infant son of gertrude evans
1913-1913
Life Story
Burial: Unknown – Newton County, Mississippi
Birth and Family
The infant son of Gertrude Evans was stillborn on November 22, 1913, in Newton County, Mississippi. Very little information survives about Gertrude’s household during this period, but the child’s birth occurred within the extended Evans family network connected to Bethel, Mt. Moriah, and Altare.
At the time, many unmarried women or young mothers lived within extended family homes, and childbirth often occurred with the assistance of neighbors, elders, or local midwives.
Passing and Documentation
The child was stillborn, a common tragedy in the early 1900s when medical care was limited and midwives provided most of the birthing support among rural African American families.
The informant recorded on the death certificate was Thomas Whitehead, likely a community member or neighbor who helped ensure the child’s birth and passing were formally documented. His role underscores the practice of relying on respected local men to report vital statistics for families.
No physician is listed, indicating the birth occurred at home.
Burial
The place of burial was not recorded. During this era, especially for infants, burial locations were often omitted. Stillborn children were typically laid to rest:
- In a family cemetery,
- In a small, unmarked grave on family land, or
- In a community burial ground such as Evans Cemetery, Bethel, or a nearby churchyard.
Given Evans family burial patterns, it is likely he rests in or near the family’s established burial grounds, even though the specific plot remains unknown.
Legacy
Although his life did not begin in the traditional sense, the inclusion of this infant in the Evans family history ensures that even the smallest and most fleeting lives are remembered.
His brief presence forms part of the larger story of early 20th-century rural Mississippi, when:
- Home births were the norm
- Stillbirths were heartbreakingly common
- Burial records were inconsistent
- Extended families and neighbors supported each other through grief
By documenting his story, the lineage of the Evans family becomes more complete, honoring every life connected to its history.
Resting Place
Photos/Albums
Sources
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- Mississippi, U.S., Index to Deaths, 1912-1943
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