Decedent
Gospel Pilgrim Decedents has a comprehensive list of men, women, and children interred in the cemetery. Using grave markers, obituaries, and death certificates, we have complied a list of individuals buried within the cemetery and, to the extent possible with archival silences, developed short biographies of each persons' life. Some decedents have marked graves, while others do not.
In part, this data is based on an early 2000s GIS survey of the cemetery, which was completed by David Berle, Gail Tarver, Taylor Ladd from the University of Georgia's Horticulture Department. The Athens-Clarke County Death Certificate data was, likewise, transcribed by Leah Richier, an graduate alumni of the University of Georgia's Department of History.
| Last Name | First Name | Gender | Race | Status | Occupation | DOB | DOD | Age | Grave Location |
Grave Marker |
Biography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanders-McGee | Sarah | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1873 | December 31, 1933 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Lou McCree, Sarah Sanders McGee (or McCree) was born around 1874. In 1880, she lived with her mother and siblings on Throne Street. She most likely married William Sanders and, in 1910, lived at 370 Hull Street. | |
| Martin | Mary | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1829 | December 31, 1902 | 73 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mary Martin was born around 1830 and most likely spend the majority of her life enslaved. She married George Martin and the couple had at least one child: Essen Martin. In 1880, she worked as a “washer and ironer” and the family lived on an “unnamed street near River Street.” According to the 1897 City Directory, she lived at 648 Odd Street, East Athens. She died from unknown causes on April 25, 1903. |
| Mason | Mattie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Nurse | December 31, 1853 | December 31, 1941 | 88 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mattie Shaw Mason was born in April 1854 and most likely spend her childhood enslaved. In 1900, she was a wife and nurse living at 1024 Billups Street. Still working as a nurse in 1920, her address was listed as Hancock Avenue. By 1930, she her address was again listed as Billups Street, this time living at 1196 Billups Street. She, then, lived at 1196 Hancock Avenue according to the 1940 Census. At 88 years old, she died from unknown causes on November 16, 1942. |
| Favors | Cynthia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1863 | December 31, 1943 | 80 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Cynthia Favors as born in July 1864 and most likely spent her first year of life enslaved. She married Tom Favors and the couple had a least four children: Lela, Ada, Lillie, and Homer. In 1930, the couple lived at 481 Billups Street and she worked as a laundress. After the death of her husband, she lived at 170 Dublin Street with her daughter. |
| Jefferson | Ella | Female | African American | Enslaved | Seamstress | December 31, 1841 | December 31, 1903 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Salley and Robert Holsey, Ella Baker Jefferson was around 1842 and most likely enslaved as a young woman. She married Edgar Jefferson and the couple had at least two children: Minta and Jackson. In 1870, she was keeping house. In 1880, she worked as a dressmaker and lived with her close and extended family at 81 Broad Street. As a widow in 1900, she lived at 22 E Valley and still worked as a dressmaker. She died from unknown causes on September 4, 1904. |
| Bullock | Fletcher | Male | African American | Free | Janitor | December 31, 1914 | December 31, 1957 | 42 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Fletcher Bullock was born around 1915. He married Janie Beatrice Bullock and the couple had at least two children: Fletcher Jr. and Willie. In 1940, he worked as a janitor and lived at 468 First Street. According to the 1956 City Directory, he worked as a construction worker and he and his wife lived at 426 First Street. He died from unknown causes on August 9, 1958. |
| Terrell | Annie | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1931 | 37 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Charles and Lucy Shaw, Annie Terrell was born in 1894. She married Kino Terrell and, in 1910, they lived at 427 First Street. She died from acute myocarditis on October 30, 1932. According to her Death Index, she lived at 426 First Street and worked as a domestic. |
| Morton | Monroe | Male | African American | Enslaved | Businessman | December 31, 1855 | December 31, 1918 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of a white man and Elizabeth Morton, Monroe “Pink” Bowers Morton was born enslaved around 1856. He most likely lived on plantation of John Phinizy. In 1870, he lived with his mother, “Lizzie,” and his siblings in Athens. He worked a number of jobs. According to the census, he worked at a retail grocery in 1880, post master in 1900, and a contractor in 1910. He was also a republican party leader, the owner and publisher of The Progressive Era (a black newspaper), a business leader, and a real estate owner, who built the Morton Theatre and facilitated the development of Athens’s “Hot Corner.” According to the Atlanta Independent (Jan. 30, 1904), “Mr. Morton is a self-made man, and has won his way to the front in business, politics, society by sheer force of character, distinct individuality, rare precocity and strict application to business.” In his personal life, he first married Amanda Morton, who died in 1885 He, then, married Tallulah Morton, his second wife, and the couple had several children, including Monroe, Maude, Ida, and Charlie. He died from cirrhosis of the liver and chronic myocarditis on February 12, 1919. He was, according to his Death Certificate, a “Retired Capitalist” who lived at 823 Prince Avenue. His obituary in The Athens Banner described him as “one of the wealthiest negros in the South.” The paper continued: “‘Pink’ Morton was well known not only in Athens, but throughout the state. He was one of the leaders of the republican party in Georgia, and at one time under the administration of President McKinley was postmaster of Athens. His career has been a most unusual one. Starting life as a slave in 1853 on the plantation of Phinizy’s near Athens, he became a leader of his race, and a most successful business man.” |
| Hardeman | Harry | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1970 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Harry Hardeman born on May 23, 1897. The son of Juliette Cornelius Hardeman, a single mother and Athens washerwoman, Hardeman and his two sisters lived at 425 Pope Street. By all accounts, he appeared to be a mischievous child; he, at least once, was caught “casting pebbles” at another boy. Whereas a white child most likely escaped the attention of law enforcement, a black child in Jim Crow Georgia did not. Twelve-year-old Hardeman—for his harmless, childish antics—found himself before the local police court. As punishment for the ‘crime,’ reported The Weekly Banner, the Athens mayor “assessed the scrapper the sum of one dollar,” but remitted the fine after “one of the older darkeys in the court volunteered to administer the necessary chastisement, in the place of the absent parent.” During the First World War, he served stateside as a sergeant in the 157th Depot Brigade. Retuning to Athens after the war, he worked as a laborer and lived at 171 Church Street in 1920. According to the 1958 City Directory, he worked as a butler and lived at 405 Benning Street. He died on April 10, 1971 from an unknown aliment. | |
| Owens | Pearl | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1884 | December 31, 1918 | 34 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Isabelle Owens, Pearl Owens was born around March 25, 1885. In 1900, she worked as a day laborer and, in 1910, she was a waste picker at the cotton mill. She was arrested with her mother, sister, and two other women for “creating a disturbance” in 1915. She lived at 228 Cleveland Avenue in 1910 and obtained a piece of property on Flynt Street in 1915. According to the 1916 City Directory, she worked as a cook and lived at 228 Cleveland Avenue. She died from unknown causes on January 10, 1919. |
| Jones | Effie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1893 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Effie Jones was born between 1890 and 1894.Around 1908, she married Robert Jones, a mason, and the couple appears not to have had children. She worked as a laundress in 1910, 1930, and 1940. In 1930, she lived at 167 Paris Street. As a widow in 1940, she lived at 1353 W Hancock Avenue. She died of unknown causes at an unknown date. | ||
| Cox | Mollie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1872 | December 31, 1934 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mollie Cox was born around 1873. She married Richard Cox, a cotton mill laborer, and the couple had at least one child: Archie Cox. In 1900, she worked as a cook. According to the 1931 City Directory, she lived at 236 Bridge Street. At the time of her death on December 3, 1935, she worked as a laundress and lived at 237 Bridge Street in Athens. |
| Whitehead | Carrie | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1878 | December 31, 1927 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Carried A. Whitehead was born on March 2, 1879. In 1910, she was divorced and worked as a laborer. She married Reese Brown on November 25, 1917. According to the 1923 City Directory, she lived with her husband at 151 Strickland Street. She died from unknown causes on November 27, 1928. |
| Horton | Emily | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1916 | December 31, 1917 | 1 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Emily Horton was the infant of Susie Lovinggood Horton, a music teacher, and William J. Horton, a mail carrier. She was born in 1917 and died in 1918. | |
| Billups | William | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1971 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, William C. Billups died in 1972. His date of birth is unknown. | |||
| Scott | Samuel | Male | African American | Enslaved | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Samuel S. Scott died in 1862; he was most likely enslaved. His body was most likely moved to Gospel Pilgrim sometime after 1882 when the cemetery opened. | ||||
| Mathews | Henry | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1854 | December 31, 1916 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Henry Mathews was born between 1855 and 1861 and most likely spent his childhood enslaved. In 1900, he worked as Rail Road Laborer and lived as a single, male boarder at 772 Georgia Railroad Street. He married Lizzie Mathews and, in 1910, the couple lived at 144 Summey. At that time, he worked as a city streets laborer. According to the 1914 City Directory, he worked as a laborer and lived at Summey, which intersected Lumpkin Street near Cedar Street. On February 7, 1917, he died from unknown causes. |
| Feaster | Annie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1913 | 20 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Annie Ree Feaster was born on February 24, 1894 and died on July 3, 1914. According to a newspaper article published on June 13, 1911, she appeared in court for a criminal or civil case against the state. | |
| Jefferson | Robert | Male | African American | Free | Tailor | December 31, 1865 | December 31, 1900 | 34 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Ella and Edgar Jefferson, Robert Jefferson was born on May 1, 1866. In 1880, he lived with his parents and attended school. He married Mary L. Jefferson in 1890. In 1900, he worked as a tailor and live with his wife and four children—Robert, Geneva, Ellen, and Julian—at 8 Harris Street. He died from unknown causes on May 10, 1901. |
| Bunkley | Robert | Male | African American | Free | Pressing Club Proprietor | December 31, 1894 | December 31, 1938 | 45 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Luna Strickland and Frank Bunkley, Robert L. Bunkley was born on December 12, 1895. As a youth, he was a hack driver (1910) and worked as a pressing club proprietor for much of his adult life. He married Mildred Bunkley sometime after 1920. According to the 1937 City Directory, he owned a billards saloon at the corner of Hull and Washington Streets and lived at 449 Reese Street. On August 7, 1939, he died at St. Mary’s Hospital from a post-operative cerebral embolism, after his right leg had been amputated. He was only 45 years old and had been living at 449 Reese Street at the time of his death. |
| Terrell | Burnett | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1913 | December 31, 1943 | 30 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Burnett Terrell was born on August 2, 1914. He died from unknown causes on November 8, 1944. | |
| Morton | Tallulah | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1940 | 79 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Tallulah “Lula” Morton was born around 1862 and most likely enslaved as a young child. She was the second wife of Monroe “Pink” Bowers Morton and the mother of Monroe, Maude, Ida, and Charlie. She had borne six children, but only four lived to adulthood. In 1910, she lived with her family at 823 Prince Avenue. She did not work outside the home from 1910 to 1930. After the death of her husband in 1919, she remained in the house and lived with her son and daughter in 1930. At 69 years old, she died from unknown causes on August 3, 1941. | |
| Harden | Edgar | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1953 | 61 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Mary Harden, Edgard Harden was born on November 2, 1892. As a 16 year old in 1910, he worked as a “poster” and did not attend school. During the First World War, he served as a corporal in Company D, 346 Service Battalion. He married Cora Harden and, according to the 1952 City Directory, he and his wife lived at 658 Hull Street. He died from unknown causes on June 26, 1954. | |
| Owens | Jesse | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1929 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Jesse Owens served as a private in the 403 Labor Battalion during the First World War. In 1926, he worked as a laborer and lived on Water Street. He most likely married Flora Owens, who lived at 240 Newton Street. According to the 1928 City Directory, the couple lived at 2402 Newton Street and he worked as a laborer. He died from unknown causes on August 23, 1930. | ||
| Jones | John | Male | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1831 | December 31, 1916 | 85 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | John W. Jones was born on March 19, 1832 and most likely spent his early life enslaved. He married Georgia Thomas Jones, a cook, around 1881 and the couple had three living children. In 1900, he worked as a cook and owned a house at 360 Broad Street. In 1910, he rented a house at 563 Broad Street and did not work. According to the 1916 City Directory, he lived at 522 W Broad Street. He died from unknown causes on July 27, 1917. |
| Crowder | George | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1932 | 35 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Chatie T. and George Crowder, George Crowder was born between 1897 and 1898 in Warren, Georgia. He married Lizzie Mae Powers on February 28, 1915 and they had at least one child. He worked various jobs, including a public laborer (1920 Census), laborer (1926 City Directory), and a porter (1931 City Directory). In 1931, he lived at "50 Brays Al[ley]. He died from a “sudden natural cause” on August 21, 1933. According to his Death Index, he lived at 50 Madison Avenue and worked as a common laborer. |
| Whitelock | Martha | Female | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1896 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Martha Whitelock died from unknown causes in 1897. She may have been the wife of John Whitelock (or Whittlock), who worked as a laborer and lived at 805 Athens Avenue, according to the 1894 City Directory. | |||
| Horton | Mary | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1916 | December 31, 1918 | 2 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mary Horton was the infant of Susie Lovinggood Horton, a music teacher, and William J. Horton, a mail carrier. She was born in 1917 and died in 1919. | |
| Billups | Betty | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1937 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Sally and Joe McCree, Betty McCree Billups was born around 1860 and most likely spent her childhood enslaved. She married Simon Billups, a farm laborer, and the couple had at least thirteen children: including Jordan, Louis, M. J., Fannie, Sally, Anna, and Ivy. In 1910, however, only five children were living. She worked as a laundress in 1910 and was listed as a "domestic" at the end of her life. She died from apoplexy caused by a second stoke on December 8, 1938. As a 76 year old widow, she had been living at 670 W Broad Street at the time of her death . |
| Scruggs | Viola | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1885 | December 31, 1925 | 30 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Viola Scruggs was born on June 15, 1886. She married Ellie Scruggs, a railroad fireman. In 1910, she worked as cook and lived with her husband and sister on Pearl Street. In 1926, she lived at 447 Third Street. At 30 years old, she died from unknown causes on December 5, 1926. |
| Matthews | Anderson | Male | African American | Free | Driver | December 31, 1887 | December 31, 1917 | 29 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Jennie Mathews, Anderson Matthews was born on July 15, 1888. He married Julia Cheney in November 1914. During First World War, he lived on W Hancock Avenue and worked as a chauffeur. According to the 1914 City Directory, he lived at 1423 W Broad Street. At 29 years old, he died from unknown on May 17, 1918. |
| Fields | Lillie | Female | African American | Free | Nurse | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1956 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lillie Fields was born around June 2, 1889. She married Henry C. Fields, a Cotton Sampler, and she worked as laundress in 1910. She sold her milk cow in 1915 and lost ownership of her property on Fourth Street to sheriff’s sale in 1916. In 1920, the couple lived at the same property at 226 Fourth Street and she worked as cook. In 1940, she worked as a nurse. She died from unknown causes on May 2, 1957. |
| Johnson | Tom | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1894 | December 31, 1953 | 59 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Eveline Howard, Tom Johnson was born around 1895 or 1896. He most likely served in the 341 Service Battalion during the First World War. In 1920, he worked as a laborer at a cotton press and he and his mother rented a place at the rear of 789 Thomas Street. He died from unknown causes on April 7, 1954. At the time of his death, he lived at Apt. 188 803 Play Lane. |
| Bunkley | Mildred | Female | African American | Free | Pressing Club Worker | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1940 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mildred Bunkley was born around 1886 and competed the first year of high school. Sometime after 1920, she married Robert L. Bunkley, a pressing club proprietor, and worked alongside her husband at the pressing club. For most of their life, the couple lived at 449 Reese Street. According to the 1937 City Directory, they lived at 449 Reese Street. On August 21, 1941, she died from unknown causes. She was in her late 40s at the time of her death. |
| Thoma[??] | [??]nno | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Morton | Elizabeth | Female | African American | Free | Keeping House | December 31, 1831 | December 31, 1880 | 50 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Elizabeth “Lizzie” Morton was born enslaved around 1832. She had at least five children: Monroe, Willie, Albert, Sue, and Emma. In 1870, she was “Keeping House” in Athens. At around 50 years old, she died from unknown causes on January 10, 1881. |
| Harden | Cora | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1975 | 84 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Cora Jones Harden was born around June 15, 1892. According to the 1952 City Directory, she was married to Edgar Harden and they lived at 658 Hull Street. She died on November 26, 1976. She was around 84 years old at the time of her death and lived at 530 W Hancock Avenue. | |
| Payne | Stella | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1906 | December 31, 1907 | 1 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Stella Grace Payne was born on January 11, 1907 and died from unknown causes on July 18, 1908. She was 1 year and 6 months old at the time of death. | |
| [Jones?] | [??]mar | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Davis | Addie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1905 | December 31, 1906 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Addie May Davis was the twin daughter of J. W. and M. C. Davis. She was born on December 5, 1906 and died seven months later, on June 6, 1907. According to the 1904 City Directory, J. W. Daivs worked as a mail carrier and lived at 24 Strong Street. In 1909, he was married to Minnie Davis and they lived at 178 Strong Street. This is most likely their child. | |
| Whitfield | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
| Houston | Laura | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1854 | December 31, 1925 | 71 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Mary White and Henry Brown, Laura Brown Houston was born around 1855 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1915, she was hit by automobile, but survived the accident. As a widow, in 1920, she lived with her brother at 760 Chase Street and worked as a “cartman” “washer.” According to 1920s newspapers reports customers frequently mixed up their ticket items when collecting laundry. She died from Lagrippe on January 27, 1926. According to her Death Certificate, she lived at 768 Chase Street and worked as a domestic. |
| Billups | Willie | Male | African American | Free | Teacher | December 31, 1903 | December 31, 1962 | 59 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Mary Billups, Willie Lewis Billups was born on either March 1, 1904 or May 15, 1903. As a child he lived on Reese Street. At the time of Second World War, he lived at 123 Pope Street and was self-employed. According to the 1958 City Directory, he worked as a teacher Athens High and Industrial School and lived at 1820 W Hancock Avenue. He died from unknown causes on Feburary 27, 1963. |
| Scruggs | Ollie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1928 | December 31, 1934 | 6 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Young and Olli Scruggs, Ollie Mae Scruggs was born on June 15, 1929 in North Carolina. At 6 years old, she died at the Athens General Hospital from endocarditis on October 6, 1935. In 1935, her father lived on Danielsville Road; this is most likely her last known address. | |
| Matthews | John | Male | African American | Free | Merchant | December 31, 1883 | December 31, 1940 | 57 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | John T. Matthews was born between 1874 and 1884. He married Margaret “Maggie” Matthews, and the couple rented a home at 1095 W Hancock Avenue in 1920 and 1930. He worked as farmer in 1920 and was a dry goods store merchant in 1930. He died from unknown causes on March 27, 1941. |
| Fields | Susie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1858 | December 31, 1926 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Alice Tomas and Jack Shaw, Susie Shaw Fields was born around August 1859 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1880, she worked as a servant. She married Eldon Fields, a teamster, and she worked as a washerwoman in 1900. In 1920, she worked cook and lived at 144 Warsaw Street. She died from [myoclonia?] and nephritis on September 29, 1927. |
| Johnson | William | Male | African American | Unknown | Reverend | December 31, 1841 | December 31, 1908 | 67 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | William D. Johnson was born in Maryland on March 19, 1842. In 1879, he married Alice V. Johnson of Georgia. The couple had at least five children. As a clergyman, Johnson could read, write, and owned his own house at 529 Lumpkin Street. He died from unknown causes on April 10, 1909. |
| Bush | Annie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1895 | December 31, 1961 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Annie B. Bush was born around 1897. Before 1920, she married Clarence Bush, a grocery store wagon driver. She, herself, worked as a laundress during the 1920s and 1930s. In 1930, she lived with her husband at 850 Broad Street. According to the 1958 City Directory, they remained at that address. Little is known about her adult life and she died from unknown causes on April 14, 1962. | |
| Thomas | Codelia | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1878 | December 31, 1956 | 78 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Codelia A. Thomas was born in 1879 and died from unknown causes in 1957. | |
| Morton | Maude | Female | African American | Free | Teacher | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1986 | 90 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of and Monroe “Pink” Bowers Morton and Tallulah Morton, Maude Muller Morton was born on January 5, 1897. In 1910, she attended school and lived with her parents on Prince Avenue. She graduated college and worked as a public school leveler in 1930 and as an elementary school teacher in 1940. According to the 1958 City Directory, she lived at 823 Prince Avenue. At 90 years old, she died from unknown causes on October 15, 1987. |
| Harris | Marion | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1899 | December 31, 1911 | 11 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Marion O. Harris was born on September 18, 1900 and died on April 16, 1912. He was only 11 years old at the time of his death. | |
| [Pearl?] | Ossie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1956 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Ossie was born around 1889 and died on March 18, 1957. She was 68 years old at the time of her death. She may have had the last name “Pearl.” | |
| Kenney | Charlie | Male | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1964 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Charlie Kenney died on August 16, 1965. | |||
| Davis | J. | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1905 | December 31, 1906 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | J. W. Davis was the twin son of J. W. and M. C. Davis. He was born on December 5, 1906 and died nine months later, on September 8, 1907. According to the 1904 City Directory, J. W. Daivs worked as a mail carrier and lived at 24 Strong Street. In 1909, he was married to Minnie Davis and they lived at 178 Strong Street. This is most likely their child. | |
| Whitfield | W. | Male | African American | Free | Blacksmith | December 31, 1864 | December 31, 1938 | 74 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | W. M. Whitfield was born on April 18, 1865. According to the 1938 City Directory, he worked as a blacksmith and lived with his wife, Mittie, at 495 Reese Street. At 74 years old, he died from unknown causes on June 13, 1939. |
| Hudson | Charlie | Male | African American | Enslaved | Merchant | December 31, 1857 | December 31, 1941 | 84 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Charlie Hudson was born around 1858 and most likely enslaved as a child. He married Maggie Hutson, a laundress, around 1904 and the couple lived at 387 Odd Street in 1910. He worked as a retail grocery merchant in 1910 and 1920. He died from unknown causes on October 29, 1942. |
| Billups | Burrell | Male | African American | Free | Restaurant Owner | December 31, 1873 | December 31, 1937 | 61 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Isabelle and John Billups, Burrell W. Billups was born on July 4,1874. In 1911, he was a registered voter living in Athens. He married Janie Billups and the couple had at least two children: Katie and Arabella. He worked as a restaurant owner in 1920 and the family lived at 367 Chase Street. They still resided at that address in 1931 and 1938. He died from P. O. suppurative peritonitis on June 28, 1938. |
| Shanks | Otis | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1956 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Otis Shanks was born around 1892 in Thompson, Georgia. In 1916, he “was arraigned on a charge of disorderly conduct and his cash bond was forfeited.” According to his First World War Draft Card, he worked as a truck hand for Southern Railroad and lived at 499 River Street. During the war, he served stateside in the 157 Depot Brigade at Camp Gordon. After the war, he married Christine C. Shanks. He worked as a laborer at the gas plant in 1930 and a “helper” in 1940. According to the 1952 City Directory, he worked as plant operator at Atlanta Gas Light and lived at 139 N Newton Street. At 65 years old, he died from unknown causes on June 19, 1957. After his death, his wife applied for a military headstone. |
| Matthews | Margaret | Female | African American | Free | Teacher | December 31, 1877 | December 31, 1977 | 101 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Margaret “Maggie” Matthews born around 1878.She married John T. Matthews, and the couple rented a home at 1095 W Hancock Avenue in 1920 and 1930. She worked as a rural school teacher and public school teacher. According to the 1956 City Directory, she stilled lived at that address. At 101 years old, she died from unknown causes on March 6, 1978. |
| Fields | Eldon | Male | African American | Enslaved | Janitor | December 31, 1848 | December 31, 1924 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Eldon Fields was born on September 12, 1849 and most likely spend his childhood enslaved. In 1880, he worked as a carriage driver and lived at 440 Jackson Street. He married Susie Shaw Fields around that time. By 1900, he lived with his wife at 144 Warsaw Street and worked as teamster. He, then, worked as an janitor in an office building in 1920. He died from “paralysis following apoplexy” on January 29, 1925. |
| Johnson | Alice | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1856 | December 31, 1917 | 61 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Thomas Jones and Mary E. Jones, Alice V. Johnson was born on August 27, 1857 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1879, she married William D. Johnson, a Athens clergyman originally hailing from Maryland. Over the course of her life she had six children, but only five of those children survived into adulthood. In 1900, the couple owned a home at 529 Lumpkin Street. Sometime after the death of her husband on April 10, 1909, she moved to 681 W. Lumpkin St. She died of unknown causes on April 4, 1918. | |
| Bush | Clarence | Male | African American | Free | Deliveryman | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1964 | 66 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Lula Bush, Clarence Bush was born on January 25, 1897. In 1900, he lived with his grandfather and mother on Broad Street. Sometime before 1920, he married Annie Bush and the couple most likely did not have living children. He worked various jobs during his lifetime, included “poster” (1910), a “grocery store wagon driver,” (1920) and “grocery store deliveryman” (1930). According to the 1958 City Directory, they lived at 850 Broad Street and he worked as “firman” at “Holmain Hotel.” In addition to those jobs, he served in the First World War as a private. He died from unknown causes on November 28, 1965. |
| Thomas | Katie | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1897 | December 31, 1975 | 78 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Laura and Eugene Thomas, Katie C. Thomas was born around 1898. In 1910, she attended school and lived with her parents and siblings at 1248 W Broad Street. She did not work in 1920. In 1940, she worked as a maid and lived on Flint Street. According to the 1958City Directory, she lived at 748 N Hull Street. She died from unknown causes in 1976. |
| Morton | Charles | Male | African American | Free | Entertainment Industry | December 31, 1902 | December 31, 1969 | 67 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Monroe “Pink” Bowers Morton and Tallulah Morton, Charles Morton was born on February 27, 1903. In 1910 and 1920, he attended school and lived with his parents and siblings on Prince Avenue. In 1930, he worked as a “Machine operator” at the “picture show,” most likely at the Morton Theatre. According to his Second World War draft card, he worked for his family and lived at 823 Prince Avenue. According to the 1958 City Directory, he worked at Twentieth Century Billiards and lived, with Goldiee W., at 659 W Hancock Avenue. At 67 years old, he died from unknown causes on June 20, 1970. |
| Harris | Robert | Mae | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1835 | December 31, 1913 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Robert Harris was born around 1836 and most likely enslaved as a young man. At 76 years old, he died from unknown causes on August 6, 1914. According to the 1909 City Directory, Robert Harris and Robert Harris Jr. both lived at 226 Flint Street. Robert Harris—a one-legged criminal mastermind with a perchance for jail breaking—appears regularly within the local newspapers; this could be the same man or his son. | |
| Pinckney | Hopie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Boarding | December 31, 1811 | December 31, 1887 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Hopie Pinckey was born on May 18, 1812. She was enslaved to Mr. A. Hull of Athens. In 1860, someone attempted to burn down her dwelling, but she escaped the fire. According to the 1880 Census, she was married, worked as day boarder, and lived alone on Melchior Street. At 76 years of age, she died from unknown causes on July 7, 1888. |
| L. | C. | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1890 | 2 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the child’s tombstone, C. H. L. died on October 14, 1891. The child only lived 2 years, 4 months, and 7 days. | |
| Davis | Clifford | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1919 | 26 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Jennie L. and Will Davis, Clifford L. Davis was born on February 13, 1894. As a child, he attended school and lived with his family at 425 Bridge Street. In 1910, he worked as a tagger in a warehouse. At the start of the First World War, he lived at 237 Bridge Street. During the war, he served stateside as a private in the 157 Depot Brig. He died from unknown causes on December 6, 1920. |
| Whitlock | John | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1856 | December 31, 1916 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | John Whitelock (or Whittlock) was born around 1857. According to the 1894 City Directory, worked as a laborer and lived at 805 Athens Avenue. He may have been married to Martha Whitelock. At 60 years old, he died from unknown causes on March 3, 1917. |
| Huff | Will | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1894 | December 31, 1934 | 40 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Alois Howard and Gib Huff, Will Huff was born on March 12, 1893 in Crawford, Georgia. He died from [??] of heart and nephritis on February 11, 1935. According to his Death Certificate, he worked as laborer and lived at 264 Bridge Street. |
| Blont | [J or G?] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1942 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||
| Shaw | Adeline | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1819 | December 31, 1894 | 75 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Adeline Shaw was born around 1820 and most likely enslaved. In 1880, she worked as a servant and was a widow living near Foundry Street. She died from unknown causes in 1895. |
| McCleskey | Edward | Male | African American | Free | Carpenter | December 31, 1864 | December 31, 1931 | 67 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Julia and William McCleskey, Edward McCleskey was born in March 1865. In 1930, he was widowed and owned a home at 220 Harris Street. He worked as a carpenter for much of his life. At age 67, he died from cardiovascular renal disease on September 19, 1932. |
| Flag | Ida | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1899 | December 31, 1945 | 56 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ida J. Flag was born around 1900. Sometime before 1930, she gained and lost a husband. As a widow, in 1930, she worked as laundress and lived with her sister, Emma Virgil, at 1490 W Broad Street. In 1940, her and her sister lived at 268 Parris Street. She died from unknown causes on July 28, 1946. At the time of her death, she was 56 years old. |
| Johnson | Eddie | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1919 | December 31, 1946 | 27 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Mattie Franklin and Eddie Ted Johnson, Eddie Johnson was born on May 9, 1920. He never married. In 1941, he lived in Chicago and worked on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Still living in the city, he was working as a “Bumper Factory Worker” when he died from unknown causes on November 13, 1947. The body was returned to Athens for burial in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. |
| Campbell | John | Male | African American | Free | Porter | December 31, 1876 | December 31, 1943 | 67 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Ann Harden, John B. Campbell was born on March 18, 1877 in Athens, Georgia. In 1900, he was serving as a sergeant in the 48th Volunteer Infantry and stationed at Naquilian, Philippine Islands. Rather than return to Athens following his tour of duty, he moved to Chicago and, according to the 1910 Census, worked as a railroad porter. He died from unknown causes on July 4, 1944. He may or may not have returned to Athens, Georgia before his death. Mrs. Katie Thomas, of 748 Hull Street, applied for a military tombstone for his grave in 1944. |
| Thomas | Ada | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1902 | December 31, 1965 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Mary A. Thomas, Ada Kate Thomas was born on September 12, 1903 in Mississippi. In 1910, she attended school and lived with her mother on Water Street. In 1940, she worked as a maid and lived at 187 Third Street. She was still living at that address in 1958. She died from unknown causes on November 4, 1966. |
| Morton | Claud | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1892 | December 31, 1892 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Claud Morton was born in February 1893 and died in June; he was just over 3 months old. He most likely lived at 823 Prince Avenue with the other members of the Morton family. | ||
| Harris | R | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Hawkins | Ida | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1860 | December 31, 1908 | 47 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ida Hawkins was born on May 12, 1861 and most likely spent her early years enslaved. She married Perry Hawkins around 1907. She gave birth to seven children, but only five were living in 1910. On March 11, 1909, she died from unknown causes. | |
| [??]ll | Se[??] | Unknown | African American | Free | 34 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||
| Pinkard | Amos | Male | African American | Free | Grocer | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1961 | 73 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Amos Pinkard was born in 1889. In February 1908, he was charged “for violation of the prohibition law.” He married Nettie Pinkard and, 1940, the couple lived at 264 N Billups Street. According to the 1940 City Directory, he worked as a grocer. He still lived at 264 N Billups Street in 1958. He died from unknown causes on December 16, 1962. |
| Lawrence | Carrie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1849 | December 31, 1923 | 74 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Wiley and Asbury Lawrance, Carrie Lawrence was born in August 1850 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1880, she worked as a “Washer & Ironer” and lived on Jackson Street. She was a founding member of the Gospel Pilgrim Society. As a widow in 1900, she worked as a “Janitress” and lived at 129 Alley Street. She no longer worked in 1920 and lived in a boarding house on Berry Street. At age 74, she died on December 15, 1924. According to her Death Certificate, she did “housework” and lived at 112 Berry Street. |
| Davis | Madison | Male | African American | Enslaved | Legislator | December 31, 1832 | December 31, 1901 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Madison Davis was born around September 27, 1833 and spent his youth and young adulthood enslaved to a carriage maker. His father, who was from Ireland according to the 1900 Census, may have been a white slaveholder. Davis married Ella Davis and the couple had at least six children: Willie, Annie, Lizzie, Mattie, Mana, and James. During Reconstruction he served as a Republican in the Georgia House of Representatives. Later in life, he worked as a merchant, postmaster, and a real estate agent. In 1900, he was living at 27 Newton Street and just two years later, on August 20, 1902, he died from unknown causes. |
| Wilder | Rachel | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1830 | December 31, 1888 | 58 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Rachel Wilder was born around 1831. She married James Wilder, a farm laborer, and they could had at least five children: Dennis, Samuel, Charles, William, and Berry. In 1870, they lived in Madison, Georgia. At 58 years old, she died from unknown causes on October 19, 1889. | |
| Hunt | Doll | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1898 | December 31, 1946 | 48 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Doll Hunt was born in 1899. In 1930, she lived with her sister, Mollie Clark, on Crawford Avenue and worked as a laundress. She married Dozier Hunt and, according to the 1931 City Directory, the couple lived at 67 Crawford Avenue. According to the 1942 City Directory, she lived at 350 Barber Street and worked as a cook. She died from unknown causes on September 28, 1947. |
| Blont | [Gary?] | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Shaw | Charles | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| McCombs | Sarah | Female | African American | Free | Student | December 31, 1884 | December 31, 1906 | 21 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Serena and Cisero McCombs, Sarah R. McCombs was born on October 22, 1885. In 1900, she attended school and lived with her parents at 901 Reese Street. At 21 years old, she died from unknown causes. |
| Foster | Ethel | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1958 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Born around 1894, Ethel Foster was the daughter of Charlotte and Lorenzo Foster, a City Hall Janitor. In 1920, she worked as a cook and lived with her brother, Henry Foster, on Flint Street.According to the 1958 City Directory, she worked as a maid and lived at 373 Flint Street. She died from unknown causes in 1959. |
| Johnson | Rhoda | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1875 | December 31, 1931 | 55 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Rhoda Ann Johnson was born around 1876. In 1920, she was a widow and worked as a washerwoman. In 1920, she lived with her two daughters (Minnie and Lula) and her mother-in-law (Emma Lee Johnson) at 882 Water Street. According to the 1931 City Directory, she still lived at that same address. At 55 years old, she died from unknown causes on May 29, 1932. |
| Campbell | Miller | Male | African American | Free | Soldier | December 31, 1880 | December 31, 1935 | 55 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Miller L. Campbell was born around 1881. He enlisted as a private in the 1Cl. Hospital Corps in 1905; his military records described him as a man of dark complexion, with brown eyes, standing 5 foot 5 ½ inches tall. He most likely married Jane Campbell and lived at 748 Hull Street. He died from unknown causes on July 13, 1936 and was around 55 years old at the time of his death. |
| Thomas | Violet | Female | African American | Free | Teacher | December 31, 1892 | December 31, 1935 | 42 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Julia Collins and Lucins Thomas, Violet Clyde Thomas was born on July 4, 1893 in Athens Georgia. She moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. She died from a cerebral apoplexy on January 28, 1936. According to her Death Certificate, she worked as a teacher and lived in Charlotte, North Carolina. |
| Morton | Lizzy | Female | African American | Free | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lizzy C. Morton died around 10 months old. She was the sister of William Morton, who died when he was 10 years old. She most likely lived at 823 Prince Avenue with the other members of the Morton family. | ||||
| Harris | Mary | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Hawkins | S. | Unknown | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1858 | December 31, 1936 | 78 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, S. H. Hawkins was born (most likely enslaved) in 1859 and died in 1937. | |
| [Re?]id | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
| Pledger | William | Male | African American | Enslaved | Lawyer | December 31, 1849 | December 31, 1903 | 54 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | William A. Pledger was born in 1850 and enslaved as a child. Along with William Henry (Harrison) Heard, he was the co-owner and editor of the Athens Blade, a leading African-American newspaper that was distributed throughout Georgia and in several northeastern cities. As one of the first African-American lawyers in Atlanta, he was active in republican politics and a delegate to each republican convention from 1876 to 1900. According to the 1898 City Directory, he worked as a lawyer and lived at 209 Pearl Street. He died from unknown causes on January 8, 1904. |
| Lawrence | Odessia | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1902 | December 31, 1903 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Odessia Lawrence was a 15 month old infant who died from unknown causes on October 6, 1904. | ||
| Davis | Minnie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1939 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Minnie [H?] Davis died in February 1940. According to the 1904 City Directory, J. W. Daivs worked as a mail carrier and lived at 24 Strong Street. In 1909, he was married to Minnie Davis and they lived at 178 Strong Street. |
