BIOGRAPHY OF OMIE RAYSON-ROWLETT

DEATH INSIDE A CEMETERY

 by

Barbara Jefferson-Bonner

Family Historian

1995

Omie Rayson was the third of fourteen children born in May of 1879, to the parentage of Walter Rayson, Sr. and Caroline Neely.

Omie married Julius Rowlett to this union eight children were born.

Omie died on May 31, 1919, graveyard working day for the Holland Quarters Cemetery, and Community.

Omie had worked most of the day when she sat down with her young baby, Excella, in her arms.  Omie was hot and tired.  She sat there a few minutes and all of a sudden she leaned over.  A message was sent to her brother, George, to tell him of his sister, Omie.

When the message arrived at the home of George and Sarah (Renfrow) Brown-Rayson, George and his brother-in-law, Thomas "Buddy" Brown were fishing, down in the bottom.

Sarah was always told by George, if there were ever any trouble, to blow the cow horn.

Sarah took out the cow horn, and blew into it as hard as she could possibly blow.

The men heard the cow horn; they knew the horn meant a cry for help, something was wrong.

The men dropped everything, and hurried home.

Time was not on their side; when they arrived home, there was nothing they could do, Omie was dead. 

A mothers love is forever, Aunt Omie safely cradling her baby, even after death.