Baxter Cem

Baxter Cemetery: Comprehensive Analysis of Memorial Records and Site Characteristics

Executive Summary

The records of Baxter Cemetery provide a detailed historical account of a local community, spanning over a century of births and burials. The cemetery is situated in a well-maintained, rural setting characterized by mature trees and a protective perimeter fence. The site serves as a multi-generational resting place for several prominent family lineages, most notably the Deputy, Kennedy, Moore, Oliver, Kelly, and Grimes families.

Critical takeaways from the source documentation include:

• Military Presence: The site contains honored burials for veterans of major conflicts, including World War I and the Korean War.
• Family Longevity: The data reflects deep roots within the community, with some individuals' birth dates reaching back to the mid-1870s and burials occurring as recently as 2003.
• Memorial Diversity: Grave markers range from traditional upright granite headstones to flat bronze markers and elaborate structures featuring religious iconography.
• Cultural Sentiment: Inscriptions and decorative elements emphasize themes of family kinship ("Sisters," "Husband," "Mother"), Christian faith (Virgin Mary statuary, praying hands), and enduring remembrance.

Site Description and Physical Environment

Baxter Cemetery is located on a sloped, grassy landscape bordered by a significant growth of deciduous and evergreen trees ([SOURCE_IMAGE_1], [SOURCE_IMAGE_6]). The perimeter is secured by a wire mesh fence supported by wooden posts ([SOURCE_IMAGE_2]). Access to the interior is provided via a metal farm-style gate ([SOURCE_IMAGE_5]). The grounds appear to be actively maintained, featuring mowed grass and numerous floral arrangements—both fresh and artificial—placed at various gravesites ([SOURCE_IMAGE_10], [SOURCE_IMAGE_22]).

Registry of Interred Individuals

The following table synthesizes the vital statistics and family associations recorded on the cemetery’s headstones.

Surname	Given Name(s)	Birth Date	Death Date	Notes/Relations
Briscoe	Beautie Dilley	Feb. 2, 1881	Aug. 26, 1945	Shared stone with Henry Jacob
Briscoe	Henry Jacob	Dec. 10, 1874	Oct. 5, 1958	Shared stone with Beautie Dilley
Deep	Mary Jenavieve	1914	1976	Shared stone; partial name visible
Deputy	Buck John W.	1930	1974	Features horse head carving
Deputy	H. Ward	Mar. 27, 1899	Aug. 5, 1981	"Father"; shared stone with Mattie
Deputy	John W. Jr. ("Bill")	Oct. 31, 1960	Aug. 31, 2002	Elaborate black stone with floral decor
Deputy	Mattie H.	Mar. 26, 1896	Sept. 27, 1974	"Mother"; shared stone with H. Ward
Gillis	Mary	June 5, 1927	Mar. 14, 1990	Buried with sister Marie Moore
Grimes	David H.	1918	1984	Shared stone with Dolly
Grimes	Dolly	1917	—	Shared stone with David H.
Grimes	David Scott	Apr. 8, 1965	Jan. 15, 1980	Individual marker
Grimes	Kay L.	July 14, 1935	Dec. 11, 1999	"In God's Care"
Hawkins	John W.	1924	1973	Shared stone with Linda C.
Hawkins	Linda C.	1933	—	Shared stone with John W.
Kelly	Alberta A.	Aug. 7, 1876	Apr. 27, 1964	Bronze marker; shared with Peter D.
Kelly	Peter D.	Mar. 12, 1878	June 29, 1966	Bronze marker; shared with Alberta A.
Kelly	Arthur D.	Apr. 18, 1890	Apr. 1, 1960	World War I Veteran
Kennedy	Dallas E.	May 8, 1908	Oct. 20, 1981	Shared stone with Thelma R.
Kennedy	Denver D.	May 6, 1932	Aug. 8, 1976	Korean War Veteran; USMC
Kennedy	Thelma R.	Jan. 7, 1915	Nov. 9, 1984	Shared stone with Dallas E.
McLaughlin	Earl C.	Dec. 13, 1907	Aug. 9, 1971	Shared family stone
McLaughlin	Jacob R. Jr.	May 28, 1931	Aug. 30, 1976	Shared family stone
McLaughlin	Opal G.	Sept. 15, 1917	—	Shared family stone
Miller	Charles W.	1908	1968	Shared stone with Genevieve G.
Miller	Genevieve G.	1908	1976	Shared stone with Charles W.
Moore	Ernest N. Jr.	Mar. 12, 1916	Dec. 14, 2002	Shared family stone
Moore	Margaret E.	Nov. 1, 1917	July 13, 2003	Shared family stone
Moore	Marie	Apr. 4, 1923	Nov. 28, 1998	Buried with sister Mary Gillis
Moore	Patricia	May 11, 1949	—	Shared family stone
Nottingham	Cloy A.	1910	1997	Shared stone with Martha V.
Nottingham	Martha V.	1911	1973	Shared stone with Cloy A.
Oliver	Betty Zane	July 23, 1938	June 13, 1972	Upright marker
Oliver	Debra Lynn Winn	Aug. 1958	Dec. 2000	"Go Rest High On That Mountain"
Oliver	Geraldine C.	1913	1976	Shared family stone
Oliver	Percy P.	1906	1987	Shared family stone
Scruggs	Albert E.	Feb. 7, 1933	Sept. 11, 1974	"Husband"; "In Loving Memory"

Military Service and Honors

The cemetery contains dedicated memorials for individuals who served in the United States Armed Forces. These graves are distinguished by official government-style markers or specific military inscriptions:

• Denver D. Kennedy ([SOURCE_IMAGE_14]): Served as a Private (PVT) in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. His marble headstone features a Christian cross and an American flag-patterned floral arrangement.
• Arthur D. Kelly ([SOURCE_IMAGE_48]): Served as a Private (PVT) in the U.S. Army during World War I. His marker identifies him as a resident of Virginia.

Symbolic and Religious Analysis

The memorial markers within Baxter Cemetery heavily utilize religious and personal symbols to convey the values of the deceased and their families:

Religious Iconography

• The Virgin Mary: A prominent statue of the Virgin Mary is situated atop the Miller family marker, serving as a focal point for that area of the grounds ([SOURCE_IMAGE_44]).
• Angels: Carvings of kneeling angels are present on the graves of Debra Lynn Winn Oliver ([SOURCE_IMAGE_36]) and Kay L. Grimes ([SOURCE_IMAGE_55]).
• Praying Hands: Found on the Deputy family marker ([SOURCE_IMAGE_24]).
• Crosses: Frequently appear as both primary structural elements and engraved decorative features across many stones ([SOURCE_IMAGE_44], [SOURCE_IMAGE_52]).

Personal and Natural Symbols

• Equestrian Imagery: The marker for Buck John W. Deputy features the head of a horse, suggesting a personal interest or vocation ([SOURCE_IMAGE_27]).
• Floral Motifs: Roses, lilies, and ivy are common engravings, particularly on the markers for the Kelly, Hawkins, and Moore families ([SOURCE_IMAGE_45], [SOURCE_IMAGE_49], [SOURCE_IMAGE_40]).
• Interlocking Rings: Symbolizing marriage, these appear on the Hawkins headstone ([SOURCE_IMAGE_49]).

Noteworthy Epitaphs

• "In Loving Memory" ([SOURCE_IMAGE_13])
• "Sisters" (Used to denote the bond between Marie Moore and Mary Gillis) ([SOURCE_IMAGE_23])
• "Go Rest High On That Mountain" ([SOURCE_IMAGE_36])
• "Rest In Peace Darling" ([SOURCE_IMAGE_27])
• "In God's Care" ([SOURCE_IMAGE_55])

Chronological Observations

The temporal data extracted from the site reveals the long-standing nature of the cemetery:

• Earliest Birth Recorded: Henry Jacob Briscoe (December 10, 1874) ([SOURCE_IMAGE_52]).
• Earliest Burial Recorded: Beautie Dilley Briscoe (August 26, 1945) ([SOURCE_IMAGE_52]).
• Most Recent Burial Recorded: Margaret E. Moore (July 13, 2003) ([SOURCE_IMAGE_40]).
• High Mortality Periods: A significant number of burials appear to cluster in the mid-to-late 1970s and the early 1980s.