When Effie Mae Smith was born in Goldsboro on 6 October 1905 (or perhaps 1904), the state of North Carolina did not require birth certificates. Years later, however, she found she needed one, applied, and her so-called “delayed” certificate was filed with the Wayne County register of deeds.

On 16 November 1921, Effie May Smith married Frank W. Stanfield in Greensboro, North Carolina. Their marriage license clearly names her parents, Isham Smith and Nancy Henderson Smith Diggs.

Frank was a World War I veteran. He died in 1935 and is buried in a Cypress Hill National Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.  Beside his stone is one that reads: EFFIE M., HIS WIFE Oct 6 1904 Dec 27 1978. This certainly appears to be Effie Mae Smith Stanfield.

Further, the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) lists Effie M. Stanfield, Social Security number xxx-xx-8462, born 10/6/1905, died 12/27/1976, last address in Brooklyn, zip code.

However.

There’s this: a Social Security application — Effie Mae Bridges (applied in 1952 as Effie Mae Smith), xxx-xx-9518, born 10/6/1904 in Goldsboro, North Carolina, to Isaam Smith and Nancy Henderson, died 2/15/2000. And it’s backed up by a SSDI entry for Effie M. Bridges, same birth and death dates, last address in Brooklyn 11233. What is going on here? Identity theft? If not, who in the world is buried next to Frank Stanfield???

Photo courtesy of www.findagrave.com.