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By: Connie Lynn Sellars-Buckalew 4-16-2002
GGG-Granddaughter of George McKinney
Member: Point Lookout POW
This story is the property of The United Daughters of the Confederacy/Dick Dowling Chapter #404. From: "Our Ancestors Biographies of Selected Confederate Veterans" Compiled & Edited by Bernice Dowden Elgar
One Day in Richmond
George McKinney, Confederate Soldier, South Carolina CO I, 9th Reg.
I have just returned from a moment in time that shall be stamped in my memory forever….. My journey began in Orange Texas and ended in Richmond Virginia in quest of finding the grave of my Confederate ancestor and Great- Great-Great Grandfather, George McKinney. Not really knowing if we would find him, or how to go about it, we felt it might be a fruitless endeavor seeing that this trip was not actually planned in advance. No preparations were made in bringing my family records or specific information that I might need. On the spur of the moment in our trip to North Carolina we decided to go to Richmond on the information that I remembered about the family history.
We traveled from Goldsboro, N.C. on the morning of April 16th, 2000. It was a four-hour drive from Goldsboro. We first arrived at the visitor’s center at Cold Harbor, Va., an outlying community outside of Richmond where a large battle had occurred. We were then given directions to the Richmond National Park Service and Visitor’s center. We arrived there around noon and inquired about how to find an ancestor in Hollywood Cemetery where I knew my grandfather was interred. I also remembered the date of his death. The ladies opened several archival books containing cemetery records. We were given the section and row number. Today was Sunday and I knew we would not have any assistance as the cemetery office was closed. We felt we might be looking for a needle in a haystack, realizing the size of the cemetery…They found his name in the record and gave us specific directions to the Confederate area of the cemetery. We were looking for Section W and #271. We left the visitor’s center very excited but really expecting a difficult task ahead. With heart-felt anticipation as never before, and with great hope of finding him, we rushed from the building.
Within minutes we arrived at Hollywood Cemetery and began our search for the Confederate section. Soon we found the section, and parked our truck on the road. My husband, Sherwood, and I began looking at the concrete letter blocks near the road. We came to Q, then R, then S. At that time I noticed other people walking about looking as well in nearby sections. Looking ahead of me I saw an enormous pyramid-shaped monument made of stones about 40-45 feet high. We walked up to read the dedication of this monument to the Confederate soldiers buried at this cemetery, It was placed by The United Daughters of the Confederacy. We continued our minute by minute search; my husband looking in one section and I in another, yet close by. Being slowed down by the interesting pyramid monument, and being still confused of the layout, I began walking over a gentle, rolling hill behind the monument. I was getting a little frustrated and was making the comment to Sherwood, “I really don’t understand how this system works….” He also had just crossed over the hill behind the monument, and as I spoke he turned around, his eyes falling down. At that moment he spoke, “There he is…” I think my heart must have stopped, for I was standing at the side of his grave and had stopped there to only express my confusion!
I stood speechless as my husband moved to my side. I silently read his name, George McKinney, South Carolina, CO. I., 9th Reg. Tears began to come to our eyes as my husband embraced me at the foot of his grave… My heart was beating with excitement, love and connection, as my search had come to an end.
In a moment I recalled all of the letters that he had written to his wife Sallie, hisfather and family members during his time in the war. His words began to ring in my ears as if they were verbal….. I then felt a sense of his loneliness on the side of this hill, and realized how far from home he was. I soon found solace in looking about at the very prominent place that he was buried. I had somehow expected a headstone with only a number in perhaps a neglected sort of spot. To find him on this gentle rolling hill, un-crowded and next to this beautiful Confederate Monument; I somehow regained my spirit of peace for him.
“What a lovely place!” Being early spring, there were hundreds of azaleas, dogwood, and bridlewreath in full bloom all around us. Feeling helpless and empty-handed, with a need to do something for him, I walked over to some large pink azalea bushes and picked a few. I found some small colorful rocks nearby and placed them around his headstone. I decorated his grave in this simple way thinking that perhaps it might be the first flowers ever placed upon his grave. My heart flowed with respect, reverence and pride as I choked back the tears. My husband knelt down with paper andpencil to make an etching of his name on the stone. We placed a little Confederate flag beside his headstone for pictures that we would snap. Sherwood made my picture sitting beside his grave. I felt a sense to linger in the area and walk about just to see where he was and what other names were near beside him.
When it came time to leave, it was very difficult….. I felt that I was actually leaving a part of myself behind… As I walked over the hill in front of the great pyramid monument, I could still see the pink and white flowers of his decorated grave. A sweet peaceful calmness rested in my spirit as I audibly said, “Goodbye…”
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