F. M. Perry - Luray VA
N 38° 39.898 W 078° 27.309
17S E 721414 N 4282671
A relief portrait of Elder F. M. Perry stands in his memory at his final resting place.
Waymark Code: WMCXQZ
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 10/23/2011
Views: 5
A well-preserved relief portrait of Elder F. M. Perry adorns the headstone of Perry and his wife, Elizabeth, in the
Green Hill Cemetery in Luray, VA. F. M. Perry was born on 7/17/1819; the exact date of his death could not be determined as the base has sunk into the ground*, but it appears he died in 1890. Elizabeth was born on 1/28/1828 and died on 4/21/1909.
The relief sculpture is in remarkably good shape even as the headstone has sunk and is leaning. Carved into the granite, the portrait of a stern and serious Elder Perry has weathered the elements and years well, retaining many of its details.
Research reveals little about Elder Perry. Apparently he was the pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Luray. His name is found in the transcripts of a lawsuit brought by the New Baptists against the Old or Primitive Baptists in the Mount Carmel Church trial over religious practices. The trial took place in 1909 after his death.¹ It also appears he served as the pastor of Smith Creek Regular Baptist Church in New Market² and helped organize the Naked Creek Church in 1869.³
¹ Primitive Baptist Online - The Trial and Decision of Mount Carmel Church-Part 1
² History of Smith Creek Regular Baptist Church
³ CALIFORNIA'S COUTS COUSINS
*Out of respect, it was decided not to disturb the ground from around the headstone just to determine the date of death.