Graves Cemetery It all got started...

On a hot summer day in the late 19th century, Brantley Graves and his brother were plowing a corn field on the family farm and stopped to give themselves and their mules a rest from the sun. They sat down under a large oak tree and Brantley stated, "When I die, I want to be buried in this very spot." His brother's response was, "You will get lonesome here all by yourself." Brantley then stated, "Well, if I do, I'll keep quiet about it."

Little did they know that day was they resumed their plowing that Brantley would die within a few days. There are several accounts of this conversation. Charlotte Cotton Ray states in her book, "To All Our Children,"this event occurred in 1861 and Brantley was buried exactly two weeks later.

In "The History and Families of Perry County Tennessee," the indication was that Brantley passed away in the 1870 to 1880 time period. Imogene Rasbury Parsley, in her book, "Isaac Lee Graves and His Descendants," notes two important items. She quotes Whitney Cotton Duncan, granddaughter of Isaac Lee, as stating that the brother with Brantley was Elijah Thomas "Doc" Graves, who was Isaac Lee's first born. She also indicates Brantley died somewhere between 1870 and 1880.

Brantley was buried in an unmarked grave and a gravestone was later added with the date of death listed as 1875. So, while the exact date of death may not be known, it is generally agreed, the Graves Cemetery began with his burial around 1875.

Isaac Lee Graves was the first-generation owner of the farm which included the cemetery. He was born in North Carolina in 1810, and moved to Tennessee at a very young age. It is believed his parents were Thomas and Margaret Graves of Maury County, as Isaac Lee was the administrator of their estate when Thomas died in 1836. Brantley was Isaac Lee's son by his first wife, Mary Lincoln. There were nine children born of this union and Mary died in 1856. She is buried in another cemetery in Perry County.

Isaac Lee then married Parthena Ledbetter in another cemetery in Perry County. Isaac Lee then married Parthena Ledbetter Ary Graves in 1858 and she also had nine children. Isaac Lee was buried in Graves Cemetery in 1894, followed by Parthenia in 1912. Family members and descendants of Isaac Lee continue to be laid to rest in this rural family cemetery on Sinking Creek Road in Perry County.

On April 21, 1847, land grant #28680 for 190 acres was deeded to Isaac Lee Graves. Most of the dates when the property transferred after that are not known, but at some point, the land was conveyed to A.C. (Andy Graves), son of S.E. Graves. It then passed to Fred Kenny Graves (grandson). Fred passed away in 1951 and the farm was sold to Dr. W.E. Boyce. The cemetery had never been listed as a separate entity.

On June 18, 1952, Dr. Boyce transferred ownership of the cemetery, which was one and one fourth acres, to the trustees of the Graves Cemetery Association and their successors in trust. At that time, the trustees were Trent Anderson, Alton Crowell, Bernice Epley, Ted Graves and A.C. Graves.

The traditions observed by descendants and family members have been established to help with upkeep and perpetual care of the cemetery and to honor those buried there.

Typically, a spring cleanup is scheduled to get ready for Decoration Day, which is the first Sunday in June. Decoration is also a time for the annual business meeting, followed by "Dinner on the Ground." This tradition probably started with families bringing food and spreading out a blanket or quilt to share a meal.

Some may still recall the wire fencing that was strung between trees to make a table for the food. Several years ago, funds were approved to build a pavilion which was constructed by Freddie Roth. A generous donation from Obie Duncan allowed a later expansion called "The Arch," also constructed by Freddie. The pavilion has benches and tables, and is used not only for Decoration, but also as a place to gather after the burial of a loved one.

On Sunday, June 7, 2020, many of the children and younger adults who attended the Graves Cemetery Decoration Day were eighth generation descendants of Isaac Lee Graves. There are currently six generations of Isaac Le's descendants buried in this family cemetery.

Although Decoration Day has officially been cancelled this year and the number of people who attended was as expected less than previous years, those who were present could not have been more grateful for such a beautiful day and for the opportunity to celebrate with friends and family in keeping with a time honored tradition.

My cousin and his wife and my husband and I live on Sinking Creek Road on land that was part of our grandparent's farm. The farm was purchased by our great grandfather in 1917 for his two sons, Robert and Tom Epley. Isaac Lee Graves was our great, great grandfather from our grandmother's side of the family. Both our farms are less than half a mile from the cemetery.

Most of our family are from Hohenwald or live in Nashville and north of Nashville in the Greenbriar, Ridgetop and Hendersonville areas. We also have family in Florida and Michigan, so for many of them, this is not just a one-day event. Part of many annual vacations are planned around this particular weekend. My husband and I always have company from Friday through Sunday, and my cousin has family members who come for the weekend as well, some with campers who arrive on Thursday and may leave as late as Monday the following week. One of my cousins told me this year, his eight-year-old son, Cooper, had been planning and talking about Decoration Day for three weeks.

The emotional and financial strain for many families this year has been real; for some it has been devastating. I don't remember a time in my life when a single day made me more thankful for my family, my community and my country.

If you would like to learn more about Graves Cemetery in Perry County, please visit our website and Gravescemetery.com. We are in the process of updating and adding to our photo gallery during the next few weeks.