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
Dixon	Laura	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1946		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Laura Annie Dixon, who resided at 201 Butler Street in Atlanta, Georgia, died in January 1947. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Johnson	Will	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1924	54	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Dorsey	Crock	Male	African American	Enslaved			December 31, 1923	80	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Stroud	Harriet	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housework		December 31, 1920	90	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
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.
Merriweather	Johnnie	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1921	5	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hawkins	Julia	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1924	37	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Williams	Susie	Female	African American	Free	Housewife	December 31, 1899	December 31, 1919	19	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Benford	Henry	Male	African American	Free	Fireman		December 31, 1922	49	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Reeves	John	Male	African American	Enslaved	Gardener		December 31, 1920	86	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Edwards	Roberta	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1948		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Roberta Woods Edwards, the wife of Joseph Edward, died in November 1949. The funeral was handled by Mack & Payne Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Johnson	William	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1919	26	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Dunfoy		Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1920	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Sullivan	Mary	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1919	46	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
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]
Miller	Lucy	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1922	52	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hawkins	Peter	Male	African American	Free	Construction		December 31, 1921	36	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Wilson	Jeorge	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1921	46	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Bimett	Mary	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1921	70	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Reid	Sallie	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housework		December 31, 1919	66	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Ellis	Sarah	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1945		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Sarah Ellis died in November 1946. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Jones	Callie	Female	African American	Free	Domestic		December 31, 1925	39	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Eberhart	Martha	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1918	33	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Taylor	Samul	Male	African American	Free	Chauffer		December 31, 1923	31	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Stanton	John	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1947		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	John R. Stanton was an Athens resident who was born around 1899. He was married and had multiple siblings. He died from unknown causes on October 25, 1948 and was buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery on October 31, 1948. [Researched and written by Abby Lauterbach]
Milner	Sam	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1925	51	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hawkins	Rebecca	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housework	December 31, 1848	December 31, 1926	78	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Wingfield	Bertha	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1920	24	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Wise	L.	Male	African American	Free	Child		December 31, 1922	1	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Binns	Elizzebeth	Female	African American	Free	Teacher		December 31, 1925	24	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Rhodes	Joe	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1920	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Evans	Julia	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1961		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Julia Evans, who resided at 360 First Street, died in December 1962. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Jones	John	Male	African American	Free	Drayman		December 31, 1919	40	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Echols	Hiram	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1923	53	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Teasly	Walter	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1921	34	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
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]
Miner	J. T.	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1920	December 31, 1922	1	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hayes	Annie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1921	December 31, 1922	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hayes	Magnola	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1922	18	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Witcher	Nolia	Female	African American	Free	Cook		December 31, 1920	29	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Boland	Mary	Female	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1922	49	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Richards	J.	Male	African American	Free	Reverend		December 31, 1920		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Flanigan	Albert	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1880	December 31, 1967		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Albert Capp Flanigan, who resided at 87 Broad Acres, died from unknown causes in June 1968. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked
Jones	Louvenia	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housework		December 31, 1919	65	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Ector	Benjiman	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1920	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Terrell	George	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1922	37	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
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]
Mongumory	Tom	Male	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1923	60	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Haynes	Rachel	Female	African American	Free	Student	December 31, 1904	December 31, 1920	15	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Powers	Amanda	Female	African American	Enslaved			December 31, 1917	73	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Daughter of Harriett Powers. According to her obituary, she died at 73 years of age in May 1918. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Booke	Ben	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1926	50	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Robinson	Charity	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer	December 31, 1833	December 31, 1920	87	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Flanigan	Melvin	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1914	December 31, 1976		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Melvin Coot Flanigan, who resided at 190 Cleveland Avenue, died from unknown causes in December 1977. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Jones	Margaret	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1920	87	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Ector	Carrie	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1918	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Terrell	Mannie	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1922	23	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
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.
Moore	Robert	Male	African American	Free	Child		December 31, 1925	1	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hearel	Eddie	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1922	37	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Booth	Richard	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1920	38	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Robinson	Vainiga	Female	African American	Free	Student		December 31, 1921	6	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Freeman	Edward	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1965		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Edward M. Freeman, who resided at 237 North Church Street, died from unknown causes in May 1966. He was married to Julia A. Freeman. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Jones	Robert	Male	African American	Free	Railroad Employee		December 31, 1920	54	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Ector	M.	Male	African American	Free	Janitor		December 31, 1925	49	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Alfred	Male	African American	Free	Mechanic		December 31, 1918	27	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
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]
Morton	Ebb	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1918	50	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hemphill	Susie	Female	African American	Free	Domestic		December 31, 1926	51	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Bowmans	Jack	Male	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1924	60	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Scott	Emmett	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1925	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Freeman	Bessie	Female	African American	Unknown			December 31, 1945		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Bessie Samuel Freeman died in October 1946. The funeral was handled by Mack & Payne Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Joseph	Anna	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1919	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Ector	Piety	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1879	December 31, 1921	42	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Alice	Female	African American	Enslaved	Cook		December 31, 1922	75	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Ethal	Female	African American	Free			December 31, 1944		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	The daughter of Charles and Fannie Walker, Ethel Walker Thomas was born in May of 1884. As a teenager and young adult, she resided in Sandy Creek with her family, where she worked as a laborer on their farm. She did not attend school, but she was able to read and write. In 1910, she married Lonnie Thomas, and the couple had several children: Edward, Melvin, Azzie, Charles, Elmore, and Alfonza. According to the 1920 census, she lived on Oak Street with her husband and children and worked as a washerwoman. In 1930, she resided at the same address with her family and worked as a maid for a private family. She died from unknown causes on February 1, 1945. [Researched and written by Jake Underwood]
Murden	Dora	Female	African American	Free	Housewife	December 31, 1868	December 31, 1925	56	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hill	[??]	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1918	December 31, 1918	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Boyd	Claura	Female	African American	Free	Laborer		December 31, 1923	26	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Scott	Jane	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1924	98	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
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.
Joseph	George	Male	African American	Free	Child	December 31, 1922	December 31, 1922	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Edwards	Fred	Male	African American	Enslaved	Fireman		December 31, 1922	62	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Eluice	Male	African American	Free	Child	December 31, 1923	December 31, 1924	1	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Bennie	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1989		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Bennie Thomas, who resided at 230 Pauldoe Street, died from unknown causes in February 1990. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Neelia	Peter	Male	African American	Enslaved	Laborer		December 31, 1925	78	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hill	John	Female	African American	Free	Child	December 31, 1918	December 31, 1918	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Bradley	Lena	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1918	48	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Scott	Magnolia	Female	African American	Free	Student		December 31, 1921	17	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
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.
Killian	Sarah	Female	African American	Free	Housewife	December 31, 1901	December 31, 1926	24	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Everaton	Mamie	Female	African American	Free	Housework		December 31, 1920	17	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Laura	Female	African American	Free	Farmer	December 31, 1870	December 31, 1923	52	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Lonnie	Male	African American	Free			December 31, 1962		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Lonnie Thomas was born on May 6, 1879. He married Ethel Thomas, who worked as a hotel maid. Lonnie and Ethe had at least six children: Edward, Melvin, Hassie (or “Azzie”), Alfonzo, Charlie, and St. Elmore. Census records show that Lonnie owned his house on 160 Water Oak Street in Athens, Georgia. In 1910, Mr. Thomas went to court and won against someone who had wrongfully disposed of his personal property. His draft card for the military in 1918 listed the same address, along with his employer, the Georgia Plow Company, where he worked for many years as a laborer in the factory. He died from unknown causes on January 20, 1963, and was buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. [Researched and written by McKenna Sanville]
Nesbitt	Sibyl	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1918	December 31, 1921	2	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hill	Mamie	Female	African American	Free	Domestic	December 31, 1880	December 31, 1922	42	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Brewer	[??]	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1904	December 31, 1920	0	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.
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.
Laney	Minnie	Female	African American	Free	Cook		December 31, 1920	28	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Fields	Bell	Female	African American	Free	Cook	December 31, 1881	December 31, 1926	45	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.

Decedent

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