Bio: Hollis, Naomi (Reasby)– Her Life Story

Transcriber: James Hollis
Email: mejaho@gmail.com 

Surnames: Hollis, Reasby, Parchia, Brazier, Richards, Gereau

----Source: James Hollis Memories

Naomi Hollis was born on the 27th of February in the year of our Lord 1931, in Stanley, Wisconsin. She was the 10th of 10 children born to the union of William Lewis and Verbena Bell Reasby of Virginia. Surviving childhood illnesses by the mighty hand of God, she became known as the “Miracle Baby”. The nine brothers and sisters, Verbena Retta Reasby Clarence Opal Odel Reasby, Nobel Mason Reasby, James Eldon Reasby, Helen Rochee Reasby, Lloyd Lewis Reasby, Toussaint Dunbar Reasby, and Ruth Elizabeth Reasby, have all preceded Naomi to glory.

As a child Naomi was raised on the family’s 80-acre farm in Stanley, Wisconsin. She attended First Pentecostal Church where she was baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Ghost under ministry of Pastor Henry Gereau.

Naomi started her education at Fernwald School where her father, William Lewis / Louis Reasby, was the director, and her mother Verbena was the clerk. Moving to Owen, Wisconsin she continued at Elmhurst School, then Owen High School which she left upon the death of her beloved father.

She moved to Milwaukee Wisconsin and lived with her sister Helen. There she taught Sunday School at Mount Zion Apostolic Church and cleaned houses.

Naomi married the love of her life James Hollis on July 31st 1954 by Bishop Earl Parchia at Mount Zion Apostolic Church in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Their union was blessed with three children, one daughter, Luawana Ray, and two sons, James Edward Jr., and David , seven grandchildren, and one great grandchild Christopher.

Naomi was a member of Apostolic Faith Church under Bishop John S. Holly, where she served on Missionary Group Number 2 and taught Sunday School for more than 55 years and became an Altar Worker, assisting souls seeking salvation. She then became a member of Apostolic Church of God under Pastor, Dr. Arthur M. Brazier. After moving to Hazel Crest IL she joined Hazel Crest Assembly Church led by Bishop Eddie G. Richards.

Always valuing education, Naomi went back to school after her youngest child started school and earned her General Education Diploma. She then earned certification to provide in-home care for children where she not just cared for, but developed life-long relationships with the children in her care.

Naomi and her husband traveled the world, by air, land and sea, visiting Africa, Europe and China. She often marveled that a farm girl from Stanley had been so blessed to travel so far.

After her beloved husband James passed away in 2017, she moved to Oak Park, IL in 2021 she was blessed to celebrate her 90th birthday in good health. She often shares memories of growing up in Stanley and Owen Wisconsin.

United States Census, 1910 Iowa Monroe Bluff Creek Twp.

William L Reasby Male 22 1888 Iowa Married Black Head Virginia Virginia, Coal Miner
Verbena Reasby Female 20 1890 Virginia Married Black Wife Maine Virginia
Lloyd Reasby Male 0 1910 Iowa Single Black Son Iowa Virginia

Buxton, Monroe Co., IA, 1908 / Iowa Historical Society

Muchakinock Lutheran Church, Early Ebenezer Lutheran Church History 1882-1901

Buxton, Iowa--a once prosperous coal mining community in Bluff Creek Township in northern Monroe County, holds a special place in Iowa history as a predominantly black town. Beginning in the 1890s Ben Buxton, the President and principal stockholder of the Consolidation Coal Company and North Western Railroad of Chicago, recruited black laborers to work in the coal mines of Iowa following strikes by white miners. The majority of the recruits settled in the town of Buxton, founded by the company in 1895 to house the new arrivals. Most of the miners were from the Virginia and West Virginia coal mining regions. By 1905, Buxton had nearly 2,700 African Americans and 1,990 Europeans, mostly of Swedish, Welsh, and Slovak descent. At its peak in 1910, Buxton’s population was between eight and ten thousand people.

The majority of the leadership roles in Buxton were held by African Americans -the postmaster, superintendent of schools, most of the teachers, two justices of the peace, two constables and two deputy sheriffs. Buxton’s most prominent early resident, E.A. Carter, the son of a black miner who arrived in the 1890s, is believed to be he first black graduate from the University of Iowa, Medical College, in 1907. Dr. Carter returned to Buxton where he became assistant chief surgeon for Consolidated Coal. In 1915 he was appointed chief surgeon for the company. Prominent attorneys and one-time Buxton residents George H. Woodson and Samuel Joe Brown were among the co-founders of the Niagra Movement, a predecessor to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), in 1905.

Schools in Buxton were racially integrated and taught by both black and white instructors. The Consolidated Coal also treated blacks and whites equally, with regards to housing and employment matters. Buxton changed during the start of World War I in France. Coal production had peaked and the black population began to slowly decline. Fires destroyed buildings and homes in Buxton, and by 1919, there were only a few hundred of people left. In 1923, the coal company moved its headquarters and sold out to the Superior Coal Company in 1925. The Buxton mine closed in 1927. Maeve, Iowa City Public Library

United States Census, 1930 Wisconsin Clark Butler
 

W. L. Reasby Male 41 1889 Iowa Married Negro Head Virginia Virginia
Verbena Reasby Female 40 1890 Virginia Married Negro Wife Virginia Virginia
Loyd Reasby Male 20 1910 Iowa Single Negro Son Iowa Virginia
Toussaint Reasby Male 17 1913 Iowa Single Negro Son Iowa Virginia
Hellen Reasby Female 15 1915 Iowa Single Negro Daughter Iowa Virginia
Clarence Reasby Male 9 1921 Wisconsin Single Negro Son Iowa Virginia1
Elden Reasby Male 7 1923 Wisconsin Single Negro Son Iowa Virginia
Ruth Reasby Female 6 1924 Wisconsin Single Negro Daughter Iowa Virginia
Noble Reasby Male 3 1927 Wisconsin Single Negro Son Iowa Virginia
Edward Reasby Male 1 1929 Wisconsin Single Negro Son Iowa Virginia
Dias Markee Male 23 1907 Wisconsin Single White Head Ohio Wisconsin

Public Record

Naomi L Hollis
Alias Naomi E Hollis
Previous Residence Chicago, Illinois 60628
Previous Residence Postal Code 60628
Second Previous Residence Place Hazel Crest, Illinois 60429
Residence Date from 1 Dec 1993 to 13 Nov 2000
Residence Place Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States
Residence Place (Original) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Birth Date 27 Feb 1931

Bio: Reasby, Lloyd Lewis (31 Jul 1909 - ?)

IA Birth Indexes

Name Lloyd Lewis Reasby
Sex Male
Birth Date 31 Jul 1909
Birthplace Buxton, Monroe, Iowa, United States
Birthplace (Original) Buxton, Iowa, United States
Father's Name William Louis Reasby
Father's Sex Male
Mother's Name Verbana Bell Washington
Mother's Sex Female

Bio: Reasby, Verbena (20 Apr 1911- ?)

Name Verbena Reasby
Sex Female
Birth Date 20 Apr 1911
Birthplace Bluff Creek Township, Monroe, Iowa, United States
Birthplace (Original) Bluff Creek Township, Iowa, United States
Father's Name W L Reasby
Father's Sex Male
Mother's Name Verbena Bell Washington
Mother's Sex Female

Bio: Reasby, Toussaint D. (11 Nov 1912-?)

Name Toussaint D Reasby
Sex Male
Birth Date 11 Nov 1912
Birthplace Buxton, Monroe, Iowa, United States
Birthplace (Original) Buxton, Iowa, United States
Father's Name Wm L Reasby
Father's Sex Male
Mother's Name Verbena Washington
Mother's Sex Female

Bio: Reasby, Hellen Rosha (21 Sep 1914-?)

Name Hellen Rosha Reesby
Sex Female
Birth Date 21 Sep 1914
Birthplace Bluff Creek Township, Monroe, Iowa, United States
Birthplace (Original) Bluff Creek Township, Iowa, United States
Father's Name William Louis Reesby
Father's Sex Male
Mother's Name Verbena Bell Washington
Mother's Sex Female

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Obit: Reasby, William Louis / Lewis (28 Apr 1889--8 Apr 1947)

William Louis (Lewis) Reasby
Cemetery:  Maplehurst, Taylor, Wisconsin, United States of America
First Apostolic Church Cemetery
Death Date: 08 Apr 1947

WWI Draft Registration

William Louis Reasby was the son of William and Sally Reasby (or Reesby) was born in Muchakinock (also spelled Muchachinock or Muchikinock) IA, a former Consolidation Coal Co., coal-mining camp near Oskaloosa.

Obit: James, Ann (12 Feb 1838-17 Mar 1917)

Ann James (12 Feb 1838-17 Mar 1917)

Husband: James James

Father: James Scott, Mother: Eliza Scott

Occupation: Domestic
Buried in Glendale Cemetery, 4955-4981 University Avenue
Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, United States

1895 Iowa State Census, Mahaska

Obit: Reasby, Noble Mason (30 Apr 1926-27 Jul 1983)

Noble Mason Reasby
Birth 30 Apr 1926
Death 27 Jul 1983 (aged 57)
Cemetery: Wood National Cemetery, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA

Obit: Reasby, Verbena Belle Washington (26 Sep 1889-Dec 1935)

Verbena Belle Washington Reasby
Birth: 26 Sep 1889
Death: Dec 1935 (aged 46)
Burial: Town of Butler Cemetery, Willard, Clark County, Wisconsin, USA

Obit: Baker, Ruth Reasly (5 Apr 1924- Jun 1997)

Surnames: Allen Baker, Henderson, Morton, Murchison, Reasby, Smith

----Source: Stanlely Republican 01/01/2002

Ruth Reasly Baker 1924-1997

Ruth Elizabeth Reasby Baker passed away in Milwaukee on June 10, 1997.

She was born in rural Stanley on April 5 ,1924 , in the Town o f Butler to William and Verbena Reasby. She attended the rural Fernwald School and was the last 8th grade graduate before the school district disbanded. She completed her education in Milwaukee. Ruth attended the Wilson Pleasant Valley Church and accepted Jesus at an early age. She followed her commitment all her life. Ruth retired after working for twenty-five years at Milwaukee County Hospital.

She lives on through her children, James, Jr. (Marilyn ) and Sharon Allen and her fiancé, Morris Moton, all of Milwaukee; one sister, Naomi Hollis and one brother, Edward. She is preceded in death by five brothers, Lloyd, Toussiant, Clarence, James and Noble; and two sisters, Verbena Jefferson and Helen.

Her special joy was in her grandchildren, Tysha (Renish) Henderson Renick; Arthur and Warren Allen , Jr., Ellen, Andrew and James Smith II and Andrew Smith; and three great-grandchildren. Ruth had also a very dear lifetime special friend, Birdie Evans. Ruth loved to write poems and spent her later years composing.

Funeral services were held June 14th at the Pentecostal Power Church with district elder, Ellis Murchison, officiating.

Final arrangements were entrusted to J. W. Wilkerson's Funeral Home.