Ayers / Cross / Thomas Cemetery
South Pittsburg, Tennessee
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The Ayers/Cross/Thomas Cemetery is pictured above on October 26, 2005. This cemetery is located in a pasture about five miles up Sweeden's Cove Road near South Pittsburg, Tennessee. It is on a hill behind the Church of Christ. The property belongs to Don Ament who is kin to the Ayers family that are buried in the cemetery. The cemetery has about one hundred graves in it of which less than thirty are identified. Many stones are down and fences damaged.
Photograph by Dennis Lambert
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The limestone covered grave pictured above is the oldest known in the Ayers/Cross/Thomas Cemetery. Polly Cross, who was born April 11, 1812, died on June 10, 1830.
Photograph by Dennis Lambert
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"Polly Cross was Born Aprile 11, 1812 and Died June 10, 1830"
Photograph by Dennis Lambert
Many grave markers in the Ayers/Cross/Thomas Cemetery have crude inscriptions on rough stone. This one has "H.OOT" inscribed.
Photograph by Dennis Lambert
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In the three pictures above can be seen the grave of Mary J. Blizzard who died Christmas 1884. Surrounding this grave was a unique cedar fence that was erected shortly after her death. Surprisingly, that fence survived nearly 120-years complete only to be severely damaged by a storm a few years back. Despite this, the wood parts are still in excellent condition for their age.
Photograph by Dennis Lambert
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There were at least three graves in the Ayers / Cross / Thomas Cemetery that were fenced. All, including the cedar fence, have been severely damaged. Pictured above is a front and back view of the best preserved fenced grave.
Photographs by Dennis Lambert
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This vintage wroth iron fence that once surrounded a grave has been flattened either by fallen trees or cattle.
Photograph by Dennis Lambert
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Like the fences surrounding a few of the graves, few gravestones in the cemetery have escaped damage. The stone above is for Loretta Hise. Photograph by Dennis Lambert
This overturned grave marker is for Sinthe Hauner Recter who died in 1901. Since a few Havner family members are buried nearby, it seems likely that instead of "Hauner" it should be "Havner". Photograph by Dennis Lambert
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Two more damaged gravestones are pictured above and to the left. Above is the stone for William G. Smith who was the son of T.J. & R.A. Smith. Smith was only 10 months old when he died on July 21, 1891. The gravestone on left is for Mary E. Havner. This nineteen-month-old was born in Marion County, Tennessee on May 7, 1866 and died December 15, 1867. She was the daughter of R. & M.E. Havner. One thing to note is that the child died on the exact same day as her mother who is buried nearby. No records are known to exist that would reveal why both mother and child died the same day. Could it have been a fire, maybe? We may never know. Photographs by Dennis Lambert
Ayers / Cross / Thomas Cemetery Inventory 2005
Conducted by Dennis & Erin Lambert
October 26, 2005 - Updated October 27, 2005
Ayers, Green L. Died: April 6, 1879 – “Aged 75 Years”
Ayers, Unknown
Ayers, Unknown
Ayers, Unknown
Ayers, Unknown
Ayers, Unknown
Ayers, Unknown
Ayers, Unknown
Ayers, Unknown
B, R - 1896 - Rough field stone; crude inscription! Near collapsed iron fence.
Blizzard, Mary J. – Born: Nov. 23, 1856 – Died: Dec. 25, 1884
Bolton, G. W. – Born: Apr. 9, 1892 – Died: July 21, 1893
Cross, Polly – “was born Aprile, 11, 1812 and Died June 10, 1830”
Havner, Bettie - May 18, ???? - Rough field stone; crude inscription!
Havner, Infant – No Dates - “of Richard & M.E. Havner”
Havner, M.E. – Born: May 2, 1817 – Died: Dec 15, 1867 – Crude stone!
“In Memory of”
Note: Mrs. Havner died the same date as her daughter, Mary E.
Havner, Mary E. - Born in Marion Co. Tenn.May 7, 1866 – Died: Dec. 15, 1867
“Dau. of R. & M.E. Havner
Hise, Loretta – May 31, 1869 – Oct. 13, 1870 – Daughter of G?. M. & C.A. Hise
(Upper portion of stone is broken off and missing.)
Hopkin, Frona – No Dates – Broken crude limestone marker
R, L.B. - Rough field stone; crude inscription!
R, M. L. - Rough field stone; crude inscription!
Recter, Sinthe Hauner (Havner) – Born: May 20, 1882 – Died: May 2, 1901
“Wife of Bill Recter”
Richardson, Ernest Jr. – Born: Oct. 15, 1954 – Died: Jan. 10, 1964
“Son of Ernest & Jo Ann Richardson”
Smith, C. W. – Aug. 19, 1892 – July 21, 1893 – “Baby”
Smith, William G. Died July 21, 1891 – “Aged 10 Mos.” “Son of T.J. & R.A. Smith”
W, G. S? - Rough field stone; crude inscription!
White, Luther R. – 1908-1934 – “Father”
White, Naner Elizabeth – Born: July 6, 1893 – Died: July 12, 1896
“Dau. of J.M.C. White”
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