Oak Grove Genealogy— the Story Behind the Name

Author: Julie July 9, 2015 4 Comments

Oak Grove Genealogy. The story.

Picking a name for a blog is a bit daunting of an experience. Some of the existing sites have fun and whimsical names running across their banners, such as “(Mis)Adventures Of A Genealogist.” Some stem from the surname being researched. Many tie in some way to the words ‘Genealogy’ or ‘Family.’

I love the website named “What’s Past is Prologue.” The keeper of the blog, Donna Pointkouski, states-

“In The Tempest by William Shakespeare, Act II, scene i, the character of Antonio utters the phrase “what’s past is prologue”. In Antonio’s speech, he was trying to convince the character of Sebastian to murder his sleeping father so that Sebastian could become king. All that had happened up until then – their past – was merely a prologue to the great things to come if they went through with the deed. A prologue was a preface to a play or novel that “set the scene” and provided some background information.”

Beautiful.

I strove for a name that held personal meaning. My first thought was to name the site ‘Olive Tree Genealogy.’ Olive trees are proud and majestic; lovely to me (I have four growing in pots in my courtyard). Over time, the olive tree becomes twisty and gnarly- quite representative of what life can look like. As well, my early years living in southern Spain developed in me a love for all things Spanish. Much of the world’s olives are grown in southern Spain.

Well, the name Olive Tree Genealogy was taken. Someone beat me to it.

So I was on to figure out another option.

My heart led me to Oak Grove Genealogy.

Here’s the story behind the name.

Oak Grove Cemetery is located in sweet Americus, a quaint town in Sumter County in southern Georgia. It’s up the street from Plains, Georgia where President Jimmy Carter was born and raised.

This cemetery is a masterpiece of Victorian treasures. It is a multi-acre place of rest under the shade of giant oak trees. As one walks through the double wrought-iron gate on Rees Street, it is impossible to not be taken by the beauty of this place. Tremendous creativity and passion is seen in the wide variety of markers, headstones, mausoleums, and monuments placed throughout the grounds. Lovely landscaping and a well-kept fish pond draw the visitor in to want to stay for the afternoon.

Oak Grove Cemetery was established in 1856 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Approximately 2,000 persons are interred here, making it the largest active historic cemetery in Georgia. A special section is the Confederate portion where 129 soldiers who served in the Army of Tennessee are buried, with 45 of those being of “unknown” status.

I guess that all sounds a bit sappy but, truly, it IS a lovely cemetery. And one must understand that I can list close to 100 persons on my immediate and extended family tree who are buried there. When I was growing up, needing to travel to Americus seemed a death march. But as I get older, and more of my loved ones rest there, I am drawn to the area.

Oak Grove Cemetery.

Oak Grove Genealogy.

I am pleased with the name.