The Hineston Chronicles Volume 8 Number 4

The Hineston Chronicles 

Volume 8 Number 4

Photo posted to

Facebook  by

Deborah Miller Cox

Carolyn's Corner

By Carolyn Dyess Bales

 Facebook: A Genealogy, Research, and Keeping in Touch Tool

As we all know, Facebook is the largest social media tool available with approximately 1.2 million registered people.     Depending on the person’s interests, there are many uses for Facebook.

Because the world is more global than it was in our parents’ time, this site has brought us all together where we can keep up with daily, weekly, and annual events.   We have connected the past to the present. Since we are all in the Historic Hineston site we know the benefits of having this tool available.

How can one find the sites?

There are several ways one can find the desired sites on Facebook.    

1. Using the Search function to locate living relatives and others researching your same surnames – i.e., Dyess

2. Using the Search function to locate different groups  -- i.e, Hineston

3. Word of Mouth – This is always a great tool.   I think this has helped our Hineston site a lot!   

4. Newsletters – Different groups put out newsletters and a lot of times there are references to Facebook sites / groups / etc in them.   

I am listing a link to a site that has a list of Facebook sites that will amaze you!    Katherine Wilson puts a list out 351 page PDF file containing 13,200+ links (updated in November 2018) to English-speaking Facebook groups & pages related to genealogy & history here:    YES! Historic Hineston is on the list!

The link is:

https://socialmediagenealogy.com/genealogy-on-facebook-list/?fbclid=IwAR13bfo7X_01Y7g6mOpJpqgCp2U8Gqua6zhU5oCtLunQ0NOZmhwx0rcs6j8

Carolyn Dyess Bales "Kaite" 


Cemetery Experiences

You all know I am into genealogy up to my eyeballs! All my life I
have been interested in where I came from, why? Why? Why? My
poor mother almost had heart attacks trying to answer my
questions. Once she told me, “You ask more questions than I can
answer at one time. You make my chest hurt!”
She quickly scooted me off to my father. He loved being asked
questions and loved it that I was a curious child. I learned I couldn’t
ask questions fast enough for him. He had a memory one would die
for. He loved sharing the information.

Therefore, it was no surprise that I would become a genealogist!

In 1995, my middle son came and hooked me up to AOL and showed
me how to get online. The rest is history. I found my world! Back
then there was very little online; but, enough to get me started!

The first thing I connected to a Smith / Herbert cousin and we had
some great researching experiences. We attended seminars,
researched in libraries and made one trip to Salt Lake City, Utah –
the genealogy mecca!

The cemeteries probably were some of the most memorable –
maybe because of the mystery of them – maybe because it was loved
ones there. Whatever the reason, we had some memories.

One day we visited several cemeteries in hot summer time. Most of
those visited that day were in dire need of grass to be mowed.
However, when we got to Hemphill Star we were overwhelmed on
how clean it was! We breathed a sigh of relieve – because we hated
walking in tall grass!

Being productive researchers (smile) I was assigned the top of the
hill to record and take pictures and Barbara was taking the bottom
part. I can get engrossed in my own world and was interrupted by
screaming and yelling from Barbara!

I started running down the hill calling her name every breath –
because she had become totally quiet – not another word from her!!!

As I reached the bottom of the hill there lay Barbara on the ground –
unable to speak for a minute. I helped her up and we checked her
for broken bones and then I had to ask my line of questions!!!!! LOL

She had been busy recording her headstones and taking pictures
when suddenly, she saw a snake running. She screamed and tried
to get away from the snake but alas! She fell backwards over a
headstone and was not able to move. The snake appeared to be as
scared of Barbara as she was of the snake because he was safe in his
hole.

We laughed and laughed thinking about how funny it would have
been reading headlines, “Lady Dies From Headstone in the Cleanest
Cemetery of the Day”.

Once if was working in New Orleans, Louisiana. My grandmother
(Sarah Matilda Smith Dyess) youngest brother, Crockett Smith and
his wife, Mildred Meeks Smith, are buried in a huge cemetery there.
I had some minutes to spare and I decided to go and visit their
graves and take pictures.

After stopping at the little office to get directions to their graves, I
decided to walk rather than drive my car. Mind you this is a huge
cemetery.

As I round a curve in the cemetery and trying to dodge stepping on
any graves (you know we don’t do that), I came upon a “body” laying
beside one of the headstones!!!

I could have won an Olympic Gold Ribbon that day! Breathing
heavy, I pulled open the door to the little office and explained there
was a body in the cemetery. They had me go back with them to
point them to the body. 
It turned out to be a drunk man who had passed out in the cemetery.
But he scared me to death (nearly). Uncle Crocket and Aunt
Mildred did NOT get visited that day!

One last experience I will share (there are many!). My dad as most
of you know, was a minister. He retired from pastoring churches
when he was 70 years old, moved back to Alexandria. I took an
early retirement, came home, and took care of my parents until they
passed away. He was a young 70 and a lot of ministers invited him
to come for the week end and preach. I would drive him.

A minister in Mississippi invited him to preach. We drove over on
Saturday to spend the night. Sunday morning, he preached the
morning service. Afterwards he wanted to lay down and rest before
he preached the Sunday evening service. I wanted to visit some
cemeteries in the area while we were there.

I found an isolated cemetery in the middle of a field. I stopped
because the name of the cemetery was one of the surnames I
research. There was not a soul within ear shot nor maybe a few
miles away. But, I never was afraid of much; therefore, I got busy
with recording and taking pictures.

Suddenly, I realized a truck was coming down the grassy path (there
was not even a defined road). I didn’t think anything until the truck
slowed down. I looked up and there were three young guys in the
truck. We stared at each other for a minute and I started feeling the
hair on the back of my neck standing up. There was NOT a way out
of that cemetery to get to my car without getting passed them.

They decided to drive a piece and I saw them making a U-Turn and
by that time I had run and climbed over the fence closest to my car –
the gate was too far! I had barely made it to my car and started it
as they were coming quickly up on me. Saying I barely escaped is
an understatement!

Never again have I – nor will I – visit an isolated cemetery alone!!!
In fact I am careful about visiting some of the “in town” cemeteries
alone depending if I feel they are really isolated.

I hope I have given you some smiles as you read these experiences!

Lastly, I would love to hear some of your experiences. It would be
great if you would post them on the Historic Hineston site!

Reunions 

MONK Reunion -1st Sat in May will be at the home of Jason Taylor in Gardner Debbie Chandler McDaniel or Jason Taylor
GOLEMON/WALLACE Reunion is always third Saturday in May. It falls on May 18,2019. Virginia Golemon
ROBINSON Reunion May 25th Lone Star Baptist Church. Phyllis Robinson Crooks

BONNETTE Reunion - June 8th - the 2nd Saturday in June. Melany Whiddon will give us the place for the reunion. Carolyn Dyess Bales

BROOKS, ROBINSON, HUGHES, DAVIS Relatives, and Friends - Last Sunday in June every year at Leesville Municipal Golf Course and Park. From 10 am till around 2 pm. Bring a covered dish and your favorite dessert. The 2019 reunion will be the 24th annual reunion. Lana Davis
The BERT SMITH Reunion is always on the 4th of July across from the Smith cemetery on Big Creek Rd off of Tolbert Loop. Belinda Afeman Smith

PERKINS Family Reunion - Saturday before Labor Day. Usually at the Calvary Baptist Church, Gardner - I will update if location changes.
IVEY FAMILY Reunion every year on the second Saturday in September. This year it will be September 14th at Sieper Community Church in Sieper. Debbie Chandler McDaniel
LEWIS Reunion - September 21st - the 3rd Saturday in September -Gardner Baptist Church - 10AM - 2PM. Covered dish. Bring family pictures and stories. Carolyn Dyess Bales
MORRISON Reunion - September 21st - the 3rd Saturday in September Lucy Darlene Morrison Long
BOB & ANNIE SERMONS Bunch Reunion- October 12th ( 2nd Saturday of October each year.) 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Belgian American Club House. Hot Wells Rd Hwy 121, Boyce. Debra Sermons Cook

MEYLIAN Reunion - 3rd Saturday in October every year. Usually at the Fellowship Methodist Church Pavilion, Hineston - I will update if location changes. Kathy Squyres Meylian.
SMITH Reunion - October 19th - the 3rd Saturday in October - Bentley UPC Church - 10am - 2pm. Covered Dish - bring family pictures and stories. Carolyn Dyess Bales

Deaths

Charles Clayton “Price” Brister, Jr., 49, of Otis, passed away on October 7, 2018. Burial was in Fellowship Cemetery, Hineston, LA.

Joyce West Singletary, 91, of Pitkin, passed away on October 12, 2018. Burial was in West Cemetery, Pitkin, LA.

Lou Emma Powell, 91, of Elmer, passed away on October 16, 2018. Burial was in Fellowship Cemetery, Hineston, LA.
Marilyn Janis Miller Hunt, 78, of Freeport, Florida passed away on October 21, 2018. Burial was in Burrough Cemetery, Gardner, LA.

Elsie Caroline Lawrence, 97, of Shreveport, passed away on October 22, 2018. Burial was in Fellowship Cemetery, Hineston, LA.
Carleon Joan Walker, 81, of Elmer, passed away on October 28, 2018. Burial was in Burroughs Cemetery, Elmer, LA.
Barry Eugene Naviaux, 61, of Boyce, passed away on November 1, 2018. Burial was in Hemphill Star Cemetery, Cotile, LA.
MSgt USAF Ret Billy Wayne Carr, 70, of Hineston, passed away on November 10, 2018. Burial was in Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Leesville, LA.
W.C. Pringle, Jr., 94, of Glenmora, passed away on November 11, 2018. Burial was in Roselawn Cemetery, Glenmora, LA.
Jesse G. Morrison, 78, of Sibley, passed away on November 14, 2018. Burial was in Mount Moriah Cemetery, Hineston, LA.
Joan Theresa Rivers, 87, of Gardner, passed away on November 16, 2018. Burial was in  St. Clair Cemetery Gardner, LA. 
Danny Farrell Lewis, 70, of Elmer, passed away on November 17, 2018. Burial was in Hemphill Star Cemetery, Cotile, LA.
Clive “Peaches” Herman Rougeau, 87, of Oakdale, passed away on November 25, 2018. Burial was in Oak Hill Cemetery, Oakdale, LA.
Landry G. Gill, 53, of Pitkin, passed away on December 4, 2018. Memorial service was held  December 9, 2018, in Labby Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in DeRidder, LA.
Johnnie Tyler, 65, of Clifton, passed away on December 7, 2018. Burial was in Pisgah-Clifton Cemetery, Clifton, LA.
Jimmy Cloud, 83,of Glenmora, passed away on December 13, 2018. Burial was in New Hope Cemetery, Glenmora, LA.
Nancy Clifton, 85 of Clifton, passed away on December 13, 2018. Burial was in Neal Cemetery, Clifton, LA.
Bertha Knight Long, 95, of Alexandria, passed away on, December 24, 2018. Burial was in Hemphill Star Cemetery, Cotile, LA.
Dorothy Todd, 93, of Elmer, passed away on December 23, 2018. Burial was in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Melder, LA.
Donna Ferguson Harness, 62, of Gardner,passed away on, December 21, 2018. Burial was in St. Clair Baptist Church Cemetery, Gardner, LA.
Cheryl Ann Williamson Evans, 63, of Lecompte, passed away on December 26, 2018. Burial was in Duplissey Cemetery, Clearwater, LA.
Sherman Burnitt, 79, of McNary, passed away on December 27, 2018. Burial was in  Roselawn Cemetery,  Glenmora, LA.
Ella Margaret Monroe, 89, of Alexandria, passed away on 28 December, 2018. Burial will be in Pine Ridge Cemetery, Melder, LA.