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Megehee Cemetery
Cybur, Pearl River County, Mississippi

Lat: 30° 38' 27"N, Lon: 89° 47' 51"W

Contributed by Terry Megehee, May 02, 2010, Last edited Jun 10, 2010 [terrylm1837@att.net].  Total records = 48.

The two-acre site, with less than a quarter of an acre under fence, is situated within the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge due west of Cybur, 10 miles northwest of Picayune, MS. Exit state highway 43N west onto paved Pine Grove Road, then northwest onto paved Dumas Wise Road, which borders a section of the wildlife refuge. Upon reaching a small, unmarked bridge over Megehee Creek, look for a gated, dirt lane a few yards northwest of the bridge. This lane, which is maintained by the refuge, leads straight to the burial ground, approximately a quarter of a mile distant. Both the lane entrance crossbar and the cemetery fence are kept locked. For access information, contact the cemetery officials named above.

The official name of the burial ground is Megehee Cemetery, Inc., and it is owned and managed by the family of the same name. Local residents sometimes refer to it by a secondary name, Megehee-Wise Cemetery, in recognition of marital alliances formed after the Civil War.

Flanked by tall pines standing like silent sentinels, the Megehee Cemetery sits on a small knoll overlooking hardwood lowlands leading to nearby East Pearl River. It is a quiet, peaceful place, providing a panoramic wooded view in every direction. The historic burial ground has been in the Megehee family since the days of Spanish West Florida. It is one of the county's oldest cemeteries still in use, and from the beginning it has been open to family and friends alike. Many early markers have disappeared, but visitors can still find weathered headstones spanning the centuries. In addition, there are unmarked graves representing Choctaw Indians, African-Americans and a pioneer child named Annie York, who died while passing through the area with a wagon train in the early 1800s. In 1941, Megehee heirs conveyed to trustees and their successors in office a two-acre site for continuing cemetery use. In 2010, Megehee Cemetery, Inc. was organized as a not-for-profit corporation for promoting research and preservation.

The remains of Megehee slaves and those of a neighboring family named Smith are reported to be buried in the cemetery's southwestern corner, according to family oral history. These unmarked graves may lie beyond the cemetery's present fence. In addition, several Choctaw friends of the Megehees, including a child they adopted, are buried at various locations within the cemetery.

Many early monuments were made of wood and have disappeared over the years. While some were later replaced by headstones, many were not. Family researchers have identified 27 unmarked graves to date, and there are plans to provide markers as funds become available. Identified unmarked graves at present include:

This is a complete list of all visible and legible markers. All markers were photographed anew 09 Mar 2010 by Michael W. Megehee, and copies are available upon request. Sybil Megehee Pigott assisted me in completing this historical compilation.

- Terry Megehee

Legend:
* = unmarked, identified graves

Calhoon, Ellie Moore, no dates, m/o Cynthia Caroline Wise *
Flynn, Ang, no dates, h/o Lannie Flynn *
Flynn, Angeline, no dates, possibly m/o Ang Flynn *
Flynn, Ella J., b. 02 Sep 1904, w/o James, original headstone w/floral trim
Flynn, infant1, no dates, child of Ang & Lannie Flynn *
Flynn, infant2, no dates, child of Ang & Lannie Flynn *
Flynn, infant3, no dates, child of Ang & Lannie Flynn *
Flynn, infant4, no dates, child of Ang & Lannie Flynn *
Flynn, infant5, no dates, child of Ang & Lannie Flynn *
Flynn, Jack, no dates, s/o Ang & Lannie Flynn *
Flynn, James Shorty, b. 02 Feb 1914, d. 14 Jun 1973, "Veteran of World War II," "Missed by Wife," h/o Ella, original headstone w/floral trim
Flynn, Lannie, w/o Ang Flynn *
Megehee, Corp. Wood, b. 06 Mar 1837, d. 30 Mar 1898, "Co D 17 Miss Cav," "Co B 9 Miss Cav, CSA," s/o James Wood & Rebecca (Perry) Megehee, h/o Lydia (Marson) Megehee, military mark., modern stone
Megehee, Daniel Ira, b. 20 Jan 1853, d. ?? Sep 1935, s/o James Wood & Rebecca (Perry) Megehee *
Megehee, Elizabeth W. (Wood), b. 1769, w/o Jesse, modern granite slab s/w Jesse Megehee, mark. inscription error, actually b. 20 Aug 1759, d. 01 Jan 1835
Megehee, James Wood, b. 17 Sep 1802, d. 04 Apr 1880, s/o Jesse & Elizabeth (Wood) Megehee, h/o Rebecca (Perry) Megehee, modern granite slab, s/w Rebecca Perry Megehee
Megehee, Jesse, b. 1765, d. 1847, (b. 03 Jul 1765, d. 22 Dec 1847), s/o Nathaniel & Nelley (Lynch) Megehee, h/o Elizabeth (Wood) Megehee, modern granite slab, s/w Elizabeth W. Megehee
Megehee, Maggie, b. 02 Aug 1872, d. 05 Nov 1878, d/o Samuel & Mary Eleanor Megehee, middle name Magnolia, nicknamed "Maggie," original headstone w/floral art
Megehee, Mary E., b. 09 Oct 1853, d. 24 Jan 1926, "Her spirit smiles from that bright shore and softly whispers weep no more," d/o Joseph Sr. & Cynthia Caroline (Calhoon) Wise, w/o Samuel Megehee, original headstone w/clasped hands art
Megehee, Rebecca Caroline, b. 03 Apr 1875, d. 12 Aug 1955, d/o Samuel & Mary Eleanor Megehee, nicknamed "Callie," original headstone w/floral trim
Megehee, Rebecca Perry, b. 02 Jan 1802, d. 28 Dec 1881, d/o Burrell & Mary Ann (Rainwater) Perry, w/o James Wood Megehee, modern granite slab s/w James Wood Megehee, mark. inscription error, actually b. 07 Jan 1812, d. 28 Dec 1881
Megehee, Rebecca, b. 16 Jul 1843, d. 02 Jun 1919, d/o James Wood & Rebecca (Perry) Megehee *
Megehee, Samuel, b. 20 Sep 1849, d. 09 Dec 1915, "Thou art gone from a world of care the bliss of heaven to share," s/o James Wood & Rebecca (Perry) Megehee, h/o Mary Eleanor (Wise) Megehee, original headstone w/dove art
Megehee, Wood, b. 06 Mar 1837, d. 30 Mar 1898, "In Memory of," "Behold Ye Strangers, as You Pass by As You Are Now So Once Was I, As I Am Now Soon You Will Be Prepare for Death and Follow Me," s/o James Wood & Rebecca (Perry) Megehee, h/o Lydia (Marson) Megehee, original headstone w/ivy intertwined w/anchor art, damaged
Mitchell, Sara Josephine Wise, b. 28 Jan 1862, d. 25 Feb 1933, d/o Joseph Sr. & Cynthia Caroline (Calhoun) Wise, w/o George Mitchell *
Myler, Charlie, no dates, child *
Myler, infant1, no dates *
Myler, infant2, no dates *
Myler, Roy, no dates, child *
Newell, infant1, child of Robert Newell *
Newell, infant2, child of Robert Newell *
Pulliam, Elizabeth Megehee, b. 03 Mar 1829, d/o James Wood & Rebecca (Perry) Megehee, w/o John Pulliam *
Sims, James Coleman Harwell Simon, b.14 Aug 1856, d. 27 Jun 1931 *
Sims, John H., no dates, h/o Mary (Megehee) Sims *
Sims, Lurana Elizabeth, b. 26 Nov 1862, d. 07 Sep 1927, nicknamed "Sis" *
Sims, Mary Megehee, b.18 Feb 1833, d/o James Wood & Rebecca (Perry) Megehee, w/o John H. Sims *
Smith, Nathan, no dates *
Wise, Cynthia Caroline Calhoon, b. 19 Jan 1832, d. 24 Oct 1870, "Wife of Jos. Wise," d/o Milton & Ellie (Moore) Calhoon, 1st w/o Joseph Wise Sr., modern granite slab
Wise, Jeromia, b. 05 Dec 1901, d. 22 Jan 1902, "Son of J.M. & Rebecca Wise," s/o John Milton & Rebecca (Pulliam) Wise, original headstone w/floral art
Wise, John Clyde, b. 12 Jan 1911, d. 17 Jan 1911, "Asleep in Jesus," s/o John Milton & Rebecca (Pulliam) Wise, modern granite headstone
Wise, Joseph Jr, b. 22 Jun 1873, d. 27 Mar 1940, "Rest, Sweet Rest," s/o Joseph Sr. & Ruth (Megehee) Wise, original headstone w/floral trim
Wise, Joseph Sr, b. 22 Jan 1830, d. 14 Jun 1910, modern granite slab
Wise, Lenora, b. 30 Oct 1876, d. 15 Sep 1956, "Rest, Sweet Rest," d/o Joseph Sr. & Ruth (Megehee) Wise, original headstone w/floral trim
Wise, Luther B., b. 13 Dec 1859, d. 12 Apr 1915, middle name Berryman, s/o Joseph Sr. & Cynthia Caroline (Calhoun) Wise, h/o Margaret (Seal) Wise, original headstone w/dove art
Wise, Margaret, b. 29 May 1861, d. 21 Feb 1920, d/o Amos Seal, w/o Luther Berryman Wise, original headstone w/dove art
Wise, Rebecca Edmonia, b. 01 Nov 1864, d. 13 Oct 1870 *
Wise, Ruth Megehee, b. 16 Dec 1834, d. 02 Aug 1897, d/o James Wood & Rebecca (Perry) Megehee, 2nd w/o Joseph Wise Sr., modern granite slab
York, Annie, no dates *