Henry Dezelle and Marie Cuttino Dezelle

A Family in American History

Family History

Henry Dezelle and Marie Cuttino Dezelle grew up together as childhood friends in Ladson, South Carolina.  Henry was the second of three children born to Adonis Dezelle and Rebecca Smoak.  Marie was the tenth of thirteen children born to Saul Cuttino and Dollie Ann Gathers Cuttino Haynes.  In 1916, Henry and Marie became interested in each other and began dating.  Henry enlisted in the United States Army.  Upon leaving to serve his country, he promised Marie he would marry her upon returning home.  After returning from the Armed Forces in February 1919, Henry and Marie were married.  Henry and Marie were married for fifty-four years before Henry's death in July 1973.  From their happy union, they were blessed with ten children.  Henry and Marie resided in a small town a few miles from Summerville, Sourth Carolina called Dunmyer Hill, South Carolina, located in Berkeley County.  They inherited property from their families that sat on an estimated 12 acres of land.  Henry was gainfully employed as a Laborer at the Union and farmed the land to support his family.  On their property, Henry and Marie raised and sold produce and livestock.  Marie, being the dutiful housewife she was, worked in the fields.  The couple worked hard together to raise all of their children.  Henry and Marie endured many difficulties, however, the money they earned was stretched to clothe and feed everyone.  Their salaries back then were; Henry worked for $1.00 per day and earned $5.00 per week, $3.00 per week was spent on groceries.  The family supplemented their income buy selling produce and livestock.  Food was never a problem as there were plenty of vegetables, fruits and livestock that the family raised on their land.

Henry and Marie worked extremely hard working on their farm.  They endured great difficulties as most black families did in the south back then.  Marie would take care of her children, the household as well as took in laundry to supplement the family’s income.  Henry and Marie instilled strong educational and christian values in their children.   Prayer was always a part of the family’s daily routine.  

Henry and Marie were lovingly called "Big Bubba" & "Sister Marie" by the nieces and nephews.  These nieces and nephews would travel from Charleston, South Carolina to visit them once a year.  They would have a picnic under the big Oak tree.  Despite times being hard and extremely difficult for Henry and Marie, they held on to their property with great pride.  There were times when the property was in the sinking fund.  Henry and Marie would do what they do best and that was pray.  As they prayed, God would answer their prayers and like a blessing, they would get the money and pay the taxes.  It was always Henry and Marie desired  to leave the land for their children. 

The Offspring of Henry Dezelle ((1888-1973) and Marie Cuttino Dezelle (1898-1976)

This loving couple was blessed with ten children.  Their first born was Solomon(1920-1995).  Solomon married Idella Brown(1944-1975) and Elmira(1931-1994).  From the union of Solomon and Idella they were blessed with six children; Solomon Jr.(Gloria), Myrtle, Abraham, Daniel(Hazel), Kenneth(Eva), Corrine Cummings (Ronald).  Solomon and Idella were blessed with fourteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  Second born was Elnora German(1922-present) left South Carolina for Jonestown, PA and married Abbie German.  From this union, there were two children Michael (Lisa), Ethel Marie Greene (Charlie).  Elnora was blessed with six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.  Third born was Viola Young(1923-1998) "Pumpkee" (James).  Viola was the first of the siblings to leave for New York where she met and married James Young.  Viola resided in New York for approximately 43 years where she was gainfully employed and retired.  From the union of Viola and James, there were no offspring.  The fourth born was Joseph(1926-1964) (Albertha Brown).  From their marriage, there were no offspring.  Joseph and Albertha resided in South Carolina during their marriage.  The fifth child, John Henry(1927-2003) joined the Merchant Marines in September 1944 and was discharged on April 12, 1945.  He married Elizabeth Joyner(1929-1958) from St. George, SC in 1947.  Elizabeth Joyner brought two children Alice Ruth Plowden(Thomas) and Lorraine Joyner Robinson (James 1945-1994) to the marriage.  From this union they were blessed with four children;John Jr.(Annie Jones 1950-1994), Earl (Labertha), Barry and Dorothy Dezelle Wilson (Orville).  John Henry moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1953.  After the death of Elizabeth Joyner Dezelle in 1958 he married Ivy Livermore in 1959.  Ivy(1930-present) brought to the marriage one child, Lorraine Gerrel.  John and Elizabeth were blessed with eight grandchildren plus two from second marriages and twenty-three great grandchildren.  Their sixth child, James Welsey(1929-2003), was not married and had no offspring.  The seventh child , Rebecca Watkins(1931-present).  Upon graduation from high school enlisted in the United States Air Force where she met her husband William Watkins Sr.  The watkins were blessed with two children William Jr.(Mildred) and Elena Hill(Wayne).  These two blessed Becky and Bill with three grandchildren.  The eighth child Evelyn was born in 1933 and died at the young tender age of 4 in 1937.  The ninth child, Sarah Dezelle Sumter(1935-1993), was born in Ladson, South Carolina.  Sarah left South Carolina for Massachusetts where she met and married Joseph Sumter.  Sarah was employed at Harvard University as a Librarian until her illness in 1976.  From this union the couple was blessed with three daughters, Deborah Greenfield(David), Sarah "lil Sarah" and Betty Tyler(Ronald).  Deborah and Betty blessed this family with three grandchildren.  The tenth child, Adonis(1937-present), married Geneva McCray of Goose Creek, South Caolina in 1961.  From this union there were born five children, Andrea Warring, Ann Holmes(Robert), Cheryl, Adonis Jr.(Robin) and Adam(Eliza).  Their children have blessed them eleven grandchildren. 

Dezelle-Smoak Family Reunion History