On this page: Return of the Errant Headstone
Latest update: Monday, June 27, 2011
(Click on any photo to start the slide show.)
The final resting place for Mary B. SARTOR is a mystery with a twist --
that has unraveled into a happy ending.
CHRONICLE & DEMOCRAT-VOICE NEWSPAPER LETTER TO EDITOR (.pdf)
The Errant Headstone of Mary B. SARTOR has returned home.
Monday morning, 13 June 2011, the three BOOTH sisters, Paula BOOTH HAYNES,
Mary Beth BOOTH STROUD, and Lillie Roberta BOOTH BROWN, honored their
Great Aunt Mary B. SARTOR by returning her headstone to Atoka Cemetery. The
sisters were accompanied by Mary Beth BOOTH STROUD's sister-in-law Florence
STROUD DUNCAN who lives in Wimberely.
They met at the Wimberely Cemetery, where Wimberely Cemetery Association
representatives Bill BREEDLOVE and Linda LACKNER officially handed off the Errant
Headstone.
The three sisters also had the chance to personally thank Lynn CANNON POLLAK,
who started the research on the Errant Headstone and whose research details
support the proof that Mary B SARTOR is buried in Atoka Cemetery. The BOOTH
sisters thanked Lynn by making her an honorary SARTOR. Lynn and her husband
George have made Wimberely their home of retirement since 2000, but have done
everything but retire, making a large impact on their new community.
Sharon Gwen CARTER, a contributing editor for the the local newspaper, the
Wimberely View, was there to document the event.
George POLLACK and Bill BREEDLOVE lifted the Errant Headstone into the well-
padded back of the SUV, and Mary B's gravestone started it's return home.
On Tuesday, 14 June, the Errant Headstone of Mary B. SARTOR returned to the
Atoka Cemetery. Sue PARKER SHIELDS of the Atoka Cemetery Association and her
husband Bill greeted the BOOTH sisters. In addition, David and Pamela HINES of the
Precious Memories Monument Company welcomed the Errant Headstone; the
Precious Memories Monument Company will be making a base for the Errant
Headstone and then setting Mary B's headstone next to her sister Effie's headstone.
Sue reported, "We looked over the area by the sister's (Effie) and decided that is
where they would place the stone. It's not 100 percent but hopefully in the general
area where she would have been buried. There is absolutely no way of knowing.
They were satisfied with placing the marker there."
Paula BOOTH HAYNES reported her experience. "We really enjoyed meeting all our
new friends (adopted Sartors) at both cemeteries… I am so glad we took on the
challenge. Everyone was so careful with her stone as we moved it from one vehicle
to the other. It is amazing how much alike her stone is to Effie's. It seems so right
that their stones will be next to each other since they match so well. Sue Shields and
her husband Bill and the people from the monument company seemed to think that
was the best space to set the stone as did the three sisters. Even though we do not
know where her body is, her stone will have a special place to her sister Effie and not
far from her sister Pearl. There was one unmarked grave in the same row, but we
decided on the space next to Effie. It was also interesting to see the gravestone of
our Birdwell relatives, from our grandmother's side of the family."
Roberta BOOTH BROWN echoed the wonderful experience. "Florence Duncan…
lives in Wimberely and was very gracious in preparing an awesome lunch for us in
her home while we were there. Her maiden name is Stroud. Mary Beth’s late
husband, John, is her brother. [In Atoka Cemetery] the [monument company] owners
shown in the pictures are David and Pamela Hines. They, too, thought this mystery
was fascinating and were very respectful and courteous in handling the headstone.
They said they would send pictures when it is set. Seeing Effie’s headstone in person
was also interested. It is absolutely identical in color and lettering to Mary B.’s.
Thank you to all involved in allowing us to transport Mary B.’s headstone home to
Atoka Cemetery. It was a pleasure to meet Lynn (our honorary Sartor) and George
Pollak, Lynda Lackner, Bill Breedlove and Sharon Carter at the Wimberely Cemetery
and Sue and Bill Shields and David and Pamela Hines at the Atoka Cemetery."
Mary Beth BOOTH STROUD added, "We really enjoyed meeting the people
involved. Both cemeteries have such dedicated board members."
Robert Merritte WEBB, one of the researcher for the Atoka Cemetery, gave this
benediction: "So, Jewell Pearl SARTOR and her twin brother, Homer Earl SARTOR,
were born 04 Apr 1910 in Bronte, Coke County, Texas only about 5 miles west of
Marie, Runnells County, Texas where their aunt (their father’s older sister) Mary B
SARTOR died less than two months later 02 Jun 1910. Since Pearl’s and Earl’s
father, James Gross “Jim” SARTOR (b. 15 Jul 1875) was only 19 months younger
than his sister, Mary (b. 08 Dec 1873), isn’t it likely that Jim and Mary were close
having both been born in Union County, SC before relocating to Texas with their
family as children and then growing up together? Now come Pearl’s three daughters
to transport their grandaunt Mary’s gravestone back to the Atoka cemetery in Novice,
so near to Bronte, where their mother was born 04 Apr 1910 and so near to Marie
where their grandaunt (their mother’s father’s sister) Mary B. SARTOR died 02 Jun
1910. Sad that Pearl died within the past year (17 Nov 2010). Don’t you know she
would have been interested in this mystery and adventure. I think it’s so very special
that Mary Elizabeth BOOTH, Paula E. BOOTH, and Lillie Roberta BOOTH are going
to take on this project of such historical and genealogical significance. As they say in
south Louisiana, that’s some Lagniappe!"
[Photos and stories were contributed by Lynn CANNON POLLAK, Sue PARKER
SHIELDS, and the three BOOTH sisters.]