Alma was my husband's grandmother. She died before her grandson was born, so he never knew her.

Alma was the daughter of George Robert Carter and Henrietta Catherine (Caterina) Kiel. She was born in Greenville County, South Carolina. She was married to Frank Julian Wilson December 10, 1911 in Greenville, Greenville County, South Carolina. They had one son, Carter Wallace Wilson, who was born in December 1914. She and Frank divorced before 1917. Frank is shown as single on the WWI Draft Registration.

Alma then married Edwin Mims Carter some time after 1920. He was in a car wreck in December, 1936 in Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia and died from complications of that wreck two weeks later. He died January 12, 1937. He is buried at Oakland Cemetery, in Atlanta, Georgia, with his grandparents and mother. His mother died when he was just 3 years old and his grandparents raised him. Edwin was an undercover policeman for the City of Atlanta. Several people in his family, including his grandfather, were policemen.

Alma died just 8 months later of appendicitis and perionitis.

Also, because of the growth of vines, etc, at this cemetery, we have been unable to locate her grave. The obituary gave me the place where she was buried. Up until the summer of 2006, I never knew where she was buried. I found the obituary at the Atlanta History Center in looking for something else, as I never knew that she died in Atlanta, Georgia. Until I found the obituary, I never knew her maiden name or where she was from.

We actually know very little about Alma. We do know that she loved antiques and had many in her home. She was very fond of pretty glassware, particularly dishes. Her second husband, Edwin, bought her many of these dishes and glassware. When he was out of town, undercover, he would send her a "special" box. Even though he could not tell her where he was going, the box the dishes came in, told her the city he had gone to.

Alma's son, and only child, Carter Wallace Wilson (called Jim) lived in Atlanta with his mother and step-father during his growing up years. About 1932, he married Evelyn Garrow and they had one son, Jim, who was born in 1944. They divorced when Jim was about 5 or 6 years old and he moved to Florida.

Carter lived there for ten years. We know nothing about his life during those ten years. He was found dead several days after he committed suicide on or about Febuary 2, 1959. No one claimed his body, as no one knew where he was, or that he had even died. His birth father died September 16, 1959, probably never knowing that his only child had died just seven months before him. Big Jim was buried at Miami-Dade County Cemetery.

In the almost 50 years since his death, no one has been to his grave to visit as no one knew where he was buried. Only in early 2007, did I find out what had happened to him and his burial place. Sadly, we still can't visit as this is the Coroner's graveyard (for unclaimed bodies) and all the graves are unmarked. His son mourns him greatly. So do I. So many times over the many years that I have know about Big Jim, I wondered where he was buried. We did know that he died about 1959.

After a lot of digging and getting lucky in several situations, I finally found the marriage certificate for Alma Carter/Wilson and Frank Julian Wilson. Marriage records started being recorded in Greenville County, South Carolina in 1911 - this was the year they were married.

Alma's grandson, Jim and I were married for 15 years. In all those years, we never met anyone from his father's side of the family. We never knew his Grandfather's name. So this marriage certificate opened up a lot of information for me to find even more info.

I have also not been able to find Alma's grave marker within Hollywood. We suspect that it is in some of the inaccessable areas that are covered with briars and vines, etc. I do not think that she is buried with any other family members, but alone. Most all her family is buried at Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery, in Greenville County, South Carolina. Her second husband Edwin, when he died, took the last burial place at Oakland Cemetery with his mother and grandparents. This left no place there for Alma. I hope one day to find her.

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Note: Alma is buried in a plot with an infant, Allene Turner (no kin). Also buried here is Mary Lula Sweeney/Heard/Burdette (again, no kin). None of the three people seem to be kin to each other in any way. ( I have since found out that Mrs. Burdette's body was moved. The baby was her granddaughter, and is still buried at Hollywood).

As of 3/19/2013, I still have not found Alma's grave - maybe one day.

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Atlanta Constitution - Mrs. Alma Cason, of 1167 Greenwich Avenue, S. E. died at a private hospital Wednesday. She is survived by a son, J. C. (Carter Wallace "Jim")Cason; her mother, Mrs. Etta (Henrietta Catherine Kiel/Carter) Carter, of Greenville, S.C.; four sisters, Mrs. C. B. (Ruby Margaret Carter) Ellison of Greenville; Mrs. W. E. (Inez Carter) Johnson of Travelers Rest, S.C.; Mrs. W. C.(Annie Coburn Carter) Hunt, of Dacausville, S. C. and Mrs. M. (Milton) M. ( Thora Carter/Padrick/Ogle/Johnson)Johnson and a brother R. L. (Robert Leonard)Carter of Charlotte. Funeral will be held at the residence Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock with Mr. W. E. Young officiating. Burial will be in Hollywood Cemetery.

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At long last, I have been able to obtain a copy of Alma's death certificate. She was aged 42 years, 11 months and 26 days, just a few days shy of her birthday. She died from a perforated appendix and generalized peritonitis. We never knew why she died, just that she was still a fairly young woman. She died at Grady Hospital in Atlanta. Last address was 1167 Greenwich Avenue, S. W., Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia.

My thoughts go to Alma and to Big Jim, many times through the passing days, wondering, what if ? Just wasn't meant to be that way, I guess.