Main Index        Thomas Family        Yesterday        Today        MattieV        Main St. Baptist        6th Street        Springfield        Jack & Judy       Links Dancy Terrace or Redell Street between 9th and 10th, Main and Hubbard Streets, Springfield, Jacksonville, Florida THOMAS-DESHA Wedding at Waldo of Popular Young Couple Waldo, Dec. 22-- The First Baptist Church of Waldo was the scene of a pretty wedding December 16th at 4:30 p.m., when Miss Stella DeSha, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. DeSha was married to Mr. Percy L. Thomas, Rev. L.A. Rawls, of Hampton, performing the ceremony. The church was beautifully decorated to represent a forest. Palmetto, ferns, bamboo, ivy and Spanish moss were used for the foundation work, while chrysanthemums were used abundantly. Two small arches and one large arch were used in the foreground, while in the center hung a large bell made entirely of white fringe, under which the bridal couple stood during the ceremony. From the large bell hung many tiny bells, which were rung during the ceremony by the little flower girls. Miss Ella Strickland presided at the piano, and while the friends were gathering Miss Strickland rendered a number of pretty selections. Just as Miss ........ of Chicago finished singing a beautiful solo the bridal party began to wend their way to the altar. First came Rev. Rawls and the groom, from the left side of the chancel and marched to the large arch to await the coming of the bride. Down the center aisle came the ushers, Mr. A. L. Stevens and Mr. J.C. Wiemar, Jr., and following a short distance behind came the two little flower girls, Vera Kramer and Helen McCauley As they reached the alter they bowed low, one going to the arch on left side while the other went to the arch on the right, and stood facing the audience. Both little girls were prettily gowned in white with light pink trimmings, and carried baskets filled with pink and white sweet peas. Down the left aisle came the maid of honor, Miss Bernice DeSha, sister of the bride, dressed in a pretty light pink satin messaline. A short distance behind came Miss Annie Bishop dressed in pink satin meteor. Then came Miss Laurel Paulsen, who also wore a dainty pink frock with trimmings of shadow lace. The maid of honor and bridesmaids carried arm bouquets of pink carnations with wide white satin ribbon hanging gracefully from one bouquet to the other. Down the right aisle came Mr. A. J. Thomas, brother of the groom, as best man, followed by Mr. J. S. McFaden and Mr. James Strickland, groomsmen. The bride, gowned in a beautiful white dress of silk crepe de chine with trimmings of rich Oriental lace, with veil made in Dutch style, gloves and slippers to match, and carrying a bouquet of brides roses, leaning on the arm of her father, met the party at the altar, where the impressive ceremony was performed. After receiving congratulations the bride excused herself and soon returned attired in a pretty dark blue traveling suit. While alighting from an auto at the station the couple were literally showered with rice by a large crowd who had come here to see them board the train for Jacksonville, their future home. The groom is well known in Waldo, having resided here a number of years but now holds a position of Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue in Jacksonville, and is a young man of sterling worth. The bride is the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. DeSha, of this city, and is a young lady of many accomplishments and numbers her friends by her acquaintances. Mr. Thomas is to be congratulated upon winning so fair a bride. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas received many beautiful and useful gifts of linen, silver, cut-glass and hand-painted china. Among the out-of-town guests at the wedding were Mr. Jesse Thomas, and Mr. A. J. Thomas of Starke, father and brother of the groom; Miss Annie Bishop of Aucilla, Fla.; Mrs. W. A. Paulsen and daughter, Miss Lauren, of Orange Heights; Miss Mabel Swanson of Chicago, Ill.; Misses Eva and Daisy Poole and Mrs. Spencer, of Gainesville--Gainesville Sun. v The groom, Mr. P. L. Thomas, is a Starke boy, a son of Mr. Jesse Thomas, who lives two miles east of Starke. The happy young couple have the best wishes of their many friends here. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas will go to house-keeping at 441 Phelps Street, Jacksonville. This article appeared in the Waldo paper (no citation, just clipping) before the wedding: APPROACHING NUPTIALS Friends here have received invitations bearing the following: "Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. DeSha request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Stella Anna, to Mr. Percy Leon Thomas on the afternoon of Wednesday, the six-teenth of December, nineteen hundred and fourteen, at half after four o'clock, at the First Baptist Church, Waldo, Florida." The contracting parties are deservedly popular among their acquaintances, all of whom will combine in extending best wishes in advance of the happily anticipated event. Joseph Finegan DeSha, father of the bride, son of Franklin DeSha and Eliza Anna Parrish DeSha, husband of Harriet Mariah Beasley DeSha. Family farm adjacent to RR tracks off Highway 301 south of Waldo. Joseph was born on the land grant property awarded to his father in 1855. This property bordered the west/southwest side of Lake Alto. Harriet Mariah Beasley DeSha, mother of bride, daughter of Madison Randolph and Eady Woods Beasley then deceased/buried in Hampton Cemetery, originally from Emanuel County, GA. L-R: Lonnie DeSha, Joseph Finegan DeSha holding Stella Anna DeSha next to Harriet Beasley DeSha, beside May Eady DeSha. Photo about 1893 Jesse Thomas, father of the groom, husband of Mary Ella Murrhee Thomas who had died in 1912. The Thomas family farm was in Clay County on land now known as Camp Blanding. Jesse's father William Thomas died in the Civil War and is buried in the Hollywood Cemetery in Virginia. Jesse's Mother, Louisa Wilson, who is believed to have been the daughter of Jesse Wilson. Orange Heights, formerly Saluda, Florida, south of Waldo on 301. Stella DeSha taught at School there one year prior to her marriage. Actually Stella was probably born on the farmland her father, J.F. DeSha inherited from his father, Franklin, whose landgrant was issued in 1855 and consisted of land bordering the south and southwestern edges of Lake Alto, not far from Orange Heights. Stella and family then moved to a farm closer to Fairbanks and Gainesville. Stella is standing 2nd from end 2nd row right. Arthur Lawrence Stevens, husband of Mae Eady DeSha Stevens, older sister of Stella DeSha. Originally from New England, Arthur moved to Florida with his parents. Arthur and Mae bought the house once owned by Mae's grandfather Franklin and lived there until the 1980s. This special home was always known as Auntie Mae's House. Bernice DeSha was the younger sister of Stella and Mae DeSha. Phelps is in Springfield, Jacksonville, Florida. Return to Yesterday Photo Index Yesterday Photos #1 Yesterday Photos #2 Yesterday Photos #3 Top        Main Index        Thomas Family        Yesterday        Today        MattieV        Main St. Baptist        6th Street        Springfield        Jack & Judy       Links blearn@learnyeats.com Copyright 2005. All information and photographs on this website are protected by copyright by Beth Learn, learn/yeats & co. Personal use only. NO COMMERCIAL USE OF ANY KIND WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION.