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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Lee | Della | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1923 | 48 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Witcher | Nolia | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1920 | 29 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Fields | Lelia | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1921 | 51 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Terrell | Mannie | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1922 | 23 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Lewis | Ellen | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1920 | 55 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Thomas | Susie | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1872 | December 31, 1969 | 97 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Hannah and G. Thomas, Susie Lee Thomas was born around 1873. In 1880, she lived with her parents on Richardson Street and attended school. She married Anderson Thomas and the couple had at least two children. She worked as a laundress in 1910, a farm laborer in 1920, and a cook in 1940. She died from unknown causes in July 1970. According to her funeral notice, she lived at 130 Hickman Drive. |
| Powers | Amanda | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1917 | 73 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Daughter of Harriett Powers. According to her obituary, she died at 73 years of age in May 1918. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | ||
| 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. | |
| Ford | Malinda | Female | African American | Free | Farmer | December 31, 1920 | 55 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Porter | Susie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Susie Bason Porter was born around 1886. She married Walter Porter and the couple appears not to have had living children. In 1930, she worked as a laundress. In 1940, the couple owned a house at 554 Strong Street, according to the 1958 City Directory, they remained at 554 E Strong Street. At 82 years old, she died from unknown causes in 1968. | |||
| Robinson | Charity | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1833 | December 31, 1920 | 87 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
| 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. | |
| Holbrooks | Rosa | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1919 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
| Smith | Ada | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1881 | December 31, 1916 | 35 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ada D. Smith was born on April 29, 1882. She married Tom Smith and the couple had at least five children: Minnie, Agnus, Violet, Wyatt, and Robert. She worked as a washerwoman in 1900 and as a cook in 1910. According to the 1914 City Directory, she lived with her husband at 367 Athens Avenue. At 35 years old, she died from unknown June 16, 1917. |
| Lewis | Fannie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Teacher | December 31, 1923 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| [Powers?] | Harriet | Female | African American | Enslaved | Seamstress | December 31, 1838 | December 31, 1909 | 72 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Harriet C. Powers was born around 1837-1839 and, as a young woman, enslaved on the plantation of John and Nancy Lester in Madison County, Georgia. At around 18 years old, she married Armstead Powers in 1855. The couple had at least nine children, including Amanda, Leon Joe (Alonzo), Nancy, Lizzie, and Marshall. In 1870 and 1880, she was “Keeping House” and lived with her family near Sandy Creek, Georgia. As skilled seamstress and folk artist, her intricate quilts were displayed at the Clarke County Cotton Fair and were highly sought after. Today, only two of her quilts survive; one hangs American History Museum of the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and the other hangs in the Museum of Fine Art in Boston. According to the 1889 City Directory, her husband lived at 27 Angle [St? Rd?]; she most likely lived at this address as well. She died from unknown causes on January 1, 1910. |
| Robinson | Vainiga | Female | African American | Free | Student | December 31, 1921 | 6 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. |
| Williams | Maria | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1877 | December 31, 1890 | 8 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Jane and Isaac Williams, Marie Williams was born on January 26, 1878. In 1880, she lived with her parents at the corner of Foundry Street and Connecticut Street. At 8 years old, she died from unknown causes on March 30, 1886. | |
| Warrick | Anges | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1969 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Agnes (Aremita) Heard Warrick was born in Athens, Georgia on October 13, 1897. On March 1, 1927, she married Ronald M. Warrick. At age 72, Warrick died on January 15, 1970 and was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery in Athens, Georgia. Her last known residence was in Fort Pierce, Saint Lucie, Florida. [Researched and written by Taliesin Utz] | |||
| Smith | Rosa | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1862 | December 31, 1934 | 72 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Lottie and Mr. Jones, Rosa Jones Smith was born around July 4, 1863 and most likely enslaved as a child. She worked as a laborer in 1880 and a private family nurse in 1910. As a widow, in 1910, she lived 293 Cherry Street. She died from [??] and pneumonia on January 17, 1935. At the time of her death, she worked as a domestic and lived at 389 Dubose Avenue. |
| Thomas | Alice | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1922 | 75 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Freeman | Bessie | Female | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1945 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Bessie Samuel Freeman died in October 1946. The funeral was handled by Mack & Payne Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
| 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. | |
| Bunkley | Lula | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1925 | 54 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
| 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. |
| Murden | Dora | Female | African American | Free | Housewife | December 31, 1868 | December 31, 1925 | 56 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
| 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. |
| Logan | Fanie | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1925 | 28 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Thompson | Florence | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1961 | 100 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Maria Derricotti, Florence Thompson was born around 1862 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1900 and 1910, she worked as a washerwoman and, as a widow, lived with her mother at 148 Strong Street. She died from unknown causes in 1962. |
| Johnson | Louise | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1961 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Louise Johnson died from unknown causes in September 1962. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
| 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. |
| Powers | Viola | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1890 | December 31, 1967 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Rosa and Peter Powers, Viola Powers was born on December 27, 1891. In 1900, she lived with her parents in Eddins, Georgia. According to the 1952 City Directory, she lived at 257 N Finley Street. She died from unknown causes on June 25, 1968. | |
| Williams | Jane | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1836 | December 31, 1890 | 54 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Jane Williams was born around 1837 and most likely enslaved. She married Isaac Williams and the couple had at least one child: Marie Williams. In 1800, she worked as a servant and lived at the corner of Foundry Street and Connecticut Street. At 54 years old, she died from unknown causes on January 13, 1891. |
| Washington | Hector | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1946 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Mrs. Hector Mary Washington, who resided in Atlanta, died from unknown causes in January 1947. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
| 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. |
| Holmes | Mattie | Female | African American | Free | Child | December 31, 1920 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. | ||||
| Boyd | Rosa | Female | African American | Free | Wife | December 31, 1871 | December 31, 1915 | 44 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Rosa S. Boyd was born on July 1872 in Florida. In 1883, she married Willie Boyd, a shoemaker, and was either the mother or step-mother of at least eight children: Barlien, Rosa, Willie, Lucy, Racheal, Lydia, Thelma, and Constance. In 1900 and 1910, the family owned a house at 307 Pope Street. According to the 1915 City Directory, he worked as shoemaker and they lived at 437 Pope Street. She died from unknown causes in 1916 and was 44 years old around at the time of her death. |
| Freeman | Julia | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1963 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary Julia A. Freeman, who resided at 237 North Church Street, died from unknown causes in June 1964. She was married to Edward M. Freeman. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
| Burnes | Mamie | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1926 | 37 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. |
| 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. | ||
| Johnson | Ethal | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1975 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Ethel Johnson, who resided at 151 Lyndon Avenue, died from unknown causes in August 1976. She was married to James Johnson and they had at least one child, Blanche Johnson Jones. The funeral was handled by Hurley’s Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
| Harris | Mary | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Scott | Jane | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1924 | 98 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. |
| Watson | Victoria | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1973 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Victoria Watson, who resided at 175 Glenhaven Avenue, died from unknown causes in October 1974. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
| 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. | |||
| Houston | Florence | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1920 | 21 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Smith | Georgia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1940 | 79 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Georgia Smith was born around 1862 and most likely enslaved as a child. Sometime before 1910, she was married and widowed. She worked as seamstress in a Shirt Factory in 1910 and a laundress in 1920. In 1940, she lived alone at 420 Athens Avenue. At 79 years old, she died from unknown causes on January 1, 1941. |
| Thomas | Laura | Female | African American | Free | Farmer | December 31, 1870 | December 31, 1923 | 52 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
| Carter | Lillie | Female | African American | Free | Housewife | December 31, 1919 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Nesbitt | Sibyl | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1918 | December 31, 1921 | 2 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Lay | Hattie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1899 | December 31, 1965 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Hattie Christopher Lay was born on October 4, 1900 and died from unknown causes on May 3, 1966. | |
| Lumpkin | Rosa | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1918 | 52 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Tripp | Genie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1898 | December 31, 1913 | 25 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Carry Pope, Genie E. Tripp was born on July 9, 1889. In 1900, she lived with her grandmother (Laura Gullins) and, even though a child, she worked as a nurse. In 1910, she lived with her mother and step-father (Harry Pope) at 163 Third Street. In 1910, she worked as a ironer at the laundry. She died from unknown causes on December 18, 1914. |
| Gant | Ellen | Female | African American | Enslaved | Farmer | December 31, 1919 | 110 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Harris | Maggie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1909 | 12 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Ledie and Robert Harris, Maggie L. Harris was born around August 9,1897. As a child, in 1910, she attended school lived with her father and siblings on Flint Street. She died from unknown causes on June 26, 1910. | |
| Poynter | Eddie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1897 | December 31, 1953 | 56 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, Eddie Mae Crowder Poynter was born on January 5, 1898. According to the 1952 City Directory, he lived with Thomas Poynter (most likely her husband) at 115 Trail Creek Street. She died from unknown causes on March 10, 1954. | |
| Scott | Magnolia | Female | African American | Free | Student | December 31, 1921 | 17 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| McCray | Laura | Female | African American | Enslaved | Baker | December 31, 1817 | December 31, 1912 | 95 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Dolly Billops, Laura McCray was born on June 7, 1818 and enslaved for much of her live. While a slave, she received a letter in 1841. In 1870, she was “keeping house” in Athens. In 1880, she worked at “Confectionery Baking” and lived on Prince Avenue. According to the 1897 City Directory, she worked at a cake shop and lived at 819 Prince Avenue. In 1910, she lived on Prince Avenue and worked as a baker. Indeed, she was famous for her cakes. She died from unknown causes on December 5, 1913. |
| [??] | Mattie | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Wilson | Annie | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Annie Wilson died sometime in April. | ||||
| Whitield | Mittie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1961 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Mittie Whitfield, who resided at 495 Reese Street, died from unknown causes in December 1962. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
| Davis | Minnie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Teacher | December 31, 1858 | December 31, 1939 | 80 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Aggie Crawford and James Young, Minnie Davis was born on December 13, 1859 near Penfield, Georgia. Enslaved to John Crawford, Davis spent her childhood in Athens, Georgia. Denied a formal education in slavery, Davis took full advantage of freedom’s offerings. She enrolled at Knox Institution, a school for black children that had been established by the Freedmen’s Bureau in the spring of 1868. She then graduated from Atlanta University before returning to Athens to teach school for over forty years. Her husband, Samuel B. Davis, published the Athens Clipper, a newspaper catering to Athens's emerging black, middle-class community. After his death, she ran the newspaper for a few years, before selling it. She died as a result of a dislocated hip on February 13, 1940. |
| Thomas | Margret | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1919 | 80 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Boyd | Mirtie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Seamstress | December 31, 1843 | December 31, 1894 | 51 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mirtie or Minta Boyd (spelling varies) was born on June 9, 1844 and most likely enslaved as a young woman. According to the 1881 City Directory, she worked as a seamstress and lived at 1019 W Hancock Avenue. At 51 years old, she died on September 18, 1895. |
| Griggs | Mary | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1966 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Mother Mary Thomas, who resided at 541 Irene St NE in Atlanta, died from unknown causes in September 1967. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
| Hawkins | Lucy | Female | African American | Free | Homemaker | December 31, 1871 | December 31, 1921 | 50 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lucy M. Hawkins was born in October 1872. She married David Hawkins, a plasterer, in 1886 and the couple had three children: Peter, Lurean, and Harry. According to the July 21, 1899 edition of The Weekly Banner, she “was . . . called before the mayor. She was changed with scrapping and general disorderly conduct. Not being able to prove her innocence she was fined $2.90.” In 1900, she lived with her husband and children at 732 Oconee Street. According to the 1921 City Directory, she lived at 924 Oconee Street. She died from unknown causes in 1922. |
| Nesbrit | Hellen | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1919 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Lungkins | Elnora | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1912 | December 31, 1921 | 10 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| [Campbell?] | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Known as "Mother" on her tombstone, she most likely a member of the Campbell family. | |||||
| [Hunter?] | Annie | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Garfield | Carrie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housewife | December 31, 1924 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Harris | Millie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1894 | December 31, 1911 | 17 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Millie Harris was born around 1895. According to the 1909 City Directory, she worked as a laundress and lived at 197 Bridge Street. She died from unkonow causes on September 16, 1912. |
| Ray | Lizzie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1902 | December 31, 1903 | 1 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Lizzie May Ray was born on July 7, 1903 and died on September 8, 1904. The infant was 1 year 2 months old when she died. | |
| Shanks | Armina | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1924 | 31 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Winkfield | Ellen | Female | African American | Free | Seamstress | December 31, 1868 | December 31, 1956 | 88 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ellen Winkfield (or Wingfield) was born around 1869. She married William Wingfield and the couple had at least three children: Walter, Callie, and Hattie. In 1910 and 1920, the family lived on Bridge Street and she worked as a dressmaker. According to the 1954 City Directory, she lived at 229 Bridge Street. She died from unknown causes on November 2, 1957. |
| Wilcox | Dora | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1970 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Dora Sapp Wilcox, who resided at 550 W Hancock Avenue, died from unknown causes in February 1974. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
| Smith | Priscilla | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1889 | December 31, 1962 | 73 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Jane and Bedny Smith, Priscilla Smith was born around 1890. In 1900, she lived with her parents at 1112 Billups Street and attended school. She appears to have married and been widowed young. She worked as a cook in 1910, a nurse in 1930, and a maid in 1940. According to the 1958 City Directory, she worked as a maid and lived at 1160 W Hancock Avenue. At 73 years old, she died from unknown causes on January 28, 1963. |
| Hawkins | Katie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1854 | December 31, 1937 | 85 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Katie B. Hawkins was born around 1853 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1880, she worked as a servant and was married to Perry F. Hawkins, a blaster. The couple had at least five children: Julia, Fred, Will, Robert, and Clifford. As a wife and mother, she no longer worked in 1900 and the family lived at 320 Pearl Street. In 1928, she worked as a cook and was widowed at some point in the early 1900s. For two and a half years she was ill with chronic interstitial nephritis, and she died from cerebral apoplexy on September 9, 1938. At the time of her death, she was domestic and living at 147 Pearl Street (or 143 Pearl Street, According to the 1909 City Directory). |
| Foster | Emma | Female | African American | Enslaved | Wife | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1948 | 88 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Eliza and George Shropshire, Emma Shropshire Foster was born on May 20, 1860 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1870, she lived with her parents and attended school in Athens. She married Robert Foster and, in 1880, she was “keeping house.” The couple had six children, including William, Robert, and John. In 1920, as a widow, she lived “South Athens Town Athens to Whitehall Road Runing South East.” By 1930, her address was listed as “Milledge Extension.” In 1940, she lived at 195 Milledge Avenue. She died from unknown causes on January 6, 1949. |
| Newsome | Susie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1860 | December 31, 1926 | 66 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
| Turner | Frances | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1892 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Frances Truner was born around 1893. She married Luther Turner and the couple had at least seven children: John, Dorthey, Walter, Fannis, Charles, Joseph, and Crawford. In 1920, the couple lived on Water Street. In 1940, they lived at 970 Hobson Street and she worked as a laundress. She died from unknown causes on an unknown date. | ||
| Gleen | Albirdie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1919 | 5 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
| Reed | Julia | Female | African American | Free | Teacher | December 31, 1879 | December 31, 1960 | 81 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Julia W. Reed was born around 1880. According to the 1931 City Directory, she was the principal at West Broad Street School and lived at 669 Madison Avenue. She remained at that address in 1940 and worked as teacher. According to the 1958 City Directory, she lived at 147 North Avenue. At 81 years old, she died from unknown causes on July 19, 1961. |
| McCree | Nettie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1864 | December 31, 1939 | 75 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Nettie McCree was born around 1865. She married Ed McCree, a city street laborer, and the couple had at least one child: Maggie. In 1910, she worked as a laundress and rented a home at Green Street. According to the 1938 City Directory, the coupled lived at 543 Reese Street. At 75 years old, she died from unknown causes on May 7, 1940. |
| Adams | Mentie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Wife | December 31, 1854 | December 31, 1902 | 46 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mentie Adams was born around 1855 and most likely enslaved as a child. Even so, according to the 1900 Census, she could both read and write. In 1875, she married John H. Adams, who worked as a “Presser” in Athens. The couple had five children, but only four—John, William, Mentie, and David—lived to adulthood. In 1900, the family lived at 272 Attica Avenue. Adams died from unknown causes on March 31, 1903. She was 46yrs, 7mons, 11 days old. According to the 1904 City Directory—published only a year after her death—John Adams lived at 1020 W Hancock Avenue; this is most likely her last known address. |
| Woods | Lizzie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1977 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Lizzie Beth Woods, who resided at 200 Washington Drive, died from unknown causes on July 9, 1978. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
| Deadwyler | Mattie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1851 | December 31, 1938 | 86 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mattie Deadwyler was born around 1852 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1870, she worked as a domestic servant and lived in Elbert, Georgia. She moved to Athens sometime before 1900, and, at that time, lived with her two daughters (Mary and Martha) and a granddaughter (Gertrude) at 410 Reese Street. According to the 1900, 1910, 1920 Census, she worked as a cook. In 1930, she no longer worked and lived at 600 W Broad Street. She remained at this address, according to the 1938 City Directory. She died from unknown causes on January 4, 1939. |
| Deadwyler | Mary | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1892 | December 31, 1962 | 69 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Mattie Deadwyler, Mary Deadwyler was born in 1893. In 1900, she lived with her mother, sister (Martha), and a niece (Gertrude) at 410 Reese Street. She worked as a house maid in 1900, a maid at a hotel in 1910 and as a cook in 1920 and 1930. In 1930, she was a widow living with her mother, sister, and brother-in-law at 600 W Broad Street. According to the 1958 City Directory, she lived at 817 Waddell Street. She died from unknown causes on February 12, 1963. |
| Johnson | Dora | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1874 | December 31, 1956 | 82 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Dora Mack Johnson was born on May 3, 1875. According to the 1952 City Directory, she worked as a domestic and lived at 220 N Harris Street. At 82 years old, she died from unknown causes on July 5, 1957. |
