Winnie J. Sumner Reeves

Winnie Jane was born a slave to Dred and Caroline Foreman. She married Benjamin Sumner and later divorced him. She married noted U.S. deputy marshal Bass Reeves on Jan. 14, 1900 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Bass died shortly before their anniversary in 1910. In April, the U.S. census enumerator Augustus C. Spahn (Alice Reeves' husband) reported five Black adults and one child rooming in Winnie's new boarding house. By 1913, Winnie was living in Los Angeles, when Bass' will was probated. She passed away on April 25, 1918 and services were held the next day at the Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

Winnie Reeves, Widow of Bass was listed as living at 2126 East First in 1912 Los Angeles, California, City Directory.

Winnie's children with Benjamin Sumner.

Rosa Sumner (1876-1950) She married Moses Westbrooks and appears in Los Angeles, CA in the 1920 Census. Interestingly, her son Oliver named Bass Reeves as her father on her death certificate. See her findagrave.com page.

Sylvester Sumner, Born 1879. He married Mary Mackey on Sept. 26, 1906 in Muskogee, OK. Like many Muskogeams, he worked for the railroad.

Charles Sumner, Born 1885

Estella Sumner, Born 1888 in Kansas. Apparently in the 1930 Census, she is the Stella Rayford living with her sister Rosa. She gave different birth years until death on Mar. 31, 1966 in L.A.

Estella wed Louie Rayford on Nov. 24, 1920 in L.A., California. It's significant that she stated on her marriage license that her father Ben Sumner was born in Texas like Bass Reeves.

Ben Sumner, Born 1890 in Kansas.

The tombstone photo and burial details at Evergreen Cemetery Los Angeles, CA (Cemetery ID: 7964) were supplied through the generosity of Pam (48523084)
.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/218711935/winnie_jane_foreman_s...