Inspired by The Hiker sculpted by Allen George Newman which honors the American soldiers who took “long hikes in steaming jungles” during the Boxer Rebellion, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine-American War.
There are over 40 sculptures and reliefs commemorating these soldiers. Georgia is home to eight of them. This one can be found in Riverside Cemetery in Albany, Georgia.
Created by the Lamb Seal and Stencil Company, this monument is listed on the Smithsonian’s Save Outdoor Sculpture database. The plaque reads, “You triumphed over obstacles which would have overcome men less brave and determined.”
Martha Dillon Wright Jones’s final resting place is in Oakview Cemetery in Albany, Georgia. I consider it to be one of the most beautiful funerary monuments in the state.
On the front side, it’s etched with the words “Pattie’s Grave.” Since I first photographed her monument, I have periodically researched who her ancestors were. I am unable to determine who they are. Her husband is next to her in the family plot.
Fannie (1880-1891) and Willie (1876-1880) Bell were sisters who never met. Little Willie died only a couple months before Fannie was born. These monuments illustrate how much loss some families could face in short time due to childhood diseases in accidents.
Approximately 32% of all children in the US would pass away before the age of 5 in 1885. Cholera, yellow fever, smallpox, and diphtheria were leading causes of death in the 1800s. In comparison, in 2020, childhood deaths were below 1%. (Mortality rates from statista.com).
These markers can be found in Oakview Cemetery in Albany, Georgia.
