Kiziah "Kizzie" Staples Hairston

HAIRSTON.org ID#230, b. 12 December 1881, d. 16 October 1909
Father*George William Hairston1 b. 5 Oct 1857, d. 2 Dec 1941
Mother*Mary Watt HAIRSTON b. 13 May 1858, d. 13 Jan 1882
Birth*Kiziah "Kizzie" Staples Hairston was born on 12 December 1881 in Lowndes, Mississippi.2,3

 
She was the daughter of George William Hairston and Mary Watt HAIRSTON.1 
Death Mother*Her mother, Mary Watt Hairston, died on 13 January 1882. 
Court Record1885 - Lowndes County Chancery Court Case #670 - George W. Hairston vs Bettie W. Hairston, regarding minor Kizzie S. Hairston and the estate of Kizzie C. Hairston, wife of N. E. Hairston, which included land in Crawford. - FSL #8631089, images 587-627. 
WillIn Nicholas Edward HAIRSTON's will dated 12 June 1888 in Lowndes, Mississippi, Kiziah "Kizzie" Staples Hairston was named as an heir; Lowndes County Will Book 1, page 538. FSL #5835939, image 395.
Education*She was educated in 1899. In 1899 she attended school in Nashville, Tennessee.4 
Census 1900She appeared on the 1900 census of George William Hairston on 1 June 1900 in Crawford, Lowndes, Mississippi.5
Census 1900Kiziah "Kizzie" Staples Hairston appeared on the 1900 census of William Sterling TURNER on 13 June 1900 in Beat 4, Lowndes, Mississippi.5 
Court Record*On June 21, 1902, Kizzie Staples Hairston releases her father, George W. Hairston, as Guardian of her estate. - Lowndes County Chancery Court #2040. Family Search Library Flim #5815249, images 1033-1062.
Marriage*Kiziah "Kizzie" Staples Hairston married John Goldthwait WITHERSPOON, son of Dr. Robert Sidney WITHERSPOON and Mary A. TORRANCE, on 20 November 1907 in Magowah Meadow, Lowndes, Mississippi.3 
Newspaper*The marriage of Miss Kizzie Hairston to Mr. John G. Witherspoon occurred Wednesday eve November the twentieth at eight-thirty o'clock at Magowah Meadow, the handsome old Hairston home, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Will Turner, which was elaborately decorated in smilax and snowy chrysanthemums, also pink carnations, while myriads of candles shed their soft pure light over the whole scene beautiful beyond description. In the parlor an altar was raised while arches reached from floor to floor. Hanging in center of front arch was a horse shoe in white carnations under which the bridal party stood. Just before the ceremony Miss Lucile Hardy, in a charming manner, sang "Love Me And The World Is Mine." Miss Louise McQuiston, of Aberdeen, played the Mendelssohn's wedding march. Four beautiful girls, Wortley Hairston, Wortley Turner, Rebecca Hairston and Patricia Moore, dressed in the daintiest of costumes with short veils, and wreaths of orange blossoms carrying pink carnations looking veritable brides themselves, formed an aisle by holding runners of white illusion for the bridal party. First came the little ring bearer, Patricia Turner, then the matrons of honor, Mrs. Will Turner and Mrs. Pete C. Hairston, of Canada. They were gowned in white chiffon embroidered in spangles of silver and carried bouquet of pink carnations. Following the matrons came little Laura May Hairston, who scattered flowers from a basket of pink carnations. Then came the lovely maid of honor Miss Katherine Shelton, in white silk with pearls as ornaments. She wore a short veil and wreath of orange blossoms and carried a bouquet of pink carnations. She was accompanied by Mr. W. D. Calgy, of Gallatin, Tennessee, who was best man. Then came the bride and groom. The bride was radiant in white duchesse satin with her long veil held in place by diamonds. She wore a wreath of orange blossoms and valley lilies. A bertha of real lace caught with diamonds adorned her costume. After the bride and groom came a bevy of lovely cousins of the bride - Miss Margie Hairston gowned in pale blue silk; Miss Mary Cox, pink silk; Miss Wortley Ervin, lavender silk; Miss Catherine Co, black net; Miss Ruth Hairston, point de sprit over blue silk; Miss Mary Moore, ecru silk; Miss Elizabeth Hairston, white organdy. The ceremony was said by Rev. Mr. Hill, of Columbus. The cutting of the bride's cake caused much merriment, after which a sumptuous four course dinner was served. The bride and groom left on the midnight train for Havana, Cuba, via New York, mid showers of rice and old shoes. They will be at home to their friends in Los Angelas, California, after January first. by M. L. Butts. - The Columbus Commercial, Tuesday Morning, November 26, 1907, page 1.3 
Photo*Kiziah "Kizzie" Staples Hairston was photographed with her daughter Margaret in 1908.

 
Death*She died on 16 October 1909 in Tennessee at age 27.2 
Obituary*MRS. WITHERSPOON DIES IN TENNESSEE - FORMERLY MISS KIZZIE HAIRSTON, WHOSE SOCIAL LIFE WAS IDENTIFIED WITH COLUMBUS - BURIAL CRAWFORD TOMORROW
----------

Mrs. J. G. Witherspoon, formerly Miss Kizzie Hairston, of Crawford, died yesterday morning at ten o'clock in Gallatin, Tenn., at the home of her husband's sister, Mrs. Margaret Colgy. She had been ill for five weeks with typhoid fever, to which she succumbed. The remains will reach Crawford today at 4 p. m. and will be taken to the home, five miles distant, where the funeral services will be held at 10:30 tomorrow, interment being in Hairston burial ground. The deceased was 26 years old and been married two years. She leaves a year-old daughter.
Although Mrs. Witherspoon's home was at Crawford, she was as closely identified with the social life of Columbus as if she had lived here. Throughout her girl hood she was a frequent visitor and for several years she was a student at the I. I. & C. To her many friends the news of her death will come as a deep sorrow. Belonging to one of the oldest and most prominent families in this part of the state, she possessed the charms which gave her great social popularity and all who knew her for those graces which spring from the heart. Two years ago she was married to John Goldthwait Witherspoon whose family formerly lived near Crawford. He is a traveling salesman for a St. Louis house, on the Pacific coast. For the past winter they had been at Seattle, San Francisco and were returning to her home in Crawford when she became ill at Gallatin. Mr. J. T. W. Hairston, an uncle of the deceased left this morning for Crawford to await the arrival of the body.
Mrs. Witherspoon was the daughter of Mr. G. W. Hairston of Crawford. Mrs. E. S. Moore of Columbus, Mrs. J. E. Cox of Trinity, Mrs. W. S. Turner, who lives at the old Hairston home, near Crawford, are aunts of the deceased. Her great grandfather Mr. Hardin Hairston was one of the early settlers of this section, coming from Virginia in 1835.
Macon Beacon, Macon, Mississippi, Sunday Morning, October 17, 1909, Page 1.6 
Burial*She was buried in Hairston Cemetery, Lowndes, Mississippi.2

 
Probate*Her estate was probated on 8 April 1911 in Columbus, Mississippi; On 8 April 1911, John G. Witherspoon files a bill in court demanding half of his wife Kizzie's estate. Lowndes County Court Records 1892-1941, pages 208-214. FSL #5827151, images 109-112.

Family

John Goldthwait WITHERSPOON b. 21 Sep 1867, d. 26 Jan 1934
Child
ChartsDescendant Chart (#1)
Descendant Chart (#2)
Descendant Chart Box

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S253] Bible of Nicholas E. Hairston Family, 1825 (Boston, New York, Philadelphia: American Family Bible Publishing Company, N. E. Hairston, Jr., Mississippi.
  2. [S17] Hairston Cemetery, Lowndes County, Mississippi, Information and photographs gathered from personal visits.
  3. [S3117] Letter Carolyn Hairston Henderson to Robert Hairston, September 1986, Personal Collection - printed book.
  4. [S166] U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.
  5. [S1900] 1900 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  6. [S3188] Library of Congress, Chronicling Amercia - Historic American Newspapers.
Last Edited11 Nov 2025