A Mother, a Hymn, & Two Death Dates
A cemetery story researched and shared by newsletter reader Betsy Farris
Rock of Ages Headstone in Texas: A Story Unearthed by Betsy Farris
After watching my 20-minute presentation about The Mona Lisa of Cemeteries & Rock of Ages, newsletter reader Betsy Farris sent me the fascinating history behind a Rock of Ages-themed headstone she discovered in her local cemetery. It’s too long to squeeze into my newsletter, so I’ve shared it here in full.
I found it particularly intriguing that one of the woman Betsy researched, Virgie A. Starnes, has two different death dates on official records. When you research headstones, they often create as many mysteries as they reveal!
‘Telling Their Story’: Virgie A. Starnes (by Betsy Farris)
Virgie A. Starnes was born October 4, 1895, to Horace Ezra Pearson (b. Kentucky, 1855) and Maggie Walker Pearson (b. Tennessee, 1867). The family moved to Texas, where Horace and Maggie raised six surviving children while tragically losing six others. By 1910, they lived in Fannin County, and many family members, including Horace and Maggie, are buried at Owens Chapel Cemetery.
Virgie married Clark Lewis Starnes on December 28, 1912, and they settled in Danner, Texas. She died shortly after giving birth to her first child, Dortha Starnes, on July 4, 1914, in Lamasco, Fannin County, Texas.
Here’s where it gets mysterious: Virgie has two death certificates with different dates:
One states she died on July 6, 1914, under Dr. S. J. Williams, who noted the cause of death as confinement and malaria.
The other lists July 7, 1914, under Dr. E. H. H. Foster, citing peripheral eclampsia (likely referring to preeclampsia, a dangerous high blood pressure condition during pregnancy).
👉 You can see also view Virgie’s “Rock of Ages” stone on FindAGrave
Sadly, Virgie’s Baby Dortha died less than three months later on September 15, 1914, and is buried beside her mother under a headstone reading:
“BABY
Budded on earth to bloom in Heaven.”
The Rock of Ages Monument
Virgie’s granite monument is large and striking, reading:
“ROCK OF AGES
Virgie A. Wife of C. L. Starnes.
She was a kind and affectionate wife,
A fond mother and friend to all.”
The carving depicts a woman clasping a cross, symbolizing faith, hope, and love—a visual echo of the Rock of Ages hymn written in 1762 by Rev. Augustus Toplady. According to legend, Toplady penned the hymn while taking shelter during a storm in Burrington Combe, England. The image of a woman clinging to a cross is often linked to this hymn, symbolizing steadfast faith during life’s storms.
[📖 Note from Tui: For the full story behind the Rock of Ages hymn and how this imagery became associated with it, you can watch my presentation here.]
What Happened Next
After the loss of his wife and child, Clark Starnes eventually remarried Maud Delaney. By 1930, they had moved to Whittier, California, with two daughters, Georgia Mae and Lois D. Clark passed away on November 29, 1967, and is buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.
Virgie’s and Dortha’s monuments can still be found near the far northwest corner of Owens Chapel Cemetery in Fannin County, Texas.
A Note from Betsy
“I started cleaning these headstones during the Owens Chapel Homecoming on June 28, 2020, but couldn’t get after-photos because a rainstorm rolled in.”
Why Stories Like This Matter
Thank you, Betsy, for sharing your research! It’s a reminder that every headstone holds a story worth uncovering. Cemetery symbols like Rock of Ages are not merely abstract ideas; they are deeply personal echoes of past individuals and the lives they led.
If you enjoyed this story, consider sharing it with a fellow taphophile or cemetery enthusiast. And I hope you’ll subscribe to my newsletter here. I send it out twice a month.
🪦💫 Because every stone has a story, and sharing them keeps memory alive.
Ooh - and if you come across a headstone with a Rock of Ages carving (or other unique symbolism) in your area, I’d love to hear about it. Drop me a note, and who knows? Your local find might end up in a future post. ~Tui