Greenleaf Cemetery will present their 3rd Annual Talking Tombstone Tour on Saturday, October 19th from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A cast list and biography of characters was recently released for the event (see below).
Tours to historic gravesites will run about every 20 minutes and will each last approximately an hour and a half. Transportation for the tour will be provided at the parking lot of Victory Baptist Church, located at 2202 Center Avenue (Off of Hwy 377S near the HPU baseball and soccer fields, see map below).
There will be live entertainment at the parking site along with brisket sandwiches and soft drinks available for purchase. All proceeds from the event will go toward the purchase of a new equipment storage building at the cemetery. The front gates will be closed for the event and participants will enter through the recently opened and restored Greenleaf Cemetery gate.
Visitors to the scenic Greenleaf Cemetery will be guided to the grave sites of “former” residents, portrayed by actors in period costumes, who will share something of their lives and times. Transportation continues from site to site during this tour of the lives of historical people buried in Greenleaf Cemetery.
“I believe we have a wonderful line-up of actors and important lives to make people aware of,” said Connie Wyatt, Greenleaf Cemetery board member. “I think it will be just as much fun as the past years. It’s really a walk back in history.”
Tickets for the tour are $8 for adults, $5 for students and children 5 & under are free. Tickets are available at the Greenleaf Cemetery Office, Precious Cargo Children’s Store, KOXE Radio Station, and the Bike Peddler. Tickets will also be available on site the day of the event.
Pictured above is Lynn Humeniuk portraying Dr. Irene Trapp during the 2012 Talking Tombstone tour.
Characters and cast members to be featured in this year’s tour include:
Clara Inez Ferris was born in1870 in Clinton, Illinois, the daughter of a decorated Civil War veteran. Her family moved to Corsicana, Texas in the early 1880’s, and Clara met and married George Ferris, when she was only 14 years old. Two of Clara’s brothers, her husband, and her son, Fred, became volunteer firefighters. Her loyalty to service and the death of her son led to Clara being named “Mother of Texas Firemen.” Clara served in this honored role until her death in 1933. Clara Inez Ferris will be portrayed by Patti Jordan.
Rufus Forley Hardin was born into slavery in 1859 in Kaufman County, Texas. The renowned educator began his teaching career in Kaufman County and also taught in Van Zandt Co. In 1896, he moved to Brownwood to teach in the Brownwood Colored School. Professor Hardin became the school’s third principal and led the effort to construct a new building in 1917. He devoted his life to the school and served as principal for 38 years. In September 1934, following his retirement after suffering a stroke, the school was named Rufus F. Hardin High School, in honor of its founder. Michael Kelly will portray Rufus Hardin.
Bettie Coggin Taber came to Brownwood from Mississippi, in 1874, as a young widow with three small children. Her brothers, Samuel and Mervis (Modie) were already well established ranchers in the area. Modie, a bachelor, moved Bettie and the children into the large two-story home he had built on what is now Vincent Street. In those days, the house fronted on Austin Ave. Soon the big house was humming with activity when Bettie began holding all day sewing parties. She owned the only sewing machine in the community at that time. She was an accomplished seamstress and loved doing “fancy” stitches. Modie eventually left the house to Bettie in his will and she spent the remainder of her long life there. Priscilla Monson will portray Bettie Louise Tabor.
Ted Gomez Sr. was born in Knickerbocker in the Rio Grande Valley. He was orphaned at the age of 15 and was sent to an orphanage in San Angelo. As a teen, he was basically on his own, and he worked in cafes and bars. During WWII, he was drafted and served stateside. When he was discharged, he returned to Texas by train, with a stop at the depot in Brownwood. He met his future wife, Sarah, at a little café near the depot. They eventually married and both worked in cafes in Brownwood, before starting their own business selling food out of their small house in 1958. Ted Gomez, Sr. will be enacted by Eddie Gomez.
Dollie Robnett was the vivacious wife of John David Robnett, the founder of Howard Payne College. She and John met and married in Missouri, to the displeasure of her mother and step-father, and she encouraged her husband to accept the call to the pulpit of the First Baptist Church in the “wild country” of Brownwood, Texas. Dollie wholeheartedly supported her husband in his tireless efforts to raise funds to establish an institution of higher learning in Central Texas. Their four sons all attended Howard Payne and three went on to distinguished military careers. Dollie became a matron at Buckner’s Children’s Home in Dallas after her husband’s death. Barbie Hall will portray Dollie Robnett.
Earl Q. Wilson is most associated with being the moving force behind the building of the rodeo arena, which bears his name. He also formed the Sheriffs’ Posse and worked tirelessly for the betterment of Brownwood. When he saw a young boy selling newspapers in front of Levine’s downtown on a chilly day, Mr. Wilson bought all of the boy’s papers and took him in the store and bought him a warm coat. He was the kind of man who would do anything for anybody – generous to a fault. Earl Q. Wilson will be portrayed by Tim Wilson.
Charles Bell was born in South Carolina in 1851, but moved to Mississippi to live with an aunt after his father died and his mother re-married. He married Mary Bell Braddock in Mississippi in 1875, and they had 3 sons. After their second son was born, Charles moved his family to Texas, to live on a farm, beyond the present location of the Brownwood Country Club. He became the first appointed Sheriff of Brown County and served with distinction until his untimely death in 1898, at the age of 47. Sheriff Bell died from gunshot wounds he received while attempting to arrest a drunken blacksmith named Yarborough in downtown Brownwood, near the square. Steven Wilson will portray Sheriff Charles Bell.
Hiram T. Savage enlisted as a Confederate soldier in Troop B 13th Texas Dismounted Calvary, at the age of seventeen and saw action in several battles. He married Susan Catherine Roberts in 1871, and the family moved in 1876 to what is now known as the Weedon community. Hiram preached and organized churches all over the area while Susan cared for their nine children. He was instrumental in the movement to establish Howard Payne College and contributed generously to the school. James Madewell will portray the Rev. Hiram T. Savage and his wife Sandra Madewell will be portray Susan C. Savage.
The Buffalo Soldiers were originally members of the Tenth Calvary Regiment of the U.S. Army, formed on September 21, 1866, in Leavenworth Kansas. Congress established the “Buffalo Soldiers” as the first peacetime all African-American regiment in the regular army. Their nickname was given by the Native American tribes they fought on the frontier. There are four “Buffalo Soldiers” interred at Greenleaf. William Reece, a member of the Texas Army National Guard Camp Bowie Training Site, will don the historic “Buffalo Soldier’s” gear to pay tribute to the four heroes who served with that unit. M. Sgt. William Reece will perform the finale in honor of all four Buffalo Soldiers buried at Greenleaf.
Point A marks Victory Baptist Church, location of off site parking, entertainment and foods.
