Oak Grove Cemetery 31709

08/19/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1K3mEWLHp5/

08/18/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BZkWPYDj7/

07/22/2026

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION: Cemetery Responds After Young Headstone Cleaning Business Raises Concerns

A social media post from the family behind Grant County Grime Reaper Marker Cleaning has sparked widespread discussion after they announced they would no longer be cleaning headstones at Marion IOOF Cemetery, formerly known as Estates of Serenity.

The family claimed cemetery officials placed restrictions on the products and methods they could use, required written permission from families before cleaning monuments, and asked them to sign paperwork before continuing. They also expressed concern that the requirements would make it difficult for 12-year-old Cainan to continue the business he started several years ago.

In response, Center Township says the issue was not Cainan’s age or his business, but rather the cemetery’s responsibility to protect historic monuments, ensure proper preservation methods are used, and address liability and safety concerns for anyone performing paid work on cemetery grounds.

According to the township, families are not required to use the cemetery’s cleaning service, and officials say they offered to work with Cainan by providing the cemetery-approved cleaning product at cost and discussing a solution that would allow him to continue.

The township also says any outside cleaning work must be authorized and completed using approved methods to help preserve monuments, some of which are historic and irreplaceable.

At this point, both sides agree a conversation took place, but they have very different interpretations of what happened.

As always, please keep the discussion respectful.

Brought to you by Chuck's Sewer Drain and Plumbing

07/22/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19JbjN97PE/

Our current Camp Commander and Past Commander braved the July heat this morning to trim back the azaleas at our Confederate veterans plot at Oak Grove Cemetery. Camp 78 members planted these azaleas here back in the early 90s and their colorful blooms each spring add to the beautiful landscape of this historic place.

05/24/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1L8D4RmvK6/

05/21/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FfMZWSvG6/

05/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14Z4Ubf22nU/

04/28/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18Chh93D3S/

Our daily tribute to a Confederate veteran of Sumter County Georgia during Confederate History & Heritage Month. Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE to see more stories on our Southern heroes!

Major Henry Kelso Daniel

Henry Kelso Daniel was born in Baldwin County, Ga. in 1838. He was the son of James Kelso Daniel, Jr and Sara Gibson Daniel Duncan. Henry was baptized at eight years of age on Sept 6, 1846 at First Presbyterian Church in Americus, Ga.

On March 4, 1857 he married Miss Mary Elizabeth Myrick in Baldwin, County. Mary was the daughter of Elizabeth Peeples and Stith Parham Myrick of Baldwin County. Mary was a 1853 graduate of Wesleyan Women’s College in Macon, Ga. She was one of three co-founders of Phi Mu women’s fraternity. The couple had four children.

In April 27, 1861 Henry Daniel enlisted as a Private in the Sumter Light Guard. This local company was the first to leave Americus for the front lines in Virginia. The company was mustered into Confederate service on May 2, 1861 in Augusta Ga., as Co K, 4th Reg’t Ga Volunteer Infantry. He was transferred on special duty on May 10, 1861 as Acting Assistant Quartermaster by General George Doles. On July 19, 1861 Daniel was commissioned as the 4th Ga Regimental Assistant Quartermaster with rank of Captain. On April 30, 1863 he was promoted to Brigade Quartermaster for the Doles-Cook Brigade with rank of Major dating to Dec 1, 1862. In this position Major Daniel was responsible for the acquisition and distribution of all the supplies that the Brigade of 1,300 soldiers would need. The records show that on Jan 1, 1865 he was on duty in Americus and collecting and forwarding forage for the Army of Northern Virginia. When the war ended Henry returned to Baldwin County and worked as a plasterer. On a trip to visit his plantation in Sumter County he suddenly died on Sept 9, 1870 at the age of 32. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus, Ga. Mary lived until 1881 and died at the age of 46. She was buried by her husband at Oak Grove Cemetery.

- John Carroll



Sources:
1. Compiled Military Service Records, Fold3.com
2. Portraits of Conflict, Georgia (image)
3. Personal genealogy, Fed. Census Records, Marriage Records, via ancestry.com
4. History of Sumter County, Jack Cox, 1982

Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE to read more stories on our real Southern heroes!

*******************************************

Note: History posts are copyrighted © 2008-2026 by John Carroll.
I appreciate it when you use the share feature instead of cutting/pasting.

04/26/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ExzFyFM2V/

Our daily tribute to a Confederate veteran of Sumter County Georgia during Confederate History & Heritage Month.
Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE for more history about our Southern Heroes!

UNITED CONFEDERATE VETERANS, Camp Sumter #642

The post today on Confederate Memorial Day will feature not one veteran as usual, but the thirty-one Confederate veterans who posed for a group image in front of the Victorian era Sumter County court house in Americus, Georgia.

This fine photo was made on Memorial Day, April 26th, 1909, as the “Old Guard" was about to begin the march to Oakgrove Cemetery, where peacefully sleep hundreds of their former brave comrades who wore the gray through the four years of civil strife in the sixties.
Nothing like the full strength of the camp is shown here—in fact, only about one sixth of the membership.
The camp had an enrollment of 209 veterans, but many of the old heroes, due to physical infirmities, could not march on Memorial Day.
The old battle flag of the Confederacy stands out proudly in the photo. Camp Commander H. T. Davenport, who likewise commanded the Western Brigade of Georgia, U. C. V., is fifth in line though not in uniform upon this occasion. To his untiring efforts was due in large measure the success in building up and maintaining the camp The veterans shown in the picture as as follows:

Those standing, reading from left to right, are T. J. Singletary, P. R. Stanfield, Thos. J. Morgan, J. A. Wil-son, Commander H. T. Davenport, Color Bearer Clinton Bray, P. H. Williams, Robt. Arrington, W. E. Felts,
J. S. Bolton, Roland Cheek, W. P.
Persons, James H. Rogers, Williams, Henry Mashburn, J. P. Britton, J. P.
Mask, Chas. Williams, W. S. Moore.
Those sitting, from left to right, are J. H. Daniel, J. Z. Carey, H. D.
Watts, T. B. Joiner, Gates, G. B.
Suggs, James Alexander, J. D. Nich-olson, Stafford Stephens, J. M. Hansford. John Statham, Toole.

More information on unit served and burial location below.

1. Thomas J. Singletary, Pvt Co H, 2nd Ga State Troops, buried at Oak Grove Cemetery
2. P. R. Stanfield, Pvt Co D, 1st Ga Vols, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
3. Thomas J Morgan, Pvt 11th Btn Ga Artillery, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
4. James A Wilson, Pvt, Co D, 3rd Ga Vol Infantry, buried Newport Cemetery, Sumter County
5. Henry T Davenport, Pvt Co A, 12th Reg’t Ga Infantry, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
6. Jarrett Clinton Bray - (holding camp flag) Pvt, Co K, 9th Reg’t Ga Infantry, buried Autry Cemetery.
7. P. H. Williams (UCV uniform), unit & rank unknown, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
8. Robert R. Arrington, Pvt, Co D, 5th Ga Reserve Infantry
9. William E Felts, Pvt, Co B, 11th Btn Ga Artillery, buried Old City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Fla.
10. James Sims Bolton, Pvt, Co C, 10th Ga Btn Infantry, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
11. Roland Cheek, Pvt, Co A, 11th Battalion
Georgia Volunteer Artillery, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
12. William Pickney Persons, Pvt, Co C, 37th Regiment Ga Infantry buried at Oak Grove Cemetery
13. James H Rogers (Rodgers) Pvt, Co E, Beall’s Btn Ga Cavalry (State Guards) burial detail unknown.
14. Williams
15. Henry Mashburn, Pvt, 11th Btn Ga Artillery, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
16. J. P. Britton, Pvt, Co I, 45th Regiment Ga Infantry buried Oak Grove Cemetery
17. John H Mask, Pvt, Co B, 11th Btn Ga Artillery buried Harmony Smyrna Cemetery, Dooly Co.
18. Charles Williams. Pvt, Co. E, Phillips Legion Ga Cavalry, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
19. W S Moore. Pvt, Co A. 11th Batn Ga Artillery, ANV, buried Lebanon Cemetery, Plains Ga
(Those sitting, L-R)
20. J H Daniel
21. J Z Carey, Co A, 3rd Ga Reserve Infsntry, buried at Oak Grove Cemetey
22. H D Watts, Pvt , Co K. 9th Regt Ga Infantry buried Oak Grove Cemetery (grave unmarked)
23. Thomas Eli Jefferson Joiner. Sgt, Co K 41st Reg’t Ga Infantry, buried Oak Grove Cemetery (grave unmarked)
24. Seth H. Gates, Capt, Co 59th Reg’t Ga infantry, buried Woodlawn Park North Cemetery, Section 9A, Miami Fla
25. Green Berry Suggs, Pvt, Co I, 10th Reg’t, Ga Infantry, buried Pleasant Grove Cemetery (unmarked grave)
26. James Alexander, Pvt, Co A/B, 11th Btn Ga Artillery, buried Oak Grove Cemetery (unmarked grave)
27. John B Nicholson, Pvt, Co B, 2nd Ga State Troops, buried Oak Grove Cemetery
28. Jacob Stafford Stephens, Pvt Co B, 11th Btn Ga Artillery buried Oak Grove
29. James Madison Hansford, Pvt 11th Btn Ga Artillery, buried at Friendship Church Cemetery
30. John Statum (Statham), Pvt 11th Btn Ga Artillery, buried at Oak Grove Cemetery
31. William Thomas Toole, 2nd Lt, Co K, 4th Regt Ga Infantry, later. Colonel Ga Militia, buried at Oak Grove Cemetery

-John Carroll



Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE for more history about our Southern Heroes!

*************************************

Note: History posts are copyrighted © 2008-2026 by John Carroll.
I appreciate it when you use the share feature instead of cutting/pasting

04/22/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CsPzFcYz6/

Our daily tribute to a Confederate veteran of Sumter County Georgia during Confederate History & Heritage Month.
Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, FOLLOW & SUBSCRIBE to see more stories on our Southern heroes!

2nd Lt William Hance Turpin

William Hance Turpin was born 21 June, 1829 in Richmond County, Ga. He was the son of Heloise Theresa Bouyer and George P Turpin. On Dec 19, 1852 he married Miss Amy Caroline “Carrie” Moody in Macon County, Ga. The couple had two children; George born in 1854 and Mary Louisa born in 1860.

When the war clouds gathered over the Southland William enlisted on June 15, 1861 as Jr. 2nd Lt in the Muckalee Guards in Sumter County, Ga. This company was mustered into Confederate service as Co A, 12th Ga Volunteer Infantry Regiment. On Feb 6th, 1862 he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.
The Georgians from the 12th Infantry Regiment were soon sent to the Shenandoah Valley with General Thomas J. Jackson. Their first battle with the Federal troops occurred on May 8, 1862 at McDowell, Va. The 12th Ga Regiment held the center of the Confederate line against repeated assaults from the Federal troops. They took their position on Sitlington’s Hill east of McDowell. Being posted slightly forward of the main line the men of the 12th were exposed and suffered heavy casualties. They refused to fall back to a safer position even after several orders from the Regimental commander Colonel Conner. One young Georgian was quoted as saying, "we did not come all this way to Virginia to run before Yankees". The Muckalee Guards from Sumter County were commanded by Captain Sam Dawson, a 52 year old farmer and the 32 year old 2nd Lt William Hance Turpin. The Confederate line held that day due to the tenacity and fighting spirit of the 12th Ga Infantry. The victory at the Battle of McDowell was a costly one however and the 12th Ga Infantry suffered 175 casualties. Sadly Lt William H. Turpin was among those casualties.

After the battle three of the 12th Ga officer's bodies killed during the battle were brought home to Sumter County by a black servant of Lt Col Timothy M Furlow named Pete. Col Furlow's oldest son, Capt Wm L Furlow of the Calhoun Ri**es, and Capt Sam Dawson and Lt WH Turpin of the Muckalee Guard were all buried within a stones throw of each other in Oak Grove Cemetery in Americus. His beautiful tombstone is inscribed, “He fell gallantly in the Battle of McDowell Virginia, May 8, 1862”.

Other members of the Muckalee Guard killed in action that day were 4th Sgt Wm H Guice, 4th Cpl Allen W Ray, Pvt Benjamin F Chapell, Pvt MB Grice, Pvt James T Kitchens, and Pvt Thomas M McClain. About 20 more men of the Muckalee Guard were wounded.

1st Lt Shepperd Pryor of the Muckalee Guards wrote to his wife following the battle on May 18th; "I felt quite small in that fight the other day when the musket balls and cannon balls was flying around me thick as hail and my best friends were falling on both sides, dead & mortally wounded. Oh, Dear, it is impossible for me to express my feelings. When the fight is over and I saw what was done, the tears came then free. Oh, that I never behold such a sight again. To think of it among civilized people: killing one another like beast. One would think the Supreme Ruler would put a stop to it, but we've sined as a nation and must suffer in the flesh as well as spiritually: those things wee cant account for."

Carrie Turpin never remarried and was left to raise her young children alone. She lived until 1895, having sacrificed a loving husband in the war for Southern Independence. She was buried next to her Southern hero.

-John Carroll



Sources:
1) Compiled Military Service Records, 12th Ga Reg't via Fold3.com
2) History of Doles-Cook Brigade, Thomas, 1903
3) Roster of Confederate Soldiers from Georgia 1861-1865, Henderson, 1954
4) A Post of Honor; The Pryor Letters
1861-63, edited Charles R. Adams, 1989
5) Personal family genealogy, Federal Census records 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, marriage records, image, via ancestry.com
6) History of Sumter County, Jack Cox, 1983

Be sure to LIKE, SHARE, FOLLOW $
& SUBSCRIBE for more history about our Southern Heroes!

*******************************************

Note: History posts are copyrighted ©
2008-2026 by John Carroll.
I appreciate it when you use the share feature instead of cutting/pasting.