Southern Graves

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 ...

Jerome H. Moss was born about September 1849 in Wisconsin. He fought in the Civil War with Company K, 16th Wisconsin Infantry. According to American Civil War Soldiers , Jerome enlisted as a private on 30 December 1863. He would have been about fourteen years old. The following quote is attributed to him: "I lied about my age to get in, but would have lied a thousand times to get out." 1 During his service, Jerome served as a drummer boy under General Sherman. 2 On 6 November 1894 in Fulton County, Illinois, Jerome married Helen Bessie Bartholomew. 3 They are together in the 1900 U.S. Federal census for Pierceton, Kosciusko County, Indiana. By 1910, Jerome and Helen had relocated to the "Shacktown" colony of Fitzgerald, Georgia. Jerome was the resident optician. Jerome H. Moss was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery at Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Georgia. Notes: 1. "Evergreen Cemetery Tour Map and Guide," Fitzgerald Convention and Visitors...