Timothy James Loftis born in 1927 spent the lion's share of his life collecting photos, articles, and information on many families. He claims it is what keeps him sane. That might be debatable.

Tim has helped people find their past for free most of his life. That is the reward of all the time and money spent on his endeavor.

Now that he's 70 something, finding lost folks in hidden cemeteries is as much a reward as when he was a young man.

I'm Randy Sooter, I grew up surrounded by relics of the past. Not knowing different, I thought everyone grew up the same way.

The barn with tack hanging since my Great Great Grandfather's time...egg incubators, cream separators, feather beds, cotton cards and gin, spinning wheel, loom, and the list goes on.

All these things were just things in my youth. Now they are taking on meaning. Tim Loftis dragged me into genealogy, kicking and screaming. Now I'm almost as obsessed as he.

It brings to life all those odd objects; the tack hanging in the corn crib is in a photo of a man proud of his team of horses and would rather use film taking a picture of his horses than anything else.

Now I'm another cemetery hunter, hoping there will always be a hidden one that nobody knows how to find.

Randy Sooter first wrote to me April 16, 2002:
Judy,
There is a Jones Cemetery on the Cecil Creek/Beaver Pond Trail off County Road 19. I went to find it on the 11th of this month. We apparently gave up too soon. One of the local residents said we got within 100 yards of it. Going back within a week to try again. Some estimate there are as many as forty people buried there. I know of only two. Earnest Reavis (hemophiliac, bled to death after cutting his gums on a squirrel bone, died as a child). His sister Olevia (Leavie) Reavis (Died of malaria. Married to Rue Mable). This information came from Herb and Bessie Brisco. (they live on Newton/Carroll County line, north of Hilltop.) Please let me know if you have any information or need any information, on the cemetery before I go again.
Thank You, Randy Sooter

I wrote back offering trail maps and asking if he would be taking pictures of cemetery markers, and asked if he would like to join my NewtonCoFamilies Mailing List...Randy replied:

Judy,
Thank you for answering so soon. I would love to have a good map of the trail. We made it to (as they tell me) the Keeton place. Before that was a rock fence with a foundation and a few logs that have not rotted yet. One other foundation (about 12x16 feet) was the first house place we came upon. It was near some rocks as large as it would have been. If someone would like to go along on the next trip, it would be fine with me. I'm 44 and Tim Loftis is 75. We get down the trail pretty well, but haven't set the woods on fire yet. Tim is researching the Jones family, and the Reavis' buried there are my Great Uncle's siblings. I would be glad to take photos of the stones. Do you want photos of the Keeton place and the other home sites? My Grandmother was Beulah Blackston, (daughter of Fayte Blackston and Cora Bryant) She used to tell me lots of stories of the Cove and the dances they had there. I have photos of Mammy and Pappy (John and Malinda) Reavis and their house in the Cove. Of course there was no road to it, so Grandma would ride the bus to the Boone/Newton line on 43 and head off over the hill and down the path. Don't know how far it was...

Randy was welcomed to the mailing list, there was an exchange of family info and stories about the cove and cemetery hunting...Randy wrote: It was 2.5 (miles) in and about that on the way back. It's for the most part level walking on the Compton Bench. This was my first time there. Most of my life I've only heard stories of the Cove. It took 5 1/2 hours because we poked around the old house places for a while. Some timbers are left but not much. The last place we came to was named the 'Keeton' place by a local. It had a large fireplace and remnants of a log barn. The man that lived at the end of the road that parallels Cecil Creek was the source of my information. You are welcome to join in the search. Figure to try going on a cooler day. Not much breeze stirs in the cove. And wear shoes that can ford some small creeks and withstand plenty of black mud.

Ok folks, How does 9:00 am Monday sound for the Jones Cemetery hike? Judy said there was a huge walnut tree at one of the house places. FOUND that. There is also tubs, pots and pans, an uncovered cistern, and a little frog pond out back. One more house place three or four hundred yards down the trail. Rumor has it the cemetery is just beyond the last house. How many want to go? We can meet at the trail head or at the Compton store. The trail head is down County Road 19 from the old Compton post office. Go past McFerrin Cemetery about a mile and when you go around the bluff and the road starts to switchback and fourth, there will be a sign on the left saying 'Jones Cemetery 2.5 miles' (among other trail notes) Randy Sooter

List member Joyce Lindsey decided to go with Tim and Randy on their next outing to Cecil Cove, which was Monday, April 22, 2002. They found Jones Cemetery and explored the area, they had a great time...Randy took pictures of landmarks in the cove, they appear in the following album...pictures of people who lived in the cove are also in album.

The Cecil Cove Album contains pictures that Randy Sooter took in 2002. If you would like to share pictures of families who lived in Cecil Cove, please do so by sending an email to: Submit Cecil Cove Pic with Cecil Cove in the subject line. Provide a description of picture you are sending in body of message and attach the picture to the email. Include your first and last name.

Item #1: Sand rocks in creek between Jackson and Keeton place, was a waterfall a week before. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #2: Map of the cove showing landmarks and notations. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #3, Item #3a, and Item 3b: Compton store...Compton One Stop, and picture of old Sim's Short Stop. The Store is on 43 in the middle of Compton. Just toward Harrison a few hundred feet is a dirt road on the other side from the store (east). That will take you to the old post office and a 'T' in the road. Turn right (south) and you're on 19. The trail head is about 3.5 miles from the store. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #4: Old Compton Post Office...The trail head is down CR19 from here... Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #5: Joyce Lindsey and Tim Loftis at begining, ready for the adventure. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #6: Small spring below road... Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #7: Joyce and Tim...BA (huge) rocks in this area... Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #8: Back of what is left of Jackson house...shingles clinging to remains. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy! Note from Joyce Lindsey: The Jackson house was built within inches of a huge boulder, with a neat little creek running not 3 ft. from it.

Item #9: Footing of Jackson house, marked by orange tape. Two foundations, dog trot/breezeway between the two. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #10: Rock fence at Keeton place. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy! Note from Joyce Lindsey: The stone wall around the Keeton/Fadis place is unbelievable, we are not talking small rocks here to make a fence, these are major rocks. The yard there has been circled with jonquils that are still coming up every Spring. Randy had a close encounter with the 3rd snake of the day when measuring the foundation of the house. A copper head was hidden between some of the rocks and didn't want to be disturbed. The other two were garter snakes, one large one with orange and yellow stripes and one bright green! Randy couldn't establish a friendship with them either. He will never make it as a snake charmer. This place also has a BA (huge) walnut tree.

Item #11: Rock fence at Keeton place, closeup. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #12: Joyce and Tim at Keeton place. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #13: Fire Bush in front of Keeton place. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #14: Tiny Iris blooming at Keeton place. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #15: Wash tub at Keeton place. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #16: Uncovered cistern at Keeton place. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #17: Keeton foundation...headboard still there. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #18: Inside Keeton foundation, looking out toward fallen fireplace. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #19: A log from the Keeton house. I was squated down to take a close up. As I snapped the picture, I saw a Copperhead just to the right. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #20: Another log off of the Keeton house. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #21 and Item #21a: Joyce and Tim and the huge Black Walnut Tree on the Keeton place, measured 12 foot 9 inches around. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #22: 5" thick bark on the huge Black Walnut Tree. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #23 and Item #23a: Creek between Keeton and Jones places. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #24 and Item #24a: Jones place, orange tape marks foundation on one end, fireplace opposing side. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #25: Outside of Jones fireplace. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #26: This is what's left of the Jones barn...two pen and hallway. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #27: Tim taking a look back... Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #28: Tim Loftis talking with Shirley Sims at the Compton store...she says, 'come spend money, questions answered free'. Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

Item #29: Shirley Sims... Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy! Note: In the planning stages of the April 22, '02 hike to Cecil Cove, I had told Randy a story about Shirley...my husband and I and our two children were hiking in Newton County...as we were going up the trail we saw Forest Rangers, a Deputy Sheriff and First Responders coming down the trail toward us, carrying a man on a stretcher...they stopped to catch their breath...we found out that the man had experienced a low blood sugar spell and needed help. Nancy and Doug had their walking sticks with them and while everyone was taking a short rest, they started having the rangers and others sign their walking sticks...I heard Shirley Sims mention to someone that she left the gas pumps on at the store...when she signed Doug's walking stick she signed it Hilary Clinton...after we finished the hike and were back in the van, Doug said that one lady was crazy...I asked what he meant, he said she thinks she is Hillary Clinton :o)... From Randy: Judy, Shirley came bouncing out of the Compton Store when we returned from the trip. I started telling her about the story of some first responders rescuing a man with low blood sugar in the Cove. There was no reaction. Then the story came to the autographing of the walking sticks, and a mischievous grin swept her face. She said 'A person does something, way off in the woods a long time ago, that doesn't amount to anything, and everybody knows about it.' She got a kick out of the recognition. Took photos of her and the store. Informed her that it would be posted on the internet and seen across the country. She said 'I could use the exposure. Send customers.'

Item #30, Frank Carlton: John Frank Carlton, Newton County Sheriff...standing with moon shine still that he had just captured. Submitted by Ford Carlton Thanks Ford!

Item #31, Reavis Family, lived in the Cove: Front Row, from left: Joicey Lee Villines, Bobby Ray Villines, and Billy Lee Reavis Second Row, from left: Mammy (Melinda) Reavis, Pappy (John) Reavis, and Mary Jane Newberry Blackston Third Row, from left: William 'Bill' Reavis, Cora Lee Bryant Blackston, and Bill Bennings Fourth Row, from left: Nellie Blackston Reavis, Bobby Dean Reavis, Wilson Filmore Reavis, and Robert Carl Blackston Submitted by Randy Sooter Thanks Randy!

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Take Care, Judy Tate