Greenleaf Cemetery Association Trustees are in the middle of an interesting and heartwarming project. Some time ago, the Board was given an “old” list of more than 100 infants who died during the years of WWII. All are buried at Greenleaf, but no markers have ever been erected to their memory. The Board voted to establish a memorial area and dedicate a marker for these little ones.
In looking at the list of names of these infants, some had full names of the babies but many had only the family name. “One name jumped out at me”, said Patti Jordan, President of the Greenleaf Cemetery Association. It said “George Herman Infant”.
After some discussion with her husband, Jordan decided to call their lifelong friend, Jim Herman, son of George and Edith Herman. (Many will remember George Herman as the pharmacist at Coggin Drug).
Jordan told Jim that she did not want to pry into his personal life; however, she had a question for him. “Was there a chance that your parents had a baby before you were born? A baby who did not live?”
Jim’s answer was, “Yes.” He explained that he and his younger sister, Janice, did not know much about the baby, when it was born or when and where it had been buried.
Jordan explained “the list” and the ”George Herman Infant” entry on the list. She told her friend that now she could show Herman the area where his sibling is buried. The excitement for both Jordan and Herman was sincerely overwhelming.
The next day, Pat Clark, Superintendent at Greenleaf found a card in the old card files of the cemetery which showed the baby’s name, Lena Janice Herman, buried September 27, 1938. In Jim Herman’s words, “This has been a mystery of our lives and now we know.”
After the discovery of the details of the Herman baby, the Board realized that more research was necessary in order to be able to put as many full names on the marker as possible. Also, the Board wanted to be able to document for the families this important information.
Connie Wyatt, Board Secretary and her friend, Leona Adams, took on the project of the research. Ed Walker, volunteer at the Genealogy Library and friend of Greenleaf Cemetery, assisted them. The three have worked diligently online and at the Court House looking up birth and death certificates. They have found many names of the infants, and each time the list has been updated to reflect the new information. According to Mrs. Wyatt, “This was a labor of love for Leona Adams and it would have taken much longer, if Leona had not been involved.”
Even the Herman infant’s name was found to be spelled three different ways, on three different documents.
Last weekend, a group of HPU students worked with Mrs. Wyatt, Greenleaf staff and a representative of The Granite Guys, to level more than thirty gravestones that are near the area where the infants are buried. During the day, they discovered a small stone with the name of one of the infants whose name is on the list. The list was updated again.
Earlier this year, a grant request was funded from the J.R. and Rosalee Beadel Foundation, in the amount of $2000 for the marker. This beautiful granite stone will be inscribed by The Granite Guys, with all of the names of the infants, and a lovely angel will sit on top. For that gift from the Beadel Foundation, the Board is extremely grateful.
When the work on the monument and the landscaping of the area is complete, a memorial service will be held at Greenleaf Cemetery to dedicate the marker. The date has not been set, but the public will be invited so that all may attend.
At this time, the Board of Trustees of Greenleaf Cemetery Association feels that it is important to publish “the list” in the paper, to see if any citizens might have more information on the babies whose names we cannot find. Jordan shared, “We have considered that this happened more than 50 years ago and hopefully we will not publish something that will offend family members, but will honor the babies.”
Anyone who has more information on any of the infants’ names, should call Connie Wyatt at 325-643-2860 or Patti Jordan at 325-200-7224.
Anyone who would like to contribute to a fund to help with the landscaping design and a bench for the memorial area for the WWII babies may send their contributions to Greenleaf Cemetery at PO Box 455, Brownwood, TX 76804. Please indicate that your donation is for the WWII Infants Project.
Photo: Left –Leona Adams, Right–Connie Wyatt During the research time at the Brown County Clerk’s Office
WWII Infant List Greenleaf Cemetery
W.L. |
Barnes, Jr. |
Janet Sue |
Benscoter |
Infant of J.D. |
Bilbrey |
Infant Son of Thurman |
Bishop |
O.L. |
Blocker, Jr. |
Elizabeth Ann |
Bond |
Billie |
Brewer |
Infant of Capt. E. L. |
Busch |
William D. |
Carline |
Infant of H.R. |
Carrell |
Dessie Marie |
Chamberlain |
Judith Joy |
Chapman |
Andrew Victor |
Coats |
Jo Ann |
Coker |
H.C. |
Cole |
Charles R. |
Copas |
Lawrence Lee |
Cox |
Audrey K. |
Crews |
Infant of D.G. |
Cully |
Barbara June |
Davis |
Janette |
Davis |
Walter |
Dowin, Jr. |
Nona Fay |
Drinkard |
William Joseph |
Eckenrode |
Sandra Fay |
Ellifritt |
John Garrett |
Flavin |
James Stanley |
Forys |
Betty Lou |
Frieth |
L.L. |
Garcia |
Lawrence Carol |
Goodson |
Roberta |
Graham |
Kenneth Ray |
Groat |
Kathleen Ruth |
Hayselett |
Infant of Horace Eugene |
Henson |
Lemma Jaenice |
Herman |
Roth Glendale |
Hicks |
Ernest Charles |
Hill |
Walter Andrew |
Hines, Jr. |
David Lester |
Holland |
Hollis Paul |
Howard, Jr. |
Glen Ervin |
Hunt |
Walter |
Irwin, Jr. |
Linda Ann |
Isberg |
Dorothy Marie |
James |
Thomas Jr. |
January |
John Michael |
Jenevec, Jr. |
David Lee |
Johnson |
Freda Viola |
Kelley |
Bonnie Joe |
Kelly |
Bobby Jo |
Kinman |
Eva Lee |
Korf |
Daniel F. |
Korinek |
Infant |
Lake |
Shirley A. |
Landrum |
Delbert James |
Leigh |
Sherry Elizabeth |
Lloyd |
Clay K. |
Long |
Thomas Lee |
Lynch |
Mary Elizabeth |
Matchetee |
William D. |
McGraw |
Lou Anne |
McMurtrey |
John J. |
McNamara |
Charles Edward |
Miller |
Edward Lee |
Moates |
Infant Daughter of James Henry |
Morelock |
Infant Daughter of Joseph Michael |
O’Laughlin |
Infant of |
Ornett |
Infant of James A. |
Page |
Edna Vernell |
Paul |
James David |
Paulson |
Hilton |
Peel |
Gerald Dean |
Petty |
Clyde Lee |
Petty |
Barbara Ann |
Pickard |
Billie Ray |
Pierce |
Infant Twins |
Rasberry |
Glenda D. |
Ray |
Infant of C.B. |
Ray |
Mary |
Reeves |
Allen Riley |
Richardson |
Infant of W.E. |
Roberts |
Warren Daniel |
Rogler |
Rebecca Ann |
Rutledge |
Howard Cecil |
Ryals |
Barbara Lee |
Seiley |
Benjamin Frank |
Simpson, Jr. |
Charles E. |
Smith, Jr. |
Infant of Charles E. |
Smith |
Sammie Ruth |
Squyres |
Penelope Jewel |
Stewart |
Roy |
Stuckey, Jr. |
Baby Boy |
Studdard |
John Ignetius |
Sullivan |
Ella Skiles |
Terry |
Emma Meudine |
Terry |
Donald Edward |
Tiner |
Johnnie Mack |
Townley |
Charles Less |
Umbenhaur |
Unknown Infant |
|
MiltonLee |
Vinson |
Susan Jane |
Welch |
Infant of Irvin L. |
Whithead |
Dannie Elton |
Wilder |
Infant of Roy |
Wilhelm |
Jeanna Elizabeth |
Williams |
Jerry Don |
Williams |
Billie Ray |
Williams |
Rebecca Sue |
Williams |
Roy and Loy |
Williams |
Infant of W.J. |
Winkler |
Larry |
Young |
Janet E. |
Zetty |