Volunteers with the nonprofit organization U.S. Lighthouse Society and its Chesapeake Chapter will honor six Chesapeake Bay lighthouse keepers in special ceremonies beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, at three cemeteries in Mathews County. The ceremonies are open to the public.

In the ceremonies, each keeper will be honored with the unveiling of a United States Lighthouse Service grave marker, according to a press release. The chapter will conduct the first 30-minute tribute to William Edward Davis at 9:30 a.m. at H.C. Smither Memorial Cemetery in Hudgins.
The event, rain or shine, then moves to Mathews Baptist Church Cemetery, also in Hudgins, where at 10:45 a.m. keeper Robert Franklin Powell will be honored.

After a lunch break, the ceremonies will continue at St. Paul United Methodist Church Cemetery in Susan as keeper John William Thomas is honored at 1:30 p.m., followed by a 2:15 p.m. ceremony recognizing keeper James Temple Ripley. At 3:30 p.m., keeper Oliver R. Hudgins will be honored, followed immediately by a ceremony for keeper James Beauregard Hurst. Hudgins and Hurst were brothers-in-law, and the same group of descendants is expected to attend both ceremonies.

Of note is the fact that Davis served for at least 23 years at Windmill Point Lighthouse, said the release. Powell served at both Deep Water Shoals and Tue Marshes. Thomas served at three Chesapeake Bay lighthouses. In 1893, he had a narrow escape with his life when the screwpile lighthouse at Wolf Trap was destroyed by ice floes. He recuperated in Lancaster County, then returned to duty.

Ripley served for a total of about 30 years at five lighthouses and received several awards for his service at Nansemond River Light. Hudgins served at three Chesapeake Bay lights, including Wolf Trap and New Point Comfort.

Finally, Hurst served for a total of at least 31 years at seven lighthouses, including Wolf Trap and New Point Comfort. In 1919, at Wolf Trap Light during a storm, Hurst and his assistant performed a daring sea rescue, bringing two adults and four children to the safety of the lighthouse.

At the Oct. 7 ceremonies, a team from Flotilla 66, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, will serve as color guard, with additional personnel (as available) from the USCG Station Milford Haven serving as honor guard, said the release.

For more information about the Chapter Grave Marker Program honoring Chesapeake Bay keepers buried in Virginia and Maryland, visit www.cheslights.org/Programs or email buffman1881@gmail.com or piano4u@msn.com.

For information about lighthouse keepers, visit www.cheslights.org/LHHeritage/Keepers.

The Chesapeake Chapter, USLHS has already honored 19 lighthouse keepers buried in Mathews during three previous grave marker events.

James Beauregard Hurst and John William Thomas, from left, are two of the Chesapeake Bay lighthouse keepers who will be honored by the U.S. Lighthouse Society in ceremonies to take place on Oct. 7 at three Mathews cemeteries. At right is an example of the grave marker that will be placed at each grave.