Belle Pardue’s son Edward was murdered on Fort Morgan trail near the old Lagoon school in the late 1930s, and the murder was never solved. His grave at Wallace Cemetery needs a marker. Leo Sellars from Bon Secour was also murdered in that era, and his murder was not solved. Sellars’ body is buried near Joe Pardue’s grave and also needs a marker. 

Deputy Carlisle Childress of Baldwin County covered both deaths and tells of them on a video at the Gulf  Shores Museum.

Until recently Joe Pardue’s grave had no stone marker, but when Midge Callaway, eighty-six years young, returned from quadruple bypass surgery, she was determined to do something about a lot of things awakened by her bout with heart problems. Her thoughts were “Joe Pardue has no grave marker!” Her words to her daughter were, “You have to help me do something: Mr. Joe Pardue’s grave needs to have a marker!” 

Her daughter replied, “Mama, if Mr. Pardue has not had a marker in all these years [since 1940], I think we can wait until you’re well from your surgery! “ 

Those who know Miss Midge know that “wait” has no influence on her. She has covered two lifetimes in one, caring for the living, and now her attention is drawn toward the worthy deceased. Midge will care for the Pardues. 

The burial place of the aforementioned is Wallace Cemetery, one of several historical cemeteries on Fort Morgan Road. The cemetery was given by Jim Wallace in the early 1920s, and has been used to bury kin and neighbors ever since. Sonny Callaway is custodian, and he, his wife Sue, kin and neighbors keep up the cemetery, which is near his place of residence. Callaway is a member of the nearby Lagoon Baptist Church and permission to bury someone is gained from him. 

Joe and Belle Pardue were special neighbors to the Callaways. Belle “sat” with Midge’s baby girl Lillian while the family walked to Bear Creek to tend their boat, the Hobbie Horse. Midge made ice cream from time to time and the Pardues, along with kin and neighbors, would join them. 

Establishing time, place and events was not easy for Midge as she sought accuracy and details for the burial of Joe Pardue. Joe’s granddaughter Betty Boone lives in Foley, and did not know the burial spot but remembered that her grandfather had gotten out during a bad rain storm and had died of complications from pneumonia. Midge’s husband “Bunny” and neighbor and kin Dusty Rhodes prepared Pardue’s body for burial at Wallace Cemetery. 

Further information about Joe Pardue was gained with the help of Jeanette Bornholt at the Foley Public Library.  The library found out date of birth and death as well as his WW I status. He was not a veteran, so a free marker was not obtainable, but Parker Monuments in Bay Minette, who had provided for Midge’s kin two years ago delivered a lettered marker for Joe Pardue at a cost of

only $100. 

Midge learned other things about Joe Pardue. During WW I Joe was the dedicated provider for siblings and family and hence was exempted from the conflict. The Pardues lived outside of Elberta when Joe was younger and later, Joe, Belle and her son Edward lived in the old John Wallace home in the Lagoon Community. They worked for Kirkland’s Turpentine Company on Knob Hill. 

New friends had been made along the way, and granddaughter Betty Boone and her husband not only gave permission but assisted monetarily in the project. Sammy and Naomi of Robertsdale had helped locate the Boones. 

The Joe Pardue story is reflective of the determination and energy by which the Lagoon area is bringing history together. The Baldwin County Historical Society and the Alabama Cemetery Preservation Alliance (Jan Allison, coordinator), county libraries and a host of families who honor the past and show respect for the present are building a foundation to grow on. Seemingly minor acts mean a lot. Mabel Callaway had marked graves not having solid markers with pieces of marble from Davis Monument Company of Pensacola. They were not lettered, but were useful even after her death to locate graves. 

Midge doesn’t drive anymore, but she’s still called the “Lagoon Road Runner.”

She may be seen walking every evening with friends along the Fort Morgan Road and occasionally she can be reached by phone at 968-7252 — and she knows her history. The Islander is grateful for the information supplied by Joy Robinson, author of “Well, I’ve Never Met A Native Before.”