Gravesite Photos
Family Gravesite Photos

 

Jeremiah B. Smith & Rosa Wedgeworth
Jeremiah Benton Smith & Rosie Wedgeworth

Born on 4 December 1858, John Smith was the son of Mr. Jeremiah Benton Smith, Sr. (a.k.a. J.B. “Bent” Smith) and Mrs. Sarah E. Young of Alabama. John lived most, if not all, his life in and around Smith Co. MS. as I have found no evidence to the contrary. John was named after his grandfather, John Smith (b. 1797 in NC). While young John was still a boy, his father, Jeremiah Benton Smith, Sr., died some short time after 1860. As devastating to any young boy as this would be, young John assumed the name of his father in my belief to keep his memory alive. John is now known as Jeremiah Benton Smith, Jr.  He died on 31 Jul 1935.

In about 1879, Jeremiah Jr. married a Ms. Rosa Wedgworth (b. 25 May 1855 / d. 31 Dec 1934), the daughter of Rueben Wedgeworth and Minerva Myers.   He is recorded in the 1880 Census of Smith Co. MS as only him, age 21, and Rosa, age 22. By 1910, the census records them as having been married for 30 yrs. With 9 of 11 children living. These children are as follows: Wallace (b.11 Oct 1880), Mittie (b. 30 Dec 1882), Carrie (b. 11 Mar 1885), Maggie (b. 8 Nov 1887), Vander (b. 9 Dec 1889), Dollie (b. 5 Jan 1892), Edward (b. 5 Feb. 1894), Mary (b. 24 Mar 1898), Aaron (b. 25 Nov 1899), and 2 infants who died at birth. They did have one more child, Oma (b. 6 Jan 1901) that was found later that also died young in 17 Feb 1903.

Both are buried at Leaf River Baptist Church, Pineville, MS.







Wallace Samuel Smith & Julia E. Harris

Wallace was born 11 Oct 1880 to Jeremiah Smith and Rosie Wedgeworth in Smith Co. MS.  He died on 14 Mar 1955 in Smith Co. MS.  In 1902 in Smith Co. MS he married Julia E. Harris, daughter of John Harris and Frances Craven, who was born 22 Sep 1883 and died 28 Feb 1969.  They had 6 Children: Hansford (1901 / 1980), Massouri (1903 / 1989), Onie (1905), Iris (1908 / 1930), William (1912 / 1992), and Mary (1917 / 1997).

Both Wallace and Julia are buried at Leaf River Baptist Church, Smith Co. MS.







  Aaron Hance Smith & Iva Beulah Sorey                              
Aaron was born 25 Nov 1899 in Smith Co. MS to Jeremiah Smith and Rosie Wedgeworth.  He died on 7 Aug 1956 in Rankin Co. MS. On 24 Dec 1921 in Smith Co. MS he married Iva Beulah Sorey.  She was born the daughter of Van Sorey and Allie Hedgwood on 29 Dec 1905 in Smith Co. MS. She passed away on 10 Jan 1964 in Scott Co. MS.  

Both are buried at Leaf River Baptist Church, Pineville, MS.         






Vander B. Smith & Mattie Oliva Mosley
  Vander Bill Smith & Mattie Olivia Mosley

Vander was born 9 Dec 1889 in Smith Co. MS.  He was commonly known as Van or Vandiver to his friends.  He was a small wiry man with a good sense of humor, but kinda quick sometimes with the temper. He was a blacksmith and we used him for all sorts of things that we had to have fixed around the farm. He was very strong for his size and worked very hard. He was born and grew up in Pineville MS.  In the 1930 Federal Census of Smith Co. MS (beat 5, Sheet 2a) listing Vander 40; Mattie 36; Ruth 18;Vera 15; Eulon 12; & Beulah 81/2-9. Not only does this verify Vander, but it confirms what we know about his wife and children. Vander was married to Mattie Olivia Smith around 1909. She was born on 29 Jul 1893 in Smith Co. MS. Together, they had 6 children: Emma, Ruth, Vera, Eulon, Beulah, and Edward.

Dad says he remembers being stubborn and not doing what his father (Eulon) asked. As grandpa was about to “whip” him, he said he remembered his grandma (Mattie Olivia Smith) as he put it – fly off the porch and begin beating on Eulon to stop “whipping” the children.

Vander has been laid to rest in the Leaf River Baptist Church Cemetery in Smith Co. MS after his death on 30 Dec 1970 at the age of 89. His wife Mattie followed him on 28 Nov 1974 in Brandon, MS.    








Maggie Smith

Maggie was born 8 Nov 1887, the daughter of Jeremiah Smith and Rosie Wedgeworth, in Smith Co. MS.  She died 20 Nov 1936 in Smith Co. MS just months after her parents died.  She never married and lived at home with her parents.  

She is buried at Leaf River Baptist Church, Pineville, Smith Co. MS.  



J. M. Smith & I. R. Smith

Unknown, but believed to be the two infants who died at birth to Jeremiah Smith and Rosie Wedgeworth.  The small hand-made grave stones are right next to Jeremiah & Rosie's grave site.  J. M. is believed to be the male and I. R. is believed to be the female.  

Both are buried at Leaf River Baptist Church, Smith Co. MS.








 
Eulon John Smith & Velma E. Taylor
Eulon John Smith & Velma Earline Taylor

A man that only made it to the third grade did so much in his life and was a rascal while doing it. Eulon was born on 18 Dec 1917 in Smith Co. MS. He was the son of Vander Bill Smith (b. 1889 / d. 1970). Eulon's male ancestors after his father were as follows: Jeremiah Benton Smith Jr. (b. 1858 / 1935), Jeremiah Benton Smith Sr. (b. 1826), John Smith (b. 1793 / d. 1881), Isham Smith (b. 1760), and Nathan Smith (b. 1730). He came from a long line of good, tough and stubborn men who were mostly farmers and had lots of time to make children. As a matter of observation, I do believe that Eulon was the one who broke the mold from farming to public work when farming just wasn't enough to support the family.

Eulon married Velma Earline Taylor (b. 1 Mar 1921 / d 7 May 1975) of Smith Co. She was the sister of his best friend, my Great Uncle Claude Taylor. They had seven children:  Jerry John (b.28 Jun 1938 / d. 2 Jan 1964), Larry Cooper (b. 5 Oct 1942), Perry John (b. & d. Jun 1947), and Carey (b. 1949), Linda Elaine (b. 16 Jun 1945), Virginia Ilene (b. 3 Dec 1951 / d. 1995/6), and Darlene (b. 12 Jun 1957).

Both are buried Bethel Baptist Church Cemetary, Smith Co. MS







William Clent Smith & Lillie B. Buchanan

William was born 28 Nov 1912 to Wallace S. Smith and Julia E. Harris in Smith Co. MS.  William died 28 Dec 1992 in Smith Co. MS.  On 21 Dec 1932 in Smith Co. MS, William married Lillie Buchanan, born 12 Oct 1917.

Together they had 4 children:  Rebecca (b. 1933), Clinton Leo (b. 1935 / d. 1983), Myrtle (b. 1950), and Sue.

Both are buried at Leaf River Baptist Church, Smith Co. MS.








Iris Ona Smith

Iris was born in 1908 to Wallace Smith and Julia E. Harris in Smith Co. MS.
She died 8 Mar 1930 in Smith Co. MS.  She married an Unknown Mr. Batte.

She is buried at Leaf River Baptist Church, Smith Co. MS.







Guy L. Batte & Onie Smith

Guy was born in 1909 in Smith Co. MS the son of Otho Batte and Cora.  He married Onie Smith (b. 1905 in Smith Co. MS), the daughter of Wallace Smith and Julia E. Harris, in Smith Co. MS.

Both are buried at Leaf River Baptist Church, Smith Co. MS.  










 

Jerry John Smith

The oldest child of seven of Eulon John Smith and Velma Earline Taylor was named Jerry John Smith. Jerry was born, according to his birth certificate, on 28 Jun 1939 in Smith Co. MS.  He died 2 Jan 1967 at the hands of another man.  Jerry was a wayward soul and a wanderer.  He spent time in the miliatry and was stationed over in Morocco in 1958.  

He married Ms. Bettie Heidelberg in March of 1965. In October of '65, Bettie gave birth to their only daughter, Angela.  

Some of his wanderings landed him in prison, Parchman , in Mississippi.  In and out of jail, Jerry was always on the road, never any place very long.  

He is now laid to rest at the age of 27 at Bethel Baptist Church, Smith Co. MS.






               Perry John Smith                  

Perry was still-born at birth.  He was born in February 1947 according to the grave stone to Eulon J. Smith and Velma E. Taylor.  As the family was too poor to buy a gravestone, Eulon made this one on his own.  

He too is buried at Bethel Baptist Church, Smith Co. MS.                      







Terry Allen McFarland & Virginia Eileen Smith

Terry (not pictured) was born 1 Jan 1948, in Madison Co. MS.  He died in 2006 of natural causes.  He married on 25 Sep 1971, Virginia (Ginny) Smith, the daughter of Eulon J. Smith and Velma E. Taylor.  Ginny was born 3 Dec 1951 and died of cancer on 6 Sep 1996.  

They had one child:  Christopher (b. 1975).  







Guy L. Batte, Jr.

Guy was born in Smith Co. MS in 1942, the son of Guy L. Batte and Onie Smith.  He died only days later.
He is buried at Leaf River Baptist Church, Smith Co. MS.  







Gay Harris & James Prentiss Harris
(Brothers)

Gay was born in Smith Co. MS on 17 Jul 1925, the son of Cratus Rolland (Rollie) Harris and Mittie Smith.  Mittie is the daught of Jeremiah Smith and Rosie Wedgeworth.  

James was born in Smith Co. MS on 12 Feb 1923, the son of Cratus Rolland (Rollie) Harris and Mittie Smith.  It is believed that neither Gay or James never married before they died on 5 Sep 1985 and 9 Apr 1984, respectivly, in Smith Co. MS.

Both are buried at Leaf River Baptist Church, Smith Co. MS.






Joel Kenneth Harris

Joel was born in Smith Co. MS on 25 Aug 1935, the son of Cratus Rollad (Rollie) Harris and Mittie Smith.  Mittie is the daughter of Jeremiah Smith and Rosie Wedgeworth.  He married a Ms. Jancie Ann Boudreaux in Smith Co. MS.  They had 4 children: Linda, Kenneth, Sandra, and Pamela.  From the grave stone we see that Joel was a SSGT in the US Army during the Korean War.  He died on 26 Mar 1992.

He is buried alone at Leaf River Baptist Church, Smith Co. MS.