Pearl Ligon (1895–1911)
Pearl Ligon’s life, though tragically brief, left a deep impression on the Henderson community. Born in 1895, she was the daughter of Dr. Peyton Ligon and Alice McClure Ligon, a well-known family in early twentieth-century Henderson. By all contemporary accounts, Pearl was an exceptionally bright and promising young woman, admired by her classmates and teachers alike.
In early January 1911, after a lingering illness attributed to stomach trouble, Pearl died at her family’s home at the corner of Alvasia and Washington Streets. She was only fifteen years old. Local newspapers marked her passing with unusually eloquent tributes, noting not only her intellect but her gentle spirit and the affection she inspired among friends and family. The loss was felt keenly across the city, described as “particularly distressing” for a community that had watched her grow.
Pearl was a student at the local high school and a member of the freshman class. Her funeral, held at Second Presbyterian Church, was attended by many who came to mourn a life full of promise. Six of her classmates served as pallbearers, a poignant testament to the bonds she formed in her short time. She was laid to rest in Fernwood Cemetery, where she remains among other members of the Ligon family.
More than a century later, Pearl Ligon’s story endures through cemetery records, newspaper accounts, and family memorials. Her life stands as a reminder of both the fragility of youth in an era before modern medicine and the enduring power of community memory in preserving those who were deeply loved, even if only for a short while
