Heritage

This past weekend I went to visit my maternal grandmother. While I was there we talked gardens, chickens, snakes, wild hogs, and tall tales. She sent me home with loads of veggies from her garden and she also sent me home with her copy of the Evans Cemetery Book (On loan, of course!). She said it was a gift to her from her youngest brother, Dwight and his wife, Peggy. He told her he remembered my Grandma and Grandpa buying him and their brother Tooter a rod and reel one year when they were young boys and he just wanted to give her something too.

This book was compiled by Doris Evans and Jimmie Dewberry in March of 2002. To them, I am grateful they chose to share their research, and to Grandma I am thankful she trusted me enough to loan me this genealogical treasure. Just in skimming it, I have found new tidbits of information that I didn't know before. I hope to share a few of the entries pertaining to my direct line ancestors a little at a time.

The first entry I came to was my great grandmother Zula STEPP.

Roma Lynn Jakson Stepp, Zua's daughter-in-law, wrote the following: "Born Sept 6, 1903 to James & India Evans Acord at the headwaters of Acord Hollow near the [Little] Mulberry River. She married Newell McKinley Stepp,Sr. April 1, 1923. They had 7 children. 6 lived to be grown, 1 died about 2 weeks old. 

Zula was a midwife in her earlier years. She delivered 2 of her daughter-in-laws when they were born. She was the jolliest person around & a great story teller. She was the best, most wonderful wife, mother, grandmother & mother-in-law ever lived. She was an outdoors person. She liked gardening, canning her veggies & could make the best biscuits of anyone around.

One of her favorite sayings was, "The Bible don't say, woe beyond for the sinners, it says "Woe beyond for the hypocrites."   

She died at 91 years old." 

Another daughter-in-law of Zula, Peggy Harmon Stepp wrote the following: "Zula Jane Acord, the oldest of six children was born to James William Acord and Clara India Evans on 9-6-1903. At the time the family resided in the Acord Hollow area in Northern Johnson County, AR. When Zula was three or four years old the family moved in with her grandmother "Grannie Jane", on the Evans place just below the Evans Cemetery.

Zula and her brothers and sisters walked about two miles to the Spoke Plant school. 

Her father died when Zula was 12 years old leaving her to help her mother care for her brothers and sisters. Together they worked for neighbors in the fields to earn a living. 

On 4-1-1923 Zula married Newell McKinley STEPP. The ceremony was performed by Newell's brother, William "Bill" Stepp. 

Zula and Newell were the parents of 7 children, Merle Iris, twins Artist James and ARgie Jane, Rebecca India, Minnie Pearl, Newell McKinley Jr. and Dwight Douglas. Minnie Pearl died just a few days after birth. She is buried in the Evans Cemetery. In 1937 Zula's sister Minnie "Pud" Betnar died leaving two small sons, Clyde and Connie. Zula took the boys in keeping them several years. Newell and Zula raised all their children at Spoke Plant.

Zula was the perfect picture of a "fun grandma". She was "Grandma Stepp" to many, many children, many of them being no relation. If you ever needed a baby sitter you could always go to Grandma Stepp. She would meet you on the porch with a smile on her face, her apron on and lots of good food on the table. 

Zula was a hard worker, but always had time for fun. She would always laugh and say, "If you can drive, I can ride it." When she was in her 80's she would still jump behind the kids on their three wheelers and ride off with her dress tail blowing in the wind.

After Newell died Zula moved in with her youngest son, Dwight and his family. Later Zula resided at Countryside Manor Nursing Home. She won the hearts of many employees and new friends. There she became "Grandma Stepp" to even more people. She died July 6, 1993 at Countryside Manor in Lamar, AR."

Her obituary follows:

 THE GRAPHIC, Clarksville, Arkansas, Wednesday, 14 July 1993

Zula Jane Stepp, 89, of  Pettigrew, died Tuesday, July 6, 1993 at Countryside Manor in Clarksville.

Daughter of the late Jim and Inda Evans Acord, she was born Sept. 6, 1903, in Johnson County. Mrs. Stepp was a homemaker and a Pentecostal.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Newell McKinley Stepp Sr., and by a daughter, Minnie Pearl Stepp. 

Survivors include three daughters, Merle Denzer of Gentry, Argie Benson of Bakersfield, Calif., ad Reba Melson of Prairie Grove; three sons, Art and Tooter Stepp, both of Pettigrew, and Dwight Stepp of Batson; one niece Connie Betnar; one nephew, Clyde Betnar; 18 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. 

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Evans Cemetery near Pettigrew, with Rev. Bill Gregory officiating. Burial was under the direction of Roller-Cox Funeral Home. 

Pallbearers were Greg, Danny and James Stepp, Tony Benson, Tim Denzer, and Paul Vickers. 

 Honorary pallbearers were Ronald Denzer, David and Keith Stepp, Clyde Benson, Corky Pool, Rickey Wages, Keith Stepp, Dr. Don Pennington and Clifton Hill."

Newell and Zula Stepp after duck hunting.