Some Notes on the Curry Family
 

Was so excited when I saw your posting regarding Ortona Cemetery. I have some information for you. My grandfather, B. D. Curry (Barney Dentson Curry) is buried there. Born 1889 (possibly) and died in LaBelle in Sept. 1972. His mother, Comella Garner Curry is also buried there. Dates unavailable. Other family members may also be buried there but we aren't sure....My dear father, Chesley James Curry (C. J. Curry and nickname "Boots") was born on Feb. 28, 1915 and passed away May, 1996. He's buried in Pompano Beach, Fl. He spent most of his youth between LaBelle and Auburndale. He graduated from Auburndale High School. There is a Curry Street in LaBelle named after his grandfather (not sure of his name). His grandfather donated the land to the Baptist church and they in turn named the street after him. I believe it's near the police station. My grandmother, Emma Lessie Whidden Curry also spent many years between those same two towns. She was born June 20, 1893 and died in Winter Haven on August 10, 1987. She had sisters named Dot, Bea and May. My dad's second cousin was John Nance Garner who was Vice President under FDR. I remember my dad mentioning that his family (Curry's and Garner's) were also in North Carolina and Texas. My dad had many fond memories of LaBelle. He mentioned two sisters who owned an ice cream parlor/drugstore downtown. Also had a cousin named Otto (nickname was "Fatso") and they skinny dipped in Lake Alfred.

[Later she writes:] Also, while growing up in NYC my dad always sang the orange blossom song to my brother Dennis and myself. I believe it was my dad's high school song, but am wondering if it was sung throughout the school system? Perhaps someone would know. Here are the lyrics as I remember them:

"I want to wake up in the morning where the sun comes peepin' into where I'm sleeping and the songbirds sing hello. I love the fresh air and the sunshine, their good for us you know. I'll make my home in Florida where the orange blossoms grow."

Also I just remembered my dad's best friend in high school was named Joe Smith and he was an excellent cartoonist. He and his wife, who was his childhood sweetheart, lived somewhere in the Auburndale area and worked in a citrus packing plant. They are now both deceased.
 

Paula Curry Del Favero

[Regarding the Ortona Cemetery] You have found my mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, my uncle Louis who died in WWII, he let his men fly off the island (I don't know which one) first. He was last to leave and didn't make it off. My mother and father divorced & married twice. It was hard to keep up with my mother's side after I went to live with Dad. My mother is Alice Lynn Grant, Grandmother Alice C. Bailey, Greatgrandmother Felistis Comela Curry (Mellie Garner). She could peel a whole orange and never break the peel, which fascinated me as a child and I'm told I have her skin and disposition. I have always named my cars "Mellie" in her honor. I do know that Mother's birthdate is wrong on the marker. She was born March 23, 1919.

Linda Ann Linscomb-Bryson