Since Jim’s family tree was one-sided, he and I started investigating mother’s background earlier this year but with little success. The family always thought she was adopted, but we could not locate any adoption papers on file in the state of Tennessee. During the holiday break we hope to find out who Stella really was?
Very little is known about her family, but this is what we know as of now. Stella remembered as a small child being taken to an orphan’s home (girls school) in Tullahoma, Tennessee by a man she believed was her father. On the 1930 census Stella appeared in the household of Nora Francis as an adopted child. Her last name was listed as Francis. They were living in Winchester at that time.
At some point Mrs. Francis returned Stella to the girls’ school. Edith Holderfield of the Totty’s Bend area took Stella into her home. She did housework in exchange for room and board. During this stay she met Alvin and married.
Stella always thought Mrs. Francis was her biological mother, but no paperwork was found after Mrs. Francis’ death to support her theory.
As an adult, Stella was approached by Allie Mae Nolen who claimed she was a sister. Allie Mae stated she and Stella had the same father but different mothers. Also, Stella learned she had two half brothers in the Chattanooga area and met both of them. Their last name was Goins. Stella referred to herself as a Goins.
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