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I was unsure if I was going to share this story with the world. The story is not one everyone will be interested in or care to read or view. But, for the ones of you that are into digging up graves and bringing families together, I think you’ll enjoy!
Several years ago, my mother’s oldest sister, Jean Ross of Pelahatchie, told me of her desire to bring the remains of her oldest sibling home to the Magee Cemetery from the cemetery at Raleigh. I did not even know there was a sixth child in the L. G. And Bertha Horn family. My mama always said there were five children.
Jean remembered well growing up her mother taking about the 1 day old baby boy buried in Raleigh. My grandfather, L. G. Horn, Sr. or Mr. Lace as he was often called, was the Sheriff of Smith County in the early 1900s (around 1914). He rode a white horse all over the county according to my mother, Mary Ruth Horn Dickey. While my grandparents lived in Smith county, a baby boy was born (Baby Boy Horn). The child lived 1 day. We have no accurate information as to what type container the body was buried in but most likely a wooden box. A white granite headstone was placed at the grave site. The child’s grave remained in Raleigh from August 19, 1914 to October 31, 2017.
With the help and encouragement of my Aunt Jean’s son Knox Ross, Jr., part of the “earth” from the grave site along with the white granite headstone was moved to the Magee Cemetery. Knox took care of all the legal work and lined up a funeral home to take charge of the dig.
On Halloween day in 2017, Patrice Boykin, Knox and Jean Ross, cousin Todd Horn, two employees of the funeral home and myself witnessed the digging up of the burial area for Baby Boy Horn. I had no idea what to expect. But, I knew I was not going to miss this once in a life time experience…and I was going to film the happening. Yancey Sanford agreed to edit the film for me. (Yancey is awesome!!!). Patrice and I had camera (video and still). Part of the grave “earth” was moved from Raleigh Cemetery to Magee Cemetery in a small vault. At the Magee Cemetery, Jimmy Clyde led our group in prayer and played taps. Aunt Jean never forgot her mother’s wishes—she brought that love full circle.
The video shows what took place on that cold October 31, 2017
Click the link below to view video.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=18cti7RbY-raYn4e0h4wT367EYvzqWCQi
