Southern Graves

Virginia at Kefauver Hearing. Photo from FindAGrave. Recently I watched a television show on the Biography Channel about Women of the Mob. One segment was all about Virginia Hill (1916-1966). I was intrigued from the start when I learned she was born in Alabama and moved to Marietta, Georgia at a young age. Virginia was a beautiful Georgia peach who craved fame and fortune. Described as sharp-tongued and sassy, she left home and moved to Chicago to work as a dancer at the World's Fair. While there, she began to work for the Chicago Syndicate as a courier. Though she denied involvement, it is reported that she once bought a home for her family back in Marietta with $11,000 in cash. Virginia Hill home in Marietta today. Photo from Marietta Daily Journal . Virginia eventually moved to Los Angeles and became entangled in a relationship with Bugsy Siegel. Some years later, about 1951, Virginia was subpoenaed to testify at the Kefauver Hearings . A few years after th...

I'm still playing with Picasa's web features and found out I can embed a slideshow into my blog posts. This works well for a small number of photos, as with the case of Shiloh Cemetery. This predominantly African-American burial ground is an old church cemetery located in Henderson, Houston County, Georgia. There are several dated tombstones that likely memorialize former slaves. This is not a complete survey, but a compilation of photos of some of the older stones and others that simply caught my eye. Surnames include Adkison, Amica, Davis, Hill, Jones, Nix, Riley, Simmons, Sneed, Thompson, Webb, and Williams. If you are interested in viewing larger images and / or individuals, as well as my commentary, you may go directly to the album here - Shiloh Cemetery .

Barnard Hill Born Mar 21, 1804 Died Sep 27, 1877 While presiding in court. Photo © 2009 S. Lincecum At the time of Judge Hill's death headlines in the local papers read, " A COURT OF DEATH ;" " Died in the Harness ;" and " Death of Judge Hill at Knoxville ." The following is one such news article: 29 September 1877, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer " GEORGIA NEWS -- A special to the Telegraph-Messenger dated Fort Valley, 27th, and signed by T. J. Simmons, W. S. Wallace and A. S. Miller, says 'Judge Barnard Hill died in the court room at Knoxville, at half-past six o'clock this afternoon, of apoplexy.' He was quite an old man and was appointed to the bench of the Superior Court by Gov. Smith. He formerly resided in Talbotton, and has, until appointed Judge, been a frequent attendant on the courts in Columbus. He was specially noted as a superior equity lawyer. His health has been delicate for a long period. The remains will be...

Ann Dillworth Wife of Col. Jno. N. Birch Born in Petersburg, VA Feb 21, 1802 Died Aug 28, 1897 Photo © 2009 S. Lincecum Mrs. Birch was laid to rest in Oak Hill Cemetery in Talbotton, Georgia. Here is a death notice from the 31 August 1897 Columbus Daily Enquirer : " MRS. ANN D. BIRCH DEAD. Noble Woman of Talbotton Passes Away After a Useful Life. Talbotton, Ga., Aug. 30 -- Mrs. Ann D. Birch, aged 96, died at the residence of her grandson, Dr. J. B. Douglass, this morning. She was a devout Christian and member of the Methodist church more than eighty years, having been a resident of Talbotton seventy years. She was the grandmother of Dr. J. B. Douglass, Of Talbotton; W. B. Hill, of Macon; Herbert Hill, of Monticello; Mrs. James Bishop, of Eastman; Thomas and Robert A. Matthews, of Thomaston, and W. C. Douglass, of Raleigh, N.C. The burial will take place here tomorrow at Oak Hill cemetery." Also resting in Oak Hill Cemetery is Ann's husband. He actual...

"Clasped Hands," "Hands Together," and "Shaking Hands" are phrases used to describe the image below. This particular image was carved into the upper part of a pedestal tombstone with a vaulted roof erected in Hillcrest Cemetery; Reynolds, GA for Tempie Hill. This symbol has a few accepted meanings. A heavenly welcome, an earthly farewell, simple unity, or friendship. If you look a little more closely, you will notice the sleeve attached to one hand is feminine, and the sleeve attached to the other hand is masculine. These hands, carved in this way, symbolize holy matrimony. I have seen the clasped hands symbol fairly often when perusing tombstones. Often enough, that I have gotten a little "used to it." I looked at this particular stone several times while at the cemetery, and I have looked at the photos I took several times more. Only when I enlarged the clasped hands image did I notice one was feminine and one was masculine. When ...

Fannie Hill Wife of W. I. Powell Born Oct 5, 1864 Died Aug 5, 1895 Kind angels watch her sleeping dust, Till Jesus comes to raise the just; Then may she wake with sweet surprise, And in her Saviour's image rise. Hillcrest Cemetery (aka Reynolds City Cemetery) Taylor County, Georgia Did you notice the death date? Mrs. Powell died 114 years ago today.