Southern Graves

I have a confession to make.  I like my cemeteries old .  Well, I probably should be more specific.  For blogging purposes , I prefer older cemeteries.  Or at least ones with old sections.  That works, too. Don't misunderstand me, please.  If I have an opportunity to stroll through a "new" cemetery, I'm going to take it.  And I'm just as likely to wander around, getting lost in the stories among the stones, no matter their age.  But when I'm traveling, or researching a place to study, it's usually the old I seek. After attending the Memorial Day service at Veterans Memorial Park in Fannin County, Georgia, I knew I would visit a cemetery.  I wanted to do my part in remembering those that sacrificed their lives for my freedom.  Our freedom. I had two choices, since there are two cemeteries –- an older one and a newer one -- within a stone's throw of the park.  I chose the new one.  Maybe it was because it's placement made it se...

The Appalachian Highway runs right through Blue Ridge, Georgia – a town we moved to just a few short months ago.  I learned about the Memorial Day Ceremony happening at Veterans Memorial Park, just two turns off said highway, only yesterday, and was excited to attend. I went a bit before it started, though, and visited the city park in downtown Blue Ridge.  I remembered a monument to the veterans of Fannin County was there, too, and I wanted to get an image for you. In grateful recognition of the gallant service and supreme sacrifice of these soldiers of Fannin County in the World War, this monument is erected by the people of Fannin County. The monument was originally dedicated 21 October 1937.  Later, soldiers from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam were also honored here. In grateful tribute to the soldiers from Fannin County who gave their lives in World War II and Korean War. "Who saves his country saves himself, saves all things, and all things saved do bless h...

Emma Lenora Wife of J. L. Burnett Nov 29, 1898 Dec 3, 1922 In love she lived, In peace she died. Her life was craved, But God denied. Trinity Church Cemetery Gwinnett County, Georgia 2011

It's been more than four years since I visited Trinity Church Cemetery in Gwinnett County, Georgia.  But I remember the day well.  There was a crispness in the air that is usually present in early November and, even though the sky was clear, I discovered the cemetery surrounded by trees tall enough to block out the sun in several places.  While not the best lighting for picture taking, it was awesome weather for taking my time.  I was in no hurry.  When that happens, I usually have enough photos to "connect the dots" when I finally sit down to dig a little deeper into the silent city. The photo above is of the tombstone placed for Julia F. and Cicero P. Brannon.  My "dot connecting" deals with Julia's side of the family, but let's start with Cicero. Cicero P. Brannon was born 26 July 1847 in Forsyth County, Georgia to William R. and Mahala / Mahalya (Pool) Brannon.  C. P. served in the 2nd Georgia Cavalry of the Confederate States Army for about the la...

James W. Langley, son of William and Malinda, was born 31 August 1846 in Georgia.  J. W. served as a private with Co. E, 8 GA Infantry during the Civil War.  He married his second wife, Maggie R. Craft, about 1881, and they had at least five children.  Maggie died in the year 1928.  In 1930, the widowed James was staying with his daughter Lemma and son-in-law on Bacon School Road in the Vickery Creek area (near Cumming) of Forsyth County, Georgia.  James died, while residing in the same area, 3 July 1933 at the age of 86 years.  He was laid to rest at Trinity Church Cemetery in Gwinnett County near Maggie. J. W. LANGLEY CO E 8 GA INF C S A AUG 31, 1846 JULY 3, 1933 I located James W. Langley's death certificate at FamilySearch.org , and was heartbroken with what I found.  Though he might have lived a full life in number of years, reading the cause of death saddened me so. Malignant Cancer of the Eyes and fase [sic] put out both Eyes. James appears...

Most people 'round me call an entrance to a cemetery just that.  An entrance.  Entryway.  Gate or gateway.  Maybe archway, if that applies.  If trying to be more specific, the term lichgate might be used.  Also spelled lychgate , or even as two separate words (lych gate) , the first part is an Old English word for corpse. The humble gate, by itself, has Christian funerary typology.  Douglas Keister, in his book Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography , writes: …gates represent the passage from one realm to the next.  In scenes of the Last Judgement, gates are always central in the picture.  Often Christ is seen breaking through these dividing barriers between the damned and the righteous. A "true" lichgate (example pictured at right) is defined as "a roofed gateway to a churchyard, formerly used during burials for sheltering a coffin until the clergyman's arrival." It also covered pall-bearers waiting on the bie...

According to his death certificate at FamilySearch.org, Rond e ll Peevy lived 1 year, 1 month, and 4 days.  That calculation results from birth and death dates of 23 January 1929 and 27 February 1930. This differs from the dates found on his lamb topped tombstone.  According to it, Rond a ll E. Peevy was born 31 January 1929, and died 28 February 1930. This little Peevy was a son of Hubert and Nema (Roebuck) Peevy.  He died from "meningitis resulting from influenza." Rondall rests at Hopewell Church Cemetery in Gwinnett County, Georgia. From mother's arms to the arms of Jesus.

Ervin R. Crow was born 10 February 1851 in Georgia to William and Syntha (Hudgins) Crow.  For his work life, Ervin was a farmer.  He married about 1871, and went on to have ten children.  Only six were still living by the 1900 census. Ervin died 19 June 1919 in Suwanee, Gwinnett County, Georgia.  Cause of death was Pericarditis with effusion .  Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart).  A pericardial effusion is an abnormal amount of fluid between the heart and the pericardium.  It's worth noting a secondary factor listed on Ervin's death certificate:  nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys). Ervin's epitaph reads, in part: Farewell my wife and children all, From you a father Christ doth call. Ervin's wife lived almost ten years more after his death.  I must admit, her name is a bit confusing.  She seems to have been noted as Caroline most often, yet her tombstone proclaims her as Carlyone Parriett...

Hubert Preston Peevy was born 5 March 1909 in Gwinnett County, Georgia to Grover C. and Mattie (Jones) Peevy.  A month before reaching his 26th birthday, Hubert died.  This last life event took place in the early morning of 11 February 1935 in the Sugar Hill area of Gwinnett County.  Less than two weeks prior to his death, Hubert had been at work.  He was employed by Bona Allen, Inc., and had been so for fifteen years.  If the source -- his death certificate via FamilySearch.org -- is accurate, Hubert began working for the company about the age of 21. Since I had no idea this company existed (and I lived in Gwinnett County for about four years), it was interesting to discover Bona Allen, Inc. opened in 1873 in Buford, Georgia.  The company was owned by Bonaparte Allen , and was the largest tannery in the nation.  According to Wikipedia , "…the company made horse collars and saddles, postal bags, cowboy boots, shoes and more."  The small map below ...

Mrs. Elizabeth (Strickland) Moore married William H. Sudderth 22 November 1866 in Gwinnett County, Georgia.  The first daughter the couple had together was born 26 February 1869.  Daughter Eunice never married, and stayed with her parents throughout her life. William H. Sudderth, who spent his life farming, died 28 September 1920 at a hospital in Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia.  Just six months after he was recorded in the U.S. Federal census .  Mr. Sudderth's death certificate (image at right via FamilySearch.org; click to enlarge) shares he was born 13 November 1842 to George Sudderth and Elsie Vaughn.  William's cause of death was listed as Uremic coma .  The free [medical] dictionary describes the condition as, "Loss of consciousness caused by the toxic effects of the nitrogen-containing wastes and inorganic acids that accumulate in the bloodstream of patients in renal failure. Coma in renal failure usually occurs after other uremic symptoms, such a...

Clinton Webster Whitehead was born 8 February 1923 in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, Georgia to John M. and Alma Whitehead.  By about the age of 7 years, Clinton was living in Atlanta with his parents and siblings.  Ten years later in 1940 , the family was still in Atlanta.  Clinton's father was a laborer for the W orks P rogress A dministration Park Project . At the age of 19, about six months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Clinton registered for the draft.  Another six or seven months passed before Clinton officially enlisted in the United States Army on 7 January 1943 -- a month before his 20th birthday.  Ten more months would pass.  Then, just after Thanksgiving 1943, Clinton would be lost at sea. Sinking of the Rohna On November 26, 1943, during WWII, one thousand, one hundred and thirty eight men perished when a British troopship, the HMT Rohna, was attacked from the air and destroyed in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Algeria… …it result...

Dora (1869-1942) and J. A. Moore rest at Hopewell Church Cemetery in Suwanee, Gwinnett County, Georgia.  Dora lived almost 24 years after her husband died in 1918. I found a poem printed in 1852 that contains the phrase found as part of the epitaph on Dora's side of the headstone she shares with her husband.  Unfortunately, I didn't find the author. Souls of such witchery and worth Are never long to nature given; 'Twill recompense the woes of earth To think we'll dwell with her in heaven ! Now for some reflections.  Last month, I participated in the Blogging from A-to-Z Challenge and really enjoyed it.  (You can see all my entries here .) I'll admit, using this blog as a theme, was kind of easy.  Kind of.   There definitely were some letters that gave me pause. I learned – for sure – that should I join in the future, posting ahead will be a must.  I decided to join in at the last minute this year.  My goal was to get and stay a week ahead....

Jesse James Peavy was born 22 March 1859 in Dooly County, Georgia to Michael S. Peavy and Mary Ann Hudson.  Jesse followed the farming vocation for about 60 of his 77 years on earth.  He started when but a child and retired about the age of 70. Jesse married Mrs. Narcissa Caroline Herring 31 August 1887.  A justice of the peace of Dooly County did the honors.  Though I do find Jesse and Narcissa in the 1900 U.S. Federal census, I'm unsure whether or not they had any children.  And when trying to find Narcissa's maiden name, I came up with Peavy .  It'll take more time for me to sort that out! Narcissie died August 1908 at just a little over 60 years of age.  She rests, gone but not forgotten , at Harmony - Smyrna Cemetery. A relatively short time later, Jesse married again.  This time to a woman named Dora.  I know of at least one child they had together:  Jesse James Peavy, Jr. Jesse Sr. died 23 February 1936.  His weather-worn tom...

This may, or may not, turn into an oft written about topic (causes of death defined) here.  How would you feel about that? Someone who is interested in tombstones and obituaries is naturally drawn to death certificates, right? Good.  Me, too.  It's also not a bad idea to learn one's medical history.  That knowledge might come in handy one day. So! Charlie Homer Peavy, son of yesterday's Charlie Peavy , was born 24 October 1878 in Dooly County, Georgia.  He spent at least thirty years of his life in the agricultural industry, farming his last field about 1933.  This blue eyed young man married at least once, maybe twice, but was "single" at the time of his demise in 1936.  Charlie H. Peavy was buried at Harmony-Smyrna Cemetery. Charlie's cause of death was listed as "chronic brights." [You can see his death certificate here at FamilySearch .  Sign-in required.] Bright's Disease Defined Per Wikipedia - Bright's disease is a historical classif...

Charles "Charlie" Peavy was born 21 July 1844 in Georgia.  He was one of (at least) eight sons born to Bird Y. Peavy.  It appears Charlie lived his whole live in Dooly County, usually connected to the farming industry. According to Ancestry's database of U. S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 , Charles Peavy of Dooly County, Georgia enlisted in the Confederate States Army at the age of sixteen years.  In May of 1862, he settled as a Private with Company C of the 55th GA Infantry Regiment.  He was mustered out 25 June 1863. Charles and Ella Gurr were married 19 January 1878 in Dooly County by a Justice of the Peace.  They went on to have eight or nine children. In 1900, Charlie Peavy was farming and living in the city of Unadilla.  He died 28 May 1902 and was buried at Harmony – Smyrna Cemetery in Dooly County.  His obelisk tombstone reads: His many virtues form the noblest monument to his memory.    

Born October 1866, Mrs. Clara / Clarra Williams was the wife of Mr. M. E. "Lige" Williams.  She died at the age of just 30 years at Pinehurst, Dooly County, Georgia the 14th of February, 1897.  She had been ill for about week with La Grippe . Her obituary in the 18 February 1897 Vienna Progress (Georgia, pg. 5, col. 2) goes on to say: Mrs. Williams was…a most estimable lady in every respect.  She was buried at Harmony Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock.  Her death leaves disconsolate her husband and children who have the deepest sympathy of a large circle of friends. The following is a poem by American editor and poet James Aldrich (1810-1856).  The apropos title is A Death-Bed , and the last two lines were added as part of the epitaph on the tombstone for Mrs. Clarra G. Williams. A Death-Bed Her suffering ended with the day, Yet lived she at its close, And breathed the long, long night away, In statue-like repose. But when the sun in all his state Illumed the e...

Is it weird I like looking at old farm inventories? John Mask was born on Christmas Day in the year 1837 to William and Louisa F. Mask.  According to the 1850 Sumter County, Georgia Federal census available at Ancestry , John's father was a farmer from North Carolina.  I don't know exactly how John's formative years were spent, but I'll bet some farm laboring was involved. By the summer of 1860, John appears to have been out on his own.  And during the Civil War, Pvt. J. H. Mask served with Company B of the 11th Battalion, Georgia Artillery (also known as "Sumter Artillery").  Eights months after the surrender at Appomattox, and five days before his 28th birthday, John married "Lunny" Williams in Dooly County, Georgia.  Dooly County was a neighbor to Sumter. By 1870, J. H. Mask was working a farm in Newton, Baker County, Georgia.  It's not clear to me if this farm was John's, or not.  His occupation for the 1870 Federal census was listed as...