Henry Clay Burnett's family home near Una in
Antioch, Tennessee
This is the home of my great-grandparents, Henry Clay Burnett 1850-1929 and Willie Dici (Greer) Burnett 1871-1906. That’s Willie sitting on the front porch and her mother, Valeria (Mitchell) Greer 1847-1921 in the yard with Willie’s three children, Robertson, Virginia and the baby, Kate. Willie was born in September 1871 in the Antioch area of Nashville, Tennessee. She married, Henry Clay Burnett on Dec. 24, 1893. Henry was 21-years her senior. He was a widower and already had seven children. Their marriage brought three more kids into the family of which one was my grandfather, Robertson Clay Burnett.
Willie struggled with some unknown demons, ie., depression, etc., and at some point was admitted to the Davidson County Asylum. Her sisters rallied for her release and they succeeded. Upon her emancipation, she ended her own life on Dec. 6, 1906, at the young age of 35. So many advancements have been made in years since in the medical field. Could a depression medication have saved her? We shall never know. I have read about treatments that were administered during this era and they are heartbreaking. The physicians didn't really know what to do with people who had a mental illness.
I am sad for her struggles. Every story can't be a happy one. I only hope she had some happy days in her life and I thank her for giving me, the chance to be me.
