The Ed Johnson Cemetery (also called the Old Ed Johnson Family Cemetery) is located west of Purvis, Mississippi, in what is now Lamar County. In an open field of tall, dead grass the old grave stones are remnants of a family whom once resided in the area. In all, there are seven head stones marking the graves of those buried here.
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| Ed Johnson Cemetery, Photo credit: William Tatum |
The first known interment was Martha Ann Lee Johnson, wife of Edward Johnson, who was laid to rest on 20 May 1897. She was born 18 February 1833 in Marion County, Mississippi, the daughter of William S. "Bill" Lee and Margaret "Peggy" Collins. Martha and Ed married about 1850 and settled in the rural area between Columbia and Purvis, where they reared nine known children. The dates on Martha's headstone are extremely worn making them difficult to decipher. Her name, Martha Ann, is clearly visible across the top. Some family records list her date of birth as 13 February 1833.
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| Martha Ann Lee Johnson Grave Marker Photo credit: William Tatum |
On 13 September, 1899, the body of three year old Mollie Johnson was laid to rest. Mollie was the daughter of Lee Edward Johnson and his wife Laura Beach, and the granddaughter of Ed and Martha. The cause of Mollie's death is unknown.
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| Mollie Johnson Grave Marker Photo credit: William Tatum |
Edward "Ed" Johnson was the third known interment in the cemetery. Ed was born in Marion County, Mississippi, the son of James Absalom Johnson Sr and Luvenia "Lucy" Brinkley. His wife was Martha Ann Lee Johnson, see above. On family records, there are conflicting dates of Ed's birth and death. Edward Johnson was born 14 April 1826 and died 25 June 1918, documented by his certificate of death. His grave marker reflects his birth year as 1827, therefore showing there is an error in either the death document or the grave marker. Furthermore, Ed was buried on 20 July 1918, the date shown on his grave marker, but his actual death took place on 25 June 1918. These two dates are documented on his certificate of death. Click here to read more about Edward Johnson and Martha Ann Lee Johnson.
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| Ed Johnson Grave Marker Photo credit: William Tatum |
On 12 April 1920, the body of Laura Beach Johnson was laid to final rest. Laura was born 15 February 1881 in Marion County, Mississippi, the daughter of William C. and Dora Beach. She married Lee Edward Johnson, the son of Edward "Ed" Johnson and Martha Ann Lee.
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| Laura Beach Johnson Photo credit: Secky |
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| Laura Johnson Grave Marker, Photo credit: William Tatum |
The next known interment was Fleming Johnson, son of Edward "Ed" Johnson and Martha Ann Lee. Fleming was born 30 April 1859 in Marion County, Mississippi and died 18 March 1921 in Lamar County. He married Nancy Ann Bounds on 06 January 1880 in Marion County.
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| Fleming Johnson Grave Marker Photo credit: William Tatum |
More than twenty years later, Willie Ray Johnson was buried on 23 February 1943. Willie Ray was born 10 January 1899 in Marion County, Mississippi, the son of Lee Edward Johnson and Laura Beach. He married Minnie Dennis. Little else is know of him at present.
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| Willie Johnson Photo credit: Rhonda Johnson |
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| Willie Johnson Grave Marker, Photo credit: William Tatum |
The last known interment in the cemetery was Lee Edward Johnson, the son of Edward "Ed" Johnson and Martha Lee. He was born 25 January 1875 in Marion County, Mississippi and died 25 June 1951 in Lamar County. He married Laura Beach, the daughter of William C. and Dora Beach, on 13 November 1913 in Marion County, Mississippi. Lee and Laura had a large family consisting of nine children in all. It is said that Lee was a well known fiddle player and he enjoyed showing off his talent at family gatherings and local dances.
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| Lee Edward Johnson, Photo credit: Secky |
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| Lee Edward Johnson Grave Marker, Photo credit: William Tatum |
The above memorials are also listed on Find A Grave,
Added by Ann Turner.
Click links below to view the memorials:
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