Southern Graves

I just received my Association for Gravestone Studies newsletter and am delighted to find out that all back issues of the Markers journal have been digitized and put online. Here's the blurb from the newsletter: " Back issues of Markers available online As part of AGS's partnership with the University of Massachusetts, Amherst to house the AGS Archives, the University has digitized all back issues of Markers and made them available online. Here is the link: http://www.library.umass.edu/spcoll/umarmot/?p=991 " Also wanted to let you know I am working on getting the Bussey Family Cemetery online. This cemetery is located in Talbot County, Georgia. Here's a direct link to the work in progress -- Bussey Family Cemetery . A transcription is also available in the USGenWeb Archives. It was recorded in 1972. My transcriptions were completed last year, so some new burials are included.

Last week, I went on a trip with my Mom and Aunt to Asheville, North Carolina. While there, we took a short drive to Black Mountain to visit the Swannanoa Valley Museum . This museum is located in the old Black Mountain Fire House. According to the museum website, the fire house was designed and built in 1921 by Richard Sharp Smith, supervising architect at the Biltmore Estate. There is no charge to go through the museum, and donations are gladly accepted. There are a lot of neat things to see, and there is a wealth of information about local families and their histories in the area. I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend it. This mourning brooch was one item on display. Here is the information that went with it: Memento Mori "Memento Mori" is a Latin phrase that may be freely translated as "remember that you are mortal," and is a theme that threads throughout history and art, literature, and funeral customs. Mourning jewelry became popular after ...

Sacred to the Memory of Floretta Virginia Delony Second daughter of Edward & [Piannah?] Delony who was born on the 3rd of May, 1833 and died the 2nd of Oct, 1835 aged 2 years & 3 months. --------------------------- Edward Delony was born in Mecklenburg Co, VA & emigrated to Georgia in 1825. His wife formerly [Piannah?] Shephard was born in Morgan Co, GA where she was married to him in Oct 1828. ----------------------------- Floretta Virginia The interesting and lovely little girl to whose memory these lines are inscribed was a dear sweet littl child with the most tender and affectionate heart, she was the fondest sympathies of her doting parents, and oft she would run to her mother to renew her soft kisses and tender little embrace, but she has gone from this cold heartless world and now dwells in a Paradise of Angels, a bright little cherub chanting songs of praise to our eternal God. This tombstone can be found in Oak Hill Cemetery; Talbot Count...

Why do people put rocks on grave stones? Some time ago, I learned that the rocks signified a visitor. That is true enough, but I decided to learn a little more about the custom and share my findings with you. Putting rocks on tombstones is most often described as a Jewish custom. There are many "Ask a Rabbi" columns out there, but I did not find one that knew for sure where the custom originated. They all agreed, however, that a rock symbolized a visitor and when put on a tombstone said, "I remember you." I also read that some people pick up a rock wherever they are when they think of a person that has passed. Then, the next time they visit the grave, they place the rock to say, "I wish you were here." Rabbi Shraga Simmons offers a deeper meaning: "We are taught that it is an act of ultimate kindness and respect to bury someone and place a marker at the site. After a person is buried, of course, we can no longer participate in burying them. H...

I absolutely love to find tombstones like these. Of course, I've never come across one that pertains to my family. Nonetheless, seeing an individual's lineage inscribed in granite is a genealogist's dream. Too bad there are no attached sources! :-) I felt compelled to type it all here, hoping someone interested may stumble upon it. Caroline Walker Nottingham (July 21, 1882 ~ Sept 8, 1963), a daughter of the Confederacy, was laid to rest next to her husband Eliot Theodore Nottingham (Sept 12, 1871 ~ Jan 4, 1961) in Roberta City Cemetery; Crawford County, Georgia. On the back of the granite family stone, the names and dates of 5 generations of Walkers and Nottinghams were inscribed: Eliot T. Nottingham - Married Caroline Walker Nov 16, 1904 - Of This Union Was Born William Marshall Nottingham ---------------------------- Caroline W. Nottingham Daughter of William J. Walker (1851-1911) & Annie R. Walker (1860-1932) Granddaughter of Charles H. Walker (1812-18...

Clarence Moseley Peel Nov 8, 1897 Oct 8, 1955 Roberta City Cemetery; Crawford County, Georgia Below the dates on Clarence's marble gravestone is the insignia for the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. This union was founded in 1883 in Oneonta, New York when eight brakemen met in a caboose in the yards of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad to form a benevolent organization. By the time of its merger with three other railroad labor unions to form the United Transportation Union in 1969, it had the greatest membership of any of the operating railroad brotherhoods. Once a protective organization and an insurance society, the Brotherhood services its members on the collective bargaining and grievance front as well as in legislative, political, and fraternal activities. The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (BRT) was established to represent members' interests in obtaining a satisfactory contract with management. The rail service members of the BRT included conductors and thei...

Georgia Anna Sharman Wife of Zackery Taylor Harris Mar 13, 1851 Sept 13, 1938 Homeward serenely she walked with God's benediction upon her; When she had passed, it seemed like the ceasing of exquisite music. Mrs. Harris was laid to rest beneath this granite tombstone in Roberta City Cemetery; Crawford County, Georgia. Today's beautiful epitaph is from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem Evangeline (canto I, part the first). According to research from the Family History Files of Rozine Britt-Bickel , Georgia was the daughter of Owens Carroll Sharman and Georgia Anna Miller. An obituary 1 for Mrs. Harris reads, " Oldest Hotel Operator in United States Succumbs to Heart Attack at the age of 88 Years ." The 13 September 1938 item goes on to state, "Mrs. Georgianna Sharman Harris, 87, known throughout the nation as the oldest hotel keeper, died at her home here in Roberta today. Mrs. Harris and her husband have been active in Georgia hotel business ...

Only a couple days left to vote! Sarah, a Twitter friend, alerted me to the finalists for the National Trust for Historic Preservation 's Places that Matter Contest. Riverside Cemetery in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia is on the list! At this moment, the cemetery is in 3rd place. Other finalists include the following: - The Bradley-Boggs House in Pickens, South Carolina - Spokane Preservation Advocates "Unveiling" in Spokane, Washington - Plum Island Boathouse in Door County, Wisconsin - St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club in St. Petersburg, Florida - The Star Hotel in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania - Morris Avenue in Bronx, New York - Miller's Grocery in Christiana, Tennessee - Humble Oil in San Antonio, Texas - Hapa Trail in Kaua'i, Hawaii - Alaska Founders Monument in Seward, Alaska - Tuxedo Junction in Birmingham, Alabama See all the finalists and vote for your favorite today! You can vote once a day between now and 12PM eastern, October 9th. If y...

Here Lies All the Family Husband, Wife, and two Sons. Also Mrs. Elizabeth Armstrong mother of Mrs. Keziah Ford ----------------- To the Memory of Hezekiah Ford who departed this life Nov 11th, 1838 In his 43rd year. He left a wife and two children to mourn their loss. The two children are now resting with th blessed and good. ------------------ To the Memory of Mrs. Keziah Ford who departed this life July 3rd, 1868 In her 73rd year. She leaves many friends and relatives to mourn her loss, but her memory will ever live in the hearts of those who loved her dearly. ------------------ It was God that called, and changed the storm of life to endless peace. Farewell thou loved one though thy dust sleeps silent till the resurrection morn, yet lives thy memory with the one alone.

Welborn Hill Smith June 7, 1924 Gave His Life for His Country June 21, 1944 Welborn was a member of the United States Army Air Forces. He was killed in action during World War II, and his name is on the WWII Honor List of Dead . Welborn was laid to rest in the Roberta City Cemetery in Crawford County, Georgia. Photos © 2009 S. Lincecum

Today's epitaph is inscribed on a marble ledger marker found at Oak Hill Cemetery in Talbotton, Georgia. My Husband Allen F. Matthews Born Aug 18, 1851 Intered into rest Feb 27, 1901 Bravely he gave his being up and went, To share the holy rest that waits a life well spent. The last lines match closely with a couple of lines from a poem written by William Cullen Bryant, The Old Man's Funeral .  Here is the poem in its entirety: I saw an aged man upon his bier, His hair was thin and white, and on his brow A record of the cares of many a year;-- Cares that were ended and forgotten now. And there was sadness round, and faces bowed, And woman's tears fell fast, and children wailed aloud. Then rose another hoary man and said, In faltering accents, to that weeping train, "Why mourn ye that our aged friend is dead? Ye are not sad to see the gathered grain, Nor when their mellow fruit the orchards cast, Nor when the yellow woods shake down the ripened ma...

Yesterday I shared with you a tombstone and epitaph placed in Oak Hill Cemetery for Nellie B. Jackson . I've since learned the phrase " To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die " is a quote from Thomas Campbell 's poem Hallowed Ground . It is quite a long poem; I'm not going to post it here. (I already have one scheduled for you tomorrow.) I did include Hallowed Ground in my new Southern Epitaphs blog / database, if you're interested and would like to read it there --> To Live in Hearts We Leave Behind...

Mrs. Electra Francena Leonard Born Nov 28, 1832 Died March 26, 1868 She was laid to rest in Oak Hill Cemetery; Talbotton, Georgia Photo © 2009 S. Lincecum I have nothing more to add, I'm afraid.  I simply love her name! By the way, this is my 300th post! A warm hug and thanks to all my wonderful visitors and faithful readers.

Nellie B. Jackson Daughter of Joseph B. & Sarah VanHorn Jackson Died Oct 1st, 1886 Aged 40 y'rs. "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." When reviewing the above transcription, I became acutely aware of the date.  Today is the 123rd anniversary of the death of Ms. Nellie Jackson.  While hoping her epitaph is true, I put Nellie in my heart.

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