Hickory Grove - Murray Cemetery

Vowels Mill, Natchitoches Parish, La

Listing and pictures by A. Lloid, B. Gibson, S. Liles, and N. Liles, November, 1998.

Located south of Craig Loop in Vowels Mill, the cemetery under fence appears to be both the old Murray sometimes referred to as the Becky Murray cemetery and a newer cemetery, both now named the Hickory Grove Cemetery. Entering a large cleared parking area, the gate opens to the newer section: a flat, grassy hilltop with all modern tombstones. The hill then slopes into a valley and the older cemetery is on the crest of the next hill.

There are a few recent burials in the older section; however, most of the stones are very old, and the few new markers have obviously been placed in recent years to mark previously unmarked graves. This older section of the cemetery is indicative of older cemeteries in this area, having a large oak or hickory tree in the center, several plantings of cape jasmine shrubs, and many cedar stumps, evidence of the use of cedar trees to mark gravesites, another common practice in earlier times.

While this is a particularly beautiful and picturesque part of the cemetery, the erosion of the sandy soil of this hilly area has created problems, which have been addressed to some extent with the plantings and the placement of concrete slabs and retaining walls. This is particularly evident in the Cox plot, which is located on the rear southwestern corner of the cemetery, where large concrete slabs have been used to contain the eroding soil.

The entire cemetery is under fence, mowed and well maintained. The adjacent woodlands have many hardwood trees which present a colorful background during autumn visits. The evergreen pines are beautiful all year and provide a peaceful setting for this lovely cemetery. In the following listing, the cemeteries are designated Murray and Hickory Grove, although the cemetery as a whole is now known as the Hickory Grove Cemetery.

Location: Traveling south on LA 117 from Hagewood, LA intersection of LA Hwy 6 and 117: about 6.5 miles to the intersection of LA 117 and 478; turn right west and travel 2.5 miles to Craig Loop Parish Road 736; turn left south and travel one 1 mile to Hickory Grove Cemetery Road Parish Road 737; travel 2-10 mile to the intersection of Hickory Grove Drive and Bell Craig Road Parish Road 737A. At this point there is a sign indicating the left fork of the road, and the cemetery is 3-10 mile along this road, ending at the cemetery. All except the last one-half mile are all weather roads. However, this last section of road is sandy and should be passable even in wet weather.

Murray Cemetery

BYRD, George W. 11 Apr 1884 - 29 Dec 1980 Dad Double stone: Ira Zena Byrd

BYRD, Ira Zena 08 Dec 1895 - 13 Sep 1938 Mother

BYRD, T.J. 31 May 1846 - 11 Feb 1926 Adjacent to Elizabeth Foshee; similar stones

BYRD, Elizabeth Foshee 1847 -23 Nov 1886 Wife of T.J. Byrd

BYRD, Mary 20 May 1872 - 25 Jan 1941

BYRD, Julia 10 Sep 1873 - 12 Mar 1942

BRISTER, Floyd 17Jan 1914 - 24 Jan 1979 Adjacent to one unidentified grave marked with flowers

The following Cox markers are all in one row, on the southeast corner of the crest of the hillside in the older section of the cemetery. This area has eroded badly and large concrete plates have been added around the edges of the plot to retard the erosion. Etchings in these plates indicate that they were constructed in 1942.

COX, J.D. 01 Dec 1861 - 25 Nov 1941 Adjacent and south of the marker of J.D. Cox is an much new type marker, flat, grey granite, with evidence of a name plaque that has been removed.

COX, Phanor 14 Mar 1892 - 13 May 1920 Son of Mr. & Mrs. J.D. Cox

COX, Harvey 28 Oct 1897 - 20 May 1913 Son of Mr. & Mrs. J.D. Cox

COX, Rosa 02 April 1884 - 22 May 1892 Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J.D. Cox

COX, Addison 11 Nov 1889 - 20 Aug 1891

COX, Philom 19 July 1887 - 30 May 1890

COX, King 20 Jan 1886 - 04 Feb 1886

CRAIG, Clifton 25 Mar 1905 - 02 June 1915 Adjacent to Cleveland Craig

CRAIG, Cleveland 25 Mar 1905 - 14 Jan 1908 Adjacent to Dempsy Craig, Sr.

CRAIG, Dempsy, Sr. 1838 - 1900

Double stone: Emly Craig CRAIG, Emly 1853 - 1916 Double stone: Dempsy Craig, Sr.

CRAIG, Geneva 23 Dec 1936 - 16 Oct 1937 Daughter

CRITTENDEN, Velma 05 Dec 1928 - 02 Nov 1930 Baby

CRITTENDEN, Oda Beatrice 30 Dec 1922 - 05 May 1933

CRITTENDEN, Rosa E. 24 July 1897 - 18 May 1957 Double stone: Harvey G. Crittenden

CRITTENDEN, Harvey G. 01 Jan 1891 - 23 May 1960

FOSHEE, Infant 16 April 1916

The following Foshee names are all engraved on a newish, flat, grey granite marker in this order.

FOSHEE, Oda 1890 - 1891

FOSHEE, Jannie 1892 - 1905

FOSHEE, Jennie 1894 - 1905

FOSHEE, George 1854 - 1929

FOSHEE, Luvicie 1867 - 1931

FOSHEE, Billy Ray 30 Sep 1932 - 04 Oct 1932 Son

FOSHEE, Nezzie 19 Oct 1911 - 24 Feb 1943 Mother Adjacent to Billy Ray Foshee

FOSHEE, Coleman C. 22 Jan 1910 - 25 Mar 1978 Double stone: Nezzie Foshee

GANDY, Faye Effie February 2, 1929 - March 26, 1999 Double stone with Odus Phillip Gandy---January 18, 1920

HIGHT, D. 19 Apr 1981 - 05 July 1981 Adjacent to Coleman C. Foshee

HOLLAND, Infant. 29 Apr 1930 - 30 Apr 1930 Infant Daughter of John E. Holland

HONEYCUTT, Elzy 1879 - 1966 Daddy Double stone: Dena Bell Honeycutt

HONEYCUTT, Dena Bell 1884 - 1908 Mama

HONEYCUTT, Jane 10 May 1841 - 15 Sep 1921 Adjacent to Dena Bell Honeycutt

HONEYCUTT, Henry 24 June 1838 - 30 Mar 1920 Adjacent to Jane Honeycutt

HONEYCUTT, Golda 06 Aug 1901 - 28 June 1914 has both old and new markers

HONEYCUTT, Robert Warren 1846 - 1908

HONEYCUTT, Victoria 1860 - 1900 Wife of Robert Warren Honeycutt

HONEYCUTT, Willie January 3, 1908 - September 2, 1992 Double stone with Juney Mae Honeycutt---June 1, 1915-

HOLLAND, Dorothy Beatrice 14 June 1927 - 01 Nov 1931

HOLLAND, Jacob 01 Nov 1922 - 01 Jan 1923

HOLLAND, George Washington 23 Aug 1857 - 08 Aug 1928 Adjacent to: Nancy Ann Moss Holland

HOLLAND, Nancy Ann Moss 23 Aug 1867 - 18 May 1940

LAFITTE, Mary Honeycutt 1890 -1908 Adjacent to Dena Bell Honeycutt

MASSEY, Louise 12 Oct 1848 - 03 Mar 1923 Wife of A. J. Massey

MCEELENDON, M.C. 21 June 1887 - 12 June 1930 Adjacent to Callie Craig McClendon Note: Spelling as on marker

MCCLENDON, Callie Craig 04 Aug 1876 - 12 Jan 1904 Wife of M.C. McClendon Adjacent to M.C. McEelendon; spelling in all cases as on markers.

NORSWORTHY, Alberta 1912 - 1926

NORSWORTHY, Meda 1904 - 1918

NORSWORTHY, Monroe 1893 - 1896

RHODES, Mandy Age at Death 65 Years

UNMARKED: There are two large slab topped graves north of the Floyd Brister gravesite and south of the Dempsy Craig, Sr. gravesite. It appears that some data was etched into one of the slabs, but is so eroded as to be illegible. Two or three other sites are possible graves, unmarked.

Hickory Grove Cemetery

CARNEY, Wilmer Floyd 01 Mar 1924 - 10 Apr 1969 LA S1 US NAVY WWII

CRAIG, Lillie Belle 11 Apr 1914 - 02 Sep 1988 Double stone: Demsie Craig

CRAIG, Demsie 11 Mar 1908 - 30 Jan 1976 Husband Double stone: Lillie Belle Craig

CRAIG, Casabiana 21 May 1882 - 06 Nov 1966 Mama Double stone: Sampson Craig

CRAIG, Sampson 03 May 1882 - 24 May 1968 Papa, Double stone: Casabiana Craig

CRAIG, Estelle [Cora Estelle Foshee] 20 Nov 1913 - 12 Feb 2007, Double stone: Eston Craig, [dau of Joseph A and Necie L. Holland Foshee]

CRAIG, Eston 11 Nov 1904 - 03 Sep 1986 Double stone: Estelle Craig

CRAIG, Infant 12 Sep 1943 Infant son of Curtis Craig

CRITTENDEN, Robert George 22 Aug 1949 - 20 Oct 1992 Loved and remembered by Randy, Becky, and Rosie

CRITTENDEN, J.B. 13 Apr 1921 - 04 Aug 1970 Adjacent to: Cleo Crittenden

CRITTENDEN, Cleo [Deliene Masters] 29 Sep 1931 - 29 Oct 2005, Adjacent to: J.B. Crittenden

FENN, Arthur 29 May 1903 - 12 Sep 1956

FOSHEE, Josephine M. 21 Dec 1895 - 21 Jan 1990 Double stone: Mason H. Foshee

FOSHEE, Mary Bell 02 Nov 1894 - 10 Dec 1984 Double stone: John R. Foshee

FOSHEE, Harry H. 04 Aug 1931 - 06 Aug 1952 Adjacent to: John R. and Preston Foshee

FOSHEE, Algy H. 29 Nov 1893 - 08 July 1980 Double stone: Willie W. Foshee

FOSHEE, Willie W. 13 June 1883 - 31 Aug 1959 Double stone: Algy H. Foshee

FOSHEE, Exie Holland 24 July 1905 - 20 Dec 1981 Mother Double stone: Norris Foshee

FOSHEE, Mason H. 07 Sep 1888 - 26 Mar 1977 Double stone: Josephine M. Foshee

FOSHEE, Gladys M. 05 Aug 1918 - 02 Sep 1991 Double stone: Arthur Foshee

FOSHEE, Arthur 31 Jan 1918 - 05 Feb 2004, Double stone: Gladys M. Foshee

FOSHEE, Elbert J. 13 Nov 1915 - 19 Apr 1998 Father Double stone: Maurine M. Foshee

FOSHEE, Maurine M. 01 Nov 1918 - Mother Double stone: Elbert J. Foshee

FOSHEE, John R. 05 June 1900 - 02 Jan 1977 Double stone: Mary Bell Foshee

FOSHEE, Preston 05 May 1935 - 20 May 1961

FOSHEE, Albert 16 Dec 1888 - 20 July 1964 Double stone: Necie Foshee

FOSHEE, Necie 24 Apr 1898 - 24 June 1974 Double stone: Albert Foshee

FOSHEE, Bessie 24 Aug 1901 - 13 Sep 1983 Double stone: Monroe Foshee

FOSHEE, Monroe 22 July 1898 - 09 Sep 1986 Double stone: Bessie Foshee

FOSHEE, Norris 27 Jan 1897 - 06 Apr 1970 Father PFC MOTOR TRANS CORP WWI Double stone: Exie Holland Foshee

HOLLAND, Leroy 19 Oct 1922 - 06 Aug 2010 Double stone: Dorothy Gibson

HOLLAND, Pete 07 Aug 1903 - 02 Aug 1956

HOLLAND, Harlan B. 16 Mar 1947 - 03 July 1956 Adjacent to: Leroy and Dorothy Gibson Holland

HOLLAND, Dorothy Gibson 24 Apr 1926 - Double stone: Leroy Holland

HOLLAND, Eula V. 05 Aug 1930 - Double stone: Woodrow R. Holland

HOLLAND, Woodrow R. 29 Oct 1920 - 01 May 1980 PFC US ARMY WWII Double stone: Eula V. Holland

HOLLAND, Cora Bell 16 Dec 1897 - 10 Dec 1988 Mama Adjacent to: Newton Luther Holland

HOLLAND, Freeborn 17 July 1895 - 16 Jan 1988 PVT US ARMY WWI, Double stone: Nora B. Holland

HOLLAND, Nora B. 31 May 1904 - 16 Nov 1953 Double stone: Freeborn Holland

HOLLAND, Freeman O. 14 Nov 1926 -18 Nov 2012 Double stone: LaWanda Holland

HOLLAND, LaWanda 11 July 1927 - 12 Sep 2007 Double stone: Freeman O. Holland

HOLLAND, John E. 29 Mar 1891 - 07 Nov 1978 Double stone: Annie E. Holland

HOLLAND, Annie E. 10 Feb 1894 - 20 Mar 1978 Double stone: John E. Holland

HOLLAND, Newton Luther 29 Oct 1893 - 17 Feb 1977 Papa Adjacent to: Cora Belle Holland

HONEYCUTT, Infant 01 Oct 1942 Infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Willie Honeycutt

HONEYCUTT, Arvil Dean 25 Feb 1944 - 21 Nov 1955 Son of Mr.and Mrs. Willie Honeycutt

HOWELL, Elbert Lee 23 Oct 1918 - 04 Dec 1970, LA PVT CO H 422 INFANTRY WWII

HOWELL, Mary Jane 30 Oct 1888 - 16 Nov 1969 Double stone: Charlie Monroe Howell

HOWELL, Charlie Monroe 01 May 1886 - 29 May 1974 Double stone: Mary Jane Howell

MILLER, Monroe Floyd 23 Aug 1914 - 16 July 1976 Double stone: Abbie Foshee

MILLER, Abbie Foshee 19 May 1919 - 18 Oct 1993 Double stone: Monroe Floyd

MILLER, Effie J. 28 Nov 1911 - 05 Feb 1997 Double stone: Eric L. Miller

MILLER, Eric L. [Lucious] 11 June 1915 - 16 Apr 2000, Double stone: Effie J. Miller

MONTGOMERY, Rena Howell 08 Mar 1905 - 24 May 1992 Double stone: John Dewey Montgomery Married: 18 May 1924

MONTGOMERY, John Dewey 12 July 1902 - 05 Jan 1983 Double stone: Rena Howell

MONTGOMERY, Lillian Howell 06 Jan 1912 - 29 May 1999 Double stone: John Thomas Montgomery

MONTGOMERY, John Thomas 05 Dec 1901 - 26 Feb 1985 Double stone: Lillian Howell Montgomery

MOSS, Amanda H. 23 Jan 1887 - 23 Feb 1968 Double stone: Luther A. Moss

MOSS, Luther A. 14 Feb 1885 - 07 May 1957 Double stone: Amanda H. Moss

OXLEY, Ambrose 30 Mar 1904 - 19 July 1969 Double stone: Ophelia Oxley

OXLEY, Ophelia 07 Dec 1886 - 07 Jan 1969 Double stone: Ambrose Oxley

PAGE, Bummy 14 June 1930 - 14 Jan 1990 Papa Adjacent to: Isabelle Page

PAGE, [Carrie Isabelle Crittenden] Isabelle 03 July 1925 - 28 May 2009, Granny Adjacent to: Bummy Page

PENROD, Opal Irene 28 Mar 1923 - 30 May 1999 Double stone: Charles William Penrod, Sr.

PENROD, Charles William, Sr. 04 Dec 1921 - 02 Aug 1995 CWOC US ARMY WWII - Korea Double stone: Opal Irene Penrod

PITTS, Collis 02 Apr 1921 - 04 Mar 2001, Double stone: Lola Holland Pitts

PITTS, Lola Holland 20 Mar 1921 - 05 Jan 1995 Double stone: Collis Pitts, Married: 15 July 1939

ROBERTS, Elizabeth 22 July 1895 - 20 May 1986

SEITZ, Carol Sharp 15 Sep 1949 - 26 Oct 1977

FOSHEE, Jerry D. 25 Dec 1935 - 28 Mar 1994

SHARP, George W. 05 Apr 1900 - 14 Apr 1987  Double stone Judy A. Sharp

SHARP, Judy Ann Died February 2, 1990 Double stone George W. Sharp

YOPP, Rhodie Lee 01 Mar 1933 - 24 Apr 1972 Father