Southern Graves

John Farish Martin rests in Lawrenceville Historic Cemetery, Gwinnett County, Georgia. He was born in Virginia 10th March 1789, and died in Gwinnett County 9th September 1856. His epitaph continues, He left no widow or orphan to mourn his loss or decorate his grave, as he lived and died a Bachelor. Mr. Martin can be found in both the population and slave schedules of the 1850 U.S. Federal Census for Gwinnett County, GA. He was owner of real estate valued at $20,000 in the Town District, as well as 59 slaves. Listed with Mr. Martin in the population schedule, curiously enough, is a young boy of 13 years. His name? John F. Martin, Jr. Hmmm... I have not researched this family, so I certainly cannot say for sure the true relationship between the two John F. Martins. But we must remember, relationship terms were used much more "loosely" in the past. The young John F. Martin might actually be the elder's nephew, or something else entirely. That's the fun of ...

Harriet Eva Orr Graham Strickland was born on Christmas day of 1845 in Lawrenceville, Georgia to James M. Orr and Mary Ann Cobb. After two marriages (being widowed both times) and four children, Eva entered into eternal rest 10 July 1897 in Atlanta, GA. A lot of life in less than fifty-two years. Eva was laid to rest next to her sister Emma Orr Bates in Lawrenceville Historic Cemetery at Gwinnett County, GA. Eva's obituary from the 13 July 1897 Atlanta Constitution (Georgia): In Memoriam. The remains of Mrs. H. Eva Strickland who died at the home of her daughter in West End last Sunday morning, were carried to Lawrenceville last Sunday afternoon, where the interment took place, Rev. Dr. Craig, of Atlanta, officiating. Mrs. Strickland had many friends and relatives in Atlanta and over the state who will be pained to learn of her death. Before her first marriage to Major Robert Howell Graham, of Warsaw, Ga., just after the close of the late war, she was Miss Eva Orr, an...

I try to be fairly organized when posting southern grave information here, simply because I need an easy way to know what I've posted. So I usually try to complete an online tour of one cemetery in my photo database before I move on to the next. It doesn't always happen that way, to be sure, but I'm usually close. If you'll remember, I recently "finished" posting about Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia. The next cemetery in my current working files is the Lawrenceville Historic (or Pioneer) Cemetery. My first photo subject is the tombstone for Mrs. Emma F. Bates. She was born 18 December 1853 a daughter of James M. Orr and Mary Ann Cobb (both also buried in Lawrenceville Historic Cemetery). Emma died 28 June 1901, and her stone was erected by her mother who died less than a year later. When doing a little digging about Emma, I found that she too went "from Fairview to Lawrenceville." From Fair...

Not a great title, I know, but I couldn't resist the alliteration... I've been giving you snippets for about seven months, and I'm finally ready to share everything in one place. Photos from Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia are now all online -- more than 110 of them. As a reminder, you can view them as a slideshow or individuals, and comments are enabled. Click on the small slideshow below to go to the Picasa Web Album. Enjoy! Surnames included are the following: Adair, Alexander, Bagby, Brown, Byrd, Carter, Casey, Craig, Crow/e, Dunlap, Gossett, Green, Gresham, Haney, Hood, Huff, Hutchins, Jackson, Kelley, Liddell, McGee, Mitchell, Moss, Noel, Pattersen, Rakestraw, Reid, Roberts, Russell, Simmons, Sparks, Steadman, Strickland, Stuart, Terrell, Thompson, Wight, Williams, and Wilson.

As mentioned yesterday, this sundial and bench are located in the Fairview Memorial Garden at Fairview Presbyterian Church in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia. The sundial tells us to "count none but sunny hours," and has an image of a winged hourglass . On the bench is another sentiment to ponder: You Who Would Learn Death's Secrets 'Ere You Go, May Probe And Probe But Yet You Cannot Know. So Pause And On This Dial Cast An Eye To Watch The Shadows As They Come And Go. For This It Means: A Clan Will Soon Be Gone, Who All Thru Life To Old Fairview Was Drawn, They Pass Like Shadows As The Sun Moves On, And One By One Comes Back To Rest Here-On.

The Fairview Memorial Garden at Fairview Presbyterian Church in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia was "established by Dr. Fred A. Moss in memory of his parents James M. and Ora Russell Moss, and of his great-grandparents James S. and Nancy Aiken Russell." On the back of the granite memorial marker pictured above at far left, is the following: "Yet Ah, That Spring Should Vanish With The Rose! That Youth's Sweet-Scented Manuscript Should Close! The Nightingale That In The Branches Sang, Ah Whence, And Whither Flown Again, Who Knows! - E.F." Though my visit was in the fall of last year, I could envision the rose bushes all greened up and beautiful. There's a nice walkway with a few benches, as well as a sundial. Each bench contains a sentiment about death and / or the rose. Also during that visit, I wondered about Dr. Moss. Who was this person who not only likely financed this memorial garden, but also chose to be buried within it instead of ...

At Rest Mary Wife of W. J. Casey Died Mar 14, 1912 Age 73 Years She hath passed to the world of the redeemed and holy. Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia

[Originally posted a little more than a year ago, brought to the top in honor of Ms. Jones and Juneteenth .] Sallie Jones D. Oct 28, 1928 B. In Slave Time Gone But Not Forgotton Shiloh Cemetery Henderson, Houston County, Georgia

(l-r) James K. Craig, Eugenia Peeples Craig, Annie McGee, Samuel Newton McGee at Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia. Photo © 2010/1 S. Lincecum. Annie was born 25 September 1877 to James K. Craig and Eugenia Peeples. She married Samuel Newton McGee while in her early twenties, but died 1 September 1919 at the young age of 41. Her tombstone (pictured above, third from left) depicts a lovely epitaph: Thy life was beauty, truth, goodness and love. Also included is a descending or "diving" dove from Heaven. As mentioned before on this blog , a dove sculpted in this way represents the Holy Ghost, part of the Holy Trinity in Christianity.

Virgil G. Craig Co B, S. A. T. C. Uni. of GA Dec 5, 1899 Oct 17, 1918 He died for His country and His God. (Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia. Photo © 2010/1 S. Lincecum.) Virgil Guerry Craig was but a young man when he was taken by sickness toward the end of World War I. His WWI draft registration card states he was a student at the State College of Agriculture in Athens, GA in 1918. He was described as tall and slender with brown eyes and brown hair. Though I do not know for certain if Virgil enlisted or was drafted, I do know he never saw combat. In fact, he never even left the United States. Virgil had only been a member of the Student's Army Training Corps for approximately 17 days when he died. The cause of Virgil's death was either influenza or pneumonia (both?), as reported in the Macon Telegraph on 19 October 1918 and The Atlanta Constitution on 18 October 1918. Macon Telegraph (Georgia) 19 October 19...

Dr. Wm. J. Russell Born Aug 24th, 1799 Died Oct 7th, 1872 He was the Orphans friend. Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia Photo © 2010/1 S. Lincecum According to online family trees, Mr. Russell was born in North Carolina to William Russell and Sarah McRee. He first married Sophia Parks, then later married Iantha Huff. My curiosity was piqued by the "He was the Orphans friend" part of his epitaph. Anyone have any specifics as to why this was true?

Mamie Williams Wife of Otis S. Kelley July 7, 1888 Aug 28, 1921 Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia Photo © 2010/1 S. Lincecum Mamie Craig Williams was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia to J. Craig Williams and Rebecca Byrd. 1,2 She likely married Otis S. Kell[e]y some time after the 23 January enumeration of the 1920 US Federal Census which listed Otis as single with his parents Giles and Ada on Crogan Street in Lawrenceville. 3 At best, the marriage lasted less than two years. The couple being parted by the death of Mamie. Resting near Mamie is her child Otis, Jr., born prematurely on 4 August 1921. Baby Otis lived but two hours, unnamed at the time of death. 4,5 The death certificate was signed by G. S. Kelley, M.D. I believe this to be the father of Otis, Sr., listed as Giles S. Kelly in the 1920 US Federal Census with an occupation of medical doctor. 6 It is unclear whether the child was a boy or a girl. The certifica...

I have a confession to make: I am in absolute love with Donald Duck. He is by far my favorite Disney character, and he made his screen debut on this date in 1934. At that time, and for the following fifty years, the voice of Donald that I laugh at and love to hear was expertly provided by Mr. Clarence C. Nash. According to Wikipedia , Mr. Nash was born 7 December 1904 in Watonga, Oklahoma. He married Margaret Seamans and had two children. In addition to the voice of Donald, Mr. Nash also performed as Daisy Duck in her early appearances, as well as Donald's nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Mr. Nash died 20 February 1985 and was laid to rest in San Fernando Mission Cemetery at Mission Hills, Los Angeles County, California. His wife joined him in 1993. On their shared lawn style gravestone is an image of Donald and Daisy Duck. Photo by Wade & Ruth Henry via FindAGrave Photo by Alan Brownsten via FindAGrave Image by DisneyClips.com Thank-you, Mr. Nash for p...

Clara Emma Dunlap (1852-1854) Yesterday brought you a touching Tombstone Tuesday post about the five DUNLAP children resting in Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Lawrenceville, GA. Two of the little girls have epitaphs that I was able to pinpoint as being from a hymn written by Charles Wesley, entitled On the Death of a Child : WHEREFORE should I make my moan, Now the darling child is dead? He to early rest is gone, He to paradise is fled: I shall go to him, but he Never shall return to me. God forbids his longer stay, God recalls the precious loan, God hath taken him away, From my bosom to His own; Surely what He wills is best, Happy in His will I rest. Faith cries out, It is the Lord! Let Him do as seems Him good: Be Thy holy name adored, Take the gift awhile bestow’d, Take the child, no longer mine, Thine he is, for ever Thine. Click here for all epitaphs highlighted on this Southern Graves blog.

Five DUNLAP children (listed below from left to right) at Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia In Memory of James Clarence Son of Ja's C. & Rebecca Dunlap Born Oct 3rd, 1861 Died March 11th, 1863 Aged 1 y'r 5 mo's & 8 days The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. - Job 1 C. & 21 Vs. No! if a wish could call him back We would not have our darling son Brought from his everlasting rest Snatched from his heavenly Father's breast. Affections Tribute to Flarenca Augusta Daughter of Ja's C. & Rebecca Dunlap Born Aug 29th, 1857 Died Nov 24th, 1860 Aged 3 y's 2 mo's & 25 days No pang of sin is given the door we shut upon her tomb __?__ her in Heaven. To the Memory of Clara Emma Daughter of Ja's C. & Rebecca Dunlap Born April 4th, 1852 Died Dec 29th, 1854 God forbids her longer stay God recalls thy precious loan God hath tak...

The remains of Thomas Hanby Mitchell rest in Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Lawrencevile, Gwinnett County, Georgia. His gravestone inscription begins with the following: Sacred To the memory of Thomas Hanby Mitchell, Son of Madison Redd Mitchell and Mary Ann Key Mitchell, Born June 7, 1830, Departed this life September 19, 1876. "It is not death to go to heaven, our Father's home." Farther down young Mitchell's stone is an epitaph partially seen before on this Southern Graves blog. It was on the tombstone for R. W. Clements down in Irwinville, Georgia. Both epitaphs begin with - What to us is life without thee? Darkness and despair alone. While Mr. Clements' epitaph continues with a sorrowful tone of When with sighs we seek to find thee, This tomb proclaims thou art gone. Thomas Mitchell's ends on a hopeful note: But we hope ere long to meet thee, In our Father's home above. There are two more MITCHELLs buried nearby Thomas. O...

ELLEN Wife of John A. Huff, May 20, 1828 July 13, 1914 She welcomed death as the fruition of her eternal hopes. Mrs. Huff was laid to rest in Fairview Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia. She lies near her husband, John A. Huff (1821-1904). Mr. Huff was a half-brother to Ross R. Huff, the subject of yesterday's post . Photos © 2010/1 S. Lincecum.