Sarah Kincaid and I visited this cemetery on Saturday, Nov 3 2001. Directions: Take Rt. 61 from Montgomery or Oak Hill to Robson. Turn into Dempsey Branch (on the left if coming from Montgomery; on the right if coming from Oak Hill). Note: if coming from Oak Hill, there is also a Dempsey Branch located on Rt. 61 directly across from the Loup Creek Baptist Church at Wriston; this is not the correct Dempsey Branch. Dempsey Branch at Robson is located between Deepwater and Beards Fork. When Dempsey Branch forks, keep to the right fork (which is straight ahead; the left fork is a sharp left.) Keep going until you reach the last group of dwellings. The road will ford the creek (no more bridges) and just beyond this will be fence posts with "No Trespassing" signs. Cross the creek and drive between the fence posts. Cross the creek one more time and start looking to the left. You will see a pile of logs and immediately beyond this will be an old logging road which has logs laid in it, not to block the road but which are laid horizontally on the ground for traction because apparently there is a natural spring which keeps the ground moist. For those who have visited the cemetery before, the bee hives are gone, so this is no longer a landmark. Park your car (I was able to drive my Toyota Corolla to this point with no problem) and walk up the hill on the old logging road. Keep a watch on your right for the myrtle (periwinkle) growing on the ground and you will see the tombstones. The cemetery is overgrown but we were told by the Stovers (who live in the houses closest to the cemetery) that it was cleaned off about 10 years ago. So it is not as bad as it might be. It desperately needs cleaned again and the stones set upright. I would be more than happy to coordinate with anyone who would like to join me in this venture. There appear to be about 25 graves in 3 neat rows, so a rake, pruning shears, a mattock, and a good afternoon would probably be sufficient. The cemetery, starting nearest the logging road (the old cemetery road runs beneath the cemetery but is less passable than the logging road), from lowest moving up the hill, to the remnants of an old fence which we believe marks the upper boundary of the cemetery: Susan Radford January 18 1863 July 22 1937 Nora Susan Settle Radford was the daughter of Joseph Charles Settle and Naoma Mills; wife of William Harrison Radford. ********* William H. Radford September 28 1862 June 2 1924 William Harrison Radford is the son of William Amos Radford and Ruth James; husband of Nora Susan Settle. ******** 2 graves marked by field stones; maybe 1 unmarked ******** C. A. Crow February 22 1855 February 9 1893 (or maybe 1899) This stone is broken off through the date of death, making the last number difficult to read. Sarah and I agreed it looked most likely to be a "3". William T. Crow married Oppie Caroline (Orpah Carolina) Radford, daughter of William Amos and Ruth James Radford, October 23 1877. Could this be her grave? Do I have her name incorrect in my records? The tombstone definitely reads "C. A. Crow" and the footstone is carved "CAC". Any thoughts appreciated. This grave is just below the fence. ******** Row 2, again starting lowest and moving uphill. The first grave is across from the first fieldstone in Row 1. Charles H. Myers October 8 1891 This would be a son of Charles T. Myers and Mary Ann Radford. Mary Ann was a daughter of William Amos Radford and Ruth James. This is the grave of a child or infant, given the size and also that there is a lamb on the stone. There is an epitaph, but it is illegible. ******** Lillie Myers February 25 1889 Borne home by angels hands Daughter of Charles T. Myers and Mary Ann Radford. Again, a child or infant; small grave with lamb engraved on tombstone. ******** 2 graves marked by fieldstones ******* Peter W. son of W. A. Radford Born December 22 1859 Died August 10 1886 Son of William Amos Radford and Ruth James. His wife was Mary Rachel Settle. ******** 3 - 4 graves marked by fieldstones Fence row ******** Row 3 The first grave is a prominent obelisk across from William Harrison Radford's grave in Row 1. There does not appear to be a grave in Row 2 between William Harrison and Sarah Woodrum, but cleaning the cemetery may reveal a grave there. Sarah J. Woodrum Born November 10 1853 Died December 26 1904 Another daughter of William Amos Radford and Ruth James. Sarah married February 16 1871 John L. Woodrum, son of Richard Woodrum and Ruth Kincaid. ******** William A. Radford January 7 1824 November 15 1894 ******** In memory of Ruth Wife of Wm. A. Radford Who died October 20 1879 50 years 7 months 18 days I count this back to be a birth of March 2, 1829. Please confirm. ******** Delilah B. Daughter of Wm. & Ruth Radford died February 17 1873 3 years 8 months 13 days I calculate Delilah's birth as June 4 1869. Please comfirm. End of readings. ********* Reuben James and his wife Virginia "Jane" Smith are known to be buried in this cemetery. (There is a stone for Reuben in the McKinney-James Cemetery in Beards Fork, but this was placed there by his great-grandson Charles Andrew James as a memorial.) I have seen Jane's tombstone in the past but it will require cleaning the cemetery to find it. Family legend is that Reuben's stone fell into his grave while they were covering the body and, being superstitious, they didn't take it out, but shoveled the dirt over it. However, another descendant, Fred James (now deceased) said that he recalled seeing carved stones for both Reuben and Jane in the cemetery. I recall now too, that Reuben's supposed to be buried about where the big tree is. I remember it being said a big tree was growing "on his grave", although the big tree in the cemetery appeared to be more at the head of a grave. Keep in mind this area has been logged more than once--very recently as a matter of fact--and a "big tree" is rare. I'd say the only reason this tree is there is that the logging company can't touch the cemetery. Best wishes to all, June