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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Smith | Lula | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1919 | 45 | 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. | ||
Marshall | Nannie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1919 | 80 | 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. | |||
Walker | Macauloy | Male | African American | Free | Child | December 31, 1920 | 0 | 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. |
Payne | Lettia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1927 | 85 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Booke | Ben | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1926 | 50 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Jones | Margaret | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1920 | 87 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Hawkins | Mattie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1952 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Mattie M. Hawkins, who resided at 650 Hancock Avenue, died on December 31, 1953. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
Smith | Peter | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1919 | 80 | 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. | ||
Martin | Amandia | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1919 | 50 | 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] | |||
Walker | Taylor | Male | African American | Enslaved | Farmer | December 31, 1920 | 60 | 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. | |
Pitman | Carrie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1919 | 30 | 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. | |
Jones | Robert | Male | African American | Free | Railroad Employee | December 31, 1920 | 54 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Hill | Emerline | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1950 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Emerline Hill, who resided at 654 North Avenue NW in Atlanta, died in May 1951. The funeral was handled by Hanley’s Ashby Street Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
Smith | Rencie | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1923 | 56 | 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. | |
Mathews | Oliva | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1919 | 61 | 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] | |||
Walker | William | Male | African American | Free | Drayman | December 31, 1919 | 36 | 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. | |
Poole | Fay | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1913 | December 31, 1918 | 5 | 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. | |
Joseph | Anna | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1919 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
Howell | Leonard | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1954 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to his obituary, Leonard Howell, who resided in Atlanta, died from unknown causes in November 1955. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked. | |||
Springs | Charlie | Male | African American | Free | Drayman | December 31, 1918 | 31 | 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. | |
McClure | Ida | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1915 | December 31, 1920 | 5 | 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. | |||
Warren | Harrett | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1918 | 80 | 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. | |
[??] | Barbara | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Barbara [M??] [??] is believed to be buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. Little is known about her life. | ||||
Pope | [??] | Male | African American | Free | Child | 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. | |
Joseph | George | Male | African American | Free | Child | December 31, 1922 | December 31, 1922 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
Howell | Lamar | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1967 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Mrs. Leonard Howell, who resided in Atlanta, died from unknown causes in February 1968. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
Stephens | Clide | Male | African American | Free | Barber | December 31, 1920 | 38 | 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. | |
Mcclusky | Julia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1923 | 71 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Mcgee | Andrew | Male | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1923 | 43 | 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] | |||
Washington | Leo | Male | African American | Free | Student | December 31, 1920 | 13 | 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. |
Jane | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Jane is believed to be buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. Little is known about her life. | |||||
Potts | Lou | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1924 | 70 | 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. | |
Killian | Sarah | Female | African American | Free | Housewife | December 31, 1901 | December 31, 1926 | 24 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
Johnson | Curtis | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1983 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to his obituary, Curtis Johnson, who resided at 97 Broad Acres, died from unknown causes in September 1984. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked. | |||
Stokely | George | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1920 | 58 | 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. | |
Mcgreggy | Cinrella | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1918 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Thomas | Arthur | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1943 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | The son of Margaret and Hamilton Thomas, Arthur Thomas was born between 1867 and 1870. Around 1906, he married Gertrude Thomas, and the couple had at least one child, Willie Mae Thomas. In 1910, he worked as a brickmason and rented a home at 288 Bridge Street. He died from unknown causes in 1944. At the time of his death, he lived in Atlanta. [Researched and written by Nic Rasool] | |||
Watson | Myrtie | Female | African American | Free | Child | December 31, 1920 | 0 | 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. |
Walter | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Walter is believed to be buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. Little is known about his life. | |||||
Powell | Major | Male | African American | Free | Farmer | December 31, 1894 | December 31, 1922 | 28 | 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. | |
Laney | Minnie | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1920 | 28 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Johnson | James | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1971 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to his obituary, James Johnson, who resided at 151 Lyndon Avenue, died from unknown causes in October 1972. He was married to Ethel Johnson and they had at least one child, Blanche Johnson Jones. The funeral was handled by Hurley’s Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked. | |||
Stokes | Corneilus | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1920 | 25 | 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. |
Mcqueen | Sam | Male | African American | Enslaved | Barber | December 31, 1920 | 72 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Thronton | Tommie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1953 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | According to her obituary, Mrs. Tommie Upshaw Thornton, who resided at 170 Lendon Avenue, died from unknown causes in September 1954. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | |||
White | Nettie | Female | African American | Free | Housewife | December 31, 1926 | 54 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Hill | Patsy | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1925 | 50 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
Bell | Andrew | Male | African American | Free | Reverend | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1958 | 58 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | The son of John J. Bell and Idea Bell, Andrew Bell was born on June 10, 1897 in Oglethorpe, Georgia. In 1910, the family lived on College Ave in Athens; Andrew did not attend school was unable to read or write at that time. Sometime before 1920, he married Mary B. Bell and moved to Atlanta, where he lived much of his adult life. He worked as a “Overseer” at the Country Club in 1920 and, according to his obituary, he was a “Reverend.” At 58 years old, he died from unknown causes on September 23, 1959 in Fulton County, GA. His funeral was held at the Dorsey Tabernacle Baptist Church in Athens on September 29, 1959. |
Powers | Annie Bell | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1926 | 33 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Bridy | Camilla | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1924 | 74 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Lawrence | Orrin | Male | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1920 | 82 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
Stokley | Lizzie | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1873 | December 31, 1922 | 48 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
Fields | Jno. | Male | African American | Free | Cotton Worker | December 31, 1918 | 35 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Menifield | Ella | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1921 | 94 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Walker | Jessie | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1954 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Jessie Walker was born in 1890 in Athens, GA. According to the Athens Daily Herald, he was still living in Athens in 1917 and listed among the Clarke County men registered for the First World War draft. He moved to Michigan sometime after this and married Evie Walker with whom he had a daughter named Ora Lee Walker, later Ora Lee Gardner. According to the 1930 US Census, Walker lived with his family and two men who rented rooms in their home at 518 Beaver St. in Lansing, MI. His obituary of September 10, 1955, placed his residence at 131S Case Street in Lansing, and stated that he would be returned to Athens, GA to be buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. [Researched and written by Avery Scott] | |||
Wilburn | Boyd | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1921 | 21 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Hiram | Ellen | Female | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1919 | 56 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Bell | Vino | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1889 | December 31, 1961 | 72 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Vino Bell was born around 1890. She married Dock Bell and the couple had at least four children: Willie, Susie, Daisy Lee, and Mary. In 1940, the family lived off Old Elberton Road in Bucks Branch. She died from unknown causes in 1962. According to her obituary, she lived at 473 Little Oak Street at the time of her death. Her funeral was held at Ebenezer Baptist Church. | |
Pulliam | Lucy May | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1919 | 2 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
Brittin | George | Male | African American | Free | Carpenter | December 31, 1925 | 50 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Lee | Della | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1923 | 48 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Stovall | Will | Male | African American | Free | Blacksmith | December 31, 1921 | 42 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Fields | Lelia | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1921 | 51 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Merritt | J. P. | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1924 | 51 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Walker | Nathaniel | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1954 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | A lifelong Athens resident, Reverend Nathaniel Thomas Walker was born on February 22, 1887. He was drafted for the First World War in 1917, and according to the Athens Daily Herald, he was part of a group of men sent to France. Walker had requested a military exemption, but it was rejected: as the newspaper noted, “two young men who are in the ministry failed to exempt [from military service] – on account of the fact that they did not file proof to their claim in the prescribed manner.” After his return from the war, he married Susie B. Walker, with whom he took care of a stepdaughter, Christine B. Barnette. He worked as a preacher, and between 1931 and 1944 he was the reverend of Union Missionary Baptist Church. He lived at 160 Water Street in 1917, and resided on Finley Street in 1920. In August 1955, he passed away from unknown causes and was buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. [Researched and written by Abby Lauterbach] | |||
Wiley | Serema | Female | African American | Free | Seamstress | December 31, 1922 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Hirams | Rubin | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1922 | 55 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Bryant | Lillie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1894 | December 31, 1970 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Lillie Wade Bryant was born around 1895. She appears to have married. At 76 years old, she died from unknown causes on April 25, 1971. According to her obituary, she lived at 872 W Broad Street at the time of her death. | |
Ramey | Geo. | Male | African American | Free | Farmer | December 31, 1923 | 51 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Browner | Richard | Male | African American | Enslaved | City Employee | December 31, 1921 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Lewis | Ellen | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1920 | 55 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Stricklyn | Mary | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1921 | 45 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Ford | Malinda | Female | African American | Free | Farmer | December 31, 1920 | 55 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |