Wreck Claims Timmy Adams
          Warren County Senior High School sophomore Timmy Lee Adams, 18, became the county's 10th traffic fatality of the year in a one-vehicle accident on Hitchcock Road at Campaign about 4:10 p.m. Wednesday.  Sherrif's Capt. Michael Duke, the investigating officer, said the young man apparently lost control in loose gravel of the 1973 Chevrolet pickup truck he was driving.  The truck ran off the road to the right and over-turned on the side of an embankment.  Duke said Adams was partially thrown through a window and apparently was dead at the scene of a head injury.  The officer said a seat belt might have prevented the fatal injuries.  Duke was assisted in the investigation by Highway Patrol Sgt. Marvin Ricketts.  With four months yet to go in calendar 1985, county traffic fatalities are currently two short of the 12 recorded in 1980 and four under the record 14 reported here in 1979.  The county had seven fatalities for all of last year.  Of this year's fatal accidents, seven have involved only one vehicle.  Of these, all have involved vehicles running off roads.  Five of the fatal accidents have been on rural roads, four on main highways and one within the McMinnville city limits.  
          A resident of 203 Greggview Street, Mr. Adams was a native of this county and a member of the Baptist Church.  He was a son of Bobby L. and Edith Shumaker Adams of the Greggview Street address.  In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother and sister, Terry Lee and Donna Sue Adams.  He is also survived by paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mr. Orene Adams of Route 3, Rock Island, and maternal grandfather, Edward Shumaker of Nashville.  Horace Snipes will conduct services in the chapel of High Funeral Home at 1 p.m. Saturday.  Interment will be in Shiloh Cemetery at Mud Creek.
                                         Southern Standard, McMinnville, TN.  Fri, 30 Aug 1985, p. 1-A.
 
 

Tragic Death Spurs Cemetery Restoration
          Surveys Cemetery
Billy Adams surveys the Old Shiloh Cemetery from the site of his son's grave.  The tragic death of young Timmy Adams may result in a continuing program of beautification and maintenance for the cemetery, said to be one of the oldest in Warren County.  Pioneer settler "Rock" Martin's son was the first to be buried at Shiloh.  Adams' son was the last. (Rayford Davis photo)

          The tragic, one-vehicle accident that claimed the life of Warren County Senior High School student Timmy Lee Adams on Aug. 28 may result in the establishment of a continuing program of beautification and maintenance for one of Warren County's oldest cemeteries. 
          A meeting of persons having an interest in the Shiloh Cemetery near Mud Creek has been called for Sunday at 2 p.m. in the auditorium of Caney Fork Electric Building, and plans for an annual decoration service are already under way.
          Calling the meeting were Mr. and Mrs. Bobby L. Adams, parents of Timmy, and Jacqueline Hash Haley, a sixth generation descendant of "Rock" and Jennie Martin whose young son was the first to be buried in the cemetery.
          When members of the staff of High Funeral Hoe went to the cemetery to make preparations for Timmy's burial, Adams and Ms. Haley state, they found a growth of grass and weeds as high as some of the mid-size gravestones.
          The funeral home had a swath cut to the grave site, and upon learning of the condition of the cemetery members of the family cleared the surrounding area.  Following the service, they returned and mowed the entire cemetery as well as filling grave and repairing at least one headstone.
          Many other grave markers are in need of repair, and some additional restoration work will be done prior to winter.  Hopefully, a program of maintenance can be established in the spring with the first decoration service of many years being held in the early fall of 1986.
          William (Rock) and Virginia (Jennie) Martin are know to have migrated from Virginia established a homestead in the area of Rock Island just after the turn of the 19th century, and may have begun work on their home that still stands a few hundred yards from the Shiloh Cemetery shortly thereafter.  The property is now owned by E.Q. (Tip) Miller.
          Their son, William, Jr., was born in 1816, and was the first to be buried in the cemetery when he died a year later.
          The original Shiloh Church, of Presbyterian denomination, was built adjoining the cemetery sometime prior to the Civil War, and was later replaced by a building of frame construction.  Services were last held in the building in the 1940s, and it was finally removed a few years ago.
          According to Ms. Haley, the cemetery was well kept for many years, and some efforts to maintain it have been continued up to the present time.  In fact, it was know to have been mowed once earlier this year.
          As those with loved ones buried in the cemetery grew older or moved away, however, financial support and volunteer labor decreased and the program of maintenance declined gradually.
         Ms. Haley says only 10 or so people were present for the last meeting she attended at the cemetery.  This was in the 1970s and when the collection was taken up it amounted to only around $30.  Two small trust funds are known to exist, but draw less than $100 in interest annually.
         The Sunday afternoon meeting is only a kick off, Adams and Ms. Haley say, but it is hoped much future good will result from it.  Those living in this area who have loved ones or ancestors buried in the cemetery are especially urged to attend. 
          Persons knowing the whereabouts of individuals now living outside of the area who have an interest in the cemetery are also asked to submit their names and current address in order that they may be contacted by mail.

          Old Shiloh Church
This is one of the last pictures made of the old Shiloh Presbyterian Church near Mud Creek. It was removed shortly after the picture was made to prevent it from being a hangout for hoodlums who sometimes littered the surrounding area with beer cans and whiskey bottles.  (Photo provided)

                                Southern Standard, McMinnville, TN.  Fri, 11 Oct 1985, pp. 1-A and 2-A.