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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | W. | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Sanders | Richard | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1901 | December 31, 1944 | 42 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Richard Sanders was born on December 26, 1902. According to the 1916 City Directory, he worked as a "wks [at] Costa's" and lived at 240 Newton Street. In 1917, he worked as a porter and lived at 241 Newton Street. He served in the stationed at 327 Service Battalion and was stationed at Camp Gordon during the First World War. In 1940, he worked as a butler and lived in the rear of 724 Prince Avenue. He died from unknown causes on September 25, 1945. | |
| Marcellus | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
| Jackson | Samuel | Male | African American | Free | Dentist | December 31, 1905 | December 31, 1945 | 40 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Sweetie Poulain Jackson and Thomas Nathaniel Jackson, Samuel S. Jackson was born in 1906. In 1910, he lived with his parents and siblings at 133 Cleveland Avenue. In 1920, he attended school in Athens. While still living with his parents in 1930, he now worked as a dentist. On December 29, 1934, he married Mayme L. Sapp, but is listed as “single” in the 1940 Census. At that time, he worked as a dentist and lived with his brother, Albon Louis Jackson, at 133 Cleveland Avenue. He died from unknown causes on April 21, 1941. |
| 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. |
| Minniefield | Henry | Male | African American | Free | Porter | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1937 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Ella Lee and John Minniefield, Henry L. Minniefield was born around 1889. In 1930, he worked as a porter at a pool room and was married Effie L. Minnifield, a seamstress. At 49 years old, he died from bulbar paralysis on April 2, 1938. He worked as porter and lived at 346 Reese Street at the time of his death. |
| Stryckland | [??] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1931 | 42 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | At 42 years old, [??] Stryckland died on November 20, 1932. | ||
| 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. | |
| Jones | Vinnie | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1824 | December 31, 1886 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Vinnie Jones was born around December 25, 1825 and most likely spent her early life enslaved. She married Willis A. Jones, a carpenter and reverend, and, in 1880, the couple lived on Broad Street. She died from unknown causes on November 7, 1887. | |
| Owens | Isabella | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1853 | December 31, 1918 | 64 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Rhodes and Tom Owens, Isabella Owens was born around 1854 and most likely enslaved. In 1894, she was jailed for receiving stolen goods. In 1900, she was a widow with three children: Pearl, Susie, and Alphonso. She worked as a day laborer. She died from cystitis nephritis and uremia on November 8, 1919. At the time of her death she was around 64 years old, worked as a wash woman, and lived at 147 Plum Street. |
| 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.” |
| White | Anna | Female | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1913 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Anna E. White died on October 24, 1914. | |||
| Hill | Whitman | Male | African American | Free | Janitor | December 31, 1882 | December 31, 1960 | 78 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Whitman Hill was born on September 17, 1883. In 1949, he worked as a janitor and lived with his wife, Sara H., at 157 Church Street, According to the 1958 City Directory, he still lived at 157 Church Street. He died on October 1, 1961. He may have worked as a reverend; this title is listed on his tombstone. |
| 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. |
| Mack | Albert | Male | African American | Free | Student | December 31, 1890 | December 31, 1907 | 17 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Jennie Mack, Albert Mack was born on January 13, 1891. He attended school in 1900 and lived with his mother, a widowed laundress, at 19 Sapalo Street. At 17 years old, he died from unknown causes on April 3, 1908. |
| Sanders-McGee | Sarah | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1873 | December 31, 1933 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Lou McCree, Sarah Sanders McGee (or McCree) was born around 1874. In 1880, she lived with her mother and siblings on Throne Street. She most likely married William Sanders and, in 1910, lived at 370 Hull Street. | |
| 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. | |
| Jackson | Thomas | Male | African American | Free | Miller | December 31, 1869 | December 31, 1942 | 73 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Thomas N. Jackson was born on March 22, 1870. He married Sweetie Poulain and the couple had at least seven children: Farris, Thomas, Burnett, Babe, Samuel, and Lloyd. He worked as a drayman in 1900. In 1910, Jackson worked as a miller and the family rented a house on Cleveland Avenue. According to 1931 City Directory, he worked as a miller and the couple lived at 133 Cleveland Avenue. At 73 years old, he died from unknown causes on August 31, 1943. |
| 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. |
| Moore | Agnes | Female | African American | Free | Student | December 31, 1910 | December 31, 1927 | 17 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Lola and Fenrie Moore, Agnes Moore was born on June 7, 1911. In 1920, she attended school and lived with her parents at 280 Athens Avenue. Hermother still liked at that address in 1928 and she most likely lived there as well. At 17 years old, she died peritonitis on March 24, 1928. |
| Taylor | Ida | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1898 | December 31, 1959 | 61 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ida M. Taylor was born around 1899. In 1920, she was married to S. D. Taylor and the couple lived at the corner of Athens and Lula Road. In 1920, she was apparently shot during an altercation at the Morton Theatre. According to the newspaper report, she had been with a man who was not her husband when the shooting occurred. She recovered from the minor flesh wound. In 1930, she lived alone in Patrick Alley and worked as a hotel cook. In 1940, she worked as a cook and lived at 360 Madison Avenue. According to the 1958 City Directory, she worked as a maid The Webb-Crawford Company and lived at 634 N Foundry Street. She died from unknown causes on March 25, 1960. |
| 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. | |
| Jones | Willis | Male | African American | Enslaved | Carpenter | December 31, 1813 | December 31, 1912 | 99 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Willis A. Jones was born around February 28, 1814 and most likely spent his early life enslaved. He married Vinnie Jones and, in 1880, the couple lived on Broad Street. He worked as a carpenter in 1880, but is referred to as “Reverend” on his tombstone. According to the 1897 City Directory, he worked as a Carpenter and lived at 31 S Poplar Street. He died from unknown causes on March 3, 1913. |
| Owens | Pearl | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1884 | December 31, 1918 | 34 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Isabelle Owens, Pearl Owens was born around March 25, 1885. In 1900, she worked as a day laborer and, in 1910, she was a waste picker at the cotton mill. She was arrested with her mother, sister, and two other women for “creating a disturbance” in 1915. She lived at 228 Cleveland Avenue in 1910 and obtained a piece of property on Flynt Street in 1915. According to the 1916 City Directory, she worked as a cook and lived at 228 Cleveland Avenue. She died from unknown causes on January 10, 1919. |
| 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. | ||
| Whitehead | Carrie | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1878 | December 31, 1927 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Carried A. Whitehead was born on March 2, 1879. In 1910, she was divorced and worked as a laborer. She married Reese Brown on November 25, 1917. According to the 1923 City Directory, she lived with her husband at 151 Strickland Street. She died from unknown causes on November 27, 1928. |
| Hill | Valetta | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1878 | December 31, 1954 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Rosa and Robert Smith, Valetta Smith Hill was born on January 2, 1879. In 1880, she lived with her parents in Athens, Georgia. In 1900, she was married, but still lived with her mother and siblings at 851 Cherry Lane. She died from unknown causes on April 12, 1955. | |
| 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. |
| Mack | Abram | Male | African American | Free | Student | December 31, 1886 | December 31, 1906 | 20 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Charlotte and John Mac, Abram T. Mack was born in 1887. He attended school in 1900 and lived with his parents at 915 Reese Street. At 20 years old, he died from unknown causes in 1907. According to the 1913 City Directory, the family lived at 853 Reese Street; this is most likely his last known address. |
| Scott | Samuel | Male | African American | Enslaved | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Samuel S. Scott died in 1862; he was most likely enslaved. His body was most likely moved to Gospel Pilgrim sometime after 1882 when the cemetery opened. | ||||
| [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. | |
| Jackson | Farris | Male | African American | Free | Doctor | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1933 | 39 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Sweetie Poulain Jackson and Thomas Nathaniel Jackson, Farris L. Jackson was born on September 30, 1894. In 1900, he lived with his parents and siblings at 456 Barber Street. In 1910, he attended school and lived at 133 Cleveland Avenue. At the start of the First World War, he worked as a physician in town and was exempted from the draft as a result. In 1930, he lived with his wife, Ruby, at 526 Hancock Avenue. He died from unknown causes on March 26, 1934. |
| 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. |
| Moore | Winnie | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1878 | December 31, 1935 | 57 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Ann and Ben King, Winnie King Moore was born around 1879. She married Augustus Moore, a lunmber yard worker, and the couple had at least one living child: Cassie. In 1920, she did not work and lived her husband on Cleveland Avenue. She died from [chronic interstitial nephritis?], paralysis, and hypertension on December 3, 1936. At the time of her death, she worked as a domestic and lived at 199 Cleveland Avenue. |
| Terrell | Annie | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1931 | 37 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Charles and Lucy Shaw, Annie Terrell was born in 1894. She married Kino Terrell and, in 1910, they lived at 427 First Street. She died from acute myocarditis on October 30, 1932. According to her Death Index, she lived at 426 First Street and worked as a domestic. |
| 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. |
| Bryant | Lillie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1970 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Lillie Bryant died from unknown causes in 1971. | |||
| Jones | Louvenia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1851 | December 31, 1921 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Louvenia Jones was born on March 20, 1852 and most likely enslaved as a child. At some point in her life, she married and had seven children; only five were living in 1900. That same year, she lived with her daughter (Emma Mills) and son-in-law (George Mills) on Franklin Street. According to the 1917 City Directory, she lived at 187 Poplar Street. She died from unknown causes on September 14, 1922. |
| Owens | Jesse | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1929 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Jesse Owens served as a private in the 403 Labor Battalion during the First World War. In 1926, he worked as a laborer and lived on Water Street. He most likely married Flora Owens, who lived at 240 Newton Street. According to the 1928 City Directory, the couple lived at 2402 Newton Street and he worked as a laborer. He died from unknown causes on August 23, 1930. | ||
| H[??] | Olivia | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Whitelock | Martha | Female | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1896 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Martha Whitelock died from unknown causes in 1897. She may have been the wife of John Whitelock (or Whittlock), who worked as a laborer and lived at 805 Athens Avenue, according to the 1894 City Directory. | |||
| Hill | [??] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1923 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, [??] W. Hill died from unknown causes in 1924. | |||
| Cole | John | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1924 | December 31, 1924 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Neomie Cole gave birth to a stillborn infant, John Cole, on May 2, 1925. His mother, Nonie, worked as a farm laborer and lived at 349 Hull Street in 1921. According to the Death Index, the infant died at 186 John Street. | |
| Mack | Mattie | Female | African American | Free | Student | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1913 | 25 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Charlotte and John Mack, Mattie B. Mack was born in 1889. She attended school in 1900 and lived with her parents at 915 Reese Street. According to the 1913 City Directory, she lived at 853 Reese Street. At 25 years old, she died from unknown causes in 1914. |
| Scruggs | Viola | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1885 | December 31, 1925 | 30 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Viola Scruggs was born on June 15, 1886. She married Ellie Scruggs, a railroad fireman. In 1910, she worked as cook and lived with her husband and sister on Pearl Street. In 1926, she lived at 447 Third Street. At 30 years old, she died from unknown causes on December 5, 1926. |
| Barksdale | Andrew | Male | African American | Free | Waiter | December 31, 1890 | December 31, 1932 | 42 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Janie and Charlie Barksdale, Andrew Daniel Barksdale was born in November 1891 or 1892. As an 8 year-old child, he lived on Chase Street with his parents. In 1917, he lived in Lynwood Park in Clarke County, Georgia. He worked as a waiter before he was drafted into the army in 1918 and sent to Camp Funston in Fort Riley, Kansas. He died from unknown causes on June 17, 1933. After his death, Nancy Jane Timmons—who lived at 232 Gleen Avenue—applied for a military headstone for the grave. |
| Jackson | [L.?] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Derricotte | Ophelia | Female | African American | Free | Teacher | December 31, 1881 | December 31, 1931 | 50 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Charlotte L. Derricotte and Edward J. Derricotte, Ophelia Marie Derricotte Lyons was born on September 9, 1882. In 1900, she attended lived with her parents on Chase Street. According to Arthur Bunyan Caldwell’s Georgia, she married Charles Henry Spurgeon Lyons on September 8, 1909, and “she was educated at Athens and at Boston, and assists her husband in his work. Of the children born to them, two are living. They are Lottie Margaret and Charles Henry Spurgeon Lyons, Jr.” In 1920, she worked as a teacher in Athens. She died from cardiovascular renal disease on November 6, 1932. According to her Death Certificate, she worked as a teacher and lived at 427 Baxter Street. |
| Morgan | Elizabeth | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1901 | December 31, 1963 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Elizabeth Morgan was born between 1902 and 1904. According to the 1958 City Directory, she worked as a cook at "Co-Ed Restr" and lived at 1347 W Broad Street. At that times, she was a single householder and unmarried or widowed. She died from unknown causes on August 25, 1964. |
| Terrell | Burnett | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1913 | December 31, 1943 | 30 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Burnett Terrell was born on August 2, 1914. He died from unknown causes on November 8, 1944. | |
| Brydie | Edward | Male | African American | Free | Insurance Agent | December 31, 1885 | December 31, 1914 | 28 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Camilla and Eugene W. Brydie, Edward W. Brydie was born on December 26, 1886. In 1900, he attended school. By 1910, he was working as an insurance agent in Athens and still living with his parents at 101 Finley Street. He died from unknown causes on August 12, 1915. |
| Jones | W. | Unknown | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1854 | December 31, 1905 | 51 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, W. A. Jones was born on April 11, 1855 and most likely enslaved. This individual died on November 5, 1905. | |
| Payne | Stella | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1906 | December 31, 1907 | 1 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Stella Grace Payne was born on January 11, 1907 and died from unknown causes on July 18, 1908. She was 1 year and 6 months old at the time of death. | |
| H. | H. | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Whitfield | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
| Hiram | Hary | Male | African American | Unknown | Farmer | December 31, 1927 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Harry Hiram most likely lived at 164 Herring Street and worked as a farmer in 1912. According to his tombstone, he died from unknown causes on October 30, 1928. | ||
| Coleman | Willie | Female | African American | Free | Student | December 31, 1914 | December 31, 1930 | 16 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Julia Coleman and D.K., Willie Mae Coleman was born around 1915. She attended school in Athens and lived at 258 Chase Street. She died from pulmonary tuberculosis on May 10, 1931. She was only 16 years old at the time of her death. |
| Mack | Charlotte | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1932 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Charlotte H. Mack was born in 1862 and most likely enslaved as a child. She married John R. Mack, a post office clerk, in 1882 and the couple had at least eight children: Annie, Abram, Mattie, Fannie, Lucile, Richard, Milledge, and Walter. On June 21, 1933, she died from hypostatic pneumonia, myocarditis, and dilatation of heart. At the time of her death, she worked as a domestic and lived at 853 Reese Street. |
| Scruggs | Ollie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1928 | December 31, 1934 | 6 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Young and Olli Scruggs, Ollie Mae Scruggs was born on June 15, 1929 in North Carolina. At 6 years old, she died at the Athens General Hospital from endocarditis on October 6, 1935. In 1935, her father lived on Danielsville Road; this is most likely her last known address. | |
| Bass | Edward | Male | African American | Enslaved | Barber | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1902 | 42 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Martha and William Bass, Edward W. Bass was born on August 23, 1860 and most likely spent his early years enslaved. As a youth in 1880, he worked as porter and eventually became a barber. He married Martha Caldwell on June 9, 1889. According to the 1889 City Directory, he worked as a barber and lived at 1024 Reese Street. At 42 years-old, Bass died from unknown causes on June 20, 1903. According to the 1904 City Directory, his widow, Martha Bass, lived at 1127 Reese Street--this is most likely his last known address as well. |
| Jackson | Lila | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1935 | December 31, 1959 | 24 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lila Lurlene Jackson was born in 1935 and died on September 26, 1960. She was only 24 years old at the time of her death. | |
| Dukes | Mary | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1842 | December 31, 1907 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Mary Dukes died at 65 years old on July 10, 1908. Given these dates, she would have been born enslaved around 1843. According to the 1889 City Directory, she worked as a cook and lived at 216 Hancock Avenue. |
| Morton | Clara | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1872 | December 31, 1956 | 84 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Clara H. Morton was born around 1873. In 1900, she was a widow living with her five children (Susie, Clara B., Frank, Leroy, and Emma) at 682 Chase Street. In 1910, she is listed as “divorced” in the census. She worked as washer in 1900 and a chamber maid in 1910. In 1930, she lived alone at 784 Chase Street. According to the 1952 City Directory, she lived at 780 N Chase Street. She died from unknown causes on August 31, 1957. |
| Thoma[??] | [??]nno | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Brydie | E. | Unknown | African American | Enslaved | Barber | December 31, 1847 | December 31, 1908 | 61 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, E. W. Brydie was born on August 12, 1848 and most likely enslaved. He mosy likely married Camilla Jackson Brydie and the couple had at least three children: Carolyn, Eugene, and Edward. According to the 1889 City Directory, he worked as a barber and lived at 601 Plum Street. In 1904, he still worked as a barber, but noq lived at 101 N Findley Street. At around 61 years old, he died from unknown causes on October 3, 1909. |
| Jones | Lillie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1970 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lillie May Jones died on January 9, 1971. At the time of her death, she lived at 105 Walton Street. | |||
| [Pearl?] | Ossie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1956 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Ossie was born around 1889 and died on March 18, 1957. She was 68 years old at the time of her death. She may have had the last name “Pearl.” | |
| Ha[??] | Mamie | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
| Whitfield | W. | Male | African American | Free | Blacksmith | December 31, 1864 | December 31, 1938 | 74 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | W. M. Whitfield was born on April 18, 1865. According to the 1938 City Directory, he worked as a blacksmith and lived with his wife, Mittie, at 495 Reese Street. At 74 years old, he died from unknown causes on June 13, 1939. |
| Holbrook | Rowena | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1968 | 77 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Anna Hughes and Eugene Shepard, Rowena Antoinette Shepard Holbrook was born around 1892. In 1928, she lived at 1847 Broad Street with her husband, Stephen Holbrook, a carpet layer. According to the 1958 City Directory, the couple lived at 1347 W Broad Street. She died from unknown causes in 1969. | |
| Collins | Male | African American | Unknown | Reverend | December 31, 1893 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Reverend Collins died in 1894. | |||
| Mack | John | Male | African American | Enslaved | Post Office Clerk | December 31, 1855 | December 31, 1917 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | John R. Mack was born around 1856 and most likely enslaved as a child. He married Charlotte H. Mack in 1882 and the couple had at least eight children: Annie, Abram, Mattie, Fannie, Lucile, Richard, Milledge, and Walter. In 1900 and 1910, he worked as a post office clerk and owned a house at 853 Reese Street. According to the 1913 City Directory, he and his family lived at 853 Reese Street. He died from unknown causes in 1918. |
| Shanks | Otis | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1956 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Otis Shanks was born around 1892 in Thompson, Georgia. In 1916, he “was arraigned on a charge of disorderly conduct and his cash bond was forfeited.” According to his First World War Draft Card, he worked as a truck hand for Southern Railroad and lived at 499 River Street. During the war, he served stateside in the 157 Depot Brigade at Camp Gordon. After the war, he married Christine C. Shanks. He worked as a laborer at the gas plant in 1930 and a “helper” in 1940. According to the 1952 City Directory, he worked as plant operator at Atlanta Gas Light and lived at 139 N Newton Street. At 65 years old, he died from unknown causes on June 19, 1957. After his death, his wife applied for a military headstone. |
| Bates | Alice | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1891 | December 31, 1974 | 83 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Alice Johnson Bates was born on April 10, 1892. In 1940, she worked as a laundress and was married to William Bates; the couple lived at 1537 W Broad Street in 1940. She was widowed in 1943 and, sometime before her own death on June 27, 1975, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where she lived at the time of her death. The funeral was held at 4pm on June 29 at Hurley’s Chapel in Athens. Burial at Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery followed. |
| [Jackson?] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
| Edwards | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
| Morton | Frank | Male | African American | Free | Tailor | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1933 | 40 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of William and Clara H. Morton, Frank B. Morton was born around 1894. In 1910, he lived with his mother and siblings on Chase Street. He worked as a butcher in 1910 and as a waiter in 1917. During the First World War, he served in the 157 Depot Brigade and was stationed at Camp Gordon. On November 8, 1924, he married Mary Gray. In 1930, he worked as a laborer. He died from myocardial weakness and nephritis on December 27, 1934. According to his Death Certificate, he worked as a tailor and lived at 784 Chase Street. |
| Thomas | Codelia | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1878 | December 31, 1956 | 78 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Codelia A. Thomas was born in 1879 and died from unknown causes in 1957. | |
| Smith | Rencie | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1923 | 56 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Maxwell | Charlie | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1971 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to his obituary, Charlie Joe Maxwell, who resided at 253 Lyndon Avenue, died from unknown causes on June 12, 1972. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked. | |||
| Mathews | Oliva | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1919 | 61 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Green | Rudell | Male | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1924 | December 31, 1924 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
| Walker | Taylor | Male | African American | Enslaved | Farmer | December 31, 1920 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Davis | Rebekah | Female | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1921 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Rebekah Davis was born in 1832 in Georgia. She was enslaved to Dr. and Mrs. Edward Ware. As a young woman, she married Ned Davis (also enslaved) and the couple had 7 children. Later, at least one of her sons moved to Chicago as a grown man. Three of her sons remained in Athens, and James A. Davis worked as a mail carrier. After the Civil War, she worked as a seamstress. She appears to have learned to read and write in the later years of her life and she was an active member of the First A.M.E. Church. She lived at 179 Strong Street in Athens, Georgia until her death from unknown causes on January 19, 1922. Her obituary, published in the Athens Daily Herald, described her as “one of the oldest citizens of Athens and was the oldest member of the First A. M. E. church.” She was 90 years old. But even after death, the white newspaper remembered her as a ‘faithful slave,’ an element of Lost Cause ideology. “‘Aunt Rebekah’ . . . as a family servant of Dr. and Mrs. Edward Ware, who lived on Hoyt street, during the ante bellum days, and her husband Ned Davis, belonged to Captain John Thomas, and was her personal servant. Ned died many years ago. These darkies were servants in the homes of two of the best known and most aristocratic families of the day, and were well known to many of the white people of the time,” stated the obituary. [Researched and written by Trey Smith] | |||
| Pitman | Carrie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1919 | 30 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Hurt | Francis | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1919 | 75 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Diggs | Minnie | Female | African American | Free | Teacher | December 31, 1995 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Minnie Diggs died from unknown causes in 1996. A 1922 graduate from Morris Brown College, she was active as an alumni and a local community member. She was remembered as “a very powerful, strong women; not in stature, but in determination.” She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | ||
| Cole | Loucious | Male | African American | Free | Driver | December 31, 1904 | December 31, 1924 | 20 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
| Springs | Charlie | Male | African American | Free | Drayman | December 31, 1918 | 31 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Maxwell | Mary | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1969 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Mary Brooks Maxwell, who resided at 258 Lyndon Avenue, died from unknown causes on February 21, 1970. She was the mother of Charlie J. Maxwell, Mary T. Maxwell, V. Blanche Moore, Ann S. Teasly, Frederica N. Maxwell, and Lucy V. Johnson. The funeral was handled by McWhorter Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked. | |||
| McClure | Ida | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1915 | December 31, 1920 | 5 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Griffen | Thomas | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1919 | 26 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
| Walker | William | Male | African American | Free | Drayman | December 31, 1919 | 36 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| McQueen | Mahala | Female | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1909 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Mahala Wooden McQueen survived four wars throughout her lifetime, including the War of 1812 at the time of her birth. She later sewed and mended clothes for soldiers in the Mexican American War, Civil War, and the Spanish American War. Born at Cherokee Corners in Oglethorpe County, and was enslaved to the Hill family. Her obituary notes her labor for the Barrow family in raising David Crenshaw Barrow, former University of Georgia Chancellor from 1906 to 1925. At the time of her death, she birthed twelve children with only two surviving, Sam McQueen and a daughter, Julia Witheld. She passed away at 98 years old in her cottage home at 658 Hull Street on March 22nd, 1910. | |||
| Poole | Fay | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1913 | December 31, 1918 | 5 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Jacks | Mary | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1923 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Diggs | William | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1972 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to his obituary, William Diggs, who resided at 357 DuBose Avenue, died from unknown causes on January 27, 1973. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked. | |||
| Collins | Eva | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1919 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Stephens | Clide | Male | African American | Free | Barber | December 31, 1920 | 38 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| McCree | Sam | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1955 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to his obituary, Sam McCree, the son of Ella Kelly and the husband of Rowena McCree, died from unknown causes on October 1956. The funeral was handled by McWhorter Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked. |
