Members of Canton’s First United Methodist Church and the Hillcrest Restoration Committee met on Sunday, November 6 to dedicate grave markers for two past Methodist ministers’wives. Mrs. Ann Moore, Chairman of the Restoration Committee, and Pastor Adam Muckleroy conducted the service.

Mrs. Moore welcomed everyone to the dedication, and Pastor Muckleroy told the women’s stories and the importance of having their graves marked.

Their unmarked graves were discovered by Lawrence Greer and Benja Mize while researching their book, Stories Beneath the Stones. They contacted the FUMC and the Hillcrest Restoration Committee about the possibility of getting these two graves marked. The Church raised the money to buy the markers.

Elizabeth D. Conaway Cullen was born in Tennessee about 1822. She married the Rev. D. P. Cullen July 17, 1871. Rev. Cullen had the Canton Methodist Circuit, and the family was living in the Methodist parsonage. She developed pneumonia and died on November 8, 1891.

Minnie L. Long Red was born about 1890 in Smith County, Texas. Her parents were Homer and Sarah Muri Long. In 1916, she married the Rev. James L Red, a widower with four daughters Minnie and James had three daughters: Artie Mae, Alma Louise, and Minnie Ellen. Minne Ellen was three days old at her mother’s death on June 21, 1922.

The Hillcrest Restoration Committee was established in 2012 to improve the Cemetery. They worked very closely with the city to clean out dead trees, clean markers, etc. The committee wants to thank Sue Baugh for working with the church, city, and other committee members in getting these graves marked. The committee also thanks the members of the First United Methodist Church in raising the money to buy the markers.

Mrs. Cullen and Mrs. Red are not forgotten. Maybe their families will visit their ancestors’ graves.