January 02, 2008 – Pride, Alabama – HAPPY NEW YEAR! Today we drove LittleCar to a plantation in northwest Alabama that has been in my mom’s family since before South fought North. I heard stories about this place starting in my 2nd trimester, so it was gratifying to finally see it. Alabama is offensively cold right now. The somewhat accurate thermometer on BigBus says 27-degrees Fahrenheit outside. Both whippets and their keepers are confused by this aggressive act of nature. All parties agree that BigBus will migrate south toward warmer lands tomorrow. By the way, we’re back in Central Time, in case you’re keeping an extra clock set to Bus Time.
In case anyone is curious, I’ve made a New Year’s Resolution to remain retired in 2008. Basey has resolved not to write so much mail to her Congress persons. Leo and Vin have collectively resolved to be more understanding of cats. My predictions for 2008 are as follows: Tiger wins 4 Majors, Britney goes to jail, Bloomberg becomes President, and Diesel plummets to 99 cents.
Tour de Klopps 
Thanks for taking such a great picture of my grandmother’s home in Pride Station. My children have always heard me speak of Magnolia Farms, but they’d never seen a picture of it. I’ve sent them a link to your website.
Had your Aunt Debbie and my Aunt Dot over for dinner a week or so ago. By the way, I am Buck Young’s daughter and now live in Goodyear, AZ.
Enjoy your “retirement”. I look forward to keeping track of you!
-Enid
By: ENID HARRISON on January 4, 2008
at 7:22 pm
Enid,
Just a note to say I think I remember your Dad “Bucky”. as we called him and his brother “Brucey”.
My mom was Elizabeth Pride.
Phil Stanley; great grandson of Mary Pride
By: Phil Stanley on August 17, 2010
at 10:49 am
The only part of Pride Plantation that has survived in a recognizable form is the Magnolia tree seen on the right side of the lead picture showing Grammy and Papa’s retirement home, built in the late 1940’s.
The Magnolia tree was at the center of a formal rose garden during the War Between the States. The family silver was successfully buried under it to perserve it from Yankee plunder.
By: Aunt Deb on January 5, 2008
at 12:31 pm
I feel compelled to edit my sister’s verbage on above comment. She ment to refer to the War for States’ Rights, but must have been living Up North too long. Loved the memories your pics brought to mind, but hated the stages of decay represented. To use a currently popular word in the news, lots of “Changes” at Pride.
By: Mom on January 7, 2008
at 10:23 pm
What a total surprise! I was playing on the internet looking up Pride Station where I spent my childhood in the summers and lo and behold I find cousins. I’m Mary Greer’s grandson and Dolly’s boy. I live in Winchester, Va and had a chance to see Deb while she lived here and Dot and Enid on a visit to see Deb. I have lost track of her. I think the other Pride house is in bad shape although I have not been there in years. if any cousins see this I would appreciate an update on your side of the family.
By: Larry Lovelady on August 10, 2008
at 6:28 am
I had a good friend of a friend -Larry Lovelady, that was a wonderfrul singer in NYC many years ago. His mom’s name was Dolly, our mutural friend was Michael. Is this the same Larry?
JD
By: John Doyle on January 25, 2010
at 7:40 am
Oh my God. I lost track of you. Please contact by e-mail. Larry
By: Larry Lovelady on July 30, 2010
at 8:36 am
Mary Pride was my great grandmother and I too spent summers at Pride Station when I was a child. There were family reunions with lots of kids running around. Yhe kids were bunked in the bungolo by the bluff. It’s sad to see the place in such a rundown state.
Phil stanley
By: Phil Stanley on August 17, 2010
at 10:07 am
Hi Dotty and Debbie. This was forwarded to me through Larry and Hugh Lovelady and what a nice surprise. I’m Pride Donnelly, granddaughter of Mabel Bragg’s (Turner’s sister) daughter, Shirley. I met you both years ago when you would visit Aunt Turner during the summers.
When I lived in Decatur, I loved going to Pride but after moving to Beaumont TX and losing MaMa (Mabel), I only get to visit yearly now on my way through Alabama to visit a daughter in Nashville.
Your pictures are from January 2008 and do show much disrepair BUT I am glad to say that my sister, Leslie, and her husband spent a hard week this summer trying to clear brush from around the house and bluff and it does look somewhat better.
I have such fond memories of spending hours on Aunt Turner’s back porch and in her front yard swing under that same magnolia tree. Turner taught me how to drive that old tractor (which is no longer there).
Good to hear from you. Pride
By: Pride Parr on August 14, 2008
at 7:05 pm
I saw your comment on the Tour de Klopps blog about Pride, Alabama, and you seem to be very familiar with the place.
My mother-in-law (Dorothy Ayres) grew up on a farm in Pride in the 1920s, 1930s. My husband and I took her back there in June and she was very disappointed because we couldn’t find the town. We saw a sign along the road and some newer homes along the river, but she said there used to be a train stop, a store, feed store, church, school, etc. and we couldn’t find any of that. Do you know if they still exist? And if so, how do we get there? Or, if they do not exist anymore, do you know what happened to her little town?
My mother-in-law (now 87 years old) would love to find out what happened and I would love to hear back from you.
Thank you so much.
Martha Cherney
By: Martha Cherney on July 23, 2009
at 12:50 pm
Hi Pride,
My name is Phil Stanley; great grand son of Mary Pride. I too have great memories sitting on that same porch. I’m sure you don’t remember me, but as kids we would cross paths occasionally at Pride’s. The reason that I remember you is that you were the older cousin with the pretty blonde hair that I had a crush on. I also spent some great time on Aunt Mabel’s porch as my brothers. Bragg and Thompson, weren’t allowed in certain areas of the house.
My mom was Elizabeth Pride
By: Phil Stanley on August 17, 2010
at 10:33 am
I loved seeing this site. Although I don’t know if we are related, at one time our “People” must have been neighbors. A Thompson, married a Pride in the 1800 and I have been researching that line.
Mary Nancy Thompson (1839-?) m. Dr. Joseph P. Pride
Her brother was Joseph N. Thompson who fought in the Civil War, and returned to have a family. He was my Great Grand Father.
By: GD`S_WiFEYY on November 8, 2008
at 10:15 am
Am I related to you?
My Great Grand Father’s sister, Mary Nancy Thompson married Dr. Joseph Pride of Pride Station Al. She was born in 1839.
By: Nelse Thompson Sharer on November 8, 2008
at 10:20 am
Hello,
Do any of you know of anyone in town named McGavock? My Great grandfather used to have a place there in the 1930-40’s. My mother would visit in the summer.
Thanks
By: Suzzie on March 8, 2009
at 3:08 pm
My mother-in-law (87 years old) grew up on a farm in Pride, Alabama in the 1920s. We just took her back there in June for a walk down memory lane but couldn’t find any sign of the town except one street sign that said “Pride” on it. Do you know any of the history of this place, particuarly from the 1920s up to now? My mother-in-law would be so happy to find out what happened to her little town.
By: Martha Cherney on July 2, 2009
at 10:52 am
I grew up in Pride. The old homestead “Montpelier” was burned years ago when I was a girl. I didn’t realize there was a street sign with the name Pride on it. My grandparents were Sam and Katherine Means Thompson, and my great grandparents were John Pride Thompson and, I believe, Sarah McGavock Thompson.
I’m not familiar with the house in the above picture and most of the names aren’t familiar to me. Though I too, had a great great grandfather who fought in the war, his name was Samuel Maverick Thompson.
The McGavock’s, Randal and Carrie, built a house in the 1800’s in Franklin, TN. You may know it as the Carnton Plantation. Randal and Carrie would be my uncle/aunt. Randal’s brother, whose name I can’t think of at the moment, would’ve been my great great grandfather. His house still stands today in Nashville but is a private residence.
By: Cindy Thompson McKinney on August 31, 2009
at 9:15 am
This is to Cindy Thompson McKinney:
My mother-in-law would like me to ask you a couple of questions, if you don’t mind. She used to play with a little girl named Cynthia Thompson who lived in a mansion in Pride. Her dad’s name was John and he had a general store there. My mother-in-law (Dorothy Ayres) lived in Pride on her grandparents’ farm. Her grandparents’ names were Jerry & Dora Doyle. This was in the late 1920s, early 1930s. Are you related to Cynthia Thompson? She was probably born around 1918-1920. Feel free to e-mail me directly at marfabean@aol.com. I look forward to your reply.
Thank you!
Martha Cherney
By: Martha Cherney on September 10, 2009
at 5:17 pm
To Cindy Thompson McKinney
It’s been a long time since I checked this site. I have a lot of information to share with you. My grandfather, Samuel Pointer McGavock, was Sarah McGavock’s younger brother. Please contact me ganid@charter.net I know of a Cynthia Thompson that my mother, Marjorie Anne McGavock used to play with at Montpelier. My mother mentioned Cynthia had a brother, Sam.
Susan Mohr
By: Suzzie on January 14, 2010
at 7:34 pm
Hi,
Lt. Col. Samuel Maverick Thompson, Sr., CSA, Civil War, was my 4th cousin 3 times removed several different ways through our Anderson line.
Kindest regards,
Sammy Boyd
Chattanooga, TN
By: Sammy Boyd on February 17, 2011
at 8:02 am
Sam,
We are cousins. I want to thank you for allowing me to find all of the places that our family before us are buried. I have been tracking our family for quite some time thanks to my grandmother giving me her geneology. You would be very proud to know who you are related to and the history that was left on paper for us.
thank you again Sam.
Deborah
By: Deborah on June 15, 2011
at 1:41 pm
to GDs Wifeyy: I have a book you may be interested in. It details the Thompson/Pride line, and much more, of which I’m a descendant. I’ll be happy to pass that info along to you.
By: Cindy Thompson McKinney on August 31, 2009
at 9:28 am
Hi all, my grandmothers family is from pride station as well.I am related to Jaqueline Pride Thompson who was married to Samuel Howard Thompson. Samuel Thompson had a sister by the name of Joesphine Thompson. I have inherited my grandmothers geneolagy and have alot of info on the Thompson’s and Prides. John Pride Thompson and Sarah Mc Gavock Thompson are also related to Samuel Maverick Thompson.Cindy, I think we are related. I dont know if you know this but, Fred Dalton Thompson’s family is also from Colbert,Alabama. and that there is a great bet that we all are related. I am looking for information on an Elizabeth Thompson to whom I think is the mother of John Pride Thompson.
By: Deborah on July 20, 2010
at 8:55 am
Hi Deborah! I bet we are related! In reading your info from July I have only one discrepancy but everything else matches. “My” Jaqueline Pride married Samuel Maverick (not Howard) Thompson who had a son John Pride Thompson, my great grandfather. “Colonel Sam” had a feisty sister Josephine, who they called Joey. Are you Josephine’s descendant?
By: Cindy Thompson McKinney on November 22, 2010
at 12:01 pm
Cindy, Yes I am a descendant of Josephine. My Aunt is named after her. I messed up the middle name for Colonel Sam. My uncle is named after him but his middle name “is” howard.Sorry. My Grandmother Elizabeth was named after Elizabeth Thompson.I want so bad to know who she was. She only lived for 50yrs. and I have a copy of stock shares that was given to her at the age of seven for a cotton company. I also have her bible. I am so intreaged by this family.Did you know any Kirbys? And I heard from my grandmother that Josephine “was” a very fiesty lady.
By: Deborah on March 2, 2011
at 3:22 pm
Hi Cindy,
I was so excited that you replied that I forgot to leave my email address. it is debow26@verizon.net or deborah.s.bowen@boeing.com
buy the way, did you know that you are D.A.R. (Daughters of the American Revolution)?
Did Joesphine have children? could she be Elizabeths mom? I do Know that Elizabeth Thompson married a Kirby.
Deborah
By: Deborah on March 2, 2011
at 6:46 pm
Hi Deborah, Looking through the Thomas Thompson and Ann Finney book I found an Elizabeth who is an older sister of John Pride. His mother was Jacqueline and her parents were Joseph and Mary but I forgot to look at Samuel Maverick Thompson’s parents to see what their names were–will look at that and get back to you.
Cindy
By: Cindy McKinney on November 23, 2010
at 8:26 am
It is a suprprise to find this website. I’m John Bragg Stanley, named after my great uncle, John C. Bragg. Mabel and Turner were my great anunts. My mother was Elizbeth Pride Stanley. I fondly recall summers at Pride Station with Turner, Great Grandmother Pride, fishing with Brawney and wonderful meals cooked on the wood stove in the kitchen and eating in the classed breakfast nook. My Brothers, Phillip and Thompson Stanley are older and have more memories of Pride Station, but the few I have are warm ones. Spending time with Aunt Greer’s and Mable, Larry, and Bill are part of those memories. I watched my first color TV show at Mable’s house
By: Bragg Stanley on August 17, 2010
at 4:23 am
Deborah, I’ll make time this evening to see what I can find on Elizabeth–her name isn’t familiar to me.
By: Cindy Thompson McKinney on November 22, 2010
at 12:07 pm
dear Pride, are you by any chance sister of Robert John Donnelly, who used to live in Austin…I am an old freind of his and remember hearing about his sister Pride, and sister Leslie who studied balet in France years ago…my nick name from him was bumble bee rose….I now live in Canyon Lake, Texas and have been to your home in Beaumont once with Bob….I am related to the Thompson family as my neices mother is Cindy Thompson….Jacq, Jill and Jordon…I am also a jopling, family name, related to Janis Joplin…funny how small the world is….Rebecca Jopling
By: rebecca jopling on March 9, 2012
at 6:00 pm
I was interested in this site because my great-great grandfather was Burton Pride, who settled in Madison county around 1800. I think all of these Prides are his descendants. However, his third wife, Elizabeth Houston, was my great-great grandmother and she moved with her children to Arkansas before the Civil War. I now live in Huntsville and have been doing some research into the family history. If any of you live in the Huntsville area I would be interested in meeting you. Your experiences as children in the Pride house remind me of my own childhood with my Pride relatives in southwest Arkansas.
By: elizabeth pride lloyd on July 18, 2013
at 7:49 am
Elizabeth – I am doing the same research but on Burton’s brother that went north from East Tennessee -can you email me at cavman58x@gmail.com
By: David on July 5, 2015
at 6:58 am
Any update on the Pride House? I noticed Turner’s house is for sale, and the Pride Home is in a very sad state of disrepair.
By: Bragg Stanley on June 27, 2014
at 5:39 pm
Hello! I stumbled upon this blog post looking for more information about Pride Station, where my grandfather was born. My family lives in Utah, but we are planning a trip to Mississippi & Alabama in December. We’d love to see the area where he was born. This is a dumb question, I know, but how do you get to Pride Station? I cannot find it on any map as I am looking. Is there any other information you can give me to better plan our stop to see this area? Thank you! Melanie Inman Olson (grand daughter of Lester Pride Inman, later changed to Stephen Paul Inman)
By: Melanie on October 14, 2015
at 11:16 am