Tombstones: Robert Daniel & Martha E. Pigott Turnage

ROBERT D. TURNAGE

CO I.

MISS. INF.

C.S.A.

MARTHA E.

Wife of 

ROBERT D. TURNAGE

Born May 28, 1829

Died Feb. 20, 1897

Both are buried in 

TURNAGE CHAPEL CEMETERY

Marion County, Mississippi

Memorials listed on Find A Grave

managed by Gwen Langley Pittman,

click here for link.

Death Record- Robert Daniel Turnage

Death Record for Robert Daniel Turnage

This record, IF accurate, shows that Robert Daniel Turnage was born 01 Nov 1818 and died 23 May 1919. He was 100 years, 6 months and 22 days old at the time of his death, according to this record.  Several family historians have his birth year listed as 1825.

Sharing Memories 2012 (Week 10): Their Secret Revealed

It had to happen sooner or later. Most secrets are not kept hidden for long, with a few exceptions.

Over two weeks later, on a Sunday morning, Mom was getting dressed for church. Frank knocked on the door and was greeted by her mother. He was invited inside to wait while Mom finished getting ready. The living room was full of Mom's family members... her brother Alton and his wife were there, as well as her brother Elton and others. Frank was growing a little anxious and was hoping his wife would hurry so they could leave.

Then the question came. The question that demanded an answer. With a firm tone and raised eyebrow, Granny approached Frank. "I am going to ask you something Frank, and I want an honest answer. I want to know if you and Sue are married." She hesitated a moment then continued, "If the two of you are not married, then you should be".

Frank froze in silence for a moment. He needed to think quickly. Did Sue give their secret away? What should he say? What did her mother mean by saying we SHOULD be married? What did she know? He wanted to be honest, yet he didn't know how to respond. He would just simply tell the truth, regardless of the outcome. "Yes, we are married... and we have been married for two weeks". There, it was out. Their secret was exposed.

Granny: "Well, why have ya'll kept it a secret? Why didn't you two say anything? It would have been nice for the family to be a part of your wedding."

Frank: "First of all, you don't like me. I don't know why, but you never have liked me. Second of all, my grandmother doesn't agree with me marrying Sue. Therefore, Sue and I have no place to stay." He went on to explain to Granny that he had been saving to get their own place.

Granny: "Well, it doesn't matter now what we think. Since you two are now married, you should be together. You are welcome to move in here, and stay until you can get your own place."

Frank: "We should be able to get our own place in a week or two, so it won't be long".

Granny: "It doesn't matter. Stay here as long as you need to."

When Mom entered the living room, she was briefly reprimanded by Granny for keeping the marriage a secret. She was stunned that the secret was out, yet relieved at the same time. She glanced at Frank, wondering what had been said. He would explain it all to her on the way to church.

When they arrived at church, Mom whispered the news to Frank's sister about the marriage. Before church was over, everyone knew. The cat was out of the bag. Before long, everyone in the county would know about the marriage. Gossip spreads fast in a small town, especially in this little town full of people with nothing better to do, LOL.

Mom and Frank lived with Granny for a few weeks then settled into their own apartment. The times were hard, and they knew they would have to struggle for a while, yet they were together.... finally. Granny never did say anything further against Frank. She grew fond of him and over the course of time she learned to love him as if he were one of her own sons.

Sharing Memories 2012 (Week 9): Secret Vows

I remember Mom and Dad talking about this little "secret" years ago, when they were younger.  Their "love story" means even more to me now.

They wanted more out of their relationship. They wanted to begin making plans for a future.... for their future, together.

Mom and Frank had discussed planning a wedding but felt that their families would interfere because they were against it. What were they to do now? They wanted to marry anyway, despite how others felt about it. They were both adults and were capable of making their own decisions, after all. Perhaps when their families realized how much they loved each other, they would come to their senses and accept their relationship. They decided that, no matter what others believed, they were going to do what their hearts told them to do.

It was Thursday, December 8, 1960 when Mom and Frank tied the knot. Mom and I were dressed in our Sunday best. She could hardly wait for Frank to appear. This was the day they had chosen to marry. They would keep it a "secret" for a little while, and would continue to live apart until they could afford their own place. They would tell their families about their commitment when they could finally move in together. It would not be long now because Frank had saved nearly enough to get their own place.

They drove out into the country, to a small store where the Justice of Peace resided and operated his business. With me between them, Mom and Frank stood there and recited their wedding vows. This is the day they had long awaited. It was not the kind of wedding ceremony that they had hoped for, but nonetheless, they were now husband and wife.

After the marriage vows were exchanged, Mom and Frank (and me, of course) spent a little time together riding in the country and sharing thoughts about their ceremony and their future together. They had wished that their families could have partaken in their ceremony. They had wished that they could have gone on a honeymoon, away from it all, just the two of them. That would have to wait. For now, they were excited about getting their own place and beginning their new lives together.

For the next two weeks, Mom and Frank managed to keep their marriage a secret. They saw each other as often as they could, just like before. However, there was some "talk" going on among family members and some of them grew suspicious.

Sharing Memories 2012 (Week 8): Dilemmas

More from Dad's memories:

They were finally together again. It had been one long year of missing each other, of pouring out their feelings onto paper. At last they were back in each others arms. During the year apart, they both realized that they wanted to take their relationship further. They knew that one day they would marry. Now that Frank was discharged from the Navy and settled in at home, there were plans to be made, plans for the future....

Frank took a job and decided to live with his grandmother until he could save enough money to move into an apartment of his own. He spent as much time as possible with Mom during his evenings and days off. They spoke of marriage often but had some reservations about planning a wedding right away. They were facing some unresolved issues at the time.

Mom knew her mother was not particularly fond of Frank; she thought that Frank considered himself "too good" for their family. She assumed this because Frank was better educated and more reserved than most members of Mom's family. Her assumptions were based on misconceptions, of course. She feared Mom was "rushing into things too quickly" and wanted Mom to realize that she was still a young woman and had plenty of time for marriage... later.

Frank had hinted to his grandmother about the possibility of asking Mom to marry him. Frank's grandmother did not agree. She thought that it would be a mistake because Mom had already been married and divorced once, and furthermore had a child from that marriage. She told Frank that he should date other women.... single women with no children. She feared that he was "getting in over his head" if he married a woman who already had a child.

Despite the opinions of those they loved dearly, Mom and Frank continued to see each other.

Sharing Memories 2012 (Week 7): Coming Home

The story continues from my Dad's memories:

When Frank left home to return to his duty abroad, he had one more year to fulfill his obligation. He had previously considered staying in the Navy and retiring, since the benefits were outstanding. However, Mom was not keen on the idea of traveling abroad and moving constantly from one place to another. At that time, she was still very attached to her own family and already had one child in tow. After several discussions about it, through letters, Frank decided that he would finish his obligation to the Navy then come back home, to the woman he had fallen in love with, the one he intended to marry.

Mom and Frank could hardly wait until the year was completed. They were both anxious to see each other again, to be together. The frequent letters to each other kept their hope alive.

In October, 1960 the long awaited day finally arrived. Frank was honorably discharged from active duty in the Navy. He would be coming home.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday: Thomas Edward Stogner Family

Thomas Edward & Susan Cordelia McCain Stogner

with sons Levi and Floyd (in front)

Photo taken c. 1920, courtesy of Bill Reagan

My great-grandparents