AGP - Gravin' with Auntie, Part 5

PICTURED ABOVE-THE YOUNG WOMAN WHO NEEDED HELP WITH RUFFIN CEMETERY, HER NEIGHBOR, THE RUFFNER CEMETERY WE SAW THAT DAY AND THE GOOD MAP TOM HELMS SENT US.(You can see Shell, Hayes, Ruffner and Cross all on the map.)

This time we knew where we were and what we were hunting. The Cross Cemetery and Ruffner Cemetery were on our way around the bend on the dirt road, across a little creek bridge and down a slope ...looking for Shell and Hayes Cemeteries...Tom Helm's had sent us good maps and we were in the right place...but woops, we were in Jackson County.

NOT LAWRENCE, where we needed to be. As you cross the bridge there it is, the Jackson County sign...Nothing to do but ask...these two cemeteries are indeed in Jackson County and they were both impassable...flooded to the hip boot tops. Nothing left to do but turn around and head back...up the slope, across the little wooden bridge down the other side, a mile or two going North on the dirt road...and there before us was Ruffin Cemetery....and it was a sad site to behold...from the year before when we had photographed the little cemetery much had changed.

The big beautiful Pine tree that gave shade to the small cemetery was torn in half and dangling down and looked like it was going to fall...No one home in the house next to the cemetery. But I took pictures and we vowed we would come back and see what was happening.

Driving on around the bend passing the cut off to Cross Cemetery we came upon a pickup with two people going the opposite direction. Getting out of the car and flagging them down...First question-did they know anything about the little cemetery we called Ruffner...why yes, it was on the land owned by the young woman.....she just did not know what to do about the cemetery and was not sure if she had the authority to do anything...she needed answers....the man was her neighbor and was helping her get some of her business in order.

Newly divorced she was trying to get her bearings on a new life....we stood in the middle of the dirt road and talked for an hour or so...trying to sort out what could be done. ..the old Pine had been struck by lightening when the storms and flooding occured....then there had been a car load of young teenage boys who tried to steal some of the gravestones....she had run them off but they laughed and said they would be back....I gave them a card for the AGP and encouraged them both to call the County Judge Alex Latham for some guidance. We discussed Broome Cemetery and the restoration project that was going on there.

Aunt took down their names, addresses and e-mail adresses....I promised to call Judge Latham my self and to keep in touch and make notations on the website of needed help and funds to keep the little Cemetery in better shape...the big Pine would have to come down...as some good intentions go astray, this one did. I missplaced all the information Aunt took down and have not been able to find their names and addresses...but that is one of the first places we will go when/if I get back to my second home,...Arkansas. If anyone is out in that area of Lawrence County...look and see how the little cemetery is fairing and if indeed some one came to help the young woman with the needed answers...Aunt and I truly hope and pray that someone has helped! As I failed her..

Look under Lawrence County, Ruffner Cemetery...you will see that the big old Pine is standing straight and shelters most of the graves with shade....

Gravin' with Auntie - Part 5