Kathyren Inez Lumpkin

On July 21st, 1936 at 5:00am, Lula Mae Winfrey and James “Jim” Winfrey welcomed their third child into the world, and named her Kathyren Inez Winfrey. Jim as he was affectionately called was a man of many talents and occupations during his lifetime. He was a farmer, sharecropper, mason, carpenter, handyman, construction worker, and Deacon at Morton Baptist Church, all of which would serve him well in providing for his growing family. Lula, also worked in various occupations to help supplement the family income by working first as a housewife, maid, sharecropper and domestic. When baby Kathryen arrived home for the first time, she was welcomed by her big brother Charlie Winfrey and big sister Myrtis Winfrey, and over the years Jim and Lula would go on to grow their burgeoning family to include James Winfrey, Joann Winfrey, Melvin Winfrey and Louise Winfrey. Life wasn’t always easy for the Winfrey clan, in that, in those days Jim Crow was the law of the land, and being Negro in the Southern states meant that day to day survival was the number one priority. In spite of the racist laws and harsh conditions of living in Georgia, Jim and Lula kept their close-knit family together and intact, always instilling in them first the love of God, determination, pride, dignity, hard work, and love. As time went by Kathyren and her siblings would work side by side with Jim and Lula on the farm and in the fields picking cotton and other products such as beans, peanuts, and peaches, all the while never missing a day of school and church. Family dinners together was mandatory in Jim and Lula’s home, as well as prayer and bible study. She would go on to graduate from Union Baptist Institute in the last segregated class in Athens Georgia, in 1955. As Kathyren matured into a tall, beautiful and quick-witted woman, she caught the attention of a childhood friend, Nathaniel Lumpkin, whom always viewed her as Charlie’s skinny little sister, and nothing more. Kathyren didn’t initially think too much about Nathaniel either, other than he was tall and handsome, and he stuttered when he spoke, but she thought he was just nervous around her and she was flattered. One day and without warning, his eyes locked into hers, and the romance of the love smitten young couple blossomed very quickly. But Nathaniel was determined to get out of the racist south, as he was sick and tired of picking cotton in the blazing hot southern sun for what amounts to nothing more than penny’s a day, so he made a life altering decision. He wanted to do something special with his life and show his love for God and Country, not to mention his brass, so with the blessings of his Aunt Nellie Mae Lumpkin and big sister Dorothy Lumpkin, he joined the United States Marine Corps. When he returned home to Athens after several years away, he was on another mission, more in the love department, which was to marry Kathyren, but he hadn’t yet asked her to be his wife, so Before Nathaniel proposed marriage to Kathyren, he put on his Marine Corps uniform and immediately went to her father Jim, and asked for his permission and blessings to marry her. Though Nathaniel was nervous and no doubt stuttered, he composed himself, stood tall in front of Jim, took a deep breath and asked Jim permission to marry his daughter. He promised his future Father in law that he would always take care of her, never lay a hand on her, treat her with dignity and respect, and buy her a home she could call her very own. Jim paused for a moment, looked Nathaniel up and down and gave his blessings, and soon thereafter on a very cold winter evening on December 23rd, 1955 in the home of her Pastor, the union between Kathyren Inez Winfrey and Nathaniel Lumpkin was blessed and consecrated. With various duty stations all over the United States, the young couple traveled to Cherry Point in North Carolina, where their first child, Karen Denise Lumpkin was born in the spring of 1958, and shortly thereafter a second child would join this growing family, Annie Mae Lumpkin also in the spring of 1959. Nathaniel received orders to report for duty overseas to Okinawa Japan, which meant Kathyren and the two toddlers would not be able to accompany him, so Kathyren returned home to Athens Georgia with their two young girls in tow. Nathaniel returned from duty overseas to another duty station in Quantico Virginia, where this time Kathyren and the girls were allowed to accompany him. By this time the young couple were expecting their third child, so in the spring of 1961, in Athens Georgia they welcomed their son, Nathaniel Lumpkin Jr. With various duty stops along the way, the young couple found themselves on the move again, this time they would be stationed at Camp Lejeune North Carolina, where in the summer of 1964 they welcomed their fourth child, Gail Renee Lumpkin. By this time the Vietnam war began and Nathaniel was deployed overseas to fight. Initially Kathyren and the children remained in Athens while Nathaniel was in Vietnam, but upon his return to the United States in 1965, he was given another duty station at Camp Pendleton in California. So, with his brother in law Melvin Winfrey along to take turns driving, the family packed up the station wagon and began the cross-country journey from Athens Georgia to Camp Pendleton. Nathaniel and Melvin understood the perils of driving through the racist Jim Crow south, through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, the two brothers-in-law were on constant alert, never driving over the speed limit, and never stopping in any sundown towns unless it was absolutely necessary such as gasoline or the kids needed to use the restroom, which was usually done in the woods. Kathyren packed plenty of food for the long three-day trip, as there were few or no known places that allowed Black folks hotel accommodations or restaurants to eat in, so they drove night and day. After driving through the southern gauntlet of rain, icy roads, sleepless nights and restless days, not to mention the local good-ole-boys terrorizing Black motorists along the highways, it was only by the Grace and Mercy of God that they finally made to sunny Southern California. Because Kathyren was born and raised in the south, it didn’t take her long to get adjusted to life in California. As time went by she worked tirelessly as a mother, often volunteering at their respective schools and other activities. She ensured that they were kept active and busy at all times. Her daughters Karen, Annie and Gail were active in the Brownies and Girl Scouts, and her son Nate Jr. was active in the Y-Indian Guides and sports. While Nathaniel was deployed overseas on various assignments, Kathyren was the disciplinarian, and never hesitated to put her children in check. She taught them to be respectful of everyone, be kind, courteous, friendly and most importantly she taught them to love God. Kathyren was an avid Bingo player, where she often played 10-15 cards at a times, and never missed a number, including the numbers on her bingo partners cards. She enjoyed Bowling, working in Ministry, spending quality time with family and friends. Kathyren was always welcoming, warm and friendly and it’s been said that she never made any enemies, she only made friends. She loved to cook southern dishes such as butter-roll, salmon patties, fried chicken and her famous sweet potato pies. Kathyren was such a southern girl at heart, she loved working in the yard, planting, digging, pruning and arranging plants, and Nate Jr was always her constant assistant in her yard work endeavors. Every other summer Kathyren looked forward to her mother visiting California, where all the neighborhood children called Lula Grandmomma. Lula and Kathyren were very close and spent countless hours talking on the phone and writing letters back and forth. Kathyren also spent many hours every Sunday talking to her sister Myrtis, this ritual would go on and on for more than fifty years without fail. Kathyren worked at Burroughs in Carlsbad California for many years and made many life long friends, whom she always made time for. For a little over 50 years, Kathyren was a dedicated, faithful and loyal member of Second Missionary Baptist Church in Oceanside California, under the late Reverend W. W. Wright, and later Reverend Charles E. Price, where she served on numerous auxiliaries, committee’s, and boards. After a very lengthy illness, Kathyren entered into rest on January 10th, 2023 at the age of 86, with her family and loved ones gathered around her bed. She was proceeded in death by her husband Nathaniel Lumpkin Sr, her youngest daughter Gail Renee Lumpkin-Moore, brothers Charlie Winfrey, James Winfrey, and Melvin Winfrey. She leaves to mourn her children, Mrs. Karen Denise Lumpkin-Banks (Charlie) of Oceanside California, Mrs. Annie Mae Lumpkin-Wallace (Rodney) of Ontario California, and Mr. Nathaniel A. Lumpkin Jr (Karen Lynn) of Riverside California. Grandchildren Mr. James E. Moore (Dereka), Mr. Brandin A. Moore, Ms. Mariah J. Lumpkin, Ms. Breanna S. Lumpkin, Mrs. Cache Barnard (Robert), Mr. Nathaniel A. Lumpkin III, and two great grandchildren Ms. Mila Bernard and Mr. Luther Moore. Three sisters Mrs. Myrtis Winfrey-Warren of Athens Georgia, Mrs. Joann Ollie (Jack) and family of Athens Georgia, and Mrs. Marian Louise Winfrey-Burgess (Robert) and family of Athens Georgia. Three sisters in laws, Mrs. Dorothy Lumpkin-Coleman and family of Chicago Illinois, Mrs. Sarah Winfrey (Melvin) and family of Athens Georgia, and Mrs. Mary Winfrey (James) and family of Athens Georgia. Spiritual Sisters Mrs. Diane Tripplet and family of Lansing Michigan, Mrs. Patricia Johns (Charles) and family of Moreno Valley Ca, and Mrs. Pat Thompson & Family of Escondido Ca. and Mrs. Debbie Swanson (Dwayne). Spiritual Daughters Mrs. Shareese Daniels (Dewayne) of Oceanside Ca, Ms. Carolyn Powell of Oceanside Ca, and Ms. Martha Jackson of Oceanside Ca., and the ever-faithful family friend whom we affectionately call, “Mr. Ben,” as well as a large host of great nieces and great nephews, cousins, extended relatives and friends all over the country.