George William Worsham & Annie Mae Williams (Page 586)

1.  George William Worsham b abt 1872 of St. Charles, MO md Annie Mae Williams. Descendants lived in St. Charles, MO & Audrain Co., MO.

Henry Worsham & Hyacinthe Armide DeVillier (Pages 587-590)

1.  Henry Worsham b abt 1796 VA md Hyacinthe Armide DeVillier 2 Apr 1821 Iberville Parish, LA. He died 1 Oct 1859. Descendants lived in Iberville Parish, LA.  Henry Worsham is listed on the 1830 Iberville Parish, LA Census as Henry Wisham. Judy Riffel found a baptismal certificate for Henry in Louisiana. He had converted to Catholicism. The certificate states that his parents were Essex Worsham and Elizabeth Dunivant. (Information from Judy Riffel, the author of Iberville Parish History, via James Noel Worsham.)  A 29 Mar. 1905 letter from Sallie A. Worsham states Henry is a son of Essex: "His son, Henry, went to Louisiana, married and made his home there. I don’t know whom he married." (Pam Heaton, 2001)  See Page 280 for the family of Essex Worsham (1.5.4.1.4.) & Elizabeth Dunnavant.

Henry Edward Worsham & Margaret Garrett (Pages 591-592)

Henry Edward b 1820 VA md Margaret Garrett 24 May 1854 McDonough Co., IL. He d 29 Feb 1872 Rushville, Schuyler, IL. Descendants lived in Schuyler Co., IL; & Ventura Co., CA.

1A.1.3. Allen R. Worsham b Feb 1882 of Carroll, IA & d 2 Dec 1952 of Perkins, SD. Allen md 1st) Olive J. b abt 1885 of Perkins, SD.  He md 2nd) Mary Anna Simones b 4 Oct 1882 MN & d 4 Mar 1963 Kalispell, Flathead, MT.  Mary md 1st) John R. Sauser. Children of Allen & Olive Worsham are:

1.6.2 change to 1B.6.2 Herbert Theodore Worsham b. 18 Aug 1896 of Schuyler Co, IL, d. 18 Sep 1972 Potter Co, TX.(13-1910) He md. Ava Mildred Kenney. Children: Branch Kenney Worsham, Bill Worsham, Virgil Don W. Worsham, Roena Belle Worsham. (Mark S. Cramer, 2000)

1B.5.2. Charles Everett Worsham b. 8 Oct 1903 md. Elaine Jennings.  "Elaine Worsham, known simply as "Grandma" to the Worsham & Fink Funny Car team and most others in the NHRA Pro pit area, is no ordinary crew person, and it's not her gender that makes her special, because there are plenty of women in drag racing.  77 years young, going strong.  What makes Elaine special is that she recently celebrated her 77th birthday, and took time on that day reflect on the last few years while looking forward to the future. As the grandmother of Funny Car driver Del Worsham, and the mother of team crew chief and owner Chuck Worsham, "Grandma" might be one of the most active 77-year old women in America.  Grandma Worsham, you see, has attended every NHRA race but one since her retirement from California state government in 1994, and this woman, who flies or drives by herself to nearly every race, had a good excuse for that one." http://www.usnationals.com/news/USN_199808240731.asp, 1999

1B.5.2.1. Charles Everett Worsham "Chuck" b. 17 Sep 1949 Los Angeles Co, CA.  Chuck's md. Whitting.  They lived in Los Angeles and Orange Co., CA

 

 

 

1B.5.2.1. Delbert C. Worsham "Del"  b. 11 Feb 1970 Los Angeles Co, CA.  Del became a famous race car driver.  The following is from the Del Worsham Home page, 1999 " Picture this scenario, if you will:  The young son of a Southern California hot rodder who'd grown up in the midst of drag racing's explosive birth and development, spends his preteen summers dividing his time between days by his father's side at the drag strip and endless hours making jumps and tricks on his BMX bicycle.  With long sandy blonde hair and an adventurous streak running through his spirit, the "Kid From The Coast" entered his teenage years as part racing wrench and part BMX prodigy.  When residents of 49 other American states think of growing up in Southern California, they may unwittingly draw a picture of a young Del Worsham in their minds."

"Del's father, Chuck Worsham, grew up smack in the middle of drag racing's glorious beginnings, and although he worked hard at a "full time job" as a concrete contractor, Chuck's passion was race cars, and Funny Cars in particular.  Chuck added the role of "father" in 1970 when Del was born, and became a car owner by 1978, with his legendary "Screamer" Funny Car.  By the age of 13, young Del could build a complete Funny Car motor by himself and was a veteran frequent flyer as he jetted to races after school ended on Friday and often went straight from the airport to class on Monday."

"By the mid-teenage years, as the Funny Car operation developed into more of a vocation than a hobby, Chuck and Del Worsham faced a crossroads.  Though he was barely old enough to have a driver's license, Del was looking at an adult-sized career choice.  He could follow what looked to be a very promising "World-Class" BMX career, or he could go racing with his dad.  Let's go racing!"

"It was 1989 when Chuck Worsham took his Screamer Funny Car and made the move to Nitromethane power.  Del was in his 5th year as a full-time crew member, was 19 years old, and was itching to drive.  A year later, when Chuck Worsham and driver Art Hendey decided to head in different directions, a replacement driver was easy to find.  Of course, young Del Worsham would first have to get licensed.  And since Del Worsham had never driven any other form of drag racing vehicle, he knew he was jumping straight into the deep end."

"There I was, just a 20 year old kid at the Dallas Motorplex, and I needed two pro drivers to watch me run and sign off on my license.  Why mess around?  I marched right over and asked Kenny Bernstein and Don Prudhomme!  It was actually a huge thrill for me to have those two legends at my licensing test."

"Most people start out drag racing in slower cars, and work their way up to faster and faster speeds.  You can't do that with a Nitro Funny Car, they kind of only have two speeds:  Flat out, pulling 5 g's, or stopped.  So, instead of working my way up speed-wise, we worked my way up distance-wise.  I learned how to do a burnout, how to stage, then went 60', then 100', then 300', and so on.  By my first full pass, I was getting pretty comfortable."

"After a "get your feet wet" debut at 1990's final race, Del Worsham began his career as a professional drag racer in 1991, with a goal of running the full season in his dad's Nitro Funny Car while being, at the least, competitive against the veteran drivers in the class.  Seven races into his career, history was made.  Del Worsham won the Southern Nationals in Atlanta, becoming the youngest driver to ever win a Funny Car trophy.  Less than three months later, in Englishtown, he did it again!  By season's end "The Kid From The Coast" had finished an amazing 6th in Winston points, and was named NHRA Rookie Of The Year."

"Although he didn't win any races in 1992, Del moved up higher in the points as the team developed consistency, finishing with a #4 spot on the podium.  In 1993 and 1994, Del spent some time driving Roger Primm's Top Fuel Dragster, and suffered through his career low point when a serious engine fire in 1994 left him with burns on his hands and a 12-week recuperation."

  "The Worsham team ran as independents through 1996, and established a reputation as a fan friendly team who could run with the "big boys" on a much smaller budget.  Those years of hard work and dedication paid off in 1997, as Checker-Schuck's-Kragen Auto Parts came aboard as the Worsham family's first full primary sponsor.  Del knew it was another major turning point in his already stellar career. "

"Since I first got in the car, I knew I wanted to do this for a living.  And we loved being independents, doing it solely for the love of the sport and for ourselves.  But my dad and I also knew it was really impossible to run as well as we wanted to, even with the support of our longtime backers Auburn Foundry, Texas Stagecoach, NLM Electrical and others.   Those guys, John Fink, Frank Gilchrist, and Nick Puglisi and all of our friends who have contributed, were really like part of the family by then.    We all had a goal to win a championship and knew we'd need a company that could believe in a group like our's, and want to be our partners in this thing.  With Checker-Schuck's-Kragen, we found that company.  Nothing has really been quite the same since.  We're still a very tight knit group, with the same people around, but we've got great partners at CSK, who help us help them.  Right now, my dad and I are kind of right in the middle of what we always wanted to be."

"In 1998, Del came within one lap of finding his way back into Victory Circle, when he lost in the Final Round of the Fram Route 66 Nationals in Chicago.  But that highlight was just part of a year that saw Del earn his way back into the Winston Top 10, even though the competition in the Funny Car class is at an all-time high.  "You used to be able to finish in the Winston Top 10 by just showing up and racing every week.  Now, at every race at least a couple of big time cars don't qualify.  It's really tough out there, to get in the show and to win rounds."

"The stroll across the Award Ceremony stage to accept his 1998 #10 finish was a thrill for Del, but couldn't match the surprise and emotion felt just a few moments later when the Worsham Family was named winners of the 1998 Blaine Johnson Award, annually presented to the racer or family who show the most dedication, perseverance, and family values.  The roaring standing ovation from the NHRA crowd said it all, as Del, his father and best friend Chuck, and Elaine "Grandma" Worsham accepted their award."

"With "The Kid From The Coast" behind the wheel, dad tuning the motor, Grandma keeping the stats, and a close group of friends and partners working endless hours in the pursuit of speed, this has been and will continue to be one great  California Dream!"

1B.5.2.1. Susan J. Worsham

1B.5.2.2. Sandra Suzanne Worsham