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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shenault | Carrie | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1919 | 53 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Jones | Sallie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1884 | 25 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Jennie and Levi Jones, Sallie Jones was born around 1860 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1870, she lived in Watkinsville with her parents. She married Robert Jones, a laborer. In 1880, she worked as a “washer & ironer” and lived with her husband at 377 River Street. She died from unknown causes on July 25, 1885. |
| Oglesby | Lula | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1952 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Lula Oglesby was born in Georgia in 1888. She attended school until 7th grade. She married Robert Oglesby and had at least five children: Sandford, Robert, Carrie, Beatrice, and Lenard. She worked as a laundress in both 1930 and 1940. She was widowed prior to 1930, but the exact date of her husband’s death is unknown. She died in 1953 from unknown causes. [Researched and written by Savannah Jane Williams] | |||
| 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. |
| Harrison | Annie | Female | African American | Free | Housewife | December 31, 1926 | 43 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Bacon | Mary | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1848 | December 31, 1916 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Mary Bacon was born on October 17, 1849 and, given her date of birth, sge likely spent her childhood enslaved. According to the 1909 City Directory, she worked as a laundress and lived at 554 E Strong Street. at 68 years old, she died from uknown causes on November 27, 1917. She is most likely either the mother, sister, or wife of Edward Bacon, who was also buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. |
| Holbrook | Marion | Male | African American | Free | Post Office Clerk | December 31, 1879 | December 31, 1928 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Marion J. Holbrook was born on April 14, 1879 or 1880. He married Carrie Jones Holbrook and the couple had at least two children: Marion and Georgia. He worked various jobs in his early years; he was barber in 1900 and a laborer at “Odd Jobs” in 1910. He started working as a post office clerk in 1911, and remained at that position for the remainder of his life. He intentional shot himself and died from two gunshot wounds on May 6, 1929. At the time of his death, he had been living with his wife at 130 Harris Street. |
| 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. | |||
| Drake | Laura | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cake Embosser | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1904 | 43 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Laura L. T. Drake was born in May 1862 and was most likely enslaved as a child. In 1900, she was married and had four children: Franklin, Laura, Ruby, and Gipsy. She worked as a cake embosser and lived at 11 Billups Street. On May 24, 1905, she died from unknown causes; she was around 43 years old. |
| Varnell | Will | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1925 | 55 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Martin | Jessie | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1877 | December 31, 1923 | 45 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Jessie Martin was born around 1878. She worked as a domestic and died from apoplexy on December 17, 1924. At the time of her death, she was 50 years old and living at 1055 Prince Avenue. |
| Bayne | Annia | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1918 | 50 | 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 | La Fayette | Male | African American | Enslaved | Drayman | December 31, 1855 | December 31, 1920 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
| Brown | [Susie?] | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1883 | December 31, 1936 | 53 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Susian Mcintosh and Robert L. Jones, Susie C. Jones Brown was born around 1884 in Oconee County. She worked as laundress during the 1910s and 1920s. She married J. Wilson Brown, a grocery store merchant, and the couple had at least five children: Georgia, Mamie, Caleb, Lila, and Susie. After the death of her husband, she lived at 1353 W Hancock Avenue and worked as a domestic. At 53 years old, she died from apoplexy on December 13, 1937. |
| Owens | Emberly | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1924 | 99 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Jameson | Ella | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1909 | 29 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ella Underwood Jameson was born on July 4, 1881. In 1910, she worked as a cook and lived with her husband, Shoals Jamison, at 193 Pendley Street (193 Finley Street). At 29 years old, she died from unknown causes on June 30, 1910. |
| Greene | Ellen | Female | African American | Free | Teacher | December 31, 1892 | December 31, 1976 | 79 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ellen F. Greene was born around December 1, 1893. In 1910, she attended school and lived on Foundry Street. She graduated from college and moved to Nashville to take a deanship at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. After leaving Athens, she instructed Leo Barnett, an Athens-area resident known for performing cemetery maintenance, “to keep the family plot cleaned and maintained.” In 1977, Ellen died in Nashville. She was interred, in Athens, near her mother, Salemma, and two brothers: Marcus and Augustus, a Sergeant Major who had preceded her in death in 1941. |
| Morton | Charlie | Male | African American | Free | Soldier | December 31, 1894 | December 31, 1947 | 52 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Charlie L. Morton was born on November 17, 1895. At the start of the First World War, he lived at 784 Chase Street. He died from unknown causes on March 12, 1948. After his death, Mrs. Clara Morton applied for a military headstone on his behalf. She lived at 784 Chase Street, which was most likely his last known address as well. |
| 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. | |
| Derricott | Mariah | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1925 | 95 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. |
| Cole | William | Male | African American | Enslaved | Janitor | December 31, 1851 | December 31, 1931 | 80 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Betsey Derricotte and Lucius C. Cole, William Cole was born around 1852 and was most likely enslaved as a child. He worked various jobs, including day laborer (1870), farmer (1880), and janitor (1932). He married Mary Cole and, in 1900, the couple had two living children: Hansel Cole and another unnamed child. 80 year-old Cole died from [??] on September 30, 1932. At the time of his death, he lived at 186 John Street. |
| Shortey | Bobie | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1924 | 35 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Jones | Tena | Unknown | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1847 | December 31, 1887 | 40 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Tena Jones was born in 1848 and most likely enslaved as a child. This individual died from unknown causes on September 23, 1888. Madison Davis was the executor of the will. | |
| Peek | Sallie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1942 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Sallie Peek was born around 1885. She died from unknown causes in Fulton, Georgia on November 6, 1943. Her death was reported in the Atlanta Constitution, where it mentioned her funeral was to be held at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Atlanta on November 11, 1943, after which her remains would be taken to Athens for interment in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. Her obituary stated that she had many friends and family. [Researched and written by Roshni Hariharan] | |||
| 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. |
| Hawkins | Dave | Male | African American | Enslaved | Construction | December 31, 1919 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Bacon | Edward | Male | African American | Enslaved | Shoemaker | December 31, 1853 | December 31, 1905 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Minerva and Robert Bacon, Edward Bacon was born on December 25, 1854 and, given this date, most likely spent his childhood enslaved. He married Mary Bacon and the couple may or may not have had children. During the 1870s and 1880s, he worked as a shoemaker in Athens. According to the 1897-98 City Directory, he lived at 416 E. Strong Street and remained at this address in 1904 while working as a shoemaker. He died from unknown causes on December 13, 1906; he was 49 years old. |
| Lyons | Hannah | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1922 | 56 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Holsey | [??] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Holt | Caroline | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1838 | December 31, 1901 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Caroline Holt was born on December 2, 1839 and enslaved. In the 1880s, she worked as a cook for Mrs. Martha Wilson Lumpkin Compton, and was accused of possibly poisoning a member of this white family. The accusation was most likely false, but the lurid story appeared in the local news reports. She died from unknown causes on October 8, 1902. |
| 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. | |||
| Drake | Cornelius | Male | African American | Free | Insurance Agent | December 31, 1870 | December 31, 1945 | 74 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Cornelius Drake was born on November 25,1871. According to the 1904 City Directory, he worked as a janitor at the State Normal School and lived at 111 Billups Street. He married Virgie C. sometime between 1904 and 1942. According to the 1942 City Directory, he was an agent at the Pilgrim Health and Life Insurance Company and he lived at 986 Reese Street. At 74 years old, he died from unknown causes on October 17, 1946. |
| Wagner | George | Male | African American | Enslaved | Plasterer | December 31, 1918 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Martin | George | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1819 | December 31, 1880 | 61 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | George Martin was born around 1820 and most likely spend the majority of his life enslaved. He married Mary Martin and the couple had at least one child: Essen Martin. In 1880, he worked as a laborer and the family lived on an “unnamed street near River Street.” He died from unknown causes in 1881. According to the 1897 City Directory, his wife lived at 648 Odd Street, East Athens; this is most likely his last address as well. |
| Bayne | Richard | Male | African American | Enslaved | Farmer | December 31, 1920 | 75 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| [Tiller?] | William | Male | African American | Enslaved | Metal Worker | December 31, 1854 | December 31, 1935 | 81 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Eliza and Charles Tiller, William Tiller was born around 1855 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1880, he was married to Ella Teller and they lived with extended family on River Street. He worked in a “in a Gin Shop” in 1880, as a “Tinner” in 1910, 1920, and 1930. He died from cerebral apoplexy and chronic nephritis on November 9, 1936. According to his Death Certificate, he worked as a Sheet Metal Worker and lived at 190 Fifth Street. |
| Johnson | Will | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1924 | 54 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Brown | Grapell | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1933 | December 31, 1935 | 2 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Ola Mae and Caleb L. Brown, Grapell O. Brown was born in 1934. The family lived at 1353 W Hancock Avenue. She died from influenza on January 6, 1936, when she was just 2 years and 4 months old. | |
| Owens | Isibella | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1918 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Jarrell | Robet | Male | African American | Free | Driver | December 31, 1883 | December 31, 1959 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Robert Jarrell was born around 1883. In 1904, he married Mearly Taylor, who worked as “servant at Moss-Side, 497 Cobb Street, for forty-three years.” According to his First World War Draft Card, he worked as a driver and lived at 190 Cohen Street. According to the 1956 City Directory, he still lived at that address in 1956. At 77 years old, he died from unknown causes on May 13, 1960. |
| Greene | Augustus | Male | African American | Free | Soldier | December 31, 1894 | December 31, 1940 | 46 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Salemma Greene and brother of Ellen Greene, Augustus C. Greene was born on August 4, 1895. As a child, he lived with his grandmother, Harriett Stroud, at 508 Foundry Street. He attended school. He served as a Sergeant Major in the 11th Triangle Battalion during the First World War. He died from unknown causes on December 22, 1941. He was only 46 years old at the time of his death. |
| Morton | Chester | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1884 | December 31, 1884 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Chester Morton was born in March 1885 and died from unknown causes in July 1885. He was 4 or 5 months old at the time of his death. He is buried in the Morton plot in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery and most likely lived at 823 Prince Avenue with the other members of the Morton family. | ||
| Poyner | Thomas | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1895 | December 31, 1966 | 69 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Thomas Poyner was born on October 15, 1896 (or around 1898). From his residence in Tignall, Georgia, he served in the 342 Labor Battalion during the First World War. According to the 1952 City Directory, he lived with Eddie F. (most likely his wife) lived at 115 Trail Creek Street. He died from unknow causes on April 25, 1967. | |
| Dorsey | Crock | Male | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1923 | 80 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
| Willingham | Clifford | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1881 | December 31, 1930 | 48 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Anne and Oliver Willingham, Clifford Willingham was born on March 15, 1882. In 1900, he lived with his parents in Oglethorpe, Georgia and worked as farm laborer. He married Mamie Wellingham and, in 1910, the couple lived in Wilkes, Georgia. According to his First World War Draft Card, he lived at 337 Flint Street and worked as a “section hand” at the S.A.R. Railroad. They remained at that address in 1920 and he worked as a laborer at “Moss Maine Co.” In 1930, he worked as a “Coal Yard” laborer and lived with his family at 337 Flint Street. At 48 years old, he died from unknown causes on February 19, 1931. |
| Cole | Robt. | Male | African American | Free | Hackman | December 31, 1868 | December 31, 1915 | 46 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Robert C. Cole was born on December 18, 1869. He married Nona Cole and, in 1910, he worked on the Transfer Line as a hackman. According to the 1909 City Directory, he lived at 343 Hull Street, He died from unknown causes on December 10, 1916. |
| Simmons | Harett | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1921 | 95 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Jones | Georgia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Merchant | December 31, 1850 | December 31, 1921 | 71 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter Caroline Foster and Sam Thomas, Georgia Jones was born on February 7, 1849 (or 1851) and most likely spent her early life enslaved. She married John W. Jones, a cook, around 1881 and the couple had three living children. In 1900, they both worked as cooks and owned a house at 360 Broad Street. In 1910, she worked as a grocery store merchant and they rented a house at 563 Broad Street. After her husband’s death in 1917, she lived with her son-in-law (Marion Holbrook) at 522 Broad Street. Later in life she worked as a dressmaker. According to the 1920 City Directory, she lived at 522 Broad Street. She died from mitral regurgitation and nephritis on December 9, 1922. |
| Riley | Lillie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1972 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Mattie H. Hawkins, who resided at 650 W Hancock Avenue, died from unknown causes in December 1953. She had at least four, married daughters Mrs. Willie C. Erwin, Mrs. Otis E. Johnson, Mrs. William Cooks, and Mrs. Robert T. Owens. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
| Smith | D | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Hawkins | Julia | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1924 | 37 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Marcellus | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
| Lyons | John | Male | African American | Free | Mason | December 31, 1920 | 56 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Horton | Susie | Female | African American | Free | Teacher | December 31, 1884 | December 31, 1921 | 37 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Mary Lovinggood, Susie Lovinggood Horton was born around 1885. In 1910, she worked as a “nurse teacher.” She married William J. Horton, a mail carrier, and the couple had at least one child: Ora. In 1920, the family lived at 1327 W Hancock Avenue and she worked as a music teacher. According to the 1921 City Directory, the house address was 1337 W Hancock Street. She died from unknown causes in 1922. |
| Gilbert | Robert | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1952 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to his obituary, Robert Gilbert, who resided at 346 Bowie Street SW in Atlanta, died from unknown causes in January 1953. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked. | |||
| Drake | Franklin | Male | African American | Free | Business | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1914 | 24 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Laura and Cornelius Drake, Franklin B. Drake was born on October 24, 1892. In 1900, he lived in Athens and attended school. He graduated from Knox Institute and then worked “in business.” In 1910, he lived with his grandmother and parents at 853 Prince Avenue. He died from unknown causes on July 5, 1915. |
| Wales | Cassie | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1921 | 48 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. |
| Benford | Henry | Male | African American | Free | Fireman | December 31, 1922 | 49 | 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. |
| Johnson | William | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1919 | 26 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Brown | Malcolm | Male | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1858 | December 31, 1886 | 27 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Gabriella and George Brown, Malcolm Brown was born on March 1, 1859 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1870, he attended school. He died at 27 years old from unknown causes on January 9, 1887. | |
| Parrott | Henry | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1918 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Jarrell | Roxie | Female | African American | Free | Librarian | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1961 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Savanah and Jackson Jarrell, Roxie Jarrell was born around 1894 and, at the turn of the century, lived with her parents in Madison, Georgia. In 1910, she worked as a Farm Laborer and attended school. She lived with her brother and mother on a farm on Nowhere Road in 1920. According to the 1956 City Directory, she was the librarian at Athens Regional Library Dunbar Branch and she lived at 247 N Chase Street. The Dunbar Branch Library opened on August 16, 1942 in the Knox Institute building and was one of the few libraries in Georgia catering to African Americans. In 1957, the library moved into Athens High and Industrial Collection on Reese Street. Roxie Jarrell was the first library clerk and her salary was paid by the Works Progress Administration. She remained in this position into the late 1950s or early 1960s. At 68, years old she died from unknown causes on September 2, 1962. |
| Greene | Salemma | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1869 | December 31, 1948 | 79 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Salemma Greene was born sometime between 1870 and 1873. She may have married Iyah Stroud. In 1910, she was widowed and living with her mother-in-law, Harriett Stroud, and three children—Ellen, Augustus, and Marcus—at 634 Foundry Street. As a widow in 1940, she worked as a Personal Companion and owned a home at 380 Lyndon Avenue. She died from unknown causes on December 21, 1949. After her death, her daughter Ellen Greene, made sure “ the family plot [was] cleaned and maintained.” |
| Morton | Amanda | Female | African American | Enslaved | Baker | December 31, 1849 | December 31, 1884 | 35 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Amanda Morton was born between 1850 and 1853 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1880, she lived on Prince Avenue and worked “At Laura McCrays,” which was a bakery in town. She is buried in the Morton plot in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery and most likely lived at 823 Prince Avenue with the other members of the Morton family. |
| 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. | |
| Dunfoy | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1920 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |||
| Wilson | Annie | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Annie Wilson died sometime in April. | ||||
| Cole | Victoria | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1878 | December 31, 1960 | 82 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Victoria J. Cole was born in 1879. She married Lucius C. Cole, a university janitor, and worked as a laundress. In 1930, the couple lived at 169 Newton Street. According to the 1958 City Directory, she lived at 160 Hendrix Street. At 82 years old, she died from unknown causes on August 22, 1961. She was 82 years old. |
| Sloan | Lucinda | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1919 | 80 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Jones | Florence | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1930 | 37 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Elizabeth Flagg and Milledge A. Shaw, Florence Shaw Jones was born sometime between August 29, 1894 and 1897. She married Stepheny Jones, a laborer and school dish washer, and the couple owned a home at 138 Billups Street. She worked as a laundress during the 1920s and 1930s. She died from mitral regurgitation on January 22, 1931. At the time of her death, she worked as a domestic and lived at 138 Billups Street. |
| Sims | Mary | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1945 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Mary E. Sims was born around 1903. She married M.C. Sims Sr. In 1930, she worked as a laundress and lived on Fifth Street with her husband and their son Sam. The 1940 US Census lists her as a widow, employed as a cook and living on Hull Street with her sister, Sara Hill, and two of Hill’s grandchildren. At the time of her death Mary Sims lived at 853 West Weddell Street. At 43 years old, she died from unknown causes on October 18, 1946. [Researched and written by Ainsley Stephens] | |||
| 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. |
| Hawkins | Peter | Male | African American | Free | Construction | December 31, 1921 | 36 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Banks | Jessie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1912 | December 31, 1961 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Jessie Mae Banks was born in 1913 and died in 1962. She is not listed in the city directories during the 1950s, so her address remains unknown. | |
| Mack | Claudie | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1885 | December 31, 1924 | 41 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
| [Barker?] | [Sam?] | Male | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1846 | December 31, 1926 | 80 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Sam Barker was born, most likely enslaved, around 1847, and died on January 28, 1927. He was eighty years old at the time of his death. | |
| Mack | Cynthia | Female | African American | Unknown | Housework | December 31, 1921 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
| 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. | |
| 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. | |||
| Drake | Virgie | Female | African American | Free | Teacher | December 31, 1882 | December 31, 1957 | 74 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Virgie C. Drake was born on April 8, 1883. She graduated from Hampton Institute in 1903 and later worked as a teacher in Athens. She married Cornelius Drake and, in 1920 and 1940, the couple lived at 986 Reese Street. After his death, she still lived in the house, according to the 1956 City Directory. She died from unknown causes on July 6, 1958. |
| Walker | [??] | Female | African American | Free | Child | December 31, 1924 | December 31, 1924 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. |
| Bimett | Mary | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1921 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Tuggle | N. | Unknown | African American | Free | December 31, 1897 | December 31, 1966 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | N. Tuggle was born on February 25, 1898 and died from unknown causes on February 5, 1967. | |
| Jones | Callie | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1925 | 39 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Brunt | Wakefield | Male | African American | Free | Post Office | December 31, 1892 | December 31, 1926 | 33 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Wakefield C. Brunt was born around November 14, 1893 in Salisbury, North Carolina and lived at 660 Hancock Avenue in 1917. During the First World War, he served oversees as a private in the Company M, 304th Stevedore Regiment. He returned to Athens following the war and worked as postman. In 1922, he won a “friendly competition between the Athens [mail] carriers.” According to the 1923 City Directory, he most likely lived at 640 W Hancock Avenue. He died of unknown causes on February 1, 1927. |
| Patterson | Nellie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1922 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
| 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. |
| Grimes | Robert | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1951 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Robert Grimes was born around 1890. He served in the First World War and, at its onset, he lived at 285 Fairview Street. According to the 1952 City Directory, he worked as a yardman and lived with his wife (Mattie) at 148 Chase Street. He died from unknown causes in 1952. | ||
| 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.” |
| 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. | |
| Eberhart | Martha | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1918 | 33 | 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. |
| Cole | Mary | Female | African American | Unknown | Laundress | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1942 | 83 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mary Camilla Cole was born sometime between 1850 and 1870; it is unknown is she was born free or enslaved.. She married William Cole and gave birth to nine children. In 1910, only two of her children, Hansel Cole and an unnamed child, were living. In 1910, the family lived on John Street in Athens. According to the 1942 City Directory, she worked as a laundress and lived at 320 Cleveland Avenue. She died from unknown causes on February 15, 1943. |
| Smith | Betney | Male | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1922 | 71 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. |
