Story submitted by Carolyn Jane Harrelson-Buckley:

My Family Story

Kennneth Asbury Graham married Ava Jane Grainger; daughter of John "Jack"Grainger Jr. and Ava Jane Bullock. Ava Jane Bullock was the daughter of Charles B. Bullock and Dicey Elvington, and John "Jack" Grainger's parents were John Grainger and Charity Buffkin, all of Wannamaker, SC. Kenneth and Ava Jane Graham lived on Graham Plantation near his parents between Greensea, SC and Tabor City, NC. They were all honorable and hard working people. Most were Baptist as far as I can find out from way on back.

One day a stranger came walking past my great grandparents plantation. He was very ill and had a high fever. A Diphtheria fever epidemic had claimed many lives. The stranger walked a few steps and was stumbling on the ground. Asbury picked the stranger up and carried him into their home. Laren, the oldest child, ran to draw cool water from the well as Jane had asked her. Jane began wiping the strangers lips with the cool water trying to get a few sips into his weakened and frail body. Asbury and Jane did all they could but within a few days the stranger was dead. He was buried on their family plantation plot.

This was just the beginning. Asbury and Jane had 12 children. One by one six little children died from diphtheria fever. They were all buried on the same day. This was a most sorrowful day. Uncle Steve Floyd (A loyal friend), and Asbury built six tiny boxes for coffins. For each shovel of dirt they dug they wept and wept. Suddenly half of their precious family was wiped out. Surviving was my grandmother Ava Jane Graham. She married Doc David Harrelson. They were from Greensea but moved to Loris. My grandfather Doc was 3x Member of the House of Representatives for Horry County, The Democrat Party. They were prominent pioneers and helped to establish Loris and Horry County.

My Graham family came from Scotland. They came with many other pioneer families from other countries and together established what we know and love today as Horry County. Much was sacrificed and given by these great and courageous pioneers of long ago. I am honored and proud to be one of their descendants.