Dennis and Delsie remained in Pike County. I have looked for the 1920 Federal census record but have not found the record that enumerated Dennis Bearden and his wife. Dennis' death certificate has been located. He died on April 27,1928 the recorded age was 100 and the cause of death was old age. From prior census records, Dennis was 88 years old when he died. His employer was J A Wilkerson and he worked probably as a sharecropper farmer at the time of his death.
The 1930 Federal census record that enumerated Delsie Bearden has not been found.
In the April 3, 1940 Federal census, Delsie is enumerated with Rachel Sartin who was single and the head of household in a rented rural area in Lawrence County, Mississippi. Delsie Bearden a widow is not recorded as related to Rachel. Rachel Sartin was enumerated with Dennis and Delsie in the 1910 Federal census as a widow "hired girl" with no children at 39 years old. The 1940 census provides unique information. There is an "x" in a circle which identifies who gave the information to the enumerator census taker. Rachel provided the information. The 1940 census also identified where individuals lived on April 1, 1935. Both Delsie and Rachel lived in the same location. The letter "R" was used to identify if individuals lived in a city of town with less than 2,500 people. There was no occupation or work history recorded for both of them and income was zero.
Their ages were recorded Rachel 72 and Delsie 114 years old (actual 94) were old women living during the Great Depression. Delsie had adult living children who probably provided some financial help. Neither of these women received Social Security because it was not available for farmers at that time.
Delsie Holmes Bearden died on April 19, 1940 in Jayess, Lawrence County, Mississippi just a few days after the census was taken.
----The Tree Gardener
