Born April 17, 1873 – December 20, 1970

Candace is the first daughter and third child born to Dumas and Emeline Maness in Sheffield Township, Moore County.  She married William Wesley Garner on January 2, 1896, at Smyrna United Methodist Church which serves a white congregation.  Smyrna Church allowed African Americans to attend their services during slavery and set aside part of the cemetery for their burial.

William Wesley was born in December 1875 to Noah and Martha Caviness Garner Spruell in Moore County.  Candace and William were living in Sheffield Township raising their family.  Candace was a school teacher and William farmed to provide for their family.  William left North Carolina in 1902 moving to Ohio in search of a better life for himself and his family.  Candace and their two children born in North Carolina joined William in Dayton, Ohio around 1904.  The 1910 census of Dayton Township in Montgomery County, Ohio shows that Candace and her children were living in Ohio and William was working at the paper mill.

In 1920, they were still living in Dayton, Ohio where William was renting the home in which they lived.  William was listed as a “Teamster” doing general work.  It is assumed Candace was a homemaker raising their family.  Six other children were born to them after moving to Ohio and Candace is not listed with an occupation in the 1920 census report.  Some of their descendants reside there today.  Candace died December 20, 1970, and she and William are both buried in Ohio.

Pictured to the left are some of William and Candace’s children – Left to Right – Juanita G. Pearil, Glen Arthur Garner, and Mabel Romania Garner Ramsey.

Summary provided by  Stephanie McCrimmon, daughter of Dorothy Vascille Barrett,  Granddaughter of Tom & Ada Maness Brower, Great Granddaughter of Jesse & Mishie Maness