James Max Dondeville, third of four children of August Dondeville and Alice Morgan, was born October 9, 1891 in St. Louis, Missouri. Following his schooling he worked for his brother, Clement, as a painter. It is likely that he was in the service during World War I. James married Jimmie Sieve Kernoodle in the early 1920's when she was 15 years of age. A son, James Max Jr. was born August 7, 1925. A second son, Eugene, was born September 16, 1927. James and Jimmie were divorced in 1928.

In 1930, Jimmie was living alone in Memphis and working as a waitress at a cafe. James married a second time to Madeleine, born June 31, 1910, whose maiden name is unknown. They had two daughters, Royce Ann and Betty Lee. James Max Dondeville, Jr. married Ella Katherine Vickery on May 29, 1948. They had three children: Paula Ruth born January 18, 1953; Jimmie Faye, born August 1, 1955; and David Van born October 19, 1957. James Max Jr. died in December 1958.

Eugene Dondeville was a technical sergeant in the Army. He married Maria Anna and lived in Pahokee, Florida where his mother, then Mrs. Jimmie Stuckey resided. Eugene died, at age 31,on January 8, 1959, while stationed in Athens, Greece. He was reportedly depressed over the death of is brother the previous October. Both sons predeceased their father. James Sr. died on March 30, 1959 at Kennedy Veterans Hospital. His first wife, Jimmie Stuckey, died in August 1978. Madeleine died June 15, 1990.

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