AMHERST COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Chenault Cemetery ----¤¤¤---- Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, The old Chenault graveyard: 1936 Nov. 24 Research made by W.C. Crews Cemetery Location: Madison Heights, Virginia, north on Main Street, to Route #1004, .45 of a mile, thence southwest to J.W. Turner’s Filling Station .2 of a mile, 300 yards north side on top of ridge. Amherst County OWNERS: John Chenault, prior to 1875. The surrounding land now owned by N.M. Worley, Madison Heights, Virginia (1936). DESCRIPTION: This cemetery is about 35 square feet. One can stand within 20 feet of the tombstones and not see them, because of underbrush, honeysuckles and scrub pines. Several large tombstones have fallen into a heap. A portion of the paling fence remains. The prose portion of the inscriptions are done in small artistic script, the most beautiful so far encountered anywhere. Several of the stones are majestic in size, and the pattern would do justice in a large city cemetery, they doubtless cost a large sum of money. It is in a very odd out-of-the-way place semingly, but when it first began to take form, the main road from Lynchburg, through Amherst County passed along to the east of it only a short distance from the road, and it was doubtless very impressive then. Long since, however, this road has been abandoned and grown up with pine trees. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This cemetery lot was set aside by John Chenault, who was an original owner, and died in 1875. The inscriptions are as follows: In memory of Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. John Chenault Died May 9th. 1875 Age 77 years, 3 months. (Written on Bible carved on stone, and father of Calvin Chenault.) In loving remembrance Calvin Chenault Born March 10, 1834 Died Nov. 25, 1914 Father (Was Locomotive Engineer for N. & W. Rwy., between Lynchburg and Bristol, Va.) Sacred to the memory of Mary F. wife of Calvin Chenault Born March 25, 1838 Died January 9, 1892 My flesh shall slumber in the ground Till the last trumpet’s joyful sound Then burst the chain with sweet surprise And in my Savior’s image rise. Life’s labor done, as sinks the clay, Light from its load the spirit flies, While Heaven and earth combine to say, How blest the righteous when he dies. (When his wife died, he vowed he didn’t want to live but 3 weeks. The following January he married the second time.) John Edward Chenault Born Dec. 25, 1853 Died Aug. 8, 1886 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. A home in Heaven As the sufferer lies On his bed of pain And uplifts his eyes To that bright home What a joy is given With the blessed thought Of his home in Heaven. Sarah Jane wife of Wm. H. Rabbitt Born April 26, 1844 Died Oct. 17, 1882 She was but as a smile Which glistens in a tear, Seen but a little while But Ah! how loved how dear. Her suffering ended with the day, Yet lived she at its close, And breathed the long night away In statue like repose. RABBITT In memory of Sarah Turbitt Died October 18, 1881 Aged 70 years No more shall we hear her kind gentle voice For the Soul that so loved us has fled No more shall we see her dear loving smile, For the mother who loved us is dead. Sadly we gazed on that calm peaceful face We remember the last word she said, Be kind to each other my children I pray And then we were told she was dead, Bitter the tears that we shed on her grave. While kind words of comfort were said But naught can assuage the grief at our hearts, For we are lonely since mother is dead. In memory of William D. Turbitt Born April 26th. 1844 Died Jan’y 29th. 1857 A little time on earth he spent Till for God his angel sent, And then on time he closed his eyes To make to glory in the skies The close may fade, the lily die, Bad flowers immortal bloom on high, Beyond the taint of sinful powers Our son is safe in Eden’s bowers. In memory of Adelina daughter of Calvin & Mary Frances Chenault Born Dec.r 25th. 1857 Died Aug. 29th. 1871 In the 11th year of her age Peacefully thy silent slumber peaceful in the grave so low Thou no more will join our number Thou no more our songs shall know. Dearest daughter thou hast left us We thy loss most deeply feel But this God that hath bereft us, He can all our sorrows heal. Yet again we hope to meet thee When our day of life has fled Then in Heaven with joy to greet thee Where no farewell tear is shed. In addition to the above, according to Mrs. W.M. Bryant, of Madison Heights, Virginia, whose father was James Chenault, who is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Lynchburg, Virginia, says the following are buried in this cemetery in unmarked graves: Mrs. Pauline Chenault, nee Evans – Grandmother of Mrs. W.M. Bryant. Age and death unknown. Henry Chenault, died about 1906, age unknown. Matilda Chenault, wife of Henry Chenault, age and death unknown. The Chenaults, Turbitts and Rabbitts were related, also to the Gilliams. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Informants: Mr. T.S. Irvin Mrs. W.M. Bryant T.L. Coleman T.H. Banton All from Madison Heights, Virginia ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joan Renfrow NOTICE: I have no relationship or further information in regards to this family. ___________________________________________________________________