REMEMBERING THOSE RELATIVES BURIED AT NEW OAK GROVE CEMETERY

I recently visited the cemeteries where most of our family members are buried, where I took pictures of the family grave markers.  I thought it would be good to have a physical record of the interment sites of all of our family who have died.  The picture-taking journey involved three cemeteries. They are Bennett Cemetery, off of Alabama Highway 195 on Lamon Chapel Road in Walker County; Old Bethel Cemetery near Nauvoo, but in Winston County, Alabama; and New Oak Grove Church Cemetery near Nauvoo.   This is the third post honoring those who are buried in one of these locations, with this post highlighting our loved ones buried at New Oak Grove Cemetery. 

The cemetery is the property of New Oak Grove Freewill Baptist Church, which is located at 531 New Oak Grove Road, Nauvoo, Alabama, 35578.  Of the three cemeteries mentioned in my trilogy post, New Oak Grove is the newest.  This also means that this cemetery only has graves of those who have died during the past 50 years or so.

This cemetery holds its annual decoration in early spring, on the third Sunday of April.   Being a newer cemetery, Decoration Day at New Oak Grove was not a part of our family’s tradition, as the decorations were at Old Bethel and Bennett cemeteries.  Even today, many come to the New Oak Grove cemetery on Saturday preceding the designated Sunday to place their flowers.

New Oak Grove Cemetery is the resting place for members of both my mother’s family and my father’s family.  Mother’s parents, Clanton and Nancy Manasco, are buried in this cemetery, as well as Mother’s sister, Hazel Manasco Montgomery and her husband, Bill Montgomery.  Mother’s brother, Jack Manasco, and his wife, La Wanda, are also  buried there. The purpose of this post is to highlight only those of the John Wesley Virgil Kilgore lineage and of his wife, our grandmother, Sarah Noles Kilgore.

New Oak Grove Church was the home church for Papa and Granny Kilgore.  In the early days before I was born, a public school met at the church.  All the community events centered around the church and the school. Besides the worship services held twice a month, and the Sunday Schools held every Sunday, there were the annual two -week revivals and the special singing schools held during the summer months.

The church had a strong influence on the lives of Papa Kilgore’s children and grandchildren.  It was the place that some in our family found their spouses.  The church meetings provided a way to court the one who caught one’s eye and captured one’s heart.  Such was the case for Lois Kilgore and Carl McKeever, as well as Cecil Kilgore and Beatrice Manasco.

 New Oak Grove should not be underestimated for the influence the church had on the lives of our family. It was a part of my formative years.  I made a personal commitment to Christ at the church, as did many of the cousins who attended there.  Three Southern Baptist ministers from our family alone can claim New Oak Grove’s influence in their personal lives as children and teenagers. They are Rev. Ron McKeever, Dr. Joe McKeever, and yours truly, Rev. Johnny Kilgore. 

Some family members are active members of the church presently, including my mother, Beatrice E. Kilgore, and the Phelps family members.  The church has been so gracious to the Kilgore Cousins Reunion by allowing us, for the last few years, to hold our family reunion there.  This allowed us to have air conditioning and restroom facilities not presently available at Papa and Granny Kilgore’s farm place location. 

We have dear loved ones who have been buried in the cemetery as recently as this year, 2012.  They are my wonderful father, Cecil Kilgore who died at 91 years of age, and my aunt, Lois Kilgore McKeever who died at  95 years old.  They were the last surviving children of John W. and Sarah Kilgore, our grandparents.  Aunt Lois is buried next to her husband, Carl J. McKeever.  I honor both of these two special loved ones now by showing photographs of their grave markers.

During the last months before Daddy passed away, he talked to me about taking care of his grave’s foot marker.  I think he knew that the time of his death was drawing near.  Daddy told me what he wanted on the marker, and he had me repeat these instructions back to him to make sure it was just as he said. During the week following Daddy’s funeral, I went to the Veterans Administration in Jasper and applied for the bronze foot marker with the wording Daddy asked for.  The VA acted in a very timely manner, and we had the marker within five days.  It was delivered to the Kilgore-Green funeral home, and Pat Schubert Kilgore picked it up and brought it to Mother’s.  There was a problem with the marker however.   Daddy’s birth year was incorrect.  I returned to the VA to have the correction made.   Phone calls were made and additional paper work was submitted for another marker.  It too came back very quickly with the corrections made. My brother Mike picked it up and later I took the marker to a monument place in Carbon Hill, and they attached it to a slab of granite, which Daddy had previously purchased.  With all the problems we had with this marker, I have a special sense of pride that Daddy’s last wishes were carried out.  The end result is the photograph you see now.   

 

I have featured the location of Granny Kilgore’s grave and that of three of her siblings in my two previous posts.  This post will list the remaining siblings, with the exception of Granny’s oldest sibling, Philena (“Lena”) Viola Roxyann Noles Williams (1870-1938), who is buried at Old Pisgah Cemetery in Carbon Hill, Alabama.  Granny Kilgore has two brothers buried at New Oak Grove.  One of the brothers is William S. Noles, who was born, February 7, 1879 and died July 5, 1972.  His wife, Virgin Morris Noles, is buried next to him.  She was born October 18, 1888 and died June 3, 1971.   They have many of their children buried near by.  For us who are grandchildren of Sarah Noles Kilgore, the William Noles children would be our second cousins.  There are a multiple numbers of gravestones in the New Oak Grove Cemetery where the family name of Noles is inscribed.  Because the purpose of this article is to feature those of Kilgore lineage, these distant cousins’ graves will not be shown.  I honor Granny Kilgore’s brother, William and his wife, by showing a photograph of their grave.

One of Granny Kilgore’s brothers, Claud Noles, who had a home place just down from the church, is the other brother buried at New Oak Grove.   Claud Dabner Noles was born July 1, 1989 and died April 10, 1968.  His wife, Ada L. Manasco Noles, is buried next to him.  Ada was born August 1, 1894 and died April 17, 1977.  I honor Claud and Ada by showing this photograph of their headstone.

  

As we all know, death is not a respecter of age.  This is truly evident as we have two from our family who died at a rather young age and are buried at New Oak Grove.  My first cousin, Charles Wayne McKeever, better known as Tog when he was a boy, died April 8, 2006.  Tog and I were born the same year, 1944, but he was born nine months earlier than I was, resulting in a year’s difference in school.   He always watched out for me during those formative school years, especially during the time we children changed from attending Poplar Springs Elementary School to attending the much larger Double Springs Elementary School.  Charles was only 62 years old at the time of his death.  I honor him now by displaying a photograph of his headstone.

Within the same family, Charles (Tog) McKeever’s son, Russell Phillip McKeever, died at the young age of 41 on April 22, 1010.  Russell was born September 12, 1968.   I honor him now with a photograph of his gravestone.

New Old Grove Cemetery in the future will be the home of other Kilgore children.  It is the site where my mother will be buried, and where my wife, Pat and I have chosen to be buried.  It is a beautiful site on top of a ridge overlooking the green, lush land below.  

I sign off now as we remember the relatives who are buried at New Oak Grove Cemetery.

Johnny Kilgore    

REMEMBERING PAPA KILGORE AND FAMILY BURIED AT BENNETT CEMETERY

"Another link is broken in our beloved band.  Another chain is forming in a better land."

Recently my mother, Beatrice  Manasco Kilgore, and I visited the cemeteries where most of our family members are buried: Bennett Cemetery, off of Alabama Highway 195 on Lamon Chapel Road in Walker County; Old Bethel Cemetery near Nauvoo, but in Winston County, Alabama; and New Oak Grove Church Cemetery near Nauvoo.   This is the second of three posts honoring those who are buried in these three sacred sites.  This post spotlights our loved ones buried at Bennett Cemetery.

Bennett Cemetery has been a special burial site for the Kilgore family for years.  It is where our grandparents, John Wesley Virgil Kilgore and Sarah Louiza Martha Tabitha Noles Kilgore are buried. 

Photograph of Papa Virge and Granny Kilgore

I recently wrote about my Uncle Johnie who died in 1939 and my baby brother who died at birth in 1943, both of whom are buried at Bennett Cemetery. That post is found at the following link.

http://kilgorecousins.blogspot.com/2012/07/remembering-johnie-thomas-kilgore.html

Headstone of Johnie Kilgore

Grave Marker of Infant Son
of Cecil and Beatrice Kilgore

During my childhood years, our annual visit for Decoration Day on the third Sunday in May to Bennett Cemetery was a special day for all the living to honor their loving dead.  But it was more than that.  It was a reunion. 

Some of the Kilgore family on Decoration Day
Granny Kilgore is on the far left

It was a family celebration.  It was a wonderful time when everyone made a special effort to show up, no matter how far they had to travel.   There were the Chadwicks and the McKleroys who lived in Birmingham, Alabama.  There were the Spains who lived near Guntersville, Alabama, There were those who lived in the Muscle Shoals area:  Sis and Jerdy Romans and the Herbert Kilgore family.  The Sherers and the Gordons did not have to travel far because they resided in and around Jasper, Alabama.  And of course, there are the three families who lived close to the old home place: the Grady Kilgore family, the Cecil Kilgore family, and the Carl McKeever family. 

Men and boys dressed up in suits and ties.  The women and girls dressed in their newest dresses, accessorized with hats, purses, and heels.  It truly was the 1950s in every sense of the word.  It’s great to look at some of the old family photographs taken on Decoration Day during that era.   They capture all the fun and meaning of the occasion, but not to the degree it is captured in our memories.  Love of family was in full bloom and displayed by the hugs, handshakes, and playful conversation throughout the day.  Beautiful flower sprays rested on the graves in vibrant colors of reds, purples, pinks, yellows, and greens.  In the early days, many of the flowers were “homemade,” taking hours to create and then designed into extraordinary wreaths to make more beautiful the cemetery grounds.

Since those early days, we have seen more and more family members buried in Bennett Cemetery.  It is a beautiful cemetery that is maintained through a trust.  The tombstones are perfectly aligned, and the grounds are well kept.   Though it is a small country cemetery, it is maintained to the same degree that many larger city cemeteries are.  We are fortunate that many of our loved ones are buried in a community near the old home place, and in such a serene setting.  I heard Daddy say one time that Papa Kilgore would have probably chosen to be buried at New Oak Grove Church if there had been a cemetery at the time of his death.  Personally, I think there is a wonderful cohesiveness in the fact that he is buried in the same cemetery as his parents. 

Papa Virge Kilgore's Father and Mother, William (Bill) and Cordelia
Photograph taken in 1906

The oldest family members buried in Bennett Cemetery are Papa Virge Kilgore’s father, mother, and stepmother.  They are buried in the older section of the grounds.  The first to die was Papa Kilgore’s mother, Cordelia Townley Kilgore.  Papa Virge was 38 years old when his mother died. She died in 1912 at the age of 60 years old.  Papa Virge Kilgore’s father remarried after Cordelia’s death to a much younger woman, Alice Kilgore.  Alice was 32 years her husband’s junior, which meant that she was three and half years younger than Papa Kilgore.  She died in March 1931 at the age of 47 years old.  Papa Virge’s father, William (“Bill”) Malcolm Kilgore died 5 months later on the 12^th of August 1931.   He was 79 years old when he died.   In their honor I show photographs of their gravestones.

Headstone of William (Bill) Kilgore

Newer Foot Marker for William Kilgore

          

     

Headstone for Cordelia Kilgore

Newer Added Foor Marker
of Cordelia Kilgore

Headstone for Alice Kilgore

Newer Added Footstone of Alice Kilgore

I have already mentioned the patriarch and matriarch of our family, John Wesley Kilgore and Sarah Noles Kilgore.  Papa Kilgore died on Christmas Day in 1949.  He was a hard working resourceful gentleman, highly respected by all.  I can recall his body lying in state in their farmhouse home.  A great deal of living took place in that home after Papa Kilgore died, as children and grandchildren lived or stayed overnight with Granny Kilgore from 1950 until her death in 1963.  Granny died the 2^nd of February 1963 in the home of Carl and Lois McKeever, two days prior to her 80^th birthday.  There are many  memories and stories from those care-giving moments from all those who stayed with Granny through the years.  In honor of Papa and Granny Kilgore, I show a photograph of their tombstone now.

Head Gravestone of our Papa and Granny Kilgore

 Now there are children and spouses who are laid to rest in Bennett Cemetery who were alive in the 50s and were active participants of those early decoration days.  We certainly miss them all.  In their honor I show photographs of their gravestones now.

There is Lou Etta (“Sis”) Kilgore Romans, born October 31, 1906.  Sis died April 10, 1986.

Head Gravestone for Aunt Sis

There is  youngest of Papa and Granny Kilgore's children, Lorene Kilgore McKleroy, born December 29, 1923. Lorene  died July 18, 2007.  Her husband, Ordis died March 7, 2012.  He was born January 22, 1923. 

Head Gravestone for Papa Kilgore's youngest,
Lorene and her husband, Ordis McKleroy

What many of us may not know is that all of Papa Kilgore’s siblings are buried at Bennett Cemetery, with the exception of Uncle George (wife’s name was Tula) and Uncle Fred.  In addressing my great aunts and great uncles, I would preface their first names with the title of aunt or uncle.   There was Aunt Timmie, Aunt Creel, Aunt Minnie, Aunt Cora, and Uncle George.  

Visiting any of Papa Kilgore’s siblings was not a frequent happening. But when we did, I knew it was something special because of their warm welcome.  I honor those siblings and their spouses now, as I show you the photographs of their tombstones.

First there is Papa Kilgore’s oldest sister, Timmie Scott Kilgore Bennett.  Aunt Timmie was born in 1877 and died in 1961.  She is buried next to her first husband, Tildon Jones Bennett, who was born in 1877 and died 1909.  I recall Aunt Timmie being one spunky tiny individual who loved to dip her snuff.  I just loved to be around her because she was a loving person and very gifted.  I can recall her making rugs by hand out of old fabric scraps.  They were beautiful throw rugs.  Aunt Timmie loved life.  Thinking of her now reminds me of the character Granny in the Beverly Hillbillies television show.   Aunt Timmie was short in stature, but a giant of a lady—bubbly and full of life.   She had a very distinctive vibrant voice.

Headstone of Papa Kilgore's sister,
Timmie Scott Bennett

Minnie Lee Kilgore Lawson was born July 18, 1884 and died October 27, 1952.  She was married to John Richard Lawson, Jess Lawson’s brother.  Richard was born November 10, 1878 and died July 1941.  It might be interesting to note that Richard and Minnie married March 2, 1902 at her parents’ home in Walker County, Alabama. 

Headstone of Papa Kilgore's sister,
Minnie Lawson

Headstone of Minnie's husband,
Richard Lawson

Papa Kilgore’s sister, our Aunt Creel, was born in 1889 and died in 1969.  She is buried next to her husband, George H. Short, our Uncle Homer.  Homer was born in 1884 and died in 1956. I can vividly recall the Poplar Springs Grocery, which was owned and operated by Aunt Creel and Uncle Homer.

Head Tombstone for Aunt Creel and Uncle Homer

Foot Marker of Papa Kilgore's sister,
Creelie Short (Aunt Creel)

Foot Marker for Aunt Creel's husband,
Homer Short

The last sibling buried at Bennett Cemetery is one of three brothers Papa Kilgore had.  Milner C. Kilgore was born February 18, 1891 and died October 15, 1964.  His wife, our Aunt Cora, is buried next to him.  Cora was born August 22, 1895 and died October 26, 1979.

Head Gravesteon for Papa Virge Kilgore's brother,
Uncle Milner and his wife, Aunt Cora

Some of the older Kilgore cousins may have some memorable stories of Papa Virge Kilgore’s brothers and sisters.  It would be wonderful if they could be shared for our legacy’s sake.  I do know that all were strong in character, conservative in their way of life, and deep in their devotion to each other and their God. 

Johnny Kilgore

REMEMBERING GRANNY KILGORE'S RELATIVES BURIED AT OLD BETHEL

Recently my mother and I visited the cemeteries where most of our family members are buried: Old Bethel Cemetery near Nauvoo, but in Winston County, Alabama; Bennett Cemetery on Lamon Chapel Road in Walker County; and the newer cemetery at New Oak Grove Freewill Baptist Church near Nauvoo.   This is the first of three posts honoring those who are buried in those three sacred places.  This post spotlights our loved ones buried at Old Bethel Cemetery.

It had been a long time since I had been to Old Bethel.  The grounds’ appearance was despairingly lacking--not well kept at all.  The old church was still standing, but an active congregation has not met there for years.  Even in the early days, I believe the building only existed as a gathering place for the first Sunday in May, better known as Decoration Day.  Decoration Day is a cultural event, characteristic of North Alabama, but not of the entire state.  As a child, I thought everyone had decoration days.  Not until I lived outside the region did I discover that that was not the case.

Those were the days.  It was a special time when the family and extended family—aunts, uncles, and cousins-- got together, dressed to the hilt with new finery, new shoes, new everything.  We remembered loved ones who had gone on before us.   But to the children, it was a celebration time—running and playing with the other cousins-- a time to have fun.  For the most part, as children, we did not have personal knowledge of those whose graves had beautiful flower arrangements placed at the foot of their headstones.  For us, it was the experience of just getting together.  It was like a reunion.  It was also an all-day singing with “dinner on the ground.”  As children, we loved the dinner part because it meant an abundance of meats, vegetables, and desserts, which we normally did not have at our daily dinner table at home.  And “the dinner on the ground” part was literally true.  The dinner was spread out on a big quilt or multiple tablecloths placed on the ground where all kinds of food were displayed, and enjoyed by all who contributed to the common spread.  It was always an unbelievable feast.

Through the years, Decoration Day, as I knew it, has  “gone with the wind.”   Many come now on the Saturday before the first Sunday in May.  There is no reunion, no seeing old acquaintances, no common meal, no singing.  Our children can only hear stories of how it was growing up during those years when we experienced Decoration Day.   Old Bethel was the first of multiple decorations we would go to as a family. As I visit the old country cemetery now, my soul cries out for those special moments from our past, which are long gone.  What a joyous time it was.  At the same time, I say, “This is the day the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

So, in my recent visit, I took pictures of the tombstones in order to have a record of our relatives’ sacred sites.  Hopefully, this pictorial record will help us remember them, and their relationship to us.

Many of my relatives buried in Old Bethel Cemetery are from my mother’s side of the family—the Manasco and Buttram families.  But for this writing, I am featuring those who are part of the Kilgore lineage through Sarah Louisa Martha Tabitha Noles —our Granny Kilgore.

Granny Kilgore’s father is Thomas Louis Noles, born October 6, 1844 in Georgia.  He died February 23, 1924, and was buried the following day at Old Bethel Cemetery.  He was the son of Samuel Noles and Sarah (“Sallie”) Robertson.  At the time of Grandpa Noles’ death, Grady Kilgore would have been 19 years old.  Sis would have been 17 years old.  Dolly would have been 16, Ruby, 12, Johnie, 10, Lois, 7, Ruth, 5, my Daddy, Cecil, almost 3, and Lorene, 2 months old.  They all were very young when he died.   Regretably, I know nothing about him.  Perhaps others who read this might have some stories that have been passed down through the family.  It would be great to know of those stories.  But I do honor Great Grandpa Noles now as I post this photograph of his  tombstone located in Old Bethel Cemetery in Winston County, Alabama.

Granny Kilgore’s mother is Martha Jane King Noles, born December 31, 1842 in Walker County, Alabama. She died December 15, 1940.  She was the daughter of William M. King and Elizabeth Rushing.  She is buried next to her husband at Old Bethel.  I honor her now as you see the photograph of her tombstone.

Thomas and Martha Jane Noles had seven children.  Of those seven, three of Granny Kilgore’s siblings are buried at Old Bethel.  

The oldest sibling buried there is Leibert “Leab” Benjamin Noles, born September 10, 1872.  He died October 29, 1955.  He was ten years older than Granny Kilgore.  L.B. married twice in his life.  His first wife was Manerva Jane (“Nervie”) Edgil whom he married May 19, 1898 in the home of Joseph Edgil, Nervie’s father. Their marriage only lasted nine years due to her early death on September 30, 1907.  L. B. remarried the following year (September 19, 1908) to Susan M. (“Maggie”) Mathews at Old Union Church in Winston Co., Alabama.  She died February 1938.  In his honor, I now display the photograph of his tombstone.

The next oldest sibling of our Granny Kilgore is Mary Emma “Mudder” Noles, born July 1876.   She died January 1, 1953.  She is almost 7 years older than Granny.  Mudder married Joseph “Jo” Morris on March 1, 1894 at her father’s home in Walker County.  Mudder’s husband, Jo, was born November 6, 1869 and died January 9, 1895, a year after their marriage.   I honor Granny’s sister now by displaying the photograph of the footstone of her grave located at Old Bethel Cemetery.

 Granny Kilgore’s other sibling who is buried at Old Bethel is her younger brother by three years, Joseph (“Joe”) John Henry Noles, born April 23, 1886 near Nauvoo, in Winston County.  Joe married Margaret Geneva Roden on December 17, 1905.   They had been married 55 years at his death, December 1, 1960.  Margaret died November 16, 1973. Both resided in Birmingham, Alabama at the time of their deaths. But both are buried at Old Bethel.  In their honor, I now display the photograph of their tombstone.

Times change and there is no going back to the way things once were.  But there is a time to reflect, to honor, and to remember.  May the legacy of those mentioned in this article live on in our lives and in the lives of our children.

Johnny Warren Kilgore

  

REMEMBERING JOHNIE THOMAS KILGORE

Being one of the younger Kilgore first cousins, I have always been enamored with the lore that surrounded my Daddy’s older brother, Johnie Thomas Kilgore.  He must have been a gracious and kind individual, for through the years I have only heard his name spoken with love, reverence and respect.  Dying at age 25, Uncle Johnie has always stayed young in our memory of him. In contrast, Johnie’s siblings lived to experience long, full and productive lives--many living into their 90s.  We, the Kilgore cousins, are part of that heritage. Uncle Johnie died the 29th of March, 1939, five years before I was born.  Recently (this year, 2012), I discovered that  my parents made a conscious decision, when first married and before a family was started, to name their firstborn child, if a boy, after the brother who died so young. Daddy was 17 when his older brother died.  Mother’s and Daddy’s first-born was a boy who did not live at birth.  As was customary in those days, he received no name. The baby is buried at Bennett Cemetery.  His gravestone reads “Infant Son of Cecil and Beatrice Kilgore, November 13, 1943.”  If he had lived he would have been named "Johnie".  When I was born in December of the following year, I received that distinction. The spelling of my first name changed by the time I began first grade to “Johnnie,” and by age 12 to “Johnny.”  But no matter how my name was spelled, I am the namesake of a person I never knew, but always heard of through Granny Kilgore, my parents, and the rest of the family. During the 2012 Kilgore Cousins Reunion, under the old oak trees at Granny Kilgore’s place, we met for the evening around the campfire to have a wiener roast, to fellowship, and to tell stories.  The last story told that evening was by our cousin, Ronald J. McKeever.  He told of Uncle Johnie’s death and shared some details I have never heard before.   I asked Ron to write down what he shared that night for this blog post.  Uncle Johnie is an “unknown soldier” to many in our family.  He is certainly part of the mystique found in our family history.  This is the story Ron told us, and has now written for us. Our uncle Johnie died in 1939 as a result of a motorcycle accident in Shelby County.  I faintly remember him giving us sticks of gum when he would come home to visit.  He was employed at Bayliss Machine and Welding in Birmingham and usually rode the bus every other week to visit with his parents, our Grandpa and Granny Kilgore.  He was with a man and his girlfriend, on the motor, when it crashed.  He spent a couple of weeks in the hospital, in and out of a coma, until he passed.  During the early 60's, I had a deacon who came from the Helena area where the accident occurred and I mentioned it to him.  He remembered visiting the wreck area as a 12 year old to see what happened.  He carried me to the place, which has since been paved.  It was a dirt road and the accident happened on a curve.  I mentioned this to Mom (Lois Kilgore McKeever) about visiting the place and she shared some other information with me.  It seems that Johnie was the only one hurt in the wreck.  During the time in the hospital, he would moan, “They took my money”.  Strangely, his wallet was never found.  Mom remembered some of the family who visited him mentioning that he said, “They hit me”.  More than 70 years ago, there would not have been the forensic testing to determine if this was a crime since there were two witnesses who said that  it was a wreck.  Both walked away...Johnie died.  No way to prove it, but it seems to have been the thought that Johnie did not die from the accident.  Only God knows for sure.  I never visit Johnie's grave but that I wonder if there were other circumstances surrounding his death.  I know this much. He was much loved by his family, especially by the girls since he was their protector...drove the school bus...and loved his mom and dad.  So sad... Ron McKeever I thank Ron for sharing this story with us at the reunion and now on the Kilgore Cousins blog.  Uncle Johnie’s grave at Bennett Cemetery is next to those of  John W. and Sarah Kilgore, our grandparents.  As a young child, I was always fascinated with Uncle Johnie’s tombstone.   It was different from all the others in the cemetery.   There is a picture of Uncle Johnie imprinted on a white porcelain oval attached in the middle of his headstone. Anyone walking by can see how Uncle Johnie looked—always young and handsome.  He is immortalized as such to all of us who never knew him.  His life will live on in our memory and now in this story.  At the bottom of Uncle Johnie's head gravestone are the words, "another link is broken in our beloved band...another chain is forming in a better land..."   As of this writing that chain is complete because Johnie's parents and all his brothers and sisters now reside in that heavenly land.  For that we rejoice! I sign off now as Johnny Warren Kilgore, named after my uncle Johnie and my Father, Cecil Warren Kilgore who joined that chain this past April 2012.  What a legacy these two left as I bear the proud name of KILGORE. Johnny Kilgore, eldest son of Cecil Kilgore

THE STORY OF THE BEST NEST

 

Recently we had a bird build a nest in the most precarious location.  And where would that be?  In a grapevine wreath on the front door of the Kilgore home at 311 35^th Ave., NE, Birmingham, Alabama.  I made the decorative wreath to embellish my office door when I was on staff at Ridgecrest Baptist Church as Associate Pastor in the areas of music and senior adults.  After retirement I brought the wreath home and relocated it to the front door of our home.  This Spring a small wren surprised me with a beautiful decorative touch to the front door wreath—a bird’s nest with four speckled eggs.

The nest itself was truly an amazing work of art.  It was so well camouflaged that the nest was completed before I even knew it was there.  I have had birds build nests in the hanging ferns and in the shrubbery nearby, but never on a door.  What a surprising discovery to find this uninvited touch of nature showing up at our front door and so beautifully displayed.   It came to mind that this was not the best location for any bird’s nest, but it was an interesting situation.  I guess the bird saw it differently.

That nest reminded me of a child’s book I read to Lee Beth and John Mac as children, entitled “The Best Nest.”  It was written by P. D. Eastman and published by Random House, Inc.  The reason I enjoyed reading this simple story because it had a song inserted in the text for which I would make up a tune and sing it while reading the story.   The words to the song were “I love my house. I love my nest.  In all the world my nest is best.”

Pictures are as important as words in a children’s book, but I share the story now without the aid of pictures. At times I will add a description in parenthesis to assist the storyline letting your imagination do the rest.  Hope you enjoy this simple profound story.

Mr. Bird was happy.  He was so happy he had to sing.  This was Mr. Bird’s song: “I love my house. I love my nest. In all the world my nest is best!” 

Then Mrs. Bird came out of the house. “It’s NOT the best nest!” she said.  “I’m tired of

this old place,” said Mrs. Bird. “I hate it. Let’s look for a new place right now!”

So they left the old place to look for a new one.  “This place looks nice,” said Mr. Bird. “Let’s move in here.” (picture a tall tree with a hole in the trunk.)  But somebody else had already moved in. 

So they looked at another house.  “This one looks nice,” said Mr. Bird. (picture a large old high-top shoe or a boot).  “And there’s nobody in it.”  “You’re wrong,” said Mrs. Bird. “This house belongs to a foot!”

So they went on looking.  “I like this one,” said Mr. Bird.  “It has a pretty red flag on the roof.” (picture a mail box)  “I’ve always wanted a house with a flag,” said Mrs. Bird.  “Maybe this place will be all right.”  But it was not all right! (picture letters being  placed in the box by the mailman) “I guess I made a mistake,” said Mr. Bird.

“You make too many mistakes,” said Mrs. Bird.  “I’m going to pick the next house.  And here it is---right here!” (picture a church staple and bell tower)  They flew in.  They looked around.  “Isn’t it too big?” asked Mr. Bird.  “I like this big place,” said Mrs. Bird.  “This is the place to build our new nest.” 

They went right to work.  They need many things to build their nest.  First they got some hay.  They got some soda straws and broom straws.  They got some sweater string. They got some stocking string and mattress stuffing.  They got some horsehair.  They got some man hair.  Soon they had all the hay, all the straw, all the string, all the stuffing, all the horsehair, and all the man hair they could carry.  They took it all back to build their nest.

Mr. & Mrs. Bird worked very hard.  It took them the rest of the morning to finish their nest.  “This nest is really the best!” said Mrs. Bird.  “I want to stay here forever.”  Mr. Bird was very happy too.  He flew to the top of his house.  He sang his song again: “I love our house. I love our nest. In all the world our nest is best!”

He was so busy singing.  He didn’t even see Mr. Parker coming.  Every day at twelve o’clock, Mr. Parker came to the church.  Mr. Parker came to pull a rope.  The rope went up to the Birds’ new nest.  The rope rang the big bell right under Mrs. Bird’s nest.  Mrs. Bird got out of there as fast as she could fly.

When Mr. Bird came in, all he could see was a mess of hay and string and stuffing and horsehair and man hair and straws.  Where was Mrs. Bird?  “I will look for her until I find her,” said Mr. Bird.  He looked high.  He looked low.  He looked everywhere for Mrs. Bird.  He looked down into a chimney.  But Mrs. Bird wasn’t there.  He looked down into a water barrel.  (picture horses around a water barrel) But Mrs. Bird wasn’t there.

Then he saw a big fat cat.  There was a big fat smile on the fat cat’s face.  There were some pretty brown feathers near the fat cat’s mouth.  Mr. Bird began to cry.  “Oh, dear!” he cried.  “This big fat cat has eaten Mrs. Bird!”

Mr. Bird flew off.  “I’ll never see Mrs. Bird again,” he cried.  It was getting dark.  It began to rain.  It rained harder and harder.  Mr. Bird could not see where he was going.

Crash!  Mr. Bird bumped into something!  It was his old house---that old, old house that Mrs. Bird hated.  “I’ll go inside,” said Mr. Bird.  “I’ll rest here until the rain stops.”

Mr. Bird went in.  And there was Mrs. Bird!  Sitting here, singing!  “I love my house. I love my nest.  In all the world this nest is best.” 

“You! Here!” gasped Mr. Bird.  “I thought you hated this old nest!”

Mrs. Bird smiled.  “I used to hate it,” she said.  “But a mother bird can change her mind.  You see there’s no nest like an old nest for a brand-new bird!” (picture a small egg in the  nest)

And when the egg popped open, the new bird thought so too! (THE END)

Now back to the bird’s nest in the wreath on my front door.  When the wren first built the nest integrating it with the wreath decor, there was debris on the floor of the porch left from the nest building.  I noticed the debris a day before I discovered the nest, and could not understand what happened to cause such a mess.  I had no explanation.  The nest was difficult to see because the nest’s construction incorporated the colors in the wreath.  It blended in so well--colors of brown straw, sticks, brown leaves, feathery brown stuff from early spring tree foliage, and soft green and yellowish moss.  It also was a deep nest much like a funnel as it rested against our dark red door.  The nest was also built next to a decorative musical symbol, a treble clef sign made of Mother of Pearl for which I had hot-glued when the wreath was made to go on my office door. 

At first I thought the nest-building bird had left the nest and moved to a new location.  There were no eggs in the nest and no sign of the bird builders. Because of that, I purchased some artificial birds and placed them around the nest to make an additional decorative statement.  I place one of the artificial birds in the opening of the deep nest and one in the bottom of the wreath away from the nest.  The next day I noticed that the “fake”  bird in the nest opening had moved a little.  How can that be?  I moved it closer into the nest.  Later on in the day, I noticed again that the artificial bird had moved from the opening.  My conclusion was there were birds planning to use the nest as their home.  I removed one of the artificial birds leaving the nest opening accessible. 

In a day or two I noticed a feathery mother bird sitting deep in the nest with her feathers somewhat fluffed up as she sat motionless. She blended so well inside the nest that it was difficult to see her.  She would fly away when my wife, Pat and I went in and out of the front door.  I soon saw four spotted white and brown eggs deep within the nest.  After a few days the mother wren got used to the door opening and closing, and she would remain on her nest as we went back and forth through the door.  There was one big exception!! If you looked straight at the nest with her eyes wide open looking straight at you, she would come out of her nest quickly and fly to the nearest dogwood tree.  Then she would make a continuous chirping sound.

I only noticed one bird around the nest, making me wonder if there might be two working in shifts.  To my untrained eye, it would be difficult to distinguish between Mr. Bird and Mrs. Bird.  Eventually, a spider web appeared over the nest as a canopy.  I thought how appropriate that nature handiwork continues and maybe even furnish food for the future little ones.  But as days turned into weeks and weeks into a month, there were still no baby birds.  But Mrs. Bird was faithful to sit on the nest all day, only to leave a very short period early in the morning. At this point I was fearful that the eggs would not hatch because of the time frame since they were laid.  We probably disturbed the mother bird to often in those early days of nesting, resulting in the eggs not incubating. 

   

Mrs. Bird must have gotten the message too because she has not been seen for a few days now.  All that remains is the beautifully constructed nest and four tiny unhatched eggs.  This is not as nature intended it to be.  But what do you expect when you build a nest on the front door.   I plan to preserve the nest and its eggs as a reminder of the good fortune and blessings of God on our home.  There is one important lesson from all this—it is important where you build your nest.

From my nest to yours, I hope that you can sing, “I love my house, I love my nest, in all the world my nest is best.”  I challenge you to build your nest on the SOLID ROCK OF CHRIST, and not on the revolving door of this world.  And stay faithful for HE is faithful.

Johnny Kilgore

REFLECTIONS ON KILGORE COUSINS REUNION 2012

The anticipation of some happening many times  is more a high than the actual event.  But in the case of our Kilgore Cousins Reunion this year, I find that not to be the case.  With all the planning, promotion, and looking forward to the gathering,  the reunion itself was a wonderful heart-warming event--a highlight experience.

I truly enjoyed all the work that went into the event.   The mail outs, e-mails, Facebook messages, the work around the Kilgore Farm, and the preparation at New Oak Grove Church, were only a small part of the effort that made the reunion a success.   The relatives traveling from all over our nation to meet in Nauvoo, Alabama certainly is the main thing that made the reunion the success it was.  There are many people to thank who helped me big time.  I'm fearful to make a list in fear of leaving someone out, but here goes:

I am appreciative to the following for their personal help with our reunion:

New Oak Grove Freewill Baptist Church and its pastor, Rev. Mickey Crane; my brothers, Mike and Ricky Kilgore for cutting the grass and bush hogging around the old Kilgore Farm;  my wife, Pat who helped me set up the Fellowship Hall for the gathering, helped with registration, and entertained the children as part of the program;  Linda Kilgore, Mike's wife and my sister, Rebecca for helping with registration; my borther, Ricky's wife, Pat, who got the food ready to serve as it came in; Sammy Carter and Patrick Connell for taking care of the drinks; Joe McKeever for sketching peoples images;  Ron McKeever for being part of the program and talking; Jeremy Allen and Natalee Briscoe's boyfriend, John for taking family picture group shots; Mike Kilgore for cooking all the wieners for the evening cookout; all you who brought food for the noon luncheon and the evening cookout; James Phelps for furnishing his grill and chairs; my mother for furnishing chairs and table for the evening cookout;  for all who gave to the three special offerings (decoration flower fund, reunion costs, and New Oak Grove offering) generously.  THANK YOU, ONE AND ALL. 

As chairman of the Kilgore Cousins Reunion, I wish to make a reporting of the finances to let everyone know what costs were incurred and where your gifts went to.  This paragraph is devoted to that end.

My cost were as follows:
           Directional Signs (6 two sided signs)          $76.90
           Name Tags and Sharpie Pens                        16.48
           Stamps for Post Card Mailing (2 times)         39.36
           *Kilgore Lineage Printout                              45.91
           Torches & Driveway Markers for cookout     39.95
           Cookout Drinks, Condiments, paper goods    39.45
           TOTAL                                                       $258.05

Contribution Received                                             $228.00

At the reunion I announced that all my expenses were covered.  The difference in the expense listing then and what is listed above, is the Kilgore Lineage Printout.  I charged $2 per hard copy and had about 8 hard copies left.  The Kilgore Lineage Printout did not appear in my original disclosure, but their cost were placed in the same box with contributions, and therefore, are listed above to reflect your purchase of the printout and of your contribution.  You were very generous to give, and I thank you all.  The church did not charge us any fee for the use of their building and even allowed us to use their paper goods and ice.  This was a big saving.  In response, you  gave an offering of $220.00 to New Oak Grove.  Also you gave over $200 to the flower fund.  This fund goes to purchases flowers for relatives who do not have living children to take care of their graves.  Carolyn McKeever Lampman and Trish McKeever Phelps takes care of this special ministry for our family.   All and all you were so very generous.   Enough about money.

The focus of the reunion was getting together.  We had around 90 people present for the event.  We probably had about half that for the evening cookout.  As one of our relatives stated, there was a big hole because we did not have any of the Chadwicks, Spains, and Gordons.  Though we missed them, for those present, it was a wonderful time of catching up.

I am already anticipating our next reunion which will be Memorial Day weekend, May, 2014.  I plan for  the reunion to be entirely located on the old Kilgore Farm.  There is a need for many things to be done for that to happen. My "wheels" are turning right now in regards to making the reunion new and fresh.  I have requested that you critique this year's gathering and make suggestions for the future.  I've had the following ideas presented as of this writing: an afternoon softball game, a watermelon cutting, doing something with the children again, singing patriotic songs.  Not that we can do all that everyone suggestions, but please don't refrain from telling me your ideas.  With new ideas, involvement from you all will be needed.  Put the event on your long-range calendar right now.  It is a matter of saying, "I plan to come no matter what."  By planning way ahead and anticipating the date, you too can realize that attending the reunion is better than the anticipation of it.  Until then, that is all we have.   Love you.

Johnny Kilgore