Sisters trek through thorns and ticks to visit Korean War veteran uncle’s grave, fulfilling a lifelong promise

Shelva Rowe and her sister, Annelle Lord, have spent years carrying a promise tied to a Korean War veteran they never met, their uncle, Bearl E. Jones. In a report published June 29, LEX18 said the sisters did not grow up with a personal relationship to their uncle, but they learned about him through family stories that identified who he was and where he was laid to rest.

According to LEX18, the sisters set out to reach their uncle’s grave despite difficult terrain, describing a journey that required them to push through thorns and deal with ticks along the way. The trip is framed as part of fulfilling the promise they made within their family to eventually pay their respects at his grave.

LEX18’s reporting characterizes the sisters’ effort as both physically demanding and emotionally significant, since the visit represents a first direct step toward reconnecting with a family history that had largely been passed down through accounts rather than shared time.

The story highlights that the sisters’ plan was rooted in the details they had been told about Jones, and that they knew exactly who he was through that family knowledge. The visit is presented as the moment those details become real, with the sisters able to stand at the grave of the uncle whose service included the Korean War.

While the report focuses on the sisters’ trek, it also underscores how family obligations can reach beyond everyday routines, especially when distance, access, and time have made earlier visits difficult. LEX18’s coverage places the sisters’ journey in an “In Your Community” context, emphasizing the connection between family remembrance and the effort required to carry it out.

It is not clear from the available record where the grave is located or what exact steps the sisters took to reach it beyond the obstacles they described. The report does not provide additional operational details such as the route, duration, or whether they received assistance from local officials, caretakers, or veterans organizations.

For now, LEX18’s account leaves the immediate next step to the family: continuing to honor the uncle they describe as central to their promise, and sharing the story of how perseverance helped them overcome the challenges between remembrance and access.