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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Walter | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Walter is believed to be buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. Little is known about his life. | |||||
Heard | Lizzie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1894 | December 31, 1957 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lizzie Dorsey Heard was born around December 25, 1880 or 1895 (according to the Death Index). She most likely married Hill Heard, a farmer, and, according to the 1926 City Directory, they lived at 275 Field [Rd? St? Av?]. She died from unknown causes July 31, 1958. She was around 63 years old. | |
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. | |
Bimett | Mary | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1921 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Shanks | Armina | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1924 | 31 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Lyles | Eugene | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1972 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Eugene Lyles was born around 1870. He married Mattie Owens Lyles and, in 1930, they lived at 147 Plum Street. He worked as a plasterer in both 1910 and 1930. According to the 1956 City Directory, he still lived at 147 Plum Street. According to his tombstone, he died on November 25, 1973. | ||
Stach Family | John | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Jones | Callie | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1925 | 39 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
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. |
Johnson | James | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1971 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to his obituary, James Johnson, who resided at 151 Lyndon Avenue, died from unknown causes in October 1972. He was married to Ethel Johnson and they had at least one child, Blanche Johnson Jones. The funeral was handled by Hurley’s Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked. | |||
Jackson | Cora | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1886 | December 31, 1887 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Cora Jackson was born on July 15, 1887 and died on February 7, 1888. The infant was only 7 months old at the time of her death. | ||
Nesbit | Ella | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1947 | 88 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ella Virginia Richardson Nesbit was born on August 23, 1860 and most likely enslaved as a child. She married John Nesbit on February 3, 1884 and the couple had six living children, including John, Fannie, Sarah, Julia, and Laura. As a widow in 1900, she worked as a laundress and lived with five of her children at 310 Pearl Street. She died from unknown causes on December 6, 1948. | |
Eberhart | Martha | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1918 | 33 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Thomas | Margret | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1919 | 80 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
McQueen | Carrie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1883 | December 31, 1883 | 1 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Carrie McQueen died in 1885; she was 1 year, 3 months, and 11 days old. She most likely was the infant daughter of Nettie and W. M. McQueen, who, according to the 1897 City Directory, lived at 630 Hull Street. She was the sibling of Mamie N. McQueen and William McQueen. | |
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 . |
W[??] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1931 | 50 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||
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. | |
Strickland | Willie | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1973 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | The son of Edward Strickland and Jennie (Wagner or Wagoner) Strickland, Willie Strickland was born in Athens, GA around 1898. He grew up on First Street, and after marrying Bertha Mae Harvey in 1937, the couple moved down the street to another residence on First Street. Throughout his life, Strickland had many different jobs including working in a saw mill according to the 1920 census, a cotton mill according to the 1930 census, and as a maid according to a 1931 Athens directory. During the Second World War, Strickland registered for the draft, but was not drafted into service, most likely because he was already married and 43 years old at the time. He died from unknown causes on April 6, 1974 in Athens, and was buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. [Researched and written by Casey Serrano] | |||
Newsome | Susie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1860 | December 31, 1926 | 66 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
Jones | Julius | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1907 | December 31, 1941 | 34 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Julius C. Jones was born in 1908 and died in 1942. | |
Reid | Beulah | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1884 | December 31, 1908 | 24 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Laura and Lorenza Reid, Beulah H. Reid was born on April 2, 1885. In 1900, she attended school and lived with her parents at 431 Bridge Street. She died from unknown causes on September 30, 1909. She was 24 years old. In 1897, her father lived at 431 Bridge Street; this is most likely her last known address. | |
Hayes | Annie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1921 | December 31, 1922 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
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. |
Bell | Andrew | Male | African American | Free | Reverend | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1958 | 58 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | The son of John J. Bell and Idea Bell, Andrew Bell was born on June 10, 1897 in Oglethorpe, Georgia. In 1910, the family lived on College Ave in Athens; Andrew did not attend school was unable to read or write at that time. Sometime before 1920, he married Mary B. Bell and moved to Atlanta, where he lived much of his adult life. He worked as a “Overseer” at the Country Club in 1920 and, according to his obituary, he was a “Reverend.” At 58 years old, he died from unknown causes on September 23, 1959 in Fulton County, GA. His funeral was held at the Dorsey Tabernacle Baptist Church in Athens on September 29, 1959. |
Heard | M. | Unknown | African American | Free | December 31, 1887 | December 31, 1888 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, this 7 month-old infant was born on October 12, 1888and died from unknown causes on May 14, 1889. | ||
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. | |
Binns | Elizzebeth | Female | African American | Free | Teacher | December 31, 1925 | 24 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Shaw | Henry | Male | African American | Free | Mason | December 31, 1922 | 36 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Lyles | Mattie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1880 | December 31, 1934 | 55 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Isabel Owens and Coloumbus Hardman, Mattie Owens Lyles was born on March 12, 1881. She married Eugene Lyles sometime before 1910. In 1910, she worked as a washer woman and, in 1930, she was a housewife. She died from diabetes mellitus and candidiasis disease on August 25, 1935. According to her Death Certificate, she was a housewife living at 147 Plum Street. |
Stephens | Oliver | Male | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1848 | December 31, 1879 | 31 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Oliver Stephens was born on August 21, 1849 and most likely enslaved. At 31 years old, he died on September 6, 1880. | |
Jones | John | Male | African American | Free | Drayman | December 31, 1919 | 40 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
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. |
Jackson | Alfred | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1821 | December 31, 1883 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Alfred Jackson was born around 1822 in Virginia and most likely spent most of his life enslaved. He married Louisa Jackson and the couple had at least six children: Camilla, Edward, Albin, Bettie, Mary, and Judy. He worked as a day laborer in 1870 and a white washer in 1880. He lived on River Street. He died from unknown causes on February 14, 1884. |
Nesbitt | Charlie | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1889 | December 31, 1889 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Charlie Nesbitt was born on January 8, 1890. At 9 months old, he died from unknown causes on October 22, 1890. He was most likely the infant of Ella and John Nesbit, who lived at 310 Pearl Street. | ||
Echols | Hiram | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1923 | 53 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Thomas | Matt | Male | African American | Enslaved | Driver | December 31, 1923 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
McQueen | Mamie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1881 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Mamie McQueen died in 1885. She most likely was the infant daughter of Nettie and W. M. McQueen, who, according to the 1897 City Directory, lived at 630 Hull Street. Hull Street. She was the sibling of CarrieMcQueen and William McQueen. | |||
Meriweather | Senie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1876 | December 31, 1905 | 29 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Maria and James Meriwether. Senie or Sena Meriwether was born on April 5, 1877. In 1880, she lived with her parents and siblings at 295 Thomas Street. According to the 1904 City Directory, she worked as a washerwoman and lived at 26 Rock Spring Street. At 29 years old, she died from unknown causes on April 8, 1906. |
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. |
Wade | John | Male | African American | Free | Grocer | December 31, 1886 | December 31, 1947 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Orange Wade, John Wade was born around 1887 (or on February 2, 1886). In 1910, he worked as a “Bartender” at the “Bear Saloon.” According to his First World War Draft Card, he worked as a market business man and lived on Washington Street. According to the 1947 City Directory, he worked at Wade’s Market and lived with his wife, Leona, at 872 W Broad Street. He died from unknown causes on May 28, 1948. |
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. |
Teasley | Annie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1983 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Annie S. Maxwell Teasley was born in 1917. At 67 years old, she died on November 13, 1984. At the time of her death, resided in Fulton County and, according to her obituary, had three sisters and a daughter. [Researched and written by Nicole Powell] | |||
Norman | John | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1923 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Jones | Ida | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1948 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ida Jones was born in 1889. In 1920, she lived with her husband, John Jones, a drayman, and their four children: William, Suise, Bernadett, and David. According to the 1942 City Directory, she lived at 425 Cleveland Avenue. At age 61, she died on June 29, 1949. | |
Roebuck | [??] | Male | African American | Free | Porter | December 31, 1899 | December 31, 1951 | 52 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Roger Roebuck was born on March 15, 1900. He married Katie Roebuck prior to 1918. According to his First World War Draft Card, he lived at 328 Atlanta Street and worked as a laborer. He worked as a laborer for a Fertilizer Company in 1920 and a porter in 1940. According to the 1952 City Directory, he worked as a deliveryman at Beussee's Flowers and he and his wife lived at 770 Bray Street. He died from unknown causes in 1952. |
Hayes | Magnola | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1922 | 18 | 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. |
Bell | Vino | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1889 | December 31, 1961 | 72 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Vino Bell was born around 1890. She married Dock Bell and the couple had at least four children: Willie, Susie, Daisy Lee, and Mary. In 1940, the family lived off Old Elberton Road in Bucks Branch. She died from unknown causes in 1962. According to her obituary, she lived at 473 Little Oak Street at the time of her death. Her funeral was held at Ebenezer Baptist Church. | |
Heard | J. | Unknown | African American | Free | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1893 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, J. T. Heard Jr. was born on July 31, 1894 and died August 30, 1894. It was the sibling of M. L. Heard. | ||
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. | |
Boland | Mary | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1922 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Shaw | Warren | Male | African American | Free | Presser | December 31, 1922 | 33 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Lyons | C.H.S. | Male | African American | Free | Academic | December 31, 1880 | December 31, 1954 | 74 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | C. H. S. (or C. M. S.) Lyons Sr. was born on July 25, 1881. He may have worked as a professor or teacher. According to the 1952 City Directory, he was president of the Union Baptist Institute (known Jeruel Academy) and lived at 427 Baxter Street. He died on June 26, 1955. |
Strickland | John | Male | African American | Free | Butcher | December 31, 1894 | December 31, 1918 | 24 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Jennie Wagner and Ed Strickland, John Strickland was born around 1895. In 1910, he lvied with his parents at 475 First Street and worked as a laborer in a cotton mill. During the First World War, he served in the 157 Depot Brigade at Camp Gordon. He died from pulmonary tuberculosis on April 22, 1919. According to his Death Certificate, he worked as a butcher and lived at 475 First Street. |
Jones | Louvenia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1919 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
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. | |
Jackson | Louisa | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1825 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Louisa Jackson was born around 1826 in Georgia and most likely spent most of her life enslaved. She married Alfred Jackson, a day laborer and white washer, and the couple had at least six children: Camilla, Edward, Albin, Bettie, Mary, and Judy. She worked as a washer and ironer in 1880 and lived on River Street. She died sometime after 1880. | ||
Newings | John | Male | African American | Free | Soldier | December 31, 1931 | December 31, 1955 | 24 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Mae Katie and Pierce Newing, John Evin Newings was born on July 19, 1932. In 1940, he lived with his parents in Bucks Branch Georgia. He served in the 360th Ord Ammo Company during the Koran War. He died from unknown causes on December 23, 1956. At the time of his death, he most likely lived at 355 Arch Street, which was the offical address of his father, Newings Pierce, in 1958. |
Ector | Benjiman | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1920 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
Thomas | Orrie | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1867 | December 31, 1923 | 56 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
Merriweather | W. | Unknown | African American | Free | December 31, 1912 | December 31, 1930 | 17 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, W. G. Merriweather was born on November 26, 1913 and died on July 20, 1931. This individual was only 17 years at the time of their death. | |
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. |
Walker | Joe | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1864 | December 31, 1926 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Joe Walker was born around 1865. He may have been arrested and jailed in Texas from 1883 to 1885. According to the 1924 City Directory, he worked as a laborer and lived with his wife, Mary, at 464 N Foundry Street. At 62 years old, he died from unknown causes on December 10, 1927. |
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. |
Teasley | Dottie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1973 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Dottie Susie Teasley, who resided at 275 Fourth Street, died from unknown causes in March 1974. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
Odoms | Corene | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1921 | 2 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
Jones | Robert | Male | African American | Free | Mason | December 31, 1876 | December 31, 1936 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Susan Harris and Robert Jones, Robert L. Jones was born on July 9, 1872 (or 1877). Around 1908, he married Effie Jones and the couple appears not to have had children. He worked as a brick mason in 1910 and as a “Tiel Setter” in 1930. He died from apoplexy on February 12,1937. According to his Death Certificate, he worked as a brick mason and lived at 167 Paris Street |
S[??] | Emma | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Haynes | Rachel | Female | African American | Free | Student | December 31, 1904 | December 31, 1920 | 15 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
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. | |
Bryant | Lillie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1894 | December 31, 1970 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Lillie Wade Bryant was born around 1895. She appears to have married. At 76 years old, she died from unknown causes on April 25, 1971. According to her obituary, she lived at 872 W Broad Street at the time of her death. | |
Heard | Mattie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Teacher | December 31, 1862 | December 31, 1942 | 78 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mattie I. Heard was born around 1863 and most likely enslaved. She married William Heard, a blacksmith, in 1897 and the couple does not appear to have had living children. She worked as a teacher in 1900, 1910, and 1920 At the time of her husband’s death in 1939, they lived at 475 Reese Street. She died from unknown causes on November 13, 1943. |
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. | |
Booke | Ben | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1926 | 50 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Shaw | Will | Male | African American | Free | Chauffer | December 31, 1926 | 38 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Lyons | Lottie | Female | African American | Free | Academic | December 31, 1911 | December 31, 1956 | 45 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The granddaughter of Charlotte and Edward Derricotte and the daughter of Ophelia M. and Charles Lyons, Lottie M. Lyons was born around 1912. In 1920, she lived with her parents at 427 Baxter Street. She was the Dean of Woman at Ft. Valley State College (now Fort Valley State University). She died from unknown causes on May 19, 1957. |
[Strickland?] | [??] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Jones | Margaret | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1920 | 87 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
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. | |
Jackson | Thomas | Male | African American | Free | Doctor | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1930 | 34 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Sweetie Poline and Thomas Nathaniel Jackson, Thomas N. Jackson was born on June 12, 1897. As a child in 1900, he lived on Barber Street with his family. He graduated from Knox Institute in 1915. At the start of the First World War, he lived at 133 Cleveland Avenue and worked as a grist mill operator. During the war, he was a student at the Army Training Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1930, he worked as a physician in Athens. He died from [??] on November 8, 1931. According to the Death Certificate, he worked as a physician and lived at 133 Cleveland Avenue. |
Newsome | Harry | Male | African American | Free | Porter | December 31, 1902 | December 31, 1954 | 52 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Harry C. Newsome was born on September 3, 1903 in Monroe, Georgia. He most likely married Bessie Newsome and, in 1942, they lived at 153 Lyndon Avenue. He worked for Krowe & Knowles, a local furniture store. According to the 1952 City Directory, he worked as porter for "Patrick's Pharm" and lived at 153 Lyndon Avenue. At 52 years old, he died from unknown causes on July 30, 1955. |
Ector | Carrie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1918 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
Thomas | Palace | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1924 | 71 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Tompkins | Corine | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1922 | 24 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Mi[??] | Mamie | Female | African American | Unknown | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Mamie Mi[??] died on October 31, [19??]. She was 70 years old at the time of her death. | |||
Blont | [J or G?] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1942 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||
Walker | Lizzie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1873 | December 31, 1941 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lizzie Walker was born on April 7, 1874. She appears to have gotten into an altercation with a neighbor in 1914. According to the 1924 City Directory, she worked as a laundress and lived at 220 Atlanta Avenue. In 1940 and 1942, Lizzie lived with Jason Walker, a laborer, and they lived at 259 N Chase Street. At 68 years old, she died from unknown causes on April 16, 1942. |
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. |
Terrell | Charles | Male | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1933 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Charles Terrell Jr. was born around 1916. His parents, Charles Terrell and Julia Stuts, were both Athens natives. His father, “Chas” Terrell was noted to be a carpenter before his son was born, being listed along with his wife Julia in a 1912 Athens, GA directory living at 347 First Street. In the 1931 directory, however, “Chas” Terrell is said to be a cook, living on 389 Meigs St. On October 6, 1934, Terrell Jr.’s life was cut short after passing away at a tender age of 18 while he was still a schoolboy. The place of death is recorded to be 376 Odd Street. The cause of death was noted to be an acute dilatation of the heart, or nowadays known as dilated cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle), with contributary causes of importance being listed as fever and overexertion. He was buried five days later in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery on October 11, 1934 with his family in attendance. [Researched and written by Bita Jadali] | |||
Osborne | Anna | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1919 | December 31, 1919 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Jones | Arthur | Male | African American | Free | Waiter | December 31, 1907 | December 31, 1927 | 19 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Mamie Howell Jones and Brown Jones, Arthur B. Jones was born on May 12, 1908. In 1910, he lived with his parents in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He, then, lived in Fulton, Georgia with his grandparents in 1920. In 1940, his parents lived at 1063 W Hancock Avenue; this may be his last known address as well. He died from myocelitis on February 8, 1928. According to his Death Certificate, he worked as a waiter and was living in Athens, Georgia. |
Samuels | Flora | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1915 | December 31, 1936 | 21 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, Flora Samuels was born around 1916. She married Samuels Buster, a helper at the Cherokee Service Station, and the couple lived at 288 Second Street in 1935. and At only 21 years old, she died from unknown causes around 1937. | |
Hearel | Eddie | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1922 | 37 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
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. |
Bugg | Edd | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1953 | December 31, 1986 | 32 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Edd W. Bugg was born around 1954. He attended Clarke Junior High School and his photo appears in the 1970 Yearbook. At 32 years old, he died from unknown causes on March 7, 1987. His funeral was held at Springfield Baptist Church. | |
Heath | Lula | Female | African American | Free | Boarding House | December 31, 1873 | December 31, 1912 | 39 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lula Shaw Heath was born sometime between 1874 and 1878. In 1910, she ran a boarding house and lived with her husband, Charley Heath, their child, Charley, and two borders at 317 Chase Street. She died from unknown causes on September 15, 1913. |
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. | |
Booth | Richard | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1920 | 38 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Shenault | Carrie | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1919 | 53 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |