[Granville-Hough] 27 Aug 2009 - Miller Cemetery - A Dream Becomes Reality

[Trustees for Granville W. Hough]

MILLER CEMETERY: A DREAM BECOMES REALITY (By Sarah Walker Gorrell)

"The old cemetery sat abandoned and forgotten for many years – just up 
the hill past Cohay Creek on the south side of SCR 14 (Fellowship Road). 
Brambles, briars, and fallen pine trees – much the result of the ravages 
of Hurricane Katrina – had covered the few remaining stones. In the July 
19, 2006 issue of The Post, an article entitled “Miller Cemetery – 
Forgotten Not Long” outlined plans to restore the old cemetery.
Today the cemetery is beginning to show results, thanks to the efforts 
of Supervisor Benjie Ford, Don Jordan, John Tommy McDaniel, and a crew 
at Southern Pine, Bo Eaton, as well as Buford and Joyce Lowery, and 
Virginia Kelly, these plans are coming to fruition. The cemetery has 
been cleared of years of fallen trees and debris and is now accessible 
to the public.

The removal of undergrowth permitted the search for additional stones. 
Only nine stones remain of the original 55 graves. Toward the back of 
the old cemetery, two stones in the shape of obelisks were in remarkably 
good condition. These stones belonged to John Steven Carter, a Civil War 
Veteran, and his wife Rebecca Powers. A marker to signify his service in 
the Battle between the States has been ordered.

Stakes have replaced the undergrowth with orange flags indicating a 
gravesite. These gravesites were located by dowsing – an age old proven 
method of locating graves. Ed McNease of Moselle, MS, a self-described 
CCN (Certified Cemetery Nut) is a grave finder or dowser. Using two 
dowsing rods (long, straight copper-brass alloy rod) held lightly, one 
in each hand with his elbows at his waist and forearms parallel to the 
ground, he paced back and forth over the cemetery searching for unmarked 
graves. Being somewhat skeptical, I (Ms Gorrell) took the rods in hand 
and began walking slowly across the old cemetery. I was amazed when the 
rods automatically crossed, just as they had done with Mr. McNease.
Most U. S. cemeteries are laid out with the head pointing to the west 
and the feet to the east, head to toe in straight lines with 
approximately 2 to 3 feet between graves. A dowser can determine if the 
unmarked grave is that of an adult, or a child, based on the length of 
the grave, since the rods will remain crossed until the end of the grave 
is reached. The length of the grave can determine the approximate age of 
the person.

(GWH: this paragraph is included just to assure I copied the article as 
written). According to research, the dowser can even determine gender. 
One of the methods used is by standing over he center of the grave, hold 
one rod over your head. The rod will swing around and point to the feet 
(east) of a man and head (west) of a female. Method 2, which is 
determined to be the most accurate, is to again stand in the center of 
the grave and balance the handle of one of the rods on you index finder 
with the rod pointing down. The rod will begin making a circular motion, 
clockwise for a male and counterclockwise for a female. The motion of 
the rod, to determine if two people are buried in the same grave, uses 
this method.

Even though some have claimed this to be “witchcraft”, dowsing is an 
age-old technique used by genealogical and historical societies. More 
modern day GPS devices can also be used and may be more reliable. 
Dowsing rods can be made by staightening two metal coat hanger, and 
bending the neck into a holder. To test the theory, go to a cemetery 
with marked graves to practice and you will be surprised at how 
effectively it works.
During the cemetery cleansing process, many of the stakes were removed 
to make way for the equipment and falling trees. In order to relocate 
all the graves, the dowsing will have to be redone. Additional work also 
has to be completed to remove the stumps. Plans are to place a fence 
across the front of the cemetery as well as a sign bearing the name.
A ceremony to dedicate John Steven Carter’s marker is tentatively 
planned to be held on Saturday, April 28, 2007 by the Purvis Branch of 
the United Daughters of the Confederacy."

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This article from The Post, Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007, page 10. (GWH: I do 
not know who publishes this journal. The article was sent to me by 
Bonnie Cole, age 92, who, like me, is related to the people buried there 
in the Miller Cemetery. )

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Speaking of the idiosyncrasies of the American version of the English 
language, we've just invented a new word, or at least a new meaning for 
an old word, clunker. Soon we'll be hearing some female crooner telling 
her life story. "I met this handsome feller and in the fever of the 
evening, we went to Jackson, we went to Jackson, and we got married. 
Soon I learned he was just a big clunker, a big clunker, so I'm 
divorcing him, divorcing him, and I'm taking on this younger feller, 
who's got more bang for the buck, more bang for the buck."