Shaver-Light Cemetery

 

Locality: Roanoke County                  Temporal Period:                  20^th c.

Realty Map:          96.03-2-12                              Cultural Affiliation:              Euro-American

USGS Map:           Bent Mountain                     Landform:                              Knoll

Grid Locus:            H-8                                          Elevation:                              1540 feet

UTM Easting:       584830                                    Aspect:                                  Flat

UTM Northing:    4115860

 

Site Dimensions:  50.6 by 78.5 by 50.6 by 79.2 feet

 

Survey Description:  Site consists of a small family cemetery with 18 graves.  Observed graves included 13 with granite or marble markers; two with uninscribed fieldstone markers; one with a cut stone marker; one with a metal marker; and one marked with plastic flowers.  Site is maintained, covered with mowed grass, and surrounded by a chain link fence.  Historic plantings included an arborvitae tree, cedars, white pines, a boxwood, maples, and unidentified flowers.  Site was field inspected, photographed, and grave marker inscriptions were transcribed and compared to previous documentation.  Site size was determined by measuring the horizontal extent of the surrounding fence lines.

 

Survey Date:         7/98

 

Field Notes:           _x_Yes   ___No

Photographs:        _x_Yes   ___No

 

References:           Roanoke Valley Historical Society

                                1986        Roanoke County Graveyards Through 1920.  Privately printed, RVHS, Roanoke.

 

Additional Comments:        Assigned temporal period was based on the 1913 through 1986 range of death dates inscribed on observed headstones.  However, the presence of uninscribed fieldstone markers may reflect an earlier or later use of the site.  The cemetery is not marked on the USGS Bent Mountain map sheet.  It is marked on local realty maps and labeled “Shaver Cemetery.”

 

The RVHS surveyed this cemetery, referred to it as the “Shaver Cemetery I,” and documented biographical information derived from inscriptions on four headstones that predated 1921 (1986:  220).  These four headstones, and others, were documented during the 1998 survey.

 

Marker Inscriptions:

 

                Smith                                                                      Ralph Vale Light, Jr.                             Shaver

We know no sorrow – knew no grief                                1941        1998                        Calvin E.                Rena B.

Till thy bright face was observed                                      (metal marker)                       1890-1959               1894-1978

Pat Smith                               Hattie Smith

Aug. 20, 1891                        Mar. 22, 1893

Apr. 29, 1939                         June 5, 1986

 

Shaver                                                                    Jacob H.                                 Cora Shaver

Mother                                   Father                                     Son of                                    Hawkins

Louisa Margaret Shaver     Jacob H. Shaver                   C.E. & S.C. Garst                  December 7, 1878

Mar. 1, 1841                           Dec. 2, 1836                           Born                                       July 27, 1959

Mar. 31, 1913                         Aug. 22, 1918                        May 22, 1839

Died

Nov. 9, 1891.

Shaver-Light Cemetery (continued)

 

Emma Florence Light                                                           L.M. Light                             Ralph V.

Dec. 26, 1869                                                                         Wife of                                   Light Sr.

July 6, 1919                                                                            F.O. Meadow                        PVT

                                                                                                Dec. 20, 1907                         US Army

                                                                                                June 4, 1938                           World War II

 

Minnie Gale Light                                                                Wheeler L.                             L.D. Light

July 9, 1876                                                                            Light                                       (cut stone)

Jan. 21, 1952                                                                          Virginia

There is rest in heaven.                                                       PFC 116 INF

                                                                                                29 INF DIV

                                                                                                World War II

                                                                                                Aug  10, 1910

                                                                                                Aug   7, 1944

 

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