Riverdale Porterdale Cemetery Foundation, Inc.

Several years ago a foundation was established to restore and maintain the three city owned cemeteries in my hometown of Columbus, GA. As a donor I received an application to become a charter member of the Dales Society being established for the foundation. This foundation covers Riverdale, Porterdale and East Porterdale cemeteries.

I spent most of January back home taking care of my Daddy. I was pleased with the improvements I saw that were completed and those in progress. My Mama, 4 sisters, Grandma, Great-Grandma, Great Aunts and Uncles and others are buried at the cemeteries, most being in Riverdale.

My Mama - Riverdale Cemetery

A website has been established. And I found a video on YouTube that describes the efforts:

GYR Carnival...

...has been resurrected.

Theme: Favorite cemetery photo, taken by me.

This was a fast and easy one for me. My favorite cemetery photo, taken by me, hasn't changed in a long while. It is the stone of Georgia Mustian Davis located in the historic Linwood Cemetery in my hometown of Columbus, GA.

This cemetery offered many walks to clear my mind when my Mama was dying and during many other difficult times. 

I featured it in a 2009 blog post. I added a few updates to the original post which you can see HERE.

Hint: a portion of it is my header photo.

New vs Old

I recently spent almost a month in Georgia setting up care for my Daddy. After his stroke last year he was left with some limitations and requires help with some things. His brother lived with him and I hired someone to help. Both my Uncle and the other person died within 4 days of each other. My Uncle's death was a shock. He was a late in life baby for my Grandma. Daddy was 18 when he was born and my Uncle was only 6 years older than me. I had to scramble to get there and figure out what to do. Hopefully, the plans in place will meet his needs.

Before returning home I visited the cemetery where the person was buried that helped take care of my Daddy. Upon arriving I found a small cemetery tucked away from a busy area of town. Upon walking the grounds I was left wondering why half of the cemetery is cared for and the other half neglected. Perhaps there is more of a story there that I will discover another time.

Patrick Cemetery
Columbus, GA

American Revolution Soldier

This cemetery, containing three graves, is surrounded by a busy intersection and used car lot.

Samuel Cooper
James Cooper, son
Mary Cooper, daughter

Columbus, GA

Mother Church

This downtown church has just one burial.

Rev. Michael Cullinan
Church of the Holy Family
Columbus, GA

Interesting Bricks

I came across these interesting bricks at the Riverdale Cemetery in Columbus, GA.

New Book

I've been in my hometown of Columbus, GA a lot in the last 2 1/2 months, since Daddy broke his hip and suffered a stroke. I had the opportunity to take a few walks through Linwood Cemetery and also picked up this book. I see something new every time I visit. I would love to photograph every stone there.

My blog header photo is taken from a tombstone at Linwood.

William Clark

When I visited this cemetery I left wondering if I would find any other information online that would tell me the person behind the stone. Thankfully a record can be found at Find A Grave, which includes the obituary of William Clark.

William Clark
b. April 26, 1792
d. July 11, 1881
Williams Road Cemetery
aka Peddy-Jones-Clark Cemetery
Columbus, GA

Online Map

Online resource: Muscogee County, GA Cemetery Map

Soldier of the South

Linwood Cemetery

Charles Gordon Flournoy
Born
December 24, 1844
Died
April 5, 1902
Soldier of the South
Nelson Rangers

Coffin Headstone

[I'm blogging without my resources; i.e. cemetery books]

Double Churches Cemetery

Smith Infants

Hello! It's been a long while since I've had time to post anything. I've been in Georgia a few weeks. My Daddy broke his hip and suffered a stroke following the surgery. My time has been occupied trying to figure out the care he will need in the near future.

Before Daddy moved to rehab he was in the hospital which happens to be close to my favorite cemetery to visit when I'm home: Historic Linwood Cemetery. I was able to sneak away for some fresh air and took a stroll through Linwood, with my camera, of course.

Much has to be determined and decided in the weeks ahead but I'm now able to take some time to catch my breath. I hope to stop and visit the many other cemeteries around here during my time to myself. A good way to get outside and exercise.

Grave of the Smith Infants:

To the memory of our three infant children
H. J. & M. W. Smith
Linwood Cemetery

Flowers for Mama

Last week we took our son to see his grandparents. He hadn't seen them since the year before he deployed, so it was important to make this trip during his first leave.

While there I took flowers to my Mama. It saddens me that I can't do it as often as I'd like. I'm about 1,050 miles from my hometown of Columbus, GA. I wanted to share something with her and added a bird to the flowers. Those that know me know my yard and gardens are designed with the birds in mind. A simple joy in life.

I love you and miss you dearly, Mama. Till we meet again.


Riverdale Cemetery



All Souls Day

Celebrated the 4th Monday in May

The South’s All Souls Day

In Columbus, Georgia, on April 9, 1866, the first anniversary of General Lee’s surrender, the ladies there did their honors, Mrs. Lizzie Rutherford Ellis of Columbus, Georgia, is credited for the first Confederate Memorial Day, along with Mrs. Anne Williams for her March 12, 1866, letter to the editor in the Columbus newspaper proposing the setting aside of April 26 annually as the observance of the South’s “All Soul’s Day”. Wikipedia

Happy Birthday, Coca Cola

In 1866 John Stith Pemberton, a pharmacist, produced a syrup that we know today as Coke. Originally it was a coca wine called Pemberton's French Wine Coca.

Most Important

This will be the most important post I will ever share with you.

The week before Christmas I had to take an unplanned trip back home to Columbus, Georgia. Although unplanned it did offer some quality time with family.

This was a hard trip to make. You see, this was the first time I have been to Mama's grave since she died in 2009. Mama died in February and I had planned to go home that summer after her headstone had been placed. My son joined the Army and I postponed the trip to spend all the time I could with him. I rescheduled the trip for November 2009. My son graduated boot camp and attended AIT so we traveled for that and postponed the other trip. I rescheduled the trip for May of 2010. My son deployed to Afghanistan and once again I postponed the trip. The stress of his deployment left me wanting to stay close to home and so I thought it would be spring 2011 before I finally made it home to visit Mama's grave and see her headstone in person. The need to take that unplanned trip changed that. Perhaps all the delays were for the best. Even with as much time that has passed it was very hard for me to stand there and accept that Mama is no longer with me. I tell her every day how much I miss and love her. I do hope she is pleased with the stone I picked out.

While home I also visited the graves of my 4 sisters. My little sister, Teresa, died in 2007 at the age of 39 of natural causes. My older sister, Denise, died in 2008 at the age of 49 of cancer. Three months later in 2009 Mama was gone. It's hard imagining growing old without them.

I also have 2 sisters that died at birth. Mama had twins Judine and Joycine in 1960 before I was born. [from her first marriage]

At Mama's funeral this is what I shared:
"I will cherish every day I was blessed to have Mama. Her hands tenderly cared for me, her kisses healed my pain. Her hugs calmed my fears and her voice was a melody in my ear. Nothing compares to a mother’s love. It guided me through life in my early years and waited in the wings in my adult years. Mama has left us for a little while but her love will always be with us. Close your eyes and open your heart and there you will find her."


Riverdale Cemetery



The back of Mama's headstone



Riverdale Cemetery



East Porterdale Cemetery

Close-up of Denise's headstone



Riverdale Cemetery

  
It is my plan to have a new headstone placed on the twins grave. One that will last longer. The one above is common and seen a lot in this cemetery.

Tombstone Photo of the Week

Mealing Cemetery

Tombstone Photo of the Week

Porterdale Cemetery

Tombstone Photo of the Week

Linwood Cemetery

Beallwood Cemetery Walk

This cemetery isn't in the best shape.

Take a walk - see more photos online.