Albert McLeod Bethune (1899-1989)

Top image: Portrait on a postcard of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and Albertus Bethune 's son.
Albert McLeod Bethune at time of this photograph it's recorded that he was 15 years old.
He was born in 1899 and died in 1989.

Jungle Photography Studio, Daytona, Fla.

Source: Bethune-Cookman University Photograph Collection

Description:
A black and white image printed on a postcard of Mary McLeod Bethune's son, Albert McLeod Bethune, at age 15.

He was born in 1899 and died in 1989. In this image, he is sitting on a two-sided chair and has folded his arms on the arm of the chair, legs crossed. He appears to be wearing a military uniform or costume. On his hat are two gun-like symbols which are crossing over each other. He is wearing boots.
A ring can be seen on his left hand ring finger. On the front of the image is embossed, "Jungle Studio, Daytona, Fla."

On the back of the image is printed "Post Card," "Correspondence Here," "Name and Address Here," as well as a place for a postage stamp. Written on the back in pencil is "Mary McLeod Bethune's son at age 15, 1913."

Also written on the back is the name "Albert" in cursive and underlined, which, after careful analysis of Mary McLeod Bethune's known samples of handwriting, seems to have been written by Dr. Bethune herself.
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Bottom image: Portrait of Albert McLeod Bethune, Sr.,
year unknown, before 1989.

Description: A portrait of Albert McLeod Bethune, Sr., which is housed at the Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, located at 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Albert Bethune was the only child of Albertus Bethune and Dr. Mary Jane McLeod Bethune. He was born on February 3, 1899, and served in the United States Army during World War I, when he was a young adult.
Albert Bethune was one of the first students at his mother's school, after it merged with the Cookman Institute in 1923. He later went to the Haines Institute in Augusta, Georgia. Albert then became the owner and operator of Bethune Funeral Home for 25 years. He was also a retired coordinator of vocational services at Bethune-Cookman College (B-CC). He died on October 31, 1989.

Source: Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation Collection, Daytona Beach Collection, Volusia County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida

-NOTE: We have found Albert being married but there are two different names and years. It appears he was married at least twice. We found information about his marriage to Ellita I. Blantyer in 1921, and we found a marriage to Margaret Johnson, married 1 May 1933 (to Apr 1956) in Flagler, Florida.
-End Note-

When Albert McLeod Bethune Sr was born on 3 February 1899, in Savannah, Chatham, Georgia, United States, his father, Albertus Bethune, was 28 and his mother, Mary Jane McLeod, was 23.

He married Ellita I Blantyre on 27 April 1921, in Volusia, Florida, United States.

They were the parents of five children:

1- Albert McLeod Bethune, Jr. (November 14, 1921 - February 14, 2018)

2 - Dr. Evelyn McLeod Bethune

3 - Hobson McLeod Bethune, Sr. (Mstr. Gny. Sgt. ret. U.S. Marine Corps)

4 - Robert McLeod Bethune

5 - Sara C. Bethune

These grandchildren have given Dr. Bethune 17 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren (as of 2007).

He lived in Daytona Beach, Volusia, Florida, United States in 1935 and Election Precinct 8D Daytona Beach, Volusia, Florida, United States in 1940.

He registered for military service in 1917. He died on 31 October 1989, in Volusia, Florida, United States, at the age of 90.