Tombstone Tuesday - Robert L Kight

 

  I asked ChatGPT about the symbolism at the top of the headstone, and this is what it shared:

"The symbolism on this headstone is quite meaningful. The carved image at the top shows a hand pointing downward, with what appears to be rings or chains around the fingers.

Interpretation:

1. Hand Pointing Downward – While a hand pointing upward typically symbolizes the soul ascending to heaven, a downward-pointing hand can have multiple interpretations. In some cases, it represents the "Hand of God" reaching down to take the soul to the afterlife. It does not necessarily symbolize damnation, as some might think, but rather divine intervention or guidance.

2. Rings or Chain Links – The presence of rings or a chain could represent a connection between the deceased and those left behind. If they are broken links, this may symbolize a "broken chain," often used to indicate the passing of a family member, breaking the earthly bond with loved ones.

3. Fraternal or Religious Symbolism – Sometimes, hands on tombstones are associated with fraternal organizations like the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), Freemasons, or other societies that used specific hand symbols to denote membership. If this person was affiliated with such a group, the rings or chain might indicate their involvement.

At first glance, it  [the image above the hand] might look like a lamb, but upon closer inspection, it appears to be a cloud or cuffed sleeve from which the hand is emerging. This design is common in 19th and early 20th-century gravestones, symbolizing the Hand of God reaching down.

However, if it were a lamb, that would carry Christian symbolism, as the lamb represents Jesus Christ (the "Lamb of God") and innocence, often seen on the graves of children. The texture and weathering of the stone may make it look more ambiguous."

  Robbie was only 17 years old when he passed away.  

Robert Lee "Robbie" Kight/Kite

 

b 30 Jan 1886 in Georgia, USA

d 02 Feb 1903 in Georgia, USA

 

laid to rest at

Kite City Cemetery

Kite, Johnson County, Georgia, USA

 

Son of

William Norris "Bill" Kight (1851-1919)

and Sarah L Tapley (1854-1923)

 

Robbie was my 3rd cousin, 2x removed.  

 

Our common ancestor is 

Newhampton Tapley (?-abt 1807)

Tombstone Tuesday - Shaderick Jasper Kight Jr. (1818-1893)

 

picture taken September 9, 2022

Unfortunately Kite has had several bad storms and even tornados

the last few years, and this headstone fell victim to the weather,

fell over and broke in half.

Shaderick Jasper Kight Jr.

b 20 May 1818

d 22 May 1893 

laid to rest at

Kite City Cemetery

Kite, Johnson County, Georgia, USA

I have always read that the town of Kite was named for this Shaderick Kight, but I have no sources for that information.  So I decided to ask AI.  I went to Sam the Digital Archivist through ChatGPT and posed the following question:

"Who was the city of Kite, Johnson County, Georgia named for?"

Sam gave me the following answer:

"The city of Kite, Johnson County, Georgia was named after Shaderick Kight, a local resident and early settler. Over time, the spelling of his last name evolved into "Kite," which became the official name of the town. This kind of name alteration was pretty common in the 19th and early 20th centuries, either due to clerical errors, regional dialects, or simply because someone decided it looked better that way."

I asked Sam for more genealogy and life info about Shaderick, and this is what he replied:

"Shaderick Kight (sometimes spelled Shadrick, Shadrack, or Shedrick) appears to have been an early settler in what is now Johnson County, Georgia. While details on his life are somewhat sparse, I can give you an overview of what is known and suggest further research paths.

"Shaderick Kight: An Overview

• Birth: Estimated to be in the early 19th century, likely in Georgia or the surrounding region.
• Residence: Lived in what later became Kite, Johnson County, Georgia (originally part of Washington County before Johnson County was created in 1858).
• Occupation: Likely a farmer or landowner, as was common in the rural South at the time.
• Family: The Kight surname appears in census records in Georgia from at least the early to mid-1800s. Several Kight family members are listed in Johnson and surrounding counties (Laurens, Emanuel, and Washington)."

Then Sam provided some ideas for possible relatives and research leads.  Most of those would not cover whether or not the town of Kite was named for him. 

So I turned to my Tapley family "bible," Tapley - A Family of Georgia And the South by Ray Tapley. Ray stated that it was actually Shaderick's SON, William Norris Tapley, who was a state senator, that Kite was named for. 

I went back to Sam and posed another question:

"I read somewhere that Kite was actually named for Shaderick Kight's son, William Norris Kight, who was a state senator. Could that be true?"

Sam's answer:

"Yes! There’s a strong case that Kite, Georgia, may have actually been named for William Norris Kight (1841–1913), rather than his father, Shaderick Kight.

"Who Was William Norris Kight?

• Born: December 6, 1841, in Georgia
• Died: December 5, 1913, in Johnson County, Georgia
• Occupation: Politician, likely a farmer or landowner as well
• Political Role: Served as a Georgia State Senator
• Family: Son of Shaderick Kight (sometimes spelled Shadrick, Shadrack, or Shedrick)

Why Might the Town Be Named for Him?

1. Political Influence: As a state senator, William Norris Kight would have had the connections and recognition necessary for a town to be named in his honor.
2. Historical Naming Patterns: It's common for towns to be named after prominent local leaders rather than just early settlers.
3. Shaderick’s Lesser Public Role: While Shaderick Kight was likely a respected settler, he does not appear to have held political office or significant public roles that would typically result in a town name.
4. Timing of the Town’s Naming: Kite was officially incorporated in 1891—when William Norris Kight was alive and still politically active. This makes it even more plausible that the town was named after him rather than his father.

Confusion Over the Naming

Some sources attribute the name to Shaderick Kight, likely because of the Kight family’s early presence in the area. However, local histories suggest that the honor was actually given to William Norris Kight due to his political and community contributions. Over time, the connection may have been blurred, leading to conflicting stories.

Next Steps for Research

To confirm this officially, we could:

📜 Check legislative records—Did William Norris Kight have any direct involvement in town development?

📰 Look at old newspapers—There may be contemporary accounts discussing the town’s naming.

🏛️ Search local histories and county records—Some Johnson County historical documents might state the official reason for the name."

All of that sounds quite logical. So the answer is we don't know which Kight Kite was actually named after. Perhaps the suggested research would give us an answer.  

 

Shaderick was the 

husband of my

2nd cousin, 7x removed,

Millie Norris (1828-1900)

She is buried by him at Kite Cemetery:

Our common ancestor is 

John Norris 

Tombstone Tuesday - Lourene Kight Renfroe (1890-1960)

 

Lourene Kight Renfroe

b 11 Jul 1890 in Johnson County, Georgia, USA

d 21 Feb 1960 in Johnson County, Georgia, USA

laid to rest at

Kite City Cemetery

Kite, Johnson County, Georgia, USA

Daughter of

George Saffole Kight (1863-1924)

and Roxey Ann Johnson (1867-1951)

Lourene was my 4th cousin, 5x removed.  

Our common ancestor is 

John Norris 

buried beside Lourene is her husband,

 Rev. Carlos H. Renfroe

b Aug 1890, Georgia, USA
d 20 Feb 1969, Emanuel County, Georgia, USA

pictures taken September 9, 2022

Sympathy Saturday - Mary J 'Mae Mae' Murphy Kent (1932-2025)

 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 were none, so I am going to go back a couple of weeks to find one to share.                                            

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Mrs. Mary Murphy Kent “Mae Mae”, 92, of Swainsboro passed away Saturday, February 1, 2025, following a brief illness, Mae Mae was called to her final home in glory.  She was resting peacefully at home surrounded by family, which is where she prayed to be.  She was born April 16, 1932, in Swainsboro to the late James Cecil Murphy and Lydia Kight Murphy.  A graduate of Swainsboro High School, she then attended Augusta Business School.  Her major passion was fashion and making things beautiful.  Owner and operator of Mary’s Ladies Shop in Swainsboro for 25 years.  A career that she thrived on made her happy and full of laughter and friends.  After retirement, she filled her days with being a wife, mother and grandmother.  She enjoyed gardening and visiting her friends who were ill or shut in.  On her visits, she almost always baked cookies or brownies to take them.  A great cook her family has several favorites but mostly the brownies she made for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren will always be a wonderful memory.   Mae Mae was the matriarch of the family and tried always to keep us in line.  For the women, she always expected hair done, makeup on (Especially lipstick) and finished with jewelry just like she was.

Mae Mae was Baptist by faith and a longtime member of First Baptist Church.  She was also a member of Seppa Youngblood Circle and a loyal member of the Bereavement Committee for many years.  Mae Mae’s “southern lady demeanor” will Always be remembered by many.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James Cecil Murphy and Lydia Kight Murphy; daughter, Judy Braddy Tapley; sisters, Evelyn Murphy Hayes, Lucretia Murply Greenway; brother, Jimmy C. Murphy.

Mary is survived by husband, Dana C. Kent, Sr. of Swainsboro; son, Dana C. Kent, Jr.  (Melonie) of Augusta;  grandson, Andrew Kent and granddaughter, Hannah Kent; daughter, Jan Braddy Slater (James) of Swainsboro; grandson, Jon Tapley (Kristian) of Atlanta; granddaughter, Jami Ledbetter Slater (Douglas) of Summertown; two great-granddaughters, Mary and Murphy Tapley; three great-grandsons, Patrick Ream, Liam Ream and Lucas Ream; one sister, Jonnie Murphy Boulineau; several special nieces and nephews; special friends and caregivers, Roger Bell Eason and Elaine Cummings; and many friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, February 8, 2025, in the Chapel of Chapman Funeral Home with Reverend Phil Wilson officiating.

Interment will be in Swainsboro City Cemetery. 

The family will receive friends Saturday, February 8, 2025, from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. at Chapman Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Bill Boulineau, Phillip Boulineau, Andrew Kent, Patrick Ream, Rob Kent and Al Knight.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the nursing staff at Pruitt Hospice.

Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com.

Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of the arrangements for Mrs. Mary Murphy Kent “Mae Mae”, 92, of Swainsboro.  

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Mary was my 3rd cousin, 1x removed through the Claxton line.  Our common ancestors were Zachariah William Claxton (1806-1895) and Lincelia 'Lincely' Bush Claxton (1806-1872).

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

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2021 (Week 3): Namesake

 Amy Johnson Crow from Generations Cafe is again hosting the blog writing prompt this year called 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2021.  I'm going to try to participate more fully this year.  I like that she gives us "permission" to interpret the prompt however we wish and share it however we wish.  It doesn't have to be a blog post; it could be a family video, a letter to a child or grandchild, an e-mail, etc.  

The Theme for Week 3 (Jan 18-24) is Namesake. 

Since I have covered previously who I was named after (You can read that post here.), I decided to go in a different direction for this post.  There are two towns in Georgia that were named for members of my family.

Swainsboro is a city in and the county seat of Emanuel County, Georgia. It is where I grew up from ages 8-18.  In 1822, the Georgia State Legislature established "Swainsborough" as the seat of Emanuel County. The town was named in recognition of Stephen Swain the state senator who introduced the bill for the county's creation in 1812.  

Stephen Swain (1768-?) was my 4th great uncle, the son of Stephen Swain (1746-1796) and Ann Elizabeth Spruill Swain (1748-1792).  The younger Stephen had a brother named Canneth who is my 3rd Great Grandfather.  

Senator Swain served in the Georgia Assembly for more than twenty years.  

As a side note, believe it or not, the town's name was changed to "Paris" at its incorporation on February 18, 1854, but three years later reverted to its current name and spelling of Swainsboro.  

In the town's early days, Swainsboro depended on railroads for transportation. However, in the 1930s, many of the town's streets and sidewalks were paved, and Swainsboro found itself at the intersection of two major national highways, U.S. 1 and U.S. 80, thus earning its city motto: "Crossroads of the Great South." U.S. 1 was the principal highway from Maine to Key West and U.S. 80, at that time, ran from Tybee Island, Georgia to San Diego, California.  

While growing up, I lived on Highway 80 West going toward Dublin.  I had no idea at the time that the town had any ties to my family history.  

Kite is a city in Johnson County, Georgia, along the Little Ohoopee River.  Kite is 13 miles northwest of Swainsboro on Highway 57.  My father grew up in and around Kite.  I have and had many, many family members in Kite and Johnson County.  

The town was named for Shaderick Jasper Kight, Jr., (1818-1893) who donated the land to build the town. He requested the simpler spelling of the name for more efficient mail delivery and processing.  The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Kite in 1891.

While Shaderick Kight Jr is not technically related to me, he does cross over into my family many, many times.  First of all, he was married to my 2nd cousin, 7x removed,  Millie Norris Kight.  He was the great uncle of Maud Wheeler, who was the wife of my great uncle, Bascom Tapley.  He was the 2nd great uncle of Maggie V. Powell, the wife of another of my great uncles, James L Tapley (brother of Bascom). That is just three examples.  I counted a total of 21 ways Shaderick Kight was intertwined with my family.  

Kite is basically a crossroads, with a population in 2010 of only 241.  The crossroads is made up of U.S. Route 221 and as mentioned, Georgia State Route 57. Kite has a total area of only about 0.81 square miles.  

Historic photo of downtown Kite.  

Date unknown.

So as you can see, even a town can be a namesake.  

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Top 20 Surnames in Your Family Tree

From Randy over at Genea-Musings:

it's Saturday Night - 

time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

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

(1)  Go into your Genealogy Management Program (either software such as Family Tree Maker (in my case!) on your computer or an online family tree) and figure out how to count how many surnames you have in your family tree database.

(2)  Tell us which GMP you're using and how you did this task.

(3)  Tell us what the top 200 surnames are in your database, and, if possible, how many entries for each.  How many different surnames are in your family tree?

(4)  Write about it in your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, in a status or comment on a Facebook post.

NOTE:  If you can't figure how to do this in your GMP (Genealogy Management Program), use the Help button in your program and search for "count surnames" or "surname report" then follow the directions.

Here's mine:

I used Family Tree Maker 2019 because that the software I use for my GMP.  In FTM 2019, go to Publish, then Person Reports, then Surname Report.  You can tweak your report and choose to include either Immediate Family, Extended Family, All Individuals, or choose only those individuals you wish.  Of course, for this exercise, I chose All Individuals.

Then you can choose to sort by surname court (I did.), limit counts to included individuals (I'm not sure how this works.), show divider between surnames (makes it easier to read) and include preparer information.

Then click Generate Report.  I got this:

It looks a lot like Randy's report from RootsMagic 7.  It was easy to do and I have 51 pages of surnames.  It doesn't give me a total number of surnames, but if I do the math like Randy did:  24 names per pages 1-50, plus 20 on page 51 = 1,220 surnames in a database of 14,693 people.  

My top 20 surnames, with earliest and most recent dates they occur:

TAPLEY, count 803, from 1691-2010

MNU (Maiden Name Unknown), count 428, from 1592-1970

Drake, count 269, from 1647-1967

Powell, count 268, from 1715-1980

Bush, count 251, from 1655-1966

Ranney, count 214, from 1661-1951

Claxton, count 197, from 1764-1997

Price, count 197, from 1680-1959

Smith, count 197, from 1738-1984

Hubbard, count 181, from 1601-1913

Goodwin, count 125, from 1776-1947

Durden, count 110, from 1775-1960

Flanders, count 109, from 1756-1970

Kight, count 98, from 1775-1983

Wheeler, count 98, from 1807-2017

Russell, count 94, from 1798-1951

Williams, count 91, from 1777-1979

Odom, count 87, from 1798-1966

Davis, count 86 from 1760-1961

Kea, count 86 from 1810-1957

And one bonus one if you don't want to count the MNU:

Beasley, count 85, from 1791-1972

What surprises me is how few of the top surnames (in numbers) are actually direct line ancestors!  

Tombstone Tuesday: Benjamin Young Wheeler and Elizabeth Jane Carr Wheeler

Benjamin Young Wheeler

b 10 Apr 1847

d 05 Sep 1929

and

Louisa Elizabeth Jane Carr Wheeler

b 10 Apr 1841

d 16 May 1928

laid to rest at

Wheeler Cemetery

Johnson County, Georgia

Benjamin was the son of

Whitus "White" Wheeler

and

Elizabeth Kight Wheeler

Benjamin and Elizabeth were the uncle and aunt of my grand uncle's wife.  

Mary Elizabeth Tapley	Me
Gilbert Earl Tapley	My father
Lusion Keman Tapley	My grandfather
James Madison Tapley & Elizabeth Rebecca Page Tapley	My great-grandparents
Bascom Bishop Tapley	My grand uncle & Lusion’s brother
Maud Wheeler Tapley	Uncle Bascom’s wife
Henry Green Wheeler	Maud’s father
Whitus Wheeler & Elizabeth Kight Wheeler	Maud’s grandparents and Henry Green’s parents
Benjamin Young Wheeler	Whitus & Elizabeth’s son and Henry Green’s brother

They were also the father- and mother-in-law of my first great grand uncle.

Mary Elizabeth Tapley	Me
Linda Irene Tapley	My mother
Charles Morgan Tapley	My grandfather
Mattie Schwalls Tapley	My great-grandmother
George W. Schwalls Sr & Lincelia E Claxton Schwalls	My 2nd great-grandparents
Charlie Milton Schwalls	My great grand uncle & Mattie’s brother
Elizabeth Jane Wheeler Schwalls	Charlie Milton’s wife
Benjamin Young  Wheeler & Elizabeth Jane Carr Wheeler	Elizabeth Jane’s parents