WWII_InfantsResearchGreenleaf 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