A very large, well maintained and fenced cemetery in the boondocks of southeastern Montgomery Co. Arkansas. Approx. 1,325 headstones and a least a quarter of the graves in this cemetery are unmarked. Ask for directions from the locals or obtain a Ouachita National Forest or General Highway Map for Montgomery Co., AR, from the clerk's office, Mt Ida. The best time to visit a cemetery in Montgomery County and to meet the locals is Decoration Day At Mt Tabor Decoration Day is the 3rd Sunday in May.
ONLY ONE SURVIVES - Jim Vaughan lower left, is the only survivor of this group who posed for a 40 year old reunion of the Mt. Tabor School class, 40 years ago at a decoration and homecoming day at Mt. Tabor Church and Cemetery. Others in the front row are a Mr. Keith, those first name is forgotten by Vaughan; John Whisenhunt, John Wright, Jim Reppo, and Bob Cullun. Standing are Annie Short, left, Alec Long, Cassie Long, Will Long, Emma Tallent, Willie Yandell, Mollie Short, Fred Pettijohn, Lim Long, and Jim Tallent. The picture was made by Keith's brother those name is also forgotten, although a relative Grady Keith still lives in the Mt. Tabor area. Jim Vaughan will be 91 in March. The school once met in the church house, he recalls, but after the boys began tearing up the songbooks, ...... Image from a newspaper clipping courtesy of Sheila Barnson. The name of the newspaper, date and rest of article unknown. Posted 8 Aug. 2000. The article probably appeared in the newspaper 1969 and the reunion was most likely 1929 and they attended school c. 1889. The ladies maiden names were not mentioned. The school is most likely the Beulah School but known to the locals as Mt. Tabor School.
Mount Tabor Cemetery Vaughn, James T. b. March 16 1879-1973
Collum, G. Robert 1873-1942
Long, Cassie 1876-1942
Long, Willis 1872-1942
Pettijohn, Fred 1874-1944
Short, Annie 1883-1900Tallant, Emma Long 1886- (m. Jim)
Tallant, James "Jim" 1881-1959
Whisenhunt, J.H. 1880-1948
Reppo, James 1882-1964
Keith, Grady 1906-1990
Old Mt Tabor Community Church
Color photographs taken on a fine spring day in March 2007 by Herbie Meeks.
Opal, daughter of son of F.C. & Alice Montgomery.
February 18 1922 - July 12 1953
Asleep in Jesus.
Audy, son of F.C. & Alice Montgomery.
March 11, 1911 - March 16, 1958.
I fear no evil, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Montgomery
Alice Mary 6 1883 - Feb. 28 1972
F.C. Nov. 19 1881 - Sept. 9 1968
Joe Frank "Chip" Montgomery
Feb. 7 1959 - Jul 28, 1991
Jack Montgomery - March 10 1918 - July 4 1970 m
March 29 1937 to Dell Montgomery
This is the left side of the church building looking east where the the first
Montgomery markers are located. To get better pictures the best time to go is
early in the morning when the sun is facing east, as all graves in this area,
are placed with the person's feet pointing east.
Montgomery County ArkansasGenWeb Project
Montgomery County News June 1, 2000
Dewitt FORGA
Dewitt Forga, 72, of Glenwood, died Wednesday, May 24, 2000. He was born on
April 7, 1928 in the Mount Tabor community near Glenwood, the son of Dewey Forga and
Maggie Short Forga. On November 29, 1946, he was married to Dorice.... He was a retired
wildlife officer with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and a member of the Bethel
Missionary Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife,...two sons..., six
sisters...., five grandchildren..., and two great grandchildren. Services were held
Sunday, May 28, in the Davis-Smith Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Wayne Cooper and Bro.
J.B. Evans officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home
of Glenwood.
Montgomery County News Oct 21 1999
Florence E. Wilhite HARPER
Florence E. Wilhite Harper, 94, of Buckville, AR, died Friday, October 8,
1999, in a Hot Springs hospital. Born September 23, 1905, in Oden to Lee and Liza
Harvey Wilhite, she was a retired school teacher and a member of Harery's Chapel Baptist
Church. She was predeceased by her husband, Samuel Floyd Harper. Survivors include: a son
and daughter-in-law .... of Buckville; two brothers and sisters-in-law...of Ventura, CA,
and Rev. ...Wilhite; a sister-in-law..., a brother-in-law..., of Oden; two grandsons, four
great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Services were Monday, October 11, 1999, at Mount
Tabor Baptist Church with Brothers Jimmie Scott and Curtis Stillwell officiating. Burial
was in Mount Tabor Cemetery under the direction of Caruth Village Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were: Junior Murders, Norban Kinsey, Ray Lawrence, Darrell Bratton, Lonnie
Harper, Robert Harper, Jim Harper and Dewey Harper.
Montgomery County News
Mrs. Lessie A Pettijohn
April 18, 1919 - January 25, 2006
Lessie A. Pettijohn, 86, of Conway, formerly of Hot Springs, died Wednesday,
January 25, in Conway. Born April 18, 1919 in Gaston, Arkansas to James and Emma
Long Tallant, she was of the Pentecostal faith. She was predeceased by her
parents; and her husband, John Edward Pettijohn. Survivors include two daughters
and one son-in-law, Myrna and Keith Sherwood of Greenbrier, Arkansas and Glenda
Davis of Glendale, Arizona; one sister, Jewel Henderson of Arizona; six
grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren and nine
great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services are 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 28,
2006 at Mt. Tabor Community Church with Brother John McKinney officiating.
Pallbearers will be Laramie Morgan, James Sadlin, Johnny Sadlin, Heath Fowler,
Evan Sherwood and Terry Brown. Burial will be Mt. Tabor Cemetery. Gross Funeral
Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mt Tabor Camp Building. 2001 photo by S. Barns.