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Farming For A Better Future, page 147
(Above) Excerpt of 1940 Census Record Showing Augusta (Auguster) Cunningham Owning a Farm (National Archives and Records Administration via Ancestry.com) (Augusta) Cunningham (1889-1945) is buried here. His mother, Susie Cunningham, owned a farm on Pagetown Road (current location unknown) in 1900 and 1910. Arguster was a private in the 805 Pioneer Infantry during World War I. When he returned home, he lived with his brother, Sunnie, who then owned the family farm. By 1940, Arguster owned the family property, but instead of working the farm, he was employed at the WPA rock quarry. The last known burial is that of Guss Smith (1911-1946). The cemetery is not included on topographic maps until 1936. However, the Fuqua Cemetery marked on the 1936 USGS map is southwest of the current location near the edge of the water. The same location is marked on the 1952 topographic map. By 1974, the cemetery is marked in the current location. Due to the several unmarked burials, it is unlikely that the cemetery was moved. It is not included in the TVA cemetery relocation records, so it is more likely that the location of the cemetery was unknown or misrepresented. 141 Gray Cemetery The Gray Cemetery, also called the Simpson Cemetery, is located off of County Road 217 between Rhodesville and Smithsonia in a patch of cedar trees, which are often used to mark cemeteries. There are only 10 marked graves and possibly several unmarked graves belonging to the Simpson, Anderson, Butler, Johnson, and Gray families. The first known interment is that of Harriet M. Gray (1917-1932); the last known interment is that of Barbara S. Butler (1918-1976). The cemetery appears as a small dotted square with no label on the 1954 topographic map. On the 1972 and 1988 topographic maps, the cemetery is simply called out as “Cem.” The name Gray Cemetery most likely comes from the earliest inscription. The obituaries for Theodore Gray and Barbara S. Butler call the cemetery the "Simpson Cemetery." Those buried here include Theodore Gray (19021967), veteran of World War I, Alabama PVT Ordnance Department WWI. His obituary says he attended school in Florence and would be laid to rest in the Simpson Cemetery by the Thompson & Son Funeral Home. Also buried here is Sam P. Simpson (18741946), who owned a farm in the Oakland area from at least 1910 to 1930. His wife, Hannah J. Simpson (1876-1960) and son, Albert Simpson (1919-1973), World War II veteran of the "Alabama Tec. 5 US Army," are also buried here. 147 - LAUDERDALE (Below) Excerpt of 1920 Census Record Showing Sam P. Simpson Owning a Farm (National Archives and Records Administration via Ancestry.com) (Bottom) Excerpt of 1930 Census Record Showing Sam P. Simpson Owning a Farm (National Archives and Records Administration via Ancestry.com) - (4675)