Crawford-Gentry Family Reunion History

“Humble Beginnings”

A brief history

Rev. H.C. Crawford was born in Antoine, Arkansas in 1886, he was the son of Amanda Bean and Sam Crawford.  He was one of five siblings and the others were Elizabeth Gentry, Viola Bowen, Lewis Hatton and Mary Stitts Searcy.  He was very close to Walter Gentry, Dave Gentry and Charlie Gentry, the sons of his sister Elizabeth.  His relationship with his nephews developed a bond between the Crawford’s and the Gentry’s that has lasted a lifetime.  He married Easter Evans and they lived in Arkansas, Texas and later moved to Oklahoma.  Around 1912 he was a part of the “Back to Africa Movement,” however, he never made the trip to the Mother Country.  In Oklahoma, he made his living primarily through farming and through his service as Pastor of small rural churches.

Easter Evans Crawford was born in 1889 in Antoine, Arkansas to Josephine Anderson and Henry Evans.  She was one of five siblings, namely:  Albert Evans, Alphia Evans Matlock, Christine Evans Paschal, and William Evans.  She later married William Henry Crawford, aka Rev. H.C. Crawford.  She was a mother figure to her youngest brother William B. Evans, as she was about 15 years old when he was born.  The joy of her life was to serve her family and provide a warm and loving home.  Her days consisted of preparing meals, cleaning house, washing, milking cows, making butter and carefully tending her garden.  She birthed in the world 9 children, and nurtured 8 into adulthood because the youngest child, Lofton Nathaniel died at age 11 months.

The family lived in several communities in Oklahoma before moving to Idabel where they lived the remainder of their lives.  They lived in areas named Boss, Oak Grove, Maple Springs and Clear Lake. In Idabel, the family residence was at the corner of Seminole and Van Burn.

Of the 8 children all are now deceased.

Additional Family Information:

Evans: - Who are the Evans? Rev. H.C. Crawford was married to Easter Evans Crawford and she was a mother figure to her youngest sibling, William B. Evans.  He married Beulah Nelson in 1926 and they had 2 children, Willerene Evans Sanders and David Evans. William B. Evans graduated in 1922 from Arkansas A&M and Normal College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and worked as a Pullman Porter for a railroad company.  William B. Evans was born in 1900 and passed away on August 22, 1990.  His children, Willerene and David Evans hosted the 1982 Crawford-Gentry Reunion in St. Louis, Missouri.

The history of the Gentry Family began with the marriage of Abe Gentry and Lizzie Crawford.  To this union three sons were born:  Dave Gentry, Walter Gentry and Charlie Gentry.

Two of the sons from the Gentry Family, Dave and Walter, married two daughters from the McDonald family, Sedalia and Daisy.  Dock and Margie McDonald are the parents of Sedalia and Daisy McDonald plus three other daughters, Jeanetta, Melissa, and Ethel McDonald.

The first son, Dave Gentry married Sedalia McDonald on July 16, 1911.  To this union were born nine children who lived to adulthood.  Their names were Nathan, Willis, Margie, Luetta, C.W., Vesther, Wilma, Berniece and Arnette. 

All of these children are now deceased.

Dave Gentry lived from February 23, 1891 to June 13, 1948.  Sedalia McDonald Gentry lived from 

August 14, 1894 to March 2, 1947.  Both were laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in Harris, Oklahoma.

The second son, Walter Gentry married Daisy McDonald.  Prior to his marriage to Daisy McDonald, Walter fathered Josephine Gentry.  Likewise, Daisy McDonald prior to her marriage to Walter gave birth to Edgar Moore who later adopted his step-father’s last name, Gentry.

To the union of Walter and Daisy Gentry were born six children.  They were Mirtis Simmons who had sixteen children;  R.L. had six children; Lillie Mae had two children; Elijah had five children; Joseph had four children, and Jessie had one child.  Also Georgie had seven children and Edgar had one child.

Walter Gentry died in 1933, leaving behind a wife, Daisy Gentry and seven children.  Three years later, Daisy remarried Isom Miller.  To this union was born one daughter, Georgis Mae Miller.  Daisy later returned to the use of her first married name, Gentry.  She died on February 6, 1981.  She was laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in Harris, Oklahoma.

The third son, Charlie Gentry married Tina Hawkins.  To this union were born five children.

We thank the Lord for Abe Gentry and Lizzie Crawford Family and all their many off springs.  

God continues to bless our entire FAMILY.