PORTER FAMILY CEMETERY, Sirmans, Madison County, Florida File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Joseph T. Burval, e-mail: JBurval@mindspring.com COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Copyright (c) 1990 by Joseph T. Burval, Publisher. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the Publisher. The publisher donates the contents of this file in digital format to USGenWeb Project Archives for inclusion in USGenWeb's Digital Library (Archives) for the purpose of making this work freely available to researchers under the rules and policies of The USGenWeb Project. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. This file may not be removed from this server or altered in any way for placement on another server without the consent of the State and USGenWeb Project coordinators and the contributor. CORRECTIONS AND ERRORS: Comments from readers concerning errors or additions to the data should be addressed to Joseph T. Burval, 1995 Parkwood Road, Charleston, West Virginia 25314, USA or e-mail at JBurval@mindspring.com ******************************************************************************* INTRODUCTION The tombstone inscriptions for the cemetery below are the same as those contained in the book "Madison County Florida Cemeteries" authored by Joseph T. Eichelberger (Privately Published: J. T. Burval, Charleston, WV (1990)). In some cases, additions and corrections have been made. They are digitally reproduced here to make this information available to the USGenWeb Project Archives. Mr. Eichelberger surveyed all the cemeteries of Madison County, Florida known to him over an eight year period from about 1985 to 1993. In most cases, the date of the survey, as well as, the date of his second survey used to verify his data is included at the end of the listing. The reader will note the detail that Mr. Eichelberger has used to record the inscriptions in this work. This work is more than a listing of names and dates. It is the next best thing to actually seeing the gravesite in person. Its content shows the author's obvious extraordinary effort to preserve what he called the "flavor" of the tombstone by recording full inscriptions. His work includes misspellings, error notation and describing the marker's location so it can be found by the reader. Often a description of the tombstone, especially if it was unusual or damaged is included. A truly outstanding work, which will serve to preserve our heritage. Mr. Eichelberger very concisely and modestly explained his work in part as follows: "This project has been a one-man effort. As a result the readings and the typing have not been checked by a second party. To make matters worse, the elapsed time between reading the tombstones and typing the listing from notes has been rather great. Reading old notes written hurriedly in the field can be a trying experience, especially if the writer's handwriting isn't too neat." "An effort was made to preserve the "flavor" of the inscriptions by retaining misspellings and errors. In general, no attempt was made to correct any data, but occasionally observations have been inserted. These are in square brackets [] except where no confusion should result. It is hoped that few errors have been introduced in recording and typing the data, but surely some have been." It is a pleasure to donate this work to the USGenWeb Project Archives to make this very valuable information available to all researchers interested in Madison County. J. T. Burval Charleston, West Virginia October 27, 1998 ******************************************************************************* SYMBOLS USED: A "/" is used to indicate a new line on the tombstone. A "//" indicates a new section of the tombstone. "FHMM" means funeral home metal marker. "CRI" means cannot read inscription. A "#" indicates a cross as used on stones and memorials, and denotes military Service. Brackets [] indicate the authors comments and are used to distinguish comments from the tombstone inscription. Two names side by side indicate either a common headstone or two headstones on a common pedestal. Two names side by side with a third name below and indented, indicate that all three names are included on a common headstone or that all three headstones are on a common pedestal. ******************************************************************************* PORTER FAMILY CEMETERY FROM US-90 IN GREENVILEE, GO SOUTH 4.8 MILES (2,3 MIOES SOUTH OF I-10) ON US-221. TURN SOUTHWEST AT NEW MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH. AFTER .5 MILES, THE PAVED ROAD TURNS NORTH. TAKE THE GRADED DIRT ROAD STRAIGHT AHEAD FOR .5 MILES. TURN WEST ON GRASDED DIRT ROAD. GO .8 MILES TO IMPROVED DIRT ROAD. TURN SOUTH, GO .3 MILES TO CEMETERY. FRONT OF CEMETERY AND GATE ARE PRESUMED TO BE ON WEST SIDE. DIRECTIONS GIVEN HERE-IN ARE BASED ON THAT ASSUMPTION. SOUTHWEST CORNER - AREA ENCLOSED BY IRON FENCE: EUGENE/SON OF/J.B. & ELLA/PORTER/BORN/SEPT 22,1906/DIED/MAR 19,1907/A LITTLE TIME ON/EARTH HE SPENT/TILL GOD FOR HIM/HIS ANGEL SENT. ROBERT A./SON OF/J.B. & ELLA/PORTER/BORN/NOV 17,1904/DIED/APRIL 21,1905/SLEEP ON SWEET BABE/AND TAKE THY REST/GOD CALLED THEE HOME,/HE THOUGHT IT BEST. MABLE C./DAU OF/J.B. & ELLA/PORTER/BORN/APRIL 8,1902.DIED/NOV 24,1907/WEEP NOT FATHER/AND MOTHER FOR ME/FOR I AM WAITING IN/GLORY FOR THEE INFANT OF/J.B. & ELLA/PORTER/BORN/JUNE 1,1908/GONE TO BE/AN ANGEL INFANT OF/J.B. & ELLA/PORTER/BORN/JAN 13,1909/GONE TO A BETT/ER LAND INFANT OF/J.B. & ELLA/PORTON [PORTER]/BORN/DEC 28,1909/A LITTLE BUD OF LOVE TO BLOOM IN HEAVEN ABOVE PORTER JAMES B. ELLA MAR 26,1871 MAR 13,1875 DEC 12,1934 DEC 13,1946 A KIND FATHER A KIND MOTHER IN LOVING MEMORY/CARL FRED PORTER/NOV 3,1915, APRIL 16,1983 END FIRST FENCED AREA +++++ IN FRONT OF SECOND FENCED AREA (NORTH SIDE): EMORY WADE SON OF/MR. & MRS./ED PORTER/1954 SECOND AREA ENCLOSED BY IRON FENCE (NORTH SIDE): FAY EDITH/DAU OF/A.P. & ALICE/PORTER/MAR 31,1913/JUNE 17,1914 ALLAN P. PORTER/OCT 11,1883/JAN 2,1915/O TWILL BE SWEET TO MEET/ON THAT BLEST SHORE/ALL SORROW PASSED, ALL PAIN FOREVER O'ER [FOOTSTONE:] APP END FENCED AREA +++++ SARAH A./WIFE OF E.L./PORTER/BORN/JULY 26,1848/DIED/JAN 7,1907//PORTER #/EDWARD L. PORTER/CO M/2 FLA INF/CSA LANTIE/WIFE OF/E.L. PORTER, JR./BORN/NOV 26,1877/DIED/FEB 18,1909// PORTER [FOOTSTONE:] L.P. ELLA/PORTER/JULY 8,1893/JAN 10,1916/GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN//PORTER [FOOTSTONE:] E.P. MASONIC EMBLEM/EDWARD L./PORTER/1874 - 1922/HAVING FIN/ISHED LIFE'S DUTY/HE NOW SWE/ETLY RESTS//PORTER WOODMEN OF THE WORLD "TREE TRUNK" MEMORIAL: JAMES W./PORTER/JULY 10,1901/DEC 6,1927/MAY HE REST IN PEACE MURIEL EUGENE/SON OF GENNIE BISHOP/OCT 21,1917/JAN 5,1929/WE'LL JOIN THEE IN THAT/HEAVENLY LAND, NO MORE/TO TAKE THE PARTING HAND. IN LOVING MEMORY/AUNT/GENNIE PORTER/BISHOP/1878 - 1961 NORTH FENCE MARGARET TAYLOR/PORTER/AUG 12,1848/JAN 2,1935 THIRD FENCED AREA: JAMES A./PORTER/BORN/MAY 3,1834/DIED/OCT 18,1911/GONE FROM US, THOUGH/THE BODY SLUMBERS/HERE THR SOUL IS/SAFE IN HEAVEN/// [OPPOSITE SIDE ON BASE:] PORTER WOODIE T./SON OF/M.A. & J.A./PORTER/BORN/MAR 15,1879/BUDDED ON/EARTH TO BLOOM/IN HEAVEN MALISSA A./WIFE OF/J.A. PORTER/BORN/NOV 25,1843/DIED/OCT 9,1882/WE TRUST OUR LOSS WILL/BE HER GAIN/AND THAT WITH CHRIST/SHE'S GONE TO REIGN CHARLEY B./SON OF/M.A. & J.A./PORTER/BORN/JUNE 22,1876/OF SUCH IS THE/KINGDOM OF HEA/VEN INFANT OF/M.A. & J.A./PORTER/ONLY SLEEPING [NO DATES] END THIRD FENCED AREA +++++ MARIETTA/WIFE OF/JOHN T. PORTER/DEC 26,1860/MCH 8,1907/BLESSED ARE THEY THAT/DIE IN THE LORD//SHE WAS A KIND AND AFFECTIONATE/WIFE, A KIND MOTHER, AND A/FRIEND TO ALL. JOHN T. PORTER/DEC 20,1859/JAN 12,1934 MARVEN T./SON OF/MR. & MRS. F.W. REAMS/MCH 30,1913 JAN 20,1914/A LITTLE TIME ON EARTH HE SPENT,/TILL GOD FOR HIM HIS ANGEL SENT MAGGIE LEE/PORTER/WIFE OF/F.W. REAMS/DEC 12,1888/JAN 1,1917/SHE WAS THE SUNSHINE/OF OUR HOME./MAKES HEAVEN BRIGHT/AND EARTH DARK.//SHE WAS A KIND AND AFFECTIONATE/WIFE, A KIND MOTHER, AND A/FRIEND TO ALL. [FOOTSTONE:] M L R SOUTH FENCE TWO IRON FENCE POSTS MAY MARK A GRAVE. J.P. TAYLOR/1872/JAN 31,1951 SUSAN PORTER/TAYLOR/APRIL 1,1875/SEPT 5,1944 AUDREY/DAUGHTER OF/J.P. & SUSIE/TAYLOR/BORN/JULY 15,1904/DIED/JULY 15,1910/GONE TO JOIN THE BRIGHT/ANGELS ABOVE SHELLIE MAY/TAYLOR/BORN/APR 18,1907/DIED/JAN 20,1909/GONE TO JOIN THE BRIGHT ANGELS ABOVE. PIECE OF CURVED REBAR MAY MARK A GRAVE. [GONE IN 1989] CONCRETE BLOCK MAY MARK A GRAVE. [GONE IN 1989] MASONIC EMBLEM/RICHARD S./PORTER/BORN 1836/DIED/1904 ELIZA C./PORTER/DIED DEC 16,1907/AGED 68 YEARS/WE TRUST OUR LOSS/WILL BE HER GAIN/AND THAT WITH/CHRIST SHE'S GONE TO REIGN. SOUTH FENCE G.W. EASTERS [SCRATCHED IN CONCRETE SLAB.] LIZZIE SAPP [SCRATCHED IN CONCRETE SLAB.] NORTH FENCE ALPHA LAND/AGE 85 YEARS/ASLEEP IN JESUS JAMES S. BOATWRIGHT/BORN MARCH 2,1883/DIED JULY 10,1937/GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN BURNS FHMM: JOHN JOHNSON/1908 - 1976 MARBLE BLOCK MARKS A GRAVE. OLD POST COULD BE A GATEPOST OR A GRAVE-MARKER. [GONE IN 1989] #/WILLIAM H. HANEY/1 FLA RES/CSA #/CURTIS I SPIVEY/US NAVY/WORLD WAR II/NOV 19 1923 OCT 26 1981 [BEGGS FHMM:] MR. CURTIS SPIVEY.NOV 19,1923/OCT 26,1981 END OF CEMETERY RECORDED 26 APRIL 1985 CHECKED 27 AUGUST 1989