File contributed by Fay Kitchens ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ SMYRNA CEMETERY On Interstate 20 in west Ouachita Parish, take the Cheniere-Drew Exit. Continue north crossing Highway 80 until you come to a dead end into Highway 15 at Drew. Turn left and continue on Highway 15 for about 7.7 miles and turn left on Walnut Lane Road. This will be the second blacktopped road past the sign to Wilhite-Point. Walnut Lane will be just pass the dirt road named Tidwell Road. Continue on Walnut Lane to a sign on the left to Smyrna Cemetery which is also the Nate Hodge Road. (Approximately 9.5 miles from Drew intersection) The cemetery is a very short distance on this dirt road, on the left side. It has a fence around it and is very well maintained. These markers were copied by the row, but some of these markers had spaces between them that probably contain many unmarked graves. Sometimes it was difficult to tell in which row the graves were actually located. I have been told by someone from that area that this cemetery had grown up for a while, but someone went in and cleaned it up and seems to be trying to keep it up now. There were broken markers, some of which had been glued back together, some merely propped up against the base. Row 1 On one end of this row is a marker with only the word "Mother" on it no name, no dates. This marker is very near a large cedar tree. On the other end of this row is one marker for: Caroline Johnson d. 4/30/1913 age 92 Row 2 Mildred, daughter of N. R. and Mary A. Averitte 6/3/1912 5/31/1916 Infant daughter of N. R. and Mary Averitte Born and died 9/12/1910 Laura, wife of N. R. Avriette died 8/16/1900 aged 48 years She was a kind and affectionate wife, a fond mother, and as friend to all. Newt R. Averett 9/15/1859 1/13/1936 NOTE: Averett copied from markers. Name not always spelled the same. Russell, son of M. G. and Mitsie Averette 10/27/1913 6/9/1916 Row 3 James Vergle, son of S. F. and M. E. Carstarphen 4/22/1873 11/20/1906 Samuel Burrette, son of S. T. and M. E. Carstarphen 1/6/1888 12/21/1894 Note: S. "F." on one marker and S. "T." on the other marker. Edith May daughter of J. and E. E. Reynolds 2/11/1/887 5/20/1888 Ruth, daughter of R. K. and E. V. Mims 6/20/1889 2/27/1893 Mary W. Mims 6/6/1820 3/29/1906 A tender mother and a faithful friend. Henry C., son of R. L. __ Broken marker and this is all that can be read. Erlander M. Richardson (Masonic emblem on marker) 10/14/1840 3/27/1900 Bettie P. Hardy, wife of E. M. Richardson 11/6/1842 10/19/1922 J. Hardy, eldest son of E. M. and B. P. Richardson 9/3/1866 9/11/1883 Remember friends as you pass by As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you must be. Prepare for death. A. Glover Richardson 12/29/1878 11/17/1918 (Marker has Woodmen of the World emblem) OTARD No other name or dates on this marker. Row 4 Sarah Bynum, wife of W. G. Smith 12/17/1848 2/24/1938 Her life an ideal, her memory an inspiration. Wm. G. Smith 3/8/1829 10/8/1908 Thy memory shall ever be a guiding star to heaven. Nancy Jane, wife of W. G. Smith 1832 6/26/1883 Broken marker. (She was a Tidwell) Mary P., daughter of W. G. and N. J. Smith 1/11/1862 8/13/1880 Infant son of Myron and Carrie Miles 10/22/1910 The soul of a child is the loveliest flower that grows in the garden of God. Row 5 Eliza Ann Parish 6/17/1803 10/21/1876 Catherine McCormick, wife of Lewis Hodge 9/6/1857 9/2/1949 L. P. Hodge 4/11/1851 3/30/1914 Rosalind, daughter of Louis and Kate Hodge (or Lewis and Catherine Hodge) Elvira, daughter of W. D. and Mary Hicks 9/10/1871 7/30/1891 Row 6 Mary Hester Farmer 1834 3/22/1890 Douglas Farmer 1892 1908 Della Farmer 1886 1891 Alta Farmer 1884 1887 ????llie Farmer 1882 1884 (Marker broken and first letters of name missing) Elvira H. Rugg 9/10/1871 7/30/1891 Henry H. Rugg 2/11/1863 11/22/1950 Row 7 Ada King Linder 9/11/1876 12/8/1966 Thomas Edward Linder 11/11/1876 9/20/1940 Twin sons of T. E. and Ada Linder Born and died 11/20/1898 R. F., son of T. E. and Ada Linder 7/10/1903 6/22/1909 John R. King 11/14/1898 2/11/1920 David Z. Andrews 1850 1889 Pheobia H. Andrews 1860 1889 Baby Andrews 1886 1886 Rev. Charles W. Hodge (Masonic emblem) 3/9/1815 1/26/1886 Mary A. George, wife of Rev. Charles W. Hodge 12/26/1823 7/11/1889 Mary A., wife of D. W. Hicks 8/22/1849 7/17/1890 Elizabeth, wife of F. M. Gaskins 5/18/1846 10-20-1877 Row 8 Dr. J. B. Richardson, Jr., son of Dr. J. C. and M. E. Richardson 4/19/1862 8/21/1888 Dr. J. C. Richardson 8/11/1831 3/25/1875 Randolph Hester 4/11/1790 4/3/1851 Elizabeth Yarbrough Hester 9/27/1792 2/11/1873 Jeremiah L. Hodge 2/11/1819 10/27/1889 Mary A., wife of J. L. Hodge 4/15/1820 12/10/1884 John E. Hodge 4/5/1790 4/21/1860 Mrs. P. S. Hodge 3/7/1793 8/17/1867 Children of Virginia and John Ellis Sammy 8 years old Elliott 3 months old Benjamin l year old Infant l day old Little buds of love to bloom with God above. Dr. J. F. Hodge 7/19/1857 1/29/1915 Sallie, wife of Dr. J. F. Hodge 2/6/1856 3/11/1889 Row 9 Ella, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Sellers 8/10/1858 1/22/1883 Nancy Sellers 2/4/1817 01/2/1901 Thomas Sellers 4/23/1815 5/8/1871 Row 10 Sarah Hodge, wife of E. T. Sellers 4/19/1849 1/23/1906 E. T. Sellers 12/14/1888 1/27/1905 Conf. Service 1861-65 Capt. Co. I 12th Regt. La. Vols Elizabeth, wife of G. W. Reynolds 6/23/1806 7/12/1872 Row 11 M. A. McGee, wife of R. McGee and daughter of G. W. and F. Reynolds 11/9/1840 6/17/1871 Howard, son of R. and M. A. McGee 4/18/1869 8/16/1869 Clairsa Ann, wife of Hiram Brewster and Mother of R. McGee 1820 8/12/1876 Pillie H. A., son of B. C. and C. F. Ellis 9/22/1857 9/22/1858 B. C. Ellis 2/22/1810 4/30/1866 Charity Fields Ellis age 37 years No dates listed "Mother" James C. Ellis, son of B. C. and C. F. Ellis 12/15/1852 8/2/1868 Virginia Hodge Ellis 10/28/1844 5/14/1935 John E. Ellis 2/11/1833 2/5/1910 Marvin H. Foster Pvt. U. S. Army WWII 9/3/1921 1/24/1994 John T. Foster 4/11/1889 3/24/1967 Minnie L. Foster 9/20/1898 12/13/1967 Thelma Stewart 12/24/1916 4/17/1998 Alex H. Lovette 2/4/1849 3/15/1900 Jim L. Turpin 10/15/1856 12/30/1950 Lucy Ann Turpin 9/20/1854 12/12/1922 Marker base next, but tablet with names missing Riffer Brady 1900/1906 ?Brady 1992/1906 ? Brady B & D 1906 These graves were away from the others on the left end of the cemetery. Row 12 M. Willie Ann Hodge 3/10/1887 5/20/1915 Wesley Hodge 3/10/1887 10/20/1988 Tyrone S. Farrien 1958/1996 Mattie Farrien 1930/1995 Row 13 Tom Rodgers 8/15/1885 1/30/1935 Harriet Hodge Rodgers, wife of Thomas Rodgers 10/25/1828 10/27/1928 Mary, daughter of Nathaniel and Kizzie Hodge 5/20/1915 (27 years) Completed 2/13/2002 # # #