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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis | Fannie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Teacher | December 31, 1923 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| [Powers?] | Harriet | Female | African American | Enslaved | Seamstress | December 31, 1838 | December 31, 1909 | 72 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Harriet C. Powers was born around 1837-1839 and, as a young woman, enslaved on the plantation of John and Nancy Lester in Madison County, Georgia. At around 18 years old, she married Armstead Powers in 1855. The couple had at least nine children, including Amanda, Leon Joe (Alonzo), Nancy, Lizzie, and Marshall. In 1870 and 1880, she was “Keeping House” and lived with her family near Sandy Creek, Georgia. As skilled seamstress and folk artist, her intricate quilts were displayed at the Clarke County Cotton Fair and were highly sought after. Today, only two of her quilts survive; one hangs American History Museum of the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and the other hangs in the Museum of Fine Art in Boston. According to the 1889 City Directory, her husband lived at 27 Angle [St? Rd?]; she most likely lived at this address as well. She died from unknown causes on January 1, 1910. |
| Ray | Elsie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1924 | 79 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Brydie | Camilla | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1850 | December 31, 1924 | 74 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Loueisa Brown and Jack Jackson, Camilla Jackson Brydie was born on December 12, 1851 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1871, she married Eugene Brydie and the couple had at least six children: George, Carrie, Eugene, Eddie, Mary, and Mattie. She worked as a laundress in 1900. After become a widow, she worked as a “Cake Baker” in 1910 and a “Baker” in 1920. She died from cerebral apoplexy on November 16, 1925. According to her Death Index, she worked as a cook and lived at 168 Finley Street. |
| Milner | Ella | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1942 | 81 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Ella L. Milner was born in 1862 and most likely enslaved as a child. She married Sam Milner, a warehouse worker, and the couple had at least one child: Roberta Milner. She did not work during her married life. As a widow in 1930, she lived alone at 168 Peabody Street. She died from unknown causes in 1943. | |
| Thompson | Florence | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1961 | 100 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Maria Derricotti, Florence Thompson was born around 1862 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1900 and 1910, she worked as a washerwoman and, as a widow, lived with her mother at 148 Strong Street. She died from unknown causes in 1962. |
| Williams | Jim | Male | African American | Enslaved | Farmer | December 31, 1921 | 64 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Williams | Jane | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1836 | December 31, 1890 | 54 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Jane Williams was born around 1837 and most likely enslaved. She married Isaac Williams and the couple had at least one child: Marie Williams. In 1800, she worked as a servant and lived at the corner of Foundry Street and Connecticut Street. At 54 years old, she died from unknown causes on January 13, 1891. |
| Hicks | Charles | Male | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1840 | December 31, 1915 | 75 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Charles Hicks was born around 1841 and most likely enslaved as a child and young adult. In 1904, he worked as a cook and lived at 21 N Findley Street. He was married to Mary A. Hicks and, according to the 1915 City Directory, they lived at 169 N Findley Street. According to a 1914 newspaper report, he was a contributing member of the Methodist Church. He died from unknown causes on December 8, 1916. |
| Jones | Louisa | Female | African American | Enslaved | Seamstress | December 31, 1853 | December 31, 1909 | 56 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Louisa Beale Jones was born sometime between 1848 and 1854 and most likely enslaved. In 1870, she lived in the household of Tena Beall and did not work. In 1880, she lived alone on Hancock Avenue and worked as a dressmaker. At some point between 1880 and 1910, she married. Jones died from unknown causes on October 11, 1910. According to her funeral notice, she lived on Newton Street at the time of her death. |
| Smith | Rosa | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1862 | December 31, 1934 | 72 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Lottie and Mr. Jones, Rosa Jones Smith was born around July 4, 1863 and most likely enslaved as a child. She worked as a laborer in 1880 and a private family nurse in 1910. As a widow, in 1910, she lived 293 Cherry Street. She died from [??] and pneumonia on January 17, 1935. At the time of her death, she worked as a domestic and lived at 389 Dubose Avenue. |
| Brydie | Carrie | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1857 | December 31, 1877 | 20 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to her tombstone, Carrie E. Brydie was born (most likely enslaved) on January 8, 1858 and died on May 11, 1878. She was 20 years old at the time of her death. | |
| Stroud | Harriet | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1920 | 90 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| [Tiller?] | William | Male | African American | Enslaved | Metal Worker | December 31, 1854 | December 31, 1935 | 81 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Eliza and Charles Tiller, William Tiller was born around 1855 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1880, he was married to Ella Teller and they lived with extended family on River Street. He worked in a “in a Gin Shop” in 1880, as a “Tinner” in 1910, 1920, and 1930. He died from cerebral apoplexy and chronic nephritis on November 9, 1936. According to his Death Certificate, he worked as a Sheet Metal Worker and lived at 190 Fifth Street. |
| Favors | Tom | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1930 | 71 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Fannie Howard and Ben Favors, Tom Favors was born around 1860 and most likely spent his childhood enslaved. He married Cynthia Favors and the couple had a least four children: Lela, Ada, Lillie, and Homer. As a laborer, he spent most of his adult life as a street sweeper or road hand in Athens. In 1913, he was arrested for selling liquor. According to The Athens Banner: “Tom Favors, colored, took it into his head a few days since that he would dish out a little of the ardent, and out at his home on Broad street, he had a crowd of men around that were buying the stuff right along, when the police officials broke into his little game.” Rather than face jail time, he paid a $100 fine. According to the 1926 City Directory, he and his wife lived at 148 Pearl Street. He died from [??] and [??] on December 18, 1931. At the time of his death, he was around 71 years old and had been living at 481 Billups Street. |
| Jones | Vinnie | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1824 | December 31, 1886 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Vinnie Jones was born around December 25, 1825 and most likely spent her early life enslaved. She married Willis A. Jones, a carpenter and reverend, and, in 1880, the couple lived on Broad Street. She died from unknown causes on November 7, 1887. | |
| Gant | Ellen | Female | African American | Enslaved | Farmer | December 31, 1919 | 110 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Reeves | John | Male | African American | Enslaved | Gardener | December 31, 1920 | 86 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Smith | Georgia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1940 | 79 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Georgia Smith was born around 1862 and most likely enslaved as a child. Sometime before 1910, she was married and widowed. She worked as seamstress in a Shirt Factory in 1910 and a laundress in 1920. In 1940, she lived alone at 420 Athens Avenue. At 79 years old, she died from unknown causes on January 1, 1941. |
| Jones | Willis | Male | African American | Enslaved | Carpenter | December 31, 1813 | December 31, 1912 | 99 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Willis A. Jones was born around February 28, 1814 and most likely spent his early life enslaved. He married Vinnie Jones and, in 1880, the couple lived on Broad Street. He worked as a carpenter in 1880, but is referred to as “Reverend” on his tombstone. According to the 1897 City Directory, he worked as a Carpenter and lived at 31 S Poplar Street. He died from unknown causes on March 3, 1913. |
| Garfield | Carrie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housewife | December 31, 1924 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Reid | Sallie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Housework | December 31, 1919 | 66 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Favors | Cynthia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laundress | December 31, 1863 | December 31, 1943 | 80 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Cynthia Favors as born in July 1864 and most likely spent her first year of life enslaved. She married Tom Favors and the couple had a least four children: Lela, Ada, Lillie, and Homer. In 1930, the couple lived at 481 Billups Street and she worked as a laundress. After the death of her husband, she lived at 170 Dublin Street with her daughter. |
| Jones | Louvenia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1851 | December 31, 1921 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Louvenia Jones was born on March 20, 1852 and most likely enslaved as a child. At some point in her life, she married and had seven children; only five were living in 1900. That same year, she lived with her daughter (Emma Mills) and son-in-law (George Mills) on Franklin Street. According to the 1917 City Directory, she lived at 187 Poplar Street. She died from unknown causes on September 14, 1922. |
| Billups | Betty | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1859 | December 31, 1937 | 76 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Sally and Joe McCree, Betty McCree Billups was born around 1860 and most likely spent her childhood enslaved. She married Simon Billups, a farm laborer, and the couple had at least thirteen children: including Jordan, Louis, M. J., Fannie, Sally, Anna, and Ivy. In 1910, however, only five children were living. She worked as a laundress in 1910 and was listed as a "domestic" at the end of her life. She died from apoplexy caused by a second stoke on December 8, 1938. As a 76 year old widow, she had been living at 670 W Broad Street at the time of her death . |
| Jones | W. | Unknown | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1854 | December 31, 1905 | 51 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | According to the tombstone, W. A. Jones was born on April 11, 1855 and most likely enslaved. This individual died on November 5, 1905. | |
| Mongumory | Tom | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1923 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Mack | Charlotte | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1932 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Charlotte H. Mack was born in 1862 and most likely enslaved as a child. She married John R. Mack, a post office clerk, in 1882 and the couple had at least eight children: Annie, Abram, Mattie, Fannie, Lucile, Richard, Milledge, and Walter. On June 21, 1933, she died from hypostatic pneumonia, myocarditis, and dilatation of heart. At the time of her death, she worked as a domestic and lived at 853 Reese Street. |
| Upson | Neal | Male | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1860 | December 31, 1941 | 74 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of Jane and Harold Upson, Neal Upson was born around 1861. According to a 1930s WPA interview, he was enslaved on Frank Upson’s plantation in Oglethorpe County. He married Brynie Upson. According to the 1942 City Directory, he lived at 450 Fourth Street. At 74 years old, he died from unknown causes on July 22, 1942. | |
| Powers | Amanda | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1917 | 73 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Daughter of Harriett Powers. According to her obituary, she died at 73 years of age in May 1918. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked. | ||
| Mack | John | Male | African American | Enslaved | Post Office Clerk | December 31, 1855 | December 31, 1917 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | John R. Mack was born around 1856 and most likely enslaved as a child. He married Charlotte H. Mack in 1882 and the couple had at least eight children: Annie, Abram, Mattie, Fannie, Lucile, Richard, Milledge, and Walter. In 1900 and 1910, he worked as a post office clerk and owned a house at 853 Reese Street. According to the 1913 City Directory, he and his family lived at 853 Reese Street. He died from unknown causes in 1918. |
| Robinson | Charity | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1833 | December 31, 1920 | 87 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
| Fields | Susie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1858 | December 31, 1926 | 68 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Alice Tomas and Jack Shaw, Susie Shaw Fields was born around August 1859 and most likely enslaved as a child. In 1880, she worked as a servant. She married Eldon Fields, a teamster, and she worked as a washerwoman in 1900. In 1920, she worked cook and lived at 144 Warsaw Street. She died from [myoclonia?] and nephritis on September 29, 1927. |
| Smith | Candace or Candance? | Female | African American | Enslaved | Domestic | December 31, 1847 | December 31, 1927 | 84 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Violet Baxter, Candance Wylie Smith was born around 1848. She died on September 29, 1928. According to her Death Certificate, she worked as a domestic and lived on a “country farm” outside of Athens. |
| 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 | 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Hurt | Francis | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1919 | 75 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Thomas | Alice | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1922 | 75 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Collins | Eva | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1919 | 70 | 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. |
| 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. |
| Jacks | Mary | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1923 | 70 | 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. |
| Neelia | Peter | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1925 | 78 | 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. |
| 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. |
| Scott | Jane | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1924 | 98 | 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. |
| 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. |
| Cox | Dick | Male | African American | Enslaved | Mill Employee | December 31, 1922 | 64 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Anderson | J. | Male | African American | Enslaved | Painter | December 31, 1919 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Jefferson | Ella | Female | African American | Enslaved | Seamstress | December 31, 1841 | December 31, 1903 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The daughter of Salley and Robert Holsey, Ella Baker Jefferson was around 1842 and most likely enslaved as a young woman. She married Edgar Jefferson and the couple had at least two children: Minta and Jackson. In 1870, she was keeping house. In 1880, she worked as a dressmaker and lived with her close and extended family at 81 Broad Street. As a widow in 1900, she lived at 22 E Valley and still worked as a dressmaker. She died from unknown causes on September 4, 1904. |
| 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. | |
| Morton | Monroe | Male | African American | Enslaved | Businessman | December 31, 1855 | December 31, 1918 | 63 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | The son of a white man and Elizabeth Morton, Monroe “Pink” Bowers Morton was born enslaved around 1856. He most likely lived on plantation of John Phinizy. In 1870, he lived with his mother, “Lizzie,” and his siblings in Athens. He worked a number of jobs. According to the census, he worked at a retail grocery in 1880, post master in 1900, and a contractor in 1910. He was also a republican party leader, the owner and publisher of The Progressive Era (a black newspaper), a business leader, and a real estate owner, who built the Morton Theatre and facilitated the development of Athens’s “Hot Corner.” According to the Atlanta Independent (Jan. 30, 1904), “Mr. Morton is a self-made man, and has won his way to the front in business, politics, society by sheer force of character, distinct individuality, rare precocity and strict application to business.” In his personal life, he first married Amanda Morton, who died in 1885 He, then, married Tallulah Morton, his second wife, and the couple had several children, including Monroe, Maude, Ida, and Charlie. He died from cirrhosis of the liver and chronic myocarditis on February 12, 1919. He was, according to his Death Certificate, a “Retired Capitalist” who lived at 823 Prince Avenue. His obituary in The Athens Banner described him as “one of the wealthiest negros in the South.” The paper continued: “‘Pink’ Morton was well known not only in Athens, but throughout the state. He was one of the leaders of the republican party in Georgia, and at one time under the administration of President McKinley was postmaster of Athens. His career has been a most unusual one. Starting life as a slave in 1853 on the plantation of Phinizy’s near Athens, he became a leader of his race, and a most successful business man.” |
| Thomas | Margret | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1919 | 80 | 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. |
| Nesbrit | Hellen | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1919 | 70 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| 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. | |
| Harden | Mary | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1926 | 95 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | ||
| 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. |
| Mason | Mattie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Nurse | December 31, 1853 | December 31, 1941 | 88 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Mattie Shaw Mason was born in April 1854 and most likely spend her childhood enslaved. In 1900, she was a wife and nurse living at 1024 Billups Street. Still working as a nurse in 1920, her address was listed as Hancock Avenue. By 1930, she her address was again listed as Billups Street, this time living at 1196 Billups Street. She, then, lived at 1196 Hancock Avenue according to the 1940 Census. At 88 years old, she died from unknown causes on November 16, 1942. |
| Arnold | Julia | Female | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1920 | 65 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Morton | Tallulah | Female | African American | Enslaved | December 31, 1861 | December 31, 1940 | 79 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Tallulah “Lula” Morton was born around 1862 and most likely enslaved as a young child. She was the second wife of Monroe “Pink” Bowers Morton and the mother of Monroe, Maude, Ida, and Charlie. She had borne six children, but only four lived to adulthood. In 1910, she lived with her family at 823 Prince Avenue. She did not work outside the home from 1910 to 1930. After the death of her husband in 1919, she remained in the house and lived with her son and daughter in 1930. At 69 years old, she died from unknown causes on August 3, 1941. | |
| Thomas | Matt | Male | African American | Enslaved | Driver | December 31, 1923 | 60 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. | |
| Credell | Henry | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1924 | 80 | 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. |
| Jones | John | Male | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1831 | December 31, 1916 | 85 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | John W. Jones was born on March 19, 1832 and most likely spent his early life enslaved. He married Georgia Thomas Jones, a cook, around 1881 and the couple had three living children. In 1900, he worked as a cook and owned a house at 360 Broad Street. In 1910, he rented a house at 563 Broad Street and did not work. According to the 1916 City Directory, he lived at 522 W Broad Street. He died from unknown causes on July 27, 1917. |
| Newsome | Susie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1860 | December 31, 1926 | 66 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Unmarked | Data collected from death certificate. |
| 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. |
| Harris | Lizzie | Female | African American | Enslaved | Cook | December 31, 1919 | 63 | 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. |
| Mathews | Henry | Male | African American | Enslaved | Laborer | December 31, 1854 | December 31, 1916 | 62 | Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery | Marked | Henry Mathews was born between 1855 and 1861 and most likely spent his childhood enslaved. In 1900, he worked as Rail Road Laborer and lived as a single, male boarder at 772 Georgia Railroad Street. He married Lizzie Mathews and, in 1910, the couple lived at 144 Summey. At that time, he worked as a city streets laborer. According to the 1914 City Directory, he worked as a laborer and lived at Summey, which intersected Lumpkin Street near Cedar Street. On February 7, 1917, he died from unknown causes. |
