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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Johnson | Alice | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1856 | December 31, 1917 | 61 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Thomas Jones and Mary E. Jones, Alice V. Johnson was born on August 27, 1857 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1879, she married William D. Johnson, a Athens clergyman originally hailing from Maryland. Over the course of her life she had six children, but only five of those children survived into adulthood. In 1900, the couple owned a home at 529 Lumpkin Street. Sometime after the death of her husband on April 10, 1909, she moved to 681 W. Lumpkin St. She died of unknown causes on April 4, 1918. | |
| Smith | Martha | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1921 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Jim Nealy, Martha Smith was born around 1860 in Alabama and most likely enslaved as a child. She married Seboon (or “Siabam”) Smith around 1870 and the couple had at least six children: Inez, Willie, and Samuel. In 1910, she worked as a “sick nurse” and lived with her family on Bertin Street. She died from “cancer return” on May 30, 1922. According to her Death Certificate, she worked as a domestic and lived at 181 Lyndon Avenue. |
| 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. | |
| Mathews | Oliva | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1919 | 61 | 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. | |
| Hawkins | Ida | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1860 | December 31, 1908 | 47 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ida Hawkins was born on May 12, 1861 and most likely spent her early years enslaved. She married Perry Hawkins around 1907. She gave birth to seven children, but only five were living in 1910. On March 11, 1909, she died from unknown causes. | |
| Lawrence | Carrie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1849 | December 31, 1923 | 74 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Wiley and Asbury Lawrance, Carrie Lawrence was born in August 1850 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1880, she worked as a “Washer & Ironer” and lived on Jackson Street. She was a founding member of the Gospel Pilgrim Society. As a widow in 1900, she worked as a “Janitress” and lived at 129 Alley Street. She no longer worked in 1920 and lived in a boarding house on Berry Street. At age 74, she died on December 15, 1924. According to her Death Certificate, she did “housework” and lived at 112 Berry Street. |
| 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. |
| Young | Agnes | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1836 | December 31, 1897 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Agnes “Aggie” Crawford Young was born in March 1837. In 1870, she was “keeping house.” She was married James Young in 1864 and they had at least six children: Edward, John, Minnie (Davis), Maria, James, and Young. As a widow in 1880, she lived at the corner of Foundry Street and Connecticut Street and worked as a “Washer & Ironer.” According to the 1889 City Directory, she lived at 438 Bridge Street and worked as a laundress. At he died from unknown causes on January 10, 1898. After her death, she bequeathed her possessions to her daughter, Minnie Davis. |
| Edwards | Fred | Male | African American | Enslaved | Fireman | December 31, 1922 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Hawkins | S. | Unknown | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1858 | December 31, 1936 | 78 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, S. H. Hawkins was born (most likely enslaved) in 1859 and died in 1937. | |
| Mcclusky | Julia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1923 | 71 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Warren | Harrett | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1918 | 80 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Stokely | George | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1920 | 58 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Nesbit | John | Male | African American | Enslaved | Mason | December 31, 1853 | December 31, 1895 | 42 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Sarah and Charles Nesbit, John Nesbit was born around 1854. In 1870, he lived with his parents and siblings in Athens. He married Ella Virginia Richardson on February 3, 1884 and the couple had six living children, including John, Fannie, Sarah, Julia, and Laura. According to a 1889 editorial on East Athens, “Mr. John Nesbitt has a pretty house that can vie with many of our handsome ones on this side.” According to the 1894 City Directory, he worked as a brickmason and lived at 310 Pearl Street. He died from unknown causes on October 13, 1896. |
| 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. |
| Reid | Lorenzo | Male | African American | Enslaved | Barber | December 31, 1862 | December 31, 1946 | 84 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lorenzo W. Reid was born around 1863 and most likely enslaved as a child. On October 5, 1884, he married Laura Richardson Reid, a laundress, and the couple had at least ten children: Beulah, L. W., Charlie, Addie, Fannie, Louisa, Ruth, Etta, Mattiline, and Laura Ella. In 1900, the family lived at 431 Bridge Street. He worked as a barber in 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1940. In 1940, he lived at 431 Bridge Street. At 83 years old, he died from unknown causes on June 14, 1947. |
| McCray | Laura | Female | African American | Enslaved | Baker | December 31, 1817 | December 31, 1912 | 95 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Dolly Billops, Laura McCray was born on June 7, 1818 and enslaved for much of her live. While a slave, she received a letter in 1841. In 1870, she was “keeping house” in Athens. In 1880, she worked at “Confectionery Baking” and lived on Prince Avenue. According to the 1897 City Directory, she worked at a cake shop and lived at 819 Prince Avenue. In 1910, she lived on Prince Avenue and worked as a baker. Indeed, she was famous for her cakes. She died from unknown causes on December 5, 1913. |
| Potts | Lou | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1924 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. |
| Boyd | Mirtie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Seamstress | December 31, 1843 | December 31, 1894 | 51 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mirtie or Minta Boyd (spelling varies) was born on June 9, 1844 and most likely enslaved as a young woman. According to the 1881 City Directory, she worked as a seamstress and lived at 1019 W Hancock Avenue. At 51 years old, she died on September 18, 1895. |
| Nesbit | Ella | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1947 | 88 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ella Virginia Richardson Nesbit was born on August 23, 1860 and most likely enslaved as a child. She married John Nesbit on February 3, 1884 and the couple had six living children, including John, Fannie, Sarah, Julia, and Laura. As a widow in 1900, she worked as a laundress and lived with five of her children at 310 Pearl Street. She died from unknown causes on December 6, 1948. | |
| Mcgreggy | Cinrella | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1918 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Adams | Obadiah | Male | African American | Enslaved | Reverend | December 31, 1825 | December 31, 1891 | 66 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Reverend Obadiah Adams was born on February 13, 1826 and most likely enslaved as a child and young adult. He died of unknown causes in Jacksonville, Florida on November 19, 1892. He was 66 years old at the time of his death. |
| Davis | G.H. | Male | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1844 | December 31, 1894 | 49 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, G. H. Davis was born on July 3, 1845 and most likely enslaved as a child. According to the 1889 City Directory, he worked at Harris & Davis and lived at 319 Reese Street. At 49 years old, he died on June 11, 1895. | |
| Bridy | Camilla | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1924 | 74 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Boyd | Thad | Male | African American | Enslaved | Shoemaker | December 31, 1847 | December 31, 1903 | 56 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Thaddeus "Thad" Boyd was born sometime between 1842 and 1848 and most likely spent his childhood and youth enslaved. As a freeman, he worked as a shoemaker in Athens. He married Araminta Boyd and had at least six children: William, Carrie, Thad Jr., Nannie, Eulessis [Ulysses?], and Mary Lou. By 1900, he was widowed and living at 1019 W Hancock Avenue. He died from unknown causes on November 15, 1904. |
| Lawrence | Orrin | Male | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1920 | 82 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
| Foster | Emma | Female | African American | Enslaved | Wife | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1948 | 88 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Eliza and George Shropshire, Emma Shropshire Foster was born on May 20, 1860 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1870, she lived with her parents and attended school in Athens. She married Robert Foster and, in 1880, she was “keeping house.” The couple had six children, including William, Robert, and John. In 1920, as a widow, she lived “South Athens Town Athens to Whitehall Road Runing South East.” By 1930, her address was listed as “Milledge Extension.” In 1940, she lived at 195 Milledge Avenue. She died from unknown causes on January 6, 1949. |
| Stephens | Oliver | Male | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1848 | December 31, 1879 | 31 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Oliver Stephens was born on August 21, 1849 and most likely enslaved. At 31 years old, he died on September 6, 1880. | |
| Hawkins | Katie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1854 | December 31, 1937 | 85 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Katie B. Hawkins was born around 1853 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1880, she worked as a servant and was married to Perry F. Hawkins, a blaster. The couple had at least five children: Julia, Fred, Will, Robert, and Clifford. As a wife and mother, she no longer worked in 1900 and the family lived at 320 Pearl Street. In 1928, she worked as a cook and was widowed at some point in the early 1900s. For two and a half years she was ill with chronic interstitial nephritis, and she died from cerebral apoplexy on September 9, 1938. At the time of her death, she was domestic and living at 147 Pearl Street (or 143 Pearl Street, According to the 1909 City Directory). |
| Mcqueen | Sam | Male | African American | Enslaved | Barber | December 31, 1920 | 72 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Adams | Mentie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Wife | December 31, 1854 | December 31, 1902 | 46 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mentie Adams was born around 1855 and most likely enslaved as a child. Even so, according to the 1900 Census, she could both read and write. In 1875, she married John H. Adams, who worked as a “Presser” in Athens. The couple had five children, but only four—John, William, Mentie, and David—lived to adulthood. In 1900, the family lived at 272 Attica Avenue. Adams died from unknown causes on March 31, 1903. She was 46yrs, 7mons, 11 days old. According to the 1904 City Directory—published only a year after her death—John Adams lived at 1020 W Hancock Avenue; this is most likely her last known address. |
| Deadwyler | Mattie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1851 | December 31, 1938 | 86 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mattie Deadwyler was born around 1852 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1870, she worked as a domestic servant and lived in Elbert, Georgia. She moved to Athens sometime before 1900, and, at that time, lived with her two daughters (Mary and Martha) and a granddaughter (Gertrude) at 410 Reese Street. According to the 1900, 1910, 1920 Census, she worked as a cook. In 1930, she no longer worked and lived at 600 W Broad Street. She remained at this address, according to the 1938 City Directory. She died from unknown causes on January 4, 1939. |
| Foster | Robert | Male | African American | Enslaved | Farmer | December 31, 1852 | December 31, 1917 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Nice and Lee Foster, Robert H. Foster was born around 1853 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1870, he worked as a farm laborer and lived with his parents. He married Emma Foster and the couple had at least three children: Ella, William, Robert, and John. He worked as a farmer in 1880 and 1910; he lived outside of town near “Allensville and Wherele Hall Road” In 1918, he and his son were accused of “desecrating the United States Flag,” but were both acquitted of the crime. He died from unknown causes on September 3, 1918. |
| Hawkins | Perry | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1848 | December 31, 1917 | 69 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Perry F. Hawkins was born around 1849 and most likely enslaved as a young adult. In 1871, he married Katie B. Hawkins, a servant, and the couple had at least five children: Julia, Fred, Will, Robert, and Clifford. In 1881, he was a registered voter. He worked as a blaster in 1880 and a “rock breaker” in 1900. According to the 1909 City Directory, he worked as a laborer and lived at 143 Pearl Street. In 1911, at the Mayor’s orders, “the old negro, Perry Hawkins, went to the city hall according to promise and there gave his boy the licking on his life.” He died from unknown causes o October 25, 1918. |
| Menifield | Ella | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1921 | 94 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| McCree | Edward | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1954 | 95 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Louisa and Squire H. McCree, Edward McCree was born around 1860 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1870, he lived with his parents and siblings on a farm in Watkinsville, Georgia. By 1880, the family had moved to Throne Street. Instead of attending school, 13 year-old McCree worked as a laborer. He married Nettie McCree, a laundress, and the couple had at least one child: Maggie. In 1910, he worked as a city street laborer and rented a home at Green Street. According to the 1938 City Directory, the coupled lived at 543 Reese Street. He died from unknown causes in 1955. |
| Browner | Richard | Male | African American | Enslaved | City Employee | December 31, 1921 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Carey | Fannie | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1853 | December 31, 1937 | 84 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Fannie L. Carey was born on July 6, 1854 and most likely Enslaved as a child. She married Lucius Carey, a laborer, and the couple lived at 385 Arch Street in 1935. She diedfrom unknown causes on December 9, 1939. She was 84 years old at the time of her death. | |
| Allen | Owen | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1828 | December 31, 1899 | 71 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Owen Allen was born in December 1829 and most likely enslaved as a child and young adult. He married Margaret Allen and the couple had at least five children—Hopy, Albert, Henry, Nancy, and Margaret. In 1870, he worked as a “Day Laborer” and, in 1880, as a "farmer." According to the 1889 City Directory, he worked as a blacksmith at 907 S Lumpkin Street and lived in Allensville. He died, at 71 years of age, on December 28, 1900. |
| Iverson | Edward | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1827 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Edward Iverson was born around 1828 and most likely enslaved. He married Amanda Iverson, a cook, sometime before 1870. In 1880, he worked as a laborer and they lived at 268 10th Street. She died of unknown causes at an unknown date. | ||
| McIntosh | Susan | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1849 | December 31, 1939 | 90 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of May Jane Stroud and Christopher “Kitt” Harris, Susan McIntosh was born around 1850 and enslaved as a child According to the WPA interviews, she was owned by the Stroud family. She married George McIntosh and the couple had one child: Andrew Jones. She worked as a domestic servant in 1870, a servant in 1880, and a laundress in 1900. As a widow in 1910 and 1920, she lived at 170 Paris Street. She died from on February 10, 1940. According to her Death Certificate, she worked as a domestic and lived at 1203 W. Hancock Street. |
| Ray | Elsie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1924 | 79 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Lewis | Fannie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Teacher | December 31, 1923 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Heard | Benjamin | Male | African American | Enslaved | Mason | December 31, 1863 | December 31, 1907 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Benjamin Scribben Heard was born around May 10, 1864 and was enslaved as a child. He married Emma F. Heard, a teacher, and the couple had at least one child: Selma G. Heard. In 1889, he worked as a brickmason and lived at 832 Cherry. According to the 1900 Census, he had changed professions and now worked as a merchant, but this is most likely an error, since, according to the 1904 City Directory, he worked as a brickmason and lived at 830 Cherry. He died from unknown causes on May 28, 1908. | |
| Derricotte | Charlotte | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1862 | December 31, 1926 | 64 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Lucy Dodson and Andrew Jackson, Charlotte L. Derricotte was born on May 12, 1863 and most likely enslaved as an infant. In 1882, she married Edward J. Derricotte and the couple had at least four children: Ophelia, Edward Jr., Tom, and Andrew. She worked as a house maid in Athens in 1900 and as a laundress in Massachusetts in 1910. At 64 years old, she died from arteriosclerosis and myocarditis on November 5, 1927. According to the Death Index, she had been living in Everett, Massachusetts and employed as a caterer. |
| Iverson | Amanda | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1824 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Amanda Iverson was born around 1825 and most likely enslaved. She married Edward Iverson, a day laborer, and in 1870 she was “keeping house.” In 1880, she lived at 268 10th Street and worked as a cook. She died of unknown causes at an unknown date. | ||
| McQueen | W. | Male | African American | Enslaved | Driver | December 31, 1849 | December 31, 1904 | 54 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | W. M. McQueen was born on November 15,1850 and most likely enslaved as a child. He married Nettie McQueen and the couple had at least one child: Mamie. In 1880, he worked as an express porter and lived on Hull Street. According to the 1897 City Directory, he worked as a driver for Southern Express Company and lived at 630 Hull Street. At 54 years old, he died from unknown causes on March 19, 1905. |
| Brown | Martha | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1831 | December 31, 1858 | 27 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Martha M. Brown was born on September 27, 1832 and died on November 4, 1859; she was most likely enslaved. Her body was most likely moved to Gospel Pilgrim sometime after 1882, when the cemetery opened. | |
| Freeman | Fannie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Seamstress | December 31, 1963 | December 31, 1930 | 67 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Fannie Martin Freeman was born between 1860 and 1864 and was most likely enslaved as a child. In 1883, she married R. S. Freeman. According to the 1910 Census, she was a widow working as a seamstress and living at 564 Fourth Street. In 1930, she lived with a son in Spalding, Georgia. She died from a cerebral hemorrhage on January 10, 1931. According to her Death Certificate, she worked as a cook and lived at 50 Madison Street. |
| Heard | Bartlett | Male | African American | Enslaved | Farmer | December 31, 1831 | December 31, 1889 | 58 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Bartlett Heard was born on August 15, 1832 and was most likely enslaved as a child. He married Mary Heard and, in 1880, the couple lived in Buck Branch, Clarke County, Georgia. He died from unknown causes on July 26, 1890. He was 58 years old at the time of his death. |
| Austin | Nicey | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1842 | December 31, 1934 | 92 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Nicey Austin was born on May 12, 1843 (or sometime between 1843 and 1848) and most likely spent her youth enslaved. Described as a “Mulatto” in the 1880 Census, she could not read or write and worked as house servant in Athens, Georgia. In 1920 she was still working as a housekeeper and lived with her adult daughter, Mary Jefferson, at 130 Harris Street. Austin died from unknown causes on March 19, 1935. |
| Williams | Jim | Male | African American | Enslaved | Farmer | December 31, 1921 | 64 | 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. | |
| McQueen | Amanda | Female | African American | Enslaved | Seamstress | December 31, 1857 | December 31, 1915 | 58 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Amanda McQueen was born on March 26, 1858 and most likely spent her childhood enslaved. She married James McQueen, a laborer, and the couple had at least three children: Gerdine, Nelley, and Janie. In 1880, she worked as a laundress and lived with her family on Hull Street. As a widow in 1900, she lived alone and worked as a seamstress. According to the 1904 City Directory, she lived at 626 N Hull Street. At 58 years old, she died from unknown causes on December 31, 1916. |
| Reeves | John | Male | African American | Enslaved | Gardener | December 31, 1920 | 86 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Jones | Lula | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1858 | December 31, 1929 | 71 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Lula Jones was born on March 18, 1859 and most likely enslaved. She married and had three children. In 1910, she was a widow who worked as a cook and rented a house at 160 Lyndon Avenue. According to the 1928 City Directory, she worked as a cook and lived at 157 Warsaw Street. She died from unknown cause on April 3, 1930. |
| Gant | Ellen | Female | African American | Enslaved | Farmer | December 31, 1919 | 110 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Heard | J. | Unknown | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1854 | December 31, 1907 | 53 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, this individual was born on June 6, 1855 and most likely was enslaved as a child. They died from unknown causes on December 30, 1908. | |
| 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. |
| Derricotte | Fannie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1933 | 72 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Gabrella and George Brown, Fannie Brown Derricotte was born around 1862 and most likely enslaved as a child. She was widowed sometime before 1900, and had at least two children: Mary and Willie. According to the 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920 Census, She worked as a laundress. She died from cardio vascular renal disease on February 21, 1934. According to her death certificate, she worked as a domestic and lived at 825 W Hancock Avenue. |
| Jackson | Edward | Male | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1852 | 6 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to his tombstone, Edward Jackson died on October 3, 1853 and was most likely enslaved. He died at 6 years old. Her body was most likely moved to Gospel Pilgrim sometime after 1882, when the cemetery opened, or a marker was simply erected for a lost loved one. | ||
| Reid | Sallie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1919 | 66 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| George | Maria | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1824 | December 31, 1914 | 90 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Maria George was born around 1825 and most likely spent the first half of her life enslaved. As a widow in 1910, she owned a home at 584 Strong Street. She still lived at that address in 1912, according to the City Directory. She died from unknown causes on March 14, 1915. | |
| Jones | Thomas | Male | African American | Enslaved | Driver | December 31, 1829 | December 31, 1899 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Thomas Jones was born around 1830 and most likely enslaved. In 1870, he worked as a domestic servant and in 1880 he worked as a street car driver. He married Mary Jones in 1863 and the couple most likely did not have living children. In 1900, he lived at 529 Lumpkin Street. He died from unknown causes on October 13, 1900. |
| Garfield | Carrie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housewife | December 31, 1924 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Derricotte | Savannah | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1851 | December 31, 1899 | 47 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Savannah Derricotte was born on November 17, 1852 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1874, she married Henry Derricotte, a carpenter, and, in 1900, the couple had seven living children. According to the 1900 Census, she did not work. At 47 years old, she died from unknown causes on September 25, 1900. According to the 1909 City Directory, Henry Derricotte lived at 213 Chase Street and this is most likely her last 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. | ||||
| Derricotte | Edward | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1856 | December 31, 1939 | 83 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Edward J. Derricotte was born on March 12, 1858 and most likely enslaved as an infant. He worked as a day laborer in 1870 and as a “Sexton To Church” in 1880. In 1882, he married Charlotte L. Derricotte and the couple had at least four children: Ophelia, Edward Jr., Tom, and Andrew. He worked as a laborer at “odd jobs” while living in Everett, Massachusetts in 1920. Upon returning to Athens, he worked as carpenter in 1920. After the death of his wife, he moved back to Everett, Massachusetts where he worked as a janitor and lived with extended family. He died from unknown causes on June 4, 1940. |
| Jackson | Alfred | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1821 | December 31, 1883 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Alfred Jackson was born around 1822 in Virginia and most likely spent most of his life enslaved. He married Louisa Jackson and the couple had at least six children: Camilla, Edward, Albin, Bettie, Mary, and Judy. He worked as a day laborer in 1870 and a white washer in 1880. He lived on River Street. He died from unknown causes on February 14, 1884. |
| Mongumory | Tom | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1923 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Bacon | Robert | Male | African American | Enslaved | Porter | December 31, 1818 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Robert Bacon was born around 1819 and most likely enslaved for much of his life. He married Minerva Bacon sometime before 1870 and the couple had at least three children: Robert Jr., Edward, and Mary. He worked as a La laborer in 1870 and porter in 1880. In 1880, he lived with his wife, children, daughter-in-law, and grand children at 353 Foundry Street in Athens. According to the 1889 City Directory, his wife lived at 414 N Foundry Street and this is most likely his last address. He died from unknown causes on an unknown date. | ||
| Dillard | Hansel | Male | African American | Enslaved | Barber | December 31, 1792 | December 31, 1852 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Hansel Dillard was born enslaved around 1793. Trained as a barber, Dillard advertised his services to white Athenians in The Southern Whig: “Barbering and Hair-dressing. Hansel Dillard, Respectfully informs the citizens of Athens and the public generally, that he will, at all times, be found at his Shop, happy to accommodate those who favor him with their patronage.” In an era that barred almost all free and enslaved men from skilled employment, barbers enjoyed steady, profitable work. Indeed, this profession paid well; Dillard’s earning bought him freedom. As a free man of color, Dillard carved out a respectable space for himself in the slaveholding South. Dillard, according to The Weekly Banner, “made a great deal of money.” In addition to his barbershop, Dillard owned a bakery, operated a confectionery, kept a stable, and ran a delivery service. For him, and many other African-American men, barbering was a path to freedom and middle-class prosperity. It allowed him to procure not only his own freedom, but purchase his wife’s freedom for $1000 as well. She, then, took in student’s washing for additional income. In 1851, Dillard owned property; he paid taxes. Sixty-year-old Dillard died of unknown causes on Sept. 5, 1853. He was buried in Athens. Exactly where, however, is unknown. At some point, years after Hansel Dillard’s death, friends from Charleston, South Carolina erected a tombstone in his memory. While damaged by age and neglect, the stone, inscribed “I know that my Redeemer livith,” still stands in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery today. |
| Jackson | Louisa | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1825 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Louisa Jackson was born around 1826 in Georgia and most likely spent most of her life enslaved. She married Alfred Jackson, a day laborer and white washer, and the couple had at least six children: Camilla, Edward, Albin, Bettie, Mary, and Judy. She worked as a washer and ironer in 1880 and lived on River Street. She died sometime after 1880. | ||
| Robinson | Charity | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1833 | December 31, 1920 | 87 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
| Heard | Mattie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Teacher | December 31, 1862 | December 31, 1942 | 78 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mattie I. Heard was born around 1863 and most likely enslaved. She married William Heard, a blacksmith, in 1897 and the couple does not appear to have had living children. She worked as a teacher in 1900, 1910, and 1920 At the time of her husband’s death in 1939, they lived at 475 Reese Street. She died from unknown causes on November 13, 1943. |
| Bacon | Marenia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1823 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Minerva Bacon was born around 1824 and most likely enslaved as a young woman. She married Robert Bacon sometime before 1870 and the couple had at least threechildren: Robert Jr., Edward, and Mary. In 1880, she lived with her husband, sons, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren at 353 Foundry Street in Athens. She worked as a “Washer & Ironer” in 1880 and as a “cook” in 1889. According to the 1889 City Directory, she lived at 414 N Foundry Street. She died from unknown causes on an unknown date. |
