Frances Caroline "Lena" Erwin Hillman was the daughter of Charles Ellis Hillman and Mary Louise Erwin Hillman. She was born January 6, 1863, and died June 17, 1947. She married a Mr. Frederick T. Cummins and they had 4 children. They divorced in April 1902 based on his "desertion and failure to provide", and Lena petitioned to have her maiden name of Hillman restored as her surname in addition to that of her children. Lena seems to be a rather fascinating woman and led a very active social life. She and her daughter, Frances, were often the guests of their cousins, my grandmother and great-grandmother, Allen Palmer House Martin and Grace Franklin House. My grandfather, O. E. Martin, was one of Lena's pallbearers. I descend from Hillmans and have researched this family. Though Lena had children, she appears to have no living descendants. Two of her children, Charles and Frances, grew to adulthood and married, but there is no indication in death notices that they had children who survived them. Daughter Mary Caroline died as a little girl before Lena and Frederick divorced, and her surname is Cummins on her gravestone. Another daughter named Louise only lived a year. Though Mary's gravestone is at Mt. Olivet, I did not see Louise's and may have overlooked it, but interment records for Mt. Olivet do show Louise is buried there.
Lena was a member at Christ Church Cathedral, Episcopal, in Nashville. A set of beautiful stained glass windows are there that memorialize her and two of her brothers. I have posted a picture of these windows here.
Mr. Cummins, Lena's ex-husband, married secondly to Mildred Louisa Chambers in New York. See his memorial.
--Terry Martin, Feb. 1, 2024
Frances Caroline "Lena" Erwin Hillman was the daughter of Charles Ellis Hillman and Mary Louise Erwin Hillman. She was born January 6, 1863, and died June 17, 1947. She married a Mr. Frederick T. Cummins and they had 4 children. They divorced in April 1902 based on his "desertion and failure to provide", and Lena petitioned to have her maiden name of Hillman restored as her surname in addition to that of her children. Lena seems to be a rather fascinating woman and led a very active social life. She and her daughter, Frances, were often the guests of their cousins, my grandmother and great-grandmother, Allen Palmer House Martin and Grace Franklin House. My grandfather, O. E. Martin, was one of Lena's pallbearers. I descend from Hillmans and have researched this family. Though Lena had children, she appears to have no living descendants. Two of her children, Charles and Frances, grew to adulthood and married, but there is no indication in death notices that they had children who survived them. Daughter Mary Caroline died as a little girl before Lena and Frederick divorced, and her surname is Cummins on her gravestone. Another daughter named Louise only lived a year. Though Mary's gravestone is at Mt. Olivet, I did not see Louise's and may have overlooked it, but interment records for Mt. Olivet do show Louise is buried there.
Lena was a member at Christ Church Cathedral, Episcopal, in Nashville. A set of beautiful stained glass windows are there that memorialize her and two of her brothers. I have posted a picture of these windows here.
Mr. Cummins, Lena's ex-husband, married secondly to Mildred Louisa Chambers in New York. See his memorial.
--Terry Martin, Feb. 1, 2024
Inscription
Lena E. Hillman 1863-1947
Gravesite Details
Lena is buried in the Charles Ellis Hillman family circle on the southwest portion of section 6 at Mt. Olivet
Family Members
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