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Clayton C. Carelock of Steelton, Pennsylvania
stands next to the old gravestone of his father, Clayton E. Carelock, which was
mistakenly inscribed with the incorrect middle initial. "I don't
know why they put 'D,' " he said, "It should be 'Clayton E.' "
 He recently had the current stone replaced with a veteran's
marker (see photo, at bottom, below), as his father served in
World War One. Prior to this, the only indication that a war veteran
rested in this plot was the presence of an American flag. By providing for
the placement of a veteran's marker, Mr. Carelock was able to have the
spelling on his father's stone corrected, and he included more information
than was currently supplied, such as the family surname, his father's year of
birth and death, military unit designation, war service, and an emblem of his
father's religious affiliation.
Also buried
here, in addition to his father, are Mr. Carelock's mother, the wife of
Clayton E., Lillie Carelock (see photo, below), and an infant, George Carelock, who died in
infancy. Lillie was born Lillie Monroe, in Linden, Virginia on April 21,
1899, to parents George Monroe and Sophia (Robinson) Monroe. As many
women did during World War Two, Lillie went to work at the Bethlehem Steel
plant in support of the war effort. She was working there when she died
in 1944. The child is Clayton's brother George Alonzo, who died at the age of
one month and thirteen days on August 4, 1937. The family's residence at
that time was 320 Ridge Street. Those graves are currently unmarked.
 Like his father,
Clayton C. Carelock served his country in time of war, serving in a
quartermaster unit in World War Two until being transferred to the
Military Police. His tradition of community service continues as he
serves as the Research Coordinator and Treasurer for the Friends of Midland
organization. He has gathered a large collection of historic material
relating to this community and the Midland Cemetery over the years, and,
through the work of the organization, is interested in seeing more information
about the cemetery and its people become available.
For more photos of Carelock
family men who served in the military,
click this link.
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In a family photo from the early 1970's, the
Carelock brothers and sisters, from right, front row: Jessie Powell, Betty
Humes, Mary Maddox; back row: Clayton C. Carelock, Margarite Neal, Charles
Carelock and Anna B. Chambers. (Click photo for a larger image)
Sources:
Interview with Clayton C. Carelock, June 25, 2002,
July 22, 2006
Certificate of Death, George Alonzo Carelock
Certificate of Death, Lillie M. Carelock
Photos taken, June 25, 2002 and May 2004 (photo credit: George F. Nagle)
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