In 2001 Sue Bassett Folawn published a book about Bassett descendants that were somehow attached to the old Bassett Homeplace on Taylor’s Mill Rd. in Peach County Georgia. She produced about 70 printed copies that she distributed to family members all around the world and we were lucky enough to receive a copy
To Sue,
You can’t help but love Pineola!
We would love to post it on the Pineola site. Do you know if the book is available or the text in a digital format. Otherwise we can scan it in but we would have to disassemble the book.
Thanks,
Paul and Delise
On Wed, Apr 10, 2019 at 12:06 AM Sue Folawn <f122775@aol.com> wrote:
Dear Delise and Paul,As I am in my late 80’s, and not in wonderful health, I would be delighted to have Homeplace printed on the Pineola website. Thank you for offering. You two have been such good friends to the decedents of the early Bassett’s in Fort Valley and loving Pineola for us. Thank you!!Fondly, Sue Folawn
Dear Paul and Delise,
I do have a copy of Homeplace to send you! Yay! It’s a paper bound copy that I’ll admit I used a bit as a working copy before I added newfound info to my computer and has a few notes and dates, but it’s really not disfigured. AND.........
It will separate for your printing purposes.
I’m really pleased it will be on line, and available to other researchers. It’s not the last word, but it might help.
Thank you! Love to you both, Sue
We have scanned the entire book into PDF files. Our website will not let us upload the entire book, so it will have to be saved on our DropBox account. They are large files - broken down into 3 large files… When time allows we will find an easier way.
Click the links to download each section.
Scanned Version of HomePlace by Sue Folawn
Ralph Noble Bassett
Leesburg - Ralph Noble Bassett, 84, of Leesburg passed away on May 12 in hospice care after a brief illness.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Melba; his daughter Kitsie Riggall (Chris), grandsons Chart and Hunter, all of Atlanta; son Frank Bassett (Brad) and grandchildren Annelle and Grady, all of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; sister Evelyn Bassett Cook (Paul Mounts) of Bandon, Oregon; and his beloved canine companion Fred.
Ralph was born at his family home, Pineola, in Fort Valley, Georgia, on September 26, 1936. He graduated from Davidson College, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta, The National Society of Scabbard and Blade and a winner of the Wall Street Journal Award for economics. Following college, he served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve as a First Lieutenant.
Ralph operated his family's farm for more than a decade and was honored with the Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year award in 1970.
In the early 1970s, he and his family relocated to Florida, first in Clearwater and, later, Leesburg. He spent more than three decades in agribusiness sales. Deeply grounded in his faith, Ralph was a long-time member of Morrison United Methodist Church, where he served as usher and head usher for more than 40 years, and a member of the Inquirers' Sunday School class. Ralph also served on the Board of Directors of the Morrison Opportunity Thrift Store for 20 years and spent many hours working there as a volunteer.
A farmer in spirit throughout his life, Ralph had a deep love for his family, his yard and all dogs. He also enjoyed travel with Melba and many summers spent in the North Carolina mountains.
A memorial service will be announced once Canadian border restrictions are eased and the entire family can gather. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Morrison United Methodist Church or the Florida United Methodist Children's Home.
Online condolences may be left at www.beyersfuneralhome.com Arrangements entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory, Leesburg, FL.
Obituary
Simone Bassett Robbins
Decatur—When she was told three years ago that she had six weeks to live, Simone’s determination to live redoubled so that she could spend as much time as possible with her family. After a decade of health challenges, Simone’s final year and a half were spent in Illinois where she could be close to her grandchildren. Her family was blessed with more time—more time for band concerts, choir performances and holidays together. Simone lived to be 89, passing away at 9:55 a.m. on Saturday May 16, 2015 at Hickory Point Christian Village (Forsyth) in the company of her daughter Marise and beloved caregiver Aimee.
Simone was born in Fort Valley, GA on August 14, 1925, the third of five daughters born to Ralph and Henriette Bassett. Her upbringing at Pineola Farms was anything but ordinary with a beloved French mother who left Paris to come to Peach County Georgia as a WWI war bride. Simone’s most cherished stories were those of her early years on the farm with her mother, father and sisters. These included true tales of her French mother graciously opening their home over the years to Royal Air Force cadets from England and Wales who were secretly training nearby and the friendships that ensued.
Simone was a life-long scholar, and member of Beta Phi Mu, who loved learning and teaching. She graduated with honor from Fort Valley High School in 1943. Simone earned four college degrees, the first an A.B. degree with a major in French, minor in English from Georgia State Woman’s College (now known as Valdosta State College) in 1947. She greatly enjoyed attending French School at Middlebury College in Middlebury Vermont in the summer of 1947. Two years later (1949), she received her M.A. degree in French, minor in Comparative Literature from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
She met her husband, Dr. John “Al” Robbins while he was teaching at Duke University. They were married July 8, 1950 in Chapel Hill (NC) and moved to Bloomington Indiana where they lived near campus for all 42 years they were married. The couple spent one glorious year living in England and traveling throughout Europe thanks to a Fulbright Fellowship, allowing Simone to meet relatives of the RAF cadets and her own French ancestors.
Simone worked for the Indiana University library system from 1950 until 1962, most notably holding the position of Biology Librarian. She lovingly took time off from this career to raise her daughter Marise, returning to college to earn an M.A. degree in Library Science from Indiana University (Bloomington) in 1966. During these years Simone became a prolific gardener and wild flower expert. She learned wood carving, embroidery, and created original wooden toys. She was most happy when on a trail or sharing her garden with friends. At the age of 59, Simone earned her final college degree, a specialist degree (emphasis on information science) from the School of Library and Information Science at Indiana University. She embarked on a new career at age 60 as a database manager for an I.U. biology professor at a time when the internet was just beginning to take hold.
Simone’s love of adventure and the outdoors led her to ice fishing, hiking lava trails in Hawaii, “boom bumping” in Maine and chilly Christmas bird counts—all in the company of her family.
Simone was preceded in death by her parents, Raphael Phillipps Bassett and Henriette Alfonsine Bourdier Bassett; by her two oldest sisters, Beulah Fricke and Marguerite Harrison; and by her husband, Professor Emeritus Dr. John Albert Robbins, Jr.
Simone is survived by her daughter Marise Robbins-Forbes and her husband Guy Forbes of Decatur (IL); three grandchildren, Sydney (15) and Katie (12) Forbes and Alicia Spinelli of Minnesota. She is also survived by her two younger sisters, Marise E. Brink of Fort Collins, Colorado and Patsy B. Hilliard of Black Mountain, North Carolina. The family wishes to thank Simone’s sisters Marise and Patsy for their steadfast love, prayers and outreach through both the good times and the more recent difficult days.
The family wishes to also express their great appreciation to Harborlight Hospice, Comfort Keepers and the many individuals who provided such wonderful care to Simone. Heartfelt and humbling appreciation is given to Simone’s longest running and most faithful friends, Don and Judy Lorenzen and Glenda Bryant, for their decades of true friendship to Simone that allowed her to stay in her home, enjoying her garden for many years.
The family will receive friends in Illinois on Thursday May 21 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, 105 W. Main St, in Mt. Zion. A celebration of life service will follow at 6:00pm with Pastor Kathy King-Nobles. Simone will then be returning to her home in Fort Valley, Georgia. The family will receive friends in Georgia on Sunday May 24 from Noon until 2pm at Pineola Farms, followed by a graveside service at Oak Lawn Cemetery.
Messages of condolence or flowers may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com (IL) or www.rooksfuneralhome.com (GA). Memorial contributions may be given to Art with Heart c/o First United Methodist Church (Decatur, IL), a fund to assist individuals with medical needs.
A Tribute to Henriette Blanche Alphonsine Bourdier Bassett
This letter was written by Roland Ellis to Simone Robbins upon the passing of our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. It was recently copied from one of Simone’s photo albums.]
New Orleans, Louisiana
May 10, 1971
Ever since your phone call I have experienced that sadness old people feel when yet another chapter in their lives is inevitably closed. My great consolation is that Henriette, especially with her particular happy personality, slipped gently away in the exact manner she did, so that I can only envy her not only in this respect but in others. Once she wrote me not too long ago, “Every one of my five children has been completely rewarding.” And what more could a person ask of life? I am so glad this great good fortune happened to the young (and what seemed to me at the time) touchingly credulous girl I first knew long before you five did.
Once upon a time, fifty-three long years ago, my very choice friend and college fraternity brother to whom I was devoted telephoned me in Paris and asked me to join him at 4:00 p.m. at a then fashionable tearoom in the “Rue Caumartin.” He wanted me, he said, to meet a certain French girl. Furthermore, he casually added to my rather amazement (for he was not what is called susceptible or subject to “coups de foudre”), he was going to marry this certain French girl. I could hardly believe my ears.
It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, the pretty tea room was full of people, and the girl kept us waiting with feminine privilege. Naturally I was on pins and needles with a certain concern for my friend. I knew him through and through and couldn’t imagine him doing anything precipitous, but this certainly seemed precipitous. “Where did you meet this French girl?” I prodded him uneasily.” In the head Red Cross office where she does war work,” he answered shortly. “Does she speak English?” I persisted. For his French was practically nil and I couldn’t help being nervous. “Of course she does,” he said. “She studied in England. And quit asking me questions until after you’ve met her. Then I don’t think you’ll need to.”
We sat in silence gazing around the tables where Parisians of a certain elegant type were earnestly talking in muted tones scarcely audible. The whole place to me had an atmosphere of quiet tenseness. Somehow French couples always seem so absorbed in one another that I was faintly surprised when suddenly all eyes focused on the front door. I turned slightly to see what they were staring at and sat transfixed. For I have never forgotten the picture I saw. There in the doorway, with a slight smile on her lips, stood a slender, tentative French girl in a soft white dress that particularly suited the occasion. She wore no make up whatever on her face because she didn’t need any. Never have I seen such vivid and beautiful natural coloring on any girl as on the one now framed in the doorway, her dark eyes sweeping the room in evident search of someone. Then, when Ralph stood suddenly, she crossed the floor quickly in our direction, radiant and sparkling, while even that roomful of blasé, sophisticated Parisians turned their heads and stared in open-mouthed admiration.
Ones initial picture of a person often remains fixed before the eyes with singular vividness throughout a lifetime, and this is the first glimpse I had of your mother. If allowed only one adjective to describe that young girl, I think I’d choose the word “radiant.”
Gay and charming she also proved to be; but, above all, another term must be applied to her at that particular time. This is the adjective “brave.” She didn’t have to marry what her family persisted in calling that “wild American,” in order to make a place for herself in life. On the contrary, I was several times in her Paris home, and I myself saw the comfort and luxury she was giving up to say nothing of a certain good “mariage de convenance” backed by her practical and determined family but which she didn’t have her heart in. So, trusting and courageous, she left her country, lifelong home and family, for what was to her at that time the remote, rural section of a strange and distant continent.
The stay in her new environment and her complete success as a wife and mother you know as well as I do. Furthermore, like most very vital people, she never lost her enthusiasm and sense of humor, and so her mind was never included in the inevitable process of aging. Her letters to me, for instance, were never to the last those of an old lady living in retrospect, but current and full of “joie de vive,” like the brave girl I met fifty-three long years ago and went on gay picnics to Versailles, Saint Cloud, and the forests of Fontainebleau. Afterwards I was best man at her wedding to my close friend.
Her subsequent life in America is an open and (I think) beautiful book to her children.