OLD SMYRNA Cemetery, Nacogdoches County, Texas is identified by a sign on the fence as "Smyrna Cemetery - Stripling", but is better known locally as Old Smyrna, and was sometimes called "Baptist Cemetery". There are three cemeteries very close together; Old Smyrna, New Smyrna, and Lowery-Grimes. We photographed all three on April 24, 2016.

DIRECTIONS: From Etoile on SR103 in Nacogdoches County, go south on FM 226 almost 5 miles and turn left onto CR 489, a red-dirt road. About a mile up this road, at the fire-lookout tower, turn right onto CR 490. (If you're using Google or Bing or Microsoft Maps, this road is identified as another CR489; that's wrong. The county road signs correctly identify this crossroad as CR490). Go about another mile, just after you cross under the powerlines, look for this cemetery on the right. If you continue on past Old Smyrna Cemetery to the next intersection, you will see the arched gate for New Smyrna Cemetery on the left. We took digital pictures of each individual headstone, and will provide copies free to anyone who asks.

BRANTLEY, Little Susie (28); b. Feb 28, 1868; d. Sep 7, 1874. Dau of W.F. & Sarah L. Brantley

BRANTLEY, Sarah J. (29); b. 1822 in NC; d. Dec 14, 1872 in TX. Wife of Benjamin F. Brantley

BRANTLEY, James W. (30); b. June 13 in AL; d. July 16, 1867. Son of Benjamin F. & Sarah J. Brantley

BRANTLEY, Benjamin F. (31); b. 1816 in GA; d. Aug 11, 1878

CONNER, Louis Alexander (04); 1886 -- 1900

CONNER, Martha Ann (05); 1884 -- 1900

CONNER, Mary Elizabeth (06); 1883 -- 1900

CONNER, John David (07); 1878 -- 1882

CONNER, John Wesley (08); b. Apr 23, 1835; d. Apr 7, 1864. Killed at Mansfield Battle; no grave here. (Note 1)

CONNER, Charles W. (18); 1848 -- 1895

COURTNEY, M.L. (27); b. Mar 15, 1875; d. May 26, 1892

CURETON, W.O. (13); 1816 -- 1876. Co A, 11 Texas Infantry, CSA

IVY, Florence G. (41); b. Nov 21, 1875; d. Oct 17, 1880. Dau. of J.A. & F.C. Ivy

JACKSON, Andrew (19); b. Mar, 1846; d. Nov 28, 1900. Co. H. 47 Ala. Infantry C S A. (Note 2)

JACKSON, John James (20); 1831 -- 1871

JACKSON, Duncan (21); b. 1802, d. 1880

JACKSON, Josephine Hightower Barnett Lowery (22); 1834 -- 1902

JACKSON, Baby (23); Aug 6, 1903

JACKSON, Baby (24); Nov 5, 1901

JACKSON, Baby (25); Sep 8, 1899

LOVE, Emmer (Emma) Francis (09); b. Aug 23, 1867; d. Jan 25, 1902

LOVE, Emely Louesar (10); b. Feb 13, 1871; d. Sep 12, 1888

LOVE, Elizabeth Ann (11); b. May 3, 1839; d. Jan 15, 1886

LOVE, John James (12); b. May 9, 1824; d. Nov 20, 1903

SOWELL, P.H. (26); b. 1857; d. July 12, 1889

STRIPLING; Ben J. (39, 42); b. May 23, 1832; d. Sep 26, 1880. Pvt 2 Texas Infantry CSA. (Double with)

STRIPLING, Narcissa Johnson (39); b. Nov 22, 1835; d. May 23, 1881. Married Sep 2, 1851

STRIPLING, Ben J. Jr. (40); b. Oct 12, 1860; d. July 20, 1888

WHATLEY, Bertie Whitehead (16); 1898 -- 1982

WHITEHEAD, Amanda (14); b. Mar 1, 1861; d. Aug 12, 1953

WHITEHEAD, Teddy (15); 1901 -- 1986

WHITTON, Claude D. (37); 1913 -- 1915

WHITTON, James M. (38); Grandfather of Grady. (No dates)

NOTE 1: Battle of Mansfield, Civil War, also known as the Battle of Sabine Crossroads, was fought in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana April 8, 1864 when 12,000 Union troops travelled up the Red River intending to capture Shreveport and defeat the Confederate troops in Louisiana. The Confederate forces, numbering 14,000, waited south of Mansfield for the Union forces to arrive. The Confederate troops, from Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, defeated the Union troops and ended the Union's Red River Campaign. About 30 wounded Confederates were taken to Minden for treatment; 21 who died there were buried in Minden Cemetery in unmarked graves. A memorial obelisk was placed at their graves in 1936; individual markers were placed near the obelisk in 2008.

NOTE 2: Andrew Jackson's headstone erroneously shows his service with 47 Louisiana Infantry. He served with the Alabama 47th Infantry Regiment as shown on the application for a veteran's headstone. Louisiana had no 47th regiment, and the Jacksons didn't leave Alabama until after the Civil War.