The Chapel

Below you will find a history of Graves Chapel, compiled by Doug Graves.


Graves Chapel, Graves Mill, Virginia, stands just outside the boundaries of Shenandoah National Park in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. At the western edge of Madison County, it sits between Bluff Mountain Road (Rt. 618) on its south side and Kinsey Run to the north. For generations, the church has provided a place for worship, Sunday School classes, weddings, baptisms, community reunions, meetings, Gospel sings, and funerals. It even served—temporarily—as a school. Though it has served the community in many roles, to its parish members and friends in Graves Mill and the surrounding hills and hollows, it has always been most important as a location for prayer and reflection.

THE BEGINNING: Late Nineteenth Century

On October 14, 1886 “the Shiloh Baptist Association opened Graves Chapel at Graves Mill with thirty charter members” housed within the original sanctuary or main Chapel building which measures 28½ feet wide and 36 feet long. The exact date of construction for the Chapel building is unknown. However, within the sanctuary there is a sign stating “Graves Chapel Built 1885.”

The Shiloh Baptist Association Meeting Minutes state: “held at Mt. Lebanon Church Rappahannock County, Va…August 30 and 31, and Sept 1, 1887 [it] makes mention of [a] new Church Graves Chapel with delegate E. P. Estes present—also, that ‘Letters having been presented from three new churches, viz: Graves Chapel, Forest Grove, and Brandy, with applications for membership in this body…’ Also, under ‘Report on New Churches the Committee to which were referred the petitions of new churches for admission into the Association be leave to report: They find that the Graves Memorial Chapel Church was regularly organized the last day of October, 1886 under the advice of a council composed of Brethren C. F. James, T. F. Grimsley and T. W. Lewis. The Church presents a satisfactory confession of Faith and Church-Covenant, and sends regularly appointed messengers. We, therefore, recommend that the Church be received into our fellowship and be placed in the third district of the Association.’-respectfully submitted by J. W. McCown, Chairman, W. C. Stout, William A. Hill.”F F

Early records indicate that “on April 22, 1888, the Rev. Roy Temple addressed the Sunday School, with sixty-five people present and a collection of twenty-three cents [was received]. Oral history tells us that the two doors at the front of the building provided separate entrances for men and women, and in early days, men and women sat on different sides of the Chapel.”F

The Graves Mill residents primarily responsible for the organization of Graves Chapel were “Ed [Francis Edward] Graves, James Kite and Charlie Kite. Its early pastors were J.M. Farrar, Hugh Goodwin, Roy Temple, A. M. Grimsley, G. Gray, and A. J. Harlow.”F F Originally established as a Baptist Meeting House, it evolved into a community church. It provided all the normal pastoral services and offered space for community events as well.

Graves Chapel’s real estate comprises three parcels of land. The earliest or first parcel was donated by Francis Edward Graves and his wife, Mary Peach Hamilton. The deed dated May 16, 1883 states “that in consideration of the sum of one dollar the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties of the first part--there granted bargain and sold to the said Thomas J. Allen, Robert A. Burnett & James C. Chapman trustees as aforesaid a certain lot of land for the purpose of erecting thereon a Meeting House for public worship therein of the New School Baptist as known in contradistinction from other religious denominations and their successors in office for the use and benefit of said denomination for all time to come they the said Thomas J Allen Robert A Burnett and James C. Chapman associating with themselves the said F. E. Graves as Trustee in the management of the building of said Meeting house and the keeping the same in proper order.”F It is believed that this earliest structure was perhaps located just across Kinsey Run (on the north side) from its present site and because of possible flooding, was later moved to its present site on higher ground.F

As noted, Graves Chapel was established for the New School Baptist as opposed to “other religious denominations” which would have been the Primitive and/or Old School Baptist.F F The New School and Primitive Baptists differed theologically as to how clergy should be trained. The Primitive Baptist “believed that the scriptural pattern was for young ministers to apprentice or train under elder ministers, not in a seminary. These Baptists were of the Old School in faith and practice and became known as the Primitive Baptists. The churches which adopted the use of Missionary Societies, Sunday Schools and Theological Seminaries were of the New School and became known as Missionary Baptists.”F F Thus Graves Chapel was part of the Missionary Baptist group providing ministerial services along with offering Sunday School instruction as well and thus was titled, New School Baptist.

The second parcel of land for Graves Chapel is found within a deed dated April 1, 1893 “between James [E.] Estes of the first part and Lewis A. Nicholson, George Estes, E.[G.] W. Lillard, Asa Estes and James P. Kite, trustees of the second part all of Madison County Virginia Witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged the said party of the first part doth grant unto the said trustees of the second part a certain lot or parcel of land lying in Madison Co. Va. on Jones’ Run [present day Kinsey Run] near Graves’ Mill adjoining the lands of the said James [E.] Estes and a lot deeded by F. E. Graves and Mary P. Graves [the first parcel above], his wife, to the Missionary Baptists, or Trustees for the benefit or use of the said Baptists.”F F The Estes property was located on the present day south side of Kinsey Run and perhaps it was at this time, the Chapel structure may have been moved across Kinsey Run to it’s present location.

The third and final deed of land comprising Graves Chapel is dated March 10, 1911 and it establishes the present day graveyard portion of the property. Within this deed, Mary Texas (Collins) Melton-Jenkins purchases a small parcel of land, from James W. Estes and his wife Mary (Mollie) Estes, and presumably donates it to Graves Chapel for the exclusive purpose: “the said lot is only to be used as a cemetery & no large trees to be planted in it.”F F So the above listed three deeds establish the present day boundaries of property known as Graves Chapel.

ANOTHER EARLIER CHURCH

Graves Chapel was not the first church on record within Graves Mill. The first Church on record was named New Hope or Bethel Church and was located adjacent to the Rapidan River (east side), approximately 1 mile north of present day Graves Chapel. It stood beside the old abandoned road which leads over Blakey Ridge to Criglersville.

New Hope was a Methodist Episcopal Church (during the Civil War the word “South” was added). So far as we know, the only documentation on record for this church facility is the originating deed and the deed selling and/or releasing the property. Thus, very little is known regarding this church. The deed dated November 29, 1828 established a one-acre parcel of land for the church. It states: “to cause to be built thereon a home of worship for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America…and adopted by the ministries of the said church at their general conference in the United States of America."F F

This church apparently had a close alliance with Graves Chapel. The Graves Chapel Baptist Sunday School ledger, May 6, 1888 states: “the above mentioned school [Graves Chapel Baptist Sunday School] was glad to receive the presentation of a large portion of the M. E. [Methodist Episcopal] Sunday School of New Hope and we would be glad if the same would be continuously (the remaining is illegible).”F F It was not uncommon for Baptist and Methodist Churches to occasionally join together and temporarily form a “Union Church…meaning the churches would join together…to have union meetings…to represent both denominations.”

Oral history indicates that an early school house used by the local children was originally located at the Methodist Church site along the Rapidan River. In the early 1900s, lighting struck the school and it burned. The children presumably then held their classes within Graves Chapel until the present Graves Mill School house was constructed c. 1906. F

The Church probably operated for several years until the property was sold to Thomas Reuben Daniel. This final deed is dated July 24, 1919 and was "between D.M. Pattie, W.H. Goodall & George E. Aylor, trustees for the M. E. Church South, …for the sum of $80.00 do grant unto Thomas Reuben Daniel that certain of lot (approx. 1-acre) situate on the Rapid Ann River, known as 'New Hope'”F F The exact date when the Methodist Church ceased operation is unknown.

THROUGH THE YEARS

Graves Chapel’s history is a mixture of oral and written documentation. Oral history treasured the revivals, the “high point of the year. There was a saying that you could count on peaches and the preacher in the third week of August. Women canned peaches, housed the visiting evangelists and prepared legendary potluck dinners which were served on hay wagons covered with the best household linens. There was much rivalry as to who made the best pies and cakes. Congregations were large and often worshippers stood in the yard as there was no room in the sanctuary.”

A ledger dated December 2, 1894, states that “the church would do her best to pay him [the preacher] seventy five dollars [per year].”F F Being without a Sexton, the brother or sister putting in the lowest bid should act as Sexton. Some of the duties included opening the church forty minutes before appointed time for service, building a fire, scrubbing, dusting, sweeping and cleaning windows before each service. Oil had to be kept in plentiful supply and lamps cleaned and in perfect order. Stoves were to be polished and the wood chopped and carried. The bids were handed in and read by the Pastor. Sister Edith E. Berrey’s bid of four dollars and ninety five cents was the lowest and she was declared Sexton for the next twelve months.F

During the early 1900’s, Graves Chapel was a busy place. Circuit preachers generally came only one Sunday a month to preach and lead worship; other Sundays there was Sunday School. The Shiloh Baptist Meeting Minutes for August, 1900, show Graves Chapel’s Sunday School enrollment as 72 individuals. In those turn-of-the-century years, it is likely the attendance could exceed 100 on the busiest Sundays. At a Shiloh Baptist Association meeting held between August 31st and September 1st, 1927, Graves Chapel Secretary Charles Gaston Jenkins reported that Graves Chapel had “seated 150” and there were “41 enrolled in Sunday School.”F

IN THE LATER YEARS
Chapel members decided they needed Sunday School classrooms, so in 1955, they built an addition onto the Chapel measuring 28 ½ feet by 30 feet. As much as possible, they used local materials and labor. They paid for cement, windows and the like with money women saved from their egg sales. The men donated the proceeds from harvests from “God’s acres” (land they set aside and dedicated to the Lord for a year).F

Though the congregation planned for expansion when it built the Sunday School rooms, the population of Graves Mill and the surrounding mountains was already declining, a decline beginning between World War I and World War II. Individuals left the farms and mountain homes where their families had lived for generations. They moved to the cities where they hoped for greater economic prosperity. In addition, the establishment of the Shenandoah National Park in 1936 displaced the families who had once lived within its boundaries. As the local population dwindled, the Graves Chapel congregation declined considerably. Declining attendance meant declining revenues and it became increasingly difficult to pay for preachers and their services

The following handwritten letter, found within the records of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, summarizes Graves Chapel’s fate after its faithful service to Graves Mill and the surrounding mountains:

“September 3, 1969—To: Members of Rapidan and Beth Carr Baptist Church
Subject: Ministerial Services for Graves Chapel

The two Churches mentioned above asked for Graves Chapel Baptist Church to leave the field as an inactive Church. To get their own minister, it would be hard for the above mentioned Churches to explain Graves Chapel to (illegible). However, it would be difficult to get a minister for two Churches, let alone three. The third one being such a small Church.

The meeting concerning the Graves Chapel Congregation and the Rapidan and Beth Carr Baptist Church was held on July 29, 1969. The results of this meeting, Graves Chapel decided to stay in the field with the above Churches, but as an inactive Church due to the fact that Graves Chapel feels in the future that the Church may become active again. However, she still has her part in the Baptist parsonage at Pratts, Virginia. We feel this is the best course to follow.

For members of Graves Chapel Baptist Church
Dolly H. Seekford, Secretary”


In April, 1969 Graves Chapel closed its doors. It had served the community for eighty-three years. Soon after the last service, which was a Communion service, the Chapel sent the above letter to the members of Rapidan and Beth Car Baptist Churches. F F Oral legend has it that the reason for its closing was because the church members argued and couldn’t reach a consensus on the color to paint the Sunday School rooms. However the above letter indicates, possibly more accurately, that the closing was due to economic factors--a sign of changing times within the Graves Mill area.

A NEW BEGINNING

In April, 1979, exactly ten years after the last Baptist service, Graves Chapel reopened as an interdenominational fellowship under a board of volunteer clergy. In 1977, Charles Jenkins asked Jeannie Light to open the old church, but she demurred, saying that the first order of business was Bible study which she led in a nearby cottage where she lived. The Bible study grew, and in 1979 the members decided to refurbish the Chapel. Services were held at 4:00 p.m. by kerosene light. Finally, Charles Jenkins arranged for electricity to be installed within the Chapel before that first Christmas since “he couldn’t see very well by candles and lanterns.”F F After the church opened, the little congregation continued to grow and by the end of the year, they needed to decide how to organize as a church.

It may seem a major change for a country Baptist Church to become an Episcopal mission, but in the early 1900’s the Episcopal Church had established a string of missions throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains, including one referred to as the Old Rock Church on Middle River (Madison County). Its actual name was the Chapel of Remembrance and is located at Fletcher on the Madison County side of Middle River. Although these missions closed in the sixties, according to Graves Mill long-time resident James (Jim Elsie) McDaniel, when the Old Rock Church was flourishing it was common for Graves Mill residents to walk the three miles or so across the mountain ridges to Middle River--if there didn’t happen to be any “preachin” at Graves Chapel. Hence, some of the Graves Mill residents were familiar with the Episcopal Church. In addition, Clarence Chambers from Emmanuel Episcopal Church (Rapidan, Virginia) was a Lay Reader who had helped with preaching and services in those early Episcopal mountain missions. He took a personal interest in the little church and in 1980, Emmanuel Episcopal Church endorsed Graves Chapel. Since Jeannie Light was a member at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, in 1981 the Chapel congregation voted to become Episcopal and called her as its pastor. She began as Lay Reader, and in 1983, Episcopal Bishop Hall appointed her as Lay Missioner in Charge for Graves Chapel.

Subsequently the congregation established a thrift shop which provided food, clothing, furniture, and other items needed for the economically challenged individuals. It was named “The Light House” not for their Missioner, but because they hoped it would bring the light of hope to the disadvantaged. It operated out of the old and then closed Elmore (Elmo) Utz general store within Graves Mill and it became a large success.

In 1991, Episcopal Bishop Peter James Lee consecrated Graves Chapel as an Episcopal Mission. In the all-afternoon service, there were eight baptisms, five reaffirmations, and three new members received. Martyn Minns, Rector of Truro Episcopal Church, Fairfax assisted Bishop Lee, and Mr. Brady Johnson, Acting Director of Music from Truro played the refurbished Allen electric organ which Mrs. Arthur Mollé had donated in 1987. The Rev. Caroll Motsinger from Whitesel Music, Harrisonburg, had serviced the instrument and arranged for a sound system needed for the festivities. The Graves Chapel choir led the singing. At the time of the Consecration, the little church had a flourishing thrift shop, a food pantry, a monthly newsletter, and hosted weekly services with Communion once per month.

By 1993, Jeannie Light had served Graves Mill for fifteen years, and it seemed time for her to resign the charge, which she did. The Episcopal Dean of the Diocese’s Region Fifteen accepted responsibility for the congregation’s direction. Several members of the congregation led services, especially Ralph (Skip) McDanolds who was an accomplished Lector. Eventually, Piedmont Episcopal Church’s Vicar, Philip Johnston, and his wife Carol assumed responsibility and oversight, and services were held once per month. This arrangement continued for approximately two years until, because of declining attendance and the Johnston’s pending retirement, the congregation decided to cease operation.

The Baptists’ final service in April 1969 was a Communion service. When Ms. Light opened the church in April 1979, the Communion cups were still in the backs of the pews, holding the purple stain from the dregs of the last grape juice. On June 25, 1995, the dwindling Episcopal congregation celebrated its final service, also a Communion, just two days before an historic flood washed through the beautiful valley changing it forever. F

In October 1995, Rev. Brad Jackson assumed the pastoral leadership of Piedmont Episcopal Church in Madison from the retired Vicar Phil Johnston. Shortly thereafter, Piedmont Episcopal Church officially accepted complete oversight of the Graves Chapel building and vestry--a role which it maintains to this day.

On June 27, 1995, the Graves Mill valley was struck with a devastating flood. As the raging flood waters approached the Chapel, floating trees and debris lodged against trees in the cemetery: locust, cedars and an old silver maple (removed February 7, 2007). The resulting dyke provided a barrier against the main force of the flood, diverting the waters around the Chapel, and though the old church sustained some damage, it survived! Unfortunately, many other buildings nearby in Graves Mill were not so fortunate. They were lost forever, including the Graves Mill Post Office.

Though somewhat damaged, the Chapel continued to serve the community. Just a few days after the flood, The Red Cross set up a distribution center in the Chapel where residents were able to obtain much-needed supplies. The Graves Mill Post Office building had been located across Kinsey Run in front of the Graves Mill grist mill, but because it had been destroyed, the United States Postal service leased the missioner’s office in the Chapel where the post office continued to offer the full range of postal services until the post mistress, Mrs. Ruth Lillard, retired June 1, 2001. When Mrs. Lillard retired, the postal officials suspended the services of the official Graves Mill post office, services that had been available in the community since approximately 1828. Though no lives were lost in the flood, the waters not only destroyed several old buildings and at least one residence; it closed an historic institution which had defined the community for almost 175 years.

The Chapel has been a meeting place, worship space, and post office. In addition to all these roles, since about 1987, it has been the official location for the Graves Mill voting precinct. The earlier “voting house” as it was called, located just a few yards from the Chapel, served the community well for approximately 50 years. However, new laws required modern plumbing and handicapped access, so the Chapel’s Vestry offered the space and the community accepted. To this day, the Chapel serves as Graves Mill’s voting precinct.

PRESENT DAY

Today the Chapel serves as a community center for Graves Mill and is the voting precinct. Though it is Episcopal property, other denominations use the sanctuary on a temporary basis. Occasionally, couples choose to be married in the quaint Chapel. Visitors occasionally picnic on the Chapel grounds, inspect the graveyard, and enjoy the natural beauty of the vistas before them.

On April 18, 2009, Graves Chapel was honored by being a host to the Garden Club of Virginia to benefit the restoration of historic gardens through out Virginia. Graves Chapel was one of five locations chosen for the Orange Club Tour. A total of 525 people chose to visit the Chapel on that day.

On July 28, 2008, Lay Preacher Susan Hull (an earlier resident of Graves Mill) began offering Evening Prayer Services on the 4th Sunday of the month for worshipers in the beautiful nineteenth century structure. Thus, Graves Chapel lives on in the Blue Ridge Mountains, continuing its service to parish and community.

THE COVENANT

The following is a copy of the Graves Chapel Baptist Church Covenant which provides insight into the strong Christian beliefs and values of those individuals that established this Chapel and supported it for several of generations.

Our Church Covenant
Graves Chapel Baptist Church

Having been led as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour; on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and the of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; promote its prosperity, and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the relief of the poor and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, and faithful in our engagements.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy of speech; to be slow to take offence, always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.
We engage still again to at all times be ready to reason with other members of our church, especially the members of the board of deacons or pastor in case they should deem it wise to consult with, reprove, or correct us, with the understanding that more than [mutual respect] must always be present under such conditions. And further more we engage to submit to the erasure of our name from the roll when at any time we have been found guilty by the church of violating any of the above clauses, in case we are not willing to offer such apologies as are deemed necessary by the church.





BURIALS AND MARKERS WITHIN GRAVES CHAPEL GRAVEYARD
GRAVES MILL, VIRGINIA
(March 2009)


#1 Melton, Reuben M. born March 10 or 18, 1832 and died November 1, 1902. He was first a Blacksmith in Syria, Virginia and later, a blacksmith in Graves Mill. Reuben was a Civil War Veteran. He was within Co. "C" 4th Va. Cavalry (known as Madison County Invincibles) as a farrier. He first married Virginia Jackson Wallis. After the death of Virginia (1878), he secondly married Mary Texas Collins on January 16, 1879.One of the children from his first marriage was Virginia (Belle) Isabella Melton. She married John T. Sylba. After the death of Reuben, his wife Mary married John Lillard Jenkins. Mary and Reuben owned the Graves Mill Grist Mill and operated a general and millinery store upon their property along with the grist mill.
#1A Footstone of Reuben M. Melton—RMM.
#2 Memorial to Reuben M. Melton and his wife, Mary [Texas Collins] Melton Jenkins
#3 Small blank stone most likely marking the burial site of Mary Melton Jenkins. See #3-A for her
footstone.
#3A Footstone of Mary [Texas Collins] Melton Jenkins. Second wife of Reuben M. Melton. She was born March 29, 1844 and died within the fall of 1920. Mary was the third wife of John Lillard Jenkins and married John in 1907, after the death of her first husband Reuben M. Melton.
#4 John T. Sylva and his wife, [Virginia Isabella] Belle Melton Memorial. It is believed that both John and Belle are buried here although no individual stone is found for John. See #1 above-Reuben M. Melton for additional information.
#4A Footstone of Belle Melton Sylba—BMS, wife of John T. Sylva. She was born April 20, 1858
and died September 2, 1898. See #1 above-Reuben M. Melton.
#5 Arthur W. Cline 1915-2001. Mr. Cline was a strong supporter and participant of Graves Chapel while the Church was under the leadership of Lay Missioner Jeannie Light (years 1979-1993). Because of his involvement with the Church, his ashes (cremation) are interred here.
#6 Nina A. Slater Davis born March 4, 1901 and died May 8, 1992. Her ashes are here as is the case with her son, Everette J. Davis whose ashes are directly next to Nina’s. Nina was the maternal Grandmother of Vicki Anne Burke whom is the wife of James Carlton Seekford. James (Skeeter) Seekford is the son of the long time Graves Mill resident Dolly Madison Hawkins Seekford (died August 30, 2005-see #12).
#7 Everette J. Davis born August 17, 1930 and died January 10, 1992. He was the son of Nina A. Davis (#6-above). Both Everette and Nina were cremated and their ashes are interred here.
#8 Mary Elizabeth Yowell born November 10, 1906 and died August 18, 1915. She was the daughter of Annie L. Mauck and her husband, William F. Yowell. The Yowells lived above the Abraham Franklin Graves home which is presently (year 2009) located upon the property of Randall and Ruth Lillard. Annie was also the mother (father unknown) of Max Wilson Mauck whom is buried next to Mary-see #10.
#9 Depression-Here is a depression or sunken ground that may possibly be the burial location of an unknown individual. Within the Madison Exponent Newspaper (the earlier name of the present day Madison Eagle Newspaper) dated November 18, 1910, it contains a death notice for Claude Raymond Cole (born 1885-died November 11, 1910). It indicates that Claude was buried within the Graves Chapel graveyard, Graves Mill, Virginia [1910]. His parents were John W. Cole and Bettie M. Walker who had lived within the Stanton River area of the upper Rapidan River Valley. They moved to the Lynchburg area of the state. A later article within the Madison Exponent dated January 5, 1912 states that the Coles returned to Graves Mill to place a tombstone on their son’s gravesite at Graves Chapel. There is no tombstone at Graves Chapel locating this burial site. However, directly adjacent to and behind the Mary Elizabeth Yowell tombstone, is an extra base of a tombstone. The top portion of the stone, containing the name and other information, is missing! Ms Jeannie Light, the Lay Missioner for Graves Chapel between 1979 and 1993, indicated that rumor was that when Graves Chapel closed, in 1969, a family came to the Church and removed the remains of their loved one. They were concerned that since the Church had closed, the graveyard would not be maintained any further. Possibly, this sunken area was once the burial location of Claude Raymond Cole and the missing tombstone was his.


BURIALS AND MARKERS WITHIN GRAVES CHAPEL GRAVEYARD
GRAVES MILL, VIRGINIA
Continued
(March 2009)



#10 Max Wilson Mauck born March 20, 1883 and died October 6, 1975. Max lived and worked within the Graves Mill community his entire life. He never married, lived upon the property of various property owners, and was a general handyman. His mother was Annie L. Mauck who later married William F. Yowell-the step father of Max. Max is buried, a short distance away from his half-sister Mary Elizabeth Yowell # 8.
#11 Charles Gordon Jenkins Memorial born October 9, 1911 and died April 29, 1988. The memorial is in error, when it gives his name as Charles Gaston Jenkins. Charles Gaston Jenkins was the father of whom this memorial was placed namely, UCharles Gordon JenkinsU. Charles Gordon Jenkins was born and lived his entire life within Graves Mill. He was an extremely hard worker, had much humor and wit as the memorial states. Charles is buried within Graham Cemetery, located in Orange, Virginia. The memorial is for Charles Gordon Jenkins.
#12 Dolly Madison Hawkins Seekford born March 4, 1929 in Graves Mill, Virginia. She was the only daughter of James (Buck) Edgar Hawkins, Sr., and Mary Elizabeth Estes. She had two older brothers named Leon Murat Hawkins and James Edgar Hawkins, Jr. She married Roy Carlton Seekford, Jr., on September 4, 1948 in Orange, Virginia. From this union, two children were born. The first was Mary Alice Seekford and the second, James (Skeeter) Carlton Seekford. Dolly loved Graves Mill and Graves Mill became, in some respects, “Dolly”! Oh, did she enjoy talking about the ‘good ole times’–growing up in Graves Mill. She loved God, her parents, her children, her friends, her home, and most definitely—The Village of Graves Mill. Dolly became a single parent, early on. She raised her two children, educated them well, and provided individualized personal care for her Mother during her Mother’s last few years on this earth. Dolly did all of this, while maintaining a full time employment position with the United States Postal Service. She began her postmaster career at the Elmore (Elmo) Utz General Store within Graves Mill, on May 11, 1956. Upon the death of Mr. Utz in 1957, the post office was moved to a one room building, located on the property of the Graves Mill Grist Mill in Graves Mill. She was the postmaster there, until 1976 when she transferred to the Reva Park Post Office. She remained at Reva Park until her retirement in 1986. As the years passed on, Dolly’s health became an issue. On August 30, 2005, she “crossed over the river, to sit under the shade of the trees”……and passed away in Rocky Mount, Virginia. Here rest her ashes, placed here on October 8th, 2006, within the Graves Chapel graveyard. It is so fitting that she rest here within the Church she attended as a young child, an adolescent, and, as a married woman with children. Resting here—in the shadow of her beloved home---within the Church graveyard that she loved so dearly. May she rest in peace. We all loved her. We all miss her!