Really thrilled this fine lady's Find a Grave page was transferred to me at: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34641994/millie-sumrall
This is from the book Pioneer Days of Tyler County by Lou Ella Moseley
Obtained from Homer King
In the Mann Cemetery is a small stone bearing only one word "Millie." The grave which marks it is among those of the Hayes family. It is said to have been placed there by one of the Hayes girls as a memorial to her old nurse and loyal friend and servant to the family. Who was Millie and how did she merit a resting place in the family plot?
On a plantation in Mississippi before the War between the States lived Moses Sumrall with his wife from among the Lott girls on the adjoining plantation, four children, and a few slaves. When the slaves were freed, Moses offered those of his plantation the privilege of remaining with him or going out into a free world. One little girl, Millie, refused to leave her little playmates as she clung to the Sumrall girls. Reconstruction days came and time grew harder. One day Moses and his wife sold their plantation, loaded their household goods on wagons, and started on their long journey to Texas. They soon found a farm near the well-established town of Liberty. Here was born five other children, making it four boys,Ellis,Tom,Norvel, and Frank, and five girls. These were Nannie, Nelia,Vennie, Venie,and Vicie.
Moses with his wife and nine children worked hard, made good crops which brought prosperity, and were happy until one day an illness fell upon the mother and she died. After a time of loneliness overcame Moses Sumrall and he began to look for fairer lands up the Old Spanish Trail Road toward Nacogdoches.
Tyler County was chosen as the new home, a land of fresh springs,clear streams, and virgin pines. Here he and his nine children,with the industrious Millie, soon had a new crop growing. Two of the girls joined others of the surrounding community and taught school. Venie became a close friend of Nettie Davis, daughter of a neighbor Ben Davis. When Sam Houston Normal Institute opened its door to train teachers,Nettie and Venie were there with enthusiasm and determination to return to their home county fully equipped for teaching. The Sumrall children grew up and began to marry.
Nannie became the wife of Frank Hayes,who had come into the county from Arkansas,and they purchased the home belonging to George Raley,the first clerk of Sunnet Dale Church. It was located on the crossroad which ran from the Old Spanish road by Steels Grove, across Billums, near the William Mann home,through a lane at the Hayes home and across the hills to Fort Teran. With Nannie in this home lived Millie, happy to be with the one whom she loved most dearly.
In a little cabin to the rear of the Hayes home Millie lived for years, never lacking any comfort which could be arranged. She liked to cook on a fireplace so a fireplace and chimney were provided. Shel loved children so she helped to nurse the children as they came along,five girls and three boys. Millie was always given a select part of the farm to cultivate.
She had her own garden,corn and potato patches,and by exchanging work with the Hayes children,she had little difficulty in growing and harvesting her crops. On Sunday mornings,while Millie was yet young,she was off across the country early in the mornings to Ever Green Church,a couple of miles beyond Billums,to hear Uncle Al Crane preach the gospel and his dear old wife,Aunt Judy,shout her praises to God. When she was ill,Uncle Al would bring his church to her door where the congregation sat on long planks arranged on blocks of wood and sang, "Oh Sista,yo' need mo' faith to shine like a mawning stah."
When the good old servant passed away neighbors went to the Hayes home to assist in the burial. The men built a coffin of good pine lumber and the ladies covered it in white,padding the inside with soft white cotton. They sorrowed with the family in their loss and rejoiced that she found a final place of rest in the family plot at their cemetery.
(Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34641994/millie-sumrall)
On the 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Millie Sumrall, age 50, born in Virginia, is living as a Boarder in the household of Moses Sumrall, Tyler County, Texas. He is a widower, and his daughter Margaret L. Sumrall, age 30 is also in the household.
