Rucks Family Cemetery
GPS Coordinates: 321809N, 0941000WSurveyed February 28, 1998 and transcribed by Marylee W. Knight
This small family cemetery is located in DeBerry in the northeastern portion of Panola County. It faces State Hwy 31, approximately 30 yards south of the intersection of U.S. Hwy 79 N and State Hwy 31. Although the last burial there was evidently in 1921, it can not be classified as an abandoned cemetery as it is maintained by Carthage attorney Tommy George Davis, a descendant of those buried there. Data from this cemetery is not included in the "Index to the Cemeteries of Panola County, Texas 1836-1964" as that was a survey of the larger cemeteries.
A stand of old and young cedar trees shades the cemetery on the west and south sides. Under one of the older, larger trees there are these two graves:
John Rucks Oct 27, 1846 Apr 20, 1921
Arelia Birt wife of John Rucks Married Mar 26, 1893 Died Aug 2, 1893
Just east of those graves there are six graves enclosed inside an ornate iron fence. These graves are
A broken unreadable headstone, partially broken footstone with the initials "__L.A."
No headstone, but a footstone with the initials "M.E.A."
Ella, wife of Jno. Rucks Born Mar 21, 1856 Died Mar 28, 1888 (This grave is curbed with scalloped concrete edging, and has a large marble headstone featuring a draped cloth and a trailing vine of morning glories.)
In Memory of W.L. Rucks, son of John & Ella Rucks Oct 3, 1888 Sep 28, 1898
Sacred to the Memory of Elizabeth English, wife of H.L. Anderson Sep 15, 1822 Sep 4,1902
Sacred to the Memory of H.L. Anderson Aug 19, 1808 Jan 24, 1881 Age 75 yrs 5 mo 3 d
(The last two inscriptions are on either side of a granite block base to a tall tapering shaft.The marker is set between the two graves and both graves are covered by solid slabs ofwhite granite. The slab covering Elizabeth's grave is approximately the size of the grave, while the slab covering H.L.'s grave is noticeably much longer and wider.)