Rev. Charles Henon McGhee

Mary Cornelia's father, Charles Henon McGhee was a minister. He was ordained by Bishop John C. Granbery, Virginia Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church of the South on November 11, 1888. After serving for several years in North Carolina and Virginia he transferred to the Indian Mission Conference and moved his family to Oklahoma in 1906. In 1914 he withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church and joined the Presbyterian Church instead. He officiated at churches in Oklahoma City (where Mary Cornelia met and married David Oscar Rutledge) and Little Rock, Arkansas, where the Rutledges moved.

He was born 6 June 1861 in Bedford County, Virginia, son of Charles D. McGhee and Mary Anne Craddock. He married Laura Erwin Norris 15 November 1887 in Culpepper County, Virginia. They had three daughters: Laura, Mary and Charlotte. 

He was struck and killed by an automobile on 10 March 1937, while taking his evening walk in Little Rock, where he was living with his daughter. He is buried in Memphis, Tennessee, with his wife, who died there in 1933. 

Rev. Charles Henon McGhee

Mary Cornelia McGhee and her sisters, Laura and Charlotte

Here's a photo of Mary Cornelia McGhee (on the right) and her sisters. The eldest, Laura Guinn McGhee, is in the middle. Charlotte Norris McGhee is on the left, Mary on the right.

Their mother must have been very proud of her family since all the girls have middle names associated with her family. Guinn was their maternal grandmother's maiden name. Norris was their mother's maiden name. Cornelia was their maternal grandmother's first name.

Mary Cornelia McGhee Photo Archive

Welcome to the Mary Cornelia McGhee Photo Archive. She was the daughter of the Reverend Charles Henon McGhee and Laura Erwin Norris. My mother-in-law entrusted to me the photo album she created for her first born son, my father-in-law, and I will be sharing the best photos from it on this blog, along with others of Mary Cornelia's family and relatives.

Mary Cornelia McGhee married David Oscar Rutledge. You can find photos of his family and relatives at the David Oscar Rutledge Photo Archive.

I'll be improving this blog after the holidays. In the meantime, here's my favorite photo of her.