OLD BEAR CREEK CEMETERY, MAURY COUNTY 1807-1836, MARSHALL COUNTY Aft. 1836.

Our focus is on the stone in the left of the photo for Revolutionary War Soldier, Jacob Lowrance.

Jacob Lowrance memorial. We see here the extent of the crumbling away. This one foot peice is all that is left of a 5 feet tall stone including the part that goes underground.

LOWRANCE, Jacob, 7 Aug 1759 - 31 May 1855. "Revolutionary Soldier." (Tombstone crumbling badly.) Inscription: SACRED -- To the memory of -- Jacob Lowrance -- born Aug 7th 1759 -- died July 24th 1855. 
Historians have said this: An old Pear Tree marks the burial stone of Jacob Lowrance (1759-1855), a Revolutionary War veteran who came to the Bear Creek community from Georgia or South Carolina in the early 1800s. [Frankly, I think the Pear Tree has long since decayed. WA. 8 Aug 2008]
I believe this style stone in this area of the country is rampant with structural failure. I know of others who have this type memorial who died about the same time and their stones are crumbling just as badly or worse. 
Photo, commentary and transcription by Wayne Austin, 26 Feb 2008.