If you’re a descendant of George Estes (1763-1859), Revolutionary War Veteran who lived and died in Halifax County, VA, you’re invited to the dedication of his gravestone. I wrote about George’s life and service, here.

The Dan River Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution is holding a dedication ceremony for George and his new gravestone on Sunday, October 21^st, 2023 at 11 AM in the Oak Ridge Cemetery in South Boston, Virginia.

Dwight Spangler worked with local cousin, Mark Estes, and the Graves Preservation Committee of the Dan River SAR chapter to compile the necessary documentation to request a marker from the VA.

Documenting the location was challenging because the family moved George’s grave before the City demolished the structures on the premises, along with the cemetery, for both the landfill and the Water Department.

The graves were moved to Oak Ridge Cemetery, literally across the street, where the Estes family owned a block of graves. According to family member, Shirley Whtilow, whose father was actually one of the men who moved the graves, Estes family members who lived on the original land, including George, were reburied in the family plot in Oak Ridge.

After George’s stone arrived, Mark installed it in the Estes cemetery plot, almost directly across from Estes Street where the original land, cemetery and homestead were located.

Mark provided the location where George’s marker has been installed. Notice Estes Street directly across from George’s grave in the Estes plot. It’s possible that Oak Ridge Cemetery was established in the 1880s on Estes land.

To attend George’s ceremony, use the Cemetery entrance on North Main Street, just north of Hamilton Blvd.

In the photo above, the purple semi at right is sitting on Estes Street, waiting to turn on Main Street. The Main Street entrance to the cemetery is shown above. The surrounding walls were constructed using cobblestones from the early South Boston streets, some of which may well have been laid by George himself. He worked on several road crews.

It’s somehow fitting that George’s family will meet in the Estes plot in the cemetery, across the street from his home where he resided after returning home from the Revolutionary War, protected with a wall salvaged from the roads on which he worked.

It may be 164 years after George was originally buried, and probably nearly a century after he was reburied – but it’s happening. George finally has a stone. And we, his descendants, have the opportunity to honor his life, including not one, not two, but three tours of duty in the Revolutionary War. Hope to see you there.

Please let me know if you’re planning to attend.

Acknowledgements and Thank Yous

On behalf of all of George’s descendants, I would like to thank both the SAR and Dwight Spangler. I extend my deepest appreciation to cousin Mark Estes, along with my now-deceased cousins, all of whom were descendants of George’s daughter, Suzanne Estes, through son Ezekiel Estes (1814-1885), then son Henry Archer Estes (1857-1934).

Doug Estes (1925-2019), Shirley Estes Whitlow (1926-2014), and Nancy Dunkley Osborne (1936-2008) were first cousins to each other. They not only graciously shared our family history when I visited Halifax County twenty+ years ago, but helped me piece it back together.

Shirley’s father, William “Willy” Fife Estes (1892-1984) helped move the graves, so Shirley knew where the remains had been reburied. Shirley drew a map, showing me where the Estes homes and cemetery were originally located. She took me to the Estes cemetery plots in Oak Ridge. Nancy showed me where George’s grandfather, Moses Estes (1711-1787), lived, and she cleaned and maintained the original Estes stones in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Doug shared several family stories with me, including details about the original Estes land and reburials. Doug and Shirley visited the original Estes farm, and played on the Estes land in the 1930s, before the main house burned in 1933 and the land was sold or leased to the City.

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