The Gaither Family

Americus Pharr Lackey (1846 - 1914)

Americus Pharr Lackey was the wife of Robert "Pad" Lackey, a baptist minister.  She was Will C. Gaither's mother-in-law, grandmother to Mary Gaither, and great grandmother to Marianne Gaither Garrett.  Born in Walton County in 1846, became a very elegant lady, as the above picture reflects.  She and her husband, who built three churches in Monroe, Georgia that are still standing today including Liberty Hill Baptist Church, had 16 children, including Annie Americus Lackey and Robert Lackey.  The entire family rest in Liberty Hill Cemetery.

​Marianne Gaither Garrett has shared the following story about Robert:

Robert was born a little slave boy.  When his master found out he could learn to read, one finger was amputated for each grade level.  He was seven and could read at the the third grade level.  He had been taught to read by the master's children.  He was not taught to hate."

Sarah Catherine Perry

Sarah Catherine Perry Gaither, Marianne Gaither's paternal great grandmother , was born in South Carolina.  She was married to Buck Gaither and both were slaves to the slave-holding Gaither family that owned a great deal of property in South and North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, as well as Georgia.  She gave birth to her first child when she was only 14 years old.  Later, she and her husband, Buck came to live in Oxford where she would bear 10 more children.

Gaither Family around 1900

Four Gaither Brothers

Will Cole Gaither (1867 - 1951)

The above picture was taken in 1951 shortly before he passed away.  Born free, Will Cole Gaither went to live with relatives in Rome, Georgia as a child.  He and his first wife had two children, Jessie and Elizabeth.  Jessie Gaither's son, Humphry still lives in Rome while Elizabeth's daughter, Cynthia lives in New York.

Will Gaither's second wife, Annie Americus Lackey Gaither, moved to Oxford to care for his mother after the death of his father.  After moving to Oxford, they had a daughter, Mary Eva Gaither McLurkin in 1933 and another daughter, Catherine, who lived only six months.

Will Gaither was very involved in Rust Chapel Methodist Church in Oxford as well as the Oxford community. 

Richard Gaither

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Mary Gaither McLurkin (1923 - 2012)

Mary Gaither McKlurkin was Will Cole Gaither's daughter.  Her grandfather, Robert Lackey, was a builder who built three churches in Monroe, Georgia that are still standing today.  She married Samuel L. McLurkin and had three children, Gregory, Kimberly, and Marianne.

Gregory  graduated from Morris Brown College and inlisted in the United States  Navy.  He and his wife had one daughter, Tymesha.  He passed away in 2009.

Kimberly graduated from Clark College and the University of Maryland.  She married and had two children, Elana and David and currently lives in Maryland.

Marianne attended Spelman College, the Atlanta College of Art, and Georgia State University and lived in Oxford in the family home for many years. Two of her daughters and seven grandchildren still live in Oxford.  Marianne currently resides in Covington.  

Wedding of Mary and Sam McLurkin, 1966 with Best Man Henry "T" Gaither.

The Gaither Family Reunion in Florida.