ACCESS
Access is very difficult. There are no discernible roads or pathways to
the cemetery. Our visit took place in late March, and it was necessary
to climb the West slope of the ridge through thick briars and
undergrowth until we reached a barbed-wire fence running up the ridge.
We followed this fence line through the forest and undergrowth until we
reached the cemetery. This cemetery is not visible from any point on
Route 745, and becomes evident as a cemetery only when one is actually
standing inside the cemetery.
APPEARANCE AND CARE
There is no evidence of recent care or visitation. This cemetery has,
for all practical purposes, returned to nature. It is completely
overgrown and the fence is rusted and broken down. There was one grave
with an approximately 8-inch diameter locust tree growing out of it.
Thick grass, weeds and underbrush make it very difficult to identify
many of the graves. Many of the graves are discernible only as linear
depressions in the ground. It is evident that the final resting places
of these at least twenty of our ancestors have been forgotten and
abandoned to Mother Nature's care.
Note: Items in brackets ( ) have been added by the compiler.
JOHNSON SUTHERLAND Born: 1844 Died: 1932
(Born DOCTOR JOHNSON SUTHERLAND, he was the son of Alexander and Polly
Sutherland. He married Margaret Browning, daughter of Jesse and Biddy
Stinson Browning. He was a Confederate Soldier, and served in (1st)
Company E, 21st Virginia Cavalry)
LAFAYETTE SUTHERLAND Born: October 14, 1848 Died: October 4, 1918
(He was the son of Alexander and Polly Sutherland. He married Galatin
Artrip)
O R SUTHERLAND Born: January 13, 1872 Died: December 25, 1932
ORA E SMITH Born: March 19, 1878 Died: February 20, 1918
BELFRY P SUTHERLAND Born: 1873 Died: January 13, 1917
RUFUS SUTHERLAND Born: July 12, 1875 Died: November 3, 1921
BOBBY SUTHERLAND Died: June 20, 1945
"S of Holiday and Ethel"
LAKYE E SUTHERLAND Born: March 14, 1906 Died: March 31, 1934
"D of Lafayette & Edna Sutherland"
In addition to the above, there were at least twelve identifiable depressions typical of sunken grave locations scattered throughout what appeared to be the cemetery area. Some had rough native stone markers with no discernible inscriptions.
There may have been other graves in this cemetery, but the overgrown condition and the thick covering of leaves, grass and weeds made it difficult to determine. The wide scattering of identifiable graves makes it likely that there are others not easily seen. This cemetery has essentially returned to nature, with trees and saplings growing out of and around the graves. It is not identifiable as a cemetery except for the eight inscribed stones.
The following additional information is from Doug Davidson:
Two of the unmarked graves are those of Elmore and Polly Sutherland. Their graves were marked only with field stones. At the time of their deaths, the World was in a great depression, food seemed more important than tomb stones. Three of their children are still living and may be able to identify others buried in this cemetery.
ELMORE SUTHERLAND b: Sept 8, 1878 d: Nov.8, 1936
Husband of Polly Catherine Rasnake
POLLY CATHERINE RASNAKE SUTHERLAND b: Aug. 15, 1891 d: Jan., 15, 1934
Wife of Elmore Sutherland