Raymond

On Monday, I went down to Poolesville to join my mom, aunts Susie, Deatle, and Maggie, and Uncle Robert at Poolesville United Methodist Church for Raymond E. Poole's funeral, internment, and celebration of life. Raymond was my Grandma's first cousin; the picture below shows her (Helen Poole Null) on Raymond's left and another cousin, Mary Jo Horn, on his right.

Raymond's father Ethan Poole and Helen's father Charles Poole were brothers. Also, Raymond's mother (Sarah) Anna Beall and Helen's mother Edna Beall were sisters. Doubly first cousins!

Raymond was well known around those rural parts of Montgomery County; he and his family had run Poole's General Store at Seneca Creek for many years. When I was a child and teen, we spent every Memorial Day Sunday at the reunion picnic that they hosted on their family lawn adjacent to the store and in front of their house.

photo source

Mr. Tipton, an articulate gentleman and old friend of Raymond, spoke so well about Raymond's life and how he came to have to give up the store. He recounted old stories of his brother Whistle, himself, and Raymond to illustrate how Raymond had deep roots in Poolesville and how he had developed a solid business and nurtured a loving family there. We were all touched by Mr. Tipton's kind words about Raymond and his loving wife Billie.

The funeral was in the same church where Raymond and Billie married many years before. My Grandma and Papa also wed in this sanctuary in December of 1947. This window is dedicated to Captain John T. and Mary Poole; I will have to do a bit of research to see how they are related.

Raymond was laid to rest in Monocacy Cemetery in Beallsville among many of his ancestors.
We returned after the reception to visit the graves of my great great-grandparents Pearl and "Jimmy Dean" Beall (Edna and Anna's parents -- he was a locktender at Edward's Ferry, where he raised his family) . . . . . . and the grave of my grandmother's parents, Charles Poole and Edna Beall Poole. My mom, aunts, and Uncle Robert promise to return with me soon to do the grand tour of the cemetery. More gravestone pictures to come!