Profiles of Prominent Charlton County Citizens

ROXIE CHESSER RENSHAW CRAWFORD
Celebrates Her 90th Birthday

By Vivian C. Wainwright

Ninety years ago, Roxie Edna Chesser was born into the family of Robert Allen and Lizzie Altman Chesser. The tenth of Robert Allen and Lizzie’s thirteen children entered the world on April 5, 1908 and grew up on Chesser Island in the Okefenokee Swamp. Mrs. Roxie is the one who gave Mrs. Lois B. Mays most of the information about the Chesser family for her book, “Settlers of the Okefenokee.” Mrs. Mays has captured and preserved the story of these people through mostly “oral” histories gathered through the years. It’s a book worth owning if you’re interested in local swamp history.

Mrs. Roxie is known “hereabouts” as a go-getter and at the age of ninety she’s still going strong. The home where the birthday dinner was held on Sunday April 5, 1998 is the one in which Mrs. Roxie moved into with her husband, Walter, in 1972. . It’s located in St. George and before she moved into this modern marvel she did without electricity, running water or modern bathrooms.

She still has her chickens, which she cares for faithfully and still makes a garden in the backyard of her neatly kept home place. Fruit trees, cultivated grapevines, flowering shrubs, plants and trees surround the main house and outbuildings of her home. And don’t rile her up because I understand she’s still a pretty good shot with her shotgun.

Mrs. Roxie reportedly went barefoot until she married Walter Renshaw in 1924. The preacher performed a burial and a wedding on the same day. He married the two after the burial of Uncle Sam Gibson. Roxie and Walter almost celebrated their 60th anniversary, but Walter, who had been ill for some time, succumbed to death just ten days before his 82nd birthday on May 7, 1984. The two had ten children, one was stillborn and another, Norma, died at the age of three. Of the remaining eight, seven are still living. Samuel passed away in August of 1997

Mrs. Roxie recently lost her second husband, Leroy Crawford, in February of 1997. The two were married almost eleven years. She sold milk to Mr. Crawford for years, then married him. She got rid of her cow, but as one of her sons jokingly said “She’s still got her chickens and is looking for somebody to buy her eggs.” They were laughing about their mom looking for a third husband.

And that’s how Mrs. Roxie’s family is about having a good time. They love a good joke and enjoy teasing each other. When I arrived at the birthday celebration it was evident a lot of good cooks were in the family. Mrs. Roxie’s granddaughter, Phyllis Cowart, (Flora’s daughter) was responsible for baking and decorating the birthday cake. It was both pretty and delicious.

Family and friends were scattered around the spacious yard visiting and talking. A baseball game was ongoing for most of the afternoon, with trees serving as two of the bases. And music, for this family, is a must. Many are talented with beautiful singing voices. Mrs. Roxie learned to sing the old-fashioned way in four note harmonizing and she joined her children in singing her favorite song, “Amazing Grace”, and other hymns such as “Farther Along” and “Peace in the Valley.”

Her son, Donald Renshaw, and the oldest son of her sister, Vannie Hickox, Herschel Hickox pulled out the guitars, playing and singing with others joining in occasionally. Sometimes during their picking and grinning Nina (Dykes) hollered, “Hold it, there’s supposed to be some jokes between the songs.” Herschel took her up on this suggestion and told the crowd jokes in between the musical entertainment.

Six generations were present at Mrs. Roxie’s 90th birthday celebration. Jordan Pacheco of Jacksonville, Fla. (Ida’s great-great grandson) was on hand for his great-great-great grandmother’s birthday dinner. The youngest family member present was Devon Taylor, son of Christy Lentz, who was just four weeks old and of the fifth generation. Mrs. Ida is Devon’s great grandmother and Mrs. Roxie his great-great grandmother.

Mrs. Roxie is a member of First Baptist Church of St. George. Her pastor, Kenny Marr, came to the dinner and said a few words about Mrs. Roxie and had prayer with the group. Her son, Donald, also shared a few words about his mother. He told me, “We’re fortunate to have a mother who’s lived to see the sixth generation of her family and has only had one of her grown children to pass away. She’s been a wonderful mother and set a good example. We all live pretty close by and keep in touch with her.”

Her daughter, Flora, said “She’s been blessed with a healthy life. She’s only had surgery once in her life and that was to put in a pacemaker,” Nina, who lives just a couple of blocks away, drops in to see her mom or calls her every day. “She gave birth to all her children at home except for the last three,” said Nina.

Speaking of her 90th birthday celebration Mrs. Roxie told me “I really did enjoy it. It was a wonderful day. I got a lot of calls near and from far away. This (day) really did surprise me. Blessed things are happening to me all the time. What a pleasure it was to have my kids and my friends being with me.”

[One picture accompanied this article with the following cut line: It was a celebration to remember! Joining Mrs. Roxie for her 90th birthday dinner were her children (pictured above), front row: (l to r) Ida Lentz, Flora Petty, Mrs. Roxie, Nina Dykes. Back row: (l to r) Donald, Earl, Alva and Arthur.]

Charlton County Herald

April 15, 1998

Return to "Queen of the Okefenokee"