Hi, Melissa -- Thanks for posting the Coker Cemetery info. This is purely speculation at this point and I don't know if it will prove out: but if it does, the William SHANNON buried at Coker Cemetery would be caucasian. Shannon, William / May 28, 1820 / November 28, 1872 / bur. at Coker Cemetery This William SHANNON might be the father of Robert J. SHANNON and grandfather of William A. SHANNON. Robert J. SHANNON is buried in the Tiplersville Cemetery. Robert was born 21 Sep 1848 and died 12 Aug 1933. Robert's wife was Julia A. STREET, d/o John W. STREET & Amanda UNKNOWN. Robert & Julia had 13 children: William A.; John T.; J.B.; Billie; Robert L.; Walter J.; Marcus L. Laron D.; Maude; Lester; Virgie B. SHANNON; and three females, first names unknown to me. These 3 daughters married Will WRIGHT, J.D. PITNER, and O.T. "Thurmond" HORTON. William A. SHANNON was b. 15 Jan 1875, Tippah Co, MS and d. 19 Aug 1915. William is buried in Ripley Cemetery, Ripley, Tippah Co, MS. He married on 12 Dec 1899 in Tippah Co, MS to Maude Olive SMITH, d/o James Milton SMITH & Harriett Adelaide TICER (James' 2nd wife). (James & Harriett were my great, great grandparents.) William & Maude had 6 children: Robert J.; Maybelle; Margaret Holt "Pirt"; Julia D.; William A.; and Ruth Ticer SHANNON. William predeceased both his parents. (His wife Maude remarried to William Roy McDONALD.) I have some further info on some of the SHANNONs, STREETs, and SMITHs (my father's family) and I'm happy to share info if anyone needs it. Becky Smith