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
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]
	Marcellus	Male	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
Davis	Minnie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1939		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	According to her tombstone, Minnie [H?] Davis died in February 1940. According to the 1904 City Directory, J. W. Daivs worked as a mail carrier and lived at 24 Strong Street. In 1909, he was married to Minnie Davis and they lived at 178 Strong Street.
Harris	Mary	Female	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
[Jones?]	[??]mar	Unknown	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
Smith	D	Unknown	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
Stryckland	[??]	Unknown	African American	Unknown		December 31, 1931	42	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	At 42 years old, [??] Stryckland died on November 20, 1932.
Freeman	Julia	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1963		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary Julia A. Freeman, who resided at 237 North Church Street, died from unknown causes in June 1964. She was married to Edward M. Freeman. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Jones	Walter	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1954		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Walter Jones died from unknown causes in April 1955. He married Annie Jones, and the couple had at least two children—Melease Jones Winston and Walter Jones Jr. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Teasley	Annie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1983		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Annie S. Maxwell Teasley was born in 1917. At 67 years old, she died on November 13, 1984. At the time of her death, resided in Fulton County and, according to her obituary, had three sisters and a daughter. [Researched and written by Nicole Powell]
Wright	Inez	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1977		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Inez Flanigan Wright, who resided in Dayton, Ohio, died from unknown causes in March 1978. The funeral was handled by Hurley Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Boland	Mary	Female	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1922	49	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Cleveland	J.	Male	African American	Free	Student	December 31, 1925	18	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Ector	Benjiman	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1920	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Grady	Mary	Female	African American	Free	Cook	December 31, 1919	22	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hayes	Magnola	Female	African American	Free	Housework	December 31, 1922	18	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Jones	Louvenia	Female	African American	Enslaved	Housework	December 31, 1919	65	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Lyons	John	Male	African American	Free	Mason	December 31, 1920	56	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Merriweather	Johnnie	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1921	5	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Owens	Isibella	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laundress	December 31, 1918	65	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Redding	Bertha	Female	African American	Free	Laundress	December 31, 1919	17	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Simmons	Harett	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer	December 31, 1921	95	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.
Wagner	George	Male	African American	Enslaved	Plasterer	December 31, 1918	65	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.

[??]	Mattie	Female	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
[Campbell?]	Charles	Male	African American	Unknown	Janitor			Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	Charles Campbell most likely worked as a janitor and was married to Marzella Campbell. According to the 1937 City Directory, they lived at 660 W Hancock Avenue.
Kenney	Charlie	Male	African American	Unknown		December 31, 1964		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	According to his tombstone, Charlie Kenney died on August 16, 1965.
White	Anna	Female	African American	Unknown		December 31, 1913		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	According to her tombstone, Anna E. White died on October 24, 1914.
Wilson	Annie	Female	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	According to her tombstone, Annie Wilson died sometime in April.
Clemons	Clifford	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1945		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Clifford T. Clemons died from unknown causes in July 1946. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave is unmarked.
Gilbert	Robert	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1952		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Robert Gilbert, who resided at 346 Bowie Street SW in Atlanta, died from unknown causes in January 1953. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Killian	W.	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1951		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, W. H. Killian Sr. died from unknown causes in March 1952. He married Ruth Moon Killian, and the couple had at least three children, William Herty Killian Jr., Archibald Killian, Alfred Killian, and Clarence Killian. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Teasley	Dottie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1973		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Dottie Susie Teasley, who resided at 275 Fourth Street, died from unknown causes in March 1974. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Infant of A. S. Brown		Unknown	African American	Unknown		December 31, 1912		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to the obituary, the infant of A.S. Brown and his wife died from pneumonia in February 1913. The baby was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; its grave may be unmarked.
Booke	Ben	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1926	50	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Colbert	Guy	Male	African American	Free	Student	December 31, 1922	18	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Ector	Carrie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1918	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Grant	Render	Male	African American	Free	Chauffer	December 31, 1922	23	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hunter	Sebe	Male	African American	Free	Merchant	December 31, 1921	35	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Jones	Margaret	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer	December 31, 1920	87	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Miller	Lucy	Female	African American	Free	Housework	December 31, 1922	52	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Parrott	Henry	Male	African American	Enslaved	Laborer	December 31, 1918	70	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.
Sloan	Lucinda	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer	December 31, 1919	80	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Sullivan	Mary	Female	African American	Free	Housework	December 31, 1919	46	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Wales	Cassie	Female	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1921	48	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Wilson	Jeorge	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1921	46	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.

[Campbell?]		Female	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	Known as "Mother" on her tombstone, she most likely a member of the Campbell family.
Foster	[??]	Unknown	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
Grimes	Robert	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1951		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	Robert Grimes was born around 1890. He served in the First World War and, at its onset, he lived at 285 Fairview Street. According to the 1952 City Directory, he worked as a yardman and lived with his wife (Mattie) at 148 Chase Street. He died from unknown causes in 1952.
Mi[??]	Mamie	Female	African American	Unknown			70	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	According to her tombstone, Mamie Mi[??] died on October 31, [19??]. She was 70 years old at the time of her death.
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.
Smith	Flournoy	Unknown	African American	Unknown	Laborer	December 31, 1941		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	According to the 1931 City Directory, Flournoy Smith worked as a labor and lived at 160 Hendrix Avenue. They died from unknown causes on May 6, 1942.
Cobb	Minnie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1943		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Minnie Lee Crawford Cobb died from unknown causes in February 1944. The funeral was handled by Mack & Payne Funeral home. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave is unmarked.
Griggs	Mary	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1966		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Mother Mary Thomas, who resided at 541 Irene St NE in Atlanta, died from unknown causes in September 1967. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave may be unmarked.
Maxwell	Charlie	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1971		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Charlie Joe Maxwell, who resided at 253 Lyndon Avenue, died from unknown causes on June 12, 1972. The funeral was handled by Mutual Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Terrell	Charles	Male	African American	Unknown		December 31, 1933		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Charles Terrell Jr. was born around 1916. His parents, Charles Terrell and Julia Stuts, were both Athens natives. His father, “Chas” Terrell was noted to be a carpenter before his son was born, being listed along with his wife Julia in a 1912 Athens, GA directory living at 347 First Street. In the 1931 directory, however, “Chas” Terrell is said to be a cook, living on 389 Meigs St. On October 6, 1934, Terrell Jr.’s life was cut short after passing away at a tender age of 18 while he was still a schoolboy. The place of death is recorded to be 376 Odd Street. The cause of death was noted to be an acute dilatation of the heart, or nowadays known as dilated cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle), with contributary causes of importance being listed as fever and overexertion. He was buried five days later in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery on October 11, 1934 with his family in attendance. [Researched and written by Bita Jadali]
Davis	Rebekah	Female	African American	Unknown		December 31, 1921		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Rebekah Davis was born in 1832 in Georgia. She was enslaved to Dr. and Mrs. Edward Ware. As a young woman, she married Ned Davis (also enslaved) and the couple had 7 children. Later, at least one of her sons moved to Chicago as a grown man. Three of her sons remained in Athens, and James A. Davis worked as a mail carrier. After the Civil War, she worked as a seamstress. She appears to have learned to read and write in the later years of her life and she was an active member of the First A.M.E. Church. She lived at 179 Strong Street in Athens, Georgia until her death from unknown causes on January 19, 1922. Her obituary, published in the Athens Daily Herald, described her as “one of the oldest citizens of Athens and was the oldest member of the First A. M. E. church.” She was 90 years old. But even after death, the white newspaper remembered her as a ‘faithful slave,’ an element of Lost Cause ideology. “‘Aunt Rebekah’ . . . as a family servant of Dr. and Mrs. Edward Ware, who lived on Hoyt street, during the ante bellum days, and her husband Ned Davis, belonged to Captain John Thomas, and was her personal servant. Ned died many years ago. These darkies were servants in the homes of two of the best known and most aristocratic families of the day, and were well known to many of the white people of the time,” stated the obituary. [Researched and written by Trey Smith]
Booth	Richard	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1920	38	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Ector	M.	Male	African American	Free	Janitor	December 31, 1925	49	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hearel	Eddie	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1922	37	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hurt	Francis	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer	December 31, 1919	75	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Jones	Robert	Male	African American	Free	Railroad Employee	December 31, 1920	54	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Mack	Cynthia	Female	African American	Unknown	Housework	December 31, 1921		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Milner	Sam	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1925	51	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Patterson	Nellie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1922	0	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.
Smith	Betney	Male	African American	Enslaved	Cook	December 31, 1922	71	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Taylor	Samul	Male	African American	Free	Chauffer	December 31, 1923	31	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Wingfield	Bertha	Female	African American	Free	Housework	December 31, 1920	24	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.

Bryant	Lillie	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1970		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	According to her tombstone, Lillie Bryant died from unknown causes in 1971.
[Campbell?]	Andrew	Male	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	Most likely a member of the Campbell family.
H[??]	Olivia	Female	African American	Unknown				Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	[biographical information unknown]
Owens	Jesse	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1929		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	Jesse Owens served as a private in the 403 Labor Battalion during the First World War. In 1926, he worked as a laborer and lived on Water Street. He most likely married Flora Owens, who lived at 240 Newton Street. According to the 1928 City Directory, the couple lived at 2402 Newton Street and he worked as a laborer. He died from unknown causes on August 23, 1930.
Whitelock	Martha	Female	African American	Unknown		December 31, 1896		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Marked	Martha Whitelock died from unknown causes in 1897. She may have been the wife of John Whitelock (or Whittlock), who worked as a laborer and lived at 805 Athens Avenue, according to the 1894 City Directory.
Colbert	Mary	Female	African American	Free	Nurse	December 31, 1946		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Mrs. Mary J. Colbert, the mother of Mrs. Mamie Harden and a “veteran nurse civic and religious leader,” died from unknown causes in November 1947. She was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; her grave is unmarked.
Griggs	Joe	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1949		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to his obituary, Joe Henry Griggs, who resided at 280 Cain St NE in Atlanta, died from unknown causes in May 1950. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Maxwell	Mary	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1969		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	According to her obituary, Mary Brooks Maxwell, who resided at 258 Lyndon Avenue, died from unknown causes on February 21, 1970. She was the mother of Charlie J. Maxwell, Mary T. Maxwell, V. Blanche Moore, Ann S. Teasly, Frederica N. Maxwell, and Lucy V. Johnson. The funeral was handled by McWhorter Funeral Home. He was interred in Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery; his grave may be unmarked.
Thomas	Ethal	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1944		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	The daughter of Charles and Fannie Walker, Ethel Walker Thomas was born in May of 1884. As a teenager and young adult, she resided in Sandy Creek with her family, where she worked as a laborer on their farm. She did not attend school, but she was able to read and write. In 1910, she married Lonnie Thomas, and the couple had several children: Edward, Melvin, Azzie, Charles, Elmore, and Alfonza. According to the 1920 census, she lived on Oak Street with her husband and children and worked as a washerwoman. In 1930, she resided at the same address with her family and worked as a maid for a private family. She died from unknown causes on February 1, 1945. [Researched and written by Jake Underwood]
McQueen	Mahala	Female	African American	Unknown		December 31, 1909		Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Mahala Wooden McQueen survived four wars throughout her lifetime, including the War of 1812 at the time of her birth. She later sewed and mended clothes for soldiers in the Mexican American War, Civil War, and the Spanish American War. Born at Cherokee Corners in Oglethorpe County, and was enslaved to the Hill family. Her obituary notes her labor for the Barrow family in raising David Crenshaw Barrow, former University of Georgia Chancellor from 1906 to 1925. At the time of her death, she birthed twelve children with only two surviving, Sam McQueen and a daughter, Julia Witheld. She passed away at 98 years old in her cottage home at 658 Hull Street on March 22nd, 1910.
Bowmans	Jack	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1924	60	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.
Griffen	Thomas	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1919	26	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Hemphill	Susie	Female	African American	Free	Domestic	December 31, 1926	51	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Jacks	Mary	Female	African American	Enslaved	Laborer	December 31, 1923	70	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Joseph	Anna	Female	African American	Free		December 31, 1919	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Mack	Mollie	Female	African American	Free	Domestic	December 31, 1925	40	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Payne	Jesse	Male	African American	Free	Child	December 31, 1926	1	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Rhodes	Joe	Male	African American	Free		December 31, 1920	0	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Smith	Lizzie	Female	African American	Free	Housework	December 31, 1922	48	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Teasly	Walter	Male	African American	Free	Laborer	December 31, 1921	34	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.
Walker	Charlie	Male	African American	Enslaved	Reverend	December 31, 1919	65	Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery	Unmarked	Data collected from death certificate.

Decedent

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