Tombstone Tuesday - 02 February 2009

I have decided to document my photos of the New Zion Union Church Cemetery on Tuesday’s. Each week I will highlight 2 of these stones.


New Zion Union Church Cemetery is the only public cemetery in Waiteville, Monroe County, West Virginia. The New Zion Union Church is a Methodist church, and is located on Ray Siding Road, in Waiteville.

The Church sign indicates it was founded in 1863, but the cemetery indicates from its' tombstone inscriptions that it has been there since before that date.

The original church no longer exists. The main part of the "new" building was built around 1925, with the extension [a Sunday School suite] being built about 1958 or 1959 - seen on the right].

I will be listing the stones each week in the order they are in my files [they are alphabetized by “first” name].

Ira or Ora E. Doss

I have no information for this little lamb. [This is obviously a child.]

The birth date was illegible. But the death date looks to be Feb. 8, 1901. A search through Death records is not bringing the child up.

Albert Lafon

B: 11 Sep 1874, Mountain Lake, Virginia

D: 16 Jun 1948, Waiteville, Monroe, West Virginia

Son of: Mazarine and Sarah Lafon

Wife: Saloma E. Lafon

Child: Nina

Tombstone Tuesday

William Lawson Duncan - b. 1821 - d. 1926 is buried in New Zion Union Church Cemetery, in Waiteville, Monroe County, West Virginia.
His tombstone is a square monument.
William was married three times. He is buried to the front of his name on the monument. His first wife Susan is listed on the right side of the stone. She is buried precisely in front of her name.

Susan Miller Duncan - b. 1824 - d. 1857

Directly behind William on the stone is his second wife, Jane. Who is also buried directly infront of her name on the stone.

Jane Wiseman Duncan - b. 1837 - d. 1859

To William's right, on the stone, is his third wife, Mary. She, like the others, is buried directly in front of her name on the stone. Mary Tompkins Thurmond Duncan - b. 1824 - d. 1903.

The odd shared burial grounds is layed out something as follows:

[Facing the graves] Mary - William - Susanna . The tombstone itself sits at the head of William's grave. Jane is buried directly above it. _ l _ .

This family arrangement has always fascinated me.