Collins Cemetery in Jayess, MS - Update

Patsy Lambert Jones sent this update:

Saturday, March 31, 2007, the Nathaniel Everette Collins Cemetery, located in Jayess, MS, was cleaned for the first time in approximately 50 years. The newest marker was that of Mrs Addie Partheny Mullins Collins, also known as "Aunt Duck", who passed away December 25, 1936. She was buried next to her husband, Everette Milton Collins, born June 23, 1854, died July 17, 1907, and their son, Hershell Collins. While cleaning, the marker of Nathaniel Everette Collins, born Jan 28, 1818, died Jan 6, 1879, was uncovered in the dirt. It has been broken into two pieces, and his descendents have hopes of restoring it. Buried beside Nathaniel was his wife, Nancy Hathorn Collins, born Feb. 12, 1822, died Nov. 21, 1888.

Nathaniel and Nancy had thirteen children, and two of their sons are buried with them in the cemetery, Everette Milton Collins, and Thomas Jefferson Collins born Oct 28, 1860, died Oct 15, 1919, and his wife Elizabeth Alford Collins, born March 14, 1859 died Oct 14, 1927. Also Thomas Jefferson's adult son,Wirt Collins, who died in 1930, is buried there, plus at least six infants of Thomas and Elizabeth. More graves are suspected of being in the cemetery, but no additional markers were found.

The cleanup could not have been accomplished without the help of brothers, Renick (Nick) Allen Carney and Randy Todd Carney, who traveled from Lucedale and Gulfport, MS to help. They had just discovered the week before that they were descended from Nathaniel Everette Collins through his son, John Richmond Collins. They are also very interested in the Carney line in SW Mississippi.

Also assisting with the cleanup were Patsy Lambert Jones and her husband, Wesley Jones, and Sharon Lambert. Pat and Sharon are sisters, and are descended from Nathaniel Everette Collins, through his daughter, Ann Saphronia Collins Magee.

Two local men, David Allen and Wayne Stephens, the son-in-law of Mrs. Joyce Lambert, and whose children are Collins' descendants, worked very hard during the cleanup. David even went out to the site earlier in the week, and cut a trail through the woods to the cemetery, which allowed the cleanup crew to start work immediately on Saturday when they arrived at the site. Christina Stephens took pictures while Mrs. Joyce Lambert helped with refreshments at the site.

Pat and Sharon have established a bank account at State Bank and Trust at Monticello, MS 39654, and are requesting donations to be used in repairing the broken markers, fencing off the old cemetery, and maintaining a cleared area. This cemetery is a piece of history that needs to be restored. Nathaniel's father, Nathaniel Madison Collins, fought in the War of 1812 in New Orleans under Andrew Jackson, and his grandfather Elisha Collins, fought in the American Revolution. Elisha also helped settle the area around Fort Boonesborough, Kentucky, and fought the Indians there along side of Daniel Boone. Donations should be made out to Sharon Lambert and mailed to Mrs Anna Cothern Durr at State Bank, for the restoration. Anna is a ggg granddaughter of Nathaniel and Nancy Hathorn Collins.