Photo by Kelly Branigan
|
|
Alabama
Story Tombstones
From Our Readers
Have you experienced that moment in a cemetery when the
tombstone of a stranger stops you in your tracks? Etched in the stone is a
story—tragic,
humorous, heroic—a few words that illuminate a life.
This page is dedicated
to Alabama's "story" tombstones.
Read more about how to submit a tombstone at the bottom of this page,
or just click
here.
Click on a thumbnail to take you to a particular story,
or just scroll down to begin reading.
Alabama Heritage would like to thank Doug Purcell of the
Historic
Chattahoochie Commission for his work soliciting
many of
the stories you see here.
Click
images to enlarge them.
You
must be using Internet Explorer to view captions.
Richard
Griffin
Newville
Baptist Church Cemetery
Newville, Alabama (Henry County)
Submitted by Roberta Whiddon Childs
Inscription reads:
Federal Prohibition Agent
Died Doing His Duty |
 |
| Photo courtesy of Roberta Whiddon Childs |
|
Griffin,
Richard D. b. January 05, 1896, d. December 07, 1920
Richard, “Dick”,
was the son of State Representative John Thomas and Margaret
Varina Hudspeth Griffin. In 1917, he was attending Howard
College and working at Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad
Company (Docena, Alabama) as a watchman. He joined the
Home Guard of Alabama May 17, 1917. In January of 1920,
he was a druggist in Newville. By December of 1920, Richard
was an FBI “G-Man.” He was killed at Coolie Springs near
Birmingham by bootleggers during the Era of Prohibition.
Click here to read an article from the Newville
Advertiser about
the incident.
Back to Top
|
|
Lee Griffin’s arm
Newville
Baptist Church Cemetery
Newville, Alabama (Henry County)
Submitted by Roberta Whiddon Childs
Inscription reads:
Sept. 13, 1906 |
 |
| Photo courtesy of Roberta Whiddon Childs |
|
Lee
Griffin’s arm was cut off in a piece of gin machinery.
His arm is buried under a monument that looks like a
ball near the west side entrance of the church. The date
is faded, but it appears to be Sept. 13, 1906, at which
time he would have been about 25 years old. He owned
land in Henry County, Houston County and Seminole County,
GA. He operated wagon dealerships, livery stables and
was a mule and horse trader. He owned cotton gins in
Newville and Headland, a mercantile store and a stable
in Headland. Lee was the son of Dempsey and Eliza Jane
Clenney Griffin. He died in 1958 and is buried in the
Methodist Cemetery in Headland.
Back to Top |
|
Ethel
Price
Newville
Baptist Church Cemetery
Newville, Alabama (Henry County)
Submitted by Roberta Whiddon Childs
Inscription reads:
MURDERED BY HER HUSBAND
H. C. PRICE, JR.
SO HARD IN THE BLOOM OF LIFE
TO
HAVE HER LIFE STOLEN
BY THE ONE
WHO PROMISED
TO KEEP AND PROTECT
THROUGH THIS LIFE.
SLEEP ON PRECIOUS CHILD AND MOTHER.
WE HOPE TO MEET AND SEE YOU SOME
SWEET DAY. |
 |
| Photo courtesy of Roberta Whiddon Childs |
|
|
Price,
Ethel Wright
b. December 23, 1906, d. November 9, 1931
Ethel was the daughter of Forrest Wright and Eliza Jane Griffin Wright.
Click here to read newspaper articles about the incident.
Back to Top
|
|
Fredrick
Whiddon
Newville
Baptist Church Cemetery
Newville, Alabama (Henry County)
Submitted by Roberta Whiddon Childs
Inscription reads:
A FOUNDER AND THE FIRST PRESIDENT
OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
1963-1998
HONORED AS ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING
YOUNG MEN IN AMERICA IN 1965
NAMED 1981 OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATOR
IN ALABAMA
AWARDED HONORARY DOCTOR OF LETTERS
BY HIS ALMA MATER EMORY
UNIVERSITY IN 1991
BELOVED HUSBAND, FATHER AND GRANDFATHER
"THAT WHICH WE ARE, WE ARE
ONE EQUAL TEMPER OF HEROIC HEARTS
MADE WEAK BY TIME AND FATE
BUT STRONG IN WILL
TO STRIVE, TO SEEK, TO FIND
AND NOT TO YIELD"
TENNYSON'S ULYSSES
|
 |
| Photo courtesy of Roberta Whiddon Childs |
|
Whiddon,
Fredrick Palmer b. March 2, 1930, d. May 1, 2002
Fred was the son of Samuel Wilson and Ollie Palmer Whiddon.
He was a Methodist minister and an educator. He was president of the University
of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama, 1963-1998.
Back to Top |
|
Henry
Blake
Browder Cemetery
Glennville, Alabama (Russell County)
Submitted by Doug Purcell
Inscription reads:
SACRED
to the Memory of
HENRY BLAKE,
who was Murdered
and robbed by
GEORGE W. LORE,
Feb. 9th, 1841
(Not pictured) Inscription on reverse reads:
SACRED
to the Memory of
ELIZABETH BLAKE,
the mother of
HENRY BLAKE,
who was born
Oct. 30th, 1790,
and died from grief
at the loss of her son
Sept. 28, 1841 |
 |
| Photo courtesy of Doug Purcell |
|
Elizabeth Blake, from Mississippi, allegedly dropped dead at the grave of her son when viewing his burial site for the first time.
Presently, this cemetery is completely overgrown and has
been damaged by fire and hurricane Opal. Glennville is now
a ghost town just off US Highway 431 about sixteen miles
north of Eufaula. It is approximately 30 miles south of
Phenix City. At one time it was a thriving community.
Back to Top |
|
| Leroy
Brown (beloved fish)
Home of Ray Scott
Pintlala, Alabama (Montgomery County)
Submitted by Doug Purcell
Inscription reads:
MOST BASS
ARE JUST FISH,
BUT
LEROY BROWN
WAS
SOMETHING
SPECIAL
|
 |
| Photo courtesy of Jaxon Monument Company |
|
Leroy
Brown was a largemouth bass caught by Tom
Mann in 1973. He
lived in Mann's aquarium at Fish World for nearly eight
years before he died of natural causes. Upon the fish's
death, Mann commissioned the J. J. Jaxon Company to create
this monument. The monument is now located at the home
of Ray Scott.
Click here to read an article
about Leroy Brown by Ray Scott.
You can also visit http://www.roadsideamerica.com/pet/leroy.html
to read more.
Alabama Heritage would like to thank Ray Scott Outdoors
for their help with this article.
Back to Top |
|
| George
Sims
Clayton Cemetery
Clayton, Alabama (Barbour County)
Submitted by Doug Purcell
Inscription reads:
The Village
Smithy
A Wonderful Dad
and a
Loving Caring
Inspirational
Mother. |
 |
| Photo courtesy of The
Clayton Record |
|
Click
here to read an article about this anvil-shaped monument.
Back to Top |
|
| W.
T. Mullen
Clayton Cemetery
Clayton, Alabama (Barbour County)
Submitted by Doug Purcell
Inscription reads:
In memory of
W. T. Mullen
son of
J. and N. Mullen
Born
in Talbotton Ga.
June 18th 1834
Died
July 18th 1863
|
 |
| Photo courtesy of The Clayton
Record |
|
The
Whiskey Bottle tombstone occupies a prominent position
in the Clayton Cemetery, which is located in downtown
Clayton off North Midway Street. This monument marks
the final resting place of W. T. Mullen, who was born
in 1834 and died in 1863.
Legend has it that Mullen was
a heavy drinker and his wife was an ardent teetotaler.
Mrs. Mullen tried everything to get her husband to break
this bad habit including cajoling, nagging and finally,
threats. After losing all patience, she told him to go
ahead and drink himself to death. She warned him that,
if this happened, a tombstone shaped like a whiskey bottle
would be erected on his grave as a reminder to all of
his previous drinking problem.
Mrs. Mullen was apparently
true to her word as a stone whiskey bottle replica, standing
several feet high, marks his burial place today. A smaller
counterpart, complete with a stone cork, is situated
at the foot of the grave. Until recently, people would
put small change under the stone cork for anyone who
needed a few extra coins to purchase a bottle of wine
or some other spirit.
According to information from the1860
census of Barbour County, Mullen
was a bookkeeper who lived in a hotel in Clayton in 1860.
Back to Top |
|
Nadine
Earles
Lanett City
Cemetery
Lanett, Alabama (Chambers County)
Submitted by Doug Purcell and Ginger Ann Brook
Inscription reads:
Our Darling Little Girl
Sweetest In The World
April 3, 1929
December 18, 1933
Little Nadine Earles
In Heaven We Hope To Meet
Me Want It Now
|
 |
| Photo courtesy of the Valley
Times-News |
|
A
brick doll house sits over the grave site of Nadine Earles,
who was born April 3, 1929, and died December 18, 1933.
The grave is located inside the doll house, which includes
a fire place and toys of many kinds. The
dollhouse was built to fulfill the dying wish of "Little
Nadine."
Click
here to see more photos of the dollhouse.
Back to Top |
|
| Nucci
Italian-Catholic Cemetery
West Blockton, Alabama (Bibb County)
Submitted by Ginger Ann Brook
Inscription:
SULLA TERRA DEGLI
ESTINTI GIACE
LE SPOGLIE MORTALI
DI NARCISO NUCCI DI ANNI 52, MORTO A BLOCTON ALA. IL 7
LUGLIO 1908 DOPO
AVERE SOFFERTO PER ANNI 12 CONSECUTIVI
SUL ALTARE DI UNA
PENOSA MALATTIA, LA
MORTE LO TOLSE DA
QUELLE SOFFERENZE E
AL AFFETTO DEI SUOI
E QUANTI LO CONOSCEVANO
PER LE SUE BUONE QUALITA
LASCIA A PIANGERLO LA
MOGLIE E 7 FIGLI; LA
SPOSA ANDRIETTA E I
FIGLI A PERENNE MEMORIA
QUESTO MARMO POSERO
PREGATE PACE PER
LA SUA TOMBA.
Roughly translated, inscription reads:
In this land of the dead lies the mortal remains of Nargiso Nucci, age 52. Died at Blockton, Ala., July 7, 1908. After having suffered for 12 consecutive years of a painful disease, his death removed his misery, and his many good qualities are remembered by those who loved him. He leaves a bereaved wife and 7 sons; Spouse Andrietta and his sons placed this marble in his perpetual memory and pray for the peace of his tomb. |
 |
| Photo by Ginger Ann Brook |
|
Anyone literate in Italian who wishes to
improve our translation, please email us at heritage@bama.ua.edu.
Back to Top
|
|
|
Castelli
Italian-Catholic
Cemetery
West Blockton, Alabama (Bibb County)
Submitted by Ginger Ann Brook
Inscription:
QUI DIAGE LE CENERI
DELLA POVERA DELFU
ELIZABETHA CASTELLI
NATA 1864.
ASSASINATA NELLA
GIOVINA ETA DI 36.
ANNI DERUBATA E
ASSASINO DI RAZZA
NEGRA, LA MATTINA,
DEL GIORNO A ORE 8 DEI
15 DECEMBRE 1902,
LASOLANDO IL SUO
CONSORTE E FIGLIO
LAGRIMOSI E DOLENTI
Roughly translated, inscription reads:
Here lie the ashes of poor deceased
Elizabetha Castelli born in 1864 murdered at the young
age of 36 years, robbed and killed by a murderer of the
black race in the morning at 8:00 on December 15, 1902
leaving behind her husband and son, weeping and sobbing |
 |
| Photo by Ginger Ann Brook |
|
Back to Top |
|
Governor William Calvin Oates
Oakwood Cemetery
Montgomery, Alabama (Montgomery County)
Submitted by Ginger Ann Brook
Inscription:
Born in poverty, reared in adversity,
without educational advantages, yet by honest individual
effort he obtained a competency and the confidence of his
fellow men. While fairly liberal to relatives and the worthy
poor, a devoted Confederate soldier, he gave his right
arm for The Cause. He accepted the result of the war without
a murmur and in 1896-98 he was a Brigadier General of United
States Volunteers in the war with Spain. |
 |
| Photo by Ginger Ann Brook |
|
Governor Oates was featured in Alabama Heritage issue 84. To
read the abstract, click here.
Back to Top |
|
| Louise Winchester Clark
Courtland Cemetery
Courtland, Alabama (Lawrence County)
Submitted by Kelly Branigan
Inscription:
Louise Winchester Clark
Wife of
WM. Garth Gilchrist
Born Rosedale, Miss. 1884
Died Courtland, Ala. 1964
Somewhere beyond the sunset
Where loveliness never dies
She lives in a land of glory
Mid the blue and gold of the skies
And we who knew and loved her
Whose passing has brought sad tears
Will cherish her memory always
To brighten the passing years.
|
 |
| Photo by Kelly Branigan |
|
Back to Top |
|
William Daniel Gilchrist
Courtland Cemetery
Courtland, Alabama (Lawrence County)
Submitted by Kelly Branigan
Inscription:
Sacred
To the Memory of
William Daniel Gilchrist
son of
Daniel & Nancy Gilchrist
Born 23 of February 1823
Departed this life 2 of December
1841
aged 18 years 9 month & 9 days
Died in the triumphs of the Christian Faith.
Jesus can make a dying bed
feel soft as downy pillows are
while on his breast I lean my head
and breath my life out sweetly there
|
 |
| Photo by Kelly Branigan |
|
Back to Top |
|
| Samuel
P. Jones
Courtland Cemetery
Courtland, Alabama (Lawrence County)
Submitted by Kelly Branigan
Inscription:
Sacred
To the Memory of
Samuel P. Jones
Born in Halifax County Va
Oct. 28, 1794
Moved to Ala. Dec. 1818,
Lived in Ala. Until 1850,
then moved to Texas and re-
mained until 1869, in which
time he moved back to Ala.
near Courtland where he br-
eathed his last July 22, 1881.
Beneath this stone doth lie an honest
man, the noblest work of God.
S.T. Torian
|
 |
| Photo by Kelly Branigan |
|
Back to Top |
|
Father
& Mother
Courtland Cemetery
Courtland, Alabama (Lawrence County)
Submitted by Kelly Branigan
Inscription:
Father & Mother
At the crystal
rivers brink
We shall find
each broken link. |
 |
| Photo by Kelly Branigan |
|
Back to Top |
|
Charles
Pearson
Courtland Cemetery
Courtland, Alabama (Lawrence County)
Submitted by Kelly Branigan
Inscription:
Sacred
To the Memory of
Charles Pearson
who departed this
life, (in the triumphs
of the Christian faith)
on the 16 Oct 1828,
aged 35 years.
Mild and peacable
in his disposition he
was lamented by all
who knew him.
|
 |
| Photo by Kelly Branigan |
|
Back to Top |
|
Sarah
Letitia Hall
Courtland Cemetery
Courtland, Alabama (Lawrence County)
Submitted by Kelly Branigan
Inscription:
To the Memory of
Sarah Letitia Hall
Born
Feb. 21, 1848,
Died
June 28, 1870
Where’s a friend
Who’s ever near
He will keep thee
never fear.
Keep thee by His
grace and love,
Till we meet in
Heaven above.
|
 |
| Photo by Kelly Branigan |
|
Back to Top |
|
| Children
of S.S. & Lida F. Pippen
Courtland Cemetery
Courtland, Alabama (Lawrence County)
Submitted by Kelly Branigan
Click
here for additional images. |
 |
| Photo by Kelly Branigan |
|
Back to Top |
|
| John Godwin
Phenix City, Alabama (Russell County)
Submitted by Ginger Ann Brook
Inscription:
John Godwin
born
October 17, 1798,
died
February 26, 1859.
This stone was placed
here by
Horace King
in lasting remembrance
of the love and gratitude
he felt for his lost friend
and former master
|
 |
 |
| Photos by Ginger Ann Brook |
|
This monument was purchased by Horace King, John Godwin's former slave. You can read the entire story in the Alabama
Heritage article "Horace King: Bridge Builder" from issue #11. Click
here for the full text "From
the Vault" version of the article. Back to Top |
|
| Harriet Emily Pryor
Athens City Cemetery
Athens, Alabama (Limestone County)
Submitted by Ginger Ann Brook
Inscription:
Harriet Emily Pryor
beloved wife of
Robert Joseph Lowe
Born Sept. 13, 1866
And Francis Pettus Lowe
Their infant son
Born March 2, 1901
Wife and Child
Killed in the ruins of their home by the
cyclone which destroyed it, Monday morning
March 25, 1901
|
 |
| Photo by Ginger Ann Brook |
|
Back to Top |
|
Strudwick Tutwiler Pennington
Oak Hill
Cemetery
Jasper, Alabama (Walker County)
Submitted by Ginger Ann Brook
Inscription:
Ens. Strudwick Tutwiler Pennington
Born March 8, 1921
Graduated Annapolis Naval Academy
December 19, 1941
Lost on USS Sims
During Coral Sea Engagement
May 8, 1942
|
 |
| Photo by Ginger Ann Brook |
|
Back to Top |
|
Do you know of an interesting or unusual tombstone?
If you know of such a tombstone, you may
send a digital image by email to Heritage@bama.ua.edu or
a photograph to Alabama
Heritage, 325
Hackberry Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0342.
Please include your name, contact information
(which we will not publish), and the location
of the tombstone, including the county. Unfortunately,
we will not be able to return photographs. |
How
are we doing?
Alabama Heritage seeks to present
articles that inspire, entertain, and, above
all, educate our readers. Please use our Feedback page
to let us know whether we are serving your
interests. You may also use this page to
report any errors you find in the magazine.
While we work hard to ensure the accuracy
of the information we present, an error
occasionally slips through. We will publish
corrections to any confirmed errors on
the website for the benefit of all readers. |
Back
to Top
This page created 07/14/08 |
