Palma Lashley’s family background is fairly well documented. Born 20, August 1885, her parents were Edmund (or Edmond) Lashley, a farmer, and Mary Lorena Bullard.
Palma was the second of six children. She attended at least some school, and consistently reported herself as able to read and write on censuses.
Palma married Hiram Bembry on 5 Sep 1905, shortly after her twentieth birthday. They had ten children: seven boys, and three girls: Edgar, Maggie, Jessie Mae, Willard, John Allen, Payton, Marvin (Shug), Henry, Evelyn Lois, and Hiram Jr.
Jessie Mae and Evelyn died as babies. A son, Willard, also died young along with his wife, and Palma raised their two young children as her own.
Hiram died in 1940, but Palma lived to be 73 years old, passing away in 1958. She was greatly loved and respected by all her children and grandchildren, many of whom attended her funeral.
Palma is buried in Geiger Cemetery, just west of Jasper, along with her husband and five of her children.
A Long Way to Tennessee 