Dunn Memorial Park

As shared with WVCPA by family researcher, and Smith descendant, Esther Smith McQuain in May 2006:

Sansford and Maggie Coleman Smith lived at "Wealthy Acres" at Cabin Creek, WV. 

Connie Lou Smith Keirn is the daughter of Helen Smith Vealey and John Vealey 
Tommy Gene is the son of my Aunt, Wilma Smith Paris.  I believe he drowned. 

My father, Samuel E. Smith, made a lot of those tombstones around 1965 so that the graves would be marked.  He poured cement into a baby bathtub to form them.  I remember him making them so lovingly and I watched as he wrote the names and dates in each.  Maggie and Sansford are his parents. Our family plot is the second or third one up the hill.  We are just past the one with the wall.  The child in the photo of the building at Lady Dunn Cemetery (on this page) is my youngest daughter, Angelica.  We have done quite a bit toward documenting our family history.  My aunt, Naomi Smith Moore and her son, Roger Moore have done a great deal to maintain our family plot.

My Uncle Jerry used to visit the cemetery every year and put flowers on the place where he is now buried.  He'd say "This is my grave.  I'm going to put flowers there now because I don't know who will when I'm gone."  Sad, but true.  So many folks have forgotten their ancestors. I know we have other relatives way up the hill, one of which is Thomas Payne, Sr.  His wife was Sylvia (we called her Aunt Sylvi).  He was my father's maternal uncle, I think. 

Esther
May 8, 2006