Beatrice Blackshear , who is wearing a white blouse and pearl earrings, was born on 6 May 1892 in Fort Worth Texas to William Blackshear Sr. and Janie Trezevant. Beatrice had one younger brother Phocion Carroll.
Beatrice Blackshear married Fred Milton Carroll at the age of 16 in 1908 in Fort Worth, Texas. His parents were James Carroll and Frances Willis. Beatrice Carroll. The occupation of Fred Carroll in 1910 was listed as a laborer at a gravel pit, while Beatrice was a housewife. In 1911 Beatrice gave birth to Troy Carroll. Then, daughter, Frances, was born in 1912. More children were born in the next few years. Phocion was born in 1916, Steve in 1917, Lloyd in 1918, Janie in 1919, Neoma in 1923, William in 1929, Thomas in 1930, and Katy in 1932. An infant was born in 1927, but it was stillborn. Neoma died on 4 April 1927 due to an acute poisoning agent.
In 1930 Fred was employed as a janitor at a bank building. Beatrice acquired employment at a hospital as a maid. The Carroll family owned their owned home. Fred Carroll died in 1938.
In the 1940’s Beatrice Carroll, relocated to California from Fort Worth, Texas with her three children, Willie, Katy and Thomas. Her oldest son, Troy, daughter, Francis, and her husband, Arthur, were already settled in California. Unfortunately, Phocion died from a traffic accident before he was able to move to California with his mother and siblings. The story is Phocion was changing a tire and was hit by a cattle truck.
Beatrice lived with her daughter, Francis, and son-in-law, Arthur, for awhile. She supported her family by cleaning homes. Beatrice was religious and attended the same church as Francis and Arthur. Sometime later, she and her children, Willie, Katy and Thomas, relocated to a house across the street from my grandmother’s, Bertha Mabry, residence. Beatrice Carroll lived a long life and died on 6 October 1983. She outlived most of her children with the exception of Frances and Thomas.
Sadly, it is unknown what her life was like in Fort Worth, Texas. According to one of her daughter-in-laws, she never spoke about her husband, Fred, or her life in Texas.
Photograph of Beatrice Blackshear Carroll (right) The other two people are unknown. Photograph courtesy of M. Carroll.
The Carroll Origins 