The cemetery stone was ordered by Gaynell H. Sasser on November 14, 2001, and installed on March 19, 2002 by Jerry Van Herrin and Thomas Earl Cleland.

Allen Highsmith was a well-known man in the Wayne County (Brantley Co.) area. He was born in New Hanover County , N.C. January 16, 1804, the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Knox Highsmith. He moved with his parents and grandfather, Daniel Highsmith R.S. to Tattnall County, and later to Wayne County. Allen met Elizabeth Knox, born October 25, 1811, daughter of Reddick Knox (Indian Wars) and Ruhama Taylor from N.C. Allen and Elizabeth were married on. January 14, 1830 . Allen and Elizabeth had the following children:

1) Samuel Highsmith b. 1831 m Mary Jane Willis December 27, 1849

2) Margaret Highsmith b.1833 m William Jackson Purdom January 30, 1851 b November 14, 1833

3) John Franklin Highsmith *CSA* b. March 18, 1835 d. December 9, 1903 m. Nancy Charlotte Jones January 16, 1861 daughter of Burrell Jones and Mary Mizell Jones, Nancy was b October 1, 1845 d. December 28, 1912. John and Nancy are buried in New Hope Cemetery .

4) Catherine Highsmith b. August 20, 1837 d March 27, 1915 m. Jacob Jefferson Johns *CSA* October 18, 1856 b February 20, 1836 d March 4, 1878. Jacob was the son of Jeremiah Johns and Mary McClellan Johns.

5) Wiley Highsmith b. 1840 d. probably died young

6)**** Mary Matilda Highsmith b. June 11, 1842 d. June 20, 1883 m. James Burrell Jones *CSA* August 27, 1858 son of Burrell Jones and Mary Mizell Jones, James was b May 16, 1842 d 1932 Mary is buried in New Hope Cemetery.

Jim Buck and Matilda were 16 years old when they were married. They had been married a year and four months when their first child, John Burrell Jones (b.20 Nov 1859)was born. They had 12 more chidren. Matilda was 39 years old when she died, the same year that she gave birth to their last child, Sarah Jones (b.3 Jul 1881). Matilda may have died while giving birth to Sarah.

Our Grandma Martha's mother Mary Elizabeth Jones (b.5 Nov 1863;d.28 Aug 1886) was the fourth child of Jim Buck and Matilda. She married Banner Mixon Thomas (b.9 Feb 1857-Waycross Ware Co.,GA;;d.22 Oct 1936) Mary Elizabeth was 17 and Banner was 23 when they were married.She had been married to Banner a year and a couple of months when her mother gave birth to Sarah and died shortly after. Banner and Mary Elizabeth only had a few short years together because Mary Elizabeth died just 6 years after they married.

Jim Buck remarried 8 years after Matilda died. He married Eliza J. Knight (m.18 Sep 1889) They had only one child, Mary Ann Jones (no dates on Eliza or daughter)This marriage ended less than 3 years later.

Jim Buck then married Nettie Lucilla Sweat (b.1871;m.1886) Jim Buck was 44 and Nettie was 15. They had four boys. 2 of the boys were twins. This marriage lasted 10 years.

Jim Bucks last marriage was to Nettie C. Booth (b.abt. 1852;m.abt. 1896). He was 54 and Nettie was 44. They had one child, Willie Reddin Jones. He was born the day before christmas and died when he was about 1 -1/2 years old.)

Judy

7) Mary Elizabeth Highsmith b. January 30, 1845 d. July 31, 1922 m. James A. Courson November 23, 1865 son of Joshua Courson and Mary Sweat Courson, James was b. September 11, 1845 d. September 8, 1922

8) Annis “Anna” Highsmith b. January 1848 d. 1848 m. Banner Edwin Dowling son of David Dowling and Letitia Thomas Dowling, Banner was b November 18, 1850 d. December 20, 1901 . Annis and Banner are buried in New Hope Cemetery .

9) Sarah Highsmith b. November 12, 1849 d. September 2, 1907 m Solomon P. Wainright, Sarah is buried in New Hope Cemetery .

10) Willis Highsmith b. 1852 probably died young

11) Allen Highsmith Jr b. 1853 probably died young