The cemetery was clearly an old one. There were many markers that were so old and weathered that that the inscriptions were completely worn off. In fact, some looked like natural stones that had simply been placed as grave markers. I saw two that were indeed natural stones, with markings etched on by a rock or a knife.
As I wandered around, I noticed a stone for William West. My great-grandmother was a West, but I couldn’t remember her father’s name. I paused to take a photo (I carry a small digital camera in my purse for just such occasions), just in case, and as I looked at the adjacent stone, I saw that the name was Leaty West. Leaty is not a common name and I recognized it immediately. These were my great-grandmother’s parents!
Not only did I discover their burial places, but I learned that William fought in the Civil War and when Leaty was born.
You might also like:
The symbol is a standard one used to designate a Confederate veteran. It is called the Southern or Confederate Cross of Honor. (source: http://www.militaryhistoryinstone.org/node/10)
[...] – Lizzie’s father, William West, died of old age in May. He was 98. He is buried at Mt. Sumach Cemetery in [...]