James Charles “J.C.” PayneWhen I was a kid, I enjoyed seeing my mother’s cousin J.C. park his car at the curb and, clutching a couple of greasy bags, transport his…Dec 24, 20242Dec 24, 20242
Last month, I made a trip to Galen from my home in Dallas, Texas.I grew up hearing stories about Galen — about my grandparents’ neighbors, my grandpa’s sawmill and small grocery store, my mother’s…Nov 21, 2024Nov 21, 2024
DixieIt’s odd enough that the Tucker brothers, Dixie and Charles, were both born in 1893 — one of them in April, the other in December — but…Nov 2, 20241Nov 2, 20241
Ila May’s Big BrotherIn Dallas’ Oakland Cemetery lie a man and a woman whose tombstone elegies speak of everlasting love and an unbreakable bond.Aug 6, 20242Aug 6, 20242
Out of BoundsThe Bounds family headstone in Dallas’s Oakland Cemetery tells a sad story: The small family — a mere trio at a time when families ran…May 20, 20241May 20, 20241
Madame IsabelleIsabelle “Belle” Young Niess claims to have been clairvoyant, having recognized in childhood that she had a gift for prophecy, something a…Apr 22, 2024Apr 22, 2024
RANSOM DESHA LOVEOn February 24, 1877, a column in the Daily Arkansas Gazette noted: “There is a gentleman living in Pope County, in this State, who answers…Dec 19, 20231Dec 19, 20231
Mr. WilburnMy twin brother and I started 4th grade in Schweinfurt, Germany, where our soldier-stepfather was stationed. With only a couple of months…Dec 5, 2023Dec 5, 2023
The DoctorSome might find it creepy, but my family and friends have grown accustomed to my dragging them to cemeteries. Occasionally, I visit a loved…Nov 25, 20231Nov 25, 20231