10/01/2023
More in our Unearthing History: Simpson County's Cemeteries 🌳
Hey y'all, I've had the privilege of uncovering some of the rich tapestry of Simpson County's past. Did you know that our county is home to about 230 cemeteries that I have identified? Each one holds a unique chapter in the story of this county. Over time, I want to write a little about some of these cemeteries.
But for today, let's start talking about 1 of the 8 Historically Significant cemeteries situated in Simpson County. It is worth noting that individuals have the opportunity to submit requests for the inclusion of cemeteries within this distinguished category. This recognition doesn't provide much assistance to the cemetery, but could possibly help keeping it from being lost.
To qualify for such recognition from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, certain prerequisites must be met, which are outlined as follows:
- contains the graves of persons who have contributed significantly to the history of the nation, the state, or the local region;
is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of the history of the nation, the state, or the local region;
- is associated with properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places or with designated “Mississippi Landmarks” properties;
- is located on land belonging to any political subdivision of the State of Mississippi;
- contains the graves of military veterans;
- includes statuary, vaults, markers, and/or monuments of architectural or artistic value;
- contributes to the preservation of local history;
- contains 18th Century burials; and/or
includes Native American graves identified by professional archaeologists.
The current Historically Significant Cemeteries are:
1. Husbands Cemetery
2. Sharon Cemetery
3. Old Barron Cemetery
4. Westville Cemetery
5. Boone-Gates Cemetery
6. Myers Cemetery
7. Purser Cemetery
8. Narvle E. Barron Cemetery
Alright, let's start with the story of Husbands Cemetery. Back in the late 1800s, Elijah Husbands decided that he wanted to have a cemetery on his farm and set aside a plot for the cemetery. But by the early 1900s, it was already abandoned. Tucked away in the south-central stretch of the county, this cemetery sits a good mile off the main road, perched on a hill.
The thing about this cemetery is it took me 18 months to track it down. It is the home to seven solemn graves. I'd like to thank local landowners who played a pivotal role in helping me locate it and letting me go to it.
Among the gravestones, you'll find five, each bearing witness to lives once lived. Notably, there are two Confederate soldiers at eternal rest here, their stories echoing through time. Interestingly, there's no trace or record of a church ever being here. Instead, it stands as a testament to a family's legacy, etched into the heart of a farm, until circumstances led them on new paths.
One of the graves unexpectedly turned out to be the great grandfather of a lady from Biloxi, a discovery she had thought might never come to light. After I contacted her with this news, we collaborated on a community interest piece with WLOX, delving into her quest to find her great grandfather's resting place.
I hope that over the next several weeks, I cover the rest of these cemeteries and the history they tell of our county.
Thanks
Andy
