memorial

During my quest for family, through genforum I met a lot of cousins. One such was my second cousin, once removed. Judy is the great great granddaughter of my great aunt Alice. Once we made contact, she was as relentless as me in locating the gravesite of our Grandmother. Another cousin hesitantly told us that she believed we may find Edna Yearout buried at the state hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee. Judy called them and she was not only able to locate the gravesite, but also got a copy of her medical record.
According to medical records from Eastern State Hospital, Edna Stinnett was only 4'9" tall. She came in wearing a dress, petticoat, waist, bonnet and hose.
Once we discovered the location of the site there was no stopping us. Our plan was to mark her gravesite for her birthday, March 5. Problems developed and we were not able to go until later in the month. Burial record in hand, four cousins, representing three of Edna's children, made our way to Knoxville.
Unfortunatly, there were a few minor setbacks. There was no one at the hospital that weekend to show us the location of the grave. We had been told that it would be marked for our convenience, but as far as we could see, there was no marking. We were about to give up when Karen wandered off and returned to tell us that there was a stake sticking out of the ground near the Veterans burial site. Digging the grass from the base of the stake, there it was, marker 39.

IN LOVING MEMORY

Edna Yearout Stinnett was laid to rest in an unmarked grave on the grounds of Eastern State Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee, on January 24, 1924. Edna had spent her last days in the Eastern State Hospital, the state mental institution, now known as Lakeshore Hospital. Official records show that she was admitted by two employees of the state at the request of her daughter, Lillie Romines. Records show that she suffered from senile dementia, and while she was described as "scared", it was noted that she was coorporative with her caregivers. Edna's exact date of birth is recorded as "unknown" as were many other pertinent identifying facts about her life and family. Her burial was apparently unceremonious, without the benefit of clergy or presence of family.
Edna was the mother of seven children, Lemuel, Calvin, William, Mary Alice, Harriett, Lillie and Robert. The details of Edna's life remain shrouded in mystery and become more obscure with the passing of each generation. Without the relentless effort of Elizabeth Olmstead, the grand daughter of Robert Stinnett, the family might never have found her grave. Elizabeth continues to pour over decades of census records to establish communication with distant relatives in hopes of piecing together the facts surrounding Edna's life, which have been fragmented over the years.
On March 25, 2000, four of Edna's great grand daughters met in Knoxville, TN. Edna's resting place was located beneath towering oaks, on a grassy hillside, overlooking the Tennessee River. Three of Edna's children were represented, Robert, Alice and Harriett. A marker provided by Greg and Elizabeth Olmstead and Dermid and Judy Watson was placed on her grave, along with a spray of flowers provided by Sherry Carver and Karen Ramsey. Holding hands the family formed a circle around Edna's grave. Karen offered a prayer that Edna might rest in peace from her labors and share with us a glorious ressurection, after which the group repeated the "Lords Prayer". After nearly 80 years, in a place of beauty, on a beautiful spring day, the life of Edna Yearout Stinnett, and her passing to the church triumphant was celebrated by her family.
A small reception was hosted by Karen on Olde Towne Knoxville.

DEATH RECORD:
Admitted 19-Jul-1923
Race: W
Social State: Widowed
Nativity: Tennessee
Occupation: None
Religion: None
Education: None
County: Sevier
Notes made by: Dr. James Hill

Memorial written by Sherry Carver, grand daughter of Harriett

I would like to add that this was both a sad and happy day for us. It saddened us to know that our Great Grandmother had died alone, forgotten, and buried without ceremony. Yet all four of us felt we had done a small part in honoring her. I am sure that our Grandparents, Mary Alice, Harriett and Robert would have been proud to know that at last their mother was given ceremony and remembered.
I for one wish my Mother were still alive to know about this. Years before she died, she had asked me to try to locate information on her family. This was before the days of computers, the only research I was capable of was a 20 mile trek to the nearest big library.
Also credit should go to several other family members. Emma Lee, another grand daughter faithfully kept up recorded as much information as she could in Sherry's baby book. Things like the name of her mother's parents, Edna's date date and place of birth for Edna. Her sister, Edith also kept an old faded picture of Edna, perhaps the only one in existence. Words can not express my gratitude to Sherry Carver for sharing this picture with me.
Then there was Lillian, daughter of Alice, who informed us of where we could most likely find this gravesite.
Mildred Boydstrom, another great grand daughter, representing the line of Edna's son, William Yearout said she had cried tears over Edna. She and a cousin had located the gravesite about five years prior to us. When the records were pulled this showed to be true. She said she so wanted to mark the grave, but being on a fixed income it wasn't possible. She and I both wished she could have been present for this.
Much thought, time and effort has went into this research, it was accomplished only by the direct effort of each of us. Everyone had a piece of the puzzle. There are still several pieces missing to the puzzle, but I am sure we will be able to locate them in time.

Thank you so much for your interest in this story, Elizabeth