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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitman | Carrie | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1919 | 30 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Jameson | Shores | Male | African American | Free | Driver | December 31, 1871 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Shoals Jamison was born around 1872 in Alabama. According to the 1904 City Directory, he worked as a butler and lived at 23 N Findley Street. In 1910, he worked as a coachman and lived with his wife, Ella Jamison, at 193 Pendley Street (193 Finley Street). He died from unknown causes on an unknown date. | ||
Bush | Clarence | Male | African American | Free | Deliveryman | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1964 | 66 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Lula Bush, Clarence Bush was born on January 25, 1897. In 1900, he lived with his grandfather and mother on Broad Street. Sometime before 1920, he married Annie Bush and the couple most likely did not have living children. He worked various jobs during his lifetime, included “poster” (1910), a “grocery store wagon driver,” (1920) and “grocery store deliveryman” (1930). According to the 1958 City Directory, they lived at 850 Broad Street and he worked as “firman” at “Holmain Hotel.” In addition to those jobs, he served in the First World War as a private. He died from unknown causes on November 28, 1965. |
Booth | Richard | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1920 | 38 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Pinckney | Hopie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Boarding | December 31, 1811 | December 31, 1887 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Hopie Pinckey was born on May 18, 1812. She was enslaved to Mr. A. Hull of Athens. In 1860, someone attempted to burn down her dwelling, but she escaped the fire. According to the 1880 Census, she was married, worked as day boarder, and lived alone on Melchior Street. At 76 years of age, she died from unknown causes on July 7, 1888. |
Morton | William | Male | African American | Free | 10 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | William Morton died when he was 10 years old. He was the brother of Lizzy C. Morton. | |||
Harris | Robert | Mae | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1835 | December 31, 1913 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Robert Harris was born around 1836 and most likely enslaved as a young man. At 76 years old, he died from unknown causes on August 6, 1914. According to the 1909 City Directory, Robert Harris and Robert Harris Jr. both lived at 226 Flint Street. Robert Harris—a one-legged criminal mastermind with a perchance for jail breaking—appears regularly within the local newspapers; this could be the same man or his son. | |
Jones | Robert | Male | African American | Free | Railroad Employee | December 31, 1920 | 54 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Whitlock | John | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1856 | December 31, 1916 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | John Whitelock (or Whittlock) was born around 1857. According to the 1894 City Directory, worked as a laborer and lived at 805 Athens Avenue. He may have been married to Martha Whitelock. At 60 years old, he died from unknown causes on March 3, 1917. |
Smith | Rencie | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1923 | 56 | 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. |
Davis | Clifford | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1919 | 26 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Jennie L. and Will Davis, Clifford L. Davis was born on February 13, 1894. As a child, he attended school and lived with his family at 425 Bridge Street. In 1910, he worked as a tagger in a warehouse. At the start of the First World War, he lived at 237 Bridge Street. During the war, he served stateside as a private in the 157 Depot Brig. He died from unknown causes on December 6, 1920. |
Ector | M. | Male | African American | Free | Janitor | December 31, 1925 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Shaw | Adeline | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1819 | December 31, 1894 | 75 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Adeline Shaw was born around 1820 and most likely enslaved. In 1880, she worked as a servant and was a widow living near Foundry Street. She died from unknown causes in 1895. |
Mathews | Oliva | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1919 | 61 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
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. |
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. | ||
Blont | [J or G?] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | December 31, 1942 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||
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. | |
Malcolm | Henrietta | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1869 | December 31, 1935 | 66 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of William Whiles, Henrietta Malcolm was born around 1870. In 1920, she worked as a laundress and rented a home on Reese Street. On February 7, 1936, she died from cerebral apoplexy and acute [??] nephritis. At the time of her death, she was a domestic living at 1125 W Broad Street. |
Fields | Eldon | Male | African American | Enslaved | Janitor | December 31, 1848 | December 31, 1924 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Eldon Fields was born on September 12, 1849 and most likely spend his childhood enslaved. In 1880, he worked as a carriage driver and lived at 440 Jackson Street. He married Susie Shaw Fields around that time. By 1900, he lived with his wife at 144 Warsaw Street and worked as teamster. He, then, worked as an janitor in an office building in 1920. He died from “paralysis following apoplexy” on January 29, 1925. |
Hearel | Eddie | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1922 | 37 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Thomas | Katie | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1897 | December 31, 1975 | 78 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Laura and Eugene Thomas, Katie C. Thomas was born around 1898. In 1910, she attended school and lived with her parents and siblings at 1248 W Broad Street. She did not work in 1920. In 1940, she worked as a maid and lived on Flint Street. According to the 1958City Directory, she lived at 748 N Hull Street. She died from unknown causes in 1976. |
Poole | Fay | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1913 | December 31, 1918 | 5 | 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. |
Campbell | John | Male | African American | Free | Porter | December 31, 1876 | December 31, 1943 | 67 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Ann Harden, John B. Campbell was born on March 18, 1877 in Athens, Georgia. In 1900, he was serving as a sergeant in the 48th Volunteer Infantry and stationed at Naquilian, Philippine Islands. Rather than return to Athens following his tour of duty, he moved to Chicago and, according to the 1910 Census, worked as a railroad porter. He died from unknown causes on July 4, 1944. He may or may not have returned to Athens, Georgia before his death. Mrs. Katie Thomas, of 748 Hull Street, applied for a military tombstone for his grave in 1944. |
Bowmans | Jack | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1924 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Pinkard | Amos | Male | African American | Free | Grocer | December 31, 1888 | December 31, 1961 | 73 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Amos Pinkard was born in 1889. In February 1908, he was charged “for violation of the prohibition law.” He married Nettie Pinkard and, 1940, the couple lived at 264 N Billups Street. According to the 1940 City Directory, he worked as a grocer. He still lived at 264 N Billups Street in 1958. He died from unknown causes on December 16, 1962. |
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. |
Harris | R | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Joseph | Anna | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1919 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
Wilder | Rachel | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1830 | December 31, 1888 | 58 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Rachel Wilder was born around 1831. She married James Wilder, a farm laborer, and they could had at least five children: Dennis, Samuel, Charles, William, and Berry. In 1870, they lived in Madison, Georgia. At 58 years old, she died from unknown causes on October 19, 1889. | |
[??]ll | Se[??] | Unknown | African American | Free | 34 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||
Springs | Charlie | Male | African American | Free | Drayman | December 31, 1918 | 31 | 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. | |
Davis | Madison | Male | African American | Enslaved | Legislator | December 31, 1832 | December 31, 1901 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Madison Davis was born around September 27, 1833 and spent his youth and young adulthood enslaved to a carriage maker. His father, who was from Ireland according to the 1900 Census, may have been a white slaveholder. Davis married Ella Davis and the couple had at least six children: Willie, Annie, Lizzie, Mattie, Mana, and James. During Reconstruction he served as a Republican in the Georgia House of Representatives. Later in life, he worked as a merchant, postmaster, and a real estate agent. In 1900, he was living at 27 Newton Street and just two years later, on August 20, 1902, he died from unknown causes. |
Ector | Piety | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1879 | December 31, 1921 | 42 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Shaw | Charles | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
McClure | Ida | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1915 | December 31, 1920 | 5 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Holsey | [??] | Unknown | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
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. | |||
Blont | [Gary?] | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
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. | |
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. |
Flag | Ida | Female | African American | Free | Laundress | December 31, 1899 | December 31, 1945 | 56 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ida J. Flag was born around 1900. Sometime before 1930, she gained and lost a husband. As a widow, in 1930, she worked as laundress and lived with her sister, Emma Virgil, at 1490 W Broad Street. In 1940, her and her sister lived at 268 Parris Street. She died from unknown causes on July 28, 1946. At the time of her death, she was 56 years old. |
Hemphill | Susie | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1926 | 51 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Thomas | Ada | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1902 | December 31, 1965 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Mary A. Thomas, Ada Kate Thomas was born on September 12, 1903 in Mississippi. In 1910, she attended school and lived with her mother on Water Street. In 1940, she worked as a maid and lived at 187 Third Street. She was still living at that address in 1958. She died from unknown causes on November 4, 1966. |
Thomas | Violet | Female | African American | Free | Teacher | December 31, 1892 | December 31, 1935 | 42 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Julia Collins and Lucins Thomas, Violet Clyde Thomas was born on July 4, 1893 in Athens Georgia. She moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. She died from a cerebral apoplexy on January 28, 1936. According to her Death Certificate, she worked as a teacher and lived in Charlotte, North Carolina. |
Pope | [??] | Male | African American | Free | Child | December 31, 1918 | 0 | 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. |
Campbell | Miller | Male | African American | Free | Soldier | December 31, 1880 | December 31, 1935 | 55 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Miller L. Campbell was born around 1881. He enlisted as a private in the 1Cl. Hospital Corps in 1905; his military records described him as a man of dark complexion, with brown eyes, standing 5 foot 5 ½ inches tall. He most likely married Jane Campbell and lived at 748 Hull Street. He died from unknown causes on July 13, 1936 and was around 55 years old at the time of his death. |
Boyd | Claura | Female | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1923 | 26 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Pledger | William | Male | African American | Enslaved | Lawyer | December 31, 1849 | December 31, 1903 | 54 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | William A. Pledger was born in 1850 and enslaved as a child. Along with William Henry (Harrison) Heard, he was the co-owner and editor of the Athens Blade, a leading African-American newspaper that was distributed throughout Georgia and in several northeastern cities. As one of the first African-American lawyers in Atlanta, he was active in republican politics and a delegate to each republican convention from 1876 to 1900. According to the 1898 City Directory, he worked as a lawyer and lived at 209 Pearl Street. He died from unknown causes on January 8, 1904. |
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. | ||
Harris | Mary | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Joseph | George | Male | African American | Free | Child | December 31, 1922 | December 31, 1922 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
Wilder | Charlie | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Rachel Wilder and James Wilder, Charlie Wilder was born around 1860. In 1870, the family lived in Madison, Georgia; this is most likely his last known address. He died from unknown causes on an unknown date. | ||||
[Re?]id | Male | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | |||||
Stephens | Clide | Male | African American | Free | Barber | December 31, 1920 | 38 | 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. |
Davis | Minnie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1939 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Minnie [H?] Davis died in February 1940. According to the 1904 City Directory, J. W. Daivs worked as a mail carrier and lived at 24 Strong Street. In 1909, he was married to Minnie Davis and they lived at 178 Strong Street. | |||
Edwards | Fred | Male | African American | Enslaved | Fireman | December 31, 1922 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Shaw | Dicy | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1876 | December 31, 1932 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Clara Griffin and Remus Nesbit, Dicie Nesbit Shaw was born on October 16, 1877. She married Charley Shaw around 1896. According to the 1910 Census she worked as “Husbands Saleslady” in “Retail Groceries.” She died from interstitial nephritis and pulmonary stasis on July 1, 1933. At the time of her death, she worked as a domestic and lived at 428 Flynt Street. |
Mcclusky | Julia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1923 | 71 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
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. |
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. | |||
Boyd | Rosa | Female | African American | Free | Wife | December 31, 1871 | December 31, 1915 | 44 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Rosa S. Boyd was born on July 1872 in Florida. In 1883, she married Willie Boyd, a shoemaker, and was either the mother or step-mother of at least eight children: Barlien, Rosa, Willie, Lucy, Racheal, Lydia, Thelma, and Constance. In 1900 and 1910, the family owned a house at 307 Pope Street. According to the 1915 City Directory, he worked as shoemaker and they lived at 437 Pope Street. She died from unknown causes in 1916 and was 44 years old around at the time of her death. |
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. | |
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. |
Foster | Ethel | Female | African American | Free | Domestic | December 31, 1893 | December 31, 1958 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Born around 1894, Ethel Foster was the daughter of Charlotte and Lorenzo Foster, a City Hall Janitor. In 1920, she worked as a cook and lived with her brother, Henry Foster, on Flint Street.According to the 1958 City Directory, she worked as a maid and lived at 373 Flint Street. She died from unknown causes in 1959. |
Hill | [??] | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1918 | December 31, 1918 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Thomas | Marion | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1903 | December 31, 1936 | 33 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Marion Clemons Thomas was born around 1904. At 33 years old, he died on December 16, 1937. | |
Potts | Lou | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1924 | 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. |
[Campbell?] | Charles | Male | African American | Unknown | Janitor | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Charles Campbell most likely worked as a janitor and was married to Marzella Campbell. According to the 1937 City Directory, they lived at 660 W Hancock Avenue. | |||
Bradley | Lena | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1918 | 48 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Pope | Celie | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1885 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Celie Pope died in 1886 and was most likely enslaved. She may have been born around 1771. | |||
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. |
Harris | Maggie | Female | African American | Free | December 31, 1896 | December 31, 1909 | 12 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Ledie and Robert Harris, Maggie L. Harris was born around August 9,1897. As a child, in 1910, she attended school lived with her father and siblings on Flint Street. She died from unknown causes on June 26, 1910. | |
Killian | Sarah | Female | African American | Free | Housewife | December 31, 1901 | December 31, 1926 | 24 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
Wilder | Odessia | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Rachel Wilder and James Wilder, Odessia Wilder was born at an unknown issue. In 1870, the family lived in Madison, Georgia; this is most likely his last known address. In 1870, the family lived in Madison, Georgia; this is most likely her last known address. | ||||
[??] | Mattie | Female | African American | Unknown | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | [biographical information unknown] | ||||
Stokely | George | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1920 | 58 | 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. |
Davis | Minnie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Teacher | December 31, 1858 | December 31, 1939 | 80 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Aggie Crawford and James Young, Minnie Davis was born on December 13, 1859 near Penfield, Georgia. Enslaved to John Crawford, Davis spent her childhood in Athens, Georgia. Denied a formal education in slavery, Davis took full advantage of freedom’s offerings. She enrolled at Knox Institution, a school for black children that had been established by the Freedmen’s Bureau in the spring of 1868. She then graduated from Atlanta University before returning to Athens to teach school for over forty years. Her husband, Samuel B. Davis, published the Athens Clipper, a newspaper catering to Athens's emerging black, middle-class community. After his death, she ran the newspaper for a few years, before selling it. She died as a result of a dislocated hip on February 13, 1940. |
Everaton | Mamie | Female | African American | Free | Housework | December 31, 1920 | 17 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
Shaw | Willie | Male | African American | Free | Driver | December 31, 1879 | December 31, 1926 | 39 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Elizabeth Shaw, Willie A. Shaw was born in October 1888. In 1900, he attended school and lived with his mother and grandmother in Athens. In 1915 and 1916, he was arrested and charged with violating prohibition. During the First World War, he served as a cook in the 157th Deport Brigade. After the war, he married Eliza Shaw. He died from [??] on April 5, 1927. At the time of his death, he worked as a chauffeur and, after his death, his wife lived at 330 N. Pope Street. |
Mcgee | Andrew | Male | African American | Free | Cook | December 31, 1923 | 43 | 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. |
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. | |||
Boyd | William | Male | African American | Enslaved | Shoemaker | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1918 | 59 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Thad Boyd, William H. Boyd was born around 1860 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1883, he married Rosa S. Boyd (most likely his second wife) and had at least eight children: Barlien, Rosa, Willie, Lucy, Racheal, Lydia, Thelma, and Constance. In 1900 and 1910, he worked as a shoemaker in Athens and owned a house at 307 Pope Street. According to the 1915 City Directory, he still worked as shoemaker but had moved to 437 Pope Street. He died from unknown causes in 1919 and was around 59 years old around at the time of his death. |
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. | |
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. |
Foster | John | Male | African American | Free | Laborer | December 31, 1903 | December 31, 1930 | 27 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Emma Shropshire and Robert H. Foster, John Albert Foster was born around 1904. On June 23, 1931, he died from acute endocarditis. At the time of his death, he worked as a laborer and lived with his wife at 1683 South Milledge Avenue. |
Hill | John | Female | African American | Free | Child | December 31, 1918 | December 31, 1918 | 0 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
Thomas | Hamilton | Male | African American | Free | December 31, 1909 | December 31, 1939 | 30 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Hamilton Thomas was born around 1910. At 30 years old, he died from unknown causes on December 26, 1940. |