Ulyss and Pearl Caine Holliman and their Descendants

by Glenn N. Holliman

Homer Bishop Holliman, 1919

the Fifth Child of Ulyss and Pearl Caine Holliman

As the war came to a close, Bishop Holliman wed the girl, Geraldine Stansbery, whom he had met while on liberty in Philadelphia in 1942.  They kept in touch, and on June 26, 1945,  married in Philadelphia.  When Japan surrendered, Bishop was discharged and in September 1945, he returned to Birmingham-Southern College.  As with millions of others, he used the G.I. Bill to pay for his education and support the family.  Government subsidized housing in Elyton Village near 'Southern' provided shelter as Gerry and Bishop established their family. Bishop in 1947 started teaching at David Lipscomb Junior High. Later he taught history at the new Shades Valley High School, and in summers earned a M.Ed. from the University of Alabama.

Above, Bishop had a new wife and an old car, a 1937 Chevrolet in 1946.  Thirteen million soldiers came home, restarted their lives and caught up on family life.  Millions of babies were soon born, and the 'Boomer' generation was created.  Over a ten year period, Bishop and Gerry became the parents of three children - Glenn (1946), Becky (1950) and Alice (1956).  

Below, Lula Hocutt Caine was 88 years old when this photograph was made in 1949.  Bishop was 29, and the three year old in the bottom of the picture, was his hyper-active son, Glenn Holliman, born 1946.  Grandma Caine, as she was known, was born in 1861 and lost her own father, Manassetts Hocutt, to the Battle of Stones River in 1863.  Imagine, she lived through the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War before passing away in 1957!

And as did millions of young American families, the Hollimans moved to the suburbs - Trussville, Alabama a few miles north of Irondale in 1950.  Below, Bishop's family in 1951 - a two-bedroom, one bath home now on the Historical Register in Trussville.  The house cost approximately $7,000, or about 7 times the price of a new Plymouth or Ford. 

 In 1951, Bishop Holliman made approximately $1,500 for teaching school.  Over Christmas that year, he worked at the post office and bought the family a Motorola 17 inch, black and white television, for almost $200, a significant portion of his annual income!

The dog in the photo was named Sport, but he came down with mange, and in those days, the skin disease could not be cured.  I remember the police came to the house, took the dog to the back yard behind the garage and shot him.  Mother kept me inside.

Note: The information and opinions expressed in these family biographies are those of the writer alone. Comments, corrections and additions are most welcome. The purpose of these articles is to capture a period and family in American history and to pass this legacy along to future generations who share the common bond of family.

Plan now to attend the Holliman and Associated Families Genealogical Round Table at the Fayette County, Alabama Civic Center, 10 am to 3 pm, Saturday, October 15, 2011. For information and reservations for lunch, contact Glenda Norris at gnorris@bcbsal.org or Glenn Holliman at Glennhistory@gmail.com.  Sessions to include Tracing the Holymans from England to Alabama, Holliman Farm Sites in Fayette County and sharing of information on Associated Families.  All invited, including the Holliman social at the Rose House Inn, Fayette, 5:30 pm to 9 pm, Friday, October 14th.