FINAL-Walk-With-The-Spirits-Program
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1 THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS WALK WITH THE SPIRITS SPONSORS WALK WITH THE SPIRITS OBELISK SPONSOR COMMITTEE ROBYN ANDERSON ABIGAIL JOHNSON KAYLA CHURCHILL ERICK MONTGOMERY NANCY BOWERS MARBLE SPONSOR JOHN MCBRAYER LIZ AND BILL HOPKINS LAURIE MONTGOMERY GRANITE SPONSORS SPECIAL THANKS TO: THOMPSON FAMILY HOLDINGS · MS.NEITA MULHERIN WESTOVER MEMORIAL PARK CAREN BRICKER, VINTAGE OOOLLEE, COSTUMES THANE PLUMMER AND ALMIRA VAZDARJAHOVA, SIP WITH THE SPIRITS HOSTS ELI HOGAN, VOLUNTEER ALEXIS PURVIS, VOLUNTEER BRONZE SPONSORS LAURA HARRIS, VOLUNTEER MRS. BECKY SMITH · HISTORIC AUGUSTA, INC. ENDOWMENT TRUST SHANNON BRYANT, VOLUNTEER DONNA KING, VOLUNTEER FOOTSTONE SPONSORS GABE HOGAN, VOLUNTEER NATHAN JOLLES · ROBERTSON RESTORATION · MRS. ANNE PROCTOR · PEACH CONTRACTORS · MR. AND MRS. ALBERT METZEL · DR. AND MRS. JOE D. CHRISTIAN JR. · MR. AND MRS. LYLE M. GLASCOCK LOISE PHINIZY, VOLUNTEER DR. AND MRS. ROBERT NESBIT JR. · MS. VILMA COLON-OLIVER - MEYBOHM REAL ESTATE DR. LEE ANN CALDWELL AND MR. RICHARD SWANN · MR. & MRS. WLM KNOX JR. · M. AUSTIN JACKSON, ATTORNEY 1 2 3 4 CEMETERY PRESERVATION Cemeteries reflect a community’s past and provide people with a visible history. Historic preservation of cemeteries is a growing concern as many communities find ways to deal with vandalism, erosion of stones, and neglect of plots and landscaping. Historic cemeteries generally showcase peaceful grounds with intriguing monuments, gravestones, dates, and names. A fount of information regarding genealogy, local historical figures and iconography can be found in cemeteries. Many graveyards have been lost due to poor planning, natural overgrowth, and fading memories; however, with community awareness and renewed respect for the past, preservation of cemeteries is becoming a higher priority in many historic cities across the United States including Augusta. Historic Augusta, Inc. has been involved in preservation efforts at local cemeteries including small family cemeteries like Cottage Cemetery in South Augusta and the Coleman-Leigh-Warren Cemetery in West Augusta. A BRIEF HISTORY OF ICONOGRAPHY WESTOVER MEMORIAL PARK Westover Memorial Park showcases many examples of symbolism often found on gravestones. These symbols, carved upon, or comprising the whole tombstone, have many broad and sometimes very personal meanings. A few examples of symbolism found in these cemeteries include: Westover Memorial Park sits on 83 acres of scenic woodlands. The property was Christian Cross: Viewed as a sign of Christian faith or eternal life and resurrection. The three formerly owned by several prominent Richmond County individuals including Judge ends at the top of the cross may represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of the Trinity or faith, Augustus Baldwin Longstreet and Porter Fleming. Westover Memorial Park’s name hope, and charity. is derived from the estate that once stood on the grounds known as “Westover.” In Weeping Willow: Represents drooping spirits and hearts of those left behind. 1912, Westover Memorial Park was chartered as a non-profit corporation, with Ivy: A symbol of immortality faithfulness and friendships. the first burial in 1915, and in March of 1923 it was designated as a Perpetual Care Cemetery. Westover Memorial Park has continually qualified as such since Star: A five-pointed star is symbolic of the life of Christ. Six-pointed stars refer to God’s wisdom, receiving that designation. Westover Memorial Park remains one of Augusta’s finest power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. memorial gardens that pays respectful tribute to generations of area families. Rose: Brevity of human existence; a fully opened rose may indicate that the deceased has died in the prime of life. It may also signify love, beauty, and condolence. 5 6 2 DR. HERVEY M. CLECKLEY (1903-1984) Portrayed by Maj. Gen. (retired) Perry M. Smith, husband of Dr. Cleckley’s niece, Connor Dyess Smith Dr. Hervey Milton Cleckley, born and raised in Augusta, Georgia was a world- renowned psychiatric physician. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia, and attended medical school at the Medical College of 1 Georgia. Dr. Cleckley bears the distinction GIOVANNI CASELLA of being one of Georgia’s few Rhodes (1873-1930) scholars who studied at Oxford University Portrayed by Dr. Benjamin P. Casella, in England. On April 7, 1930 Dr. Cleckley great-grandson of Giovanni Casella married Louise Erwin Martin Marshall, and adopted her daughter Mary Fleming Marshall. Giovanni Casella was born in Viggiano, Italy and later After forty-years of marriage, Louise Cleckley became a prominent business owner in Augusta, died on October 3, 1978. Dr. Cleckley then married Georgia. Casella was a musician, who played Emily Bayard Sheftall. Dr. Cleckley operated a second violin on a cruise ship with Andrea Damiano private practice in Augusta, was a professor at and Frances DiRago. In Augusta, Casella and the Medical College of Georgia, and wrote many papers and books about psychiatry during his his extended family established many blooming professional career. He is perhaps best known for enterprises including: Snappy’s Hamburgers, The Three Faces of Eve, which he co-wrote with Dr. Casella’s Jewelers, Casella’s Sandwich Shop, and Corbett H. Thigpen, about a patient who struggled Casella Eye Care on Broad Street in downtown with multiple personality disorder. “‘Eve” possessed three distinct personalities out Augusta. Giovanni Casella married Maria Rosa of a collection of approximately twenty-two personalities, which is why she received Setaro, and the couple bore five children: Louis counseling from Drs. Thigpen and Cleckley. Their book received so much attention it Casella, Leonard Casella, Joseph Casella, eventually translated into twenty-seven languages and became a movie entitled: "The Victor Casella, and Cenzina Casella.Casella Three Faces of Eve". The film, which starred Joanne Wooward as Eve, made its world died after an extended five-year illness on premiere in Augusta’s own Miller Theater. Despite his worldwide fame, Augustans knew November 4, 1930, at his residence in Augusta. Dr. Hervey Milton Cleckley best for his humbleness. He passed away on January 28, 1984. 7 8 4 3 ROBERT EDWARD ELLIOTT (1860-1935) Portrayed by Samuel E. Tyson, Jr., great-grandson of Robert Elliott AQUILLA JAMES “JIMMIE” DYESS (1908-1944) Introduced by Mausoleum Hostess, Cecelia Baker Barrett, Robert Edward Elliott, Sr. was born on March 23, 1860 in Jefferson County, Georgia, Aquilla James “Jimmie” Dyess, was and attended the Bethany Schoolhouse, which he helped erect. In order to progress his born on January 11, 1909. He is education, Elliott attended the Berlin School located near Hephzibah. On October 1, 1879, an Augusta native who is the only he arrived in Augusta, Georgia where he later married Corinthia Allen Shipp on February American to hold the distinction of 12, 1889. Of their twelve children, three passed away before adulthood. Elliott possessed being awarded both the Carnegie a diverse career including time as a police officer in the Augusta Police, furniture store Medal and the Congressional Medal owner, funeral home director, city council member, and as Coroner of Richmond County, of Honor. His first heroic act was Georgia. He was a devout Methodist who steadily attended church throughout his lifetime, when he was only 19 years old and most notably at St. James and vacationing at Sullivan’s Island, St. John Methodist Churches South Carolina in July of 1928. He of Augusta. Elliott bears the rescued two drowning women and distinction among his peers received the Carnegie Medal for his as being the only Augustan to heroic actions. He was a graduate hold membership in the “Three of the Academy of Richmond County Score and Ten Year Club,” which and later went to Clemson University is a national fellowship society. where he majored in Agriculture. While at Clemson, Jimmie was on the football team and The Augusta City Hall closed on captain of the 1930-31 Rifle Team. Jimmie graduated from Clemson University in 1931 the day of Elliott’s funeral as a and in May of 1931 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve. He display of respect for all that married Connor Cleckley in 1934 and their daughter, Connor Cleckely Dyess was born in Robert Edward Elliott meant to 1935. In October of 1936, Jimmie entered the Marines as a First Lieutenant and received Augusta and its citizens, and his the rank of Captain in February of 1939. By May of 1942 he was raised to Major at body received a police escort. Barrage Balloon School and in April of 1943 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, 19th Battalion. Dyess died on February 2, 1944 while leading his men in battle in Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. It was for his bravery that he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. 9 10 5 Nicholas was a member of His Majesty’s Troop of Rangers who accompanied Governor Oglethorpe on his second journey back in the 1730’s. Nicholas was stationed at Fort ARTHUR BRIAN MERRY (1903-1953) Augusta, which was the garrison near the river that served as the starting point for Portrayed by Jim Price the amazing community we have today. He received a land grant in St. Paul’s Parish for property below the city of Augusta from George III in recognition of his services. Dr. Arthur Brian Merry, born in Augusta on August Eugene Murphey’s father, Edmund, was a merchant and a painter, but Eugene did not 14, 1903, was a successful businessman and follow in his father’s footsteps. He decided instead to pursue a medical career. The fields architect. He married Sarah Falconer Smith that particularly interested him included pathology, physical diagnosis, materia medica on June 1, 1929, and one year later their first and therapeutics, and medical education. Dr. Eugene Murphey also had a military career son, A. Brian Merry Jr. was born. They then and was a first lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corps in 1912, back before World War bore two more children, Alice Coffin Merry I.