Wordless Wednesday - Hal M. Shrock's Grave Marker

This triple grave stone is located in Hillcrest ("Goodman") Cemetery, among other graves of deceased members of the Shrock family of Holmes and Attala Counties.

Source: Digital Photograph Collection (2009), privately held by Janice Tracy

The Semmes Family - St. Mary of the Springs Cemetery

The grave marker pictured here identifies the final resting place in St. Mary of the Springs Cemetery, Madison County, Mississippi, of Walter Semmes, Ignatius Semmes, and Emily Semmes.

The Semmes family were early settlers of Madison County, having taken a migration path from Charles County, Maryland that included Wilkes County and Savannah, in Georgia. Included among its family members in Mississippi and elsewhere, were physicians, merchants, and at least one Catholic priest.

A biography of the Semmes family can be read here.

Wordless Wednesday - Sarah Donald's Grave Marker

Sarah Donald, b. 1856 d. 1910

Hillcrest Cemetery, Goodman, MS

Source: Digital Photography Collection (2009), privately held by Janice Tracy

Tombstone Tuesday - Lucy Lula Bass

The tombstone pictured here is that of my maternal great-grandmother, Lucy Lula Trigleth Pettus Bass. She was born Lucy Lula Trigleth and married my maternal great-grandfather, William Elza Pettus around 1900. After her first husband died, Lucy remarried, and her grave stone shows "Bass," the surname of her second husband. Lucy was born on March 15, 1881 and died on April 7, 1951, and is buried in Coxburg Cemetery in Holmes County, near numerous graves of other members of the Pettus and Trigleth families. Lucy's grave marker is a simple rectangular stone, with engravings of palm leaves and the word "Mother" stamped on the top.

Source: Digital Photograph Collection (2009), privately held by Janice Tracy

Tombstone Tuesday - W. F. Michell's Woodmen of the World Grave Stone

The Woodmen of the World grave monument pictured here marks the grave of W. F. Mitchell in Hillcrest Cemetery (aka Goodman Cemetery) in the town of Goodman in Holmes County, Mississippi. According to the inscription on the marker, Mr. Mitchell was born on August 8, 1856 and died February 25, 1915.

Although there are numerous designs for Woodmen of the World monuments that exist in the cemeteries of Mississippi, this monument has two distinct differences from others that I have seen. First, the base is wider, a design that is more characteristic of an actual tree "trunk." The second difference is seen in the way the scroll that bears the Woodmen of the World emblem appears to hang from the bow of a ribbon that wraps around the top of the marker.

Source: Digital Photograph Collection (2009) - privately owned by Janice Tracy

Jessamine Cemetery - Ridgeland, Mississippi

Photo: Digital Collection (2009), privately held by Janice Tracy

The entrance to Jessamine Cemetery in Ridgeland, Madison County, Mississippi is seen above. With its historic area and another one that contains more recent burials, the cemetery is owned and maintained by The City of Ridgleland. Partially surrounded by a newer housing development with well-kept, tree-shaded yards, and a portion of the Natchez Trace Parkway, the cemetery is in a serene and peaceful setting in one of Madison County's most beautiful areas.

Already buried in Jessamine Cemetery are some of Madison County's early settlers, including James B. Yellowly, known as the "Father of Ridgeland." Among others buried in the cemetery are members of families with the surnames of Adcock, Battley, Baker, Carr, DeVelling, McNair, Moody, Schluetter, Tucker, Tweedy, and Woodbridge.

Wordless Wednesday - Confederate Graves in Hillcrest Cemetery, Goodman, MS

Photograph is part of Digital Photograph Collection (2009),
Privately held by Janice Tracy