Lamanac Brother: Franklin Lee, Philip Lester, and Kenneth Ray

The children of Hugh Lee and Sarah Bates Lamanac are the grandchildren of J.B. (Jay) and Lois Sims Bates. This photo was taken in 1955.

Vernie Grogan and His Cousin, Sarah Elizabeth Bates

As a child, Sarah Bates Lamanac (daughter of J.B. Bates and Lois Christine Sims) always watched over her cousin, Vernie Grogan. Vernie was the son of Tommy Grogan and Vada Bates. 

Sunlight Baptist Church in 1949

Sunlight Baptist Church located on Highway 92 was established in 1949. The hill was shortened and some of the land was taken in front of the church due to the road expansion in the sixties. The church was remodeled and now has a baptizing pool inside the church and a fellowship house. The property was given to the church by Charlie Stells. The first service was in his chicken house. 

Photographed above are members of the early fifties by the old well.  From left to right, Buddy with his father Dewey Stephens, the husband of  Lois Turner Stephens, and Hugh Lee Lamanac, the husband of Sarah Bates Lamanac. 

Sarah Elizabeth Bates Lamanac and her 1st born son, Franklin Lee

Sarah Elizabeth Bates Lamanac is the daughter of J.B. and Lois Sims Bates. She lived with her husband, Hugh Lee, in the little red asbestos covered rental home belonging to Grady Daniel on Sandy Plains Road in 1952. Grady owned the general store in the background. The store had an apartment upstairs and the Daniels living quarters were built on to the store. You can barely see the top of the Rock Store across Highway 92.  The two stores were side by side just across the road from one another. The Rock Store was owned by Tommy Garrett.  It was ran at that time by his daughter and son in law Edith and Gene Erwin. The Garrett family owned about 9 rental houses that the Bates family and their friends occupied at one time or another. The homes were within a mile of each another and within walking distance to the store.