HAWKINS COUNTY, TN - CEMETERIES - Looney Cemetery ==================================================================== 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 may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Steve Looney cslooney@mozark1.com ==================================================================== LOONEY Cemetery at the Michael Looney homeplace. ============================== Additional information from Cecile Jennings Chmelik dcchmelik@charter.net: My mother Joe Looney Stephenson Jennings owned the farm that the cemetery is on for many years. She died in 1948 and she willed the property to my sister and I Celeste and Cecile Jennings. We owned the farm until 1995 when we sold it. Joe Looney has a brother and sister in that cemetery and Michael is her cousin. One think about that cemetery that was not noted in remarks and I am sure the person did not have any idea or information about it. but the cemetery is full because slaves were buried in back of the cemetery toward the woods. I found rocks in the cemetery that were in line with each other and some had been written on. I asked some of the old people that lived around the area and had love ones buried there about it and was told Yes slaves were buried there. I do not know who cleaned off the cemetery but they may have thrown the rocks out not knowing that they were grave markers. There were at about 40 to 50 markers. I found one flat rock that was dated with a name on it in the back of the cemetery on the right side. Though you might be interested in that information. The property was owned by Tom Stephenson before he willed it to Joe Looney Jennings. [Added 21 Sep 2003] ============================== Contributor's Notes: Abt 9 miles north of Rogersville, Hawkins Co TN Off Hwy 11W on Stanley Valley Rd. (The historic marker dedicated to Michael Looney is posted on Hwy 11W and is easily seen) The property where the cemetery is located is now owned by Dr. and Mrs. McCoy, who were tending their vineyards when I visited. (I'm not sure if they also own the house...they were gone before I could ask) The cemetery is fenced & gated, and is surrounded by vineyards, with the TN hills & tall timber in the background and fields of corn up front, nearer to the houses. Gorgeous setting, especially when viewed from the small two-lane country highway that meanders through the lush green hills. The cemetery itself is in poor condition. Weeds & such, fallen headstones, sunken graves, etc. There are about 10 unmarked graves (fieldstones), and about 5 are sunken with no markers at all. 1 large headstone was overturned and could not be lifted. Abt 4 headstones were chipped/cracked/worn and were at least partially illegible. I fear that Mother Nature will completely reclaim the cemetery in due time. ---Looneys Chapel is 1 mile further down the same road in Stanley Valley. It appears in good condition, has a Minister, and is currently active. ============================== [[[Personal note]]] ---There was a moment while I was writing down information when I stood up, looked around, and saw that I was completely alone. Rivers of sweat poured from me in the 100+ temperature... and then... a breeze whispered softly across the field. I saw that the land was enveloped in a blanket of golden sunlight, and the colors of everything seemed so bright and clear. The only sounds were those made by the grass and the corn and the leaves as they moved slowly to and fro, in rhythm with the caress of the wind. It was as beautiful and serene as a lullaby. And when I turned to continue my work, I saw that I had been standing at the foot of Michael's grave. For some odd reason I said, "Hello, Michael", and smiled. ============================== Name Born Died Inscription Anderson, Kyle Hobart May 22, 1923 Jan 30, 1924 Bean, Abishalum Feb 24, 1839 Feb 10, 1870 s/o M & J Bean Bean, Maria E. Jan 04, 1822 Aug 29, 1900 Bean, Matilda H. Oct 16, 1843 Dec 12, 1878 d/o A & M.E. Bean Bean, Victor E. Jul 27, 1848 illegible s/o A & M.E. Bean Cooper, Dona May 07, 1884 Oct 22, 1946 Cooper, Jack H. Jul 15, 1874 Feb 11, 1953 Derrick, Andrew L. Nov 18, 1874 Sep 04, 1890 s/o M.M. & B.H. Derrick Derrick, Fannie B. Oct 08, 1900 Aug 16, 1922 Derrick, Giles E. Dec 05, 1894 Dec 02, 1898 Derrick, Marvel M. Dec 27, 1852 Aug 14, 1901 Derrick, Phillip B. Oct 04, 1881 Jan 07, 1887 s/o M.M. & B.H. Derrick Derrick, R.W. Nov 23, 1882 Jun 22, 1894 s/o M.M. & Bettie H. Derrick Henderson, Edgar N. Sep 02, 1895 Jun 19, 1897 Henderson, J.B. May 19, 1908 Oct 28, 1910 s/o M.S. & M.B. Henderson Henderson, Susan I. Oct 27, 1885 Jul 22, 1886? d/o N.G. & J.E. Henderson Hickman, Charles Jul 30, 1912 1yr, 9mos, 25days Housewright, Barbara Nov 07, 1945 Mar 19, 1946 Johnson, Dewitt C. Oct 22, 1899 Nov 27, 1900 ///dbl headstone w/Walter/// Johnson, Walter R. Jul 08, 1907 Oct 21, 1918 ///dbl headstone w/Dewitt/// Johnson, Jane C. Oct 03, 1838 Nov 12, 1896 Johnson, John L. May 02, 1871 Aug 20, 1921 Keirsey, Elijah Aug 19, 1865 Jul 24, 1924 Keirsey, Jim 1890 1941 Kersey, Elijah Feb 05, 1897 Feb 10, 1914 Kersey, Toddy Sep 15, 1913 Mar 22, 1914 Looney, E.H. Aug 20, 1849 Oct 22, 1903 w/o O.B. Looney Looney, Elizabeth Aug 03, 1798 Nov 02, 1882 w/o John Looney Looney, Fannie Dell May 08, 1911 Apr 21, 1914 d/o D.C. & Maggie Looney Looney, Ike Mar 12, 1876 Apr ??, ???? s/o J.P. & M.E. Bean Looney, Jane Jan 18, 1842 Feb 06, 1911 MOTHER Looney, John Oct 02, 1799 Aug 08, 1880 Looney, Joseph P. Jan 28, 1833 Dec 31, 1903 Looney, Maude M. Jan 22, 1905 Mar 06, 1915 d/o D.C. Looney Looney, Michael 1751 1839 REV WAR Looney, Michael J. Nov 09, 1826 Jan 23, 1911 Looney, Ora J. May 20, 1893 Oct 10, 1896 Looney, Rachel E. Dec 29, 1894 Aug 13, 1895 Looney, Sarah Ellen Jan 07, 1870 Jan 16, 1895 w/o Benjamin Looney Looney, Susan Oct 13, 1829 May 10, 1902 w/o M.J. Looney South, Mary P. Mar 26, 1873 Jul 02, 1914 d/o William & Mary E. South Wills, Mary L. May 20, 1852 Aug 07, 1917