylor was born on 17 Aug 1874 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; died on 28 May 1914 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA.
    4. James Ezra Taylor was born on 21 Jan 1877 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; died on 4 Dec 1967 in Lyons, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.
    5. Henry Thomas Taylor was born on 20 Mar 1879 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; died on 21 May 1962 in Savannah, Chatham, Georgia, USA; was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.
    6. 3. Sara Emily Taylor was born on 20 May 1881 in Georgia, USA; died on 8 Nov 1914 in Georgia, USA; was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.
    7. Josephine Amanda Taylor was born on 26 Dec 1883 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; died on 2 Oct 1956 in Alston, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in Sharpe Cemetery, Toombs, Georgia, USA.
    8. Hugh Taylor was born on 20 Dec 1886 in Toombs, Georgia, USA; died on 24 Sep 1965 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.
    9. Minnie Corine Taylor was born on 19 Oct 1891 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; died on 26 Aug 1979 in Alston, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in Sharpe Cemetery, Alston, Montgomery, Georgia, USA.
    10. George Malcolm Taylor was born on 10 Aug 1895 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; died on 30 Jul 1970 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.


Generation: 4

  1. 14.  Duncan Hughes, Jr was born in 1816 in Robeson, North Carolina, USA (son of Duncan Hughes and Mary Morrison); died on 4 Jul 1907 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; was buried in Old Vidalia Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Residence: 1850, District 375, Montgomery, Georgia, USA
    • Residence: 1860, Montgomery, Georgia, USA
    • Residence: 1870, Montgomery, Georgia, USA
    • Residence: 1880, District 275, Montgomery, Georgia, USA
    • Residence: 1900, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA

    Duncan married Sarah "Sally" Ann Wiggins on 19 Sep 1852 in Tattnall, Georgia, USA. Sarah (daughter of James Wiggins and Mary Summerall) was born on 15 Mar 1830 in Tattnall, Georgia, USA; died on 22 Sep 1915 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in Old Vidalia Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 15.  Sarah "Sally" Ann Wiggins was born on 15 Mar 1830 in Tattnall, Georgia, USA (daughter of James Wiggins and Mary Summerall); died on 22 Sep 1915 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in Old Vidalia Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.

    Other Events and Attributes:

    • Name: Sarah Ann Hughes
    • Residence: 1850, District 375, Montgomery, Georgia, USA
    • Residence: 1880, District 275, Montgomery, Georgia, USA
    • Residence: 1900, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA
    • Residence: 1910, Militia District 51, Toombs, Georgia, USA

    Children:
    1. 7. Josephine Ann Hughes was born on 15 Aug 1852 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; died on 12 Nov 1941 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in Pinecrest Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.
    2. Catherine Hughes was born in Jan 1854 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; died on 17 Jan 1908 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; was buried in Old Vidalia Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.
    3. Mary Hughes was born on 9 Feb 1856 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; died on 30 Jun 1933 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; was buried on 1 Jul 1933 in North Thompson Baptist Church Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.
    4. Margaret J Hughes was born on 2 Feb 1859 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; died on 16 Feb 1938 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in North Thompson Baptist Church Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.
    5. Sarah Emily Hughes was born on 29 May 1861 in Montgomery, Georgia, USA; died on 3 Nov 1935 in Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA; was buried in North Thompson Baptist Church Cemetery, Vidalia, Toombs, Georgia, USA.
    6. Roseanne Hughes was born about 1864.
    7. William N Hughes was born in 1866 in Georgia, USA.
    8. Archibald Hughes was born about 1868 in Georgia, USA.



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