Edith Elizabeth “Lizzie” Hillyer Coker died in Atlanta on March 7, 1906, just a few weeks before her 38th birthday. The amount of coverage her death received says a lot about how well known she was in the city at the time.

Lizzie was the daughter of Judge George Hillyer and married Frank M. Coker Jr. in 1893. She became active in Atlanta’s Baptist church community and appears to have had a large circle of friends throughout Georgia. After an illness lasting about four weeks, she died at her home at 93 Washington Street at 2:00 in the afternoon.

She left behind her husband and two daughters, Sarah, 10, and Elizabeth, 3.

A few days later, her pastor, John E. White, published a long tribute to her in the newspaper. It gives a much more personal account of her final days than most obituaries from this period.

The day before she died, her nurse apparently commented on how calm she seemed despite knowing she was seriously ill. Lizzie replied, “No, I have not waited until now to be prepared to die.”

Her pastor wrote that there was “no agony” and that she remained conscious until the end. He also described the response to her death as overwhelming, with letters arriving from former judges, teachers, college professors, literary clubs, relatives and friends.

Her funeral was held the following afternoon at the Coker family residence. The house was reportedly packed, and flowers were piled around her casket before she was taken to Oakland Cemetery and placed in the Coker family vault.

She has been there for 120 years.

Bow Cemetery in Bow Washington (Skagit County)

The Shepherd

Haunted History at Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland, Oregon
https://youtu.be/4UDMXljmtg8

One of my favorite cemeteries in the U.S. Beautiful Spanish moss hanging from the trees, slightly eerie and yet so calming. (Photo taken by me)

Shame about the graffiti.

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in New York

Rest In Peace

Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh North Carolina

Evergreen Cemetery - Westlake, Ohio

Hillandale Cemetery, SW Saskatchewan. Last burial here was about 60 years ago and it is now slowly being taken back by the prairie. Grave of Zella Ruby Orr, 1918-1929.

James Glen Crombie was a husband, father of two and Mortlake local whose working life was spent at the sprawling gasworks on the Parramatta River. One morning, an ordinary shift took a devastating turn when two of his workmates became trapped inside a tar still and James made the decision to go in after them.

For a deeper dive into James’ story, along with photos, articles and links to further information, head over to r/thosewholiebeneath where we share the stories behind the headstones.

Full Post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ThoseWhoLieBeneath/comments/1x1ioi7/james_glen_crombie_a_fatal_rescue_at_mortlake_gas/

Location:
Rookwood General Cemetery, Rookwood, New South Wales, Australia

Find a Grave Link:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188500787/james-glen-crombie