Shady Grove Cemetery -
Longbranch
Updated 2005 with info from census records,
Social Security Death Index, TX Death Records
Old
Shady Grove Cemetery is open on the east side, but nestled in a stand of trees
on the other three sides. The oldest marked graves are in the center of the
cemetery. These graves are for Chania
Gates (1842-1914), Clara Adams (Only date Oct 8, 1844 and according to census
records, this would be her birth date) and Margaret Laret (Only date Oct 28,
1858, possibly her birth date). The
newer graves lie along the edges of the cemetery, particularly pocketed in the
extreme four corners, leading one to believe that there is a large number of
old unmarked graves in the center portion.
A total of 34 unmarked graves were tallied in this survey, but the
ground in the cemetery is very rough and many more graves could be disguised by
the rugged contours of the terrain.
Regrettably, a large number of the marked graves have only a funeral
home marker that time and the elements have wiped clean of all traces of
identity and even the name of the funeral home.
There is also a large number marked by broken chunks of different
colored granite, polished on one side.
The tombstone of Ozell Wilson appears to be rather old and possibly was
broken from its original base and is now mounted on the front of a square
column of red brick approximately three feet tall.
It is
obvious that this cemetery is treasured by the families of those buried there. The grass outside the cemetery is very high,
but the cemetery had been recently mowed and showed signs of constant
maintenance. Many of the graves were
decorated with artificial flowers. This
was even true of some of the unmarked graves, indicating that someone knows who
is buried there, and efforts will be made to obtain documentation on those
graves. One grave, marked only with an
illegible funeral home marker, had a large Cape Jessamine (Gardenia) bush
planted on it that had continued to grow and thrive even during the last few
years of drought.
Surname |
Given
Name |
Date
of Birth |
Date
of Death |
|
Adams Spouse Children |
Clara Green Adams Rose Adams, Sam Neely |
Oct
8, 1844 (GA) |
?? |
|
Ballard Spouse Children |
Diamond Charlie Ballard Earl, Pearl |
?? |
09
Apr 1970 |
|
Ballard |
Rose May “Mother of Five” |
Nov
6, 1938 |
Aug
20, 1972 |
|
Carter |
Lee C.
"Baby" |
Aug
10, 1943 |
Aug
10, 1943 |
|
Castleberry |
Annie "In Loving Memories" |
1897 |
1926 |
|
Castleberry |
Walter B. "Loving Brother" |
Dec
20, 1920 |
1926 |
|
Davis |
Ardell "Father" |
Jul
11, 1931 |
Aug
17, 1990 |
|
Davis Spouse Children |
Charlie Lola James |
1888 |
1956 |
|
Davis Spouse |
Jess Febbie |
ca
1854 |
? |
|
Davis Spouse Children |
Jess B. Onnie – Mar 65 yrs Pearline, Frank |
Jul
19, 1907 |
Jan
16, 1996 |
|
Davis |
Joe PVT U.S. Army - Viet Nam |
1949 |
1978 |
|
Davis |
Joe B. |
Apr
11, 1915 |
Mar
1973 |
|
Davis Spouse |
Mrs. Febbie Jess Davis |
ca
1865 |
Sep
23, 1953 |
|
Davis Spouse Children |
Onnie May Jess B. Davis – Mar 65 yrs Pearline, Frank |
Mar
25, 1911 |
Apr
26, 1993 |
|
Davis Parents |
Rev. George S. "Father" "I Have Kept the Faith" John & Synthia Davis |
Dec
25, 1921 |
May
14, 1992 |
|
Davis Parents |
Rev. L.R.
“Lee” John & Synthia Davis |
Apr
12, 1919 |
May
5, 1983 |
|
Davis Spouse Children |
Synthia John Davis Mildred, Mary Jane, George, Lee, Verlin |
1894 |
May
11, 1942 |
|
Davis Parents |
Verlin Cpl
U.S. Army John & Synthia Davis |
1930 |
1992 |
|
Fite Spouse Child |
Alberta Eddie Fite James |
Sep
19, 1904 |
Nov
17, 1976 |
|
Fite Spouse Children |
Della Isaac C. Fite Hubert, Winnie, Buford, May R., (twins)
Eddie & Eady, William B., Isaiah |
March
20, 1887 |
Apr
9, 1983 |
|
Fite Spouse |
Eddie Alberta |
Jan
15, 1906 |
Apr
23, 1989 |
|
Fite Spouse |
Hubert Rosa |
July
21, 1900 |
July
1974 |
|
Fite Spouse Children |
I.C.
“Isaac C.” Mason Della Hubert, Winnie, Buford, May R., (twins)
Eddie & Eady, William B., Isaiah |
1874 |
1959 |
|
Fletcher Spouse Children |
Bonnie Norma Jewel, Nell, Kidd, Prentis, A.C., Phillip |
1900 |
April
1994 |
|
Fletcher |
James R. |
Nov
11, 1941 |
Sep
2, 1990 |
|
|
PVT, U.S. Army - Viet Nam |
|
|
|
Fletcher Spouse |
Nomie
“Norma” Bonnie Fletcher |
Aug
9, 1899 |
Nov
18, 1978 |
|
Frazier Spouse Children |
Mrs. Hattie "Loving Mother" Monk Frazier Luella Dock, Henry Dock, Joe Dock |
Apr
30, 1900 |
Feb
19, 1973 |
|
Gates |
Arline |
Mar
1, 1904 |
Oct
18, 196? |
|
Gates Children |
Chania (Chaney) Thomas, William L., Caleb, Dennis, Amanda,
Frank, Ellen, Lucinda, Charles, Samuel, Ernest |
Feb
8, 1842 |
May
29, 1914 |
|
Gates |
Herbert Lee |
Sep
12, 1926 |
Oct
3, 1990 |
|
Gates Parents |
K.C.
“Choice” TX Quarter Masters Corp Dennis & Sammie Gates |
?? |
?? |
|
Gates |
Leonard |
Apr
1, 1912 |
Oct
25, 1979 |
|
Gates |
Nora |
Nov
8, 1913 |
Aug
4, 1982 |
|
Gates Spouse |
Sammie Dennis Gates |
1877 |
1960 |
|
Hall Parents |
Ida Mae James Hall & Margie Sue Hardin |
13
May 1951 |