Sarah Lee Kemp
THE KEMP FAMILY DYNASTY
SARAH LEE KEMP
Born September 28, 1925 Cochran Georgia.
September 28, 1925, in Cochran Georgia Mr. Charles Bush and Mrs. Josephine May were graciously blessed as they brought their beautiful little baby girl Sarah Lee into this world.
During her infancy Sarah Lee Bush spent her earliest year of life in Georgia. In 1926 At a very tender age she was brought to Florida by her mother. Her mother for reasons unknown allowed Mrs. Mary R. Clayton and her husband Charlie to nurture and raise little Sarah as if she were their very own daughter.
SARAH LEE KEMP
Born September 28, 1925 Cochran Georgia.
September 28, 1925, in Cochran Georgia Mr. Charles Bush and Mrs. Josephine May were graciously blessed as they brought their beautiful little baby girl Sarah Lee into this world.
During her infancy Sarah Lee Bush spent her earliest year of life in Georgia. In 1926 At a very tender age she was brought to Florida by her mother. Her mother for reasons unknown allowed Mrs. Mary R. Clayton and her husband Charlie to nurture and raise little Sarah as if she were their very own daughter.
Mrs. Mary Clayton had settled in Homestead during the early 1920's and had become the community's hairdresser, and seamstress by trade.
Her home was located on 4th street in Homestead and that is where Sarah Lee was raised. On the corner from where she lived was St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, and less than a block away across the street was the old 4th street theater. A local grocery store was located almost directly in front of the house. In the cool of the evenings little Sarah would would sit out on the front porch and watch the traffic and people go by. She would enjoy the smell of the jasmine plants in the yard as they would leave a heavy sweet scent in the air, especially whenever a gentle breeze blew through the tall tree that stood at the entrance of the walkway. The cracked and weathered concrete walkway led directly to the steps of the elevated front porch which was always adorned with beautiful flowers. On the porch there were chairs to welcome visiting guest. Here, from a modest floral arrangement, Sarah would grow to love and appreciate flowers all of her life.
As a young lady she attended Homestead Elementary and later attended Goulds Junior High School.
She would learn how to become a hairdresser from Mother Mary, the very same skill that she would employ for many years. As a young lady Sarah would never forget the hardship years of the 30's that befell our country. She would remember to tell her children the things that everyone had to endure during those times
Her home was located on 4th street in Homestead and that is where Sarah Lee was raised. On the corner from where she lived was St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, and less than a block away across the street was the old 4th street theater. A local grocery store was located almost directly in front of the house. In the cool of the evenings little Sarah would would sit out on the front porch and watch the traffic and people go by. She would enjoy the smell of the jasmine plants in the yard as they would leave a heavy sweet scent in the air, especially whenever a gentle breeze blew through the tall tree that stood at the entrance of the walkway. The cracked and weathered concrete walkway led directly to the steps of the elevated front porch which was always adorned with beautiful flowers. On the porch there were chairs to welcome visiting guest. Here, from a modest floral arrangement, Sarah would grow to love and appreciate flowers all of her life.
As a young lady she attended Homestead Elementary and later attended Goulds Junior High School.
She would learn how to become a hairdresser from Mother Mary, the very same skill that she would employ for many years. As a young lady Sarah would never forget the hardship years of the 30's that befell our country. She would remember to tell her children the things that everyone had to endure during those times
Sarah was married at a young age to Mr. Willie Jones Jr. and had her first child whose name was Willie Donald Jones. The year was 1944. The new experience was all but too much for her and she received a lot of help from little Donald's grandparents, and eventually they took over responsibility for raising little Willie Donald Jones when he was two years old.
After a brief time the relationship between Willie Jones Jr. and Sarah lee Jones had came to an end.
Sarah returned and lived with Mrs. Mary Clayton until see met a dashing young bahamian by the name of James Joseph Kemp.
Mr. James Kemp had recently returned from London England Where he had served in the Army there as an infantryman during World War 2.
After spending a lot of time together they were married and through their union brought a little baby boy into this world, his name was James Joseph Kemp Jr. The year was 1948. That was the start of a family that would grow to include ten children who would carry Mr. Kemp's name. Willie Donald Jones, the first born, would make a total of eleven children for Mrs. Sarah Lee.
After a brief time the relationship between Willie Jones Jr. and Sarah lee Jones had came to an end.
Sarah returned and lived with Mrs. Mary Clayton until see met a dashing young bahamian by the name of James Joseph Kemp.
Mr. James Kemp had recently returned from London England Where he had served in the Army there as an infantryman during World War 2.
After spending a lot of time together they were married and through their union brought a little baby boy into this world, his name was James Joseph Kemp Jr. The year was 1948. That was the start of a family that would grow to include ten children who would carry Mr. Kemp's name. Willie Donald Jones, the first born, would make a total of eleven children for Mrs. Sarah Lee.
Children Birth Dates:
Willie Donald Jones 1944
James Joseph Kemp 1948
Charles Lee Kemp 1951
Frank Cedrick Kemp 1952
Judy Lynn Kemp 1953
Mary Jo Kemp 1955
Susie Ann Kemp 1956
Raymond Kemp Fegins 1957
Timothy Jerome Kemp 1959
Columbus Moses Kemp 1961
Marilyn Jean Kemp 1963
Willie Donald Jones 1944
James Joseph Kemp 1948
Charles Lee Kemp 1951
Frank Cedrick Kemp 1952
Judy Lynn Kemp 1953
Mary Jo Kemp 1955
Susie Ann Kemp 1956
Raymond Kemp Fegins 1957
Timothy Jerome Kemp 1959
Columbus Moses Kemp 1961
Marilyn Jean Kemp 1963
Family Reunion
FAMILY REUNION
Many years had passed without any word of her brother Clarence Brummage. On their first meeting she was totally shocked because he came unannounced to her home at 1470 N.W. 7th Place in Florida City. She ran all the way to her mother's house on 9th avenue to tell her and ask her to verify if he was actually her brother. After being without her brother all of her life, finally she was reunited with both her mother and long lost brother Clarence.
Mr. Clarence Brummage and his wife Everlena and children had moved to South Florida to stay. Sarah and Clarence both made up for lost time and now enjoyed and shared precious time together until Feb 9, 1994 when Clarence passed away. 1994 would be a most painful year for the Kemp family as that year would also take Mr. James Joseph Kemp Sr. - September 17, 1994. "May they forever rest in peace"
Many years had passed without any word of her brother Clarence Brummage. On their first meeting she was totally shocked because he came unannounced to her home at 1470 N.W. 7th Place in Florida City. She ran all the way to her mother's house on 9th avenue to tell her and ask her to verify if he was actually her brother. After being without her brother all of her life, finally she was reunited with both her mother and long lost brother Clarence.
Mr. Clarence Brummage and his wife Everlena and children had moved to South Florida to stay. Sarah and Clarence both made up for lost time and now enjoyed and shared precious time together until Feb 9, 1994 when Clarence passed away. 1994 would be a most painful year for the Kemp family as that year would also take Mr. James Joseph Kemp Sr. - September 17, 1994. "May they forever rest in peace"
Mom in the front yard
Mrs. Sarah Kemp loved to work in her yard with her beloved flowers, but her main hobby was fishing. She would be ready to go at the drop of a dime if anybody was was going fishing. She would travel far and wide to find a good fishing spot. From the fishing spots along the Tamiami Trail to Flamingo and Bear lake in the Everglades National Park. She even went out on her son's fishing boat at Long Key in the Keys for salt water fishing. If you mentioned fishing she was ready to go.
Mrs. Sarah Lee Kemp had a profound effect on everyone that she met. She always had words of encouragement to share along with a gracious smile.
Mrs. Sarah Lee Kemp had a profound effect on everyone that she met. She always had words of encouragement to share along with a gracious smile.
Sarah Lee Kemp
Her last hours were spent shopping with her friends at the Neighborhood Center who were out shopping for last minute hurricane supplies for the approaching Hurricane George. Sarah Kemp returned home and shortly there after had a heart attack. She was found by her son James who was out putting up storm shutters for Mrs. Nellie Williams. He saw his mother get off the neighborhood center's bus and walk home. Shortly there after he felt ill and returned home to find his mother in the living room. The paramedics were rushed to the scene but to no avail. She passed away September 23, 1998.
"The Rose"
From the Seniors and Staff of the Neighborhood Center:
To the Children of the late "SARAH LEE KEMP"
To you we give a rose the symbol of a love shared. Your mother was our friend. Her kindness was as fragrant as a rose. Her smile was as soft as the rose petal. It was always a pleasure to greet her. She was always pleasant, always loving. She did many good deeds amongst us. Her very presence was medicine for us. She lifted our spirits; and so we grew to love her much more than we ever thought we could, and already we miss her much more than we ever thought we would. With much remorse we share your grief.
The Seniors and Staff of the Neighborhood Center.1998
To the Children of the late "SARAH LEE KEMP"
To you we give a rose the symbol of a love shared. Your mother was our friend. Her kindness was as fragrant as a rose. Her smile was as soft as the rose petal. It was always a pleasure to greet her. She was always pleasant, always loving. She did many good deeds amongst us. Her very presence was medicine for us. She lifted our spirits; and so we grew to love her much more than we ever thought we could, and already we miss her much more than we ever thought we would. With much remorse we share your grief.
The Seniors and Staff of the Neighborhood Center.1998