Walk through old cemetery uncovers family ties to 1700s
The latest is a memorial to Elvis Presley's grandmother and what could become a local tribute to the King.
The journey started a few years ago, when Lane read a story in the Mint Hill Post about an old gravesite in Philadelphia Presbyterian Church's Second Site cemetery. The name on the 1989 replacement marker was Tunis Hood.
Lane's great-grandmother's maiden name on her mother's side was Laura Hood, and she wondered if there was a connection. So on her day off, she set out to find the stone.
The cemetery, since cleared by volunteers, was hard to find in a mass of woods. She gave up and went to town hall, where staff told her she was close. She went back, parked on Phyllis Lane and walked right to the marker.
Finding the marker propelled her into months of genealogy research of land and census records, old wills and Internet sites. She read a book about the Tunis Hood family and met local Hood descendants. She learned that Hood settled in Mint Hill in 1775, following two of his sons, and that the three bought land totaling 4,000 acres. A lot of Tunis Hood's land was at N.C. 51 and Idlewild Road, where Hoods Crossing shopping center now sits.
Lane also learned that Laura Hood was Tunis Hood's great-great-grandchild. From there came a memorial to Tunis Hood, then a connection to Presley.
Lane drove around back of Hood's Crossroads one day and saw a brick privacy wall. It looked like the perfect place for a plaque. So she and other Hood family members arranged for a plaque noting the spot as Tunis Hood's plantation site and dedicated it during a family gathering in September.
'I just want people to remember the Hood family. They've been here 200 years', Lane says.
Meanwhile, Lane recalled that Presley's grandmother was named Minnie Mae Hood; she then learned that Tunis Hood was Minnie Mae Hood's great-great-great-grandfather.
'I am a direct descendant of Tunis Hood, which would make Elvis my sixth cousin', she said.
Lane is working on a memorial plaque for Minnie Mae to sit next to Tunis Hood's marker and hopes to hold an Elvis Presley tribute day on the anniversary of his death in August.
What's really strange, says Lane, is the fact that she lives in Mint Hill. The daughter of a military man, she's lived in several states and landed in Mint Hill after getting a position at the local post office. 'For some reason, something brought me to Mint Hill', she says. 'Everything has just fallen into place. Fate has planned all of this'.
MICHELE WAYMAN Staff Writer Charlotte Observer
Relevant Links :
- Elvis Presley's Scottish roots traced!
- Elvis: From Mormond Hill to Memphis
- Elvis Aaron Presley 1800-1935 : Family History
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Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD
Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.
This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.
The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.
