The plaque has a brick foundation, and has the following text:
Lonnie A. Williams
October 1897 - October 1988
"The Visitor"
In loving tribute from the entire Rubottom community to "THE KEEPER OF THE GATE," for his devoted care of the Rubottom cemetery. This devotion was second only to his devotion to his wife, Ollie, and his sons Afton and Wayne, and his church family.
He devoted forty years to serving as Chaplain for the American Legion post Number 136.
Ancestry.com has an interesting article about Mr. Williams, a beloved former mail carrier, and it even references this memorial: (
visit link)
by Phyllis Dewbre Costello
"Mr. Mail Carrier, Please put enough stamps on this to mail it. I don't know how much it will take, but if there is change from the nickel, just leave it in the mailbox. Thank you." Mrs. Redman
"Lonnie, would you please get me 50 pounds corn meal if you can get it. Monday. I am leaving the money in the mail." Effie Lyons
"Send the white maturnity (sic) dress by Lonnie today. Polly wants it to wear. Hazel said be sure to send it." Ollie Williams.
These are just a sample of the notes left for rural mail carrier, Lonnie Williams (1897 to 1988) in the 25 or so years he carried the mail in the western part of Love County. Lonnie used his postal delivery route as a community connection, carrying messages between his patrons, carrying goods back and forth, and even carrying some customers into Wilson with him on his route so they could grocery shop while he took care of business.
"Sometimes, he barely had room for the passengers and their groceries on his return trip from the post office," said his son, Afton Williams. "Dad was there for every single family on his route; if there was a way he could help them he did, and they all loved him for it."
Lonnie was a lifelong resident of Rubottom, a pillar of the Rubottom Baptist Church, and up until the end of his life, an active and staunch supporter of the Rubottom Cemetery, Inc., organization. In fact, at the foot of the permanent flagpole at the cemetery, Lonnie is remembered with a memorial plaque, expressing the community's lasting appreciation for his contributions.
Perhaps the majority of the population in western Love County, at the very least, felt the same way about Lonnie, as was expressed in Afton's statement: "He was the kindest, most gentle man I have ever known."
Anecdotes about Lonnie's generosity abound. Lois Dewbre, also a native of Rubottom, a member of the Baptist Church, tells of the time her five-year-old daughter, Cathy, (now Nolen), confided to Lonnie that she never got one thing in the mail, her mother and daddy did, her older sisters and brother did, but she never got anything with her name on it. Lonnie invested three cents and sent her a postcard. Not a big thing nowadays, but to a five-year-old, lonely child, it was a very big deal. Lonnie was like that.
However, Lonnie was not without a little bit of spice in his life. There is a story in the annals of local history that, once upon a time, Lonnie and his wife, Ollie, was kicked out of the church because of a little social engagement/dance/big free-for-all that occurred a little north of Iron Stob. It seems that they attended and were somewhat involved in the melee, to what extent no one nowadays knows. Obviously, they redeemed themselves, and continued to be an inspiration in the church family.
The ironic part of the story is that when Lonnie died, (his wife, Ollie, had predeceased him), and his eulogy was being recited at the funeral, by a young minister of the Lord, who was "not from around here," he said with all holy sincerity, "Right now Lonnie is in heaven dancing with Ollie."
Almost the entire Williams family burst out laughing. The natives knew why; the poor little preacher was at a complete loss.
Lonnie retired from farming and ranching in the early 1940's, toook up mail carrying, retired from that position after the 1960's, and then began his third career, officially as a chaplain for the American Legion's Burch Brothers Post #136.
"He was our chaplain for 20 years or so," said Eldridge Colston, Post Commander, "and he was a great Christian, an inspiration to everyone in our organization, and a real man's man. He had a smile for everybody, as well as a helping hand, but he was not afraid to cry when the burdens of the world seemed just too heavy to carry."
Lonnie, according to his son, knew every nook and cranny of his community, every fence post, and every person who needed a ride, or a prayer, or a visit in the hospital or nursing home.
"Dad wore out two cars visiting rest homes," Afton said, "people who were ill, and people who needed a boost of some kind, whether it was a kind work, or a ride to town to visit the doctor, Dad was there for them. I wish I hadn't been so busy making money, and I could have gotten to know him better."
This article included a picture of Afton Williams standing beside his Father's 1965 Ford Falcon.
Source: Marietta Monitor, Love County, August 29, 1997, page 1. Courtesy of Ray and Mrs. E. Weathers.