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There were two cemeteries, when compared to others, that caught me off guard. The grounds were deep with leaves, stones disheveled, even large branches and fresh animal excrement scattered about. (See what I did there? 🤣) Since I visited Lower Pleasant Site first (twice) and thought it not to be in the best shape, my impression changed when we went to Weatherbee. I am aware there has been a lot of effort, and expense, into making the long road into the cemetery paved with rock, when in previous times it was only passable likely by truck. I can also tell people visit as they were many faded artificial flower bouquets that peppered the grounds. It is a beloved cemetery, as is Lower Pleasant Site. But there are no groundskeepers as with the other sites we went. And I am very emotionally invested in both of these particular sites.
I have ended up posting these stops out of the order in which they occurred. This site we visited on Saturday. Some places require more focus than others and this is one of those. The photos taken at both Weatherbee and Lower Pleasant Site have been posted to FindAGrave (FAG) with possibly a few exceptions where the stones were completely illegible and the only way to determine it’s owner is by the shape of stones from previous photos on existing memorials.

Again, I hesitate even giving my experiences in such an open forum because I can also tell that both sites have visitors and that in past, people have performed maintenance on both sites. These observations are being said with a kind heart, one that is planning to remedy what I saw upon my next visit. I’ve already enlisted cousin Jim, mentioned to cousin Diane and have a few ideas to run by some family locally, and others I know. After photographing many of their current identifiable residents, knowing the names of others reported to be buried there, many of which I am related to, both are places that mean very much to me.
With this in mind, let’s talk about the site. We hopped across the highway from Lower Pleasant Site and drove down a beautifully landscaped road, trees scattering each side of the road. Their colors just invited you to let go of all your thoughts and focus on the beauty in their collections of shapes, textures, even heights touching the sky.






Cousin Jim and I immediately began what worked out to be quite helpful, we split up and yelled out names. I quickly started from one to the next, taking a quick photo, winding around the right side then to the left. You can see my aim wasn’t always spot on. The sun so bright it was hard to see the screen, let alone confirm pictures in between.






I should also clarify: we knew going into this Thomas Albert Sartain, his 3 wives, including Tyrena Long, sister of a Silmon and my 3ggm Zana Long, are buried there without markers, Also Silmon’s wives don’t have markers. Silmon has a marker because the military paid for it from his time in the 64th Illinois Infantry, along with his brother James.
We promise, we will be back. Rakes, bags, brushes, buckets, chainsaws if needed. It may not be till the spring, but we will.
And, in case you started with this post, there are more in this trip series. (And more still to come). Here they are so far.
TRIP overview, a first must read.
Old Rondo Cemetery, Texarkana, AR
Weatherbee Cemetery, Franklin County, AR
Potts Camp & Bethlehem Church Cemetery, Outside Potts Camp, MS
Trees of the cemetery: a combination of sites
Pontotoc County & descendant of John Franklin, son of William and Malissa.
FindAGrave memorials of the photos Jim and I took this day. Here’s the main page for Weatherbee Cemetery and a few additional pics taken by Dennis Yerby, plus two I posted.
Dizie L Dedmon, d/o TA & MJ Dedmon b Oct d Dec 1898
Mattie J (Weatherbee) Dedmon b1874 d1963
Thomas Alonzo Dedmon b1870 d1944
Egbart M Hardin b1854 d1878
Amos Hardin, s/o AB & Alma Hardin bNov 1903 d Aug 1904
James Franklin ‘Jim’ Hardin b1860 d1922
JH Henson 11 mos.
Rosa Catherine (Taylor) Johnston, w/o CW Johnston b1870 d1906
Silmon Long Co F 64th Illinois Infantry **part of the Club BLC family
Altie A McKinney , d/o CW & SA McKinney b Nov 1900 d Oct 1901
Charles William McKinney b1860 d1928
Infant Daughter of CW & SA McKinney b Aug 1909 d Nov 1909
Sarah Ann E (Weatherbee) McKinney b1870 d1956
Elisabeth (Bates) Patterson, w/o Peter b1820 d1857
Nancy Mary (Daniel) Sartain b1831 (d1873) Nancy is the 2nd wife of Thomas Albert Sartain, who is an allied family to the Longs & Buchanans
Clarence O Shewbart, s/o JM & SJ Shewbart b Jul 22, 1806 d Oct 9, 1906
James Manuel Shewbart b1872 d1919
JW Shewbart b1875 d1878
Nancy E Shewbart, w/o JM Shewbart b1870 d1914
Sarah Jane (Townsend) Shewbart, w/o James M Shewbart b1882 d 1911
Infant son of Arthur & Annie Thorn b/ Nov 18, 1933
Emily E (Witt) Weatherbee b1832 d1923
John Franklin Weatherbee b1830 d1902
Milton Forrest Weatherbee b1871 d1935
6 thoughts on “TRIP: Weatherbee Cemetery, Franklin County, Alabama”