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	DOD	Age	Grave Location	Grave Marker	Biography
Peek	Sallie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1942		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Sallie Peek was born around 1885. She died from unknown causes in Fulton, Georgia on November 6, 1943. Her death was reported in the Atlanta Constitution, where it mentioned her funeral was to be held at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Atlanta on November 11, 1943, after which her remains would be taken to Athens for interment in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. Her obituary stated that she had many friends and family. [Researched and written by Roshni Hariharan]
Washington	Hector	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1946		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Mrs. Hector Mary Washington, who resided in Atlanta, died from unknown causes in January 1947. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Bayne	Annia	Female	African American	Free	Housework	December 31, 1918	50	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Bunkley	Lula	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1925	54	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Derricott	Mariah	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housework	December 31, 1925	95	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Foster	Jos.	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1918	19	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hawkins	Dave	Male	African American	Enslaved	Construction	December 31, 1919	60	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Holmes	Geo.	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1923	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Logan	Fanie	Female	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1925	28	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Mcqueen	Sam	Male	African American	Enslaved	Barber	December 31, 1920	72	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Powers	Annie Bell	Female	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1926	33	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Shaw	Henry	Male	African American	Free	Mason	December 31, 1922	36	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Matt	Male	African American	Enslaved	Driver	December 31, 1923	60	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
White	Nettie	Female	African American	Free	Housewife	December 31, 1926	54	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.

[Goon?]	[??]	Female	African American	Free			75	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	According to her tombstone, [??] Sally [Goon?] died during the 1940s at 75 years old.
J.	S.	Unknown	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
McQueen	William	Male	African American	Unknown		December 31, 1887		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	According to his tombstone, William McQueen died in 1888. He most likely was the infant son of Nettie and W. M. McQueen, who, according to the 1897 City Directory, lived at 630 Hull Street. He was the sibling of Carrie McQueen and Mamie N. McQueen.
Johnson	Ethal	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1975		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Ethel Johnson, who resided at 151 Lyndon Avenue, died from unknown causes in August 1976. She was married to James Johnson and they had at least one child, Blanche Johnson Jones. The funeral was handled by Hurley’s Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Riley	Lillie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1972		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Mattie H. Hawkins, who resided at 650 W Hancock Avenue, died from unknown causes in December 1953. She had at least four, married daughters Mrs. Willie C. Erwin, Mrs. Otis E. Johnson, Mrs. William Cooks, and Mrs. Robert T. Owens. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Watson	Victoria	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1973		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Victoria Watson, who resided at 175 Glenhaven Avenue, died from unknown causes in October 1974. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Bayne	Richard	Male	African American	Enslaved	Farmer	December 31, 1920	75	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Burnes	Mamie	Female	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1926	37	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Dorsey	Crock	Male	African American	Enslaved		December 31, 1923	80	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hawkins	Julia	Female	African American	Free	Housework	December 31, 1924	37	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Holmes	Mattie	Female	African American	Free	Child	December 31, 1920	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Johnson	Will	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1924	54	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Lumpkin	Dan	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1926	45	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Menifield	Ella	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housework	December 31, 1921	94	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Norman	John	Male	African American	Enslaved	Laborer	December 31, 1923	68	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Pulliam	Lucy May	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1919	2	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Shaw	Warren	Male	African American	Free	Presser	December 31, 1922	33	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Stovall	Will	Male	African American	Free	Blacksmith	December 31, 1921	42	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Wilburn	Boyd	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1921	21	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.

Dillard	William	Male	African American	Enslaved	Laborer	December 31, 1907	70	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	William Dillard was born around 1844 and most likely enslaved. According to the 1870 Census, he worked as Day Laborer. She married Racheal Dillard and they had at least two children: Nannie and Annie. In 1904, he worked as a laborer and lived at 640 Fourth Street. He was one of the founding members of the Gospel Pilgrim Society.
Green		Unknown	African American	Unknown		December 31, 1934		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	According to the tombstone, [??] Green died on [August?] 4, 1935.
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.
Porter	Susie	Female	African American	Free	Laundress			Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	Susie Bason Porter was born around 1886. She married Walter Porter and the couple appears not to have had living children. In 1930, she worked as a laundress. In 1940, the couple owned a house at 554 Strong Street, according to the 1958 City Directory, they remained at 554 E Strong Street. At 82 years old, she died from unknown causes in 1968.
S[??]	Emma	Female	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
[Strickland?]	[??]	Unknown	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
Johnson	Reese	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1957		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Reese Johnson, who resided at 130 Water Street, died from unknown causes in June 1958. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Sims	Mary	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1945		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Mary E. Sims was born around 1903. She married M.C. Sims Sr. In 1930, she worked as a laundress and lived on Fifth Street with her husband and their son Sam. The 1940 US Census lists her as a widow, employed as a cook and living on Hull Street with her sister, Sara Hill, and two of Hill’s grandchildren. At the time of her death Mary Sims lived at 853 West Weddell Street. At 43 years old, she died from unknown causes on October 18, 1946. [Researched and written by Ainsley Stephens]
Whitield	Mittie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1961		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Mittie Whitfield, who resided at 495 Reese Street, died from unknown causes in December 1962. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Benford	Henry	Male	African American	Free	Fireman	December 31, 1922	49	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Carter	Lillie	Female	African American	Free	Housewife	December 31, 1919	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Dunfoy		Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1920	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Gant	Ellen	Female	African American	Enslaved	Farmer	December 31, 1919	110	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hawkins	Peter	Male	African American	Free	Construction	December 31, 1921	36	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Houston	Florence	Female	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1920	21	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Johnson	William	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1919	26	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Lumpkin	Rosa	Female	African American	Free	Domestic	December 31, 1918	52	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Merritt	J. P.	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1924	51	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Odoms	Corene	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1921	2	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Ramey	Geo.	Male	African American	Free	Farmer	December 31, 1923	51	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Shaw	Will	Male	African American	Free	Chauffer	December 31, 1926	38	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Stricklyn	Mary	Female	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1921	45	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Thomas	Palace	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housework	December 31, 1924	71	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Wiley	Serema	Female	African American	Free	Seamstress	December 31, 1922	49	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.

Blont	[J or G?]	Unknown	African American	Unknown		December 31, 1942		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
Brown	Eliza	Female	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
Freeman	Edward	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1965		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Edward M. Freeman, who resided at 237 North Church Street, died from unknown causes in May 1966. He was married to Julia A. Freeman. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Johnson	Seaborn	Male	African American	Unknown		December 31, 1946		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Seaborn Johnson, who resided in Monroe, Georgia, died from unknown causes in August 1947. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Stanton	John	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1947		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	John R. Stanton was an Athens resident who was born around 1899. He was married and had multiple siblings. He died from unknown causes on October 25, 1948 and was buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery on October 31, 1948. [Researched and written by Abby Lauterbach]
Wilcox	Dora	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1970		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Dora Sapp Wilcox, who resided at 550 W Hancock Avenue, died from unknown causes in February 1974. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Bimett	Mary	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer	December 31, 1921	70	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Cheney	Alex	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1922	34	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Eberhart	Martha	Female	African American	Free	Housework	December 31, 1918	33	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Garfield	Carrie	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housewife	December 31, 1924	63	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Howard	Aurodite	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1919	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Jones	Callie	Female	African American	Free	Domestic	December 31, 1925	39	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Ray	Elsie	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer	December 31, 1924	79	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Shenault	Carrie	Female	African American	Free	Housework	December 31, 1919	53	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Stricklyn	Pearl	Female	African American	Free	Teacher	December 31, 1919	21	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Tompkins	Corine	Female	African American	Free	Domestic	December 31, 1922	24	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.

[??]ll	Se[??]	Unknown	African American	Free			34	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
Blont	[Gary?]	Male	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
Harris	R	Unknown	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
McQueen	Mamie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1881		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	According to her tombstone, Mamie McQueen died in 1885. She most likely was the infant daughter of Nettie and W. M. McQueen, who, according to the 1897 City Directory, lived at 630 Hull Street. Hull Street. She was the sibling of CarrieMcQueen and William McQueen.
Freeman	Bessie	Female	African American	Unknown		December 31, 1945		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Bessie Samuel Freeman died in October 1946. The funeral was handled by Mack & Payne Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Jones	Charlie	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1959		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Charlie Grant Jones, who resided at 462 Reese Street, died from unknown causes in January 1960. The funeral was handled by Hurley’s Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Strickland	Willie	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1973		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	The son of Edward Strickland and Jennie (Wagner or Wagoner) Strickland, Willie Strickland was born in Athens, GA around 1898. He grew up on First Street, and after marrying Bertha Mae Harvey in 1937, the couple moved down the street to another residence on First Street. Throughout his life, Strickland had many different jobs including working in a saw mill according to the 1920 census, a cotton mill according to the 1930 census, and as a maid according to a 1931 Athens directory. During the Second World War, Strickland registered for the draft, but was not drafted into service, most likely because he was already married and 43 years old at the time. He died from unknown causes on April 6, 1974 in Athens, and was buried in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery. [Researched and written by Casey Serrano]
Woods	Lizzie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1977		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Lizzie Beth Woods, who resided at 200 Washington Drive, died from unknown causes on July 9, 1978. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Binns	Elizzebeth	Female	African American	Free	Teacher	December 31, 1925	24	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Clarke	Joseph	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1923	13	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Echols	Hiram	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1923	53	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Gleen	Albirdie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1919	5	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Huff	J.	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1923	1	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Jones	John	Male	African American	Free	Drayman	December 31, 1919	40	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Lyons	Hannah	Female	African American	Free	Housework	December 31, 1922	56	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Merriweather	Carrie	Female	African American	Free	Domestic	December 31, 1921	27	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Owens	Emberly	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer	December 31, 1924	99	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Shortey	Bobie	Female	African American	Free	Cook	December 31, 1924	35	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Strong	Husey	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1925		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Varnell	Will	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1925	55	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Williams	Jim	Male	African American	Enslaved	Farmer	December 31, 1921	64	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.

[Re?]id		Male	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]

Decedent

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