ALBERT PRINCE CANADY
Albert Prince Canady was born on August 13, 1870, the third child and second son of William and Susan Bacon Canady. He was born on the farm where he grew up loving the sports of hunting and fishing. He also worked on the farm and acquired a great appreciation for good food. He received his early education at the Poor School of the 19th district of Bryan County.
Although Albert was intelligent, going to school was not his preference. He rather preferred the great outdoors and would on occasion, hide his hunting rifle or fishing pole away from the house, then leave home with his brothers and sisters as if he were going to school. Once out of sight of home, he would swap his books for his rifle or fishing pole and head for the woods, making his siblings swear to tell the teacher that "Pa needed Albert to stay home and plow".
When Albert was grown he moved to Savannah, Georgia, where he met and married Gertrude Zipperer in 1899. Albert was 29 years old at the time. He bought a grocery store at 44th and Bull Streets where he launched his long career in the grocery business. He later moved his business to 56th and Bull Streets and lived in a house attached to the side of their store. There lot was a large one extending all the way to 57th Street. He raised chickens in the back yard, but the children also had plenty of room to run and play.
After his children were grown and married and had left home, he moved his business to Montgomery Street and Staley Avenue. His son, Woodrow, and daughter, Leona, worked with him in his grocery store. He lived alone in an apartment behind the store since his wife, Gertrude, had died several years prior to the move. They eventually had three houses built in a row within a block of the store. These belonged to Leona and her husband, Jack Hunter, their son, J.D. Hunter , and Woodrow Canady. Albert later lived with Leona and Jack in the house next door to the store.
Albert was very successful in the grocery business. He was an honest, caring, and quiet man. He gave generously to those in need without asking anything in return. Once he supplied a family of nine with food for several weeks when the head of the house was out of work with an incurable disease. He had many friends, some of whom would go with him on fishing or hunting trips for several days at a time. He always came home with exciting tales to tell, and food to eat.
Albert Canady retired from his grocery business at the age of 80. He lost his vision very suddenly one day while working at the store. In spite of diligent efforts by doctors who tried to find the cause and cure for this tragic malady, the blindness was irreversible. His lifestyle suddenly changed from active and in charge to sedentery and dependent although he could manage around the house where things were familiar. He was a courageous, gracious, and very patient person in the face of such great tragedy, never complaining, but always glad to have family and friends come to visit. He always focused the conversation on others in the group, but never on his problems.
Six years later when he was about 87 years old, Albert developed a blood clot in his leg and had to have it amputated. While a patient in the Central of Georgia Railway Hospital, he had visit from his younger sister, Suzie Lynch. After leaving his room for the night, she stopped by the nurses' station and told one of the nurses, "take good care of Albert; he's a good boy".
For several years following the amputation of his leg he continued to enjoy fairly good health. His activities in the home became fewer and he sat in his chair for longer periods of the day. His daughter, Leona, met her "Papa's" every need very faithfully. After his 90th birthday his health began to decline, and on November 26, 1962, Albert Prince Canady passed on from this life. He is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia. The children of Albert and Gertrude Zipperer Canady are:
1. Lavant Canady b. 7/15/1901, d. 1982, m. Maggie Lou Gorman (1896-1984)
1. William Albert Canady d. 1986, m. Hulda Parrish
1. William A. Canady, Jr. m. Ethel Mae Smith
1. Catherine Canady m. Donald Phillips
1. Tommie Phillips
2. Mariah Phillips
2. Debbie Canady m. David Maxwell
Chantel Maxwell
3. Brenda Canady m. Grover Whitt
Ashley Whitt
4. Donna Canady m. David Garcia
1. Moses Garcia
2. Noah Garcia
2. James Canady
3. Barbara Canady
4. Richard Canady
2. John L. Canady m. Norma Abel
John L. (Scooter) Canady, Jr.
3. Joan Canady m. George Jackson
1. Lisa Jackson MacLeod
2. Joey Jackson
4. Mary Canady m. Walter D. Langston
1. Walter Langston
2. Cary Langston
5. Virginia Gertrude Canady m. John L. Carlyle
1. Jody Carlyle
2. Kimberly Carlyle
3. John L. Carlyle, Jr.
6. Carolyn Canady m. Paul John DeNitto
1. Patricia Denitto m. 1) Francis Nicholas Dillon
Matthew Dillon b. 11/1984
m. 2) Jim B. Hildreth
2. Joan Carolyn Denitto m. David F. Roberts, Jr.
Beau Roberts
3. Dona Marie Denitto m. Mark LeGrand Burns
Dachary Mattie Burns
4. Jacqueline S. Denitto m. _________Matthews
7. Annette Canady m. Troy W. Hanson
1. Michael Hanson
2. Banci Hanson
3. Linda Hanson
4. Sherry Hanson
5. Douglas Hanson
6. Jimmy Hanson
8. Janet Canady m. Usher Henderson
1. Annette Henderson
2. Frank Henderson
3. Margaret Henderson m. Eldon Usher
1. Jodi Usher
2. Alan Usher
3. John Usher
4. Mark Usher
5. Janet Usher
9. Richard R. Canady
10. Frank R. Canady
2. Leona Canady b. 1902, d. 1/13/1990, m. Jack D. Hunter (1899-1987)
1. Jack D.Hunter, Jr. (J.D.) m. Jackie Woods
1. Jack D. Hunter, III
Davin Hunter
2. Jody Albert Hunter m. Diane Cattelli
Andrew Albert Hunter
2. Robert Hunter
3. Woodrow Canady b. 1912, d. 5/5/83, m. Imogene (Jean) Freeman
Christine Canady
4. Mamie Canady b. 5/29/1905, d. 12/28/82, m. 1) Willie Wittcamp
Mildred Wittcamp b. 5/11/1921 m. 1) Edward G. Wassick
m. 2) Clyde Hugh Litchfield
1. Clyde H. Litchfield, Jr. b. 6/9/1938, m. Joan Williams b. 7/13/1939
1. Clyde Randy Litchfield b. 12/5/57
2. Michael Devon Litchfield b. 6/30/60
3. Sandra Litchfield b. 12/21/64
2. Peggy Litchfield b. 1941
Mamie Canady m. 2) Sammy Lynch
Barbara Lynch m. Eugene Buttillo
Robert Buttillo m. Donna_________
Erin Elizabeth Buttillo b. 01/83
5. Harry Albert b. 1911, d. 1992, m. Maude Caroline Sapp
1. Albert George m. Ethel_________
1. Debbie
2. Brenda
3. Donna
2. Walter Moree Canady b. 3/21/1940 m. Anna M. Bennett b. 10/5/1942
1. Janet Marie Canady b. 2/13/1964, d. 5/31/1983
2. Anna Caroline Canady b. 4/5/1968 m. Carroll Proctor
3. Angela Joy Canady b. 10/26/1972, m. Christopher John Oldfield
6. Ruby Canady b. 1915, m. Thomas Sheppard (no children)
At the time of his death, Albert and Gertrude had 18 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, and 12 great-great grandchildren.
Thanks to Bertie Barbour, Emma Jean Lynch and Hoyt and Alberta Canady for the information on Albert Canady.