Wise Chapel Cemetery, Rapides Parish Louisiana Submitted by Jane Parker McManus ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** WISE CHAPEL CEMETERY - Rapides Parish Directions: On LA Hwy. 107 South from Pineville, go 5.7 miles past blinking light at Kraft Paper Mill Rd. Turn right on Parish Rd. 454 (road to Ruby), and continue for 2.6 miles. Turn left on Wise Chapel Rd, to cemetery which is .3 miles on the left. This burial ground is about two acres in size and very well maintained. Tombstone inscriptions were recorded in rows to the right at the gate by Mary Parker Partain, February 1993. Submitted 12 June 2000. * * * History * * * The Wise family once owned a plantation of some 1,200 acres near the location of the present cemetery. With no place to worship, the family erected a small, unimposing structure where White and Black residents worshipped together before the Civil War, each occupying a separate side of the building. Services were conducted by ministers of the Methodist faith. The original building was demolished in the 30's, and local residents rebuilt the chapel, improving its sturdiness, but doing little to improve its appearance. A cemetery adjoins the chapel yard, and the remodeling was necessary to assure safety during funerals. Regular church services were discontinued many years ago (1). According to descendants of the Wise family, Grand Bend Plantation actually consisted of about 5,000 acres which extended from the Red River to what is now LA Hwy. 107. Although their home was near the river and they had a smaller house "in the hills" some distance away, the Wise family donated the land for the chapel and the cemetery that bears the family name. Several natives of the community shared with me their memories of attending services in the little church, and of funerals held there. It is hard to believe that violence once erupted in this beautiful setting, but it is a known fact that a man was killed here following a revival service. Details of that incident and names are best left to local historians, and will not be included here. Wise Chapel was torn down in the 1950-1960's because it was no longer used. A good hurricane fence was erected around the property in 1964 according to a sign on the gate. Row 1: [right to left] Reynolds, Monroe C. - 17 Apr 1909/[no dates] Father Reynolds, Minnie Hines - 29 Aug 1912/[no dates] Mother" [Double Stone] Erwin, John J. Sr. - 5 Dec 1920/[no dates] Erwin, Jean R. - 2 Apr 1926/[no dates] [Double Stone] Erwin, Ronald J. - 17 Aug 1950/10 Oct 1985 Erwin, John James Jr. - 22 Nov 1942/10 May 1991, Cpl. US Marine Corps Vietnam Row 2: [left to right] Wiley, Angeline - 24 Jul 1853/13 Oct 1931 Wiley, S. E., husband of Angeline Sayes - 11 Jul 1852/1 Apr 1919 [Double stone] Married 25 Oct 1877 Wiley, B. C. - 15 Sep 1894/30 Dec 1991 Wiley, Etter R. - 25 Mar 1893/31 Mar 1977 [Double Stone] Hurley, Bertha Gertrude - 22 Feb 1890/7 Feb 1976 Hurley, Mattie T. - 10 Nov 1848/15 May 1932 Hurley, Burton D. - 7 Nov 1845/13 Feb 1929 [Double Stone] Hurley, Thomas G. - 21 Aug 1871/6 Apr 1950 Hines, Amy Lee B. - 8 Nov 1922/[no dates] Hines, Kenneth Q. - 21 May 1920/9 Aug 1967 [Double Stone] Hines, James C. - 22 Aug 1952/23 Jul 1974 Voorhies, Gertrude G. - 11 Feb 1920/28 Mar 1970 Mother Voorhies, Felix Lacy - 3 Dec 1946/11 Feb 1948 Voorhies, Steve - 9 Feb 1901/3 Apr 1972 Father [Identical stone to Gertrude Voorhies] Voorhies, Landry Lee - 4 Aug 1925/19 Nov 1987 Father Beck, Mary Helen - 29 Jan 1942/9 Mar 1942 Pyles, Aline G. - 16 Oct 1916/[no dates] Mother Pyles, Alfred Don - 16 Aug 1912/15 Nov 1980, SSgt, USAF [Double Stone] Lonidier, Clem - 10 Apr 1882/11 Sep 1971 Lonidier, Myrtle S. - 26 Sep 1891/10 Jan 1973 [Double Stone] [1-foot monument, under a cedar tree, 2 depressions, no information Row 3 & 4: [right to left] Gray, Ludie M. Reynolds, wife of Charlie B. Gray - 31 Mar 1882/10 Sep 1948 Gray, Charlie B. - 25 Dec 1877/17 Apr 1966 Gray, Charlie A. - 7 Feb 1907/1 Feb 1973 Gray, Willie O. - 26 Sep 1907/12 May 1976 [Double Stone] Gray, Roy M. - 8 Jun 1929/11 Oct 1988 Father Gray, Mary Aline - 24 Mar 1934/[no dates] Mother [Double Stone] - Married 23 Nov 1950 Brown, William O. - 20 Nov 1937/4 Sep 1981 Brown, Margie Hines - 27 Mar 1941/[no dates] [Double Stone] - Married 21 Nov 1959 Barrett, James J. - 12 Feb 1945/31 Dec 1982, SSgt. USAF Vietnam Guillory, David Paul - 2 May 1955/11 Nov 1974 Foster, William H. - 23 Nov 1911/20 Mar 1989 Foster, Eunice L. - 24 Aug 1911/21 Jul 1976 [Double Stone] - Married 1 Dec 1929 Foster, Robert Paul - 12 Apr 1932/25 Oct 1984 Foster, John Phillip - 23 Jan 1960/31 Oct 1982 Row 5: [right to left] Wiley, Lemmie O. - 3 Aug 1930/17 Oct 1981, US Army Korea Dad Wiley, Mayo Sr. - 6 Aug 1886/27 Mar 1962 Wiley, Laura L. Belgard, wife of Mayo Wiley Sr. - 24 Dec 1883/27 Nov 1947 [Double Stone] Wiley, Maggie - [no dates] Wiley, Mary - [no dates] Nugent, Millie - [may be plot marker, no dates] Nugent, Vernal M. - 6 Sep 1914/31 Aug 1986, US Navy WW2 Barlow, William, son of M&M E. Barlow - 1 Jan 1888/17 Sep 1889 Pippen, Cora Bell - 15 Apr 1872/12 Mar 1968 Williams, Jewell P. - 14 Sep 1908/1 Jul 1975 Mother Williams, Lloyd - 8 Jun 1900/27 Jun 1979 [Double Stone] Johnson, Frazie G. - 17 Dec 1882/10 Mar 1972 Johnson, James J. - 14 Sep 1886/31 Jul 1967 [Double Stone] Reynolds, Hersel A. - 1 Jul 1916/6 Dec 1985 Clark, Christine Reynolds - 21 Feb 1918/31 May 1993 Reynolds, L. A. - 7 Oct 1911/10 Nov 1959 [Double Stone] Reynolds, Ann Gray - 3 Nov 1889/20 Jan 1955 [2 small crosses with flowers between David & Ann Reynolds] Reynolds, David W. - 26 Dec 1870/23 Oct 1941 [Identical Stones] Row 6 & 7: [right to left] Cannon, Buster - 1914/1975, Pfc. US Army WW2 Cannon, Samuel L. - 7 Apr 1874/25 May 1959 Cannon, Ella R. - 16 May 1890/1 Aug 1936 [Double Stone] Cannon, Walter - 1917/1975, Pfc. US Army WW2 Voorhies, Jeff - 5 Oct 1903/16 Oct 1992, 89 yrs [funeral marker] Voorhies, Bertha C. - 18 Feb 1908/23 Apr 1945 Mother Voorhies, Delcie M. - 27 Apr 1933/12 May 1959 Duschene, J. Nadine Voorhies - 24 Jan 1937/15 Jun 1982 Hines, Judith E. - 14 Oct 1879/29 May 1965 Hines, R. Taylor - 19 Jan 1877/8 Oct 1951 [Double Stone] Hines, Charley W. - 3 Mar 1907/4 Sep 1972, LA Tec. 4 US Army WW2 Navarre, Ida - 15 Feb 1892/30 Jan 1982 Wiley, Mrs. Louella - 24 Mar 1873/7 Dec 1962 Mother Row 8: [left to right] Wiley, Geraldine - 1 Aug 1935/[no dates] Wiley, Troy D. - 30 Oct 1933/1 Apr 1982 [Double Stone] - Married 6 Dec 1951 Ryland, Sally - 16 Mar 1909/1 Dec 1991, 82 yrs [funeral marker] Wiley, William D. - 30 Dec 1931/16 Sep 1980, Sgt. US Army Korea Wiley, Ted B. - 30 Oct 1907/19 Oct 1937 Father Wiley, Sadie - 1881/1960 Wiley, William M. - 1881/1957 [Double Stone] Wiley, Burton E. - 1901/1907 Wiley, Clorey - [no information] Wiley, William - 1844/1865, Veteran Confederate States of America Wiley, Agnes Tyler, wife of Cornelius Wiley - 1816/1900 [unmarked grave with flowers - no information] Williams, John W. - 5 Aug 1892/18 Aug 1947 Williams, Allie W. - 7 Jan 1892/23 Sep 1958 [Double Stone] Gray, Della W. - 26 Mar 1893/11 Apr 1966 Gray, James M. - 16 Feb 1892/7 Aug 1947 [Double Stone] Cotey, Ira Williams - 26 Jul 1904/31 Jan 1983 Williams, Lena R. - 20 Dec 1874/9 Jan 1957 Mother Williams, J. Murray - 29 Dec 1863/17 May 1915 Father [Double Stone] Williams, David - [no dates] Co. E 33rd MS Inf. CSA [in open area] Williams, Infant sons of M&M J. M. Williams - [no dates] Williams, Infant son of M&M J. M. Williams - [no dates] Price, Ora, daughter of E. M. & L. J. Price - 18 Oct 1899/20 Aug 1901 Boyett, Infant of M&M V. R. Boyett - 11 May 1933 Boyett, Lillie W. - 2 Jan 1899/23 Mar 1969 Boyett, Vincent Roy - 29 Aug 1893/21 May 1975 [Double Stone] Walden, Lela - 13 May 1904 [only date] Mother Hines, Tracel Walden - 13 Jun 1921/16 Jun 1948 [old stone under camilla] Hines, Infant son of M&M T. O. Hines - 10 May 1937 Hines, Truly O. - 24 Aug 1894/21 Jun 1980 Hines, Evie G. - 4 Jan 1897/13 May 1979 [Double Stone] Row 9: [right to left] Halford, Odessa H. - 18 Jan 1924 [only date] Mother VanVeckhoven, Arnold Edward - 10 Nov 1918/1 Nov 1960 Father Dansby, William R., son of W. S. & M. E. Dansby - 28 Sep 1896/20 Aug 1900 Hines, Travis - 8 Mar 1936/9 Mar 1936 Hines, Oley - 12 Nov 1885/20 Jul 1920 Hines, Gordia Edgar, son of G. & O. Hines - 4 May 1911/14 Sep 1911 Hines, William, husband of Lidda Hines - Aug 1810?/30 Jan 1892 [broken stone] Hines, Littie - 12 Jan 1841/9 Sep 1907 Tyler, Sarah Ann, Wife of N. T. Tyler - 24 Dec 1855/1 Apr 1900 Tyler, Nathaniel - 4 Oct 1840/25 Mar 1922, Co. G 2nd LA Cav. CSA Tyler, Henry - 17 Feb 1882/17 Mar 1903, 21 yrs 1 mo DeSota, Dora Belle T. - 17 May 1884/26 Feb 1928 Ryland, Eddie Lynn - 28 Dec 1957/25 Sep 1978 Ryland, Lessie W. - 8 Apr 1930/[no dates] Mother Ryland, Denie S. - 3 Jul 1904/5 Mar 1985 [Double Stone] Row 10: [short row - left to right] Mayes, Leona H. - 23 Jun 1902/15 Jan 1961 Ryland, Madge W. - 1 Dec 1931/[no dates] Ryland, Lavelle - 26 Jul 1926/7 Apr 1984 Daddy [Double Stone] - Married 5 Oct 1949 Ryland, L. D. - 20 Mar 1932/4 Apr 1953 [photo in uniform] Row 11: [left to right] Johnston, William L. - 29 May 1925/[no dates] Papa Johnston, Erble H. - 27 Jul 1921/[no dates] Mama [Double Stone] Hathorn, Frank - 13 Jun 1896/3 Nov 1951, LA Pvt. 5th Inf. 17th Div. WW1 Hathorn, J. C. Jr. - 13 Sep 1878/27 Oct 1878 Hathorn, Little Woodie - [no information] Hathorn, Infant of M&M B. F. Hathorn - [no information] Hathorne,[sic] B. F. - 28 Jul 1853/1 Feb 1912 Father Hathorn, Nancy Rush, wife of B. F. Hathorn - 30 Apr 1859/15 Jan 1934 Hathorn, Sam, son of B. F. & N. L. Hathorn - 22 May 1888/7 Jan 1914 Hathorn, Henry - 8 Sep 1884/13 Oct 1947 Row 12: [left to right] Hathorn, James M. Jr. - 25 May 1921/26 Jan 1947, LA Pvt. 141st Field Arty. WW2 Hathorn, Donald, son of M&M James M. Hathorn - 5 Sep 1934/27 Oct 1935 Hathorn, Sarah Williford - 5 Feb 1893/6 Jan 1980 Hathorn, James M. - 12 Jan 1892/2 Jun 1986 [Double Stone] Everette, Infant of M&M T. B. Everette - [no dates] Everette, Infant of M&M T. B. Everette - [no dates] Smith, Elizabeth Hathorn, wife of R. B. Smith - 7 Oct 1889/19 Jul 1938 Cannon, Russell - 11 Aug 1910/3 Apr 1985 Cannon, Thelma R. Voorhies - 21 Feb 1910/9 Dec 1984 Voorhies, Daniel L. - 22 Apr 1907/21 Sep 1940 [Identical stones on common slab] Daenen, Johnnie Lee - 23 Jul 1953/27 Jun 1954 Hines, Laura Nichols - 15 Aug 1875/22 Feb 1952 Mother Hines, Curtis Sumpter - 25 Oct 1870/5 May 1950 Father [Double Stone] Smith, Della Hines - 27 May 1902/14 Jun 1924 Hines, Sefty - 12 Jul 1908/15 Oct 1923 Hines, Dasha M. - 1892/1897 Toney, Cornie - 20 Aug 1891/24 Oct 1901, 10 yrs 2 mos 4 das Son of J. B. & K. E. Toney Row 13: [right to left] Dauzat, Sybil A. [Antone] - 27 Oct 1907/28 Mar 1977 Dauzat, Loy Pierce - 2 Feb 1913/12 Feb 1980 [Double Stone] McMills, Joshua Adam - 17 Jun 1988 [funeral marker] Infant son of Dwyane & Christine McMills Vercher, Vera R. - 17 Dec 1924/[no dates] Vercher, Peerless A. - 22 May 1912/5 Jul 1973 [Double Stone] Ryland, Anna M. - 20 Oct 1902/20 Jul 1992 Momma Ryland, Gammie P. - 1 Mar 1900/5 Oct 1936 Father [Double Stone] Ryland, Willard Aubrey, son of M&M G. M. Ryland - 9 Aug 1923/3 Aug 1931 Ryland, Dora C. - 23 Jul 1878/20 Aug 1951 Mother Ryland, J. T. - 14 Dec 1880/14 May 1936 Father Ryland, Lester E. Sr. - 8 Mar 1912/21 Jul 1934 Lee, Mattie Wiley - 25 Jun 1912/21 Jan 1986 Lee, Charles A. - 17 Jun 1913/3 Aug 1982, Pvt. US Army WW2 Carr, Joe - [concrete cross, no information] Carr, Fannie - [concrete cross, no information] Carr, Edna - [concrect block, no information] Carr, Leatha - [concrete block, no information] Carr, Charlie W. - 29 Jan 1916/26 Oct 1984 Crego, Clifford - 3 Oct 1894/1 May 1954, LA Sgt. Co. E 83rd Inf. 17th Div. WW1 Crego, Sue Hathorn - 31 Jan 1898/5 Jan 1980 Row 14: [left to right] Jarrell, Lessie Gaspard - 28 Feb 1932/[no dates] Jarrell, Louis - 5 Aug 1929/31 Mar 1990, Pfc. USAF WW2 [Double Stone] - Married 17 Sep 1949 Scroggs, Wilford Marvin - 23 Dec 1940/15 Jul 1980 Scroggs, Delia Whiddon, wife of Ellington Scroggs - 22 May 1908 [only date] Mother Scroggs, Ellington - 5 Nov 1890/22 Jun 1963, LA Pfc. Co. D 19 Bn. US Guards WW1 Scroggs, Elma Hayes, wife of J. B. Scroggs - 25 Oct 1865/19 Jan 1900 Mother Scroggs, Lloyd J., son of J. B. & Elma Scroggs - 13 Jul 1897/26 Apr 1978 Scroggs, David H. - 20 Jun 1861/14 Mar 1925 Father Scroggs, Mealinda Davis - 5 Jan 1835/4 Dec 1863 Scroggs, John - 27 Mar 1827/9 Aug 1886 Reynolds, Wesley - 28 Apr 1885/12 Mar 1954 Reynolds, John R. - 9 Oct 1877/23 Aug 1936 Reynolds, Sarah Elizabeth Harpole, wife of I. R. Reynolds - 15 May 1847/11 Aug 1933 Mother of Dave, Henry, Tom, Rufe, J. R., W. R., Ella, & Ludie Reynolds, Roberson, husband of S. E. Reynolds - died 16 Dec 1885, 65 yrs Erected by his children: David, Henry, Thomas, Rufus, Newton, Ella, Ludie & Weston Reynolds, Infant Babe of T. J. & E. L. Reynolds - [no dates] Reynolds, Charles W. - 17 Feb 1921/24 Oct 1944 [photo in uniform] Reynolds, Thomas J. - 7 Aug 1873/24 Feb 1966 Ryland, Tishia Scroggs, wife of A. L. Ryland - 17 Nov 1889/6 Jun 1911 Mother Ryland, Wyatt Alvin - 18 Feb 1907/17 Oct 1938 Father Ryland, Roland C. - 25 Nov 1936/30 Apr 1957, LA Cpl. US Marine Corps [unreadable funeral marker; ?Cole, Irvin Jr. - 1934/1962?] [copied by Larry Gates in 1978] Cole, Connie - 10 Mar 1899/27 Jan 1964, LA Pvt. Co. I, 84th Inf. WW1 [concrete slab] [identical concrete slab, no information] Cole, Elzora B. - 19 Nov 1883/22 Nov 1953 Bordelon, Cleophas E. - 23 Dec 1852/25 Jun 1935 Belgard, Floyd William - 8 Feb 1890/10 Jun 1944 [Brotherhood of Painters emblem] [Scattered burials by right fence]: Owens, Donald W. - 10 Jan 1955/4 Mar 1990 Williford, W. O. - 18 Sep 1919/[no dates] Williford, Loda C. - 25 Mar 1916/10 Dec 1989 [Double Stone] - Married 6 Nov 1940 Reed, Jessica Marie - 20 Sep 1992/20 Sep 1992 [funeral marker] Daughter of David Reed & Edna Guillot Reed, Cecil - 27 Feb 1929/1 Jun 1987 [funeral marker] Cannon, Helen L. - 23 Aug 1931/[no dates] Cannon, Claude E. - 14 Apr 1924/31 Oct 1986 [Double Stone] 1Porter, A. B., "Changing structure of three rural communities," Unpublished manuscript, Northwestern State College, Natchitoches, LA, 1960, p. 7. 9