Verna Salmon McKay

Every time I ride south on Highway 51, I always look up at a girl on the hill in Bethesda Cemetery.

The elaborate monument is in a fenced-in area with a gate.  It is actually quite beautifully done and it is obvious the family wanted this area protected complete with a gate signifying the ownership of the plot – SALMON.

Upon a closer look, I discovered this was the final resting place of a young woman named Verna Claire Salmon McKay.  Her monument is a statue of a young girl on her knees upon a rock who appears to be looking up to heaven.  The girl could very well be a hand-carved sculpture of Verna herself.  The intricate work in this statue is simply amazing.  The very detail in the face, dress, feet, hands…is an incredible work of art.  

The writing under the statute provides the deceased name:

Verna Claire Salmon  McKay 

 1883 – 1906

It was an angel that visited the green earth and took our darling away.  (this is an excerpt from the poem “The Reaper and the Flowers” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.)

At the feet of the ring are the words “our little girl” with a single flower stem carving attached.  

Verna was born in 1883 to David Drake and Sophie Alma Salmon.  She had one brother, I.B. Salmon, former Mayor of Senatobia and he is also buried inside this family plot.  

In 1902 at the age of 19, Verna married 40 year old William Thornwell McKay.  I am not sure how exactly Verna met William, but he was the manager of Southern Cotton Oil Company in North Carolina.  Shortly after her marriage, the couple lived in Bennettsville, South Carolina before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina.  

While in Charlotte, Verna became quite well-known in the social and religious circles, developing many friendships throughout the town.  At the beginning of May 1906, Verna suffered an attack of appendicitis which caused other complications – peritonitis and gangrene.   For two weeks, she fought for her life even remaining conscious to greet her many well wishers.  Her husband stayed by her side    along with her mother, Alma Salmon throughout the ordeal.  On May 9, 1906, Verna Claire Salmon McKay died.  She was only 22 years old.  

Her remains were taken on train No. 37 to Senatobia via Atlanta, Birmingham, and Memphis.  Her husband and mother accompanied her back home to Senatobia.  

Respect and Restore:  Verna Claire Salmon McKay

Hunter and I have had our sights on cleaning this monument for a long while.  We knew it would not be easy and it was not.  In fact, I am still not completely satisfied with the results, but as demonstrated  in Sheriff Poag’s monument – time will definitely make a huge difference in the look of this precious work of art.  Here is the BEFORE:

And here is the AFTER – one week later: 

I cannot wait to check back in a month and see how she looks.  It is incredible to watch these stones return to their original glory and super fun to watch/document. (at least for me!)

I wanted to share an article that the Senatobia Democrat published entitled “A Tribute of Love” to the memory of Verna Claire Salmon McKay in May 1906. 

     The grim reaper has again entered our circle and borne away one of our choicest spirits.  Three years ago she went out from us a young bride crowned with beauty and encircled with love.  Sunday, May the thirteenth, she was borne back to us, resting in that long sleep; sadly, reverently, we laid her away in the quiet city of our dead.  Through the brief space of twenty-two years, her course has quickly run.  A charm of manner, a cordial and cheerful disposition, a friendly nature, a vivacious spirit made her the life of any company.  Her ready wit and alert mind enabled her to pass successfully through life’s many trying ordeals, successfully rising to every emergency.  

     She was followed to her resting place by a vast throng of friends and loved ones, her precious body being tenderly borne by her young comrades; the active pallbearers being young gentlemen friends of former days, they were:  Clarence and Dr. Webber Still, John Daniels, Claude Veazey, Deveaux Hall and Hardin Perkins.  The honorary pallbearers consisted of young ladies who were intimate friends and class mates – Misses Agnes Perkins, Agnes Patton, Hattie Peters, Essie Salmon, Mary Ellis, Mary Belle Hill, Katie Boschert and Lois Taylor.  In the still hush of the holy Sabbath evening they laid her away.  She met death fearlessly, bravely, bowing to the will of God without a murmur.  She had begun His service and joined the Presbyterian church when but a child, and the assurance of the Father’s love and care were with her at the end.  No hand however tender can wipe our tears “for we long for the sound of the voice that is hushed and the touch of the hand that is stilled.”  In sadness and in tears she has been laid down to that sweet sleep that heeds no season’s change, no language of the flowers no whispering wind or call of mating birds.  To that sweet sleep that stirs no tired eyelids over tired eyes at the wail of wild regret, or moves a hand at echo of all the stir and strife of earth is poor din and fret.  

     She is not dead it is only another pearl that has slipped its earthly setting and topped into the casket of eternity.  We console ourselves with the remembrance of her loyal devotion in sunshine and in the shadow.  The book of her life is closed sadly – abruptly closed, apparently unfinished, but into another clime her spirit passed there to live and write the endless story of eternal life.  

     With aching hearts we must all bid her a reluctant farewell.  It was a higher power that made the sleepless vigils of those around her all in vain, but we are comforted in the thought that for her the night is gone and all its starless gloom for when, The sun in all his state, illumined the western skies, she passed though glories evening gate and walked in paradise.    M.W.B. 

UPDATE:  July 29, 2020