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Mayo Notes Part 1
Baker, GA 1880 Federal Census (Mortality Schedule)ftp://ftp.us-census.org/pub/usgenweb/census/ga/baker/1880/
. LEWIS Adeline 75) F B M GA GA GA S AUG . 20
. MAYO George W. 31 M W M GA GA GA F NOV Pneumonia 8. MAYO John 11 M W S GA GA GA . JAN Malarial Xasma 2=========================================
(From the book "Heart and History of Holmes County" by Anna Paget Wells (used by permission of the publisher, Sue Cronkite)) This book is chock full of pictures and what has been used within this web site is only a small amount of the book. It can still be ordered from Sue Cronkite or from the Holmes County Advertiser, 112 E Virginia Avenue, Bonifay FL 32425; phone 850-547-2270; fax 850-547-9200
The pioneer of the Mayo family was Alfred Mayo, age 59, farmer, born in South Carolina. A wife and six children were listed in his household in the 1850 Census of Holmes County. There is evidence that he came to Holmes County in 1822. This would place him among the first settlers of Holmes.
There were three other Mayos listed as head of household in the same Census. Because of the family pattern, they are believed to be sons of Alfred. If this is true, the family pattern would be this: Alfred, age 59, born in South Carolina; Catherine, his wife, age 46, born in South Carolina; Martin, age 28, born in Florida; George, age 26, born in Florida; Ezekiel, age 24, born in Florida; Alfred, age 23, born in Florida; Samuel, age 21, born in Florida; Emily, age 14, born in Florida; Michael C, age 14, born in Florida (Emily and Michael C were born the same year and were probably twins); Caroline, age 11, born in Florida; and Angeline, age 8, born in Florida.
We feel sure that J Z Mayo, who was at one time sheriff of Holmes County, was a descendant of the pioneer Alfred Mayo, and that the father of TSgt Joel C Mayo, who gave his life in attempted to free 55 Americans being held in Iran, is also a descendant of the pioneer Alfred Mayo. The father of TSgt Mayo, J Z Mayo, has the same initials as the former sheriff J Z Mayo.================================
http://members.cox.net/garyrea/pafg295.htmWade Hampton Mayo's line-
-------------------------VERNON PARISH - POST OFFICESPost Office Established Discontinued Mail to: First Postmaster
Mayo 3 Jul 1899 1 Dec 1916 Walnut Hill Elijah L. Mayo 29 Sep 1917 30 Nov 1936 Slagle (Population 1899 - ca 75; named for first postmaster. AKA O.K.)
=================William T. Mayo, Vernon Parish, LouisianaSubmitted by Mike Miller, February, 2002
William T. Mayo, who was a captain in the Thirty-fourth Infantry during the World war, is a native son of Louisiana, and except for the war period has been identified with the business and civic life of Shreveport for twelve years. He is the Present commissioner of public utilities in the citygovernment.
Captain Mayo was born in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, in 1888. He acquired a liberal and technical education in the local schools, attending Vanderbilt University, and specialized in chemistry at the Atlanta PharmaceuticalCollege and in the College of Pharmacy at New Orleans. Captain Mayo onlocating at Shreveport in 1912 engaged in the general Insurance business.
In April, 1917 he entered the First Officers' Training School at LeonSprings, Texas, was commissioned the first lieutenant of infantry, and was assigned to the Thirty-fourth Infantry of the Regular Army. With thisregiment as a part of the seventh Division he went overseas, and served with it during several campaigns in France. While overseas he was promoted to the rank of captain, and he returned home and was discharged in June, 1919. He is a member of the American Legion.
Captain Mayo in 1922 was elected to the office of commissioner andsuperintendent of public utilities m the City of Shreveport. In thisposition he has supervisor of all public utilities, such as water Works, sewers, street railway system, telephone, etc.
He had been elected upon his specific pledge to the people that he would give Shreveport a good and wholesome water supply, and he host no time in an endeavor to fulfill that pledge. Immediately following his induction into office as commissioner of public utilities he began a careful review and investigation with engineers of various sources of supply available for the city's use, resulting in the ultimate selection of Cross Lake, this final choice having been based upon the abundance of supply, nearness to the city, which in itself would mean a saving of several millions of dollars to the taxpayers, and also by the further consideration that with the completion of the engineering projects Cross Lake, with its eleven thousand acres of water, surrounded by hills and other natural adornment of terrene and forestry, will become the outstanding pleasure resort of Northern Louisiana. As an expression of their confidence, both in the proposed plan and in the man behind the plan, the citizens of Shreveport by an overwhelming majority voted for a bond issue of a million dollars for use in the creation of this water supply project. The work of construction is now well under way, and when completed the City of Shreveport will have one of the finest municipal water supply systems in the South, together with as high grade soft potable water as is possible to obtain. The benefits to be derived therefrom, both by the present generation and those to follow after, surpassethcomprehension, while the completed work will stand as a tribute to theaggressive energy and comprehensive optimism of the builder who transformed the dream of yesterday into the reality of today.
Captain Mayo is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight Templar and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the AmericanHellenic Educational Progress Association. He married Miss Inez Kirk, of Tennessee. They had the misfortune to lose their only child, William T., Jr., at the age of eighteen months.
A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 197, by Henry E. Chambers. Publishedby The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.
-------------------------Vernon Parish Court House Clerk Of Court State of Louisiana Marriage Records Vol. A. 1896-1897
Mayo, G.W. Masie Weeks December 13, 1897 H.C. Parker -----------------------
Birth Record’s (Vernon Parish) of Dr. J.W. Jeane
Submitted by Jane P. McManus
Mayo, John (1910) & Ola Maddox (1900) Essie Mayo (twin)
Lessie Mayo (twin)
J.W. Mayo (m) 14 Dec 1932
14 Dec 1932
30 May 1934 ---------------------------------------
Mayo Cemetery - Vernon Parish, LouisianaSubmitted by Jane McManus
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MAYO CEMETERY - Vernon Parish
From the junction of LA Hwy. 28 & LA 121, go east toward Alexandria approximately 2.5 miles beyond Slagle turnoff (LA Hwy. 121). Turn left onto gravel road opposite Allen Gordy Road and continue for .5 mile to a unimproved logging road on the left. Park here as logging gate islocked, and walk on dirt road for approximately .7 miles. [A key to the gate can be obtained from the brick house just before you reach the gate. Go past the gate about 100 yards, turn right, keep on the road to the right as the road turns left. The small fenced Mayo cemetery,which houses only a few graves, is located approximately .2 miles on the right near the banks of the Calcasieu River in Vernon Parish, where the old Nolan Trace once crossed Flactor Creek. The property was the original homestead of Alfred Mayo, he was buried here about 12 years and Catherine Youngblood Mayo was buried here about 6 years before George Washington Mayo migrated to Louisiana from Florida after the Civil War. This property later became the home of George W. Mayo Sr.] (1)
Today, this small burial ground is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when just a few people take the time to care. Although abandoned and neglected for many years, the area was recently cleaned and a new chain-link fence erected for protection. Leaders in this effort were Karl & Doris (Dollie) Mayo of Hicks, Pearl (Tippit) Cooley of Slagle & Lea (Cooley) Duvall of Leesville. Other concerned relatives donated money and time to assist in the effort. At first, each grave was cleaned and large rocks were used to mark each one. An aggressive effort was then made to identify the 17 unmarked burials. Prior to their death, Napoleon Mayo and Edmond Cooley were able to provide burial information, and Jack Tippit who once lived on the property also helped with the identification.
Karl & Dollie provided genealogical information from personal, as well as census records, and this information is used here inside brackets. The cemetery was originally recorded by Essie (Tippit) Parker, after Jack & Celia Tippit helped locate the abandoned site in November 1976. Karl & Dollie Mayo, 1994, provided updates and information on new tombstones added since that time. Submitted by Jane P. McManus 12 September 2000. Additional information on the Mayo family was provided by Joseph Hirsch of Arkansas (9 September 2000).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[marked burials]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cooley, Stephen - 1820/1866, Pvt. Co B 1st LA Inf. CSA--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mayo, George Washington, Sr. - [1824 Holmes Co. FL/1879], Co. K, 2nd FL Inf. CSA [s/o Alfred Franklin Mayo & Catherine Youngblood] [Husband of (1) Emily - died ca 1851, (2) Adeline Cumby & (3) Elizabeth Callahan] [Children of 1st wife: (1) Elizabeth (Norris) & Elsey Ann (Hall); Children of 2nd wife: Phebrian (FebryAnn) (Hall), Elijah Light, Alfred Davis, Vina Ann (Lewis), Mack, Emma (Jowers), & Early Mayo. Children of 3nd wife: George W. Jr, William, Van, Martin, Luckey (Bennett) & Gilbert Mayo.] (1)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mayo, Alfred Franklin - 1792 Chesterfield, SC/ca 1854 Rapides Parish,Mayo, Catherine Youngblood - 1804 SC/1862 Rapides Parish Wife of Alfred Franklin Mayo [Parents of Martin, George Washington, Ezekiel, Alfred Franklin Jr., Samuel, Richard C., Catherine (French), Emily, Carolina & Angeline Mayo] (1)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mayo, Adeline Cumby - ca 1826 Holmes Co. FL/ca 1871 Wife of George Washington Mayo Sr.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lewis, Vina Ann Mayo - b. 1855 Holmes Co. FL, [d/o George Washington Mayo Sr. & Adeline Cumby Mayo, w/o Allen "Bud" Lewis, mother of Ellen (Monk), Alice (Wells), & Mary L. (Guinns).--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mayo, Samuel - ca 1829 Holmes Co. FL [Samuel, son of Alfred Mayo Sr & Catherine Youngblood, died on 7 Jan 1863 and is buried in the Mississippi Confederate Cemetery, Vicksburg, MS. His wife Susan Watson Mayo was remarried by 1865 to Eli Woods.](1)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mayo, Daisy - 1 Dec 1879 Allen Par. LA/1 Nov 1885 [d/o Elijah Light Mayo & Elizabeth Bryant]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mayo, Lucinda J. - [no dates] [d/o George Washington Mayo, Sr. & Elizabeth Callahan]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bass, James - 5 Feb 1807/drowned ca. 1855 in Calcasieu River [s/o John Bass & Delaney Taylor, h/o Emily Groves]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Norris, Infant of Daniel Duncan Norris, Sr. & Elizabeth Mayo.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Baker, Dr. - [no information]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cooley, Steven - ca 1834/ca 1884, father of Allen Wesley Cooley--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[4 unmarked, unknown burials]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes:(1) Jean Mayo Hirsch (JHirsch@arkansas.net) submitted the updated information on the Alfred and George Mayo family. He can be contacted for additional information.
-----------------------Blue Branch Cemetery is located in Pitkin on LA Hwy. 10, approximately .7miles West of LA Hwy. 113 junction, behind Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Earlysettlers of the Pitkin area organized the Church in 1862. The first logstructure was located about five miles East of Pitkin on Brushy Creek. In1877, the congregation moved to a more central location on Blue BranchCreek where they erected a new church. In 1890, a building first used bythe Methodists and then sold to Isaac Watson for a schoolhouse, waspurchased for use by Mt. Olive Baptist Church. In 1910 a new building wascompleted across the road, but in 1928 when the highway was widened, anattempt was made to move the building. When this effort failed, the Mt.Olive congregation purchased the old Catholic Church at Fullerton, andmoved it to the church property in Pitkin. A new brick auditorium waslater built and dedicated in 1959. Some early pastors of the church were:Rev. Joseph Willis, Isaac Hamilton, Tom Mayo, L. M. Nichols, Mike Smith,Joseph Rudicille, Sim Dean, Allen McCollough, J. O. Fountain, W. E. Cole,T. W. Beehan, E. A. Woods, & Herman Moses.
---------------------------------------Comrade Cemetery - Vernon ParishSubmitted by Jane P. McManus
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Directions: On LA Hwy. 8 from Lena toward Simpson, go approximately 1.5 miles from the Rapides/Vernon Parish border. Just before you reach the Comrade Baptist Church, turn right onto Comrade Cemetery Road. Continue on this unimproved road for almost 4.0 miles, and turn right onto dirt road at Comrade Cemetery sign. Go approximately .4 miles, and turn right to cemetery. This large, well-maintained cemetery (approximately 2 acres) is located in middle of a pine forest, with very large pinecones spread over the ground. A covered pavilion for funerals or meetings is just inside the front gate to the right.
Comrade Baptist Church was in existence as early as 1874, when J. R. O'Banion was preacher. The oldest burial in the cemetery was dated 1877 for Victoria Word, and 1884 for Celia Dillon. There are several tombstones that have deteriorated and are impossible to read. Many of these were the small concrete markers that were made during the Depression to mark previouslyunmarked burials.
Tombstone inscriptions were read in zigzag rows from the building on the right to the left fence. Burials were originally inventoried in March 1976, and updated 11 March 1996 by Jane P. McManus. Submitted on 12 February 2001.
Norris, W. M. - 27 Sep 1932/17 Apr 1934Norris, Mrs. Elizabeth [Mayo] - 24 Feb 1849/24 Jan 1926 Mother [w/o Daniel D. Norris, d/o George W. Mayo & Adeline Combie]Norris, Bill - 20 Jan 1905/18 Jun 1935 [Above 2 burials have identical stones]Norris, Darcus H.[Lovenia Henry] - 1879/1950Norris, George W.[Washington] - 1873/1951 [s/o Daniel D. Norris & Elizabeth Mayo] [Above 2 burials have a double stone]Norris, Gillie B. - 2 Feb 1903/21 Oct 1983Norris, Allen E. - 31 Aug 1897/31 Jul 1949 [s/o George W. Norris & Darcus Lovenia Henry] [Above 2 burials have a double stone]
--------------------------
Cooley Cemetery - Vernon Parish, LASubmitted by Jane P. McManus
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Directions: Take LA Hwy. 8 East from Slagle, and turn right (South) at thesecond road after crossing Calcasieu River. Keep left until you reach theEmmett Richardson home (see mail box). The Cooley Family Cemetery islocated behind the house on property currently owned by Emmett & Beulah(Cooley) Richardson. The small area is fenced and maintained by the Cooleyfamily. Beulah is the daughter of Steven (Cap) Cooley & Jane Monk.Tombstone inscriptions were recorded by Jane P. McManus 1995History of the Cooley family was provided by Pearl Cooley, Slagle LA.
HISTORY OF THE COOLEY FAMILY
The original patent for the land where the Cooley Family Cemetery islocated was made by Steven Cooley (born ca 1819 in South Carolina). As ayoung man, he moved to Florida where he probably met and married his firstwife who was born there. In the late 1830's, Steven and his young wifepacked their worldly goods on a wagon and began the migration to Texas.Their first child, Westley, was born in Texas in 1838-1839. Then forreasons unknown, the Cooleys decided not to remain in Texas, and by the mid1840's, they had settled in Louisiana where two daughters, Elizabeth andMartha, were born. Steven's first wife may have died with the birth of theyoungest daughter, or shortly thereafter, but her burial has never beenlocated.
Steven raised the three small children for several years on his own. Inthe early 1850's, he met and married Eliza Louise Ventioner, daughter ofIsaac Ventioner and Matilda Sweat, and they had four children: FrancisMarion, Letha Annie, Steven (Cap), and Sarah.
In 1860 Steven Cooley traveled to Natchitoches, Louisiana where he patentedthe 199 - 22/100 acres of land where he had homesteaded for years. Thedescription of that property was:
SE 1/4 of SE 1/4 of NE 1/4 of Section 27, Township 3, Range 6
Not long after he had taken care of this property, Steven Cooley and hisoldest son Westley answered the call to support the Southern cause in theconflict between the States over the slavery issue. He served as a Pvt. inCo. D, 1st LA Infantry, and his son Westley served as a Pvt. in Co. E, 16thLA Infantry. After the war Steven returned to the parish a beaten man,having lost his beloved son Westley during the Battle of Chickamauga in themountains of Tennessee. Steven Cooley died in 1868 and was buried on thebanks of the Calcasieu River in the small Mayo Cemetery (Vernon Parish).
Steven (Cap) Cooley, son of Steven Cooley and his second wife, LouiseVentioner, moved onto the old homestead where they lived for many years andraised their family. Cap had married Lucinda Frances Jane Monk, daughterof Richard Monk and Martha Jane Cooley, and had eight children: Alice,Emma, Dora, Grace, Lela, Beulah, Steven, and Sybil Cooley. In 1895 duringan influenza outbreak in the community, two of the Cooley daughters diedwithin a day of each other.
Cap & Jane Cooley buried their little girls near the house, and this sitebecame known as the Cooley Family Cemetery.
Cooley, Emma - 1893/1895Cooley, Alice - 1890/1895 [daughters of Steven (Cap) Cooley & Jane Monk]
Cooley, Steven - 27 Mar 1905/Apr 1921 [son of Steven Cooley & Jane Monk]Cooley, Steven [Cap] - Dec 1862/Jan 1921 [son of Steven Cooley & ElizaLouise Ventioner]Cooley, Lucinde [Lucinda Frances Jane] Monk - 28 Apr 1867/12 Jan 1946 [daughter of Richard Monk & Martha Jane Cooley]
-----------------------------------Leeville Cemetery - Vernon Parish, LouisianaSubmitted by Jane McManus
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This large cemetery is located inside the "V" of LA Hwy. 8 and US Hwy. 171 junction in North Leesville. There are two brick pillars on either side of the the south driveway on LA Hwy. 171. A bronze plaque on the right pillar is inscribed "William H. Walker Gate." An identical plaque on the left pillar is inscribed "Ferguson - Dennis Cemetery." Local residents refer to this place as the Leesville Cemetery. There are many very old burials in this cemetery, but most of the plots are neatly laid out with a large family Stone in the center with individual inscriptions on smaller stones.
I first visited this cemetery to copy inscriptions in early 1995 after a heavy rain. There were old flowers scattered throughout the cemetery, limbs were down, the entire South section was underwater, and some markers not readable because they were under water. In the higher, center area, some tombstones were covered with grass or dirt and would have been missed except for the large family Stone. Large anthills covered many markers and had to be removed in order to read the inscription. Tombstones were originally copied and published in 1979, and that listing was compared with this version to verify lost burials or those difficult-to-read dates. It was not possible to print all the epitaphs because of the size of this cemetery. Inscriptions were recorded in Groups in zigzag rows within the sections in September 1995 by Jane P. McManus. (Submitted 19 September 2000.)
A sidewalk with two brick pillars at the gate is also between the south & north driveway on the LA Hwy. 171 side. A bronze plaque on one brick pillar is inscribed "Abe L. Allen Walkway."--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Abraham (Abe) Lincoln Allen - Sgt. 28th Infantry (1)
"During the terrible spring days of 1918, when it looked as though the Germans were going to get to Paris at last, the American troops distinguished themselves valiantly at Cantigny. On 22 May, Sgt. Allen's company was facing a very heavy bombardment of their position. Allen was severely injured by the explosion of a shell, which buried two comrades. Disregarding his own wounds, he dug them out with his hands and took them to shelter through a storm of shells & shrapnel. "One of General John Pershing's 100 Brave Americans."
The monument & burial for this veteran is located to the north, adjacent to this sidewalk. A historical marker is also in this area, outside the cemetery, but next to the highway.
"Sgt. Abe Allen - 1896/1941
Only soldier from Louisiana to serve under General John J. Pershing 'One Hundred Heroes' in WW1, Co. B. 28th Infantry. Received the Distinguished Service Cross & Distinguished Service Medal."
Mayo, Ruby E. - 29 Dec 1924/17 Jan 1925 Infant daughter of M&M Fred Mayo
Mayo, Rodney J. Jr. - 17 Aug 1988/17 Aug 1988 [funeral marker]
Carroll, Gusse Mayo - 4 Sep 1904/13 Dec 1908 & Jesse Lonzo 1904/1923 [brick tomb, large collapsed single marker, 2 inscriptions
[unreadable old funeral marker, depression - no information]Mayo, Sallie E. - 14 Oct 1902/5 Jun 1972 MotherMayo, Edward - 17 Feb 1895/30 Mar 1972 Father LA Sgt. 105 Co. Trans. Corps WW1 [Double Stone]Mayo, Claude E. - 15 Apr 1924/6 Nov 1930
-----------------Laurel Hill Cemetery - Vernon ParishSubmitted by Jane P. McManus
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From junction of LA Hwy. 8 and LA Hwy. 28 in Leesville, go East towardAlexandria on LA Hwy. 28 approximately 16.2 miles. Turn right (South) ongravel road (Laurel Hill Cutoff Road, Vernon #38). Sign on right side ofroad indicates cemetery is two miles from this location. Continue onVernon #38 (gravel road) approximately .7 mile from the sign. When theroad ends, turn left (East) on second gravel road and continue for 1.0mile. Church is on the right side of the road, and cemetery is to theright of the Church in the bend of the road. A sign on the gate indicatesthe cemetery was established in 1887.
If weather is bad, an alternate route exists which is approximately thesame mileage as above route, however, the roads are paved. From Leesville,take LA Hwy. 28 toward Alexandria. Turn right (South) onto LA Hwy. 121 atSlagle cutoff, and go 8.5 miles. Turn left onto LA Hwy. 489 and go 1.0miles, turn left again onto Laurel Hill Road and go 2.0 miles to the Churchwhich is on the left.
A brief history of the church is provided using information taken from theearly Church minutes. Many references were made in the minutes to thegraveyard. The membership would often meet at the cemetery for the purposeof cleaning the area. A meal provided by the women was enjoyed by all inattendance. This practice has continued to the present time, and as aconsequence the cemetery at Laurel Hill continues to be a clean, well-keptarea, a silent testimony of the respect and dignity for the final restingplace for all who are buried there. Homecoming is held on the 1st Saturdayin July, when descendants of the old members return to enjoy the fellowshipof the church.
Information in brackets was provided by family members or local researchersand should be verified. Tombstone inscriptions were recorded from the gatenear the church to the opposite fence in zigzag rows by Jane P. McManus on17 January 1995.
* * * HISTORY * * *
Laurel Hill Missionary Baptist Church was founded on Saturday, 19 June 1869by a group of people who met with Elder W. S. Terrell.
Charter members were: (males) John Luttrell, James Bunch, W. M. White,Marion M. White, Levi Luttrell, Andrew F. Burge, B. F. Mashoun, W. R.Burnes [Burns], John Driden [Dryden], Demetriss Crawford, J. W. Jowers,James Terrell, A. J. Boyd, G. S. Wells, Columbus Jowers, Jerry Bass, B. R.Walker; and (females) Lucretia Sellers, ? [Mary Bass] Bunch, A. [Ann]Burnes [Burns], Caroline Bunch, Margaret Luttrell, Casthti Mashoun, HelenM. White, Caroline McMillon, Lucinda Bradley, Catharine J. Smith, FrancesE. [Emeline] Smith, Catherine Haymon, Elizabeth A. Ball, Nancy Bennett,Ellen Spurgeon, Mary Jane Smith, Ava Gorum, Rebecca Jowers, Minerva J.Smith, Mary Susan M. White, Felisha Jones, Martha J. Burnes [Burns],Margaret Smith, Ann Crawford, Milly Gorum, Mary Gorum, & Eliza Smith.
At the first church session, James Bunch was elected deacon of the church,and William M. White was elected as church clerk. Church records begin inApril 1871, soon after Vernon Parish was created. These notes areinteresting and inspiring to read as the church was full of outstandingmembers, and sent out many ministers to preach the gospel.
On 4 May 1878, Laurel Hill Baptist Church united with the Vernon BaptistAssociation, a little closer to home. The first church was a wood buildinglocated across the road a short distance away from the present building.This 2-story structure was used until it burned in later years.
In the earlier days, new converts were baptized in the nearby creek. Oftenthe church minutes would record that the congregation was dismissed to meetat the "waterside" for the purpose of baptizing new members. Afterward,they would return to the Church to offer the right hand of fellowship tothe converts. The "baptizing hole," was first mentioned in the minutes inJune of 1879, but continued to play an important role in the churchservices throughout the early records.
In 1880, the membership voted to change the name of the church to "SardisBaptist Church," but in 1882, that decision was reversed and the body hasbeen known as Laurel Hill Baptist Church since that time.
The second building was also erected across the road from the presentchurch, and it was a small box house with 12-inch planks which were usedvertically. In 1900, a committee of three men was appointed to buy landfor the Church & Cemetery. William N. Lawrence delivered 4.0 acres to thechurch. That deed is recorded at the Vernon Parish Courthouse inLeesville. Joseph Rudicille was pastor of the church in 1901. In 1969,construction began on the current brick structure was moved across thestreet beside the cemetery.
Carroll, Joyce S. - 18 Feb 1931 / 3 Dec 1953 [wife of Ed Carroll] [daughter of Cleveland Smith & Maudie Mayo; she was killed withher parents when tornado struck the Smith home in 1953]Smith, Maudie [Mayo] - 14 Feb 1911 / 3 Dec 1953 [Killed with husband & daughter when tornado struck their home] [above 2 burials have identical stones]
Smith, [Joseph] Cleveland - 23 Apr 1897 / 3 Dec 1953, LA Pvt. HQ Co. 347thInf. WWI[son of John A. Smith & Mary E. Peavy, killed when tornado struckhis home]--------------------------------. Alfred Franklin MAYO - Ancestral FileGender: M Birth/Christening: 1826 Bainbridge, Decatur, Georgia
Alfred Davis MAYO (AFN: 19LJ-H9) Pedigree Sex: M Family Event(s): Birth: 12 Jan 1862 Westville, Holmes, Fl Death: 6 Sep 1945
Parents: Father: Alfred Franklin MAYO (AFN: 19LH-DM) Family Mother: Betsy CALLAHAN (AFN: 19LH-G0)
Marriage(s): Spouse: Sarah Elizabeth WARD (AFN: B7P7-VF) Family Marriage: 25 May 1906
Submitter(s): EDNA THURMAN WALDRON Microfilm: 1394207 8008 SOMERSET LANE TAMPA FL Submission: AF83-046682 USA 33615 IDA MARIE ROOKS (MAYO) JOHNSON Microfilm: NONE 6975 S 2700 W SPANISH FORK UT Submission: AF95-109997 USA 84660 -----------------http://dogwoodpress.myriad.net/dcm/redbone.html#e35Don Marler and the Louisiana Redbone text-
In 1857, immediately after the Dred Scott decision removed their citizenship and left them vulnerable to slavery, a large Melungeon wagon train left the Carolinas and Georgia. Alfred Franklin Mayo led the party. During the trek to Louisiana, the wagon train eventually grew to over 100 mixed families. Their names were the names of the Angolans of 17th century Virginia. The wagon train halted near Valentine in central Louisiana. Shortly before dispersing, all of the men and all of the boys older than twelve went alone into the woods. Because of the ethnic persecution they had endured back east, the men made a pact to conceal their past and never divulge their origins. The name “Melungeon” was to be forgotten among them. Some of the families settled in Louisiana and others moved on into Texas.
-------------------------------------
Orange County TX - Births, 1942Mayo, Jesse Edward 1-15-1942 M Jessie May Slaydon Jesse Hullan Mayo OrangeMayo, Shelda Jean 4-3-1942 F Pauline Wilson Alfred David Mayo Orange
Baker, GA 1880 Federal Census (Mortality Schedule)ftp://ftp.us-census.org/pub/usgenweb/census/ga/baker/1880/
. LEWIS Adeline 75) F B M GA GA GA S AUG . 20
. MAYO George W. 31 M W M GA GA GA F NOV Pneumonia 8. MAYO John 11 M W S GA GA GA . JAN Malarial Xasma 2=========================================
(From the book "Heart and History of Holmes County" by Anna Paget Wells (used by permission of the publisher, Sue Cronkite)) This book is chock full of pictures and what has been used within this web site is only a small amount of the book. It can still be ordered from Sue Cronkite or from the Holmes County Advertiser, 112 E Virginia Avenue, Bonifay FL 32425; phone 850-547-2270; fax 850-547-9200
The pioneer of the Mayo family was Alfred Mayo, age 59, farmer, born in South Carolina. A wife and six children were listed in his household in the 1850 Census of Holmes County. There is evidence that he came to Holmes County in 1822. This would place him among the first settlers of Holmes.
There were three other Mayos listed as head of household in the same Census. Because of the family pattern, they are believed to be sons of Alfred. If this is true, the family pattern would be this: Alfred, age 59, born in South Carolina; Catherine, his wife, age 46, born in South Carolina; Martin, age 28, born in Florida; George, age 26, born in Florida; Ezekiel, age 24, born in Florida; Alfred, age 23, born in Florida; Samuel, age 21, born in Florida; Emily, age 14, born in Florida; Michael C, age 14, born in Florida (Emily and Michael C were born the same year and were probably twins); Caroline, age 11, born in Florida; and Angeline, age 8, born in Florida.
We feel sure that J Z Mayo, who was at one time sheriff of Holmes County, was a descendant of the pioneer Alfred Mayo, and that the father of TSgt Joel C Mayo, who gave his life in attempted to free 55 Americans being held in Iran, is also a descendant of the pioneer Alfred Mayo. The father of TSgt Mayo, J Z Mayo, has the same initials as the former sheriff J Z Mayo.================================
http://members.cox.net/garyrea/pafg295.htmWade Hampton Mayo's line-
-------------------------VERNON PARISH - POST OFFICESPost Office Established Discontinued Mail to: First Postmaster
Mayo 3 Jul 1899 1 Dec 1916 Walnut Hill Elijah L. Mayo 29 Sep 1917 30 Nov 1936 Slagle (Population 1899 - ca 75; named for first postmaster. AKA O.K.)
=================William T. Mayo, Vernon Parish, LouisianaSubmitted by Mike Miller, February, 2002
William T. Mayo, who was a captain in the Thirty-fourth Infantry during the World war, is a native son of Louisiana, and except for the war period has been identified with the business and civic life of Shreveport for twelve years. He is the Present commissioner of public utilities in the citygovernment.
Captain Mayo was born in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, in 1888. He acquired a liberal and technical education in the local schools, attending Vanderbilt University, and specialized in chemistry at the Atlanta PharmaceuticalCollege and in the College of Pharmacy at New Orleans. Captain Mayo onlocating at Shreveport in 1912 engaged in the general Insurance business.
In April, 1917 he entered the First Officers' Training School at LeonSprings, Texas, was commissioned the first lieutenant of infantry, and was assigned to the Thirty-fourth Infantry of the Regular Army. With thisregiment as a part of the seventh Division he went overseas, and served with it during several campaigns in France. While overseas he was promoted to the rank of captain, and he returned home and was discharged in June, 1919. He is a member of the American Legion.
Captain Mayo in 1922 was elected to the office of commissioner andsuperintendent of public utilities m the City of Shreveport. In thisposition he has supervisor of all public utilities, such as water Works, sewers, street railway system, telephone, etc.
He had been elected upon his specific pledge to the people that he would give Shreveport a good and wholesome water supply, and he host no time in an endeavor to fulfill that pledge. Immediately following his induction into office as commissioner of public utilities he began a careful review and investigation with engineers of various sources of supply available for the city's use, resulting in the ultimate selection of Cross Lake, this final choice having been based upon the abundance of supply, nearness to the city, which in itself would mean a saving of several millions of dollars to the taxpayers, and also by the further consideration that with the completion of the engineering projects Cross Lake, with its eleven thousand acres of water, surrounded by hills and other natural adornment of terrene and forestry, will become the outstanding pleasure resort of Northern Louisiana. As an expression of their confidence, both in the proposed plan and in the man behind the plan, the citizens of Shreveport by an overwhelming majority voted for a bond issue of a million dollars for use in the creation of this water supply project. The work of construction is now well under way, and when completed the City of Shreveport will have one of the finest municipal water supply systems in the South, together with as high grade soft potable water as is possible to obtain. The benefits to be derived therefrom, both by the present generation and those to follow after, surpassethcomprehension, while the completed work will stand as a tribute to theaggressive energy and comprehensive optimism of the builder who transformed the dream of yesterday into the reality of today.
Captain Mayo is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight Templar and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the AmericanHellenic Educational Progress Association. He married Miss Inez Kirk, of Tennessee. They had the misfortune to lose their only child, William T., Jr., at the age of eighteen months.
A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 197, by Henry E. Chambers. Publishedby The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.
-------------------------Vernon Parish Court House Clerk Of Court State of Louisiana Marriage Records Vol. A. 1896-1897
Mayo, G.W. Masie Weeks December 13, 1897 H.C. Parker -----------------------
Birth Record’s (Vernon Parish) of Dr. J.W. Jeane
Submitted by Jane P. McManus
Mayo, John (1910) & Ola Maddox (1900) Essie Mayo (twin)
Lessie Mayo (twin)
J.W. Mayo (m) 14 Dec 1932
14 Dec 1932
30 May 1934 ---------------------------------------
Mayo Cemetery - Vernon Parish, LouisianaSubmitted by Jane McManus
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MAYO CEMETERY - Vernon Parish
From the junction of LA Hwy. 28 & LA 121, go east toward Alexandria approximately 2.5 miles beyond Slagle turnoff (LA Hwy. 121). Turn left onto gravel road opposite Allen Gordy Road and continue for .5 mile to a unimproved logging road on the left. Park here as logging gate islocked, and walk on dirt road for approximately .7 miles. [A key to the gate can be obtained from the brick house just before you reach the gate. Go past the gate about 100 yards, turn right, keep on the road to the right as the road turns left. The small fenced Mayo cemetery,which houses only a few graves, is located approximately .2 miles on the right near the banks of the Calcasieu River in Vernon Parish, where the old Nolan Trace once crossed Flactor Creek. The property was the original homestead of Alfred Mayo, he was buried here about 12 years and Catherine Youngblood Mayo was buried here about 6 years before George Washington Mayo migrated to Louisiana from Florida after the Civil War. This property later became the home of George W. Mayo Sr.] (1)
Today, this small burial ground is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when just a few people take the time to care. Although abandoned and neglected for many years, the area was recently cleaned and a new chain-link fence erected for protection. Leaders in this effort were Karl & Doris (Dollie) Mayo of Hicks, Pearl (Tippit) Cooley of Slagle & Lea (Cooley) Duvall of Leesville. Other concerned relatives donated money and time to assist in the effort. At first, each grave was cleaned and large rocks were used to mark each one. An aggressive effort was then made to identify the 17 unmarked burials. Prior to their death, Napoleon Mayo and Edmond Cooley were able to provide burial information, and Jack Tippit who once lived on the property also helped with the identification.
Karl & Dollie provided genealogical information from personal, as well as census records, and this information is used here inside brackets. The cemetery was originally recorded by Essie (Tippit) Parker, after Jack & Celia Tippit helped locate the abandoned site in November 1976. Karl & Dollie Mayo, 1994, provided updates and information on new tombstones added since that time. Submitted by Jane P. McManus 12 September 2000. Additional information on the Mayo family was provided by Joseph Hirsch of Arkansas (9 September 2000).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[marked burials]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cooley, Stephen - 1820/1866, Pvt. Co B 1st LA Inf. CSA--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mayo, George Washington, Sr. - [1824 Holmes Co. FL/1879], Co. K, 2nd FL Inf. CSA [s/o Alfred Franklin Mayo & Catherine Youngblood] [Husband of (1) Emily - died ca 1851, (2) Adeline Cumby & (3) Elizabeth Callahan] [Children of 1st wife: (1) Elizabeth (Norris) & Elsey Ann (Hall); Children of 2nd wife: Phebrian (FebryAnn) (Hall), Elijah Light, Alfred Davis, Vina Ann (Lewis), Mack, Emma (Jowers), & Early Mayo. Children of 3nd wife: George W. Jr, William, Van, Martin, Luckey (Bennett) & Gilbert Mayo.] (1)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mayo, Alfred Franklin - 1792 Chesterfield, SC/ca 1854 Rapides Parish,Mayo, Catherine Youngblood - 1804 SC/1862 Rapides Parish Wife of Alfred Franklin Mayo [Parents of Martin, George Washington, Ezekiel, Alfred Franklin Jr., Samuel, Richard C., Catherine (French), Emily, Carolina & Angeline Mayo] (1)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mayo, Adeline Cumby - ca 1826 Holmes Co. FL/ca 1871 Wife of George Washington Mayo Sr.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lewis, Vina Ann Mayo - b. 1855 Holmes Co. FL, [d/o George Washington Mayo Sr. & Adeline Cumby Mayo, w/o Allen "Bud" Lewis, mother of Ellen (Monk), Alice (Wells), & Mary L. (Guinns).--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mayo, Samuel - ca 1829 Holmes Co. FL [Samuel, son of Alfred Mayo Sr & Catherine Youngblood, died on 7 Jan 1863 and is buried in the Mississippi Confederate Cemetery, Vicksburg, MS. His wife Susan Watson Mayo was remarried by 1865 to Eli Woods.](1)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mayo, Daisy - 1 Dec 1879 Allen Par. LA/1 Nov 1885 [d/o Elijah Light Mayo & Elizabeth Bryant]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mayo, Lucinda J. - [no dates] [d/o George Washington Mayo, Sr. & Elizabeth Callahan]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bass, James - 5 Feb 1807/drowned ca. 1855 in Calcasieu River [s/o John Bass & Delaney Taylor, h/o Emily Groves]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Norris, Infant of Daniel Duncan Norris, Sr. & Elizabeth Mayo.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Baker, Dr. - [no information]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cooley, Steven - ca 1834/ca 1884, father of Allen Wesley Cooley--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[4 unmarked, unknown burials]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes:(1) Jean Mayo Hirsch (JHirsch@arkansas.net) submitted the updated information on the Alfred and George Mayo family. He can be contacted for additional information.
-----------------------Blue Branch Cemetery is located in Pitkin on LA Hwy. 10, approximately .7miles West of LA Hwy. 113 junction, behind Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Earlysettlers of the Pitkin area organized the Church in 1862. The first logstructure was located about five miles East of Pitkin on Brushy Creek. In1877, the congregation moved to a more central location on Blue BranchCreek where they erected a new church. In 1890, a building first used bythe Methodists and then sold to Isaac Watson for a schoolhouse, waspurchased for use by Mt. Olive Baptist Church. In 1910 a new building wascompleted across the road, but in 1928 when the highway was widened, anattempt was made to move the building. When this effort failed, the Mt.Olive congregation purchased the old Catholic Church at Fullerton, andmoved it to the church property in Pitkin. A new brick auditorium waslater built and dedicated in 1959. Some early pastors of the church were:Rev. Joseph Willis, Isaac Hamilton, Tom Mayo, L. M. Nichols, Mike Smith,Joseph Rudicille, Sim Dean, Allen McCollough, J. O. Fountain, W. E. Cole,T. W. Beehan, E. A. Woods, & Herman Moses.
---------------------------------------Comrade Cemetery - Vernon ParishSubmitted by Jane P. McManus
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Directions: On LA Hwy. 8 from Lena toward Simpson, go approximately 1.5 miles from the Rapides/Vernon Parish border. Just before you reach the Comrade Baptist Church, turn right onto Comrade Cemetery Road. Continue on this unimproved road for almost 4.0 miles, and turn right onto dirt road at Comrade Cemetery sign. Go approximately .4 miles, and turn right to cemetery. This large, well-maintained cemetery (approximately 2 acres) is located in middle of a pine forest, with very large pinecones spread over the ground. A covered pavilion for funerals or meetings is just inside the front gate to the right.
Comrade Baptist Church was in existence as early as 1874, when J. R. O'Banion was preacher. The oldest burial in the cemetery was dated 1877 for Victoria Word, and 1884 for Celia Dillon. There are several tombstones that have deteriorated and are impossible to read. Many of these were the small concrete markers that were made during the Depression to mark previouslyunmarked burials.
Tombstone inscriptions were read in zigzag rows from the building on the right to the left fence. Burials were originally inventoried in March 1976, and updated 11 March 1996 by Jane P. McManus. Submitted on 12 February 2001.
Norris, W. M. - 27 Sep 1932/17 Apr 1934Norris, Mrs. Elizabeth [Mayo] - 24 Feb 1849/24 Jan 1926 Mother [w/o Daniel D. Norris, d/o George W. Mayo & Adeline Combie]Norris, Bill - 20 Jan 1905/18 Jun 1935 [Above 2 burials have identical stones]Norris, Darcus H.[Lovenia Henry] - 1879/1950Norris, George W.[Washington] - 1873/1951 [s/o Daniel D. Norris & Elizabeth Mayo] [Above 2 burials have a double stone]Norris, Gillie B. - 2 Feb 1903/21 Oct 1983Norris, Allen E. - 31 Aug 1897/31 Jul 1949 [s/o George W. Norris & Darcus Lovenia Henry] [Above 2 burials have a double stone]
--------------------------
Cooley Cemetery - Vernon Parish, LASubmitted by Jane P. McManus
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Directions: Take LA Hwy. 8 East from Slagle, and turn right (South) at thesecond road after crossing Calcasieu River. Keep left until you reach theEmmett Richardson home (see mail box). The Cooley Family Cemetery islocated behind the house on property currently owned by Emmett & Beulah(Cooley) Richardson. The small area is fenced and maintained by the Cooleyfamily. Beulah is the daughter of Steven (Cap) Cooley & Jane Monk.Tombstone inscriptions were recorded by Jane P. McManus 1995History of the Cooley family was provided by Pearl Cooley, Slagle LA.
HISTORY OF THE COOLEY FAMILY
The original patent for the land where the Cooley Family Cemetery islocated was made by Steven Cooley (born ca 1819 in South Carolina). As ayoung man, he moved to Florida where he probably met and married his firstwife who was born there. In the late 1830's, Steven and his young wifepacked their worldly goods on a wagon and began the migration to Texas.Their first child, Westley, was born in Texas in 1838-1839. Then forreasons unknown, the Cooleys decided not to remain in Texas, and by the mid1840's, they had settled in Louisiana where two daughters, Elizabeth andMartha, were born. Steven's first wife may have died with the birth of theyoungest daughter, or shortly thereafter, but her burial has never beenlocated.
Steven raised the three small children for several years on his own. Inthe early 1850's, he met and married Eliza Louise Ventioner, daughter ofIsaac Ventioner and Matilda Sweat, and they had four children: FrancisMarion, Letha Annie, Steven (Cap), and Sarah.
In 1860 Steven Cooley traveled to Natchitoches, Louisiana where he patentedthe 199 - 22/100 acres of land where he had homesteaded for years. Thedescription of that property was:
SE 1/4 of SE 1/4 of NE 1/4 of Section 27, Township 3, Range 6
Not long after he had taken care of this property, Steven Cooley and hisoldest son Westley answered the call to support the Southern cause in theconflict between the States over the slavery issue. He served as a Pvt. inCo. D, 1st LA Infantry, and his son Westley served as a Pvt. in Co. E, 16thLA Infantry. After the war Steven returned to the parish a beaten man,having lost his beloved son Westley during the Battle of Chickamauga in themountains of Tennessee. Steven Cooley died in 1868 and was buried on thebanks of the Calcasieu River in the small Mayo Cemetery (Vernon Parish).
Steven (Cap) Cooley, son of Steven Cooley and his second wife, LouiseVentioner, moved onto the old homestead where they lived for many years andraised their family. Cap had married Lucinda Frances Jane Monk, daughterof Richard Monk and Martha Jane Cooley, and had eight children: Alice,Emma, Dora, Grace, Lela, Beulah, Steven, and Sybil Cooley. In 1895 duringan influenza outbreak in the community, two of the Cooley daughters diedwithin a day of each other.
Cap & Jane Cooley buried their little girls near the house, and this sitebecame known as the Cooley Family Cemetery.
Cooley, Emma - 1893/1895Cooley, Alice - 1890/1895 [daughters of Steven (Cap) Cooley & Jane Monk]
Cooley, Steven - 27 Mar 1905/Apr 1921 [son of Steven Cooley & Jane Monk]Cooley, Steven [Cap] - Dec 1862/Jan 1921 [son of Steven Cooley & ElizaLouise Ventioner]Cooley, Lucinde [Lucinda Frances Jane] Monk - 28 Apr 1867/12 Jan 1946 [daughter of Richard Monk & Martha Jane Cooley]
-----------------------------------Leeville Cemetery - Vernon Parish, LouisianaSubmitted by Jane McManus
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This large cemetery is located inside the "V" of LA Hwy. 8 and US Hwy. 171 junction in North Leesville. There are two brick pillars on either side of the the south driveway on LA Hwy. 171. A bronze plaque on the right pillar is inscribed "William H. Walker Gate." An identical plaque on the left pillar is inscribed "Ferguson - Dennis Cemetery." Local residents refer to this place as the Leesville Cemetery. There are many very old burials in this cemetery, but most of the plots are neatly laid out with a large family Stone in the center with individual inscriptions on smaller stones.
I first visited this cemetery to copy inscriptions in early 1995 after a heavy rain. There were old flowers scattered throughout the cemetery, limbs were down, the entire South section was underwater, and some markers not readable because they were under water. In the higher, center area, some tombstones were covered with grass or dirt and would have been missed except for the large family Stone. Large anthills covered many markers and had to be removed in order to read the inscription. Tombstones were originally copied and published in 1979, and that listing was compared with this version to verify lost burials or those difficult-to-read dates. It was not possible to print all the epitaphs because of the size of this cemetery. Inscriptions were recorded in Groups in zigzag rows within the sections in September 1995 by Jane P. McManus. (Submitted 19 September 2000.)
A sidewalk with two brick pillars at the gate is also between the south & north driveway on the LA Hwy. 171 side. A bronze plaque on one brick pillar is inscribed "Abe L. Allen Walkway."--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Abraham (Abe) Lincoln Allen - Sgt. 28th Infantry (1)
"During the terrible spring days of 1918, when it looked as though the Germans were going to get to Paris at last, the American troops distinguished themselves valiantly at Cantigny. On 22 May, Sgt. Allen's company was facing a very heavy bombardment of their position. Allen was severely injured by the explosion of a shell, which buried two comrades. Disregarding his own wounds, he dug them out with his hands and took them to shelter through a storm of shells & shrapnel. "One of General John Pershing's 100 Brave Americans."
The monument & burial for this veteran is located to the north, adjacent to this sidewalk. A historical marker is also in this area, outside the cemetery, but next to the highway.
"Sgt. Abe Allen - 1896/1941
Only soldier from Louisiana to serve under General John J. Pershing 'One Hundred Heroes' in WW1, Co. B. 28th Infantry. Received the Distinguished Service Cross & Distinguished Service Medal."
Mayo, Ruby E. - 29 Dec 1924/17 Jan 1925 Infant daughter of M&M Fred Mayo
Mayo, Rodney J. Jr. - 17 Aug 1988/17 Aug 1988 [funeral marker]
Carroll, Gusse Mayo - 4 Sep 1904/13 Dec 1908 & Jesse Lonzo 1904/1923 [brick tomb, large collapsed single marker, 2 inscriptions
[unreadable old funeral marker, depression - no information]Mayo, Sallie E. - 14 Oct 1902/5 Jun 1972 MotherMayo, Edward - 17 Feb 1895/30 Mar 1972 Father LA Sgt. 105 Co. Trans. Corps WW1 [Double Stone]Mayo, Claude E. - 15 Apr 1924/6 Nov 1930
-----------------Laurel Hill Cemetery - Vernon ParishSubmitted by Jane P. McManus
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From junction of LA Hwy. 8 and LA Hwy. 28 in Leesville, go East towardAlexandria on LA Hwy. 28 approximately 16.2 miles. Turn right (South) ongravel road (Laurel Hill Cutoff Road, Vernon #38). Sign on right side ofroad indicates cemetery is two miles from this location. Continue onVernon #38 (gravel road) approximately .7 mile from the sign. When theroad ends, turn left (East) on second gravel road and continue for 1.0mile. Church is on the right side of the road, and cemetery is to theright of the Church in the bend of the road. A sign on the gate indicatesthe cemetery was established in 1887.
If weather is bad, an alternate route exists which is approximately thesame mileage as above route, however, the roads are paved. From Leesville,take LA Hwy. 28 toward Alexandria. Turn right (South) onto LA Hwy. 121 atSlagle cutoff, and go 8.5 miles. Turn left onto LA Hwy. 489 and go 1.0miles, turn left again onto Laurel Hill Road and go 2.0 miles to the Churchwhich is on the left.
A brief history of the church is provided using information taken from theearly Church minutes. Many references were made in the minutes to thegraveyard. The membership would often meet at the cemetery for the purposeof cleaning the area. A meal provided by the women was enjoyed by all inattendance. This practice has continued to the present time, and as aconsequence the cemetery at Laurel Hill continues to be a clean, well-keptarea, a silent testimony of the respect and dignity for the final restingplace for all who are buried there. Homecoming is held on the 1st Saturdayin July, when descendants of the old members return to enjoy the fellowshipof the church.
Information in brackets was provided by family members or local researchersand should be verified. Tombstone inscriptions were recorded from the gatenear the church to the opposite fence in zigzag rows by Jane P. McManus on17 January 1995.
* * * HISTORY * * *
Laurel Hill Missionary Baptist Church was founded on Saturday, 19 June 1869by a group of people who met with Elder W. S. Terrell.
Charter members were: (males) John Luttrell, James Bunch, W. M. White,Marion M. White, Levi Luttrell, Andrew F. Burge, B. F. Mashoun, W. R.Burnes [Burns], John Driden [Dryden], Demetriss Crawford, J. W. Jowers,James Terrell, A. J. Boyd, G. S. Wells, Columbus Jowers, Jerry Bass, B. R.Walker; and (females) Lucretia Sellers, ? [Mary Bass] Bunch, A. [Ann]Burnes [Burns], Caroline Bunch, Margaret Luttrell, Casthti Mashoun, HelenM. White, Caroline McMillon, Lucinda Bradley, Catharine J. Smith, FrancesE. [Emeline] Smith, Catherine Haymon, Elizabeth A. Ball, Nancy Bennett,Ellen Spurgeon, Mary Jane Smith, Ava Gorum, Rebecca Jowers, Minerva J.Smith, Mary Susan M. White, Felisha Jones, Martha J. Burnes [Burns],Margaret Smith, Ann Crawford, Milly Gorum, Mary Gorum, & Eliza Smith.
At the first church session, James Bunch was elected deacon of the church,and William M. White was elected as church clerk. Church records begin inApril 1871, soon after Vernon Parish was created. These notes areinteresting and inspiring to read as the church was full of outstandingmembers, and sent out many ministers to preach the gospel.
On 4 May 1878, Laurel Hill Baptist Church united with the Vernon BaptistAssociation, a little closer to home. The first church was a wood buildinglocated across the road a short distance away from the present building.This 2-story structure was used until it burned in later years.
In the earlier days, new converts were baptized in the nearby creek. Oftenthe church minutes would record that the congregation was dismissed to meetat the "waterside" for the purpose of baptizing new members. Afterward,they would return to the Church to offer the right hand of fellowship tothe converts. The "baptizing hole," was first mentioned in the minutes inJune of 1879, but continued to play an important role in the churchservices throughout the early records.
In 1880, the membership voted to change the name of the church to "SardisBaptist Church," but in 1882, that decision was reversed and the body hasbeen known as Laurel Hill Baptist Church since that time.
The second building was also erected across the road from the presentchurch, and it was a small box house with 12-inch planks which were usedvertically. In 1900, a committee of three men was appointed to buy landfor the Church & Cemetery. William N. Lawrence delivered 4.0 acres to thechurch. That deed is recorded at the Vernon Parish Courthouse inLeesville. Joseph Rudicille was pastor of the church in 1901. In 1969,construction began on the current brick structure was moved across thestreet beside the cemetery.
Carroll, Joyce S. - 18 Feb 1931 / 3 Dec 1953 [wife of Ed Carroll] [daughter of Cleveland Smith & Maudie Mayo; she was killed withher parents when tornado struck the Smith home in 1953]Smith, Maudie [Mayo] - 14 Feb 1911 / 3 Dec 1953 [Killed with husband & daughter when tornado struck their home] [above 2 burials have identical stones]
Smith, [Joseph] Cleveland - 23 Apr 1897 / 3 Dec 1953, LA Pvt. HQ Co. 347thInf. WWI[son of John A. Smith & Mary E. Peavy, killed when tornado struckhis home]--------------------------------. Alfred Franklin MAYO - Ancestral FileGender: M Birth/Christening: 1826 Bainbridge, Decatur, Georgia
Alfred Davis MAYO (AFN: 19LJ-H9) Pedigree Sex: M Family Event(s): Birth: 12 Jan 1862 Westville, Holmes, Fl Death: 6 Sep 1945
Parents: Father: Alfred Franklin MAYO (AFN: 19LH-DM) Family Mother: Betsy CALLAHAN (AFN: 19LH-G0)
Marriage(s): Spouse: Sarah Elizabeth WARD (AFN: B7P7-VF) Family Marriage: 25 May 1906
Submitter(s): EDNA THURMAN WALDRON Microfilm: 1394207 8008 SOMERSET LANE TAMPA FL Submission: AF83-046682 USA 33615 IDA MARIE ROOKS (MAYO) JOHNSON Microfilm: NONE 6975 S 2700 W SPANISH FORK UT Submission: AF95-109997 USA 84660 -----------------http://dogwoodpress.myriad.net/dcm/redbone.html#e35Don Marler and the Louisiana Redbone text-
In 1857, immediately after the Dred Scott decision removed their citizenship and left them vulnerable to slavery, a large Melungeon wagon train left the Carolinas and Georgia. Alfred Franklin Mayo led the party. During the trek to Louisiana, the wagon train eventually grew to over 100 mixed families. Their names were the names of the Angolans of 17th century Virginia. The wagon train halted near Valentine in central Louisiana. Shortly before dispersing, all of the men and all of the boys older than twelve went alone into the woods. Because of the ethnic persecution they had endured back east, the men made a pact to conceal their past and never divulge their origins. The name “Melungeon” was to be forgotten among them. Some of the families settled in Louisiana and others moved on into Texas.
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Orange County TX - Births, 1942Mayo, Jesse Edward 1-15-1942 M Jessie May Slaydon Jesse Hullan Mayo OrangeMayo, Shelda Jean 4-3-1942 F Pauline Wilson Alfred David Mayo Orange
