Tombstone Tuesday - Hidden in Plain Site

 

Etta Fleming Hubbard

b. 06 Aug 1890 in Augusta, Richmond, Georgia, USA
d. 19 Oct 1979 in Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA

laid to rest at
Summerville Cemetery
Augusta, Richmond, Georgia, USA

    Etta was married to my 3rd cousin 3x removed, Ralph Hustace Hubbard.  Our common ancestors are Thomas Hubbard II and Sarah Boardman.  These are lines you don't see me writing about often, since these are my Northern (Yankee) ancestors, and I do not know as much about them.  What is ironic is that Ralph was raised in Manhattan, New York and Etta was from right here in Augusta.  I do not know how they met, but Etta lived in the Northeast most of her adult life.  It appears that when she passed, she wanted to come home to Georgia.

        

     Summerville Cemetery is not far from where I now live.  It is a lovely, old cemetery, with lots of ornate headstones and the graves of several famous Georgians.  Cousin Keith and I went there last week, and Etta's was the only grave I was in search of there. We probably walked past her headstone a hundred times, but didn't see it.  It was only after we left for a bit, did some research on our phones, found out she was on the same headstone with her parents, and saw a picture of it that we went back, determined not to leave until we found it.  It still took us awhile.  There is no large Fleming Grave marker.  There is not even a small one.  Just this headstone with the words hard to read.  But find it we did!  

Military Monday

    Military Monday posts are made to honor those in my family tree who have served in the United States military.

Charles Howard Rumfelt, Jr.

U.S. Navy

1964 - 1969

Clarion-Ledger
Jackson, Mississippi
Friday, January 21, 1966, Page 22

    Chuck is my 5th cousin 1x removed. Our common ancestor is Newhampton Tapley.

    Thank you for your service.

Black Sheep Sunday

     Black Sheep Sunday is for sharing about a scandalous ancestor in my family tree.  I think scandalous can be anything from petty theft to murder and everything in between.  Remember, there is no judgment here.  I am just sharing interesting stories about my ancestors and relatives.  

    It seems that Gary Paul Whitney (1937-2020) got into a bit of trouble when he stole a tire off a car that was taken on a demo drive from a used car lot.  What amazes me is how sneakily brilliant he was to think of such a way to "escape" police custody.  It sounds like he lived on the streets, so he had to be smart to survive.

Lansing State Journal
Lansing, Michigan
Wednesday, May 13, 1959, Page 33

"Suspect Flees Jail

Man Held in Tire Theft ‘Walks Out’ on Police During Questioning

Two men charged with stealing a tire from a car borrowed from a used car lot are being sought by Lansing police.

Detectives Tuesday arrested Gary Paul Whitney, 21, no home. While being questioned at police headquarters he escaped.

Whitney, police said, obtained a key to the washroom from a desk officer who did not know he was under arrest, and walked away.

He is described as 5 ft. 6 in., 140 lbs., black wavy hair and wearing glasses.

Also sought is Richard Ribby, 20, no home, who is charged with being Whitney’s accomplice. Ribby is described as being 6 ft., 170 lbs., blond hair and blue eyes.

The pair borrowed the car from the Bondy and Bigelow Motor Sales, 1018 S. Washington ave., Tuesday afternoon for a demonstration drive and removed the tire, police charged." - Transcribed by ChatGPT

Lansing State Journal
Lansing Michigan
Saturday June 13, 1959, Page 9

    So evidently they caught him. It doesn't state that escape was added to his other charges.

    Then in the Thursday, July 2, 1959 edition of the Lansing State Journal, page 21, we find:

Law's Arm Falls Heavily upon 11 in Circuit Court

... "Gary Paul Whitney, 21, of 621 Cherry st., charged with larceny from a motor vehicle, was sentenced to a term of 1 1/2 to 5 years in prison."

    Wow! He was "heavily" punished for stealing that tire.  Perhaps the escape did play into it somehow, even though the article doesn't specifically say.  Unfortunately, I do not know exactly how long he ended up serving for this crime; however, I did find that he did not completely stay out of trouble the rest of his life.  

Lansing State Journal
Lansing, Michigan
Thursday, September 7, 1967, Page 39

While I do not know the outcome of this case, I can say I did not find any more indications of Gary getting into trouble again.  

Gary was married to my 3rd cousin 1x removed, Virginia Ann Barwick.  Our common ancestors are Francis Bryant Drake and Selina Henlee King Drake.

Sympathy Saturday

     Sympathy Saturday will be where I share the obituaries and my condolences for members of my family tree who passed recently.  When you get to be a certain age, you begin to read the obituaries every day.  As the days go by, you read about more and more of your friends and family members who have died.  You compare their age to your own and get a jolt. "That could have been me." 

    For genealogists, checking obituaries and visiting cemeteries is as normal as breathing. I learn so much from an obituary, i.e., maiden names, parents' names; children's' and grandchildren's' names, funeral and burial locations, sometimes even a cause of death.  I want to learn these things not for any purpose but to put it on the family tree for future generations to see and learn about the family that went before them. I admit, most of these relatives I have never met, but I think it is important to share that they were here on this Earth, and they were important.

    So I am signed up with at least three funerals homes from Swainsboro, Vidalia, and Wrightsville to get daily notices of obituaries sent to my email.  Every day, I peruse them and with the help of the family tree, figure out who is related to me and add any new information to the tree.    Some weeks there are several, and some weeks there are none. This week there was one who actually passed away months ago.

"Official Obituary of

Sherry Jean Edenfield

September 3, 1963 ~ January 1, 2025 (age 61)

Ms. Sherry Jean Purvis Edenfield, 61, of Kite passed on the wings of an angel into the loving arms of our Lord, Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at Piedmont Hospital in Augusta due to liver failure. She was born on September 3, 1963, in Swainsboro, to the late Bennie S and Margie Williams. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Thomas Ray Purvis; brother, Billy Ray Williams.  Sherry loved her children and grandchildren very much.  She enjoyed fishing, gardening, going to the beach at St. Simons Island, and collecting Indian artifacts and amethyst stones.  Sherry was a good cook and very strong-willed.

Sherry is survived by her sons, Phil Riner of Kemp, Dustin Edenfield, Kyle M. Edenfield, both of Kite, J.L. Purvis of Colorado; daughters, Nicole Osika of Clearwater, FL, LeAnn Weber of Wisconsin; brother, Cliff Willams of Kite; sisters, Judy Riner of Swainsboro, Brenda Creech of Kite, Trish Wheeler of Harlem; 14 grandchildren; 4 Great Grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and many friends.

Memorial service will be held Sunday, April 20, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. at Gumlog Primitive Baptist Church in Kite.

Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com.

Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of the arrangements for Ms. Sherry Jean Edenfield, 61, of Kite." - Obituary courtesy of Chapman Funeral Home, Swainsboro, Georgia

Sherry was married to my 2nd cousin, 1x removed, Thomas Franklin Purvis, Jr.  Our common ancestors are James Madison "Jim" Tapley and Elizabeth Rebecca "Becky" Page Tapley.

Please join me in offering condolences to Sherry's family and holding them in the light.

Friday Faces from the Past - My Daddy

 

Gilbert Earl Tapley
b. 19 June 1928 in Johnson County, Georgia, USA
d. 15 December 2008 in Augusta, Richmond, Georgia, USA

    There are no baby photos of my father.  His father died when he was 7 years old, his mother was raising six children on her own and working as many jobs as she could to feed them all; there was no extra money for photographs. 

    This picture is from about 1942-43, when Daddy was 14 years old.  It was taken at the boys' home, or as it is called today, the Youth Detention Center, in Milledgeville, Georgia. 

    What crime did he commit? Well, he TRIED to siphon gas out of a truck. He didn't get any gas, but Grandma (Nealie Drake Tapley 1895-1970) turned him in.  I think she was overwhelmed.  He was the youngest and he was giving her fits. So she tried tough love. 

    Daddy spent 16 months or so in the boys' home.  He often said he spent his 15th birthday there.  They taught him to cut hair there.  He ran away once and managed to hitchhike all the way to Jacksonville, Florida.  He got a job and was doing quite well.  Until Grandma's sister saw him and turned him in.  Even after that adventure, he got out of the boys' home before he turned 16. 

    His time there shaped the rest of his life. He was a law abiding citizen from then on. He hated ground beef because evidently ground meat was frequently served in the boys' home. He didn't like to be cooped up or told what to do. Those months made the deepest impact on his soul of anything else he went through in his life.

Thriller Thursday

    Slydell Kitchens (1923-1953) was 30 years old and seemingly living the American dream.  He had been married for 3-4 years, he had a roof over his head (probably a rental house), and he was working as a crane operator.  However, life can turn on a dime, and unfortunately, that is what happened to Slydell late one night in 1953 in Augusta.

    It was late at night/early in the morning when Slydell was driving on Lumpkin Road near Highway 25 (Peach Orchard Road) here in Augusta. We don't know where he was coming from that late, maybe it was his job, maybe not. For whatever reason (it was a different time in 1953), Slydell stopped two men he saw walking on Lumpkin Road and asked them for a match.  In turned, they asked for a ride.  Slydell obliged. After he had driven a short distance, the two men began beating Slydell, and then left him along the highway after taking his clothes and automobile.  

    Not sure how long Slydell lay bleeding on the side of the road, but he was able to flag down a passing car. A man and a women picked him up and took him home.  

    A neighbor called the sheriff's office at 4:25 am on this Friday morning, September 18, 1953.  Deputies and a criminal investigator arrived, finding Slydell badly beaten.  He told them the story, but they were dubious because Slydell's condition prevented him from being coherent.  

    Deputies did finally take him to University Hospital.  I don't know if it was before, during the trip, or after he arrived at the hospital, but Slydell lapsed into a coma and was unable to answer any more questions.

    Now, I will be the first to admit that I was dubious of Slydell's story at first.  Here's why:

    - Why stop and ask strangers for matches in the middle of the night?

    - Where was Slydell coming from when this happened? Was it somewhere he didn't want his wife or anyone to know?

    - Why would the assailants steal his clothes and leave him naked?  It was determined that the motive for the crime was robbery.  Slydell did have some money on him, plus they took the car, but why strip him?

    - Why would two strangers stop in the middle of the night and pick up a bleeding, naked man?

    - Why did it take so long for anyone to contact law enforcement... and why did it end up being a neighbor who made the call?

    The criminal investigator did put out a plea for the people who picked Slydell up that night to contact him or come down to the sheriff's office to answer questions.  

    While Slydell was fighting for his life, the investigators had very little to go on to find the men who beat him. Then on Wednesday afternoon (September 23rd) at 3:50 p.m., Slydell died from internal injuries.

    Disclaimer regarding the following news articles.  I do not personally condone the description of the hitch-hikers.  Just consider the time (early 1950's) and the place (the South). 

Transcription by Claude:

Man, 30, dies of beating inflicted by hitch-hikers

A 30-year-old man who had been severely beaten early Friday morning, died yesterday at University hospital, and county deputies last night were probing every possible clue in an attempt to find his assailants.  

Slydell Kitchens, 30, of 2400 Danville street, died at 3:50 p.m., apparently from internal injuries, hospital authorities said. An autopsy will be held to determine the exact cause of death.

Chief Criminal Investigator C. M. Pond said he has been able to obtain little information to help solve the case.

He said Deputies Johnny Wilkinson and W. E. Simmons answered a call at 4:25 a. m. Friday to Kitchens’ home where they found him badly beaten.

They quoted Kitchens as saying he stopped two Negro men walking on Lumpkin road near Highway 25 and asked them for a match. In turn, they asked for a ride. After he had driven a short distance, Kitchens told the officers, the two men began beating him, and then left him along the highway after taking his pants, shorts and automobile.

The officers quoted Kitchens as saying he hailed a passing car and was picked up by an unidentified white man and woman, who drove him to his home.

(Deputy Pond said that if either of these two persons read this story to contact him at the sheriff’s office.)

Deputies called to Kitchens' home by a neighbor took the injured man to University Hospital, where they were joined by Deputies Pond and Jesse Redd and City Detective B. J. Cheek.

Officers said Kitchens lapsed into a coma and was unable, thereafter, to give a coherent statement.

Kitchens' automobile was found abandoned Sunday at Taylor and Eighth streets.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Myra Mae Kitchens; mother, Mrs. Janie Williams of Augusta; three brothers, Hoyt Kitchens of Gibson, Ga., Wesley Kitchens of Washington, D.C., and Harris Kitchens of Gibson; four sisters, Mrs. Asa McCoy of Gibson, Mrs. W. S. Williams of Winter Haven, Fla., Mrs. D. H. Hardin of Augusta and Mrs. Cleo Chalker of Augusta. 

He was born in Gibson and was employed as a crane operator at the time of his death.

Funeral services will be announced later by Elliott Sons.

Handwritten by a librarian at the Augusta Library who printed this for me: “Augusta Chronicle, Thursday, September 24, 1953, Page C7.”

    Then lo and behold, three days after Slydell passed away, the woman from the mystery couple came forward and visited the sheriff's office.  She told Investigator Pond that she and a man were the ones "who found the bloody and nude victim on Lumpkin road and gave him a ride home."  She wished to remain unidentified, but her story confirmed what Slydell had told the deputies.  

    Deputy Pond said the sheriff's office was still a long way from identifying the attackers.  However, the woman's story established that Slydell had received the beating on Lumpkin road, and that the rest of his story was probably true. 

Augusta Chronicle, Augusta, Georgia - September 26, 1953, page 2 via NewsBank

Transcription by Claude:

"Murder case clue

Woman admits aiding hitch-hikers' victim

The voluntary appearance of a woman in the sheriff's office has lent impetus to the investigation into the fatal beating of an Augusta man by two hitch-hikers last week.

Slydell Kitchens, 30, of 2406 Danville street, died Wednesday at University hospital from injuries inflicted the previous Friday morning on Lumpkin road.

A woman, who wished to remain unidentified, came to the sheriff's office and told Chief Criminal Investigator C. M. Pond she and a man were the ones who found the bloody and nude victim on Lumpkin road and gave him a ride home after he had been beaten and robbed by two Negroes.

Confirmation

Her story confirmed that of Kitchens, who told county deputies before he died he had been beaten and robbed of his clothing and automobile, and that two unidentified persons had given him a lift home.

Kitchens' car was found later abandoned at Taylor and Eighth streets.

The woman said she had worried about the man since they left him at his home but didn't know what to do until she read a story in Thursday's Chronicle about Kitchens' death. The story also contained a plea by Deputy Pond, requesting the persons who helped Kitchens to contact him at the sheriff's office.

Solution uncertain

This established the fact that Kitchens received the beating on Lumpkin road, and that the rest of his story was probably true, Deputy Pond said. Previously, the officers said they were dubious of some of the things he said because his condition prevented all he told to be coherent.

Deputy Pond said they are still far from establishing the identity of Kitchens' assailants, but the motive has now been fixed as robbery. Kitchens had some money on the night of the robbery, but it has not been determined how much."

    Three days after Slydell's death, an article was printed in the local paper entitled "Three inquests held by coroner's jury..." One of the inquests was about Slydell and the article states, "Continued investigation by the sheriff's department was recommended in the death of Slydell Kitchens, who was beaten and fatally injured by unknown parties on Lumpkin road."   - Augusta Chronicle, 29 Sept 1953, p. 3

    Of course, that is all the information I could locate about this case.  I personally doubt they ever found the people involved. I also believe there is more to the story. One great big mystery never to be solved. 

"Funeral notices

KITCHENS – Died September 23, 1953, at 3:50 p.m., Mr. Slydell Kitchens, husband of Mrs. Myra Mae Tapley Kitchens. Funeral services will be conducted at Bethel Methodist Church, Stapleton, Ga., this (Friday) afternoon at 3 o'clock, the Rev. J. W. Brinkley officiating. Funeral cortege will leave the funeral home at 2 o'clock. Interment, churchyard cemetery. Elliott Sons." - Transcription by ChatGPT

Slydell was married to my 2nd cousin, Myra Mae Tapley.  Our common ancestors are James Madison "Jim" Tapley and Elizabeth Rebecca "Becky" Page Tapley.

Wedding Wednesday

Transcribed by ChatGPT: 

"NATALIE KOUNTZE BECOMES A BRIDE

Marriage to Duncan Sterling Jr. Takes Place in Parents’ Hotel Apartment.

BEFORE INTIMATE GROUP.

Miss Mimi Kountze Attends Sister and Oliver J. Sterling Is Best Man at Small Wedding.

  The marriage of Miss Natalie B. Kountze, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Davies Kountze, to Duncan Sterling Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Sterling of this city and Oyster Bay, L. I., took place yesterday afternoon in the apartment of her parents at the Savoy-Plaza. It was a small wedding. Only members of the two families were asked to the ceremony and small reception that followed.

  The bride, who is a granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Herman Kountze and of the late Captain and Mrs. Henry Emerson Palmer, wore a gown of cream-colored lace and a veil of tulle held in place with orange blossoms. She carried a bouquet of gardenias and lilies of the valley.

  Miss Mimi Kountze, whose marriage to John Bigelow Clark will take place on June 14, was her sister’s only attendant. She wore a gown of white organdy and a large leghorn hat trimmed with blue ribbon.

  Oliver J. Sterling, a cousin of the bridegroom, was best man. There were no ushers.

  Mr. Sterling and his bride when they return from their wedding trip will live at 1140 Fifth Avenue."

    The marriage took place June 7, 1933 in New York City. Duncan (1907-1993) and Natalie (1911-1987) were married 54 years, and they had one child.

    Duncan Sterling, Jr. is my 4th cousin 2x removed.  Our common ancestors are Thomas Hubbard II and Sarah Boardman.

Tombstone Tuesday - A new cousin and a cemetery visit

    Probably way over a year ago, a gentlemen started trying to contact me through this blog.  This was not totally unusual, but I am a little cautious until they prove to me how we are related.  That got established pretty early on in this case, if I remember correctly, but then we just couldn't seem to connect.  He was busy and had a lot going on; I was busy.  So it was just before I moved back to Georgia last year that we finally were able to talk on the phone.  We hit it right off.  Jacob is a more distant cousin but it was like we had known each other forever.  

    Once I got settled here in Georgia, my cousin Keith and I rode down to Statesboro, where Jacob lives, to meet him in person.  We had a great time.  We had lunch and the conversation flowed.  Then of course, we visited a cemetery!

Jacob & Liz
December 21, 2024
Statesboro GA

Jacob, Liz & Keith
December 21, 2024
Statesboro, GA

    I think you can tell we all look alike!  Us Tapleys have a look about us!  Hint: Look at those foreheads!

    After lunch, we visited what felt like the biggest cemetery in Statesboro: Bulloch Memorial Gardens.  It was a Saturday and the office was not open for us to check burial locations, so I didn't get a photo of all the grave sites I was looking for.  However, Jacob was glad to show me where his grandmother is interred.

Brunell 'Nellie' Tapley Hill

b 07 Sep 1924 in Swainsboro, Emanuel, Georgia, USA

d 20 Jul 2015 in Statesboro, Bulloch, Georgia, USA

interred at

Bulloch Memorial Gardens

Statesboro, Bulloch, Georgia, USA

    Jacob is my 5th cousin 1x removed, and his grandmother is my 4th cousin, 1x removed.  Our common ancestor is Newhampton Tapley.

    Welcome to our part of the family, Jacob!  I'm so glad we met, and I look forward to our next adventure!

Military Monday - Marvin Gillis 1895-1918

    Military Monday posts are made to honor those in my family tree who have served in the United States military.

Marvin Marion Gillis

U.S. Army

May 27, 1913 - October 9, 1918

World War I

Transcription by ChatGPT:

"SGT. MARVIN M. GILLIS
Soperton, Ga.

Sergeant Gillis served about four years on the Mexican Border previous to the United States entering the war. Attached to Company “B”, 11th Machine Gun Battalion, 4th Division, he embarked for overseas service May 9th, 1918. Was wounded in action, dying as a result of his wounds in Evacuation Hospital No. 8, in France, October 9th, 1918."

Marvin's World War I Service Card, 1917-1919, Ancestry.com

    Marvin is my 4th cousin, 1x removed.  Our common ancestor is Newhampton Tapley.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Five Funny, Strange, Interesting or Unique Surnames in Your Family Tree

 From Randy (my cousin) over at Genea-Musings:

it's Saturday Night - 

time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

1)  We all have a plethora of surnames in our family trees, and some of them are funny, strange, interesting or unique.  Please share five of your funny, strange, interesting or unique surnames in our ancestry.  How are they related to you?

2) Tell us about the surnames in your own blog post, in a comment on this post, or in a Facebook or other social media post.  Please leave a link on this post if you write your own post.

Here's mine:

1)    Richard Schoonover (1800-1880) is my 3rd great-grandfather. He was born born in New Jersey and died in Wisconsin. He changed the name slightly from his father - it was Schoonhover.  His father also changed the name slightly from his father's ... it was Schoonhoven.  

2)  George W Schwalls, Sr (1837-1908) is my 2nd great-grandfather. He migrated from Germany and added an "s" to the end of the original version.  He died in Georgia.

3)  Nancy E McClammy (1777-1838) is my 3rd great-grandmother. She was married to Wright Scoggins (?-1837). She was born in Alabama and died in Georgia.

4) Richard Treat, Sr (1584-1670) is my 9th great-grandfather. He was born in England and died in Connecticut, USA.

5)  John Edgar Knipher (1903-1984) was the husband of my 1st cousin, 1x removed, Mozelle Elizabeth Lampp (1903-1993). He was born and died in Georgia. 

Please comment on this post by clicking the title of the post and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of the post.  Feel free to share it on social media.  Or you may contact me by email at liz.genresearch@gmail.com. Note that all comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.

Sympathy Saturday - Keith Claxton

    Sympathy Saturday will be where I share the obituaries and my condolences for members of my family tree who passed recently.  When you get to be a certain age, you begin to read the obituaries every day.  As the days go by, you read about more and more of your friends and family members who have died.  You compare their age to your own and get a jolt. "That could have been me." 

    For genealogists, checking obituaries and visiting cemeteries is as normal as breathing. I learn so much from an obituary, i.e., maiden names, parents' names; children's' and grandchildren's' names, funeral and burial locations, sometimes even a cause of death.  I want to learn these things not for any purpose but to put it on the family tree for future generations to see and learn about the family that went before them. I admit, most of these relatives I have never met, but I think it is important to share that they were here on this Earth, and they were important.

    So I am signed up with at least three funerals homes from Swainsboro, Vidalia, and Wrightsville to get daily notices of obituaries sent to my email.  Every day, I peruse them and with the help of the family tree, figure out who is related to me and add any new information I learn to the tree.   

Official Obituary of

Henry Keith Claxton

November 10, 1955 ~ April 4, 2025 (age 69)

Henry Keith Claxton, 69, of Swainsboro, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 3, 2025, following an extended illness. His devoted wife was by his side as he peacefully entered the arms of his Savior, whom he faithfully followed throughout his life. Born in Swainsboro on November 10, 1955, Keith was the son of the Late Willis Claxton, Sr., and Jewel Perryman Claxton. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Phyllis Claxton Scarboro. Until his last moments, Keith’s life was marked by a deep and unwavering love for Jesus Christ. Whether through his words, his actions, or simply the way he cared for people, he carried the light of Christ with him everywhere he went. His life’s mission was clear- to make sure the world knew the Savior he loved so deeply. Keith served his community not only through the ministry but through a quiet and steadfast presence. He was a man of grace, courage, and integrity. Those who knew him were touched by his gentleness, his wisdom, and the way he made every person feel seen and valued. He finished his race with the same strength and faith that defined his life, leaving behind a legacy of love, humility, and service. More than anything else, Keith was a family person. He adored his wife of five decades, Kathy Canady Claxton. Their marriage was a beautiful testimony of enduring love and mutual devotion, especially evident in the care and companionship Kathy offered throughout his illness and final days. He was a proud father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and uncle, and his biggest wish was that those he loved would always carry his example of faith and love in their hearts. Keith is survived by his loving wife, Kathy Claxton; his children, Mathew Keith Claxton (Brenda), Joshua Claxton, and Kristal Smith (Wayne); his daughter-in-love, Sara Edmond (Adelaide’s mother); his grandchildren, Lindsey Simmons (Matt), Levi Smith, and Jewel Adelaide Claxton; his great grandchildren, McKinley, Stetson, and Garrison Simmons; his brother, Willis Claxton, Jr. (Diane); and a host of nieces, grand-nieces, nephews, grand nephews, and friends whom he loved and cherished very deeply. A Memorial Service to celebrate Keith’s life will be held at Hillcrest Baptist Church on Sunday, April 13th, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. The immediate family will depart for a private interment following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to New Beginnings in Christ, a cause close to Keith’s heart, 113 Augusta Road, Garfield, Georgia 30425, (478) 763-2647. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Staff of Emanuel County Nursing Home and Pruitt Hospice in the love and care they showed for Keith. Though the ache of his absence is profound, we rejoice in knowing Keith is now healed, whole, and worshipping at the feet of Jesus. Heaven has gained a good and faithful servant. Until we meet again. Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com. Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Henry Keith Claxton, 69, of Swainsboro.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

    Keith was my 4th cousin.  Our common ancestors were Zachariah William Claxton and Lincelia 'Lincely' Bush Claxton.

    Please join me in offering condolences to Keith's family and holding them in the light.

Friday Faces from the Past - IDENTIFIED!!

     A few weeks ago, I posted this picture asking if anyone could help me identify the gentleman, help determine what kind of uniform he was wearing, or even help narrow down the time period.  

The original

Lightened and flipped

    I have been asking for help in identifying the person in this photo for YEARS with no luck. 

    ... until now!!  

    My cousin, Carol nee Barwick, has helped me in the past with identifying someone from one of these "lost" photos that belonged to my Grandmother, Nealie Drake Tapley. Carol identified her grandmother in a picture taken with my grandmother and other siblings or cousins.  So when I posted this picture again here, asking for help, she commented that she thought she might know who it is.  Carol, my mom, and I met for lunch yesterday, and the subject came up.  She said again she thinks she knows who the man is.  She said she has a picture at home of him later in life and the man in each photo looked very much alike.  

    Last night, I found that I have a copy of the photo she's referring to.  And sure enough, folks, it's him.  I can just tell by looking.  See what you think:

Not sure?  

                                                        

    What about NOW???

    So my mystery man and the man in the family picture is:

James Thomas Herrmann

b. 1844 in Autauga County, Alabama, USA

d. 1908 in Emanuel County, Georgia, USA

    Now try to follow along with me:  James was married to my grand aunt and Carol's great-grandmother, Mary Selina  'Mollie' Drake.  James and Mollie both passed away by the time their oldest child, Veta Irene, was 15 years old.  She and her brother went to stay with the family of William John Drake, who was their mother's nephew. William John Drake was my great grandfather.  One of his daughters was Nealie Drake, my grandmother.  It would be natural that Nealie would have been close enough to the family to have a picture of her Uncle James.  

    In addition, it turns out that James worked for the railroad! Thus the uniform, as ChatGPT suggested.  

    So a huge mystery is finally solved.  I am so grateful to my cousin Carol for reading my posts and catching the resemblance between the man in the photos.  You're my good luck charm, Carol!  Think you can go for a third identification? 

    How I am related to Carol:

    How Carol is related to James Thomas Herrmann:

    And, finally, how I am related to James Thomas Herrman:

    Oh, and one more thing.  I may seem calm, but I am actually jumping up and down with joy and excitement!  I can't stop smiling.  I am so grateful for cousins who help me out in so many different ways.  These are cousins I met in adulthood after doing genealogy.  These are not cousins I grew up with.  They have taken me in and help nurture and teach me about this family of ours.  They take my phone calls, read my texts, listen to my endless stories about ancestors (and share their own), visit cemeteries with me, help me move, you name it.  They are more like siblings than any I have ever had.  

"Cousins hold a special place in our hearts, somewhere between best friends and siblings."