Sturdivant History

Submitted July 2006 by Monica Thomas

The Sturdivant history connection began with Luke and Mary Sturdivant. Luke and Mary were slaves on a plantation in North Carolina. During the civil war, all slaves were set free, some moved, but Luke and Mary decided to stay in Anson County. Mary Little was born into slavery in 1856 in Ansonville, NC. In 1870, Mary was 14 and living with her father, three brothers, and two sisters. During the latter year of 1870, she met Luke Sturdivant. During their years together, they had seven children, but of the seven only four live into adult age. Their names were Edward, Annie, Bell and Arnie Sturdivant. They all were born in Anson County North Carolina. Edward Sturdivant was the oldest living child of Luke and Mary Sturdivant.

Father: Luke Sturdivant-slave Mother: Mary Sturdivant-slave-1856

Edward Sturdivant-son-born-1885

Annie Sturdivant-daughter-born-1887-1973

Bell Sturdivant-daughter-born-1890

Arnie Sturdivant-son-born-12/26/1891-6/1971

Edward Sturdivant was born in 1885 in Anson County, NC to Luke and Mary Sturdivant. As quoted by Carrie Sturdivant and Lottie Mae Sturdivant, “We were told that Edward left North Carolina with a stick on his back and on this stick he tied a sheet with his clothes inside”. Edward Sturdivant eventually moved from Anson County and settled in South Hill, Virginia. On December 18, 1907, Edward age 22 married Agnes Ogburn of South Hill, Virginia. During the early stages of their marriage, Edward and Agnes live up North. Later they return to South Hill to raise their family. Edward and Agnes Sturdivant had three children. Their names were Willie Sturdivant, Bernice Sturdivant and Ellis Sturdivant. Edward supported his family when he establish the first black Barber Shop in South Hill, Virginia. They continue to raise their family in a house that Edward built on Lunenburg Ave in South Hill, Virginia. Many friends called Edward Ed in his community. He was a hard workingman and loved his family very much. Edward and Agnes was member of Temple Gate RZUA church. As told by family members, Edward Sturdivant continued to visit his family in North Carolina.

Edward was very close with his family in North Carolina and his sisters Annie and Bell visit his family many of times in South Hill, VA.

Father: Edward Sturdivant-born-1885 Mother: Agnes Sturdivant-born-1886-1967

Willie Sturdivant-son-born-2/26/1914-1/1982

Bernice Sturdivant-daughter-born-1916-1940

Ellis Sturdivant-son-born-1/23/1918-9/1989

During one of Edward visits to North Carolina, he convinced his brother Arnie Sturdivant to move his family to South Hill, Virginia. Arnie Sturdivant was Ed youngest brother. Arnie was born in Anson, County on Dec. 27, 1891. He was Mary and Luke Sturdivant youngest child. In 1910, he met and married a woman name Florrie. Arne and Florrie were both 19 years old. In 1918, Arnie enlisted in the U.S Army for World War I. During their marriage Arnie and Florrie were bless with nine children. Lottie Mae and Fannie Bell are their only living children today. Ms Lottie Mae quoted, “I remember that we all move from Morven, North Carolina to South Hill, Virginia. I was 15 years old and we stayed at Uncle Ed house until Dad found work and a new home for us”. Ms. Lottie Mae recalls as a small child that her grandmother Mary was living with them in Morven, North Carolina. Her description of grandmother Mary is a tall thin brown skin woman. Mary Sturdivant was buried in Morven, North Carolina. Arnie and Florrie Sturdivant along with their children moved to South Hill, Virginia in 1941. Arnie Sturdivant died June 1971 and his wife Florrie Sturdivant died in October 1979 in Mecklenburg County VA. Edward Sturdivant is buried in South Hill, Virginia and his wife Agnes died in 1967.

Father: Arnie Sturdivant Mother: Florrie Sturdivant

Martha Ann Sturdivant

Fannie Bell Sturdivant

Ardine Sturdivant

Ed Sturdivant

Carrie Sturdivant

Arlene Sturdivant

Arnie Sturdivant

Lottie Mae Sturdivant

Marry Sturdivant

Today the Luke and Mary Sturdivant family roots have branch out in many areas of Virginia, North Carolina and other states.