[As told by Johnny E. Parham, Jr., great-grandson of Mariah Barnes Jinks and one of four children of Johnny and Carolyn Parham]
Lafayette Jinks and Mariah Barnes were married on January 4, 1876 at the home of Mariah’s parents, Henry and Nicie Barnes, in Stockbridge, Georgia. They were married by Reverend Willie Sagers.
A veteran of the Spanish-American War, Lafayette was a farmer who raised his family of seven on 100 acres of land owned by Mariah and himself. They owned mules, cows, and chickens. All their children worked on the farm, carried cotton to market, and sold watermelons in Atlanta. The children were as follows: Johnny, who married Kate, had one child Clarence; Sarah, who married Will Garlington; and Willie who married Maggie.
Milton and Sarah Jinks Parham moved to Conyers, Georgia where they began their family. Eventually, they moved to Lithonia, Georgia where the family opened a small store. In the early 1920’s, Henry Ford was offering work in Detroit, Michigan at the unheard-of daily rate of $5. Milton planned to carry his oldest two sons, Johnny and Milton (Dewey) to Detroit where the three of them would earn enough money to bring the entire family to Detroit to improve their opportunities for education and increase the family income.
The Parham family moved to Atlanta where Johnny and Carolyn Anderson whose family had roots in Lithonia, Georgia. Johnny and Carolyn Parham had four children. The children of Johnny and Carolyn were the only grandchildren of Sarah Barnes Parham. Bessie, a middle daughter married Henry Norris. Effie, an older daughter, married George Deskins.
Henry and Bessie Norris left Atlanta for New York City, in the early 1940’s. Their move prompted other siblings to follow. These included Geraldine, Dewey, Effie, Leon, and Dollie. Johnny worked on the railroad and made frequent runs to New York city. Remaining in Atlanta with Sarah, Lillie, Jessie, and Johnny’s family, Carolyn Bettye, Johnny Sr., Carolyn Ellen, and Norman.
As was frequently the case, with Sarah and her family living in Atlanta, her home became the welcoming space for other members of the Jinks’ family. Eddie, Sarah’s youngest brother, married Grace. As the family grew, they began plans to relocate to Atlanta. Her oldest son Eddie Roy moved to Atlanta and lived with Sarah. Their second oldest daughter, Ressie soon followed and divided her time between Sarah’s home and that of Carolyn and Johnny. Eventually, Eddie and Grace moved their entire family to Atlanta, where they aggressively pursued their education.
The story of the Jinks migration is a reflection of the determination of the Barnes family tradition. Despite the risks involved in venturing into unfamiliar cities, a commitment came to improve opportunities for family. Among the key centers of the family migration are Atlanta, Cleveland, and New Bentley Hill United Methodist Church.
