Southern Graves

I'm late to this discussion, but it's one I'd like to join. :-) Terry Thornton at The Graveyard Rabbit of the Hill Country started with Grave Marker Symbols: The Southern Cross of Honor and UCV (link no longer available). Judith Shubert at The Graveyard Rabbit of the Covered Bridges continued with Hood County Texas: C.S.A. Veterans & Southern Cross of Honor Symbol . [UPDATE, 1 June 2009: Judith has moved this post to the blog, Cemeteries with Texas Ties . The link has been corrected to reflect this move. You may also link to her article via her nice comment on this post.] Wikipedia states: The Southern Cross of Honor was a military decoration meant to honor the officers, noncommissioned officers, and privates for their valor in the armed forces of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. It was formally approved by the Congress of the Confederate States on October 13, 1862, and was originally intended to be on par with the Union Arm...

Martha Mills Harp died on this date 91 years ago. She was born 20 December 1845. Martha was buried in Sardis Cemetery ; Bibb County, Georgia. Augusta B. Heard died on this date 53 years ago. She was born 30 November 1866, and she was also buried in Sardis Cemetery. Emma Lou Nash died on this date 32 years ago. She was born 18 October 1900. Emma was buried at Sardis Cemetery as well.

Mrs. Eliza B. R. Mendenhall died on this date 160 years ago. You can learn a little more about her by reading a post from a couple of weeks ago - Mrs. Eliza B. R. Mendenhall and Her Infant Grandson .

Richmond Hezekiah (R. H.) Watson died on this date 95 years ago. He was born 28 July 1839. R. H. was the father of Crawford V. Watson , about whom I wrote a post last month. Father and son were both buried at Magnolia Park Cemetery in Warner Robins, Houston County, Georgia. At the time of both burials, the cemetery was known as the Watson Family Burying Ground, or Watson Cemetery.

Fannie Lou Barton died on this date 41 years ago. She was born 11 September 1877. Fannie was buried in Sardis Cemetery ; Bibb County, Georgia.

Frances E. King died on this date 84 years ago. According to her gravestone, Mrs. King was born 29 April 1839, and was the widow of Lt. James Carswell King. She was buried in Liberty United Methodist Church Cemetery; Bibb County, Georgia. Mrs. Ruby D. Peavy, wife of Edwards Peavy, died on this date 2 years ago. She was born 26 June 1925. Mrs. Peavy was buried in Magnolia Park Cemetery , Warner Robins, Houston County, Georgia. Southern Graves Home

Carlton W. Barton died on this date 80 years ago. He was born 28 February 1868. Mr. Barton was buried in Sardis Cemetery ; Bibb County, Georgia. Poectus L. Self passed away on this date 35 years ago at age 90. Poectus was buried in Magnolia Park Cemetery ; Warner Robins, Houston County, Georgia.

Anna W. Kornahrens Behlmer died 62 years ago on December 4, 1946. She was born 13 October 1872. Mrs. Behlmer was buried in Bethany Cemetery; Charleston, South Carolina. The final words on her gravestone are Auf Wiedersehen (Goodbye).

I have kinfolk from the Stoddard County, Missouri area, and I thought I'd help spread the word... Efforts Underway to Maintain Historic Stoddard County Barn, Cemetery

Eld. Walter J. Heard died on this date 83 years ago. He was born 15 November 1860. Inscribed on his gravestone is the following: "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou has heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." Elder John Thomas Reynolds died on this date 76 years ago. He was born 5 November 1845 and was the husband of Mary Emma. The tombstone he shares with his wife is inscribed with "Bold as a lion and harmless as a dove." Both Mr. Heard and Mr. Reynolds were buried in Sardis Cemetery ; Bibb County, Georgia.

Frank Shave died on this date 53 years ago. He was buried in Magnolia Park Cemetery ; Warner Robins, Houston County, Georgia. His gravestone transcription: Frank H. Shave, Jr. Maryland Sgt -- USAF World War II Mar 31, 1928 - Dec 21, 1955

Once again, the work of a fellow Graveyard Rabbit provides inspiration for a post to this blog. Mr. Morgan at the Central Florida Graveyard Rabbit composed Graveyard Wildlife , an article about an active bald eagle nest in a downtown Orlando cemetery. This reminded me of a visit I made this past summer to Beech Springs Methodist Church Cemetery in Twiggs County, Georgia that had several young wild turkeys running through it. They were hanging around the church sign when I pulled up. I thought they would surely run from me, but they didn't. I took a couple photos before I even stepped out of the car. I even attempted to capture them on video: If my memory had served me better a month ago, this would have been a nice Thanksgiving Day post! *Sigh* I thank Mr. Morgan for reminding me of my own graveyard wildlife, nonetheless. If you are interested in learning more about this Beech Springs Cemetery, seeing more video from the cemetery, and connecting to more burials informati...

Minnie A. Hammock died on this date 49 years ago. She was buried in Liberty United Methodist Church Cemetery; Bibb County, Georgia. Read this blog post for more information about her --> Minnie Lewis Avant Hammock .

If you ever see this emblem on a gravestone, you will know the individual it memorializes was connected to the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, commonly referred to as Shriners. This organization was established in 1870 and is an extension of Freemasonry. All Shriners must be Masons. To learn more, visit the A.A.O.N.M.S. page at Wikipedia or the official web site of the Shriners of North America . Note: The photo is from the gravestone of Thomas Harris Walker (born 16 October 1926, died 30 April 1953) at Magnolia Park Cemetery in Warner Robins, Houston County, Georgia.

Ora Hudson Bryant died on this date 42 years ago. She was born 17 September 1888. Mrs. Bryant was buried in Sardis Cemetery ; Bibb County, Georgia.

C. H. Schlichting Kornahrens died on this date 96 years ago. She was born at Bremervorde, Hannover, Germany 19 January 1849. She died at Summerville, South Carolina and was buried in Bethany Cemetery; Charleston, South Carolina. The photo is of the angel on her tombstone. H. Coburn Chancey died on this date 20 years ago. Coburn was born 10 December 1912 and was buried in Sardis Cemetery ; Bibb County, Georgia.

Mrs. Eliza B. R. Mendenhall died almost 160 years ago on December 29, 1848. She was 67 years of age at the time of her death, so her birth year was about 1781. She, along with her infant grandson John Bruce Limehouse, was interred in St. Philip's Church Cemetery ; Charleston, South Carolina. I love the wording on this stone. In case you cannot read it via the photo, here is a transcription: This marble marks the spot where repose the remains of Mrs. Eliza B. R. Mendenhall, Who closed her earthly career on the 29th December A.D. 1848, aged 67 years. By her side sleeps her infant grandson John Bruce Limehouse. "Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee whose God was thy ransom, they Guardian and Guide. He gave thee, He took thee and He will restore thee, and death has no sting for the Savior hath died." This stone is consecrated to a beloved mother by her daughter. Southern Graves Home

Mrs. Self passed away approximately one month shy of her 102nd birthday. She was laid to rest in Magnolia Park Cemetery ; Warner Robins, Houston County, Georgia.

There's an interesting article about vital records kept in the state of Alabama at the online home of The Birmingham News . The recording of births and deaths in the state began 100 years ago. Here's a note from the article written by Dave Sparks: ...records show that the highest death rate that ever occurred in Alabama came in 1918 after the Spanish flu pandemic swept through the state. More than a third of all deaths in Alabama that year were caused by influenza or pneumonia. In all, the flu and pneumonia killed more than 11,000 people in Alabama during 1918. Read the entire article here --> Health Statisticians Hit Century Mark, Still Counting

I'll continue to follow this provacative and controversial story. It sparks a lot of thought and emotion. " Board Votes to Move Graves for Landfill; NAACP Wants Inquiry ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- The NAACP in Georgia is calling for the state attorney general's office to investigate a county board after it voted to move about 300 African-American graves from a site that will be used to expand a landfill. The Clayton County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to allow the graves in Union Bethel A.M.E. Church Cemetery to be moved to a graveyard in nearby Riverdale, a suburb south of Atlanta." READ MORE Southern Graves Home

This post was generated for Smile for the Camera - A Carnival of Images . The word prompt is "Stocking Stuffer." The photo above features my handsome grandfather atop a PEAVY gravestone. My mother and I took him some time ago to pay respects to some cousins at their final resting places. These graves were approximately 10 miles from his home, and he was not aware of them. I was so happy to show him these and other spots related to his cousins around town. Pa had stopped to take a breather while Mom and I were a short distance away documenting some other stones. I saw him, handed Mom the camera, and asked her to snap a photo. I think she got a great one. I would stuff the stockings of my grandfather and two of his daughters with this photo. Grandpa loves hearing stories I find about his and my family history. He doesn't do the genealogy directly, but loves to pour over anything pertaining to it. Every now and again he finds something "old" around t...

William Franklin Weaver Feb 28, 1881 July 10, 1918 How much light, how much joy, Is buried with my darling boy. Mr. William Weaver is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery, sometimes known as Reynolds City Cemetery, in Taylor County, Georgia. According to Ancestry World Tree submitter Benson Willis, William was the son of Zachariah Taylor Weaver and Mattie J. Russell. William married Jetta Muselle Alexander in 1907, and they had five children. William's parents, his wife, a brother, and a son are all buried in Hillcrest Cemetery.

This beautiful stone can be found at Magnolia Park Cemetery in Warner Robins, Houston County, Georgia: John 14: 1-3 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am..."

Tabernacle Cemetery joins historic register By CHRIS TRAINOR/Senior staff writer Monday, December 1, 2008 "Old Tabernacle Cemetery, the final resting place of Methodist ministers, Confederate generals, and Revolutionary War veterans, was for many years an ignored and often abused location in Greenwood County. However, following its recent listing on the National Register of Historic Places, the cemetery will forever serve as a source of pride and a marker of history in the community once known as Tabernacle." READ MORE Southern Graves Home

I have updated and upgraded the Southern Graves page for Magnolia Park Cemetery located on Pleasant Hill Road in Warner Robins, Houston County, Georgia. I've added several more transcriptions and photos, and I also added a FindAGrave search box so you can search the more than 540 entries for Magnolia Park hosted on their site. For a touch of history - Magnolia Park was once known as Watson Cemetery, back when the town of Warner Robins was known as Wellston. Southern Graves Home

Thaddeus Goode Holt, Jr. died on this date 65 years ago. He was born 31 July 1875. Mr. Holt was buried in Sardis Cemetery in Bibb County, Georgia.

Magnolia Park Cemetery Warner Robins, Houston County, Georgia USA

Arthur P. Etheridge died on this date 42 years ago. Mr. Etheridge, a World War I veteran, was born 23 October 1896. He was buried in Bonaire Cemetery in Houston County, Georgia. The complete gravestone transcription: Arthur P. Etheridge Georgia PFC 44 Depot SVC Co ASC World War I Oct 23, 1896 - Nov 25, 1966

Magnolia Park Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Warner Robins (formerly Wellston), Georgia. The land for it was donated by Mr. Thomas Watson. It was originally used for his family burying ground, known as Watson Cemetery. Mr. Thomas Watson lived across the street from the cemetery. Magnolia Park as it is known today was not officially established until 1949. Crawford V. Watson, grandson of Thomas Watson, was laid to rest in Watson Cemetery in 1914. He was born 20 November 1885, the son of Richmond Hezekiah Watson. I found a blurb in the 27 August 1911 edition of the Macon Weekly Telegraph stating C. V. Watson was sworn in as deputy sheriff of Houston county and moved to Perry to "assume the duties of the office." By the time of his death, his residence was back in Wellston. In an obituary for Crawford V. Watson from the 11 January 1914 edition of the Macon Weekly Telegraph , the Watson family is mentioned as being one of the best known in Houston county. There...

If anyone is around the Morrow, Georgia branch of the National Archives on December 6th, this might be an interesting talk: Tombstone Expert to Speak By Kenneth H. Thomas, Jr. For the Journal-Constitution Sunday, November 23, 2008 "Tombstones: Beyond the Inscription" will be the topic of the Georgia Genealogical Society’s December meeting. The speaker will be Charlotte Thomas Marshall of Athens, noted authority on cemetery iconography and lore and author of a book on Oconee Hill Cemetery in Athens... ...The meeting is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 6 at the National Archives in Morrow. The cost, including lunch, is $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers. The deadline for reservations is Dec. 1... READ MORE Southern Graves Home

Renna Shelton died on this date 84 years ago at age 58. Renna was buried in the Henderson Spring Road Cemetery in Elko, Houston County, Georgia. Southern Graves Home

Amy at Graveyeard Rabbit of Central Ohio admits to her fascination with newer tombstones in her Hog to Heaven post . I have to agree with her. Many contemporary gravestones are beautiful and should be considered artwork, just as the old ones often are. The one for Alexander Thomas Kaminski is no exception. Mr. Kaminski was born 16 February 1939, and passed away 26 Nov 2005. An inscription on his stone: "I Have Fought the Good Fight, I Have Finished The Race, I Have Kept The Faith." An obituary from The Macon Telegraph , 27 November 2005: "BONAIRE - Alexander T. Kaminski, 66, passed away after a lengthy illness on Saturday, November 26, 2005 at the Houston Medical Center. Services will be held at 11A.M. on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home with interment following in Magnolia Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 29 from 7:00 until 9:00 P.M. at McCullough Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to The American Heart A...

It's hard to tell from the photo, but Adelaide Lindell "Cookie" Wall's tombstone is pink. Very pretty and feminine. Mrs. Wall was born 20 March 1922 and passed away 8 July 2003. An inscription on her stone: "Always Loving, Always Loved." Here is an obituary from The Macon Telegraph , 11 July 2003: "WARNER ROBINS - Adelaide Lindell Wall passed away Tuesday, July 8, 2003. Services will be at 10A.M., Saturday at the First United Methodist Church with burial in Magnolia Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00P.M. Friday evening at the funeral home. Mrs. Wall was born in Mobile, AL to the late Vernon Eric and Lillie Mae Moore Lindell. She was preceded in death by her husband Col. James William Wall, USAF. Mrs. Wall was a born-again christian, a beloved mother and master gardener. As a member of the First United Methodist Church, she was involved in the United Methodist Women and the Wesley Fellowship Sunday School class. She was the forme...

Herbert T. Fielder died on this date 94 years ago. He was born 17 October 1877. Mr. Fielder was buried in Sardis Cemetery in Bibb County, Georgia. Pierce H. Pollett died on this date 2 years ago. He was a US Army and World War II veteran born 29 August 1922. Mr. Pollett was buried in Bonaire Cemetery in Houston County, Georgia.

Mary Jane "Mollie" Phillips died on this date 84 years ago. She was born 29 July 1847. Mollie was buried in Elko Cemetery in Houston County, Georgia. Grover C. Bryant died on this date 51 years ago. He was born 21 September 1889 and married Ora Hudson. Grover was buried in Sardis Cemetery in Bibb County, Georgia. Kenneth Lee Perdue died on this date 4 years ago. He was born 18 July 1953. Kenneth was buried in Bonaire Cemetery in Houston County, Georgia.

Simple, with just the right accessory - I like it! Lucille F. Bass died on this date 37 years ago. She was born 19 September 1898. Lucille was buried in Sardis Cemetery in Bibb County, Georgia.

I took a drive today, visited 6 cemeteries, and took about 570 pictures. Whew! It was great fun, and the fall foliage was beautiful. So stay tuned to this blog and the main Southern Graves site . I'll be presenting information and gravestones from Reynolds, Talbotton, and Waverly Hall. All of these fine places are in the state of Georgia, by the way. See you soon and often, I hope!

I absolutely love Bonaventure Cemetery , located in Chatham County, Georgia. The beauty of the grounds can take your breath away. Denise at the Graveyard Rabbit of Moultrie Creek wrote a post about the famous song man, Johnny Mercer. He was buried at Bonaventure. The post is entitled One for My Baby . Check it out! I would like to show you my favorite photo I took while visiting Bonaventure. I point it out because my Mom is the one who noticed the scene. We were standing in just the right spot to get some gorgeous stones, grand artwork, and beautiful landscaping in one shot. [Click to enlarge] I'll let my final words about Bonaventure (in this post) be the same as those engraved on Johnny Mercer's gravestone -- "And the Angels Sing" Southern Graves Home

Eliza Pinckney, relict of Col. Thomas Pinckney, died on this date 146 years ago. She was born 20 August 1784. Ms. Pinckney was buried in St. Philip's Church Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina. John Wesley Braswell died on this date 23 years ago. He was born 1 March 1919. John was buried in Elko Cemetery in Houston County, Georgia. Darius Gray Ornston, Jr., MD died on this date 5 years ago. He was born 13 September 1934. Darius was buried in Bethany Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina.

A belated Veterans Day salute. Magnolia Park Cemetery Warner Robins Houston County Georgia USA

Sfronie Miller Bond died on this date 79 years ago. She was born 7 September 1857. Mrs. Bond was buried in Sardis Cemetery in Bibb County, Georgia. Southern Graves Home

Just a note to let you know I've added some more burials to the Sardis Cemetery page. It now has over 200 listings. Reminder: this cemetery is in Bibb County, Georgia. Southern Graves Home

Major General Thomas Pinckney died on this date 180 years ago. He was born 23 October 1750. Mr. Pinckney was buried in St. Philip's Church Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina. Susie S. Watson died on this date 39 years ago. She was born 1 August 1889. Susie was buried in Bonaire Cemetery in Houston County, Georgia.

While working on the Hudson Family post , I came across an obituary for Miss Maggie Herritage. Her gravestone photo from Sardis Cemetery was featured in the Wordless Wednesday: Flat Marker Perils post . 22 November 1905, Macon Weekly Telegraph " Death of a Little Girl Maggie, the 11-year-ol daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Herrit[a]ge, died yesterday morning at the residence of her parents near Walden, Ga. She had been sick about two weeks with typhoid pneumonia. The funeral services will be held this morning at 11 o'clock from Sardis church, Rev. Mr. Heard conducting the services. The interment will be at the Sardis church cemetery." Southern Graves Home

Two beautiful tombstones at Sardis Cemetery in Bibb County, Georgia caught my eye recently. I liked them so much I wondered who made them. I'll have to start looking more closely at stones in the future for any signatures. The first gravestone is for Martha A. and B. F. Hudson. Martha A. was born Dec 19, 1849 and died Mar 4, 1919. Benjamin Franklin Hudson was born June 29, 1843 and died Feb 6, 1924: The second stone was identical in design. This one was for two sons of Martha A. and B. F. Hudson. Otis M. Hudson was born July 15, 1882 and died Feb 11, 1916. William Havis Hudson was born Feb 2, 1886 and died Feb 7, 1919: My enjoyment of the stones of course got me doing some research on this family... Benjamin Franklin Hudson was the son of William "Buck" Hudson and Mary B. Moore. This family was in Jones County, Georgia in 1850 and 1860. According to the 1850 Jones County, Georgia census, Benjamin's siblings were as follows: Matilda, John, William,...

I don't know if I could take on this transcription project. I certainly couldn't pay for it! US Space-Funeral Company Plans to Launch Lunar Cemetery Southern Graves Home

Cornelius E. Cook died on this date 122 years ago. He was the son of J. R. & L. E. Cook, born 15 August 1865. He was buried in Beech Springs Church Cemetery in Bullard, Twiggs County, Georgia. Southern Graves Home

George E. Searcy died on this date 25 years ago. He was born 20 November 1934. Mr. Searcy was buried in the Henderson Spring Road Cemetery in Elko, Houston County, Georgia. William Henry Harp died on this date 25 years ago, as well. He was born 13 April 1904. William was buried in Sardis Cemetery in Bibb County, Georgia.

Jerome Powell Jackson died on this date 22 years ago. Mr. Jackson, a US Navy veteran, was born 6 May 1918. He was buried in Bonaire Cemetery in Houston County, Georgia.

The recent discussion regarding cenotaphs begun by Amy at Amy's Genealogy Blog , as well as a bit of curiosity about a stone I recently found prompted this post. In Sardis Cemetery located in Bibb County, Georgia, I came across the cenotaph transcribed here - In Memory of Our Mother Annie Lou Nash Who Was Interred In Trinidad, Colo. Feb 23, 1919 What peaked my interest was the distance between Trinidad, Colorado and Macon, Georgia. That's some 1400 miles! Surrounding gravestones suggest Annie Lou was married to T. A. Nash, as his stone refers to him as "Our Father." I tried to do a little digging to find out more about Annie and T. A., but I had no luck. I'm going to post transcriptions of the surrounding gravestones that I believe are family members here in hopes that someone might want to fill me in on what led the Nash family from Colorado to Georgia. Emma Lou Nash Oct 18, 1900 Dec 30, 1976 T. A. Nash Oct 15, 1872 May 29, 1949 Our Father...

On this date, Ethel Mae "Punch" Whitfield died 11 years ago. She was born 14 April 1928. Ms. Whitfield was buried in the Henderson Spring Road Cemetery in Elko, Houston County, Georgia.

Voncile Campbell died on this date 77 years ago. Voncile was born 29 December 1924. Mack C. Cook, Jr. died on this date 48 years ago. Mr. Cook, a World War II veteran, was born 29 August 1917. Both Voncile Campbell and Mack C. Cook, Jr. were buried in Bonaire Cemetery in Houston County, Georgia.

This is a very interesting article. With the "going green" movement, this won't be the last one we see. New Bibb Cemetery Ordinance Draws National Attention By Jennifer Burk "A new law that will make it tougher to build new cemeteries and will prohibit natural burials in Bibb County has drawn national attention." READ MORE. Southern Graves Home

Charles F. Jones died on this date 111 years ago. He was born 25 November 1849. Charles was buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina. Southern Graves Home

The Graveyard Rabbits combined to publish 99 articles on their various blogs for the week of November 1 - 7. All are worthy of reading. You may find a list of them here . Also, you can find a membership directory and link to current articles in this blog's sidebar. Southern Graves Home

The Georgia Bulletin has a couple of interesting articles pertaining to Georgia cemeteries. New Cemetery Offers Eco-Friendly Option By Andrew Nelson ..."The gravesite is a mile and a half into the woods, over a wooden bridge spanning Honey Creek in this 'green cemetery,' where remains are put into the earth without embalming and only biodegradable caskets or urns are allowed. Some may choose to be buried in a shroud alone..." Old Cemeteries Form Intriguing Part Of State’s Past By Andrew Nelson "ATLANTA — A group of volunteers will work to reclaim one of the rural historic Catholic cemeteries in Georgia, with a goal to restore stone markers to unmarked graves and return the burial ground to its original appearance." Southern Graves Home

Mrs. Mary Dart, wife of John Dart Esq., died on this date 256 years ago at age 50. She was buried in St. Philip's Church Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina. Benjamin Grover Harp died on this date 28 years ago. He was born 24 May 1928. Benjamin was buried in Sardis Cemetery in Bibb County, Georgia.

I love sunflowers. So when I found some blooming in Sardis Cemetery (Bibb County, Georgia), I had to photograph them. One particular plot -- Charles H. and Mary Ann Jones Johnson -- was covered with them. Here's a question: were they put there for a reason? Are these sunflowers symbolism? Let's start with the photos: Now, as much as I love cemeteries, I don't have a large library on the subject. I do have a few books, though, dealing with symbolism and southern cemetery symbolism. In only one book, Douglas Keister's Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography , did I find mention of sunflowers in cemeteries. He was referring to a sunflower carved into a gravestone. They signify devotion to the Catholic Church. This would seem to strike down the theory of symbolism in this case. Sardis Cemetery is attached to a Primitive Baptist Church. I did go looking online as well, and come across "Gravestone Symbolism" at Grave Add...