Home | History | Events| Committees | Guess Book | Contact | Photo | E-mail | Questionnaire| Reflection | Calendar | Family Tree|
 
 

        THE JENNINGS FAMILY HISTORY  

The Jennings Family started out with our father, grandfather, great-great grandfather and great-great-great grandfather being named Luther Jennings. Luther Jennings (head of the Luther Jennings and Rosa Bell Breland-Jennings Family Tree) was born 1886 in Fishpond Township, which is located in Bamberg County, South Carolina. His parents were Luther Joseph Jennings and Mariah Glover. Luther was also the oldest of three children, his brothers being Marion (b.1888) and Perry (b.1890). 

Around 1893, Luther’s Mother passed away. At the untimely death of his mother, he and his two brothers went to live with their uncle, Cornelius Jennings and his wife Mary Anne in Edisto Township near Cope, SC., while their father moved to Charleston, SC. Cornelius and Mary Anne had one child, John and two adopted daughters Lula and Lot. Mary Anne’s maiden name was Wannamaker and at least one of her parents was from Virginia. 

Luther Jennings married a schoolteacher, Cora Glover around 1909. They moved to Charleston, SC near his father. Cora took ill and passed away around 1912. There were no children born in this marriage. Luther then moved back to the area of Edisto Township. 

In 1913, Luther married Rosa Bell Breland. Rosa Bell Breland-Jennings who was born 1894 in Bamberg County, near the town of Denmark, South Carolina. She was the daughter of Albert Breland and Lula Mae Faust. Little is know of Albert Breland’s early life. He was born around 1850 in Barnwell County and probably a slave. Albert’s father was white and he, as well, was very fair skinned. 

Lula Mae Faust was born a slave on the plantation of Owen Faust. She was of Black and Indian heritage and all the members of her family were dark skinned with long straight black hair. Her two brothers, Gabriel and Meade Faust were Horse Racers in the region. Rosa Bell Jennings had 10 brothers and sisters as follows: 

JOHNNIE Feb. 1880 IDA Mar. 1882 FRANCIS Apr. 1883 CARRIE Feb. 1884 

JOSEPH Jan. 1887 SIGMOND Jan. 1888 CHARLIE Mar. 1890 LIZZIE Apr. 1892 

FLETCHER Jan. 1897 MONIE May 1899 

Rosa Bell’s mother (Lula Mae) passed away around 1905 and at that time she was raised by her sisters, Ida and Francis (Frank). Her father, Albert Breland, died in 1937. 

Luther and Rosa Bell Jennings lived in the Bamberg, SC area and he worked at the cotton Gin Mill. The union of their marriage bore 11 children: Luther (Son), Lula Mae (May), Jacob, Wendell (Duck), Willie (Ting), Charlese (Bunk), Carrie, Colette (Munsey), Dorothy (Dot), Ruby, and Mary. Their love and kindness were extended to Ms. Elouis Turner who was raised as a daughter in the Jennings/E household. 

Later in the early 1930's, the family moved to the house that stood in cannon community, off the Cannon Bridge Road in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. Luther farmed this land for the rest of his life. He passed away January 3, 1941 at the age of 55. He is buried in the cemetery of Emanuel AME Church. Rosa Bell passed away in 1975 and was also buried in the Emanuel Church Cemetery. 

Author: Alexander (Alex) Durant