Burials on Eglin Air Force Base, Okaloosa County, Florida File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Mary Ellen Wexler, mewexler@buffnet.net 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. *********************************************************************** An in-depth inventory was produced and published in 1993 by Eglin Air Force Base in an effort to preserve the heritage of the area. Those involved in the project studied all available materials of known sites and plotted them on existing maps. They then visited and photographed them, making detailed comments on the conditions and the inscriptions on the stones. It appears interviews were conducted with some local residents as well. We are grateful for the opportunity to publish this for genealogists around the world to use in their own research. The original documents are copyrighted and permission must be obtained from Eglin, in order to use them for purposes other than their for own personal research. Also, please bear in mind that these cemeteries are on Federal property and should be treated as such. Permission must be obtained before entering any part of the reservation. If you have knowledge of any of the sites, that you might share with officials in charge of this project, please contact: Dr. Newell Wright - WRIGHTN@ntserver.eglin.af.mil The complete inventory, with the procedures and documents used, may be viewed at many area libraries. I know Valparaiso has one as I have seen it, myself. It is beautifully written and well documented. Discussion of trends in burial and marking, as well as general history comments are included. If you have a chance to read it, you really should do so. Among the references listed are land deeds and National Forest land acquisition records. It is suggested that you look at the entire survey if you have any questions. Families were encouraged to move their dead and in many cases they did so. If you do not find burials listed that you think should be, please consult the other published cemetery records for the area. Also, one should note: there were many instances of folks not marking their graves, or of using a wooden marker, which deteriorated over time. All but two Cemeteries (Brown & Burial Plot #2) have been fenced. In some cases there were only signs indicating a cemetery existed at a site, in others the sign was removed some distance from the cemetery, and in one (Bolton), the sign indicated a different name than that recorded in legal documents. I have tried to type the inscriptions as the inventory lists them, though I did not type in all upper case as they did. I arbitrarily included a note or two as well. The cemeteries in Okaloosa County were enumerated in "Okaloosa County Florida Cemeteries" by the Genealogical Society of Okaloosa County, Vol III. Those are Sites #5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 20, 23, 25, 26, and 28. Some were not found and some included the information provided by the AFB. Thanks are due to Doctor Newell Wright and his assistant Sandy Nelson of Eglin's Cultural Resources for supplying the inventory, Duke Vickery for providing the wonderful map, and the U.S. Air Force for their kindness in allowing us to share this with the descendants of those buried on the reserve. Any corrections or questions may be addressed to the author Mary Ellen Wexler, © Copyright, April 1, 1999 Copying of these files by non-commercial individuals, Genealogical & Historical Societies, and libraries is encouraged (unless otherwise noted by author). This message must appear on all copied files. Commercial copying must have written permission from author. ______________________________________________________________________________ **** Please refer to the map at the following URL for site locations: **** http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/okaloosa/cemetery/eglin-cm.gif ______________________________________________________________________________ Burial Plot #1, Eglin AFB, Okaloosa County, Florida (#20 on the map), T1S, R22W, Sec. 15 NW 1/4 - Off Eglin Located T1S, R22W, Sec. 15 NW 1/4, is outside the reservation, within Fred Gannon State Park. From the survey: "It may be the Elizabeth Davis grave; both are noted in the general area of one another, though Burial Plot #1 is supposedly in the NW 1/4, while the location shown on the maps for the Elizabeth Davis Plot is in the SE 1/4." ______________________________________________________________________________ Burial Plot #2, Eglin AFB, Okaloosa County, Florida (#22 on the map), T1S, R24W, Sec. 27 SW 1/4 - Recorded 1983 1. Nathan Smith Dec. 17, 1910 In memory of Nathan Smith b. in Tenn, d. in Fla. Dec. 17, 1910 Age 44 years, first mama, now papa. Only I remain Mattie Smith ______________________________________________________________________________ Burial Plot #3, Eglin AFB, Okaloosa County, Florida (#23 on the map), T1S, R24W, Sec. 14 - Not located ______________________________________________________________________________ Carr Cemetery, Eglin AFB, Okaloosa County, Florida (#6 on the map), T2N, R24W Sec. 16 NW 1/4 SE 1/4 NW 1/4 - Recorded 1982 15 graves were reported and found, but all except one were marked by wooden crosses. 13. Malcom Carr Apr. 17, 1887 Feb. 2, 1899 Sleep on Sweet Malcom, and take thy rest, God called thee home twas for the best Marble foot stone The GSOC Cemetery book Vol III, page 63 says that one of the graves is believed to contain the remains of William Carr. ______________________________________________________________________________ Cox Cemetery, Eglin AFB, Okaloosa County, Florida (#7 on the map), T2N, R24W, Sec. 8 NW 1/4 SW 1/4 - Recorded 1982 8 graves reported, 4 with inscriptions 1. Fannie M. Cox 1853 - 1928 In Memory of mother Fannie M Wife of Miledge Cox 2. M/ Cox July 25, 1852 Oct. 18, 1905 Through all pain at times he a smile, a smile of heavenly birth, and when the angels called him home he smiled farewell to earth. Heaven retainth now our treasure and the heavenly casket keeps and the sun beams love to linger while our sainted father sleeps. (Typed exactly as in Inv.) Top reads "at rest" 3. Child burial 4. C. Cox 5. Jas R. Atwell Jan 17, 1869 Aug. 19, 1912 The compas and the square reach no rank to demise. The beggar is my brother if he is upright and wise. 7. Child burial 8. Child burial ______________________________________________________________________________ Davis Cemetery, Eglin AFB, Okaloosa County, Florida (#24 on the map), T1S, R23W, Sec. 30 NE 1/4 - Recorded 1982 20 graves reported, 4 found with inscriptions. This site seems to have been vandalized. 1 a. Double, left side no name Mar. 21, 1917 He has the soldiers' recompense. His is a patriot's grave where calm in death reposes our noble... and brave "This grave has been fully excavated with capping stone removed" (perhaps moved by family?) 1 b. no name Mar. 21 1917 She was a kind and affectionate wife. A kind mother and a friend to all 2. Moses J. McClenny Jan. 30, 1829 Dec. 9, 1919 A E O (perhaps "AGE") - 10 - MO - 10Y Very large marker with "father" inscribed on top 3. Remembered friend, out mot... wife... by that all man... to die then let you... recast that you may... last Shattered granite tablet ______________________________________________________________________________ Erwin Cemetery, Eglin AFB, Okaloosa County, Florida (#21 on the map), T1N, R23W, Sec. 25 SW 1/4 - Recorded 1982; still in use 1. Robert Lee Oct 14, 1933 Aug 5, 1979 A devoted Father 2. Father, George W. Goodwin July 7, 1882 Dec 29, 1961 Resting in hopes of a gloriuos resurrection Double granite stone with #3 3. Allie A. Goodwin Nov. 7, 1879 Aug. 10, 1963 She faltered by the wayside and angels took her home Next 4 in marble border with gravel 4 a. Stephen M. Johnston Apr. 21, 1884 July 19, 1966 Married March 19, 1911 4 b. Fannie B. Grimes Johnston Aug. 16, 1887 July 14, 1968 5 a. Roy Eugene Laing June 30, 1917 Feb. 4, 1979 Roy Eugene Laing, June 30, 1917 - Feb. 4, 1979, Maried Sept. 30, 1937 5 b. Kate Laing Jan. 30, 1918 6. Jody C. Richardson Sept. 1, 1910 Sept. 1 1912 8. Dollie H. Marler Sept. 28, 1907 Feb. 27, 1965 Double stone, one side only inscribed 9. Lela Cutts Jan. 10, 1915 Double stone with #10 10. Sherman Cutts Jan. 20, 1911 March 04, 1999 12. Colin Lee Weekley July 31, 1943 Aug 8, 1981 14. Libbie Agerton June 10, 1902 June 13, 1966 Double stone with #15 15. William Lee Agerton 1935 16 Roxie Agerton Mar. 7, 1893 Sept. 18, 1960 17. Grandma Pelham 1915 18. Cheryl Lynn Agerton 1968 19. Alcus Agerton 1908 1966 20. Ollie Agerton June 23, 1913 Mar. 29, 1982 Ollie Agerton, S2 US Navy World War II 21. Pasco Willingham Nov. 18, 1905 Oct. 5, 1984 22. Mattie Lee Willingham June 7, 1906 Aug. 13, 1990 23. Roy Agerton Jan 7, 1922 Feb. 6, 1987 U.S. Navy World War II 24. Minnie Thompson Mar. 8, 1913 I have kept the faith ______________________________________________________________________________ Metts Cemetery, Eglin AFB, Okaloosa County, Florida (#5 on the map), T1N, R25W Sec. 28 SW 1/4 SE 1/4 - 1983, Reported destroyed ______________________________________________________________________________ Unnamed Cemetery, Eglin AFB, Okaloosa County, Florida (#25 on the map), Not located ______________________________________________________________________________ Unnamed Cemetery, Eglin AFB, Okaloosa County, Florida (#26 on the map), T2S, R25W, Sec.13 NW 1/4 - Sign located, no plots found ______________________________________________________________________________ Unnamed Cemetery, Eglin AFB, Okaloosa County, Florida (#28 on the map), T2N, R25W, Sec. 25 NE 1/4 Recorded 1984, 5 graves found, no inscriptions.