Marty and Karla Grant

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Thomas Lide Turner (1883-1953) and Zadie Idell Watson (1896-1963) of Marion Co., SC.

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Thomas and Zadie (Watson) Turner are my Great Grandparents. Unfortunately for me, both died before I was born, thus I never met them.

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Thomas Lide Turner was born 5 Jun 1883 per both his tombstone and death certificate. He was born Marion Co, SC, probably just east of Mullins.

We are not related to the Lide family as far as I’ve been able to determine. I suspect Thomas Lide Turner was named for the Rev. Thomas P. Lide (1845-1906) who was from neighboring Darlington Co., SC, but who served Reedy Creek Baptist Church in Marion during the period when Thomas Turner was born.

Thomas L. Turner is a son of Daniel T. Turner and Laura Virginia James. This is proven by the 1900 and 1910 census and Thomas’s death certificate.

Thomas was with his parents on the 1900 census. His middle initial is very clearly written as an “E” not an “L.” This was either a mistake or perhaps he had more than one middle name.

1900 Census, Marion Co., SC, Reaves Township (So Sec), House 162, Family 163

Thomas was still with his parents for the 1910 census, though he was now listed as head of household. Thomas’s soon-to-be double sister in law Mary Watson was residing with them as a laborer. Mary would soon marry Thomas’s brother Rudolph Turner, and Thomas Turner would marry Mary’s sister Zadie Watson. Rembert Floyd is Thomas’s nephew, though listed as “Adopted Son” on this census.

1910 Census, Marion Co., SC, Reaves Township, House 178, Family 179

* “Adopted Son”

On 10 Sep 1914, Thomas married Zadie Idell Watson in Mullins. Their marriage record listed him as Thomas Lide Turner, age 24, of Mullins, and her as Zaidell Watson, age 18, of Mullins.

Zadie was born 10 Sep 1896 in Columbus Co., NC near the Delco community. She was a child of William H. Watson and Mary Catherine Davis of Columbus County. She was home with them for the 1900 census. They both died in the 1900s while Zadie was still very young. I did not locate Zadie on the 1910 census, but her sister Mary Watson was residing with Thomas L. Turner and his parents in Marion Co, SC (as noted above). I don’t know why she wound up there, or with them, but that would explain how Thomas met Zadie, via her sister Mary. Mary Watson married Rudolph Turner a few months later (20 Jan 1915).

I’ve been to the farm where Thomas and Zadie raised their family. It’s still owned by descendants to this day, if I’m not mistaken.

They are on the 1920 census in Marion Co., SC near Mullins. Note twin daughters Gladys and Gertrude. Gertrude was my grandmother.

1920 Census, Marion Co., SC, Reaves Township, House 178, Family 191

They are on the 1930 census in Marion Co., SC listed as residing on the “A.C.L. High Way.” Note that twins Gladys and Gertrude had been joined by twins Harry and Carrie and twins Dorothy and Neely, among other siblings. There were three sets of twins in the same family which didn’t occur elsewhere among the Turners and Watsons as far as I’m aware.

1930 Census, Marion Co., SC, Reaves Township, House 166, Family 177

They are on the 1940 census in the same area. They are listed as Renters on this census, which if accurate, means they sold their land between 1930 and 1940. This might be a mistake, for I don’t think they sold their land.

1940 Census, Marion Co., SC, Reaves Township, House 122

* Numbers are highest grade of school completed.

They are on the 1950 census, presumably in the same place. This census doesn’t give information regarding home ownership.

1950 Census, Marion Co., SC, Reaves Township, House 166

Thomas L. Turner died on 1 Mar 1953 of “Pneumonia due to Influenza” per his death certificate. He was 69. He is buried at the McMillan Cemetery, east of Mullins. He and Zadie have a shared stone. His side reads “Thomas Lide Turner Jun 5 1883 - Mar 1 1953.”

Zadie Idell Watson Turner died on 3 Nov 1963 of “Cerebral Hemorrhage due to Hypertension, Due to Gen. Arteriosclerosis” (per death certificate). She was 67.

She is buried at the McMillan Cemetery next to Thomas. Her side of the tombstone says “Zadie Idell Turner Sept 10, 1896 - Nov 3, 1963.”

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Children

Thomas and Zadie had eleven children which included three sets of twins. All have passed on now.

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For Family Group Sheet and other notes see my database pages for Thomas and Zadie (Watson) Turner.

Revised: August 4, 2026

Copyright © 1996-2026 Marvin A. Grant, Jr. All Rights Reserved.

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