Pondering the Strength of a Mother

A fence separates the resting place of the Washburn Family.

“The strength of a woman is not measured by the impact that all her hardships in life have had on her; but the strength of a woman is measured by the extent of her refusal to allow those hardships to dictate her and who she becomes.”    ―     C.  JoyBell C.

What strength did Mrs. Lucinda Belcher Washburn have to pull into her soul, her whole being, to keep her going after a series of endless tragedy?

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A protective boundary around loved ones.

"Wm. T., son of W. D. & L. Washburn born June 6, 1849 died June 7, 1849
Safe, safe at home. "

Lucinda and William's first child born as expected merely 9 months after their marriage on August 28, 1848.

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" We will meet again."

The memorials within the walls of these protective fences are made of sheet metal. I am unable to understand what kind of metal it is. I know it's not Iron, or Copper. I don't believe it to be Aluminum. Could be Tin? When tapped on it sounded much like "The Tin Man" from the Wizard of Oz. As you can see, it's retained it's original patina and is resistant to rust, mold and other natural erosions. with the exception of some splits in the seems of the design, they are remarkable. When tapped on

" Martin E. son of W. D. & L. Washburn born Jan. 13, 1851 died Oct. 3, 1852
Gone Home."

Martin makes his debut into the Washburn
family and after such tragedy with William, they are elated to have a baby boy to love and cherish.

Martin dies before he is two years old and before any other children are yet to be born.

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"John W., son of W. D. & L Washburn, born Dec. 2. 1853, died Oct. 13, 1863"

John W. lived to be nearly 10 years old. Tragically, three of the living children died all at the end of that year. Two between September 1st and the 19th and then John almost a month later.

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" Jas. H., son of W. D. & L. Washburn born Aug. 8, 1857 died Sep. 19, 1863
Absent, not dead"

"Mary E., daughter of W. D. & L. Washburn born Apr. 23, 1856 died May 5, 1856
Our Darling."

"Columbus P., son of W. D. & L. Washburn born Sep. 18, 1862 died Sep. 1. 1863
We Loved Him."

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Symbolism of tombstones was important and is somewhat important on a different level today.

Here, the shaking of hands or "clasped hands" is representative of wishing someone farewell.

Two angels are thought to be messengers between God and man. Also sent forth to guard the tomb.

A Dove is a symbol of resurrection, innocence and peace. Often used when a life is lost at a younger age.
 
A drape, or a draped ribbon or curtain symbolizes mourning. (seen on the top of the smaller tombstone above)

The three family tombstones are called Obelisk. They are pointed toward the top and were also considered tasteful.

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"Wm. D. Washburn born Nov. 22, 1817 died Dec. 24, 1883."

One can only imagine that the strength that the two of them had together after the death of their children, was all that held them together. 

"Take them, O Father, in thine arms, and may they henceforth be a messenger of peace between our human hearts and thee."

"Remembered Still."

There is a hole in this particular side of this tombstone. It's nearly perfectly round and I would label it a gun shot hole. Likely a stray bullet from a hunter as I've seen no other evidence of large amounts of vandalism in this particular cemetery, contrary to the belief of unsavory characters using this spot for other things. The red, is not rust at the bottom, but stains from the dirt (red clay) over the years. although it does appear like rust around the hole itself.

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One other stone rests within the walls of the fence. The nephew of Lucinda Belcher Washburn - W. O. Belcher.  William Obediah Belcher, the son of Wilson Mosely, her brother, left all his possessions to his "Aunt Lu". He states, "should he die or be killed." I find this a curious statement. Most leave it at just "should I die." but he goes further. Was there a fear of being killed?  The fact that this tombstone is part of her family's plot, also tells me that she maintained this plot. while you do not see a fence behind the stone in this picture, you do see that it is inside in the large picture above. This is the only panel missing in the whole cemetery. The stone is also innately carved. A Stone of this magnitude would have been fairly expensive at the time.

Still missing is the tombstone of Mrs. Lucinda Belcher Washburn who was born about 1830 in Perry county, Alabama and died the 6th of April 1920 in Perry County, Alabama.

On the 10th of February 1920, she was living with her nephew Samuel Moseley, his wife Velma and there three youngest children Cullen, Duvall and Mattie in "Precinct 7, Oldtown, Perry, Alabama". She was 89 years old.

It would have been noted that Oldtown was just a couple miles from the Woolley Cemetery in which the rest of these photographs were taken. Also, both of her parents are buried there. Her nephew and his family are buried in Heiberger Cemetery just a mile away. But there is no sign of where Mrs Lucinda remains.