Vital Family Records

Zodis Brazil (Joe's brother) lived at 17531 Cherrylawn St, Detroit, MI, 48221-2507 in 1983. He died in 1998.

In 1940, Joe (11) lived with his brother Zodis (14), mother Ida (34), and maternal grandfather Harrison Hill (72) at 5947 Rivard Street in Detroit. Joe's father Hilliard (43) lived alone at 536 Holbrook Avenue and worked as a chipper at Dodge Bros (source: 1940 Census).

In 1931 a Mrs. Ida Brazil lived at 1025 Adelaide, Detroit MI (source: City Directory)

In 1930, Moses Brazil (20) (Joe's uncle) lived with wife Trulia (19), daughter Dolores (7 mo), mother Mary (50), and brother Hilliard (33) (Joe's father) at 13526 Lumpkin Street, Detroit, MI (source: 1930 Census)

Zodis Brazil was born 6 May 1924 in Georgia. Joe was born 25 Aug 1927 in Detroit so their mother must have moved from Georgia to Detroit between 1924 and 1927. 

Joe's parents, Hilliard Brazil and Ida Hill lived on farms in adjacent counties in Georgia about half way between Savannah and Atlanta, just south of the path that General Sherman took on his March to the Sea during the Civil War.

Hilliard Brazil married Ida Hill ?? Dec 1926 and divorced 1 Apr 1940 in Wayne, MI (source: Michigan Divorce Records).

A gravestone for Mrs. Ida Breazeal in Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery in Laurens County, GA lists a death date of 12 Oct 1951.

Hilliard Brazil was born 6 Sep 1895 in Georgia, and died 13 Mar 1980 in Oakland, CA. His mother's maiden name was Hardy (source: California Death Index).

A Hilyard Brazeal born 6 Sep 1895 registered for the US WWI draft on 25 Jun 1917 in Montrose, Laurens County, GA. His father is listed as Charlie Brazeal (source: US Draft Registration Card)

Hilliard Brazil was enlisted in the US Army 22 Aug 1918 and released 10 Dec 1918 (source: Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death Files).

Hilliard Brazil living at 536 Holbrook registered for the US WWII draft 27 Apr 1942 in Detroit, MI (source: US Draft Registration Card).

Charlie Brazeal married Mary Lou Hardy on 11 Jul 1893 in Laurens County, GA.

Charlie Brazeal (born Jun 1869) lived with his wife Mary Lou (born Jul 1872), daughter Queen (born 1894), son Hilliard (born Sep 1894), and son Isaac (born Apr 1900) lived next door to Charlie Hardy (born Jul 1845), wife Jane (born Jun 1854), daughter Anne (born Mar 1882), daughter Arlisie (born Mar 1882), son Oscar (born Oct 1887), and daughter Meula (born x 1891) in the Harvard District, Laurens County, GA (source: 1900 Census).

Charlie Brazeal (40) lived with his wife Mary L. (34), daughters Queen (16), Mary L. (8), and sons Hillard (14), Moses (5) in Harvard, Laurens County, GA (source: 1910 Census)

Charlie Brazeal (born 22 Jul 1878) registered for the WWI draft on 17 Sep 1918. He lived at 708 Decater, Dublin, Laurens County, GA. His occupation was Yard Man at a Power Plant. His nearest relative was Annie Lee Brazeal (source: US Draft Registration Card).

A Charlie Brazeal (born May 1877) lived next door to a farmhouse of 7 Brazeals (3 generations) in Hampton Mill, Laurens County, GA (source: 1900 Census).

In 1910, a Charlie Brazeal (28), wife Lou (25), and daughter Annie Lee (6) lived in Toombsboro, GA (Wilkenson County) (source: 1910 Census).

In 1940, a Charlie Brazil (58) and wife Lena (45) lived on Decatur Street, Dublin, GA (Laurens County). Charlie is listed as a laborer at a rim factory (source: 1940 Census)

A Charlie Brazeal died 8 Mar 1969 in Laurens, GA. A gravestone says he was born in 1875.

In 1880, Harrison Hill (17) (Joe's maternal grandfather) lived with his father John (57), mother Bettie (52), brother Jack (20), and brother Monroe (14) on a rented farm in Bluff, Twiggs County, Georgia (source: 1880 Census).

In 1910, Harrison Hill (45), wife Mariah (42), their daughters Bessie (20), Daisy (14), Bettie (11), Ida (9), Bertha (7), and sons Burke (19), Holliman (17), Freddie (16), Harrison Jr. (12), John (4), Albert (2) lived on a farm in McDonalds, Twiggs County, Georgia (source 1910 Census).

Gravestone