My mother, Winnie Hatcher Tidwell, introduced me to the Moates at an early age. These were her people she said. From the time I could walk I followed my mother around Wesley Chapel Cemetery, listening to her stories, as she walked among the gravestones of her family. They were all good people, no faults among them. She never said bad things about her family. She loved them, consequently I loved them.
As we strolled along she would point and say “That’s Grandma Smoker’s grave.” She never seemed to notice only rocks marked her grave.
Then she would point to the gravestone of John Bolton Moates and comment that he was her grandfather. She seemed not to notice his wife, Elizabeth Dossey Moates’ grave was marked only by the footstone from her husband’s grave.
My mother seemed at peace as we walked, her talking and me asking questions. When it was time to leave she seemed to feel as though she’d been home for a visit.
Linda Hillin
(503) 533-0461
Photo by Theron Magers
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