Southern Graves

No, it was not some crazy girls' getaway, though I'm sure it would have been fun. Instead, it was a several hours long research trip back in time. It all started quite innocently. A quick and simple census check to verify my hunch that two women buried next to each other in Rose Hill Cemetery; Macon, Bibb County, Georgia were in fact mother and daughter. Here is the census entry (the two women in question are Emma and Annie B. Phelts): 1900 U.S. Federal Census (June 8th) Macon, Bibb, Georgia ED #28, Sheet 12A House #1070, Dwelling 211, Family 250, lines 32-35 MOULTHROP, Sarah A. (hoh) b. Dec 1840 - wd - 1 child - GAx3 *owns home free and clear WOODWARD, Isabella V. (sister) b. May 1844 - wd - GAx3 - dress maker PHELTS, Emma (sister) b. June 1857 - wd - 1 child - GAx3 - dress maker PHELTS, Annie B. (niece) b. June 1880 - GAx3 I also found Emma and Annie in the same location in 1910. In the 1920 Macon, Bibb, GA federal census they were still living in the same house...

The topic for the next Graveyard Rabbit Carnival is "cemetery critters." I was reluctant to participate because my best critter find actually took place more than a year ago, and I've already blogged about it. Then I decided my wonderfully tolerant readers wouldn't mind seeing it again. And if you missed it the first time around, well, it's new to you! Here is a rerun of a post originally created 20 December 2008: Wild Turkeys at Beech Springs Cemetery : 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...

I was pleasantly surprised and thrilled to receive the "Bloggers Best Friend Award" from Dorene at Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay . Thanks so much, Dorene! The award was developed by Bandit at The World From Down Here , and here are the rules: "The 'A Blogger's Best Friend Award' shall be given to your most loyal blog readers. Thus, the award should be given to a follower of yours who takes the time to comment regularly on many of your posts. In addition his or her blog should be creative, funny and always entertaining. Upon receiving this award, pass it along to two fellow bloggers who fit this criteria." I have so many wonderful followers, and picking just two is very difficult. Please know I am thankful for all of my readers! I will pay this nice tribute forward to the following fellow Graveyard Rabbit bloggers: - Gale at Digital Cemetery Walk and - Grace at The Wandering Graveyard Rabbit Both of these ladies often leave nice comme...

This quick post serves three purposes: #1 - to point out an article written about epitaphs, containing a bit of history and a few examples; #2 - to remind you to follow the "Graveyard Rabbit Online Journal," if you don't already do so -- it contains some great articles and is updated often; and #3 - to shamelessly plug my article (yes, I wrote the one about epitaphs). :-) Please visit Churchyard Literature: A Short Essay on Epitaphs .

(From Wiltshire, England - 1790) Here lies Mary, the wife of John Ford, We hope her soul is gone to the Lord; But if for Hell she has changed this life, She had better be there than John Ford's wife. I guess Mr. Ford wasn't very nice. [Source: Grave Matters by E. R. Shushan]

William B. Son of J. F. & R. A. Marshall Born June 25, 1871 Died April 21, 1902 He was a member of M.E. Church "He was the sunshine of our home. What hopes have perished with you our son; To know him was to love him, To name him was to praise." This is a nice example of a draped pedestal tombstone with a vaulted roof. It can be found in Waverly Hall Cemetery; Harris County, Georgia.

I tried to read the death date on this tombstone at Waverly Hall Cemetery in Harris County, Georgia, but was unable to do so. I checked to see if little Nannie's stone was listed in FindAGrave, hoping someone else had better luck. She is there, and the contributor has a guess, but is unsure. Here is my offer: Nannie M. Marshall was born 6 June 1859 and died 27 May 1868. Nannie's tombstone is obviously eroding, and I wanted to get her information out. You never know to whose family tree she belongs. I had better luck, however, with Nannie's epitaph engraved on the flip side: Sweet Mother, do not weep; The joy of sainted spirits now is mine, I roam the fields of light, with those who keep Bright watch where heaven's own golden portals shine.

"And when I could not keep the tear from gathering in my eye, Thy little hand press'd gently mine, in token of reply, To ask one more exchange of love, thy look was upward cast, And in that long and burning kiss thy happy spirit pass'd. I never trusted to have lived to bid farewell to thee, And almost said, in agony, it ought not so to be; I hoped that thou within the grave my weary head shouldst lay, And live, beloved, when I was gone, for many a happy day. With trembling hand I vainly tried thy dying eyes to close, And almost envied, in that hour, thy calm and deep repose; For I was left in loneliness, with pain and grief oppress'd, And thou wast with the sainted, where the weary are at rest. Yes, I am sad and weary now; but let me not repine, Because a spirit, loved so well, is earlier bless'd than mine; My faith may darken as it will, I shall not much deplore, Since thou are where the ills of life can never reach thee more." The last fo...

This ledger marker placed in memory of little 8 year old Edith Owen can be found in the Waverly Hall Cemetery at Harris County, Georgia. Transcription: In Loving Memory of Edith Howard Daughter of J. C. & C. B. Owen Born Sept 5, 1898 Died Feb 3, 1907 "Calm on the bosom of thy God, Fair little spirit, rest thee now! E'en while with us thy footsteps trod, His seal was on thy brow." Edith's epitaph is the first verse of a dirge written by Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793–1835). Here's the second verse: "Dust, to its narrow house beneath! Soul, to its place on high! They that have seen thy look in death No more may fear to die."

Annice Flournoy, Wife of Rev. Frances Flournoy, Daughter of John & Martha Ware, Mother of Sophia, Mary & Samuel Flournoy. She was born in Chesterfield Co, Va Aug 10, 1767 Died Mch 17, 1843 "No ostentation marked her tranquil way, Her duties all discharged without display." "She fell asleep" God gave, He took, He will restore, He doeth all things well. (Ledger marker located at Waverly Hall Cemetery in Harris County, Georgia.)

Here are the most viewed posts over the last 30 days. - Dum Tacet Clamat - Members of the Kennon Family Killed by a Storm in 1875 (Tombstone Tuesday) - Frances Lowe was All the Wife & Mother Could Be (Tombstone Tuesday) - Calm, the Good Man Meets His Fate (& a Masonic Funeral Ritual) - Today's Epitaph: Mrs. Fannie Pitts Dwelleth in Heaven - Today's Epitaph: Sleep on Dearest! - Zebulon's Grandfather - Fannie's Headless Angel (Wordless Wednesday) - Hearts & Hands (Wordless Wednesday) - Starnes Tree of Life & Death