This past Sunday morning I was walking out of the door headed to meet a friend. The phone rang and it was my friend, John Cleve, he asked where are we going this morning? I replied, “to find a cemetery!” I got in my truck and headed towards Emmalane, Georgia, to meet him.
Sunday mornings have always been very special to me for many reasons. Sunday mornings have a different feel. The world is a lot quieter for obvious reasons. I am typically hunting, fishing or off on a photographic adventure. You usually don’t see many folks out. Traffic is all but nonexistent.
Sunday mornings offer great peace and solitude for me. Most Sunday mornings I meet John Cleve and we go off in search of old houses, old barns or cemeteries. We share wonderful conversation and take in all the tranquility that the morning has to offer. Sometimes it’s close to home and sometimes it might be in another part of the state.
Even if we find ourselves in the hills of Appalachia, we will be doing the same thing. We are definitely creatures of habit. We are always looking for things off the beaten path, things that have history connected to them and are filled with meaning. I’m not sure who enjoys these excursions more, me or him?
I left my home in the “big” city of Midville and pointed my truck in the direction of Emmalane. I had something on my mind, an old cemetery where one of my ancestors is buried. The cemetery is only a few miles from Emmalane in Bulloch County. I met John Cleve and we were on our way!
I had a good idea where the cemetery was located, but I wasn’t positive. I had searched the internet and talked to family members, but I still wasn’t one hundred percent certain. I reached out to a friend in Bulloch County. He also happens to be the high sheriff, and he is an outstanding human being.
When he answered the phone he asked, “what can I help you with?” I explained to him what I was looking for. He told me immediately where he thought the cemetery was located. He then told me he would verify that and be in touch. You see, here in the South, that’s just what folks do! They help each other.
The sheriff, Noel Brown, called me back later that day. He was as good as his word! He told me he had thought correctly and where he first thought was in fact the cemetery I was looking for. He gave detailed directions and told me he had contacted the landowner. The landowner had given me permission to go on his property.
I would like to interject something I have always said. We are all connected and we are all in this life together. We were all meant to help one another. Fortunately, for me, help always comes and I am grateful. I always try to do the same for others as well.
John Cleve and I were nearing the area where the cemetery is located and I was somewhat excited. I was, for the first time in my life, going to visit the grave of my great-great-great-great grandfather who was born in 1791. It proved to be a very moving experience for me.
I realized that I had ridden by this cemetery all of my life and never knew it was there. I certainly did not know one of my ancestors was laid to rest here. I think it was just time. It was time for me to visit one of my ancestors from long ago, Thomas Han Womack. He was born in 1791 and fought in the War of 1812. He died in 1837, but he had helped to lay the foundation of my family history.
It was definitely a memorable occasion for me, and I was honored that my friend, John Cleve, was able to be a part of such a special memory. We left and made somewhat of a tour of north Bulloch County and south Jenkins County. It was a good morning! As we were headed back, John Cleve asked if I wanted to go to the cemetery at Elam Baptist Church?
My great-great-great grandfather Thomas Han Womack, Jr. is in that cemetery. I’ll save that story for another day. We left the cemetery at Elam and headed on back to Emmalane. We did make one more stop when we got back there. We stopped at the Lane Cemetery, and I took a picture of a notable grave, Mrs. Emma Lane Patterson.
So, if you ever wondered where the name Emmalane came from. I am certainly thankful for my family’s history and the history of all families that were here many years ago. I am also thankful for Sunday mornings and cemeteries.
