RICHARD SMALLWOOD --- THE HAYTI - DURHAM NC CONNECTION
Written by Denise Hester

Gospel legend Richard Smallwood is known the world over for his prolific musical creations and his mesmerizing performances. But what is less known is his connection to Hayti and his Durham relatives, one of whom is his cousin Denise Hester.

Richard Smallwood’s mother, Mable Ruth Locklear Smallwood, was born in Durham County to Richard and Nellie Weaver Locklear.

They, along with other family members, left the Cain Plantation (Hardscrabble as it was known then) in Orange County and settled in the bustling Hayti community.

Residential addresses included 105 E. Piedmont Avenue and 203 Enterprise Street taken from the Hills Directory of Durham in the 1920’s.

An only child born n 1915, cousin Mable grew up in a loving Christian family and graduated from Hillside High School before marrying Rev. Chester Smallwood and moving to Washington DC in 1934.

The family tree from Cain Plantation days goes back as far as we can tell to Jack Cain who was 102 years old in the 1870 census.
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From there the tree branches with common ancestors with a variety of relationships. To make it make sense, we all called each other “cousin” no matter how close or distant the relationship.

Mable Smallwood’s other family members living in Durham included her grandmother Annie Weaver, aunt Viola Weaver (Nellie’s sister) and Winnie Weaver (Annie’s sister).

Older ancestors included Sally Weaver and David Weaver who are buried in Geer Cemetery along with Annie.

Denise Hester’s family tree is descended from Winnie Weaver aka Winnie Cain (Denise’s great great grandmother). Her children were Lula Cain Banks, Bessie Cain and Octavious (O. C. Cain).

Lula’s children were Bessie Banks Allison and Rivers Banks.
Bessie’s children were Olivia Clements Weaver (Denise’s mother) and Robert Clements (Denise’s uncle) and cousins Michael Clements and Robert D Clements.

Even after leaving Durham, Mable and Richard visited often and Richard has performed many times in Durham.