Crocker Graveyard, Paris, Lafayette Co., MS.

MILES CROCKER, son of JOHN CROCKER , son of SOLLOMON CROCKER of Spartanburg Co. South Carolina, his wife, Elizabeth Bernice Bryant and children, migrated to Lafayette county MS. after the end of the civil war in November of 1865 (Miles Crocker Bible entry)to join his brother in laws and cousins.

All of these men were Army of the Confederacy veterans, Alfred T. Bryant, James Pinkney Bryant, Rev. William K. Bryant, Miles Crocker , Franklin Harvey, Jack Head, and George Vaughn to name a few. These were either sons or son- in - laws of William Tolleson and Lucinda Kibry Bryant of Spartanburg County S. C. and married to Bryant or Kirby women.

These men and their descendants were very important elements in the growth of Lafayette County and Mississippi herself. Many descendants still live in the county as well as Mississippi, others went onto Texas, Tennessee, Missouri , Oklahoma and California and states in between to assist in their population and economical growth.

Somehow Miles's surname was mis-spelled as COKER or CROKER and that is the way some folks in Lafayette county spell and pronounce it today but the present sign states CROCKER CEMETERY as does old grave stones of 1881 when Miles and Elizabeth's daughter , Susan Crocker Mathias was laid to rest there.

The oldest grave is unknown as 13 sandstones mark graves of unknown people.

Not only does the cemetery bear the CROCKER name but also a creek whose bank it is near is called CROCKER creek since the 1920's by the property owners surrounding it. It is officially known as DICKEY creek. The woods or forest for miles were called CROCKER WOODS, they are gone now.
Miles and John Henry CROCKER operated saw and grist mills and cooton gin under one roof here until 1895 when Miles CROCKER died.
Plus, at one time in the early 1900' there was a country store and mill owned by Miles and Elizabeth Crocker's grandson, R. Alvis Crocker, called CROCKER'S CORNER, just south of Paris in Calhoun County. Sources: The Lafayette and Calhoun Counties History Books, Harold Crocker of Greenville Ms. widow, Dororthy, and Family records and legends.

This page is dedicated to my Uncle Max Crocker and his family who contributed the following pictures of the old CROCKER Family Cemetery taken in the summer of 1985.

Crocker cemetery	This is the sign marking the CROCKER CEMETERY 1.5 mile east of Paris, Lafayette County Ms. CR. 428. It replaced a small wooden one that hung on a tree in the 1950's . A group of Alfred Crocker, eldest son of Miles and Elizabeth CROCKER, descendants held Robert Alvis CROCKER family reunions and rediscovered their ancestor's cemetery back in the late 1980s and 90s. They worked several summers to clean and build a fence to protect the cemetery from wildlife and livestock. Earl Crocker, grandson of James Alfred and Sally Ann Webb CROCKER was the one who sponsored the reunions until his death in the 1990's His daughter, Pat now leads the group. Joe Crocker, a cousin from Cass County Texas, donated and build the the metal "pulpit" shape sign inside the fenced grave area. .
Max Crocker and family look for hidden grave stones. They visited it in 1985, before the work had been completed. Max Earl Crocker's brothers are buried here. They are the children of J. H. and Eva Gandy Crocker.	MS Crocker Cemetery 1985.
Miles and Bettie Crocker's Great Great GrandChildren 1985	Yes! they are still searching, they have just passed several stones in the center of the picture. The children fell into these graves, they are empty holes. My parents, Horace N. and Maezell Tarr Crocker were here in 1972 on a return trip to Texas from Tennessee after a visit to me and my family in Maryville Tn. . It was covered so horrible with overgrowth that Dad couldn't find but one or two stones and they didn't show up in his pictures.
Miles Crocker MS 1985	This is the grave of Miles Crocker there is is no inscription on the stone. The legend Uncle Max Crocker told his son and family about this stone was it belonged to the head slave of the farm, but they settled here after the slaves were freed during the civil war. Notice the wonderful condition of this stone.
This is the grave of my grand aunt, SUSAN CROCKER MATHAS, first wife of J. T. MATHAS of Paris, Mississippi.<Notice that it is broken and apparently laying on the ground. Inscription reads: Why should we weep for her, was she not ready? Oil in her lamp and her bridal robe on Waiting in faith, with a hope firm and steady. The Good shepherd's call and the plaudit's well done.	susan_crocker_mathius
dora_alma_mathius	Dora Alma Mathius, daughter of J. T. and S. C. MATHIUS. Born: Dec.. 26, 1880 - Died: Mar. 29, 1882 She died a year after her mother's death. I can't help but wonder if T. B didn't kill more members of this family than grand uncle Alfred Crocker , his wife Sallie Webb and their oldest daughter. They all died about the same time. They are also buried in this cemetery.
Julia A. daughter of Miles and Elizabeth Crocker born Feb. 17, 1856 ; died : Jan. 19, 1881 Biblical inscription but I can not read it. Julia never married.	julia a_crocker_ms.
mollie_crocker_ms	MOLLIE R. CROCKER wife of W. D. KESTLER born Apr. 4, 1859 died Mar. 29 1885 Mollie was also a daughter of Miles and Elizabeth Crocker. She was W. D. Kestler first wife, his second was Mollie's sister , Frances aka Fannie B. Crocker. Fannie and W. D. Kestler are buried in the Paris cemtery, Paris, Lafayette County Ms. There is a Biblical inscription at the bottom of this stone also but I can not read it.
This, I believe, is Rhode Crocker Lackey's tombstone, judging by the shape of it. Rhoda Crocker Lackey was the mother of Clyde (f) and Luther (m) Lackey who their grandmother, "Aunt" Bettie Bryant Crocker reared. Clyde married Millard Vaughn and moved near Three Rivers, Texas.	graves_crocker_ms_cemetery.
finds grave	A small sandstone marker beside Abron and Jewel's stone.(This is the orginal marker for one of the boys). This double stone marks the graves of J. H. and Eva Gandy Crocker's sons, Abron and Jewel. It sat at the head of one of the boys and the footer sit at the foot of the other with a sandstone at his head.
Rhode E. Crocker wife of A. L. Lackey daug, of M, & E. Crocker born: Sept. 21, 1864 died: Mar. 10, 1889 Biblical inscription on base but can not read it. from picture.	rhoda_crocker_lackey
Double tomb stone of Abron and Jewel Crocker	Inscription reads: Abron Born: Jan. 15, 1893 Died: July 25, 1902 Jewel Born: Aug. 22, 1897 Died: Aug. 21 1899 Children Of J. H.& L. E. Crocker
More to be come, trespass timber cutting damages one acre of cemetery, taking valuable timber in December of 2002. Small Tornado blew lage Pine tree across grave yard area in June 2003. Large Tree removed in April 2004 Evelyn Crocker's Care of 2004 and 2005.

1. Elizabeth Bernice Bryant Crocker (Aunt Bettie)buried beside Miles.
2. J. Alfred Crocker
3. Sallie Webb Crocker
4. Infant daughter of Alfred and Sallie Webb Crocker
5. Anne Addie Crocker Mitchell also a daughter of Alfred and Sallie Webb Crocker
6.Ada Crocker, youngest daughter of J. Alfred and Sallie Ann Webb Crocker

Johnny G. Crocker, son of J. H. and L. E. (Eva) Crocker b. 12 Mar. 1903; d. 26 Jan. 1904, buried in Shiloh Church cemetery 18 mi. east of Oxford, Lafayette Co. on Hwy 6.
He is buried next to McLarty , Wayne, infant son
of W. E. and ADA , d. 10 April, 1903;
Infant daughter of W. E. & ADA , b. 1 Sept. 1906 ; d. 24 Dec. 1906.

Fanny B. Crocker Kestler, Sallie W. Crocker Hollowell, Addie Crocker Martin and their spouses are buried in the city of Paris, Lafayette Co. cemetery. J. H and L. E. Crocker are buried in the New Albany city cemetery, Union Co. Ms..
James Harold Crocker and infant bro , children of W. A. and Caroline Crocker, and James Arthur Sr. and Ethel Ann Sissell Crocker, all descendants of Arthur and Sallie A. Webb Crocker are all buried in the Oak Hill cemtery in Water Valley Yalobusha Co. Ms.

CROCKER CEMETERY 1865 - 1985

PARIS, LAFAYETTE COUNTY MISSISSIPPI