Craft Cemetery - Vernon Parish Submitted by Jane P. McManus ******* ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Directions: From Leesville, take US Hwy. 171 South to New Llano. Turn right (West) at stop light onto LA Hwy. 1211 and go approximately 7.5 miles to cemetery which is located on the right side of the road. A sign at the entrance gate indicates cemetery meetings are held Saturday before the 4th Sunday in September, and all interested parties are encouraged to attend. This small cemetery is a pleasure to visit, and obviously receives a lot of attention from relatives and loved ones. It is situated under several very large trees that probably hold down the heat in the summer, and each grave is neatly mounded with white sand. The use of this local sand creates an interesting picture, rather like a lunar scene. All unmarked burials are neatly mounded and either have old unreadable funeral markers or an iron post at head and foot. According to a cemetery officer, Mrs. Reable Cryer, natives of the area believe the first person buried here, in an unmarked grave, was probably Tom Cooper, but there are no records. Bracketed genealogical information was supplied by Billie Guy of Anacoco, and from Dennis Funeral Home records provided by Doris Mayo of Hicks. This data has not been verified, and should be checked if used for further research. Tombstone inscriptions recorded in zigzag rows from just inside front gate by Jane P. McManus, 21 September 1994. Submitted 10 February 2001. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 1: [left to right] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cryer, Reable [Midkiff] - 14 Jan 1930/[no dates] Cryer, Elwood (Snooks) - 20 Nov 1916/26 Sep 1983, Pfc. US Army WW2 [s/o Alfred Cryer & Ida Davis] [Above 2 burials have a double stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ross, Katie Marie - 21 Aug 1986/21 Aug 1986 [Funeral marker] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Midkiff, Keith R. - 9 Jul 1970/28 Jan 1984 Son -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Midkiff, Lois V. - 16 Sep 1932/[no dates] Midkiff, Napoleon B. - 21 Apr 1924/[no dates] [Above 2 burials have a double stone] - Married 7 Dec 1945 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kenney, Ruthie Midkiff - 4 Apr 1914/13 Jan 1984 Mother -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Midkiff, Mae - 16 Feb 1895/17 Apr 1963 Midkiff, C. P. (Bud) - 21 Sep 1891/1 Nov 1946 [concrete border around 2 burials] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cooper, Tom - [unmarked burial, possibly first burial in cemetery] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 2: [right to left] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Midkiff, Infant son of M&M Vernie Midkiff - 29 Jan 1949 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Midkiff, Vernie I. - 16 Mar 1926/5 Dec 1971 Father Midkiff, Avis F. - 17 May 1930/[no dates] Mother [Above 2 burials have a double stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alsup, Tobe C. - 8 Sep 1923/8 Oct 1986, US Navy WW2 Dad -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 3: [left to right] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ezernack, Hazel J. Stephens - 26 Jan 1952/8 Jan 1983 Mother [d/o M.C. Stephens & Willie Marie Sanders] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephens, Hank O'neal - 12 Jun 1953/12 Nov 1978, SSgt. US Marine Corp Stephens, Willie S. - 10 May 1933/24 Nov 1953 Mother -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [unmarked infant burial - no information] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rice, Annie C. - 22 May 1907/20 Aug 1988 Mother [d/o Patrick H. Stephens & Eleanor J. Craft] Rice, Marion M. - 18 May 1905/9 May 1975 Daddy [Above 2 burials have a double stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rice, Millie A. - 28 Oct 1870/17 Jan 1958 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [unmarked infant burial - no information] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 4: [right to left] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Camp, Edna E. Evans - 30 Oct 1897/24 Dec 1975 Camp, Ollie T. - 7 Oct 1877/6 Feb 1959 [Above 2 burials have a double stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Williams, John E. - 16 Jun 1862/18 Jun 1937 Williams, Louisa, wife of J. E. Williams - 8 Jan 1862/17 May 1928 Wife of J.E. Williams -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [unmarked child burial - footstone N.E.W.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Williams, Infant - 22 Sep 1887/23 Sep 1887 Williams, Nancy E. - 29 Nov 1883/19 Sep 1887 [children of J.E. & L.J. Williams] [Above 2 burials have a double stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [unmarked infant burial, footstone I.W. - no information] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Williams, May Bell - 14 Jun 1899/22 Jun 1900 Williams, Estel - 11 Oct 1901/23 Nov 1901 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephens, Wanda Sue - 24 Apr 1947/28 Apr 1947 Daugher of Carl & Sudie Stephens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephens, Carl Cassle - 17 Mar 1924/9 Oct 1992, Tec.5 US Army WW2 Stephens, Sudie Midkiff - 11 Jun 1926/[no dates] Mother [Above 2 burials have a double stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 5: [left to right] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foshee, William (Bill) - died 7 Jun 1994, 45 yrs. 2 mos. 5 das. [Funeral marker] [h/o Lois Reeks] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foshee, Millie [Ann Rice] Nichols - 30 Dec 1909/22 Jan 1983 Foshee, William King - 18 Nov 1907/29 Sep 1962 [s/o William Whit Foshee & Ellen Williams] [Above 2 burials have a double stone & border] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foshee, William S. - 19 Oct 1941/5 Jan 1942 [unmarked burial] Son of W.K. Foshee & Millie Ann Rice [information from Dennis Funeral Records] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bierden, Henry L. - 22 Jul 1902/14 Nov 1956 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sellers, Louise - 19 Mar 1927/19 Mar 1927 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foshee, Mrs. [Eliza] Jane [Craft] - 19 Nov 1845/11 Mar 1935 Wife of Wr.[William R.] Foshee [also w/o William R. Craft] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Foshee, W. W.[William Whit] - 18 Aug 1871/6 Aug 1931 Foshee, Ellen [Williams] - 31 Mar 1884/2 Jun 1953 [d/o William Daniel Williams & Mary Susan Craft] [Above 2 burials have identical stones & border] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Williams, Mary S.[Susan Craft] - 14 Apr 1853/13 Nov 1910 [w/o William Daniel Williams] Williams, W. D. [William Daniel] - 10 May 1860/16 Oct 1905 [s/o Nathaniel Williams & Leah Cryer] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [unreadable funeral marker, adult burial - no information] [unmarked adult burial & child burial - no information] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Taylor, Betty J. - 27 Jun 1933/11 Jan 1985 Mother Taylor, Willie G. - 1 Oct 1927/31 Oct 1989 Father [s/o Willie G. Taylor Sr. & Ethel Cryer] [Above 2 burials have double stone & border] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 6: [right to left] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [4 unmarked burials - no information] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Craft, N. A. - 3 Apr 1833/4 Dec 1894 Craft, E. C. - 3 Sep 1832/3 Nov 1906 Craft, Nancy - 1 Jun 1855/7 Aug 1934 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [2 unmarked infant burials - no information] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephens, Nelson Anderson III - 5 May 1924 Stephens, Henry Edwin - 1923/1978, S2 US Coast Guard WW2 Stephens, Nelson Anderson - 28 Dec 1893/3 Jan 1947 LA Pvt. 125th Inf. 32nd Div. WW1 Stephens, Grace Holifield - 24 Jul 1900/26 Jun 1991 Stephens, Nancy Darlene - died 10 Jun 1962 [Funeral marker] Infant daughter of M&M Wayne Stephens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 7: [left to right] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Craft, Maudie O. - 9 Dec 1919/[no dates] Craft, Odis W. - 17 Nov 1914/8 May 1966 [Above 2 burials have a double stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Craft, Lura J. - 20 Mar 1888/15 Oct 1972 Craft, W. L. - 30 Aug 1888/2 Jan 1953 [Family Stone - inscriptions on footstones] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephens, David A. - 14 Nov 1932 [only date] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephens, Lola U. [Cryer] - 25 Sep 1898/2 Jan 1980 Mother Stephens, Chester A.[Arthur] - 2 May 1897/24 May 1964 [s/o Patrick Stephens & Jennette Craft, h/o Lola U. Cryer] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephens, Eleander Jennette [Craft] - 4 Feb 1865/16 Apr 1945 Mama Stephens, Patrick Henry - 19 Dec 1868/18 Dec 1950 Papa [Above 2 burials have a double stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephens, Matthew M.[Mark] - 4 May 1895/28 Nov 1968 [concrete border] [s/o Patrick Stephens & Jeanette Craft] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sellers, Bertie L. - 1905/1980 Sellers, Jake B. - [24 Nov] 1903/[16 Feb] 1968 [info off funeral marker] [Above 2 burials have a double stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Byrley, Mary Zelina, born Craft - 20 Apr 1893/29 Aug 1958 Mother Byrley, E. Martin - 29 Mar 1889/16 Nov 1977 Father [Above 2 burials have a double stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Craft, Sarah A. - 27 Jan 1891/6 Apr 1990 Craft, LaVica A., wife of J. I. Craft - 12 Dec 1857/29 Oct 1929 Craft, James I. - 10 Apr 1854/4 Feb 1936 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [2 unmarked burials - no information] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephens, Infant of M&M P. H. Stephens - 14 Apr 1899/4 Aug 1899 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [unreadable funeral marker with flag - no information] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 8: [right to left] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [2 unmarked infant burials - no information] [2 unmarked adult burials - no information] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Craft, William Fredrick - 27 Sep 1859/10 Feb 1925 Craft, Mary Pernemia - 30 Mar 1866/3 Jan 1932 [Above 2 burials have a double stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Craft, Nellie May - 12 Jul 1900/22 Jan 1945 Craft, Nancy Lovenia - 3 Oct 1888/21 Aug 1971 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephens, William Fred - 18 Feb 1905/17 Feb 1985, Pvt. US Army WW2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [unreadable old concrete marker with black shells - no information] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cryer, James L. - 23 May 1877/25 Jun 1956 Father [s/o James Calvin Cryer & Elizabeth Cooper] Cryer, Octava - 11 Oct 1881/12 Oct 1960 Mother [d/o Riley Foshee & Jane Craft] Cryer, Mitchell - 3 Jan 1903/22 Apr 1980 Son [Above 3 burials have a triple stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cryer, Ivy Curtis - 25 Nov 1912/15 Nov 1977 Son Son of J.L. & Octava Cryer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 9: [left to right] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- James, Charles Wayne - 20 Dec 1945/14 Oct 1969 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cryer, Ida L. [Davis] - 11 Jun 1882/26 Oct 1969 [d/o John C. Davis & Elizabeth Bailey] Cryer, Alfred R.[Riley] - 4 Jun 1880/10 Feb 1950 [s/o John Calvin Cryer & Elizabeth ?] [Above 2 burials have a double stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cryer, Nelva R.[Ricks] - 9 Jan 1902/21 Jan 1992 Cryer, Jack - 21 Oct 1903/9 Mar 1974 [s/o Alfred Cryer & Ida Davis] [Above 2 burials have a double stone & border] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [3 unmarked burials - no information] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blackmon, Thomas C. - 21 Jul 1892/27 May 1981 Blackmon, Cassie B.[Beatrice] - 7 Feb 1914/27 Feb 1987 Mother Blackmon, Eugene - 8 Dec 1933/1 Jan 1944 [Above 3 burials are enclosed in a border] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Allen, Aaron Anthony - 1984/1984 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [5 unmarked burials - no information] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crawford, Billie J. - 8 Sep 1943/[no dates] Crawford, David Martin - 6 Sep 1948/11 Nov 1992, Sfc. US Army [Above 2 burials have a double stone] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Row 10: [right corner] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lenard, Deborah Dianne - 3 Nov 1955/4 Sep 1966 Daughter [d/o Odom E. Lenard & Gladys Stephens] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Moulton, Michael - 28 Jul 1986/28 Jul 1986 [Funeral marker] [s/o Thomas W. Moulton & Bertha Marie Leonard] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lenard, Odom Emit - died 12 Jan 1995, 73 yrs. 4 mos. 15 das. [Funeral marker] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burials copied in 1977, but not located in 1994, possibly one of the many unmarked burials above: Stephens, Infant daughter of M&M Robert Stephens - b&d 15 Feb 1949 Corsey, John W. - died 18 Mar 1942, 68 yrs. Craft, Malcom - no dates [possibly small unreadable concrete marker] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burials listed in Leesville Leader after cemetery copied: Cryer, Essie Marie - died 19 Sep 1995, 88 yrs. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------