A memorial to the World War II Infants was dedicated Sunday, May 29th, 2011 at Greenleaf Cemetery honoring 115 babies buried in unmarked graves during wartime.
A small crowd gathered on a very warm and windy day to honor these tiny souls that passed from this world during the years of 1937-1951. Many of which were the children of military families, often mothers having miscarriages or still born babies while their husbands or boyfriends were overseas fighting in World War II.
The ceremony not only gave closure to the families of these infants, but also acknowledged and memorialized them, many for the first time publicly. Some parents and siblings present had no idea where their infants were buried and now can for the first time know a general area of their burial. With the placement of the WWII Infants Memorial, families with their children in unmarked graves now have a sense of peace after all those years.
Organizers welcomed the crowd and gave a brief introduction of the WWII Infants Memorial project (featured in video below). A brief history of the project was presented along with the process researchers used, comparing birth and death records along with the Greenleaf Cemetery logs to correctly identify these infants. A poem which was especially written for the occasion entitled “Heaven’s Gate” was read by its author, Candace Fulton.
Reverend Mary D’Alessio of Union Presbyterian Church gave a heartfelt message (video below) which not only affirmed that these infants’ lives are precious to their families, but also to the community and most importantly to God.
Names of the infants were read solemnly, one by one, by members of the Greenleaf board members. The ceremony was then closed by a benediction given by Rev. D’Alessio.
The research for this project was completed by members of the Friends of Greenleaf Cemetery (FROGs), Leona Adams, Ann Stevens and Connie Wyatt whose research found as many names of infants as possible. A four year project, now completed, was celebrated by dedicating the memorial which was made possible with funds from a grant received from the J.R. and Rosalee Beadel Foundation and the E.P. Woodruff Foundation and Trustees. The memorial engraving and setting of the monument was a gift from Jason Roman and the Granite Guys.
Pictured above are family members of some of the WWII infants:
- Carolyn Clark, Darlene Murray, and emma Elizabeth Bishop: Dorothy Marie James’ family
- Horace Eugene and Wanda Henson: Parents of James Eugene Henson; sister and brother-in-law of Sanoma Morelock, Daughter of Dr. James and Elsie Morelock
- Quinn Herman, Jim Herman, Judy Herman and Seth Herman: Family of Lemma Janice Herman
- William and Linda Kelley: Family of Freda Viola Kelley
Below are videos of the dedication ceremony, followed by the given names of all the infants:
{denvideo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjjQkD1GVuw 400 300 }
{denvideo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA-CgrzHmFo 400 300 }
WWII Infants buried at Greenleaf Cemetery:
W.L. Barnes, Jr.
Janet Sue Benscoter
Infant Son of J.D. Bilbrey
Infant Son of Thurman Bishop
O.L. Blocker, Jr.
Elizabeth Ann Bond
Billie Brewer
Infant of Capt. E.L. Bush
William D. Carline
Infant of H.R. Carrell
Dessie Marie Chamberlain
Judith Joy Chapman
Andrew Victor Coats
JoAnn 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 January, Jr.
John Michael Jenevec, Jr.
David Lee Johnson
Freda Viola Kelley
Bonnie Jo 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 H. Morelock
Infant Daughter of Joseph M. O’Laughlin
Infant of Ornett
Edna Vernell Paul Infant of James A. Page
James David Paulson
Hilton Peel
Gerald Dean 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 Seilty
Benjamin Frank Simpson, Jr.
Charles E. Smith, Jr.
Infant of Charles E. Smith
Sammie Ruth Squyres
Penelope Jewel Stewart
Roy Stuckley, Jr.
Baby Boy Studdard
John Ignetius Sullivan
Ella Skiles Terry
Emma Meudine Terry
Donald Edward Tiner
Johnnie Mack Townley
Charles Less Umbenhaur
Unknown Infant
Milton Lee Vinson
Susan Jane Welch
Dannie Elton Wilder
Infant of Roy Wilhelm
Jeanna Elizabeth Williams
Jerry Don Williams
Billie Ray Williams
Rebecca Sue Williams
Roy & Loy Williams
Infant of W.J. Winkler
Larry Young
Janet E. Zetty
