Just after 7:30 on Saturday morning we left the motel area for the cemetery. Click for photo: (I apologize for the red in this photo but a good pose by Bobbie and Curtis) A host of other folks joined in the task. Mollie Blackledge, the owner of the land where the cemetery is located, and her son, Joel, were gracious and helpful in this cleaning project.

Click Photo: (Gerald Johnson and Richard Johnston)

Also joining us was Francis Jernigan, Gerald Johnson, Herman Welborn and wife Doris, and another lady relative from out of town. Herman is Mollie’s brother. Herman was very helpful in that he told us exactly where Levi’s grave was located. Only a foot marker remained and it was not in the grave location. Herman told us that would turn his team around near the fence many times while plowing and would look over and see the grave of Uncle Levi.

Click for photo:Nelda Buchanan, second from right, traveled from near Nashville, TN to work in the project.

David Evans and Curtis Jernigan did a great job Click for Photo imbedding the new stone for Levi Johnikin (as spelled on stone) under the watchful eye of Richard. Richard took the lead in the refurbishing the head stone of GGM Effie Journagan/Johnston and both projects turned out beautifully. (Above photo click is of Levi's head stone just after I brought it to my home in September)

Click for Photo( by David Evans of Richard, Billie, and Donald following the final agreement on Levi's stone at the monument company) Donald transported the memorial stone from Shreveport to the entrance of the land and Curtis hauled it on his four wheeler to the site. I will not comment on the other work except to say that it was a challenge. Pictures will follow before too long. Joel saved the day by bringing a large tractor and front loader and pulling much of the heavy material out and piling it outside the fence. This young man is a lawyer/CPA but this day he was indeed a laborer. The ladies got out and cut and piled brush just like the rest of us. They were Maxine, Billie Jean, Vicki, Lacey and Nelda. I hope I didn’t leave out anyone.

Click for photo:
(LEFT: Curtis Jernigan, who brought special equipment, and David Evans worked hard on the project)

Royce Stringer was not only a hard worker in the cleaning project but a a great source of information on where relatives are buried. On Saturday he showed us a large book containing all cemeteries of the area. Some of our group has this info but this will be a limited reference to the Gregorys. He also brought to our attention (which Maxine and group followed up on during the lunch break) current and living Gregory relatives. We met Elwin Tew who operates an eatery not far from the cemetery and his brother Wayne Tew. They are nephews of Robert Gregory who came later to the work site. The three are descendants of Kinson Gregory. Only Quincy and sister Isabel Gregory came to Louisiana and they and some descendants are buried at Pelican and Wallace cemeteries near Pelican. The Mississippi group info will soon be brought into focus. Royce Stringer also took us by an eating establishment of Jerry Gregory, in or near Laurel on the north side. We did not get to see him.

The area we visited was serene, picturesque, and like a picture post card. Click photo (of Mollie, Richard, and Curtis at entrance to cemetery) The people who came to help were cordial. More info was obtained on relatives. I talked to one or two who made the trip. They want to go back. We have already a date to return - October 18 2003, a date that will not coincide with the birthday of a granddaughter of Mollie Blackledge. I was in the Laurel/Stringer area for less than one day - but a memory was created that will last a lifetime.