Haley Bush Cemetery
HALEY BUSH CEMETERY, Shelby County, Texas was photographed May 24, 2016 by Bob Britnell and sister Sandra. This is an African-American cemetery located in the deep woods off FM3230, north of San Augustine. The county line between Shelby and San Augustine counties runs through the cemetery, with about 1/4 of the cemetery in San Augustine County and the rest in Shelby County. The access road is in Shelby County but the approach is from San Augustine County.
DIRECTIONS: From San Augustine, go north on FM3230 (N. Harrison St in town) seven miles to CR102, at the sign for Mt. Horeb Church, and turn right. Shortly after you pass the church the road crosses into Shelby County and becomes CR1097. At the sign for Haley Bush cemetery, turn right to the cemetery.
This is a Historic Texas Cemetery with a sign from the Texas Historical Commission. The land for the cemetery was donated by Haley Bush out of the 160 acre tract granted to her husband; Haley was born into slavery between 1861 & 1866 in Shelby County to George and Manda Blount. Several of those known to be buried here were born in slavery or were brought to the area as slaves.
We have digital pictures of each individual marker in this cemetery and will provide them to anyone who asks, at no charge, by e-mail or prints by regular mail.
The notation "(FHM)" indicates a small metal funeral home marker; there are many such temporary markers in this cemetery. Because these markers give very little information, I have done a bit of extra research on them, trying to add at least complete birth & death dates.
BARNES, Ester M. Jackson Polk (176); b. Mar 28, 1958; d. Oct 24, 2007
BIGGERS, Isom (91); b. Dec, 1837; d. Mar 27, 1930. Howard's Inf, CSA. (Note 1)
BIGGERS, Cherry (63); 1858 -- 1903. (second wife of Isom)
BIGGERS, Ellen (64); 1855 -- 1881. (first wife of Isom)
BIGGERS, James Bernard (89); b. Sep 5, 1905; d. Dec 27, 1973
BIGGERS, Cage Sr. (92); 1876 -- 1916
BIGGERS, George Lee (115); 1905 -- 1953
BIGGERS, Fannie (116); b. Mar 9, 1882; d. Aug 28, 1948
BIGGERS, John (117); b. Aug 25, 1873; d. Apr 26, 1941
BIGGERS, Johnie E. (118); b. Feb 10, 1904; d. Aug 13, 1936
BIGGERS, Willie (119); b. Nov 1, 1902; d. Sep 13, 1932
BIGGERS, Catherine (240); b. Oct 29, 1943; d. Jan 12, 2001
BIGGERS, Thedel "Cat" (241); b. Feb 6, 1910; d. Feb 13, 1999
BIGGERS, Faye T. (242); b. Feb 19, 1917; d. June 24, 1986
BIGGERS, Larry (244); b. Dec 2, 1951; d. Dec 18, 1970
BIGGERS, Andrew (246); 1908 -- 1980
BIGGERS, Johnnie (247); b. Nov 16, 1917; d. May 2, 2002
BLUFORD, Jerry (195); b. Oct 22, 1951; d. Mar 24, 2014
BLUFORD, Candi Leannette (196); b. Mar 10, 1979; d. July 17, 2010
BLUFORD, Willie (197); b. May 7, 1929; d. Mar 6, 1992
BLUFORD, Thelma (199); b. May 21, 1929; d. July 25, 2013
BLUFORD, William (200); b. July 30, 1925; d. Dec 13, 1996
BLUFORD, A.D. (237); b. Mar 4, 1937; d. June 16, 1993
BLUFORD, Arious (238); b. July 11, 1911; d. Jan 1, 2008. (Double with)
BLUFORD, Zerlena (238); b. May 12, 1912; d. Feb 21, 1993. Married Dec 24, 1935
BOOTY, Dorothy (96); 1936 -- 2015. (FHM)
BRATCHETT, Thelma J. (193); b. Aug 3, 1943; d. Feb 5, 2000
BRATCHETT, Cornelius (194); b. Oct 24, 1982; d. Oct 7, 2004. (FHM)
BUSH, MaHaley (46); b. Apr 10, 1866; d. Dec 5, 1954. "Gave and dedicated this land site for Bush Cemetery"
CARTWRIGHT, Rev Sidney J. (124, 125); 1899 -- 1952. (Double with)
CARTWRIGHT, Mary Alma (124); 1900 -- 1989
DADE, Marie (148); b. Sep 6, 1924; d. Sep 23, 2000
DAVIS, Krystal Nicole (155); b. June 24, 1984; d. Mar 12, 2003
DAVIS, Jacqueline R. (162); b. Oct 14, 1965; d. Jan 27, 2007
DAVIS, Annette Allen (167, 168); b. Jan 16, 1963; d. Nov 20, 2004
DAVIS, Willie Lewis (188); b. July 3, 1936; d. Sep 3, 1988
DAVIS, Extra (231); b. Feb 25, 1889; d. Feb 2, 1984
DAVIS, Robert Glenn (235); b. Sep 2, 1955; d. Apr 4, 2016
DAVIS, Paire Zee Tanner (255); b. May 23, 1950; d. Aug 21, 1993
EDWARDS, Rose M. (169); b. Sep 5, 1955; d. Feb 17, 2008
EDWARDS, Infant (225); 1975. Son of Rose M. Edwards
EVANS, Dale III "Lil Homie" (53); b. Mar 8, 1988; d. Nov 18, 2010. (Photo)
FIELDS, Mariah Jones (65); b. Jan 8, 1851; d. Apr 6, 1892
FIELDS, Frank L. (217); b. Sep 29, 1926; d. Mar 26, 1999. US Army WWII, Korea, Vietnam
GARRETT, LaMearl Matlock (48); b. Dec 5, 1932; d. Oct 13, 1975
GARRETT, Bemon O. (249); b. Jan 24, 1929; d. Nov 24, 1996
GASTON, Mary Biggers (239); b. Sep 21, 1940; d. Nov 27, 2010
GREEN, Lonie (30); Dec 30, 1935
GREEN, Kesharna (205); 1969 -- 1973
HARRIS, Ada Mae (206); b. June 29, 1909; d. Nov 3, 1976
HOLMAN, Merline Jackson (104); b. Nov 27, 1935; d. Apr 6, 1962.
HOLMAN, Sallie B. (144); b. Dec 20, 1896; d. Feb 6, 1968
HORTON, Annie B. Holman (146); b. Nov 10, 1896; d. Mar 4, 1934
HORTON, Annie Mae (147); b. Feb 1, 1920; d. June 28, 1986
JACKSON, Glenn (23); b. June 9, 1981; d. Feb 1, 2006
JACKSON, Patricia Nicole (24); b. Dec 5, 1982; d. Dec 6, 1982
JACKSON, Jack (25); b. June 10, 1919; d. Jan 22, 1980
JACKSON, Frank (26); b. June 22, 1912; d. Mar 20, 1977
JACKSON, Rush (27); b. 1883; d. Nov 11, 1962
JACKSON, Eva (28); In Loving Memory - (No Dates)
JACKSON, Annie Lane (29); b. Sep 22, 1900; d. Sep 1, 1956
JACKSON, Mae Willie (32); In Loving Memory. (No dates)
JACKSON, Catherine (33); 1840 -- 1919
JACKSON, Richard (34); 1835 -- 1905
JACKSON, Ed (35); b. Nov 17, 1872; d. 1925
JACKSON, Sam (36); b. Feb 6, 1873; d. Mar 3, 1943
JACKSON, Velma (37); b. Feb 6, 1930; d. May 1, 1952
JACKSON, Lonie Mae (38); 1923 (No other date)
JACKSON, Janie Mae (39); Mar 29, 1928 (No other date)
JACKSON, Alice Genell (40); b. Feb 9, 1969; d. May 22, 1969
JACKSON, Marvin (42); b. Jan 12, 1961; d. June 14, 1970
JACKSON, Mamie Jones (101); b. Aug 9, 1917; d. Feb 27, 1936
JACKSON, Rush Jr. (164); b. Dec 15, 1931; d. Feb 5, 2005
JACKSON, Lee Ella (171); b. June 19, 1923; d. June 28, 2007
JACKSON, Sarah Francis Bluford (177); b. Sep 5, 1929; d. Aug 11, 1997
JACKSON, Richard D. (178); b. May 20, 1931; d. Mar 28, 2009
JACKSON, Mamie (181); b. June 20, 1909; d. June 18, 2002. Wife of Samuel Jackson
JACKSON, Willie W. (182); b. May 2, 1937; d. Feb 24, 2003
JACKSON, Richard Jr. (189); b. Mar 22, 1955; d. Mar 15, 1984
JAMES, Kattie W. (62); b. Oct 25, 1890; d. June 29, 1949
JENKINS, Rev. Melvin C. (183); b. Mar 23, 1932; d. Aug 16, 2012. (Double with)
JENKINS, Sally L. (184); b. Feb 22, 1933; d. May 22, 2011. Married May 7, 1956
JOHNSON, Helen Louise Ligon (54); b. Mar 15, 1963; d. June 18, 2013
JONES, Joy (16); b. Feb 13, 1977; d. Aug 1, 1978
JONES, Louise Ligon. (56); b. 1939; d. Nov 17, 1989. (date of death same as her mother, see Maggie Ligon)
JONES, Johnnie Lee (70); b. May 11, 1919; d. Sep 26, 1943. PFC HQ Co, 25 Inf, 93 Div, WWII
JONES, Thomas (71); b. June 16, 1880; d. Apr 18, 1943
JONES, Elzy (Elzie) (72); b. Oct 10, 1908; d. Mar 8, 1958
JONES, Francis (Holman) (73); b. Oct 8, 1884; d. Jan 8, 1966
JONES, Rosie Lee (85); 1905 -- 1925
JONES, Maybelle (86); 1888 -- 1913
JONES, Ella B. (87); 1900 -- 1937
JONES, Davis (88); 1888 -- 1938
JONES, Sam (100); Feb, 1924
JONES, Ann (102); Oct 10, 1938
JONES, Bertha Mae (121); b. May 2, 1944; d. Aug 22, 1945
JONES, Lenon (122); b. July 29, 1953; d. July 29, 1953
JONES, Clyde (123); b. Mar 21, 1911; d. Apr 1, 1994. (Double with)
JONES, Josie B. (123); b. May 29, 1916; d. Jan 20, 2006. Married Sep 12, 1936
JONES, Maurice (159); b. Oct 3, 1936; d. Mar 28, 2009. SP4 US Army, Vietnam
JONES, Ira "Dutch" (172); b. Jan 20, 1911; d. Dec 13, 1997. (Original Poem on headstone)
JONES, Frank (191); 1901 -- 1980
JONES, Maggie (192); b. Jan 20, 1913; d. July 20, 2010
JONES, Tom Junior (224); 1907 -- 1973. Pvt US Army, WWII
JONES, Sanford (227); 1904 -- 1978. Pvt, US Army, WWII
JONES, Nora M. (228); b. Apr 7, 1904; d. Apr 6, 1982
JONES, John Henry (229); b. May 14, 1902; d. Jan 19, 1995
JONES, Richard Arther (234); b. June 18, 1925; d. Oct 13, 1991
JONES, Arthur (236); b. June 30, 1900; d. Feb 24, 1994. (Double with)
JONES, Nettie B. (236); b. Nov 7, 1902; d. Apr 24, 1992
JONES, Hugh (253); b. July 16, 1926; d. Feb 9, 1995
KELLEY, Humphrey Jr. (106); b. Sep 3, 1927; d. Jan 13, 1969. PFC, US Army, WWII
KELLEY, Humphrey (107); b. Dec 21, 1888; d. Oct 7, 1967. (Double with)
KELLEY, Annie Lee (107); b. June 16, 1894; d. June 25, 1984
KELLEY, Pierce (108); b. Jan 1, 1884; d. Sep 23, 1976
KELLEY, Jim (109); 1902 -- 1936
KELLEY, Berta (112); b. July 27, 1876; d. Sep 7, 1951
KELLEY, Ruby Davis (136); b. Jan 23, 1920; d. July 21, 2001. (FHM)
KELLEY, Hulon (137); b. Oct 10, 1920; d. June 9, 2012
KELLEY, Hollis Redmon (245); 1905 -- 1978
KELLEY, Alfred (250); b. Apr 25, 1919; d. Nov 23, 2005
KING, Gloria Jean (186); 1949 -- 2014
KING, Roosevelt (187); b. Sep 17, 1919; d. Jan 10, 1997. PFC, US Army, WWII
LANE, Murry Thomas "M.T." (10); b. Jan 30, 1928; d. Sep 21, 1993
LANE, JHugh (11); b. Apr 28, 1925; d. Aug 28, 1982. SM1, US Navy WWII. (Note 3)
LANE, Lillie Lee (13); b. Aug 23, 1886; d. Apr 16, 1946
LANE, Charlie (14); 1912 -- 1930
LANE, Lizzie (15); 1919 -- 1926
LIGON, Jimmy Earl (55); b. Mar 12, 1964; d. Mar 12, 1991
LIGON, Maggie B. Fields (56); b. Sep 16, 1902; d. Nov 17, 1989. (Double with daughter, see Louise Jones)
LIGON, Columbus (66); 1937 -- 1962
LIGON, Frank (67); 1934 -- 1970
LIGON, Cleophus (68); 1926 -- 1976
LIGON, Sam R. (69); 1906 -- 1983. (husband of Maggie)
LIGGON, Jane (90); b. Nov 22, 1877; d. May 11, 1947. (Name spelled "Liggon" on headstone)
LOVELL, Mollie (78); 1882 -- 1965
LUCAS, Lula Mae (130); 1916 -- 2000. (FHM)
MARSHALL, Frank (126); 1902 --1991. PFC, US Army, WWII
MARSHALL, Florance Kelly (127); 1914 -- 2016. (FHM)
MARSHALL, Ruby Lee (128); b. Oct 12, 1950; d. May 28, 2003
MARSHALL, Frank Deshon (129); b. Oct 11, 1977; d. Sep 10, 1979
MARSHALL, Cornelius (133); b. May 4, 1968; d. Jan 16, 2012. (FHM)
MARSHALL, Gene (135); b. Nov 12, 1951; d. Nov 1, 2006. (FHM)
MATLOCK, Wanda Jean (19); b. May 11, 1945; d. Apr 7, 2010
MATLOCK, Jake (20); b. Oct 28, 1907; d. Mar 20, 1995. (Note 4) (Double with)
MATLOCK, Sarah (20); b. Dec 30, 1904; d. Sep 18, 2005. (Note 4)
MATLOCK, Rufus (47); b. Apr 15, 1897; d. Sep 17, 1956. (Double with)
MATLOCK, Rosie (47); b. Aug 24, 1905; d. June 13, 1974
MATLOCK, Lee James (49); b. Feb 22, 1935; d. Oct 14, 1963
MATLOCK, Alice Joy (51); b. Dec 7, 1934; d. Nov 30, 1989
MATLOCK, Willie (52); b. Dec 11, 1921; d. Sep 1, 2007. (FHM)
MATLOCK, Johnny Ray (156); b. Apr 30, 1947; d. June 21, 2009
MATLOCK, George B. (157, 158); b. Dec 15, 1923; d. Oct 16, 2011. Sgt US Army, WWII
MILES, Lillie Mae (21, 22); b. June 25, 1900; d. Sep 14, 1941.
MILES, P. Reed (21); b. Mar 3, 1898; d. Jan 20, 1982
MILES, Reed (21, 149); b. Mar 15, 1860; d. Apr 16, 1940
MOORE, Roselle (61); b. Mar 22, 1893; d. June 10, 1973
MOORE, Delmas Leon (203, 204); b. Jan 3, 1925; d. Sep 23, 2009. CK2 US Navy WWII. (Note 9) (Double with)
MOORE, Birdie Mae Netherly (203); b. Apr 30, 1928; d. Sep 16, 1995. (See note 8)
MOORE, L.C. (223); 1928 -- 1982. Sgt, US Army, Korea
MOORE, Dorothy Mae (249); b. Jan 15, 1948; d. July 2, 2015
NETHERLY, L. C. (114); b. Apr 6, 1923; d. June 26, 1941. Pvt, Co. A, 66 Inf Trng BN, US Army. (Active duty-Note 2)
NETHERLY, Elroy (97); b. Jan 1, 1933; d. Apr 13, 2003
NETHERLY, Loice James (98, 99); b. Oct 4, 1920; d. Nov 29, 1999. TEC5, US Army, WWII. (Double with)
NETHERLY, Charlie May (98); b. Aug 4, 1924; d. May 20, 2005. married Jan 28, 1946
NETHERLY, Reuben (110); b. Apr 27, 1895; d. Apr 9, 1975. Pvt US Army
NETHERLY, Howard R. (111); 1942 -- 1962
NETHERLY, Jessie Mae (113); b. Mar 21, 1902; d. July 3, 1986
PATTON, Kelvin Theodore (143); b. June 25, 1954; d. Jan 4, 1991. (FHM)
PENA, Minnie Pearl King (190); b. Aug 7, 1941; d. Dec 17, 1982
PRICE, Eura (218); b. July 3, 1908; d. May 13, 1980
REDMON, Cleveland B. "C.B." (103); 1933 -- 2016. (FHM)
REDMON, Charles Edward (120); b. Sep 1, 1943; d. Oct 31, 1971. SP5, US Army, Vietnam
REDMON, Gene Alton (251); b. Oct 2, 1940; d. July 6, 1995
REDMON, Viola (252); b. Apr 29, 1904; d. July 29, 1992
ROACH, Billy R. (211, 212); b. Nov 6, 1937; d. Apr 16, 2001. MSgt, US Air Force
ROBERTS, Ellis (31); In Loving Memory - 1902
ROBERTSON, Betty Kay (132); b. May 14, 1955; d. Sep 9, 2003
ROBINSON, Ida Stansberry (138); b. June 27, 1909; d. Feb 27, 2004. (FHM)
SHEPHERD, Amanda Biggers (93); b. 1880; d. July, 1938
SKINNER, Wesley Ryan (254); b. Feb 11, 1988; d. Mar 3, 1988
SMITH, Jermaine (41); b. July 22, 1974; d.July 22, 1974
STANSBERRY, H.B. (139); b. May 8, 1932; d. July 13, 2003. (FHM)
STANSBERRY, Buck (141); b. May 10, 1873; d. Nov 13, 1964. (FHM)
STANSBERRY, Mathania Jones (142); b. Nov 8, 1894; d. Aug 19, 1988 in Gary, Lake Co. IN. (FHM)
STONE, Janie Biggers (94); b. Apr 16, 1913; d. July 29, 1961
TANNER, Willie Mae (105); b. Nov 10, 1914; d. Feb 10, 1984
TANNER, Melinda Ro'Sha (131); b. Dec 6, 1970; d. Oct 3, 1992
TANNER, James Patrick "Hammer" (152); b. Sep 16, 1967;d. Sep 23, 2012
TANNER, Jeffery J. (153); b. Nov 10, 1967; d. Aug 21, 1993
TAYLOR, Debra A. (160); b. Oct 9, 1956; d. Mar 23, 2006
TEAL, Hortince Jackson (180); b. Jan 31, 1928; d. Apr 18, 2008
TEEL, Vernon "Tweet" (161); b. Oct 1, 1935; d. Nov 2, 2012. (FHM)
UNDERWOOD, Maika Florence Shaneka Marshall (134); b. July 21, 1975; d. Sep22, 2010
WADE, Anna L. (07, 08); 1895 -- 1954. (Double with)
WADE, Ned (07, 09); 1875 -- 1940
WADE, Catherine (57); 1851 -- 1915. (Double with)
WADE, John (57); 1846 -- 1916
WADE, Frank (58); b. July 25, 1885; d. Jan 23, 1923
WADE, Bertha (59); 1886 -- 1983. (Double with)
WADE, Frank (59); 1885 -- 1923
WADE, Rev Zion (74); b. July 13, 1903; d. June 1, 2001. (FHM)
WADE, Exa Velma (75, 76); b. Dec 15, 1944; d. Aug 5, 1966. (FHM)
WADE, Booker T. (77); b. Dec 31, 1914; d. Aug 18, 1956. AS, USNR, WWII. (Note 5)
WADE, Plemon A. (79); b. Nov 2, 1900; d. July 21, 1970. Pvt, US Army, WWII
WADE, Janie V. (80); b. Dec 10, 1871; d. Mar 22, 1949. (Note 6)
WADE, Rufus D. (81); b. Aug 16, 1904; d. Mar 22, 1932
WADE, Kirksey A. (83); b. Nov 18, 1898; d. July 12, 1907
WADE, Tennessee (84); b. Nov 10, 1872; d. Dec 30, 1930
WADE, Otis (174); b. July 22, 1921; d. Jan 8, 2014. (FHM)
WADE, Boyd (175); b. Oct 9, 1909; d. Feb 12, 1990
WADE, Orvis T. (209); b. Mar 26, 1934; d. Oct 20, 2003. SKCM,US Navy, Korea & Vietnam. (Note 10)
WADE, Richard Earl (210); b. Mar 2, 1941; d. Mar 9, 2008. SP4, US Army
WADE, Johnny Allen (213, 214); b. Jan 8, 1953; d. Apr 19, 1995: Victim of the Oklahoma City Bombing
WADE, Johnnie (215); 1919 -- 1981. Sgt, US Army, WWII
WADE, Olivia (216); b. Dec 14, 1921; d. Mar 27, 2006
WADE, Melton Davis (219); b. Nov 18, 1943; d. Feb 4, 1997
WADE, Zelma Lee (220); b. Oct 13, 1915; d. Aug 3, 1991
WADE, Pierce Davis (221); b. Mar 16, 1914; d. Aug 26, 1974
WALKER, Shirley Mae (185); b. Aug 15, 1949; d. Jan 28, 2004
WHITEHEAD, Maggie L. (243); b. Nov 1, 1937; d. Aug 14, 1972
WYNN, R.A. (207); b. Aug 12, 1935; d. June 30, 1986. US Army, Korea
WYNN, Darrell Columbus (208); b. Oct 3, 1965; d. Nov 22, 1992
NOTE 1: Isom Biggers was born in Shelby County, Texas. He married (1) Ellen Jones, and (2) Cherry Wade. He enlisted in the Confederate Infantry in September, 1864, serving until June, 1865. He was awarded a pension for his service.
NOTE 2: Some records show his name as "L C", initials only, while others show him as "Lee C." While in training at Camp Wolters, Private Netherly saved the life of a fellow soldier who fell into a pond and couldn't swim. L C jumped into the water and pulled the other man to safety, but fell back into the water and drowned. He was posthumously awarded the Soldier's medal for his action. (The Soldier's Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States distinguished himself or herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. It is the highest honor a soldier can receive for an act of valor in a non-combat situation.)
NOTE 3: SM1- Signalman, Petty Officer 1st Class. Signalmen performed visual communications duties aboard Navy ships by use of semaphore flags, flashing lights, yardarm flashers, and flaghoists. In 2003 the SM rating was discontinued because of decreased need for visual signalling; the remaining duties of the SM rating were absorbed into the Quartermaster (QM) rating. JHugh died of Acute Heart Failure, apparently while incarcerated in Huntsville by the Tx. Dept. of Corrections.
NOTE 4: Headstone shows Jake and Sarah both born in 1905, but official records show them as above.
NOTE 5: AS- Until 1948, this was the abbreviation for "Apprentice Seaman", or "Seaman, second class", Enlisted paygrade E-2. That paygrade is now called "Seaman Apprentice". USNR: US Naval Reserves.
NOTE 6: Her headstone shows date of birth as Dec 10, 1871; her original death certificate shows dob as Mar 29, 1871, and the corrected death certificate shows dob as Dec 22, 1896. Census reports verify year of birth as 1871, not 1896.
NOTE 7: Merline's name is spelled "Mearl Lee" on her headstone, "Merlean" on the FHM, and "Merline" on her death certificate. The death certificate also has her last name as "Cook", not Holman, and her date of birth as Nov 12, not 27.
NOTE 8: Some online family records show her as "Birdie Mae Black-Netherly-Moore-Fields-Long", and some Social Security records show her as "Black, Netherly, Moore" at various times. Other records show her date of birth as April 26, 1928. Her family was enumerated twice in the 1940 census for Texas - once in Shelby County and once in San Augustine County, a month apart. The county line between the two counties run through this area, so apparently the enumerators overlapped their areas. Birdie, listed as "Berta" both times, was shown as 11 years old on one, and 14 on the other. Her mother gave the information once, her father the other time. I can't verify that she is actually buried here in this cemetery; she died in Dallas, Texas.
NOTE 9: CK2- Cook, Petty Officer Second Class
NOTE 10: SKCM- Storekeeper, Master Chief Petty Officer, US Navy. The rating of "storekeeper", abbreviated "SK", was renamed "Logistics Specialist" (LS) to better reflect the duties and responsibilities of this enlisted rating. Those serving in this specialty are responsible for the ordering and maintaining stock of everything from pencils to food to hammers to screws to bullets to missiles, in the navy. Master Chief is the highest enlisted paygrade (E-9) in the Navy.