Find A Grave - Columbus

Rainey, Gertrude 'Ma' b. April 26, 1886 d. December 22, 1939
Acclaimed Blues Singer. The "Mother of the Blues" first appeared on stage in 1900. In 1902 she married song and dance man William Pa Rainey. She was then know as Ma even though the marriage did not last. Her band included jazz stars Louis Armstrong, Thomas Dorsey and Coleman Hawkins. Between 1923 and 1928 she recorded more than 100 songs for Paramount. She helped mentor the career of Bessie Smith. The Great Depression ended her career as her fan base lost their ability to buy her records. She...[Read More] (Bio by: Paul G. Healy)
Porterdale Cemetery, Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia, USA
Riddle, Elmer Ray b. July 31, 1914 d. May 14, 1984
Major League Baseball Player. Born in Columbus, Georgia, he was a right handed pitcher making his debut with the Cincinnati Reds on October 1, 1939. For ten seasons, he played with the Cincinnati Reds (1939-45, 1947), Pittsburgh Pirates (1948-49), was a member Cincinnati Reds' 1940 World Series Championship team and on the 1948 National League All-Star team. He concluded his career with a record of 65 wins, 52 loss, 57 complete games, 13 shutouts, 8 saves, 342 strikeouts and a 3.40 earned runs...[Read More] (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)
Parkhill Cemetery, Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia, USA
Rutherford, Lizzie b. January 1, 1833 d. March 31, 1873
Creator of Confederate Memorial Day. While cleaning the graves of Confederate soldiers buried in Columbus, Georgia, she was struck with the idea of creating a specific day for decorating the graves. As secretary for the Columbus Ladies' Memorial Association, she presented the idea to them. The date of April 26 was set aside. The custom soon spread around the former Confederate States as a direct result of Rutherford's work. Many historians believe that the observance of Confederate Memorial Day...[Read More] (Bio by: Evening Blues)
Linwood Cemetery, Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia, USA
Semmes, Paul J. b. June 4, 1815 d. July 10, 1863
Civil War Confederate Brigadier General. Born on a plantation in Wilkes County, Georgia, he served as a Captain in the Georgia Militia, 1846 to 1861. After the start of the Civil War, he was appointed Colonel of the 2nd Georgia Infantry and was promoted Brigadier General in March, 1862. During the Peninsula Campaign, he was a brigade commander for the Army of the Northern Virginia which participated in the Battle of South Mountain, Sharpsburg and at Chancellorsville. While leading his brigade...[Read More] (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)
Cause of death: Mortally wounded at Gettysburg
Linwood Cemetery, Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia, USA
Ticknor, Dr. Francis Orray b. November 13, 1822 d. December 18, 1874
Author. He worked as a surgeon during the Civil War, treating wounded soldiers who came through his hospital in Columbus, Georgia. Sixteen year old Isaac Newton Giffen from Tennessee was brought there after being wounded in the war. Ticknor and his wife admired the boy's courage and brought him to recuperate at their home. While there, they taught him to read and write. After recovering, the boy returned to the Confederate Army and was reportedly killed in battle. To express his grief, the...[Read More] (Bio by: Evening Blues)
Linwood Cemetery, Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia, USA
Warner, James d. February 21, 1866
Confederate naval engineer. Commanded Confederate navy yard. Killed during a confrontation between local citizens and black federal troops in Columbus , GA during the reconstruction.
Linwood Cemetery, Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia, USA

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