Ramey Cemetery, Wise, Va submitted by Paul M. Rose ***************************************************************************** USGenWeb NOTICE: Libraries and individual researchers may download this file for personal, non-commercial use only. Any other use requires written permission from the transcriber. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ********************************************************************** RAMEY Cemetery or Nicholas Floyd RAMEY / N.F. RAMEY Cemetery (Approximately: 36 deg 55'33"N 082 deg 27'23"W) This cemetery has been listed in a book written by James Taylor Adams from his visit to Powerstown on November 13, 1941. Later published, a copy of the book is in the archives of the University of Virginia in Wise, (Clinch Valley College), VA. It has not been seen by this submitter. I believe the information below to be as accurate as possible; but I am certainly willing to correct and update with any changes received. Original Registration: July 2001, This is an update/correction, October 2002. Located 1.2 miles south of Coeburn, Wise County, Virginia, on the Dungannon Road leading into Flatwoods. Recorded on USGS topographic maps of the area (100,000:1 scale or better). This small, well-maintained family cemetery is located on a small knoll that overlooks the rolling hills of the Powerstown community toward the southeast and Flatwoods community to the south. The first family to rest in the cemetery was Nicholas Floyd Ramey, as it was on his 21 acres of hillside and farmland where it was first fenced and recorded. Tombstones face east and a few are visible from the Dungannon Road (VA Hwy 72). On the property of James E. Rose, it borders the properties of James E. Rose and Rev. Joe E. Ramey, Jr.; both great-grandsons of N. F. Ramey. The closest driveway access is via Rev. Joe E. Ramey, Jr.'s residence. Tombstone: NICHOLAS FLOYD RAMEY and MARY CATHERINE (BAKER) RAMEY (Married on Nov 16, 1891) Nicholas was the son of Berry Calhoun RAMEY (CSA veteran) from Scott County, VA; and Jane HORNE from the later-named community of Coeburn, Wise County, VA. Nicholas was born in Bondtown, Coeburn, Wise County, VA on Feb 07, 1866 and died on Feb 14, 1938 in his home on the property of apparent throat problems and s ubsequent heart attack. (His home is now the residence of Mary (RAMEY) (ROSE) LAWSON, his granddaughter.) Mary Catherine BAKER was the daughter of Isaac "Watson" BAKER and Elizabeth "Betty" C. LAWSON of Scott Co, VA. Mary Catherine, later called "Granny", was born near Nickelsville, Scott Co, VA on Mar 11 1868 and died at the age of 97 in Powerstown, Coeburn, Wise Co, VA, on Apr 08, 1966 of congestive heart failure. Tombstone: ERNEST HENRY RAMEY and MARTHA "PLUMA" (DOUGHERTY) RAMEY (Married on Dec 15, 1915) Ernest was the son of Nicholas Floyd RAMEY and Jane Mary Catherine (Baker) RAMEY. Ernest was born in Bondtown, Coeburn, Wise County, VA on Aug 08, 1893 and died on Nov 19, 1971; a few weeks after moving back to the property from his farm in Knoxville, TN. He had circulatory problems after his retirement. He was a big, tall man, and at one time weighed 375 pounds. Martha "Pluma" DOUGHERTY, was the youngest daughter of William Christopher DOUGHERTY and Nancy I. DINGUS, both from the Valley Creek area about four miles northwest of Nickelsville, Scott County, VA. "Mama", as Martha was later called by family, was born on Sep 05, 1891 and died at the age of 101 in Powerstown, Coeburn, Wise Co, VA, on Sep 25, 1992. She had a remarkably clear mind until shortly before her death. She was given the almost exclusively used name of "Pluma" from an Indian who visited the Dougherty farm before 1900; "La Pluma" means Little Feather, which perfectly described Martha... a short and dainty youth. Tombstone: EDITH RAMEY (Died age 4) Edith was the third daughter of Ernest H. RAMEY and "Pluma" (Dougherty) RAMEY. Edith was born in the E.H. Ramey home by the Guest River in Powerstown, Coeburn, Wise County, VA on Oct 30, 1922. She died as a result of "blood flux" (a common occurrence of the area and time) in her intestinal track on May 30, 1927. She was originally buried in the Baker Cemetery in Flatwoods, but moved to this new site when this Ramey Cemetery was sanctified. Tombstone: JESSEE JAMES ROSE and MARY (RAMEY) (ROSE) LAWSON (Married James ROSE on June 26, 1940) (Mary later married James "Beeb" Carson LAWSON in 1975.) James, called "Buddy" by friends and family (he didn't use Jessee as an adult), was the first issue of Benjamin Harrison ROSE born in Dickenson Co, and Virginia "Jennie" (Fraley) ROSE born in Russell Co, VA. James was born in Vicco (Now Banner), Coeburn, Wise County, VA on Dec 27, 1916 and died on Aug 9, 1973; heart attack and with complications from coal miner's "black lung". He was a coal miner, salesman, and Southern Baptist preacher, a Reverend for 27 years, a Mason. Mary and James' tombstone are one stone. She is living in the nearby N. F. Ramey home. Mary was born in Maytown, a southwestern Coeburn community, Wise County, VA, on Dec 21, 1920. She remarried to James Carson LAWSON in 1975; a loving Stepfather to Mary's grown children and family. James C. LAWSON died in March 2, 1993 and is buried with his first spouse (Margie Amily CLAY) in Crab Orchard, Coeburn, VA. JOE ERNEST RAMEY, Sr. Joe was the second issue of Ernest H. RAMEY and Pluma (Dougherty) RAMEY. Joe was born in Maytown, Coeburn, Wise County, VA on Apr 10, 1919 and died on Aug 9, 1994 of heart problems (pacemaker). He was a WW-II veteran, and engineer the U.S. Army in SW Asia. His career continued the family tradition as a carpenter, brick layer, and later as an instructor for Wise County's technical vocation school. Later in life, he made dulcimers and played string musical instruments. He married Nannie/Nannah "Brucie" ADDINGTON, and they had four issue. They were later divorced. Brucie lives beside her first son, Rev. Joe E. RAMEY, Jr., beside this cemetery. DONALD P. AHEARN Don was the spouse of Nancy Bula RAMEY, the youngest daughter of Ernest and Pluma RAMEY. He was born on Mar 30, 1923 (marker reads 1922) in/near Boston, MA; and died on Sep 27, 1992 in Whittier, CA. He presently does not have a stone marker. Nancy is still living "out west" in California. SHAYLOR ROBBINS Shaylor was the first spouse of Nita RAMEY, the first issue of Ernest H. RAMEY and Pluma (Dougherty) RAMEY. Nita is buried beside him. They were married on Jan 15, 1937 in Coeburn, VA. They have three issue. Shaylor was born in the Banner (Vicco) area of Coeburn, Wise County, VA on Dec 06, 1914 and died from injuries of a truck wreck on Jun 21, 1951. He was the first cousin of James ROSE, buried in this same cemetery. NITA (RAMEY) (ROBBINS) KILGORE Nita was the first issue of Ernest H. RAMEY and Pluma (Dougherty) RAMEY. Nita first married Shaylor ROBBINS, and after his death, later married George Patrick "Pat" KILGORE from Sandy Ridge, St. Paul, Russell Co, VA. Nita is buried beside Shaylor. Shaylor and she were married on Jan 15, 1937, in Coeburn, VA. Nita had no issue with Pat. Nita; born in Maytown, Coeburn, VA on May 10, 1917, was the family genealogist. For thirty years she researched the family and traveled and recorded voluminous information for a potential book. She died on Mar 14, 1980, from lung problems. She was a heavy smoker. ADDITIONAL NOTES OF INTEREST: There is enough room for about 50 more grave sites within this small cemetery lot. Two small unmarked graves are on the westernmost edge of the site near the head of the grave of Donald AHEARN. The temporary markers for these small graves have since disappeared (in the 1960s). The pre-natal infants buried in these spots are the lost issues of James and Mary ROSE and Joe and Brucie RAMEY. The pre-natals were never named and their sex was not determinable. Nearby, to the north about 250 feet is the Joel BEVERLY Cemetery with at least one unidentified civil war soldier who died at the nearby Freeman BEVERLY's house from wounds after a skirmish. Numerous sunken sites without markers are near the cemetery, ages and origins of these are unknown. At least one slave, name unavailable, was buried beside this nearby cemetery, but records are not presently available after the property was bought by Nicholas Floyd RAMEY in about 1921. This graveyard is also listed in Mr. Adam's book. Rumors of Indian lodging and meeting sites near this hillside are not confirmed. -------------------------------- Re-submitted with corrections in October 2002, queries to this report may be sent to me: Paul M. ROSE, son of James and Mary ROSE. My e-mail is theroses@knology.net and my mailing address should, for a while, be 914 Rainelli Court, Panama City, FL 32404-2336.