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PIGEON HILL CEMETERY

aka Oak Grove Cemetery

est. 1872

 

 

Located in Union County, Arkansas just off of State Hwy.63 (used to be Hwy.15

that ran from El Dorado to Moro Bay) & northwest of Moro Bay State Park which is

located on the east side of the Ouachita River, while the cemetery is on the

west side of the Ouachita River, along Pigeon Hill Landing Road. The road is

now named Oak Grove Road and the Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, est. 2001,

is located about 300 ft across the road from the cemetery. The church did not

exist until sometime in the 1930's. Although, some refer to the cemetery as the

"Oak Hill Cemetery", because of the church & because they assume responsibility

for maintaining the cemetery.

 

In or about 2002, the cemetery had been cleaned up and surrounded by a chain

link fence. There were only a few marked graves, even though an area of about

2 acres had been cleared and fenced in. According to the history of the cemetery

there were originally five acres used for the cemetery.*See attached article

concerning the history of this cemetery. Inventoried first time on October 31, 2002.

 

New survey April 11, 2012: I revisited this cemetery to do a final update.

Many improvements have been made & there is now a historical sign placed near the

entry gate to the cemetery. There have been several burials there since my last

visit. Posted July 2012.   * Last Updated September 2019

Janice Holzer   JCSH432@gmail.com

 

     

GEORGE  STUART  BENSON 

9-26-1898   to  12-15-1991

*Born in Dewey County, Oklahoma

*S/of Felix Benson & Erma Rogers Benson

*Md: 7/2/1925, 1st wife, Sallie Ellis Hockaday (died 1981)

*Father of two daughters (names unknown)

*Sallie & her husband, George, as newlyweds, journeyed

to China to serve as missionariesfor the Churches of Christ.

They were forced to leave for a period of time, due to a

Communist uprising.  Eventually, they

returned & starting the Canton Christian/Bible School.

*Sallie was helpmate to her husband, who became

the head of Harding College in Arkansas.

*Md: 2/22/1983, Marguerite O'Banion (She had been

his secretary for over 40 years.

*George was the 2nd president of Harding College.

(now known as Harding University)

George is best recalled as a 'Crusader against Communism.'

*He founded the National Education Program (NEP) at Harding.

This organization was designed to promote American values

along with the free enterprise system.  In the 1950's, Benson

wrote a weekly column "Looking Ahead". Published in over

4,000 newspapers.  *He spoke on a weekly radio program

"Land of the Free", carried on 300 stations (1950's)

*Arkansas Democrat Sunday Magazine chose Benson  as  "Arkansas

Man of the Year" (1953)  Oklahoma Christian College asked

Benson to serve as Chancellor in 1957.  Benson retired in

April 1965. *Remained the President of the NEP.

*He took on the contruction of Christian Schools & a

Christian Junior College in Zambia, Africa,  Inducted into

Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1972. Benson was nominated for

the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981.

This biography info was by humbly presented by

Audrey Burtrum-Stanley / Arkansas.

*Some say George Benson is not buried in this (aka) Oak

Grove Cemetery  / known as Pigeon Hill Cemetery.

They support that he is buried at OAK GROVE CEMETERY,

Searcy, White County, Arkansas  It is definitely more

reasonable to believe he is buried in this cemetery,

since he spent most of his adult life in the area of

where this cemetery is located.  No marker.

SALLIE  ELLIS  HOCKADAY  BENSON

*Died   Dec 1981

*Wf/of  George Stuart Benson

*Benson & his wife returned to the US to head Harding College.  The

school was over $80,000 in debt.  Benson went to area businesses

for help, presenting a three point message of: (1) Faith in God;

(2) Constitutional Government  (3) Free Enterprise System.  The

debt was paid off in 1939.

GLENN  ALBERT  BLACK (68)

7-12-1945    to   9-11-2013 *OB

*S/of Ora Iberia Lockwood (1918-2003) &  Albert Horace Black(1913-1960)  of Urbana.

*Preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Henry Lockwood &

Virdy Lockwood McCormick.

*Pastor-Member of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church. / Auto Mechanic

*Wife of 48 yrs, Dorothy Sue Fife Black

 

RONNIE  BLACK  12-25-1945  to  12-20-2004

*Md:7/14/1965  Betty Jo Black    “Precious Memories”

“I’ll Be Waiting On The Bank Of The Big River In Heaven Drawing Your Picture In The Sand”

&  BETTY JO  BLACK  6-27-1948 (One date)

*Betty shares a double headstone with Ronnie Black.

LULA  BROWN  1-15-1878  (One date)

*From an earlier survey done in 1992-not found in 2012.

HENRY  BUTLER (? b:1835)   died  3-6-1901  (One date)

*Stone broken in 3 pieces.  *Some info from earlier survey in 1992.

*Broken pieces of his tombstone lying amongst other broken tombstones belonging

to Sarepta E. Justice / G.R.J, Gussie Justice & Thomas S. Davis.

 

LUCY  BUTLER (b:1850 not on marker) died  7-21-1921 (One date)

"Presented to  Mother by baby Mollie."

DENISE  LeANNA  CAMERON  2-6-1984  to  2-20-2005

*Daughter of Kenny & Sigrid Cameron;   Sister of Jennie;  Fiance  of Joshua

Adam Fife;   "Her life is eternal.  Though gone she is never forgotten.  After time we

will meet again for death is but another life"

CHRISTINE  FIFE  COX (76)  9-22-1936   to  11-12-2012

*D/of Chester Fife(1913-1968) & Tommie H. Fife (1915-1974)  *OB

Interment under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home, Farmerville, LA

*Preceded in death by her sons, Allen Cox & Chester Ruben, her parents,

& a sister, Bennie Mitchum.

HAYWOOD  DAVIS  10-10-1857  to 11-16-1884

*From an earlier survey done in 1992- not found in 2012.

 

THOMAS  S.  DAVIS  12-17-1863  to  3-6-1892

*Stone broken in 4 pieces. Dates are pretty much illegible

*Broken pieces of his tombstone lying amongst other broken tombstones; others

belonging to Sarepta E. Justice / G.R.J, Gussie Justice .

JUANA  De La  CRUZ    6-24-1932  to  6-23-2008 *OB

*Born in Pichataro Michoacan, Mexico to J Jesus De La Cruz & Magdalena Miguel

*Late husband, Espiridion Gonzalez; *late son, Ricardo Gonzalez;

 *late brother, Tomas De La Cruz 

*Nice  homemade white wooden cross with name & dates painted in black. Age 75.

*Member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church      *Young's Funeral Directors  MM

GERALD  LYNN  DONTJE (72)

1-29-1940 MI   to   4-23-2012 AR *OB

*S/of late  Roger Dontje  &  Marjorie Dontje (1946-2012 MI ) born in Pontiac, Michigan

*US  Navy Veteran     *Husband of  Margaret  Camille Glass   *Md: 3/8/1974

*Preceding him in death, his father, Roger Dontje; son, Joseph Dontje; brother,

Gordon Dontje; sister, Annette Buttema;  grandson, Jordon Frisby.

& MARGARET  CAMILLE  GLASS  DONJE(66)

1-29-1946 El Dorado, AR   to  4-26-2012  *OB

  *D/of  Ocie & Leola Gilbert Glass; *Wife of Gerald Lynn   *Retired LPN

*”We Trust Our Loss Will Be Their Gain And That With Christ They Are Gone To Reign”

 

JOSEPH  IRA "Joe"  DONTJE   

6-27-1973   to  12-22-2008

*S/of Gerald Lynn Dontje (1940-2012) & Margaret Camille Glass Dontje(1946-2012)

*Father of Dyland & Taylor   "Love Illumes The Realms of Night"

     

EDDIE  J. "Booty"  ELLIOTT  

2-5-1947   to  1-6-2006 (Dad)

*Md:3/13/1982   Beverly Joy Shaw

"In the Loving Arms of Jesus"

&  BEVERLY  JOY "Skinney"  SHAW  ELLIOTT (63)

2-23-1948 GA    to   6-19-2011NC

*D/of Ruth & Pierce Shaw. *Died in Greenville, NC. 

*Wife of Eddie J. "Booty" Elliott.  (Mom)

*Member of First Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ in Smackover.

*Preceded in death by her father; her brothers, Charles, Glenn, Tim &

Red Shaw; & her husband, Eddie J. "Booty" Elliott.

*Bailey Funeral Home of El Dorado, AR.

FIFE there is a black marble tombstone marking the Fife Family plot.

Nearby there is a single headstone with only the name FIFE

on it (name area left blank) has an angel etched into granite.


 

CHERYL  ANN  FIFE    11-02-1971  to   6-21-2010

"U  R  My Sunshine"  *No surname given.

 

DANIEL "Spanky"  FIFE (14)  5-7-1984  to  4-8-1999

*S/of Thomas Guy Fife (1962-2016)

 

THOMAS  GUY  FIFE (53)  11-2-1962   to  1-14-2016 *OB

*S/of Sam Leamon Fife & Virginia Gail Hickey Fife

*Grandson of the late Thad & Cordie Fife ~ Thomas Guy & Bernice Hickey Guy

*Perry's Funeral Chapels.

(M.E.)MOSES  EVANS  FRISBY  6-28-1875  to  9-5-1898

*S/of Melissa Hughes Frisby(1819-1915) & William Jesse Frisby(1817-1905)

*Hattie Rosetta Harmon (1868-1936) *1st Md: Moses E. Frisby in 1888 / ?1895  

*Hattie Rosetta Harmon Frisby  *md: 2nd, 1908,  husband, Joseph E.  Beck(1851-1924)

*D/of  Solomon G. Harmon (b: ca 1827 SC) &  Margaret Harmon (b: ca 1835 SC)

*Hattie Rosetta Harmon Frisby Beck is buried

@ New London Cemetery, New London, Union County, AR

*Age 23 yrs-2 mos-5 dys   *Brother-in-law of Charlie Harmon

*F/of  Bessie Lorain Frisby Turbeville(1896-1987)  &  Charlie E. Frisby(1899-1986)

DOYLE  M. GILMORE  2-3-1951  (One date)

&  TEWANA  A. GILMORE   7-16-1943  (One date)

CHARLES  E.  HARMAN  8-5-1857  to  3-15-1923

*H/of Tobitha C. Harman (1877-1913) "He is not dead but sleepeth" (Mason)

TOBITHA  C. HARMAN  10-3-1877  to  5-3-1913                                                                                     

 *Wf/of Charles E. Harman(1857-1923)  "A light from our household is gone.

A voice we loved is stilled,  A place is vacant in our hearts, That never can be filled."

 

GEORGE  HARMAN   1-26-1897  to  6-3-1909

*S/of  L. J. &  M. E. Harman  *Grandson of Solomon & Margaret Harman

"Our darling one hath gone before, To greet us on the blissful shore."

 

SOLOMON  G.  HARMAN   6-17-1826  to  1-7-1884

*H/of Margaret  E. Harman   "Our darling one hath gone before To greet us on the blissful shore."

(Tombstone broken but repaired) *Footstone S.G.H. propped on base of Charles Harman.

MARGARET  E.  HARMAN  9-4-1835   to  1-2-1893

*Wife of  Solomon  G. Harman   *Mother of John W. Harman (1859-1937 0

"Her happy soul has winged it's way, To one pure, bright, eternal day.

" (Tombstone broken but repaired)

(G.R.J.) GUSSIE  R. JUSTICE  3-15-1872  to 12-6-1872

*D/of  R.T. &  Reppie Justice   *Broken, (2012) foot marker G.R.J, amongst rubble

pile of broken tombstones.  Old headstone is still readable in 2012.

"Sleep on sweet baby and take thy rest. God called the home. He thought it best."

 

SAREPTA  E. JUSTICE  4-17-1853  to  3-22-1872

*Wife of  R. T. JUSTICE     *Born in Putnam Co., GA

*Headstone was broken & lying in a pile of other tombstones, when I first saw it.

“Blooming youth as you pass by; As you are now so once was I;

As I am now so you must be; Prepare for death and follow me."

ALESA  SUZONNE "Suzy" TAYLOR  AYRES  KING 

4-18-1964   to   7-8-2008  

*D/of  Bennie Lojie Taylor(1935-2011) & Gladys Keaster Taylor(1950-?)

"Mother"   "Forever In Our Hearts"

MITCEL  KNELL   3-8-1854  to  3-17-1891

*From 1992 survey.

MELISSA  ANN  FIFE  LEE (46)  6-14-1967  to  9-25-2013 *OB

*D/of  late Van Buren (Bill) Fife & Tewana Gilmore Fife (Doyle);  *Wf/of  Butch Lee

COLE  RICHARD  MITCHAM  9-9-2003  to  2-14-2004

*S/of  Collete  &  Kyle  Mitcham

*Grand S/of Earnest F. Mitcham(1927-2008) & Bennie Lee Fife Mitcham(1933-2012)

"Chunky Monkey"    *Photo embedded      "Gone But Not Forgotten

 

EARNEST  ‘FRANKLIN’  MITCHAM(81)  

3-29-1927LA   to   5-12-2008AR

*Born in Laran, Union Parish, Louisiana   *Died Strong, Union Co., AR.

*S/of Ernest T. Mitcham(1902-1983) & Bessie McBroom Mitcham(1909-1999)

*Started working with his father in the logging business when he was 16

years old & he continued in the logging business until his sickness

wouldn't allow him to work anymore.  He also loved the Ouachita River

Bottoms. His favorite pastime was to sit on the banks of the river &

admire its beauty. Loved his family, especially all of his grandchildren.

*Survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Bennie Fife Mitcham

"Father"      *Double Crypt   "Forever With The Lord"     "Mother"    *OB

&  BENNIE  LEE  FIFE  MITCHAM(78)

12-18-1933   to   6-20-2012

*Born in the New London community near Strong, AR

*D/of Chester Fife (1913-1968) & Tommy H. Fife (1915-1974)

*Raised up & down the Ouachita River in Arkansas & Louisiana,

enjoying the life style the river provided.  She hunted & fished &

built the only floating chicken house on the river. Active politically

to saving the river & served on "Save The Ouachita" committee.

*Dedicated to the Baptist faith. Perry's Funeral Chapels

*Wf/of 57 yrs to Earnest Franklin Mitcham(1927-2008)

 

KENNETH  EARL  MITCHAM  10-17-1954  to  4-29-2007

   *Son of Earnest Franklin Mitcham & Bennie Lee Fife Mitcham.

*Md:1/8/1972  Kathy Telano

*On back of black marble tombstone: "Daddys Girls"  "Our Daughters Kim and Kayla

&   KATHY  TELANO  MITCHAM  10-9-1953  (One date)

CASSIE  NEAL   1-15-1878  to  7-14-1878

"Sleep on Sweet Babe"

ELLA  NELSON   11-30-1889  to  2-17-1890

*From 1992 survey.

ROBERT "R.G." NOLAN  12-24-1936 (One date)

*Md:6/4/1955   "Gone But Not Forgotten"

& CAROLYN  S.  NOLAN  2-18-1939  (One date)

*Parents of Terrie-Rickey-Vickie &  Johnny

KATIE  LOU  PERRY 3-20-1933  to 10-21-2009

"Mother"    "Too Well Loved To Ever Be Forgotten"

 

DAN  LESTER  PRATT, JR.(73)   8-29-1935  to 7-6-2009 *OB

*S/of  Don L. Pratt, Sr. & Sally Eunice Pepper Pratt

*Baptist Minister for 49 years./ Retired timber surveyor for Georgia-Pacific in El Dorado.

*Owner of Timberland Saw Co. & Pratt Chainsaw Service.

*A former employee of Stephen Forestry & the Arkansas Forestry Commission

*Pastor of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church for the past 18 years.

*Md:11/3/1975   Ollie Ruth Taylor   "Gone to A Better Land"

Interment in Pigeon Hill Cemetery under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home.

& OLLIE  RUTH  TAYLOR  PRATT  8-17-1935  to  8-2-2005

RANDALL  CLYDE “RANDY” SIMMONS(62) 

4-17-1952    to   2-13-2015

*S/of the late Harry Leslie Simmons & Carrie Sue Hamaker Simmons(1926-1993)

*Randall was born in Warren, AR & died in Libertyville, Lake Co., Illinois.

*Mother, buried McFarland Cemetery, Banks, Bradley Co., AR.

* Attended school in Pine Bluff & Banks, AR; 

*MBA-Bristol University;  BA- Columbia College

*Decorated Chief Warrant Officer with 24 yrs in the U.S. Army.

*Survived by his wife, Terrie Nolan Simmons md: 7/30/1976

*Late brother, Leslie Wayne Simmons, buried Hamburg Cemetery, Ashley Co., AR

BENNIE  LOJIE  TAYLOR (75) 6-28-1935  to  4-3-2011

*S/of  Winfred Powell &  Lou Quincy Powell

*Preceding him in death are his parents & a daughter,

Alesa Suzonne "Suzy" Taylor Ayres King.

*Served as a  Sgt U.S. Marines   

*Md:3/18/1977  Gladys Ann Keaster

 "In Loving Memory"    *Operator of Pigeon Hill Grocery.

& GLADYS  ANN  KEASTER  TAYLOR  4-6-1950  (One date)

      

 

 

In the above photo – just to the right and below the right

lower corner of the sign is a large Angel statue at the grave of

Ronnie Black.

 

 

Arkansas State Hwy. 63 East can be seen in this photo.

 

 

 

Pile of miscellaneous broken tombstone pieces.

 

Across Oak Hill Road toward, the right side of photo is a lawn area

behind the Oak Grove Baptist Church