Southern Graves

Gov. Heard's Grave Stephen Heard, Governor of Georgia in 1781, lawyer, planter, surveyor and soldier of the Revolution, lies buried in this family cemetery.  With a price on his head he was captured by the British at the Battle of Kettle Creek, and condemned to die.  On the eve of his execution he was rescued by his servant "Mammy Kate" with the aid of her husband "Daddy Jack," both of whom lie buried near him.  Heard's home "Heardmont" once stood nearby in the 10 acre park established by the Stephen Heard Chapter, D.A.R.  Coming to Georgia from Virginia, Heard, an Irishman, established Heard's Fort, now Washington, Ga., in 1773. Sacred to the memory of Colonel Stephen Heard. He was a soldier of the American Revolution, and fought with the great Washington for the liberties of his country. He died on the 15th of November, 1815, in the 75th year of his age, beloved and lamented by all who knew him. "An honest man is the nob...

Not far from Georgia Governor Stephen Heard's grave (in the Elbert County cemetery named for him and his family) are two additional graves that one might be surprised to see. Two of his slaves, Mammy Kate and her husband Daddy Jack, lie near the governor. Inscribed on Mammy Kate's ledger marker is the following: " Mammy Kate who Rescued Her Master, Stephen Heard, in Feb. 1779 on Eve of His Execution by the British. " A good rendition of the rescue of Stephen Heard by Mammy Kate can be read here . The story, in brief, goes that she carried Master Heard out of his jail in a laundry basket. Governor Heard, in his profound gratitude, granted Mammy Kate, her husband and nine children their freedom. He also gave them a tract of land, on which Mammy Kate stayed (continuing service to the family) until her death. What struck me as, well, rather shocking, was that Mammy Kate in her will gave her children back to the Heard family. (As an Amazon Associate I earn f...

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.

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.

Today's epitaph is not an uncommon one. She hath done what she could can be seen on several tombstones in my area of the southern U.S. I saw it most recently on the gravestone for Fannie W. Heard at Sardis Cemetery in Bibb County, Georgia. One thing that is not often seen, though, is the chapter and verse of the Bible scripture from which this phrase comes - Mark 14:8. While I knew it was scripture from the Bible, I was ignorant as to exactly where it was located and to what it applied (sorry, Grandma) . When I got out my Bible and looked it up, the epitaph became even more poignant. Chapter 14 of the Gospel of Mark is about the plot to kill Jesus. I'm not going to go into full detail. Just know the woman spoke of in verse 8 came and poured perfume on the head of Jesus, and the people around her wondered why she wasted such expensive perfume. Jesus replied in verse 8: "She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial....