10/22/2018
Jim Evancho
On Sunday October 21 the Jacksonville City Cemetery had some ghosts come back to life to teach people some of the local history and residents of the area.
Jacksonville was the only Library in Calhoun County that participated in this years Cemetery Stroll and people took full advantage of it. 345 people came and attended this free event, compared to 16o last year, and they were not let down. Jacksonville is rich with area history and has some amazing residents that told the stories of those history makers. From Major John Pelham, who fought in the Civil War to Dr. James Francis, who once wanted to be a police officer but instead became an amazing Doctor.
This community event was the brainchild of the Alabama Public Library Service and will continue until next years Bicentennial celebration. Every actor and support personnel were 100% volunteers and many of them are direct descendants of the people they were representing. Over the many months of preparation with research, script design, and period costume creations, this was an event created to leave visitors impacted with a fun way to learn history. Who better than to teach history but a ghost?
The Jacksonville City Library has already committed to putting on the Bicentennial Cemetery Stroll next year and expects larger numbers than this year. Each year the library strives to make the event better and is in need of volunteers to make that happen. They will be in need of actors and behind the scenes volunteers to keep this successful program running well. If you are interested in helping with this event please contact the library for more information.
In case you were unable to attend, here is a list of this years actors and who they portrayed (actor name in bold):
Kimberly O’Dell – Historian – This year the Cemetery Stroll had a historian located at the entrance/exit of the event. Ms. O’Dell was available to offer her services to any visitor that wanted to know more about Jacksonville’s history.
Dr. James C. Francis – Jacob Francis – Dr. Francis’s office is now a medical museum.
Captain James Crook – James Alexander – He was responsible for introducing Jersey to Alabama
General John Forney – Scotty Myers – Gen. Forney taught at West Point
and
Septima Rutledge Forney – Tammy Myers – Was a descendant of the founding fathers of the US.
Dovie Hazel Weaver – Karlie Johnson – Victim of serial killer.
Sophena Williams Anderson – Becky Champion – Her family farm taught many life skills.
William L. Greenleaf – Dale Westbrooks – Founder of the mill
and
Florence Dennis Greenleaf – Kimberly Westbrooks – worked as a team with the above and discussed mill workers.
Grace Stevenson McAbee – Brittany Alexander – Designed the JSU Crest that is still in use today.
Mildred Johnston – Marsha Barry – taught the community to appreciate books.
Daisy Weller Smith – Lee Fuller – Had a colorful, larger than life personality.
John Ramagnano – Joseph Munster – was always entertaining Jacksonville
Jennie Taylor Fox – Sandra Sudduth – She taught her family to be civic minded.
George Pattie Reid – Thomas Sudduth – Many people waked a mile in “his” shoes
Elsie Snow Wyly – Patricia Surrett – She grew up at the city jail
Judge Thomas Walker – Chris Dempsey – Though his wife was pure of “heart”
Sarah McGehee Walker – Heather Dempsey – Was married to Judge Thomas Walker
Phebe Catherine Aderhold – Charity Beecham – Lincoln “saved” her home from thieves
Jane Fincher Coleman – Anne Gidley Renfroe – She was a Quaker widow and early settler of White Plains
Major John Pelham – Peter Leavitt – Dubbed “gallant” for his military prowess and courage.
