Bethesda Cemetery, Smith County, Texas -- NW-03 Made available to the USGenWeb Archives by the East Texas Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 6967, Tyler, TX 75711 CEMETERY RECORDS OF SMITH COUNTY TEXAS, Volume II, Northwest Quarter, p. 24. Submitted by Sharon T. Huband - 5 Jun 2000 Directions and Coordinates added by Lawrence E. Oliver 6 November 2004 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************************** From Lindale, take East Hubbard Street (FM16) east to intersection of CR2710. Turn left (north) at the intersection and proceed to CR4126. The cemetery is behind the Bethesda Presbyterian Church on the west side of the road (left side) at the intersection. The map coordinates are: Latitude: N 32:32:49.9 Longitude: W 095:21:36.4 Opened in 1881 Copied May 6, 1982 by Sarah Duncan Beene, Lorene West Conaway, and Carolyn Wright Garretson A history of the cemetery may be found at the end of this document. ***************************************************************** Bethesda Cemetery, Smith County, Texas -- NW-03 DAVIS, Infant son of Mr. & Mrs. T.A. Davis - 7 May 1956 - 8 May 1956 DAVIS, Richard Wayland - 1 Nov 1938 - 1 May 1958 :HENDERSON, William Paul - 6 Jul 1894 - 15 Mar 1969 Texas Pvt 49 Field Arty W.W.I :HENDERSON, Louise - 28 Jul 1903 - (no death date) HICKS, Aron L. - 1893-1975 - Pvt U.S. Army W.W.I ALBRITTON, Ommer A. - 1926-1966 - "Daddy" ALBRITTON, Eba L. - 1938- (no death date) - "Mama" KENNEDY, Infant son of J.G. & Pearl Kennedy - no dates KENNEDY, Infant dau of J.G. & Pearl Kennedy - no dates KENNEDY, Infant son of J.G. & Pearl Kennedy - no dates KENNEDY, Pearl - 24 Apr 1894 - 21 May 1925 - "Mother" :HITT, Boley G. - 3 Nov 1863 - 17 Apr 1937 :HITT, Mary R. - 13 Jan 1877 - 22 Dec 1931 HITT, Birdie Loreno - dau of B.G. & M.R. Hitt 4 Jul 1896 - 11 Aug 1906 :BELL, James McGowan - 10 Feb 1846 - 12 Sep 1905 - "Father" :BELL, Walter Winfrey - 2 Sep 1885 - 2 Sep 1905 - "Son" PIERCE, Jiles - son of J.J. & Melvin Pierce 17 May 1900 - 15 Jul 1904 PIERCE, James W. - 16 Sep 1868 - 3 Dec 1902 PIERCE, W. R. - 13 Apr 1829 - 21 Mar 1905 - "Father" PIERCE, Sadonia - wife of W.R. Pierce - b. at DeKalb, Kemper Co. Miss. 19 Jun 1836 - d. 15 Jan 1909 - "Mother" BROWN, Byron - son of J.F. & R.C. Brown - 25 Jan 1884 - 20 Feb 1904 BROWN, J. F. - 5 Jan 1848 - 6 Feb 1933 :HUDSON, Etta H. - 26 Aug 1876 - 30 Oct 1947 :HUDSON, Charles M. - 28 Mar 1867 - 16 Aug 1944 :HUDSON, Ethel - 28 Jun 1896 - 20 Aug 1903 :YORK, Jennie - 21 Jul 1878 - 4 Dec 1965 :YORK, William B. - 29 Aug 1874 - 5 Feb 1929 YORK, Clyde - 14 Feb 1895 - 10 Aug 1903 YORK, Owen - 17 Dec 1897 - 27 Jul 1899 YORK, Bessie - 9 Jan 1897 - 8 Feb 1897 CREWS, Lena - 1891-1947 CREWS, Tommie - 1889-1919 CREWS, Walter - 1885-1952 VANDIVER, Little May - dau of J.N. & J.S. Vandiver 11 Jun 1891 - 26 Aug 1897 (broken stone) HITT, Billie - 20 Sep 1855 - 18 Dec 1936 EAGERTON, Ruth - 17 Sep 1921 - 10 Nov 1934 :EAGERTON, Una Mae - 1894-1926 - "Mother" :EAGERTON, Council H. - 1894-1937 (Stone marked only "Infant" next to above) HOLLIS, Johnnie Flay - son of J.M. & F.S. Hollis 1 Jun 1917 - 3 Jan 1918 :HOLLIS, Fannie S. - 12 Jul 1888 - 1 Jan 1980 :HOLLIS, John M. - 20 Dec 1877 - 16 Oct 1964 WADDILL, Sarah J - 24 Aug 1872 - 11 Mar 1909 WADDILL, W. J. - 23 May 1859 - 1 Mar 1908 - W.O.W. WADDILL, Willie V. - dau of W. J. & S. J. Waddill 2 Jul 1898 - 21 Feb 1899 MALLORY, J. M. - son of J. M. & S. J. Mallory 21 Jan 1872 - 16 Oct 1887 (stone badly broken) HENDERSON, Nora - wife of T. W. - 8 Nov 1891 - 3 Oct 1936 :HENDERSON, Mamie E. - 2 Aug 1892 (only date) :HENDERSON, Thomas Ward - 15 Aug 1891 - 11 Jan 1968 Texas Pfc Co H 143 Inf 36 Div W.W.I STARNES, James W. - 28 Oct 1908 - 6 Feb 1945 - Veteran of W.W.II STARNES, Odie Lee - 1922-1931 :STARNES, Maggie Ola - 24 Mar 1885 - 1 Aug 1963 - "Mother" :STARNES, John W. - 3 Feb 1879 - 18 Jan 1924 - "Father" GRANBERRY, William Cody - 30 Nov 1868 - 9 Sep 1904 "May my weak traits remain buried here - my strong ones live through my sons & daughters..." HICKS - homemade marker reads "N. H. Hicks Five Children" :HICKS, Mollie - 24 Sep 1870 - 23 Aug 1930 :HICKS, N. H. - 3 Nov 1866 - 11 Sep 1943 HICKS, James Riley - son of Geo. R. & A.Hicks 20 Sep 1910 - 3 Apr 1912 HICKS - Two infants of G. R. & Alma Hicks - 25.Aug 1904 (only date) HICKS, N. D. - dau of W.R. & S. Pierce - 16 Oct 1868 - 22 Aug 1888 HICKS, J. D. - 1 Dec 1861 - 17 Dec 1905 HICKS, Berley L. - 8 Nov 1874 - 9 Jan 1944 :STARNES, 0. L. - son of W.A. & M.E. Starnes : 17 Nov 1886 - 19 Mar 1887 :STARNES, H. C. - son of W.A. & M.E. Starnes : 16 Oct 1892 - ? Apr 1894 (broken stone) STARNES, W. A. - 11 Dec 1853 - 2 Jun 1939 STARNES, Martha E. - wife of W.A. Starnes - 5 Nov 1860 - 16 May 1918 (Woodmen Circle) HENDERSON, _______ie - 1880-1888 (funeral home marker) HENDERSON, Joseph A. - 25 Mar 1847 - 25 Oct 1885 LaGRONE-HENDERSON-TAFT, S. J. - 27 Aug 1854 - 2 Aug 1896 - "Mother" FERGUSON, Ella Mae - 23 Feb 1890 - 9 Jan 1897 FERGUSON, S. P. - 13 May 1862 - 15 Nov 1893 FERGUSON, Neely - son of W. F. & L. M. Ferguson 23 Jan 1892 - 10 Sep 1892 FERGUSON, Mary A. - wife of W. F. Ferguson 6 Mar 1839 - 14 Jul 1887 FERGUSON, W. F. - 16 Dec 1822 - 19 Dec 1883 LOVE, Fannie A. - 2 Aug 1842 - 12 Sep 1893 LOVE, Tho's A. - 24 Sep 1833 - 13 Aug 1882 - "Husband" (emblem with anchor and A.O.U.W.) LOVE, Tommie W. - b. in Talladega Co. Ala. 9 May 1862 d. 11 Feb 1882 LOVE, Johnie A. - 4 Mar 1871 - 17 Apr 1885 - "Darling boy" LOVE, Charlie DeWitt - 29 Oct 1877 - 24 Dec 1886 LOVE, Jule B. - dau of W. C. & A. D. Love - 1 Jan 1891 - 1 Feb 1895 LOVE, Thomas H. - 9 Oct 1893 - 13 Dec 1898 :LOVE, Ada - 16 Nov 1872 - 5 Sep 1904 - "Mother" :LOVE, W. C. - 9 Jul 1866 - 9 Aug 1925 - "Father" LOVE, Brim S. - 19 Apr 1901 - 22 Feb 1958 :HUDDLESTON, Arch H. - 5 Oct 1904 - 17 Jun 1946 - "Father" : Fireman 1 CL USNR :HUDDLESTON, Gertrue - 9 Sep 1905 - 10 Jan 1957 :STRIPLING, Ida M. - 6 Nov 1882 - 4 Nov 1953 :STRIPLING, Robert A. (Bob) - 28 Nov 1870 - 2 Apr 1953 NEWMAN, Mary Madalene Jordan - 9 Aug 1907 - 25 Feb 1950 McCARLEY, John Alonzo - 1894-1976 (funeral home marker) SPEAKMAN, Stephen R. - 19 Jan 1966 (only date) (funeral home marker) McCARLEY, Annie Lois - 1906-1959 (funeral home marker) CREWS, Herman H. - Texas CPL 554 Base Unit AAF W.W.II 30 Jan 1900 - 13 Jun 1957 :CREWS, Kirk E. - 1873-1927 :JUDSON, A. - 1876-1929 :HENDERSON, Albert Sidney - 9 Sep 1885 - 24 Nov 1941 :HENDERSON, Alta Taft - 23 May 1892 - 28 Feb 1973 VINING, Lucy M. - 27 Jan 1847 - 19 Feb 1922 - "Grandmother" HENDERSON, John M. - 10 Jul 1855 - 27 Jan 1939 HENDERSON, Mollie J. - wife of J. M. Henderson 28 Aug 1865 - 11 Aug 1913 (Woodmen Circle) HENDERSON, Infant son of A.S. & A.M. Henderson - b. & d. 22 Jul 1911 HENDERSON, F. Smith - son of W.L. & E.S. Henderson b. in Perry Co. Ala - 8 Mar 1860 - d. 15 Oct 1881 HENDERSON, Wm. L. - 4 Jan 1808 - 10 Dec 1883 - husband & father HENDERSON, Elenor S. - wife of W. L. Henderson 27 Nov 1817 - 8 Oct 1900 FERGUSON, W. P. - 27 Jul 1888 - 24 Feb 1945 McGAHEY, N. E. - 8 Mar 1842 - 3 Oct 1896 - "We loved her" McGAHEY, W. T. - 15 Dec 1834 - 2 Jul 1883 YORK, J. H. - 12 Sep 1876 - 6 Sep 1952 YORK, Lonnie - wife of J. H. York - 10 Jan 1877 - 21 Feb 1936 CREWS, Hattie C. - wife of J. E. Crews - 10 Nov 1850 - 4 Dec 1929 CREWS, J. E. - b. in Perry Co. Ala. 29 Jul 1847 - d. 14 Oct 1883 :TAYLOR, Cheatom - 9 Dec 1881 - 8 Jul 1942 :TAYLOR, Alma - 1 Nov 1882 - 25 Jun 1954 OWENS, Thos. Watson - son of Parris & Emma Owens 19 Jul 1908 - 31 Dec 1909 :HENDERSON, Hugh C. - 28 Mar 1848 - 4 Jul 1885 :HENDERSON, Mary Elizabeth - 15 Oct 1844 - 18 Feb 1925 MINSHEW, Rubie Irene - dau of N. M. & Ula Minshew 1 Nov 1896 - 6 Sep 1906 MENSHEW, Oda - son of N.M. & M.U.Menshew - 2 Dec 1894 - 2 Nov 1895 KENNEDY, William A. - Texas Pvt 515 Field Arty BN 18 Aug 1917 - 4 Apr 1946 WELLS, Elmira - wife of J. T. - 14 Oct 1869 - 1 Jan 1926 KENNEDY, Enoch H. - 12 Dec 1886 - 19 Apr 1971 KENNEDY, Pearl Thelma - 4 Oct 1895 - 22 Jun 1958 KENNEDY, L. M. - 10 Aug 1935 - 7 Jun 1937 KENNEDY, J. H. - 23 Mar 1929 - 13 May 1931 KENNEDY, Leola - 2 Sep 1890 - 19 Sep 1919 KENNEDY, Addie - 12 Apr 1919 - 6 Oct 1919 MUNN, Missouri - 10 Jun 1841 - 22 Mar 1900 MUNN, W. C. (or 0) - d. 20 Jul 1893 aged 66 years HOWARD, Rufus E. - 1902-1903 HOWARD, Cora - dau of S. L. & M. E. Howard - 3 Sep 1875 - 4 Apr 1891 HOWARD, Bertha D. - dau of S. L. & M. E. Howard 25 Oct 1886 - 13 Aug 1889 CURRY, Harper - son of C.F. & Lola Curry - 9 Apr 1900 - 1 Jun 1913 CURRY, Charles Freeman - 24 Nov 1855 - 18 Nov 1903 (W.0.W.) CURRY, Lola - wife of C. F. Curry - 8 Oct 1868 - 8 Mar 1914 CURRY, Horace C. - Tex Pvt Army Air Forces W.W.II - 12 Jul 1902 - 19 Apr 1972 MOORE, James C. - 21 May 1866 - 4 Mar 1920 BEASLEY, Eliza - 2 Jun 1848 - 4 Jul 1926 BEASLEY, L. A. - 13 Mar 1852 - 18 Oct 1935 SIMS, Barcy Bell - dau of I. V. & E. J. Sims 20 Oct 1917 - 3 Jan 1918 JORDAN, William S. - 16 Dec 1915 - 29 Nov 1916 :JORDAN, Mary Victoria - 30 Nov 1885 - 10 Dec 1958 (Mother) :JORDAN, Jesse Aaron - 13 May 1887 - 18 Apr 1961 (Daddy) GORDON, Raymon - son of Mr. & Mrs. F.R. Gordon b. 24 Aug 1920 (not plain) - d. 5 May 1927 GORDON, S. W. - 12 Apr 1858 - 27 Mar 1938 TUCKER, Nell - 1902-1928 (Sister) GORDON, S. M. - 26 Oct 1859 - 4 Dec 1948 BIBBY, Hettie - 1872-1928 (Mother) LYONS, Porter Bryant - 26 Jan 1910 - 1 Feb 1912 LYONS, Mary C. - wife of W.H. Lyons - 22 May 1850 - 11 Jan 1919 LYONS, William H. - Co A 28 Texas Cav C.S.A. 20 Aug 1846 - 25 Feb 1921 LYON, Margerie Lee - dau of H.G. & Fannie Lyon 14 Nov 1924 - 3 Dec 1924 S-ARKEY, C.V. - d. ______16, 1940 - aged 50 yrs, 2 mos 14 days (not clear - funeral home marker ) SAIZON, F. J. - 3 Dec 1891 - 21 Mar 1930 -(crossed guns, U.A.S.) PHELPS, Tommie M. - 25 Jul 1933 (funeral home marker) HESTER, Annell - 11 Jul 1934 - 1 Dec 1935 McCOOL, Mrs. M. J. - 1841-1931 HUDSON, Georgia - wife of W.W. Hudson - 23 Dec 1871 - 31 Mar 1916 HUDSON, W. W. - 24 Jun 1861 - 22 Jan 1933 McCOOL, Martha A. - 1869-1950 McCOOL, William F. - 1864-1932 STROUD, Emma Dera - dau of W.A. & Ella Stroud 6 Dec 1906 - 24 Oct 1912 :STROUD, William A. - 14 Apr 1869 - 6 Dec 1929 (Father) :STROUD, Ella - 27 Nov 1877 - 1 Aug 1966 (Mother) STROUD, Hiram Tate - 19 Mar 1901 - 20 Dec 1968 (Son) HENDERSON, W. D. - 21 Jan 1858 - 5 Feb 1929 HENDERSON, Dora E. - 25 Aug 1859 - 8 Sep 1922 HENDERSON, Lois Pearl - dau of W.D. & Dora Henderson 12 Sep 1896 - 25 May 1897 PIERCE, Infant dau of A.Q. & Demetrius Pierce - b. & d. 1 May 1896 :GILBREATH, George P. - 14 Dec 1883 - 19 Jan 1959 :GILBREATH, Julia A. - 20 Jan 1888 - 5 Apr 1967 RINGER, W. J. - 29 Jun 1865 - 9 Mar 1940 ARNOLD, Louisiana Ringer - 1868-1964 (funeral home marker) HENDERSON, Charlie P. - 22 Jul 1901 - 15 Aug 1966 :HENDERSON, Bennie Lee - 1927-1928 (Son) :HENDERSON, Anna Mary - 1904-1943 (Mother) HUMPHREYS, Lula Stripling - 25 Feb 1873 - 23 Mar 1945 (Mother) PERRYMAN, James - 16 Nov 1836 - 24 Feb 1917 GIBSON, Ethel B. - 19 Aug 1890 - 16 Jul 1909 FLEMING, Infant son of A.C. & A.G. - 1 Jan 1910 - 22 Jan 1910 BIBBY, Lonnie - son of Mr. & Mrs. W.H. Bibby 17 Aug 1908 - 16 Jun 1910 ROWELL, Lola - 14 Aug 1901 - 23 Aug 1928 HICKS, Abbie Josephine - wife of Turan Hicks - Aug 1894 - Sep 1910 MYERS, Russell Ferman - son of G.A. & J. Myers 5 May 1908 - 14 Jun 1909 (Broken stone - no name - b. 19 Nov 1884 - d 6 Apr 1930) (another unmarked) MYERS, G. A. - 6 Mar 1884 - 5 Jan 1953 HICKS, Virginia N. - 1927-1928 (daughter) FLEMING, W. W. - 2 Feb 1877 - 25 Oct 1942 STRIPLING, Lula C. - wife of D.J. Stripling 28 Aug 1874 - 22 Nov 1911 STRIPLING, Jones - 7 Jul 1875 - 5 Jun 1911 :FLEMING, Adella R. - 19 Oct 1873 - 20 Oct 1943 :FLEMING, Milton R. - 14 Jan 1862 - 27 Aug 1931 NUNNELEE, Lois Estelle - 19 Mar 1906 - 11 Aug 1908 MYERS, Mary E. - wife of I.F. Myers - 14 Dec 1855 - 24 Oct 1922 MYERS, J. E. - 17 Mar 1853 - 21 Jul 1934 HALL, Leila - 1878-1932 (Mother) HALL, 0. G. - 1877-1935 (Father) WAY, Sharlotte - 19 Dec 1839 - 15 Nov 1921 WAY, John - 24 Mar 1840 - 29 ()ct 1907 SUTTON, Suffia - d. 9 Oct 1901 age 85 yrs :FERGUSON, W.M. Forrest - 19 Jul 1864 - 22 Dec 1903 :FERGUSON, Lillie M. - 20 Jun 1868 - 20 May 1950 FERGUSON, John Allen - Texas Pvt U.S.Army W.W.I 24 Sep 1893 - 17 Feb 1971 BROWN, Hiram S. - 16 Jul 1878 - 27 Jan 1944 HERNDON, Mary Jane - 29 Dec 1923 - 11 Mar 1924 (Baby) BROWN, Langford Ray - 2 Oct 1917 - 13 Mar 1918 (Baby) :GIBSON, Fannie E. - 1860-1904 :GIBSON, Jule S. - 1858-1926 BROWN, Janie (Gibson) - 16 Feb 1887 - (only date) (Mama) BROWN, Mrs. J. F. - 4 Oct 1850 - 5 Dec 1913 FORD, Elmer V. - 1902-1977 (Babe) ) :GRAHAM, James M. - 1890-1956 ) these six in one :GRAHAM, Velma F. - 1896-1965 ) concrete FORD, Edna Sloan - 1894-1919 ) enclosure FORD, Zaidee B. - 1873-1976 ) FORD, Joe P. - 1870-1940 ) :RICHARDS, James Edward - 23 Feb 1942 - 20 Oct 1944 :RICHARDS, Maggie Florence - 12 Dec 1900 - 25 Mar 1945 :JOHNSON, John D. - 18 Oct 1901 - 18 Mar 1960 (Father) :JOHNSON, Roma I. - 14 Apr 1916 (only date) :HOWARD, Lizzie Lee - 1888-1964) wedded 53 years :HOWARD, C. Lamar - 1888-1963 ) HOWARD, Bera Mae - dau of C.L. & L.L. Howard 24 Jan 1917 - 13 Mar 1918 DAVIS, Horace Ishman - F 1 U.S.Navy W.W.I - 4 Dec 1891 - 24 Mar 1980 SPENCER, Elizabeth May - 23 Dec 1849 - 27 May 1932 SPENCER, Thomas C. - Co B 14 Va Cav C.S.A. - 15 Oct 1841 - 16 Feb 1924 VERNON, Lenora - dau of S. A. & E. L. Vernon 23 Sep 1909 - 3 Feb 1911 DUPUY, Watkins - 20 Feb 1843 - 4 Dec 1894 HIGGINBOTHAM, Martha E.(wife of T.Higginbotham) 21 Feb 1891 age 43 yr 10 mo CREWS, Roy - son of H. C. & S. J. Crews b. 12 Jul 1890 - 27 Sep 1890 CREWS, Jesse - son of H. C. & S. J. Crews 27 Sep 1892 - 30 Sep 1892 :CREWS, Henry C. - 26 Sep 1857 - 30 Aug 1929 :CREWS, Sallie J. - 12 Jan 1853 - 2 Mar 1941 McGAHEY, Thomas Ward - son of Mr. & Mrs. J. M. McGahey - 1891 :McGAHEY, James M. - 14 Sep 1861 - 17 Nov 1939 :McGAHEY, Alice S. - 17 Mar 1865 - 9 May 1939 WHISENHUNT, Lottie Mae - dau of J. M. & Alice McGahey - 1897-1954 McGAHEY, Ernest - 21 Sep 1905 - 3 Jan 1969 MINSHEW, Walter & Edna - infants of Geo. & Recky Minshew MINSHEW, Recky - wife of Geo. Minshew - 2 Feb 1888 - 15 Feb 1922 MINSHEW, George - 13 May 1872 - 19 Nov 1946 MINSHEW, Pearl - 30 Mar 1886 - 24 Aug 1946 LASETER, Mattie M. - wife of J. B. Laseter 1 Feb 1842 - 3 Feb 1898 :STRIPLING, C. L. - 7 Dec 1848 - 4 Feb 1920 :STRIPLING, Elizabeth - 13 Sep 1849 - 21 Jul 1931 LANE, Thomas Allen - 1964-1965 (funeral home marker) KENNEDY, L. A. - 1 Dec 1852 - 20 Dec 1929 :HENDERSON, J. Lee - 1875-1930 :HENDERSON, L. Eva - 1878-1964 HENDERSON, T. Edgar - son of Mr. & Mrs. J.L. Henderson 24 Jul 1911 - 30 Jan 1913 ANDERSON, Infant son of Mr. & Mrs. W.C. Anderson - 1921 :COLE, Virginia - 10 Apr 1854 - 5 Mar 1902 :COLE, William S. - Co C 14th Bn GA Lt Arty C.S.A. 6 Nov 1843 - 14 Jan 1941 CURRY, Louisa - wife of Jno. F. Curry - 8 Jul 1819 - 18 Nov 1897 COLE, India F. - 21 Apr 1880 - 12 Nov 1881 COLE, Oscar W. - 9 Apr 1882 - 17 Oct 1883 COLE, Charlie F. - 18 Aug 1885 - 18 Oct 1885 COLE, Claudius F. - 30 Jul 1877 - 23 May 1889 COLE, Melissa E. - 3 May 1889 - 12 Feb 1890 COLE, Alison David - son of W.S. & Virginia Cole 30 Aug 1883 - 13 Apr 1896 COLE, Horace B. - son of Virginia Cole - 15 Dec 1893 - 8 Apr 1903 ADAMS, Trudy Lynn - inf dau of Onie & Foy Adams - 21 May 1958 :BEASLEY, John Harold - Texas Sgt Hq Co 359 Infantry W.W.II - B.S.M. 30 Oct 1914 - 16 Jun 1962 (Daddy) :BEASLEY - (blank - Mama) :BEASLEY, Torrence - 19 Jul 1891 - 26 Nov 1964 (Daddy) :BEASLEY, Vera - 5 Aug 1896 - 27 Mar 1982 (Mother) SLOVER, James Howard - 22 Jun 1952 - 23 Jun 1952 (Our Baby) :SLOVER, B. C. "Buddy", Jr. - 17 Jun 1927 - 3 Jun 1978 ) married :SLOVER, Betty Jean - 7 Oct 1928 (only date) ) 16 Dec 1946 :COLE, A. D. - 7 Apr 1876 - 1 Nov 1959 ) married :COLE, Eugenia L. - 5 Sep 1878 - 16 Aug 1958 ) 14 Feb 1900 COLE, Oscar Hall - son of A.D. & E.L. Cole - 3 Jan 1909 - 15 Dec 1912 COLE, Horace Clyde - son of A.D. & E.L. Cole 16 Mar 1906 - 23 Jul 1908 COLE, Rena May - dau of AD. & EL. Cole - 18 Jan 1901 - 15 Feb 1904 :COLE, Roxie S. - 6 Nov 1876 - 16 May 1949 :COLE, Samuel T. - 25 Jul 1870 - 19 Nov 1954 KENNEDY, Clem - 28 Nov 1894 - 2 Jul 1962 (Mother) KENNEDY, Grady - 24 Feb 1887 - 27 May 1967 (Father) :STARNES, Ida J. - 26 Aug 1884 - 12 Nov 1958 :STARNES, Henry M. - 6 May 1883 - 24 Jul 1962 :HICKS, Doris - 24 Jun 1906 (only date) :HICKS, Johnnie B. - 26 Nov 1897 - 10 Feb 1962 :JOHNSON, Mary Lee - 23 Sep 1936 - 19 Sep 1964 ) married :JOHNSON, Buddy Wayne - 3 Jan 1936 (only date) ) 23 Nov 1955 :JOHNSON, Benji - 30 Aug 1964 - 19 Sep 1964 :CREWS, Isaac Leslie - 1904-1965 :CREWS, Eula Mae - 1906- :TUCKER, Leonard B. - 1882-1967 (Papa) :TUCKER, Exie M. - 1884-1975 (Mama) :BUCKALEW, Ira John - 8 Jan 1900 - 30 Jul 1967 ) married :BUCKALEW, M. Eleanor - 25 Jan 1899 (only date) ) 19 Jan 1919 :SHORES, Homer Riley - Texas Cpl U.S.Army W.W.II : 8 Nov 1911 - 17 May 1968 :SHORES, Vera M. - 1904-1980 TAYLOR, Ruby Florence - 7 Jan 1924 - 2 Jun 1969 BOONE, Randy Ray - 1957-1978 (funeral home marker) :COOK, Andrew - 15 Mar 1919 - 6 Nov 1971 - "Andy" :COOK, Mildred - 18 Nov 1921 (only date) :TAYLOR, Fred Edwin - Texas Pfc U.S.Army W.W.II : 25 Apr 1925 - 25 Jan 1973 :TAYLOR, Ruth E. - 1932- :CRAWFORD, Billie E. - 12 Oct 1927 - 11 May 1974 (Son) :CRAWFORD, Esther M. - 27 Oct 1908 - 20 Aug 1970 (Mother) :CRAWFORD, Bridges E. - Pvt U.S.Army W.W.I - 12 May 1895 - 16 Jun 1977 :BIBBY, Bernice - 1887-1966 (Mother) :BIBBY, Wm. Hampton - 1878-1953 (Father) CREWS, Leslie Lee - Texas Cpl U.S.Army - 13 Sep 1929 - 17 Jun 1964 :CREWS, Raymond - b. & d. 13 Jan 1947 :CREWS, Beatrice - 11 Feb 1906 - 7 Aug 1980 (Mother) :CREWS, Jesse - 8 Nov 1898 - 1 Jan 1976 (Daddy) :CREWS, Laura C. - 23 Nov 1877 - 24 Jun 1960 :CREWS, Doiphus - 21 Mar 1875 - 12 Dec 1947 CRONE, Albert Thomas - 17 Feb 1852 - 1 Jun 1929 GIBSON, Walter H. - Texas Cook U.S. Army W.W.I 8 Dec 1891 - 15 Jul 1962 STEED, John W. - 1876-1940 (Papa) STEED, J.B. - husband of M. A. Steed - 25 Sep 1854 - 2? Sep 1894 STEED, Julia Irene - dau of J. B. & M. A. Steed 6 Dec 1878 - 13 Jan 1899 STEED, Rolly Eugene - son of J. B. & M. A. Steed 25 Apr 1883 - 13 Jan 1902 STEED, James E. - son of J. B. & M. A. Steed 13 Jan 1881 - 18 Dec 1919 (Woodmen of the World) LYON, Bashaba - wife of J. E. Lyon - died 20 Mar 1919 LYON, J. E. - 25 Dec 1823 - 20 May 1903 :STARNES, Emma - 6 Feb 1868 - 7 Jan 1936 :STARNES, Flay L. - 9 Dec 1862 - 20 Jan 1934 STARNES, Lois P. - dau of F.L. & Emma Starnes 17 Aug 1896 - 5 Jun 1904 WATKINS, Julia Pearl - eldest dau of R. P. & E. L. Watkins 20 Aug 1874 - 15 Oct 1886 WATKINS, Emma L. - wife of R. P. Watkins 8 Dec 1884 aged 36 yr 3 mo 28 da WATKINS, Robert P. - 24 Feb 1849 - 5 Oct 1893 WILLARD, Mary L. Starnes - 18 Jun 1905 - 18 Feb 1945 STARNES, Cecil (?) Judson - 5 Nov 1903 - 21 May 1905 (first name chipped) FORD, Johnnie Mae - 30 Dec 1925 - 15 Aug 1933 :FORD, Elvira - 12 Oct 1897 (only date) :FORD, Victor R. - 27 Aug 1898 - 11 Aug 1958 :BROWN, Etta S. - 30 Jul 1892 (only date) :BROWN, Brooks - 23 Jul 1886 - 5 May 1942 CHAMBLEE, Elton - Texas Sgt 2630 Base Unit AAF W.W.II - 12 Jan 1915 1 Feb 1953 - (Footstone: Isom E. Chamblee) - (picture) KIRBY, Carroll 0. - Texas Cpl 132 Inf W.W.II 9 May 1921 - 8 Aug 1947 - (picture) :LYON, Lula G. - 1 Sep 1913 (only date) - (picture) :LYON, Henry Dewey - 19 Jun 1914 - 4 Jul 1974 - (Daddy) - (W.0.W.) LYON, Fannie - 19 Jun 1890 (only date) LYON, Henry Grady - 22 Jan 1890 - 18 Oct 1952 (Father) - (Picture) :RIEKE, Harry H. - 1898-1972 (Daddy) :RIEKE, Myrtle M. - 1898-1973 (Mommy) :HALL, Thomas Coyle - 1898-1973 (Daddy) :HALL, Mattie Lou - 1908- :WILLIAMS, Edward C. - 24 Feb 1916 (only date) (Masonic emblem) : married 3O Jun 1934 :WILLIAMS, Frances E. - 1 Aug 1915 - 7 Jul 1977 - (Mother) WIMBERLY, Inice E. - 27 Jul 1905 (only date) :GLOVER, Gene P. - 21 Nov 1916 - 3 Apr 1973 (Husband) :GLOVER, Leona E. - 2 Jan 1924 - 10 Aug 1975 (Wife) :HOWARD, Susan P. - 5 Jul 1865 - 18 Mar 1947 :HOWARD, Elzie L. - 29 Dec 1859 - 18 Feb 1951 :MEYERS, Wm. Oscar - 1 Oct 1880 - 4 Feb 1961 :MEYERS, Ethel Howard - 15 Sep 1884 - 18 Sep 1943 :CREWS, Lena Belle - 31 Jul 1895 - 10 Mar 1978 :CREWS, Henry Robert - 12 Jan 1881 - 28 Jun 1947 - b. Smith Co. Tx CREWS, Hattie Maurine - dau of H.R. & Lena B. Crews 14 May 1915 - 2 Dec 1915 LONG, Elijah - 12 Nov 1854 - 12 Jul 1939 LONG, Josephine T. - 11 Jun 1857 - 13 Aug 1930 LONG, Emma 0. - dau of E. & J.T. Long - 6 Oct 1882 - 4 Nov 1883 STEED, Mosey Bell - dau of B. & H. Steed 24 Aug 1888 - 12 Nov 1892 - aged 4 yrs 2 mos 19 days FLEMING, Infant son of C.W. & Lovie Fleming - b & d 4 Mar 1910 (broken stone) FLEMING, Mary Elizabeth - wife of C.W. Fleming 7 Aug 1852 - 9 Nov 1898 FLEMING, C. W. - 29 Oct 1852 - 14 Apr 1914 :McDOWELL, Lovie D. - 19 Jan 1881 - 18 Sep 1962 (on stone with Fleming, below) :FLEMING, Horace C. - Texas SC 2 U.S.N.R. W.W.II 10 Jan 1911 - 14 Nov 1952 LOVE, D. Buie - 1873-1952 LOVE, F. B. - 22 Jan 1875 - 15 Nov 1911 (Masonic emblem) CLARK, Zoe Evelyn Crews - 12 Jun 1917 - 31 Jul 1972 SHORES, Paul W. - 1 Feb 1902 - 25 Apr 1946 (Son) :SHORES, Ada Belle - 14 Apr 1876 - 23 Jun 1963 :SHORES, Wm. R. - 25 Nov 1868 - 29 Jan 1946 SHORES, Murray C. - S/Sgt U.S. Army W.W.II - Apr 1906 - Sep 1978 (military marker) BURK, F. J. - 5 Apr 1858 - 6 Sep 1945 WOOD, Norval D. - 19 Feb 1931 - 3 Aug 1951 EASON, Walter Wm. - 29 Jan 1879 - 14 Sep 1967 SANFORD, Hickey Lee - 1973-1973 (funeral home marker) :SANFORD, Roland - 20 Jul 1921 - 14 Jul 1974 (Masonic emblem) :SANFORD, Inez - 24 Feb 1923 (only date) :GORDEN, Roland - 1898-1975 (Daddy) ) married 13 Apr 1913 :GORDEN, Onnie - 1903- ) GORDON, Roy E. - 1940-1981 (funeral home marker) --------------------------------------------------------------------- HISTORY OF BETHESDA CEMETERY By Minnie Henderson Hawkins, circa 1956 Seventy five years ago Bethesda Cemetery came into existence when, on October 15, 1881, Franklin Smith Henderson, 21-year-old son of William Lee and Eleanor Celina Henderson was laid to rest. His grave was the first in the cemetery, for which land was donated in 1880 by his brother, W D Henderson and sister, Mrs Mary Henderson Dobbins. Each had given two acres off their farms for the community church, its yard and the cemetery, because these hardy pioneers and ancestors knew that no community is complete without a church to worship its God and a plot of ground reverently dedicated to the burial of its deceased. The cemetery had not yet been laid out nor the church completed when the first grave was placed. History tells us that the day following the funeral, Franklin's older brothers erected a fence around the grave to keep off grazing cattle. As soon after this as posts could be cut and wire secured, an ordinary barbed wire fence was built. In 1882 the second grave was placed in the cemetery -- Name: William Love. William Lee and Eleanor Celina Henderson are buried in Bethesda. Seven of their nine children, with their husbands and wives are resting here. A nephew, Hugh Henderson and his wife, Bettie Henderson are also buried in Bethesda. The cemetery grew, cared for by those whose loved ones rested here. And each year when the group met to work the year, to remove grass and weeds and unwanted debris, there were more graves to tend than there had been the year before. The markers that were erected bear names of numerous community leaders -- the Hendersons, Crews, Lyons, Starnes, Hicks Hudsons, Flemings, Fergusons, and McGaheys. People who came to Bethesda community before it was a community, who had their roots here, who lived here, reared their families and died, according to their own precepts of God's teaching. Bethesda Cemetery has never been denominational. It has never asked a man's creed, nor his background. It has never accepted his money in token of a final resting place. As the years went by and the cemetery enlarged, something more than a yearly donation of labor was called for. In 1905, H C Crews, a son-in-law of the cemetery's founders, organized the Bethesda Association with his brother-in-law, J M Henderson, as first chairman and himself as secretary-treasurer. The first planning committee was composed of J M Hicks, T C Pierce, W S Cole and W J Wadell. F L Starnes became the first paid caretaker. His services cost fifty cents per day. In succeeding years H R Crews, H C Crews, Delphis Crews, W H Gibson, C L Howard and Dewey Lyons have served faithfully as trusted keepers of Bethesda. The salaries of these men, plus improvements have been financed by donations. Each year a beautifying committee has added flowers and shrubbery to the cemetery. Emmett Henderson, owner of Henderson's Nursery, Athens, donated hedge, crepe myrtle and rose bushes to the association in memory of his parents, Hugh and Bettie Henderson. Association committee chairmen have been John M Henderson, W S Cole, J J Pierce, F Starnes, E L Howard, H R Crews, Logan Crews and Whan Shores. Secretary-Treasurers include the names of H C Crews, H R Crews, W J Crews, J A Ferguson, W H Gibson and Aubrey Starnes. In 1953 the Beautifying Committee, composed of Mrs Nora Mallory, Mrs Tommy Mae Kimerly, Mrs Mattie Lou Hall, Mrs Helen Shores and Mrs Leta Mae Pool undertook the most ambitious project yet attempted for the cemetery --- building of a permanent fence. At the cost of $978.50 and countless hours of time in writing letters, the fence became a reality. The arch-gate and chain link fence were completed in 1954. On this July 22, 1956, 75 years after the first grave was placed in Bethesda, 50 years after the formal organization of the cemetery association, graves of our ancestors have multiplied within Bethesda Cemetery. There are now 415 graves here. The period of time spanned by these 75 progressive years was marked by two world wars. It has seen the first fumbling efforts of automotive history. It has been here while the drone of airplane motors has become an every-day occurrence. The young people of this community have been nurtured here in the best traditions of their country, their home, and their God. They have gone out to be ministers . . . doctor . . . teachers . . .and above all outstanding mothers and dads, who create and teach the generations of today and of tomorrow. The years have brought many changes to the outward appearance of Bethesda. In its early years, almost one-half of the burials here were those of babies and young children. In the past 25 years infant deaths have declined and in the past decade they are virtually non-existent. Each year since the organization of Bethesda Association, a Memorial Service has been held in memory of those who rest here. Not one has gone without the human sadness and grief felt by those who are left behind. And yet, Memorial Day has come to mean a time of rejoicing for those who come each year, a time of renewal of acquaintances, a time of pleasant associations. It is just as those who rest here would have it be. For beyond the grave is eternal life, and those of us here today are merely writing another chapter in the history of Bethesda Cemetery. The History of Bethesda Cemetery was contributed by Sandra Coulter - sandyc@cebridge.net