Lenoir County, NC - Industrial Issue - 1906

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Wake County USGenWeb

MATTHEWS CEMETERY

Apex, Wake County, NC

Surveyed by Shirley Olson, May 22, 2000

Location: Penny Road and 1010 Road intersection, Apex, Wake County, North Carolina, 
just outside the Cary city line. 

General description: A small cemetery with no name posted or church affiliation, 
slightly weedy but has been mowed and cared for. Artificial flowers at the base of
most monuments.

Probably a "family" cemetery. No gate, many large oaks. All the monuments and all 
but one inscriptions face West. Some large and imposing, some very small. Years 
ranging from the mid 1800's to the 1990's. All are granite, except one cement 
casket-like marker which has the headstone reversed, that is, the inscription is 
on the East side instead of facing West as all the others do. None appear to have 
sunk. My count starts from left to right across the front: 

FIRST ROW:

Grave # 1: A small inground tablet decorated with praying hands, a cross, 2 roses, 
and engraved on the stone is the inscription, PARENTS LOVE LATATIA G.WOODARD: 
b. DEC 31, 1984: d. MAR. 26, 1993

Grave #2: A fairly large wide polished marble marker. On the front in large letters 
is engraved SMITH , below on the left, it is inscribed LADDIE SMITH, August 28, 1919: 
On the right EVERETTE HOOD, b. June 16, 1922, d. June 3, 1992. A lovely picture is 
inscribed on the granite, a couple walking toward a distant church, the sun 
streaming down on them from the upper left, with the inscription "Precious Memories".

Grave #3: empty

Grave #4: A slightly taller monument engraved with praying hands in an oval surrounded 
by flowers and a cross on each side on the upper portion, below that an engraved scroll 
with JAMES E. LYLES , SR., March 31, 1902 -February 28, 1992, at the bottom of the 
the scroll, "AT REST." There is a foot stone marked "father" East of the headstone, 
presumably the grave has the headstone facing away to the West.

Grave #5: A nice monument with a praying angel engraved on a square near the top, on 
the left a Star of David, on the right a cross. MILDRED MATTHEWS LYLES April 5, 1909-
November 5, 1996. Below a touching tribute, "Mama, I will love you forever, save a 
place for me. James Lyles, Jr." There is a foot stone marked "mother" East of the 
headstone, as in grave #4.

SECOND ROW:

Grave #6: Behind Grave #1 and sitting to the left of Grave #7 is simple headstone, 
worn and hard to read. As close as I could figure it out it is inscribed GOLDIA(?) 
GOLDSTON, wife of O.M. GOLDSTON, 1898 (or 1893) - August 10, 1918 (or 1913).

Grave # 7: Is in what would be the second row of the graves. Behind it is an urn 
laying on the ground. The marker is worn and the inscription somewhat hard to read. 
It is a tall slender oblong shape with an urn decorating the top, set on a solid 
base. Inscribed is HAWARD MATTHEWS, April 29, 1888-June 21, 1913, AT REST.

Grave #8: Behind graves #4 and #5 is an impressive older monument, roughened from 
years of weather. It is fairly tall, an arched top with an urn shape on the top, 
and two columns coming down to a large base which is inscribed MATTHEWS. On the 
left column inscribed CELIA BYRD, December 25, 1857-May 18, 1924. A loving wife 
and mother. On the right column inscribed C.W. MATTHEWS, March 15, 1857-
September 6, 1936.

Grave #9: Over to the left, by it's self, there is a handsome polished marble 
large headstone inscribed WILLIAM STARKS, JR. January 25, 1949-May 4, 1999. 
REST IN PEACE

Grave #10: is a shorter wider monument in good condition with JUDD inscribed 
across the top with praying hands beneath . There is an urn on each side of the 
monument, not in use, as artificial flowers lay at the base. On the lower left, 
GARLAND, 1923-1984, on the lower right, MINNIE L. 1911-1993, below Married 
April 8, 1953.

To the right of Grave #10, Grave #11 is an unusual cement in-ground grave cover,
about casket size. You must walk around the other side of the marker to read the 
inscription on the marker wich is the only one facing differently than the other 
markers. JOYCE BEVERLY FLIPPIN 1943-1985, On a small marble placque in ground 
"In loving memory of JOYCE FLIPPIN, your cousins, 1985."

Now reversing direction and walking towards the foot of the JUDD grave, there is 
a foot marker with GARLAND JUDD, 1928-1998, which conflicts with the headstone. 

Continuing along the back row there is a large oak with about 1/2 missing cleanly, 
cut probably to preserve the very large tree. At the foot of the tree are 2 Azalea 
bushes, and a small headstone facing West with the inscription on the West side, 
Grave #12: LINDSAY E. SMITH May 15, 1945-May 18, 1945, and a small footstone, a 
couple of feet in front of the marker. A little distance in the other Azalea 
another little foot stone, but no headstone found.

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