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Gildersleeve Cemetery
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HOME
Gildersleeve
ALLIED FAMILIES:
Boddie
Murley
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Land |
| Email me: nitamunoz@flash.net |
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A few years ago Louis M. Finlay, Jr. presented a paper on Airmount Cemetery to the Clarke County, AL Historical Society. The 21st of August, 1999, Dalton James Smith and his wife Luvern visited the Cemetery in search of Jim's great grandfather's grave. Jim wrote an account of the condition of the cemetery and the gravestones they found. They didn't find Stephen Wellington Murley's grave but returned the following week with Louis Finlay and friends to clear the brush and trees from around the graves of the Murleys and Gildersleeves who were buried there. The following is from the records of both Louis Finlay and Jim Smith. |
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| Airmount Cemetery | 
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Airmount Methodist Church, Aug.1999.Photo by Jim Smith. Click on Graphic for enlargement of picture. |
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Graves in the Old Fenced Area, Airmount Cemetery,
Clarke County, Alabama August 21, 1999
Recorded by Dalton James Smith, Registered Forester
The cemetery is located north of State Highway # 5, between
Thomasville and Sunny South, and just in Clarke County. A
sign along the highway in front of large brick columns and
a gate reads:
Airmount C. M. E. Church, Thomasville, Alabama,
Pastor Bonnie McCall
The large portion of the cemetery located between the high-
way and the church, and south of the old fenced area, is in
current and frequent use by the church. Grounds are clean,
stones are contemporary.
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| Airmount Cemetery Plat |
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North and west of the currently used cemetery is an area of two or three acres, fenced with strong rust resistant wire. The treated posts are rotting and therefore the fence is falling in places. Some bush has been cut and piled within the fenced area in the past five years; no maintenance since that time. The area is somewhat open at eye level, growing up in knee high small pines. Around most grave stones the hardwood brush is larger and more prevalent, as though a tractor was once used to cut the open areas and could not get close to the stones. |
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Airmount Cemetery Plat, not drawn to scale Aug.1999. Sketch by Jim Smith. |
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| Hope Family Burial Chamber |
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Hope Family Burial Chamber, Aug.1999. Photo by Jim Smith. | Inside the Chamber Aug.1999. Photo by Jim Smith. |
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An enclosed brick tomb with semi open lattice sides and a rusting tin roof, some 15 feet by 30 feet, holds six graves with elaborate tall marble markers. Except for a crumpled brick column and the rusting roof, the building is in good condition. Writing on the curved ceiling inside says "A.D. 1853." Constructed in the Greek Revival Style of Architec- ture, this building has been nominated by The Clarke County Historical Society for The National Registration of Historic Buildings. Large grave stones inside are: Jane A. Hope, born 9 February 1813 and departed this life 22 November 1852, aged 39 years, 9 months and 13 days Double stone: HOPE, Sarah Jane Powell, born 7 July 1829 died 7 July 1885; HOPE, John, born 3 October 1791 died 6 April 1868 Margaret Hope, born 20 Nov 1797 died May 1851 John Allison Hope, born 3 October 1855 departed this life 25 October 1856, aged 1 year and 22 days Archibald H. Hope, born 20 May 1823 died 26 September 1850 |
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| Gildersleeve / Murley / Kennedy Graves |
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Upper Left: Hattie Murley'stone before clearing. Photo by Jim Smith. Upper Right: What a way to spend a hot August weekend! Clearing the graves hehind the Hope Burial Chamber.Left to right Jean Lufkin, Luvern Smith, Jim Smith, Jack Lufkin and Louis Finlay. Composite photo. Original photos by Jack Lufkin and Jim Smith. Below: Hattie Murley's Stone uncovered. August 1999 Photo by Jim Smith. |
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Seven stones are in a line behind the Hope Burial Chamber, with two behind those, total nine in the rear: Mary Kennedy, born 19 June 1800 died 27 Sept 1854, age 54 years Sacred to the Memory of Samuel G. Kennedy, who died 13 Oct 1855, age 25 years, 10 months and 7 days Rosa, daughter of Dr. W. E. and M. E. Easterling, born 18 September 1879 died 20 July 1882 In Memory of John Gildersleeve, born 2 Mar 1791 died 19 Mar 1873. I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet he shall he live In Memory of Martha A., consort of John Gildersleeve, She was born in New Bern, North Carolina 6 Dec 1806 and departed this life 11 January 1869. The body in the grave must sleep, while we for Martha lonely weep. In Memory of JOHN STEPHEN Gildersleeve, born 1 March 1841, and departed this life 21 December 1855. Blessed are the early dead for they shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. In Memory of Harriet Daves, beloved wife of S. W. Murley, born 17 January 1834 died 20 October 1902. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Annie, wife of S. W. Murley, Jr., born 4 June 1878 died 6 Jul 1908 (Stone behind Harriet Murley) ATKEISON (that is all, no other writing. This stone is in the row with Annie, behind the others) |
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| Houston Graves |
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Houston Family Monuments in front of the Hope Burial Chamber Photo taken by Louis M. Finlay several years ago. |
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Three large and elaborate stones are in front of the tomb: Joseph Houston, born 8 September 1806 died 29 August 1852 Sacred to the Memory of Martha L. Houston, consort of Joseph Houston, born 4 November 1820, died 29 Jul 1855 Catherine Houston, born 6 November 1843 died 15 February 1848 |
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| Wrought Iron Fenced Area |
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Fenced in area of Airmount Cemetery August 1999. Photo by Jim Smith. |
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North and west of the tomb, toward the gate, is an area of 15 feet by 30 feet enclosed by a waist high iron picket fence. Brush is heavy inside the fence as this area could not be tractor mowed. I could see two large stones and three small. One of the small stones is for a child of the couple with the large stones. The large stones are for: Robert Melton Hope, born 4 October 1857 died 26 February 1934 Lucy Crawford Hope, beloved wife of Robert Hope, born 4 February 1862 died 13 Mar 1946 Robert M. son of Robert M and L.C. Hope 5 November 1891 25 January 1895 Leonora Crawford Hope 5 August 1889 23 October 1907 Ludee Hope 6 April 1887 19 March 1907 Vera, daughter of R. M. and L. C. Hope 15 September 1897 26 October 1897 Archibald Crawford, son of R. M. and L. C. Hope born 10 January 1896, died 29 April 1899 |
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| Open Area |
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In the open area of Airmount Cemetery, Between the Wrought Iron Fenced Area and the Hope Family Burial Chamber are the following graves: |
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In Memory of Bynum V. Jones, who was born 15 July 1810, died 19 January 1857 Dannie A Baugy, 9 March 1845, 18 August 1925 Kittie Whisenthunt, wife of Dannie A. Baugh 18 February 1886 23 June 1965 George M. Steed, Alabama Prv. 20 Engineers World War born 11 Jul 1894 died 22 February 1966 Thomas A. Steed, 30 December 1857 14 May 1941 Emma C., wife of Thomas Steed, 5 September 1860 27 August 1896 Emma C. Steed 13 August 1896 25 June 1982 (sign - dau. of American Revolution) Infant daughter of T. A. and E. C. Steed Infant son of Frank O. and Lelia P. Lowry June, 1914 |
