Singleton and Related Genealogy Pages
A history of many families.
1955 - 2024 (68 years)| Name | Ralph Justice OXENDINE [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13] | |
| Birth | 1 Feb 1955 | Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina  [5, 6] |
| Gender | Male | |
| HIST | of Sumter, South Carolina Mandy Oxendine Chapman has always been proud of her heritage and she should be. One speaking with her sees that it gives her strength, fortitude and wisdom. Now, the second chief of the Sumter Band of Cheraw Indians is looking to share that heritage with others. • “We’ve been here over 200 years, and we are of Indian descent and have known it for a really long time,” she said. “It’s just that no one’s ever organized it before.” • According to records the Oxendine family settled in the Stateburg-Dalzell area at the behest of Gen. Thomas Sumter. • “Our people pulled away from the Cheraw tribe in North Carolina at the invitation of Gen. Thomas Sumter,” Chapman said. “They had served as scouts in the (Revolutionary) war, they worked hard and were honorable.” • But over time, many of the tribe’s ancestors became known not as Native Americans, but as Turks, a distinction which continues to the present day. • “I’ve read so many stories about that part of our family,” Chapman said. “You can look and see 10 different versions, and I suppose it is kind of interesing for an Arabic man to be hanging out with a tribe of Indians. This still remains a mystery to me.” • Chapman and her cousin, Claudia Benenhaley Gainey, said that while Joseph Benenhaley many have been of Turkish descent, “one man does not make a bloodline.” • “I always felt that I was not a Turk,” Gainey, an officer of the tribe, said. “My family would always get together and, the things that we were doing, I don’t know what they were doing in Turkey, but I doubt they sit around and bead or weave baskets, I don’t know that.” • Gainey said something felt out of place until she attended her first powwow, a traditional American Indian ceremony, gathering or fair, which usually includes ceremonial or competitive dancing. • “I heard the drums and I knew where I belonged,” she said. “I knew that was my heritage. I finally belonged, and I want the whole world to know that I am so proud.” • Annie Mae Oxendine Miller, an elder of the Sumter Band of Cheraw Indians, said that being called a Turk brought about many prejudices when she was a young girl who attended the now-defunct Dalzell School for Turks. • “We’d be given land, and the white people would come along and take it from us,” she said. “We’d go into town, and they wouldn’t even let us sit at counters at places like Kress’s. we weren’t able to drink out of fountains.” • Ralph Justice Oxendine, chief of the Sumter Band of Cheraw Indians, said even Turkish visitors are confused by the distinction. “There was someone from Turkey that came down to see how Americans lived,” he said. “He said there was nothing here that connected to their culture.” • But while the tribe members are very proud of their culture, no one disparaged those of Turkish descent who might be living in the area. • “If there was any Arabic blood, I’m not aware of it,” Chapman said. “But if there is, I’m not ashamed of that. Our Indian heritage is the main concern in this tribe.” • And that tribe is growing and is open to all people of Indian descent. • “We’re not here to turn away anybody,” Chapman said. “Our only criteria is that they be a descendent of one who attended that Dalzell school.” • And with more than 100 people enrolled in the tribe at present, Chapman added that the tribe is working on gaining state recognition in South Carolina. The Waccamaw Indians were the first tribe to be recognized by the state in 2005. The process requires family trees on every tribe member as well as proof of bloodlines. • “There’s a lot of paperwork to it,” Chapman said. “You just have to document everything. But as far as us going through the state recognition process, we’re working towards that. We will get it, but it’s not the main objective.” • Indeed, Chapman reiterated many times that the main objective is to preserve a culture that might otherwise be lost. • “The biggest thing is, with or without recognition, Sumter needs to recognize that we’re not Turks,” Chapman said. “We’re Native American Indians, and we’re very proud of that heritage.” • But sharing the heritage with the public isn’t the only goal; Chapman and other tribe members are also concerned with their descendants knowing who they are. Frequently, tribe members get together and bead and work on other cultural activities. Most recently, the tribe invited some drummers down to work with some of the young men. • “We want our future children to know their heritage,” she said. “It’s that culture that we need to carry on. We can’t let our ancestors down like that. We’re not doing it for any other reason but that it’s our heritage, and we are proud to know we are of Indian descent. This should make anyone proud. Our Indian ancestors fought for this country, and now we must fight to keep a culture that is dying alive. It’s time that Sumter realizes who we are.” He is chief of the Sumter Band of Cheraw Indians. The bus is set to leave early this morning, and Mandy Oxendine Chapman hopes it’s full. She also hopes the trip the bus is making to Columbia will be worthwhile. • Chapman, second chief of the Sumter Band of Cheraw Indians, and others are meeting with the state Commission for Minority Affairs to seek formal recognition for the tribe. • Though known by some locally as Turks, many who have been given that moniker say it’s undeserved and have sought recognition as American Indians, the heritage they say is rightfully theirs. • “Our people have lived in Sumter, I would say, probably before any white person was ever here,” Chapman said. • Chapman said because American Indians have experienced a long history of mistreatment over the years, many are afraid to even claim their heritage. But she guesses there are as many as 10,000 to 15,000 Indians living in the surrounding area. • Chapman and others who not only claim but boast their Indian heritage have been seeing formal recognition for a year or more. But it’s been a rough battle, Chapman said, noting that South Carolina only formally recognized its first American Indian tribe in 2005. • We’re going on a monumental meeting tomorrow for it,” she said Wednesday. • The trip has been dubbed “the ride for pride,” Chapman said. She hopes to have a group of 50 or more accompany her to the Commission for Minority Affairs on North Main Street in the state’s capital. • Though formal recognition will only be tangible in the form of a piece of paper, Chapman said the piece of paper in important to the tribe for what it signifies. She said she hopes it would enable others to come forward and join the tribe. • The bus is leaving at 8:30 a.m. from the Salvation Army at 16 Kendrick St. for the meeting that starts at 10 a.m. • For more information, call Chapman at (803) 506-3171 or go online to visit the group at Meet Sumter's Cheraw Indians Tribe to host outdoor program at museum George Truesdale, vice chief of the Sumter Tribe of Cheraw Indians, will be on hand for the tribe's meet and greet at the museum on Nov. 8. Posted: Sunday, November 2, 2014 6:00 am BY IVY MOORE IVY@THEITEM.COM SUMTER TRIBE OF CHERAW INDIANS MEET AND GREET WHEN: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Nov. 8 WHERE: Sumter County Museum 122 N. Washington St. COST: Free PHONE: (803) 775-0908 #widget_detail_floated The Sumter Tribe of Cheraw Indians will present a Native American demonstration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Sumter County Museum. "November is Native American Heritage Month, so we wanted to take this time to reconnect with the community," said Tammy Ray Stevens, who with Julie Watts organized the event titled Keeping Traditions Alive: Sumter Tribe of Cheraw Indians Meet and Greet. Both Chief Ralph Oxendine and Vice Chief George Truesdale will be present for the program. "Many members of the tribe and from the tribal council will also be present," Watts said, "and we've invited other tribes to join us." Stevens added, "We're looking forward to meeting and interacting with people who come out." "We want to reach out to the community, especially to young people," Watts said. During the event, the tribe will present several demonstrations of Native American crafts and traditions and will have a display of artifacts. Some native items will be available for purchase. In addition to the noon performance by Doug Carter and his dancers, all in full native regalia, there will be flute music and traditional storytelling by Itaska Walker. "She's very animated and talented," Watts said. "She will tell traditional Native American stories." Displays include regalia, pottery, walking sticks, smudging bowls, turtle bags and other objects used by tribe members. "We'll have demonstrations and displays that appeal to all five senses," Watts said. "We will be cooking and serving fry bread, which is a traditional native dish," Stevens said. There will also be a make-and-take for children. Watts said tribe members will assist participants in making "Native American-style leather, beaded necklaces and dream catchers they will be able to take home with them. "During the final half hour of the program, Doug Carter and tribe members will have a crowd-participation dance, called a Friendship Dance, when we invite anyone to dance with us." Throughout the day, Stevens said, there will be raffles of both Native American objects and other items, including tickets to a USC football game. In addition to November's being Native American Heritage Month, Nov. 22 is the first anniversary of the date the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs Board of Commissioners officially granted state recognition to the Sumter Tribe of Cheraw Indians, making them South Carolina's 8th State Recognized Tribe. The tribe submitted an approximately 1,500-page petition in September 2012 to the S.C. Commission for Minority Affairs after several attempts to gain the recognition over many years. The petition was reviewed by the State Recognition Committee and was given a favorable report in December 2012. The report was reviewed by the Board of Commissioners of the S.C. Commission for Minority Affairs and accepted in August 2013. Visitors to the meet and greet will be able to view both the petition and the proclamation of state recognition during Saturday's program. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend. RALPH JUSTICE OXENDINE Posted Tuesday, January 9, 2024 6:00 am Ralph Justice Oxendine, 68, died on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at the home of his daughter. Born on Feb. 1, 1955, in Sumter, he was a son of the late Annie Mae Oxendine Miller. Ralph was a member of the Salvation Army Church and Green Acres Assembly of God. He was an ordained minister and a faithful servant of God. He had a love for street ministry and led many to know Jesus as their personal Savior. He was a carpenter and retired owner of New Tech Concrete. He served as the chief for the Sumter tribe of Cheraw Indians. Survivors include three daughters, Shannon Hodge (Bryan), Crystal Brown (Wilbur) and Rebekah Ardis (LeVon); eight grandchildren, Brooke Mayfield, Brandy Mayfield, Matthew Hodge, Jacob Hodge, Noah Hodge, Jackson Brown, Madison Ardis and Mason Ardis; three great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Sherry Oxendine, Luann Oxendine Holliday and Mandy Oxendine. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Ronnie Oxendine and Scottie Oxendine; and a sister, Angela Oxendine. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at Green Acres Assembly of God with the Rev. Mark Huggins and the Rev. Michael Bowman officiating. Burial will be in the Green Acres Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Matthew Hodge, Jacob Hodge, Noah Hodge, Stan Rawls, Daren Alvin Holliday Jr., Dillon Chapman and LeVon Ardis. Honorary pallbearers will be Harrison Oxendine, H.E. Floyd, Paul Hansen, Phil Hansen, Cecil Oxendine Jr. and Michael McCoy. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday at Green Acres Assembly of God and other times at the home of his daughter, Rebekah, 221 Church St., and at the home of his daughter, Shannon, 1734 Clover St. The family would like to thank the staff of Agape Hospice for their loving care and compassion. Memorials may be made to Green Acres Assembly of God, 537 Lewis Road, Sumter, SC 29154. Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements. [2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 13] | |
| _UID | 895D48C52218496D8BE94EAB2071DEECABA0 | |
| Death | 7 Jan 2024 | at the home of his daughter, (Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina) |
| Burial | 11 Jan 2024 | Green Acres Assembly of God Church Cemetery, 537 Lewis Road, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina [13] |
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| Person ID | I81888 | Singleton and Related Families |
| Last Modified | 9 Jan 2024 | |
| Father | Leverne BENENHALEY d. Bef 29 Oct 2005 | |
| Mother | Annie Mae OXENDINE, b. 25 Oct 1937, Sumter County, South Carolina d. 13 Dec 2012, Tuomey Regional Medical Center, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina (Age 75 years) | |
| _UID | E1C74B99A43D4E3A9914FCBF783F589804D9 | |
| _UID | E1C74B99A43D4E3A9914FCBF783F589804D9 | |
| Family ID | F18897 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family 1 | Carol Grace HANSEN | |||||||
| Marriage | 14 May 1982 | Sumter County, South Carolina [14] |
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| _UID | FFB33CF70E3B4A048CE04A80C12D8F9ECD7C | |||||||
| _UID | FFB33CF70E3B4A048CE04A80C12D8F9ECD7C | |||||||
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| Family ID | F56911 | Group Sheet | Family Chart | ||||||
| Last Modified | 9 Jan 2024 | |||||||
| Family 2 | Brenda Kaye ROBERTS | |
| Marriage | 18 Oct 1997 | Sumter County, South Carolina [14] |
| _UID | 14F57CC534324182A8CA9B1C59479FE0BB61 | |
| _UID | 14F57CC534324182A8CA9B1C59479FE0BB61 | |
| Family ID | F86202 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified | 11 Jun 2004 | |
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