Sunday, July 22, 2012

John Thomas Hudson shuffled off this mortal coil in Fannin County, Texas leaving a widow and five children.  The family couldn't afford a marble stone so a rough piece of cement with his name and dates was placed on his grave at Belmont Cemetery just south of Ector, Texas.


The stone states simply J T Hudson Born Jan 8 1851 Died Apr 7 1916

We have been there several times in the past 20 years and were glad to find the stone and always intended to have a more permanent marker made.  Through the years we've taken several of JT's grandchildren and great-grand children to see his burial spot.






As you can see the grass and grounds were manageable.  Although not golf course manicured they were acceptable for a small country cemetery.





Imagine our surprise this morning when we went to place the new marble marker and found this:



Not only could we not find my great-grandfathers modest stone, but several of the larger ones were covered in rough growth and the entire cemetery cant' be navigated to do a thorough search. 

THIS is a total shame and no reason for it to be this way.  I don't know who is in authority over the cemetery or even who owns the land.  But am on a search to find out.  I certainly don't mind helping with a general clean up and I know there are others in the Grayson-Fannin area who would be willing.

So come on folks......  There is no excuse for neglecting this beautiful old cemetery.  Let's have a little respect for our ancestors.


UPDATE:   Feb 2013 .....   Winter has killed the grass so we went back today to find the original stone and set the new one.  SUCCESS!!!




We were able to find the stone and as we dug around it we also discovered an added line scratched into the bottom of the stone, "In God We Trust".



We straightened the stone and used the new granite stone to prop it so perhaps the cattle grazing in the spring will not do more damage than is already done.


JOHN THOMAS HUDSON
 Born Jan 8 1851 Died Apr 7 1916